How to flash Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: official and custom methods

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro remains one of the most popular smartphones of the brand even years after its release. Its powerful Mediatek Helio G90T processor, 64-MP camera and capacious battery still attract users. However, over time, official support for updates ends, and the desire to install a fresh version of Android or custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience grows. In this guide, we will analyze all the current ways of firmware Redmi Note 8 Pro — from official to advanced, taking into account the nuances of unlocking the bootloader and solving typical errors.

It's important to understand that firmware isn't just an upgrade through Settings → Phone. It's about completely reflashing the system partition, which can both revitalize the device and turn it into a brick if you do the wrong thing. We'll look at three basic methods: MIUI Updater (the safest), Fastboot (universal), and TWRP (for custom firmware), and we'll also focus on unlocking the bootloader through the Milock Tool, without which you can't install unofficial firmware.

If your goal is to upgrade to the latest version available MIUI, The first two sections are enough for enthusiasts who want to install Android. 13/14 or GSI-Firmware, useful sections about custom restoration and manual firmware through ADB. Regardless of the chosen path, start with data backup – firmware erases user files in the section /data.

1. firmware preparation: backup and model verification

Before you start firmware, make sure your device meets the requirements.The Redmi Note 8 Pro has several modifications, varying in regions and frequencies supported.

• 🌍 Global (begonia) – International version with Google Services support;
• 🇨🇳 China (Begonia) – Chinese version without Google, but with additional features MIUI;
• 🇮🇳 India (begoniain) – Indian version with local settings;
• 🇷🇺 Russia (begoniar) – Russian version with pre-installed services.

You can find out the exact model in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (last line) or through the command adb shell getprop ro.product.name. You can only stitch files for your modification! Installation of firmware from another version will lead to broken communication, camera errors or complete device failure.

Save contacts, photos and files to your PC or cloud|Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)|Find out the exact model of the device|Download the Mi Phone Manager drivers|Prepare. USB-cable (original or quality)

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Pay special attention to backup. Fastboot or TWRP firmware completely clears the /data partition and with it all user data.

• 📱 Mi Cloud – for contacts, notes and photos (if synchronization is enabled);
• 💻 ADB Backup - Adb backup team -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab (saves applications and their data);
• 🔄 Titanium Backup – for root users (requires) ROOT-rights).

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Account to unlock the bootloader, make sure the account is not tied to another device with active lock. Xiaomi can block unlock for 7-30 days if fraud is suspected.

2. Official firmware via MIUI Updater (without unlocking)

The easiest and safest way to upgrade the Redmi Note 8 Pro is to use the built-in MIUI Updater, which does not require unlocking the bootloader and is suitable for installing stable or beta versions of MIUI.

• 🔄 The device has not been previously re-interrupted by custom firmware;
• 🔓 bootloader locked (standard state);
• 📶 There is a stable connection to Wi-Fi (load volume is 1.5-2.5 GB).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the icon «⋮» (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Select firmware file.
3. Download the official firmware from MIUI Downloads (select your model and region).
4. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root directory of internal memory.
5. Return to MIUI Updater, select a file and confirm the installation.

The device will restart to Recovery and install the update automatically, the entire process will take 5-10 minutes, and if after the reboot the error "Can't verify update" appears, then:

• 🔴 The firmware file is damaged (pump it over);
• 🔴 Selected the wrong region (for example, trying to set Global on the Chinese model);
• 🔴 The device was previously unlocked (requires firmware via Fastboot).

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If the update is not available through MIUI Updater, try changing the region in the settings: Settings → Additional → Region. For example, for global updates, choose India or Russia instead of China.

3. Unlocking the bootloader: a must-do step for Fastboot and TWRP

To install firmware via Fastboot or TWRP, you need to unlock the bootloader. Xiaomi officially allows this, but the process requires binding to Mi Account and waiting (usually 7 days).

Step-by-step:

1. Link Mi Account to your device in Settings → Xiaomi Account.
2. Enable Developer Options (7 times click on the MIUI version in About Phone).
3. Activate OEM Unlock and USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For Developers.
4. Download the Mi Unlock Tool and install it on PC.
5. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (turn off the device, then press Volume Down + Power).
6. Launch the Mi Unlock Tool, log in to your Mi Account and follow the instructions.

