How to upgrade Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro to the latest version of MIUI: 3 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, released in 2019, is still a popular smartphone thanks to the powerful Mediatek Helio G90T processor and 64-megapixel camera. However, with the release of new versions of MIUI and Android owners are faced with the question: how to update the device correctly to avoid losing data and avoiding “brick”? In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of updating – from automatic OTA to manual firmware via Fastboot, and also tell you how to prepare the phone and what to do if the update is “hangling”.

It’s important to understand that the Redmi Note 8 Pro has a closed bootloader, so some methods (such as installing custom firmware) require official unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool. We’ll focus on official ways that don’t violate warranty or lock the device. If your smartphone hasn’t received Settings updates in a long time, it may be time to manually update — it won’t take more than 20 minutes.

1.Preparing the phone for an update: 5 mandatory steps

Before you start the upgrade, make sure your Redmi Note 8 Pro is ready for the procedure.Neglecting preparation is the main cause of crashes, data loss or even “bricking” the device.

• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 60%. When upgrading via Fastboot or Recovery, the phone should not turn off - this will damage the system files.
• 📡 Connect to stable Wi-Fi. Download firmware "over the air» (OTA) It can take up to 1 GB of traffic and interrupting the download will lead to an error.
• 📱 Back up. Use the settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset or third-party utilities like Mi Mover.
• 🔍 Check the current version MIUI. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If the version is older MIUI 12.5, the update will take longer.
• 🔌 Use the original cable USB. Cheap cables can interrupt data transmission when running through a PC.

Pay special attention to free space on your phone. Upgrades through Recovery require at least 3-4 GB of free space on the internal drive. If memory is scarce, transfer photos and videos to a microSD card or cloud.

⚠️ Note: If your Redmi Note 8 Pro was purchased in China (suffix version) CN In the model, official global firmware may not work, and this will require unlocking the bootloader and installing Global. ROM via Fastboot.

Method 1: Automatic Air Update (OTA)

The easiest and safest method is to update via the settings menu, which is suitable if:

• 📲 Your version. MIUI older MIUI 11 (otherwise, you will need a hand firmware).
• 🌐 You have a stable Wi-Fi connection.
• 🔄 There is plenty of free space on the phone.

Instructions:

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, click "Install." The phone will restart and install the update automatically.

If the update is not available, your region may not be supported (for example, for Chinese versions). In this case, go to manual methods. Also check if the updates in the developer settings are disabled: go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI and click on it 7 times to activate the developer mode. → Additionally. → For developers, make sure the “Air Update” option is enabled.

💡

If the update is “hanging” during the boot phase, try resetting the cache: go to Settings → Applications → App Management → System Update → Storage → Clear the cache.

Method 2: Manual update via Recovery

If OTA-Update is unavailable or gives you an error, you can install firmware manually through stock Recovery, which saves user data, but requires you to download the correct version. MIUI.

Steps:

1. Download the firmware for Redmi Note 8 Pro (codename begonia) from the official website: 🌍 Global version (Global) 🇨🇳 Chinese version (China) 🇪🇺 European version (EEA)

Choose a file with the.zip extension and the "Recovery" tag.

Move the file.

miui_BEGONIAGlobal_V12.5.3.0.RGGMIXM_...

Download to Recovery.

1. Turn off the phone.


2. Press the Volume Up + Power buttons before the Mi logo appears.




3 Select the language./whale.) and the option "Install update.zip to System."

Confirm installation

⚠️ Warning: If you've had your phone hang on the Mi logo for more than 10 minutes after you upgraded through Recovery, don't panic. Wait another 15 to 20 minutes -- sometimes the first download takes a long time. If nothing's changed, try resetting your cache: in Recovery, select "Wipe & Reset" → Wipe Cache».

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

This method is suitable if:

• 🔧 You need to upgrade from a very old version (e.g., from a new version). MIUI 10. MIUI 12.5).
• 🖥️ You have access to a Windows PC.
• 🔓 You are ready to unlock the bootloader (if it is blocked).

To run through Fastboot, you will need:

• 💻 Mi Flash Tool Programming.
• 📦 Firmware in.tgz format (download from the official website by selecting “Fastboot»).
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (better from the set).
• 🔑 Unlocked bootloader (if the phone is new).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MIUI\begonia).
2. Install drivers: 1. Download the Mi Flash Tool and install. 2. Connect the phone turned off to the PC by clamping Volume Down + Power (Fastboot mode). 3. In Device Manager, check that the phone is defined as Android Bootloader Interface.
3. Run the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware folder, and click Refresh. The device should appear in the list.
4. Select firmware mode: Clean all - complete clean (loss of data); Clean all and lock - clean + lock bootloader (for sale); Save user data - data storage (does not always work).

Press "Flash"

If the Mi Flash Tool gives you a “Couldn’t find fastboot” error, make sure that the firmware folder has a file. flash_all.bat. If it is not, download the firmware again - it could be damaged during downloading.

5. How to unlock the bootloader on the Redmi Note 8 Pro

If you want to install custom firmware (like Pixel Experience or LineageOS) or your phone isn't being updated through official methods, you'll need to unlock the bootloader. Xiaomi allows this, but the process takes up to 72 hours of latency.

Instructions:

1. Connect your Mi Account to your phone: 1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account and log in. 2. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version and tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode. 3. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on “OEM Unlock” and “USB Debugging.”
2. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website and install it on PC.

Once you unlock the bootloader, you can install any firmware you want, but remember, it resets the phone to factory settings and can take away warranties. It also makes the bootloader more vulnerable to malware.

⚠️ Note: If you unlocked the bootloader, but decided to return the phone to the official firmware, use Clean all and lock mode in the Mi Flash Tool. This will block the bootloader back, but delete all data.

6. Frequent update errors and how to fix them

Even when you follow instructions, you can get errors, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

If after the update the phone began to slow down or discharge quickly, reset the cache:

1. Go to Recovery (click Volume Up + Nutrition).
2. Select "Wipe & Reset" → Wipe Cache».

Instructions:

1. Download the desired version of MIUI in Fastboot format from the official website.
2. Unpack the firmware and find the file in the folder flash_all_lock.bat (to lock the loader) or flash_all_except_storage.bat (Data retention, but not always works).
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode and launch the corresponding.bat file.

After rolling back, the phone can take up to 10 minutes to boot — that's okay. If the screen blinks or if the word "No command" appears, it's not the firmware for your model.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions