How to update Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro: all the ways and nuances

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is the flagship of 2018, which is still relevant thanks to regular updates to MIUI. However, with the release of new versions of Android and the termination of official support for some regions, owners have to look for alternative ways to update. In this article, we will analyze all available methods, from standard OTA to manual firmware through Fastboot and Recovery, and also explain how to avoid common errors.

It is important to understand that the process of updating to the Mi 8 Pro (codename equuleus) has its own peculiarities. For example, the model supports unlocking the bootloader, but requires confirmation of the Mi Account account when installing unofficial firmware. In addition, after upgrading to Android 12 and later, there may be problems with the performance or compatibility of applications, we will discuss each step in detail so that you can choose the best way.

1.Preparation for the update: what to do before the start

Before you start updating, you need to follow a few critical steps, neglecting them can lead to a device brisk (complete failure) or data loss, especially for manual firmware methods.

First, check the current version of MIUI and Android on your Mi 8 Pro. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI. Write down or take a picture of this information – you’ll need it to choose the right firmware. For example, if you have MIUI 12.5 on Android 11, switching to Android 12 will require a complete data cleanup (wipe).

• 📱 Backup: Use Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset or third-party utilities like Titanium Backup (requires root). Be sure to save contacts, SMS and media files to your PC or cloud.
• 🔋 Charge the battery to a minimum of 60%. When upgraded via Recovery or Fastboot, 80% or higher is recommended, which will reduce the risk of the device shutting down during the process.
• 🔌 Prepare the cable and PC: If you plan to manually run the firmware, check the USB- cable (preferably the original one) and install the Mi Flash Tool or ADB/Fastboot on your computer.
• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (if necessary): Install custom firmware will require unlocking through the official Xiaomi tool. Note that this erases all data!

A critical nuance for the Mi 8 Pro is that if your device was purchased in China (the C-suffix version in the model), it may have a locked bootloader even after official unlocking, requiring special tools like EDL Mode, which is risky without experience.

⚠️ Warning: If you upgrade from MIUI Global to MIUI China (or vice versa), make sure to wipe data in Recovery. Otherwise, system errors, including problems with Google services, are possible.

Method 1: Air Update (OTA)

The easiest and safest method is to upgrade via OTA (Over-The-Air) – which is suitable if your device receives official updates from Xiaomi. However, since 2023, support for the Mi 8 Pro in global versions of MIUI has been significantly reduced, so OTA may not be available for older builds.

To check for updates:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the three-dot icon in the upper right corner and select Update Package (if you have previously downloaded firmware manually).
3. If the update is available, click Download and wait for the download to complete.
4. Once you download it, the system will suggest restarting for installation.

If OTA- does not come up with an update, try the following steps:

• 🌐 Change region: In your phone settings (Settings → Additional → Region), select India or Russia – sometimes this helps you get an update sooner.
• 🔄 Clear the cache: go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → System Update and clear the cache.
• 📡 Use VPN: Connect to servers in China or Singapore — sometimes this speeds up the OTA.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is stuck on the Mi logo after upgrading via OTA, don't panic. Wait 10-15 minutes -- sometimes the first download takes a long time. If nothing happens, try going to Recovery (press Power + Volume Up) and doing Wipe Cache.

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OTA- update is the most secure method, but it may not be available for older versions of MIUI or unofficial firmware.

Method 2: Manual update via Recovery

If OTA doesn’t work or you want to install a specific version of MIUI, you can use Recovery Mode, which is suitable for official.zip firmware and doesn’t require a PC connection. However, it has limitations: you can’t downgrade the Android version (for example, from 12 to 11) without completely resetting.

Instructions for updating through Recovery:

1. Download the necessary firmware from the official Xiaomi website. For Mi 8 Pro, select files marked equuleus (for example, miui_EQUULEUSGlobal_V12.5.3.0.REAMIXM_...).
2. Move the.zip file to the root directory of the phone’s internal memory (not to folders!).
3. Turn off your phone and press the Power + Volume Up combination to log in to Recovery.
4. From the Recovery menu, select the language (if available), then go to Install update or Apply update.
5. Specify the path to the downloaded file and confirm the installation.
6. After completion, select Reboot.

If the phone doesn’t boot after the upgrade or there are errors, try:

• 🔄 Clear the cache: in Recovery, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
• 🧹 Reset: If the problem persists, run Wipe Data (deletes all data!).
• 🔧 Reflash: Sometimes it helps to re-install the same firmware.

Download firmware for the equuleus model|Check integrity ZIP-File (no errors in the unpacking process)|Charge your phone at least 70 times%|Copy the file to the root of the memory (not to the folder)|Make sure the version MIUI Not less than the current one (otherwise you need to wipe)-->

Important note: if you install MIUI China on a global version (or vice versa), be sure to run Wipe Data in Recovery. Otherwise, errors with Google services or system failures may occur.

4. Method 3: Fastboot Firmware (for power users)

Fastboot is the most reliable method for installing official firmware, but it requires a PC connection and command knowledge.

• 📉 The phone is not switched on or stuck on the logo;
• 🔄 You need to downgrade MIUI/Android.
• 🔧 Requires to restore the device after a failed firmware.

To run through Fastboot, you will need:

• 🖥️ PC with ADB/Fastboot drivers installed and Mi Flash Tool utility;
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable;
• 📁 Firmware in.tgz or.zip format (unpacked in a folder).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the firmware for equuleus from the official website (select Fastboot version). Unpack the archive in a folder on your PC.
2. Turn off your phone and press Power + Volume Down to enter Fastboot Mode (a hare in a hat-eared image will appear).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
4. In the program, click Select and specify the path to the folder with the firmware.
5. Select firmware mode: Clean all – complete cleaning (recommended when changing the Android version); Clean all and lock – cleaning + lock bootloader (only for official firmware!); Save user data – data storage (risky major updates).

Flash

After successful firmware, the phone will restart automatically.

⚠️ Warning: If you select Clean all and lock in the Mi Flash Tool, the bootloader will lock and further manipulation will require re-unlocking via the Mi Unlock Tool.This can take up to 720 hours (30 days) of waiting!

5. Method 4: Install custom firmware (TWRP and not only)

If the official firmware does not suit you, you can install custom firmware, for example, LineageOS, Pixel Experience or HavocOS.

• 🔓 Unlocked loader;
• 🛠️ Installed custom Recovery (e.g., TWRP);
• 📁 Firmware in.zip format compatible with equuleus.

Instructions for installing TWRP and custom firmware:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (if not unlocked).
2. Download the latest version of TWRP for Mi 8 Pro from the official website twrp.me.
3. Rename the file to twrp.img and place it in the folder with ADB/Fastboot.
4. Connect your phone to Fastboot Mode and execute the command: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
5. Without turning off the cable, go to Recovery with the command: fastboot boot twrp.img
6. In TWRP, run Wipe → Format Data (required for custom firmware!).
7. Copy the firmware on your phone (you can use MTP in TWRP) and install it via Install.
8. After installation, run GApps (if you need Google services) and Magisk (for root).
9. Reboot to the system.

The most popular custom firmware for the Mi 8 Pro:

⚠️ Warning: Castom firmware may not support some features of the Mi 8 Pro, such as: 📸 Camera: possible problems with AI- modes or stabilization; 🔋 Charging: fast charging may not work properly; 📡 Network: some builds lack VoLTE or 5G support (if hardware is supported).

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If the touch or screen doesn’t work after installing custom firmware, try flashing the kernel (boot.img) from the official firmware via Fastboot. This often solves compatibility issues.

6. Solving common errors during the update

Even when you follow instructions, you can have errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Error: "Cannot verify update" in Recovery

This error occurs if:

• 📁 The firmware is damaged or not intended for your model.
• 🔒 Installed an unofficial version of Recovery (e.g. TWRP instead of stock);
• 📅 You try to install an older version MIUI without wipe.

Decision:

1. Check the integrity of the ZIP- file (unpack it on your PC).
2. If you are using TWRP, turn off signature verification before installing: in TWRP, go to Settings → Disable signature verification.
3. If the firmware is older than the current one, run Wipe Data.

The error is "Anti-rollback check fail."

This error occurs when trying to downgrade the Android version (for example, from 12 to 11) without unlocking the bootloader. Xiaomi has implemented an Anti-Rollback mechanism that blocks rollbacks to older versions for security.

Decision:

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool;
• 📥 Install a newer firmware version.
• 🛠️ Use special patches (like the Anti-Rollback Remove Tool), but it's risky!

Error: The phone does not turn on after the firmware

If the screen is black or the Mi logo is on, try:

• 🔄 Log in Recovery (Power + Volume Up) and run Wipe Cache.
• 🔧 Flash the device via Fastboot with Clean all selection.
• 🔌 Connect to charging for 30 minutes – sometimes helps with battery discharge during firmware
• 🛠️ Use EDL Mode (emergency mode) using the MiFlashPro tool or QFil (requires an authorized Xiaomi account).

7.Optimization after Update

After a successful update, it is recommended to follow several steps to improve performance and stability:

• 🧹 Cache Cleanup: Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup and delete unnecessary files.
• 🔄 Network reset: Settings → SIM- maps and mobile networks → Network reset. This will help avoid connection issues.
• 📱 Disable unnecessary apps: in Settings → Apps, disable or uninstall pre-installed Xiaomi services that you do not use (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music).
• 🔋 Battery calibration: After upgrading, discharge the phone to 0% and charge to 100% without interruption. This will help reset the battery data.

If you experience overheating or a quick battery discharge after the upgrade, try:

• 🔍 Turn off Autobrightness and set a fixed value;
• 🚫 Limit application background activity in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization
• 🔄 Return to the previous version MIUI (if the issue has occurred after the update).

For custom firmware users:

• 🎯 Install a kernel with optimizations (e.g. FrancoKernel or Kirisakura)
• 🔧 Set up a task scheduler using EX Kernel Manager or FK Manager.
• 📊 Use AccuBattery to monitor battery health.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)