⚠️ Note: After unlocking the Redmi Note 8 Pro bootloader, SafetyNet will not pass the check, which can lead to problems with banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) and services like Google Pay.

Official MIUI Updater|Fastboot (official firmware)|TWRP (custom firmware)|I haven't decided yet

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4. Fastboot Firmware: A Universal Method for Official Firmware

Fastboot is suitable for installing official firmware (including for recovery of the brick), and requires an unlocked bootloader. The advantage is reliability, since the firmware goes directly through the door. EDL-The disadvantage is that all data is erased.

Tools required:

• 💻 Windows PC 10/11 (For the Mi Flash Tool);
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (important for stable connection);
• 📦 Firmware in.tgz or.zip format (download from Xiaomi Firmware Updater);
• 🛠 Mi Flash Tool (last version).

Instructions:

1. Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\ROM\begonia_global).
2. Run the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator.
3. Connect your phone to Fastboot (Vol) mode− + Power).
4. In the program, click Select and specify the path to the folder with the firmware.
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 hanging on 99% or a mistake "anti_rollback", signifier:

• 🔴 You are trying to install an older version. MIUI, The same is true (forbidden by the Anti-Rollback policy);
• 🔴 The firmware is designed for another modification of the device;
• 🔴 The file is damaged. flash_all.bat (pump up the archive).

5. Install custom firmware through TWRP

For enthusiasts who want to install LineageOS, Pixel Experience or HavocOS, custom TWRP recovery is required. This method gives full control over the system, but requires caution - wrong actions can lead to hard brick (irreparable damage).

Steps to install TWRP:

1. Download the latest version of TWRP for Redmi Note 8 Pro from the official website (.img file).
2. Rename it to twrp.img and place it in the folder with the platform-tools (where adb.exe lies).
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode and execute the command: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
4. After downloading to TWRP, make a backup of the NVRAM partition (important for the operation of the communication module!).

Installation of custom firmware:

1. Download firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience from the official website) and GApps (if you need Google services).
2. Transfer the files to your phone or flash drive.
3. In TWRP, run Wipe → Format Data (enter yes).
4. Install firmware, then GApps, then (optional) Magisk for root rights.
5. Reboot to the system.

⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 8 Pro with Mediatek Helio processor G90T Some custom firmware may not work properly with the module NVRAM, resulting in loss IMEI Check the reviews on the XDA-Developers forum before installing.

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Android 12+-based firmware may not support /data partition encryption on Mediatek devices. If the phone asks for a password after installation but doesn't accept it, try formatting /data into TWRP and installing the firmware again.

6. Solving Typical Errors After Firmware

Even with a successful firmware, there can be problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them:

If after firmware through Fastboot, the phone does not respond to buttons and is not detected by the PC, try:

• 🔌 Connect to another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0);
• 🔄 Keep Volume Up + Loudness down + Power 10-15 seconds for forced reboot;
• 💻 Use it. SP Flash Tool for emergency firmware (requires an auth file from Xiaomi).

To restore the IMEI (if it has dropped):

1. Find out the original IMEI (written on the box or under the battery).
2. In TWRP, install the IMEI Tool (such as MauiMeta).
3. Enter the commands: su setprop sys.usb.config diag,adb
4. Connect to your PC and restore your IMEI via MauiMeta.

7.Alternative methods: EDL and SP Flash Tool

If the Redmi Note 8 Pro turned into a “brick” (does not respond to buttons, does not load into Fastboot), there is a last chance – firmware through the Internet. EDL-This method requires a special cable or access point on the board, as well as an official firmware file with the.mbn extension.

Instructions for SP Flash Tool:

1. Download the SP Flash Tool and firmware in *.mbn format.
2. Unpack the firmware and find the file prog_emmc_firehose_*.mbn.
3. V SP Flash Tool select Download Agent and specify path MTK_AllInOne_DA.bin.
4. Put the phone in. EDL-mode (this may require disassembly and closure of contacts on the board).
5. Press Download and wait for completion (10-15 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL Without official permission of Xiaomi (auth file) can lead to the locking of the device on the Internet. IMEI. Use this method only if other methods have not helped and you are ready for the risk.

For the entrance EDL-The undisassembled mode can be used by the command:

adb reboot edl

But this only works if the adb has been activated before it breaks down.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note firmware 8 Pro