How to roll back firmware on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8

Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 often face a situation when, after a planned update to the MIUI system, the smartphone begins to work unstable, the appearance of sudden reboots, rapid battery drain or the disappearance of important functions can be an unpleasant surprise for the user, in which case the only effective solution is to roll back the firmware to an earlier, stable version.

The process of returning to the previous state of the software requires carefulness and accurate follow-up. Downgrade (as the technically called rollback version) is not just removing updates, but completely rewiring system partitions, which is why it is important to understand the risks that await you and how to properly prepare the device for the procedure.

In this article, we will discuss in detail two main methods of returning an old version of MIUI: through the standard recovery menu and using a computer in Fastboot mode. You will learn how to find the desired archive, how to unlock the bootloader if necessary, and what to do if the phone has gone into an endless reboot.

Why is it necessary to roll back the system?

Xiaomi developers are constantly improving the MIUI shell with new features and security patches, but in practice, new versions of the software do not always work correctly on all devices, especially models with not the newest hardware, which includes the Redmi Note 8.

One of the common reasons for users’ frustration is the optimization of power consumption. After updating, the processor algorithms can change, which will lead to overheating or, conversely, to incorrect display of battery power. If your phone starts to run out in 3-4 hours of active screen, most likely, the problem lies in the software.

Another critical factor is the operation of communication modules. In new firmware assemblies, the settings of the radio module often change, which can lead to loss of signal in areas of uncertain reception or the complete disappearance of the 4G network. Users also often complain of bugs in the camera when photos become blurred after updating or the camera application crashes at launch.

⚠️ Note: rolling back firmware to an earlier version always results in the complete deletion of all user data.Be sure to back up contacts, photos and documents in the cloud or on your computer before starting the procedure.

Preparation of the device and search for firmware

The first and most important step is to find the right version of the software. You need to find a firmware archive that is lower than the one installed now. For Redmi Note 8 (codenamed ginkgo for global or willow for Chinese), it is important not to confuse the files.

Download system images should only be from trusted sources, such as the official forum Xiaomi Community or specialized resources like XDA Developers. Using modified builds from unknown authors can lead to the installation of malware or malfunction of equipment.

For easy navigation by firmware type, check out the table below to help you determine which file you need for your region and the current state of your phone.

After downloading the file, make sure that its checksum matches the one listed on the developer's website.A damaged archive can cause a Can't verify update error or, worse, damage system files.

Recovery Method through Recovery Menu

The easiest way to return an old version of MIUI is to use a built-in recovery menu, which does not require a computer, but has one significant limitation: the standard Recovery menu prohibits installing an older version of the system on top of a new one.

To get around this limitation, you'll need an unlocked bootloader. If your phone is already unlocked, the procedure takes only a few minutes. You'll need to rename the downloaded firmware file to update.zip and place it in the root folder of the device's internal memory.

Next, perform the following actions:

• 📱 Go to the Settings menu → The phone. → Version. MIUI and click on three dots in the corner by selecting "Select firmware file».
• 💾 Point the way to the file. update.zip and confirm the start of installation.
• 🔄 The phone will reboot to Recovery mode and start the flashing process, which can take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes.

If the bootloader is locked, the standard method won't work, so you can try using the button-driven Recovery mode. Turn off the phone, then press Volume Up and Power at the same time. In the menu that appears, select the language and click "Wipe Data" and then "Install from ZIP" (if available).

Use of Fastboot Mode and MiFlash Utility

The most reliable and clean way to roll back firmware on the Redmi Note 8 is to use the Fastboot mode and the official MiFlash Tool utility on a Windows computer, which allows you to completely rewrite all memory partitions, excluding file conflicts.

The main requirement for this method is an unlocked bootloader. If your bootloader is blocked, the program will give an error when trying the firmware. The unlock process takes from 7 to 15 days from the date of application on the Xiaomi website.

Instructions for firmware through Fastboot:

1. Unpack the downloaded firmware archive (.tgz format) into the root of the C disk so that the path is short, such as: C:\ROM\.
2. Run the MiFlash utility on behalf of the administrator.
3. Turn off the phone and enter Fastboot mode by clamping the Volume Down and Power buttons until the hare appears in the headphones.
4. Connect your smartphone to your PC and press the Refresh button in the program. When the device serial number appears, select Clean All firmware mode.

⚠️ Note: When selecting Clean All mode, all data on the phone will be irretrievably deleted.Clean All and Lock mode is strongly discouraged, as it can lock the device if the versions of the firmware region and the device region do not match.

After you select the mode, press the Flash button. 200-300 When it's finished, it automatically restarts. The first turn on after the reset can last up to a few seconds. 10 Minutes are normal, the system is configured.

Solving common errors in firmware

Users often encounter technical problems during firmware rollbacks. One of the most common errors is Error:7 or a hash mismatch message, which indicates that the firmware file is corrupted or not intended for your model (ginkgo instead of willow).

Another common problem is hanging on the MI logo (Bootloop).If the phone is stuck in a reboot cycle after a failed downgrade, try a full reset via Recovery: Wipe Data → Wipe All Data. If that doesn't work, you'll need to re-flash through Fastboot with a Clean All option option.

It's also possible that the computer can't see the phone in Fastboot mode.

• 🔌 Replace. USB-cable to the original or high-quality analogue with thick wires.
• 💻 Check the Windows Device Manager in the Universal Controller section USB» It should be an Android Bootloader Interface.
• 🖥️ Install or reinstall Xiaomi drivers USB Drivers and Qualcomm Drivers.

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Use it. USB-port 2.0 It's on the computer motherboard, not the front panel of the case. 3.0/3.1 Sometimes cause problems with connection stability when firmware old devices.

Data recovery and setup after rollback

After a successful rollback to a stable firmware version, you'll have a clean system, which is the perfect time to not recover all the junk from old backups, but to reconfigure the phone, but to return contacts and photos.

If you have used a Google account, your contacts, notes and calendar are synced automatically when you log in, and you can use Google Play to restore apps, which will offer you to install previously downloaded programs.

To return the photos and files you saved to your computer before the procedure:

1. Connect your phone to your PC in file transfer mode (MTP).
2. Copy DCIM, Pictures, Download, and MIUI folders (if there were important recordings of the recorder) into internal memory.
3. Do not copy Android system folders and old settings files to avoid transferring errors to the new system.

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After a downgrade, it is recommended not to install system updates immediately. Watch the phone for 2-3 days to make sure the stability of the chosen version of MIUI.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)