How to Upgrade Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: All Ways From OTA to Fastboot

Why is it important to update the firmware on Redmi 8 Pro?

Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro (codenamed Olivelite) was released in 2019, but is still in use today for its reliability and low price. However, without regular updates, even the most stable device begins to slow down, warm up or face security vulnerabilities. The manufacturer releases patches to fix bugs, optimize battery life and add new features — for example, support for modern applications or an improved camera.

But not all updates are equally useful. Some users complain that the phone has become slower since upgrading to MIUI 12.5 or Android 11; others, on the contrary, note performance gains; in this article, we will analyze all official and alternative ways to update, and also explain how to avoid typical errors, from "brick" to data loss.

Before you start, check the current firmware version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If your version is older than MIUI 12.0.3, an update will definitely be needed - there are critical vulnerabilities in earlier builds that can be used to hack the device.

Method 1: Air-to-air update (OTA) is the easiest method

Most users can automatically update over the Internet, which doesn't require a computer, and it stores all the data on the phone, but it has limitations.

• 📶 You need a stable connection to Wi-Fi (update “weighs” 1.5-2.5 GB).
• 🔋 Battery charge should be at least 50% (better 80%).
• ⏳ The process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the speed of the internet.

To launch OTA-update:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click "Check Updates." If a new version is available, the Download button will appear.
3. After downloading, tap "Install" and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone has been stuck on the Redmi logo for more than 10 minutes after the upgrade, don't panic. Give it another 15-20 minutes -- sometimes the first download takes a long time due to app optimization. If the screen doesn't change for more than 30 minutes, start recovering through Recovery.

If OTA-The update is not located, your region may not be supported:

• 🌍 Try changing the region in the settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Region).
• 🔄 Restart your phone and check for updates again.
• 📥 Download the firmware manually (more on this below).

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If the update doesn’t take long to install, try clearing the System Update cache in the application settings.This often solves the problem of freezing during the verification phase.

Method 2: Manual installation via Recovery – if OTA does not work

If automatic updates are not available or if they give you an error, you can install the firmware through Recovery mode, which is suitable for official MIUI builds and does not require unlocking the bootloader. However, if you do not do the right thing, you can lose data, so back up in advance.

You'll need:

• 📱 Smartphone Redmi 8 Pro with a charge of at least 60%.
• 💻 Computer (or other phone) to download firmware.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📁 Firmware file in.zip format (you can download it on the official Xiaomi website).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the right firmware. 8 Select files marked olivelite (for example, miui_OLIVELITEGlobal_V12.0.3.0.QCGMIXM_...). Don’t confuse it with Redmi. 8 (olive code or Redmi 8A (The olivelite code is the same, but the version is the same. MIUI differ!).
2. Rename the file to update.zip (without spaces and additional characters).
3. Move the file to the root directory of the phone’s internal memory (not to folders!).
4. Boot in Recovery: 1. Turn off the phone. 2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up for 5-10 seconds. 3. Release when the Mi logo appears.
5. From the Recovery menu, select the language (if you have an option), then: Install update.zip → Choose update.zip → Confirm Confirm and wait until you complete.

⚠️ Note: If after updating through Recovery, the phone stopped turning on or boots to bootloop, do not try to repeat the procedure.

Method 3: Fastboot Firmware for Power Users

The Fastboot method is used when:

• 🔄 We need to downgrade the version. MIUI (downgrade).
• 🛠️ Phone "brickled" (not included, stuck on the logo).
• 🔓 Requires to unlock the bootloader (for example, to install custom firmware).

This way erases all the data on the phone, so you'll need to backup first.

• 💻 Windows computer (or Mac/Linux driverless ADB/Fastboot).
• 🔌 Cable USB (better-than-original).
• 📁 Firmware in.tgz format (download from the official website).
• 🛠️ The Mi Flash Tool (download here).

Instructions:

1. Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Redmi8Pro_fastboot).
2. Install drivers: 1. Connect the phone turned off to the PC. 2. Press Volume Down + Power until the Fastboot logo appears. 3. Install drivers via the Mi Flash Tool or manually (via Device Manager).
3. Launch Mi Flash Tool: 1. Press "Select" and select the folder with the unpacked firmware. 2. At the bottom, select "clean all" or "clean all and lock" (if you want to lock the bootloader after you have firmware). 3. Press "Refresh" → "Flash".
4. Wait until it's finished (green success). The phone will reboot automatically.

Method 4: Install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)

If you don't like the official MIUI, you can install custom firmware based on Android (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience).

• 🚀 Higher performance (no unnecessary services Xiaomi).
• 🆕 Up-to-date versions of Android (for example, Android 13 instead of Android 10).
• 🔒 Greater control over application permissions.

There are, however, downsides:

• ⚠️ Loss of the official guarantee if it is still valid).
• 📱 Possible bugs with camera, sensors or mobile network.
• 🔋 Faster battery discharge (not on all firmware).

For custom firmware installation:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool. This will take 7-15 days (you need to link the Mi Account to the device).
2. Install. TWRP Recovery: 1. Download the image TWRP for olivelite (e.g. from twrp.me). 2. Fastboot: Fastboot Flash Recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-olivelite.img 3. Boot in. TWRP: Nutrition + Loudness up.
3. Make a backup of the current firmware in TWRP (Backup section).
4. Sweep through custom firmware: 1. Download firmware (e.g. LineageOS 20 for olivelite) and GApps files (Google services). 2. In TWRP, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe and mark Dalvik, Cache, System, Data. 3. Install firmware and GApps via Install. 4. Reboot.

⚠️ Attention: There is an anti-rollback problem on the Redmi 8 Pro. If you sew firmware with an older version of the bootloader, the phone will turn into a brick. MIUI in forums (for example, XDA Developers).

Solving Common Errors in Updating

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems.

If the sound is gone after the update, the camera is not working or the mobile network is missing:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 🔧 Reset network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting settings).
• 📱 Install a patch for your firmware (see for the 4PDA).

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If the phone starts to warm up or discharge quickly after the upgrade, reset to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Resetting). This often solves system optimization problems.

How to roll back the update if the new version of MIUI is worse?

Sometimes fresh firmware brings more problems than benefits: lags, overheating, notification bugs, in which case you can go back to the previous version, but with reservations:

• 🔙 A downgrade is only possible within a single branch. MIUI (for example, MIUI 12.0.5 at MIUI 12.0.3, but not on MIUI 11).
• ⚠️ Redmi 8 Pro has anti-rollback protection – if you flash too old firmware, the phone will lock.
• 📵 All data will be deleted (except files on the SD-map).

To roll back:

1. Download the desired firmware version (for example, with Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
2. Fastboot (as described above) with the clean all option.
3. If you want to roll back to another branch (for example, from MIUI 12.5 to MIUI 12), first upgrade to the latest version of the current branch, then run the middle firmware.

An example of a safe downgrade:

Current version: MIUI 12.5.1.0 (Android 11)


Target version: MIUI 12.0.3.0 (Android 10)




Procedure:




1. Switch MIUI 12.5.1.0 (last in the branch).




2. Switch MIUI 12.0.8.0 (intermediate).




3. Switch MIUI 12.0.3.0 (targeted).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi 8 Pro update