How to install Android 12 on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: official and custom ways

Why upgrade the Redmi Note 8 Pro to Android 12?

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, released in 2019 with Android 9 Pie on board, has officially received an update to Android 11 (MIUI 12.5).However, many users want to install Android 12 – not only for new features (like Material You or improved privacy), but also to extend the life of the device. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to install Android 12 on the Redmi Note 8 Pro in 2026, including official ports and custom firmware.

It's important to understand that the Redmi Note 8 Pro is powered by a Mediatek Helio G90T processor, which puts restrictions on firmware choices. Not all custom Android 12 builds run smoothly on this chipset -- some may slow down, overheat or not support the NFC module. We've only selected proven versions with minimal bugs.

If you are new to smartphone firmware, we recommend starting with the official path (if it is still available) or choosing firmware based on the new product. MIUI with ported Android 12. power users can consider AOSP-LineageOS 19 or Pixel Experience 12.

Preparation of the device: what to do before the firmware

Before you start installing Android 12, you need to follow a few critical steps, and neglecting them can lead to a “brick” (complete failure) of the device or data loss.

First, check the current firmware version: go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If you have MIUI Global Stable version below 12.5.3, upgrade to standard OTA-This minimizes the risk of conflict when installing custom firmware.

• 🔋 Charge the phone to at least 70%. The firmware can take up to 30-40 minutes, and the battery will run out in the process.
• 📱 Make a full backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup copying or by means of TWRP (if already established).
• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (unless done before). Without it, custom firmware is impossible.
• 💻 Install drivers for Mediatek on PC (download from the official Xiaomi website).

Pay special attention to unlocking the bootloader. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, it takes up to 7 days due to Xiaomi's policy (you need to link your Mi Account to the device and wait for confirmation).

⚠️ Warning: Once unlocked, the bootloader will reset all data on the phone, including photos and apps. Don't rely on cloud-based copies - some files (such as game saves) may not recover.

Method 1: Officially Update to Android 12 (if available)

In 2022-2023, Xiaomi released test builds MIUI 13 based on Android 12 for the Redmi Note 8 Pro under the MIUI Beta program. However, from 2026, official support for the device is terminated, and these builds are no longer distributed through OTA. However, they can be installed manually if you find the right file.

To check the availability of the official update:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Select Service Pack.
3. Download a firmware file with the.zip extension (for example, miui_BEGONIAGlobal_V13.0.1.0.SGGMIXM_...) and pick him out.

If the system gives an error, "This update is not intended for your device," then your current version of MIUI is too old, in which case you will first need to flash an intermediate version (for example, MIUI 12.5) through the Fastboot.

⚠️ Note: Installing official firmware via Fastboot erases all data, including the contents of internal memory. If you need to save files, transfer them to a memory card or PC before firmware.

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If you can’t find the official Android 12 firmware for your model, check out the XDA Developers forums – they often post ported versions from enthusiasts.

Method 2: Install custom firmware Android 12 via TWRP

If there is no official way, there is a custom firmware option. For the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the most stable Android 12 builds offer projects:

• Pixel Experience 12 is a pure Android with Google Pixel chips.
• LineageOS 19 is a minimalist firmware without any extra software.
• Xiaomi.eu is a modified MIUI 13 with Android 12 and no Chinese services.
• ArrowOS is the balance between performance and customization.

The installation will require:

1. Unlocked loader (see section "Preparation").
2. Installed custom TWRP Recovery (version not lower than 3.6.0).
3. Firmware file (.zip) and, if necessary, GApps (Google services).
4. File. disable_forceencrypt.zip (if the firmware does not support encryption).

Installation instructions:

1. load the phone into TWRP mode: turn off the device, then press Power + Volume up.


2. In TWRP, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe and mark:




- Dalvik / ART Cache




- System




- Data




- Cache




3. Wipe the sections swipe to the right.




4. Go back to the main menu, click Install and select the firmware file.




5 After installing the firmware (if necessary) run GApps and disable_forceencrypt.zip.




6. Reboot to the system.

The first run can take 10-15 minutes, and if the phone has been stuck on the logo for more than 20 minutes, it means that the firmware is not suitable for your model or there is a conflict with the modules.

Download firmware for begonia model (codename Redmi Note 8 Pro)|Check the hash amount of the file (MD5)|Deactivate encryption in the MIUI settings| Download the correct version of GApps (arm64, Android 12)|Connect the phone to charge-->

Method 3: Fastboot Firmware (for power users)

This method is suitable if you want to install the official Android 12 firmware, but the standard method through System Update does not work.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Fastboot firmware for Redmi Note 8 Pro (file with.tgz or.zip extension).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MIUI\begonia_global_images_...).
3. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to log into the Fastboot.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
5. In the program, click Select, specify the path to the firmware folder, then select Clean all (full cleaning) or Clean all and lock (clean + lock the bootloader).
6. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (green tick in the log).

Once you have the firmware, the phone will automatically restart, so if you have an anti-rollback error, you are trying to install an older version of MIUI than the one already on the device, in which case you need to download a newer firmware.

Solving problems after installing Android 12

Even if the firmware is successful, there may be problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 📵 No network: Check if the firmware supports your region. If not, install the modified modem.img through TWRP.
• 🔊 Not working sound: Often associated with the wrong version of vendor. vendor.img stock-stack.
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge: Calibrate the battery (discharge to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruptions) or install the kernel with optimizations.
• 🎮 Lags in Games: In Developer Settings, turn off Background Limitation for Games and set GPU-renderer.

If after installing Android 12 stopped working NFC or IR-blaster, most likely, the firmware does not include drivers for Mediatek Helio G90T. In this case, you will have to return to stock MIUI or look for an alternative build with support for these modules.

Use logs to diagnose errors.

1. Connect the phone to the PC with USB debugging enabled.


Enter at the terminal:




adb logcat > log.txt




3. Reproduce the error and stop the log entry (Ctrl+C).




4. Analyze the log.txt file for critical errors (look for lines with E/).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone overheats or spontaneously reboots after firmware is done, return to the stock firmware immediately, which may indicate that the core is incompatible with iron, leading to battery degradation or chipset damage.

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Before installing any custom firmware, check the reviews on forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA). Pay special attention to the comments of owners of the Redmi Note 8 Pro with the same revision of the motherboard (you can find out in Settings → About Phone → Version of the kernel).

Reverse to stock firmware: how to return MIUI

If Android 12 is unstable or you don’t like the changes, you can go back to the official MIUI.

1. Download the latest stable version of MIUI for Redmi Note 8 Pro (codename begonia) from Xiaomi’s website.
2. Unpack the archive and get the file. flash_all.bat (for Windows or flash_all.sh (for Linux/Mac).
3. Turn your phone into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down).
4. Launch it. flash_all.bat I'll be working on the administrator's behalf. 5–10 minute.

Once rolled back, all the data will be erased and the bootloader will remain unlocked. If you want to block it back, use the command:

fastboot flashing lock

But remember: blocking the bootloader after installing custom firmware can lead to a “soft brik” (the phone will only boot in Fastboot).

If you are planning to sell your phone, we recommend:

• Get the stock firmware back.
• Lock the loader.
• Make a reset to factory settings through Settings → Additional → Reset settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about installing Android 12 on the Redmi Note 8 Pro