How to reflash Xiaomi Mi 8A: official and custom firmware

Xiaomi Mi 8A (codenamed olivelite) is a budget smartphone of 2019, which is still popular due to balanced performance and support for custom firmware. However, over time, even this device begins to “brake” on stock MIUI, and official updates stop coming out. Flashing can return the device to its former performance, add new features or even install Android 13/14 through informal builds.

In this guide, we will analyze all the current ways to flash the Mi 8A: from the official update via MIUI Updater to install custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience. Particular attention will be paid to unlocking the bootloader - without it it it is impossible to install alternative software, and the process has nuances for this model, you will also learn how to avoid the "brick" (turning the phone into a "brick") and what to do if something goes wrong.

Preparation for Firmware Reflashing: What You Need to Know Before Starting

Firmware is not just a system upgrade, it is a complete software replacement. For the Xiaomi Mi 8A, the process is complicated by the fact that the manufacturer blocks the bootloader, and it must be unlocked officially through the Mi Unlock Tool. Without this step, custom firmware installation is impossible.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge at least 60 percent. If discharged during firmware, the phone may fail.
• 📱 Device model – flashing from another model (for example, Mi 8 Lite) will lead to inoperability.
• 🔐 Backup – all data (photos, contacts, messages) will be deleted. Use Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 🖥️ Computer – to unlock the bootloader and firmware through Fastboot you need a Windows PC (Linux/macOS Require additional drivers).

Also prepare:

• 🔌 Cable USB — Original or high quality (cheap cables can interrupt the connection).
• 📁 Firmware – official (from the Xiaomi website) or custom (from the forum) XDA).
• 🛠️ Tools: Mi Flash Tool (for official firmware), Platform Tools (for Fastboot), TWRP (custom-fix).

⚠️ Attention: If your Mi is yours 8A It was purchased in China (the C-suffix version in the model name), and you'll need a device-linked Mi Account with a confirmed phone number to unlock the bootloader.

Step 1: Unlock the bootloader on Xiaomi Mi 8A

The bootloader on all Xiaomi smartphones is locked by default. To unlock it, you need to:

1. Attach Mi Account to your phone in settings (Settings → Xiaomi Account).
2. Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlock in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (tap 7 times on version to activate the developer menu).
3. Download Mi Unlock Tool and log in to the program.
4. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume down + Power when the device is off).
5. Click Unlock in the program and wait until it is completed (usually takes 3-5 minutes).

The following are the key features for the Mi 8A:

• 🔄 Once unlocked, the phone will perform a full reset (wipe).
• ⏳ Sometimes you have to wait 72 to 168 hours after you have linked your account (Xiaomi blocks unlocking for new accounts).
• 🚫 If the phone has been previously unlocked, re-locking is possible only through the official service.

⚠️ Note: Some of the Mi's firmware 8A Option Unlocking OEM It may disappear after the updates. If it's not, it'll roll back to an older version. MIUI (for example, V12.0.3.0) often solves the problem.

Step 2: Choosing a firmware for Xiaomi Mi 8A

There are three types of firmware available for the Mi 8A:

For beginners, it is recommended to start with the official firmware (for example, the latest stable version of MIUI 12.5 for olivelite).

• 📱 Pixel Experience – pure Android with features from Google Pixel.
• 🔄 LineageOS is a minimalist Android with long-term support.
• 🎯 Havoc-OS - customizable firmware with many settings.

Before downloading, check:

• 🔖 The code name should be for olivelite (not platina – it is Mi 8 Lite).
• 📅 Assemblage Date – Fresh firmware (2023–2026) is usually more stable.
• 🔒 Type of unlocking – some custom firmware requires a relocked bootloader).

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If you choose custom firmware, pay attention to user reviews in the theme on XDA. Especially check whether VoLTE (calls over 4G) works - this feature is missing on some builds.

Step 3: Install the official firmware through Fastboot

This method is suitable for recovering your phone after a crash or installing a clean version of MIUI.

• 🖥️ Computer with Mi Flash Tool.
• 📁 Firmware in.tgz format (for example, olivelite_global_images_V12.0.3.0.PCPCNXM_20210310.0000.00_10.0_global_0d844b3e0f.tgz).
• 🔌 Cable USB and unlocked loader.

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Mi8A_firmware\).
2. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and start MiFlash.exe.
4. Click Select and point the way to the firmware folder.
5. Select Clean All or Clean All and Lock (if you want to lock the bootloader again).
6. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (5-10 minutes).

If the process is 99% frozen:

• 🔄 Turn off the phone, pinch the power. + Volume up 20 seconds for forced reboot.
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port.
• 🖥️ Run MiFlash on behalf of the administrator.

⚠️ Warning: Clean all and lock mode will block the bootloader back. If you plan to install custom firmware in the future, choose Clean all.

Step 4: Install custom firmware through TWRP

LineageOS, Pixel Experience or other custom firmware will require custom recavers – TWRP. The official version for the Mi 8A is available on twrp.me (despite the name Mi 8 Lite, it is suitable for the Mi 8A, as the hardware platforms are identical).

Instructions:

1. Download TWRP for olivelite (.img file) and firmware (.zip file).
2. Move the firmware to the phone or SD-map.
3. Open the command line in the folder with Platform Tools and type: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-olivelite.img fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_9-0-olivelite.img
4. In TWRP, run Wipe → Format Data (enter yes for confirmation).
5. Install the firmware through Install → Choose. ZIP-file.
6. After installation, swipe Magisk (if root is needed) and restart.

Typical errors and decisions:

• 🚫 Error 7 when installing - firmware is not suitable for your model.
• 🔄 Hanging on the logo - run the Wipe Dalvik/Cache into TWRP.
• 📵 No network – Set up vendor and firmware for your model.

For the Mi 8A, it is especially important to flash the correct modem (modem.img and vendor.img files), otherwise mobile and Wi-Fi will not work.

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Custom firmware on the Mi 8A often requires additional firmware from the fireware and the vendor, without which the camera, sensors, or communication may not work.

Step 5: Solving problems after flashing

Even if installed correctly, firmware can get into trouble, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

If your phone has turned into a brick (no button response, no PC detection), try:

1. Press Power + Volume up for 30 seconds (hardware reset).
2. Connect to charging for 1-2 hours - sometimes helps with the discharge of the battery.
3. Squeeze through EDL-Mode (requires an authorized Xiaomi account and boxing Mi Flash Pro).

There is a loophole for the Mi 8A to recover through EDL without boxing, with the MiFlashPro utility and the patched firehose file, but this method requires experience and can lead to a complete loss of warranty.

Step 6: Optimize the system after flashing

After successful firmware installation, several steps are recommended to improve performance and stability:

• 🔧 Setting up Dalvik/Cache: V TWRP run the Wipe → Advanced Wipe → Dalvik / ART Cache.
• 📵 Battery calibration: Discharge the phone to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruptions (helps to reset incorrect battery data).
• 🛡️ Disabling unnecessary services: In the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI) Turn off animations and background processes.
• 🔄 Magisk Update: If you use root, update Magisk and modules through Magisk Manager.

For custom firmware on the Mi 8A, it is useful to install:

• 🎯 NikGapps – Google’s Minimum Service Package (Saves Space and Battery).
• 🔋 Kernel Adiutor – for fine tuning the core and increasing autonomy.
• 📱 GCam – ported camera app from Google (better than stock on many firmware).

If after firmware the phone became faster discharge, check:

• 🔌 Background processes in Settings → Battery.
• 📡 Mobile Communications – Only Enable 3G roaming, if 4G unstable.
• 🔄 Auto Sync – Disable unnecessary accounts in Settings → Accounts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about reflashing Xiaomi Mi 8A