How to reflash Redmi Note 8T: official and custom firmware

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T

LineageOS

Pixel Experience

M1908C3XG

Redmi Note 8T

In this article, we'll give you step-by-step instructions for all the ways you run your firmware, whether it's MIUI Updater, Recovery, or Fastboot, and solutions to common bugs like Anti-Rollback or Invalid Image. We'll look at how to avoid the device's flashing through informal builds and what tools you'll need to work with. If you're a beginner, start with the official methods. Experienced users will find details here on unlocking the bootloader and installing TWRP.

1. Firmware Preparation: What to Do Before Starting

Flashing is not just an update to Settings. Wrong actions can turn your Redmi Note 8T into a brick, so the first step is to back up the data and check the firmware compatibility.

First, determine the current version of MIUI: go to Settings → About → About → MIUI version. Write it down to help you choose the right firmware. For example, if you have a MIUI 12.5 based on Android 10, you can’t immediately flash MIUI 14 without intermediate updates due to the Anti-Rollback mechanism.

Also check the device model in Settings → About Phone → Model. For the Redmi Note 8T, it should be the M1908C3XG (global version) or M1908C3XI (Indian).

• 📱 Save data: contacts, photos, messages (use Mi Cloud or Google Account).
• 🔋 Charge the battery: at least 60% to avoid shutting down during firmware.
• 🔗 Download drivers: official Xiaomi drivers for PC.
• 🛠️ Prepare the tools: cable USB (original), Windows PC 10/11.

⚠️ Warning: If you plan to install custom firmware, unlock the bootloader in advance. the process takes up to 72 hours (due to Xiaomi's validation). TWRP or LineageOS is impossible.

2. Method 1: Officially Updated via MIUI Updater

The safest method is to upgrade through the built-in MIUI Updater app, which is suitable for installing stable and beta versions of MIUI without risking data loss, but this way you can not downgrade the software version or install custom firmware.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the icon "⋮" (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Select Service Package.
3. Specify the path to the downloaded firmware file (.zip format, the name should contain) miui_).
4. Confirm the installation and wait for the restart (it will take 5-15 minutes).

Where to download the firmware? Only from the official Xiaomi website. 8T Choose the Redmi Note section 8T (Ginkgo and download the latest stable version (e.g, miui_GINKGOGlobal_V14.0.2.0.TCQMIXM_...).

⚠️ Note: If the Couldn't verify update error appears during the update, check the integrity of the downloaded file (compare the hash amount). MD5 (c) or rename the file to update.zip.

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The official update via MIUI Updater does not require unlocking the bootloader and saves all data, but is limited to Xiaomi’s MIUI versions.

Method 2: Firmware through Recovery (without PC)

If the official update doesn't work (for example, because of a damaged system), you can flash the device through Recovery Mode, which also doesn't require a PC, but resets all the settings to factory.

Procedure:

1. Download the firmware for Recovery (file marked recovery in the title) from the official website.
2. Rename the file to update.zip and move it to the root of internal memory.
3. Turn off the phone, then press Power + Volume up to enter Recovery Mode.
4. Select Install update.zip to System (use volume buttons for navigation, power buttons for confirmation).
5. After you complete the process, select Reboot to System.

If Recovery doesn’t have Install update.zip, you have a custom version of Recovery installed (like TWRP). In this case, select Install → specify the path to the firmware file → swipe for confirmation.

Download the firmware for Recovery (not Fastboot!)

Rename the file to update.zip

Copy the file to the root of the memory

Charge your phone ≥60%

Know the key combination to enter Recovery-->

⚠️ Note: Firmware resets all data, including photos and apps, if you want to save files, transfer them to your PC or cloud.

4. Method 3: Fastboot Firmware (from PC)

Fastboot is the most reliable method for building blocks or installing firmware from scratch, USB-cable and unlocked boot loader (if you install unofficial firmware).

What you need:

• 🖥️ Windows PC 10/11 and installed Mi Flash Tool drivers.
• 📁 Fastboot firmware (file with.tgz or.zip extension, image folder should be in the archive).
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (a faulty cable may interrupt the process!).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the archive with firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Redmi_Note_8T_fastboot).
2. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to enter the Fastboot Mode (a hare in a hat-eared image will appear).
3. Connect your phone to your PC. Make sure that the Android Bootloader Interface is in Device Manager.
4. Download and run the Mi Flash Tool.
5. In the Select field, specify the path to the firmware folder. Select Clean all or Clean all and lock. + loader-lock).
6. Press Refresh, then Flash, and it takes 5-10 minutes.

If the Mi Flash Tool is an Anti-Rollback error, you are trying to install an older version of MIUI than the one that was before, the solution is to flash the intermediate version or use the Anti-Rollback Patch (available on forums like XDA-Developers).

5. Unlocking the bootloader for custom firmware

To install TWRP, LineageOS or other custom firmware, you need to unlock the bootloader. Xiaomi allows this, but the process requires confirmation through your Mi Account.

Instructions for unlocking:

1. Connect the device to your Mi Account: Settings → Xiaomi account → Sign in.
2. Activate USB debugging: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times until the message “You’re a developer” appears). Then go to Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging by USB.
3. Download the Mi Unlock Tool and run it on behalf of the administrator.
4. Log in to the same Mi Account as on your phone. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode. + Loudness down).
5. Press Unlock. Wait 72-168 hours (Xiaomi checks the request).

Once unlocked, you can install TWRP. For the Redmi Note 8T, use the TWRP version from the official website. Install via Fastboot:

fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-ginkgo.img


fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_9-0-ginkgo.img

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the device, including internal memory. Also some features (e.g. Mi Pay or Widevine) L1 for Netflix HD) They may stop working.

1. Use another Mi Account (sometimes old accounts are blocked).

2. connect to the Internet through a mobile access point (sometimes corporate networks block the request).

3.Repeat try after 24 hours – sometimes the delay is caused by Xiaomi server overload.-->

6. Install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)

Custom firmware gives the Redmi Note 8T a second life: an updated Android, no MIUI ads and improved performance.

• 📱 LineageOS: pure Android without unnecessary applications.
• 🎨 Pixel Experience: The interface is like Google Pixel + monthly updates.
• ⚡ Havoc-OS: maximum customization (gestures, themes, kernel).

How to determine:

1. Unlock the bootloader (see the previous section).
2. Install TWRP via Fastboot (the command above).
3. Download firmware (e.g. LineageOS for ginkgo) and GApps (Google Services Package, e.g. Open GApps, arm64 → 11.0 → pico).
4. Download to TWRP (Nutrition + Volume Up), do Wipe → Format Data (enter yes).
5. Install the firmware, then GApps (order is important!) Reboot.

The first start after installing custom firmware can take up to 10 minutes. If the system does not load for more than 20 minutes, repeat the installation, checking the compatibility of the firmware version with your model.

7.Typical errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you may have problems, and here are the most common errors in the Redmi Note 8T firmware and how to fix them:

If the sensor, camera or mobile network is not working after the firmware, then it is likely that the firmware from another model was installed, in which case, return to the official MIUI via Fastboot.

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90% of firmware errors are due to incompatibility of the MIUI version or a corrupted firmware file. Always check the hash amount (MD5) of the downloaded archive!

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)