The smartphone Redmi Note 8 Pro, released in 2019, received an official update to the operating system Android 11, which comes as part of a proprietary shell MIUI 12 i MIUI 12.5. For many users, this upgrade was the last major security and functionality update available out of the box. Installing a new version of the OS allows you to extend the life of your device by improving privacy management and optimizing the performance of background processes.
However, the process of switching to a new version does not always go smoothly, especially if the automatic notification never arrived. Device owners often have to resort to manual installation of firmware via mode Recovery or use computer software to force an update. It is important to understand that the transition between major versions of Android requires careful preparation of data and checking the compatibility of the regional version of the software.
In this guide, we will look at all the legal ways to install Android 11 on your device. We will look at the nuances of unlocking the bootloader, choosing the correct firmware version for your region, and methods for restoring the system in case of errors. Follow the instructions carefully to turn your gadget into an up-to-date device without losing the warranty at the software level.
Device preparation and backup
Before starting any manipulations with the system partition, it is critical to save all personal information. Updating from Android 10 to Android 11 affects the system file structure and any failure may result in complete data loss. Use built-in tools Xiaomi or third-party solutions to create a complete copy of contacts, messages and media files.
Make sure the battery charge is at least 60-70%. The flashing process is energy-consuming, and a sudden power outage while recording system partitions can turn a smartphone into a “brick.” Also free up at least 5-7 GB of free space on the internal drive, since the update archive and temporary installation files take up a significant amount of space.
⚠️ Attention: If you plan to switch from the global version of the firmware to the Chinese one (or vice versa), be sure to perform a full reset (Wipe Data). Direct updating across different regions without cleaning will result in a cyclic reboot (bootloop).
Check the integrity of the USB cable if the update will be carried out through a computer. Cheap cables that only support charging are not suitable for data transfer in Fastbootmode. Use an original wire or a certified analogue that supports high-speed data transfer.
☑️ Checklist before flashing
Official over-the-air (OTA) update method
The simplest and safest method is to use the standard update mechanism. The system independently checks the servers Xiaomi for the presence of a new software version that is suitable specifically for your serial number and region. If the server has not yet sent a push notification, you can trigger it manually through the settings.
Go to the menu Settings → About phone and click on the version icon MIUI. The system will begin searching for updates. If Android 11 is available, you will see a Download and Install button. In some cases, the update may not appear for months due to stage rollout.
To speed up the process, you can change the device region. Go to Settings → Advanced settings → Region and select a country where the update is already being actively distributed (for example, India or some European countries). After changing your region, check again for updates. As soon as the download starts, the region can be returned back.
If the update is not found, try connecting your smartphone to a Wi-Fi network with a different DNS (for example, Google DNS 8.8.8.8), sometimes this helps to bypass local restrictions on update servers.
After downloading archive, the device will prompt you to reboot for installation. The screen will go dark, the logo Redmi and a progress bar will appear. Do not touch the device at this moment. The whole process takes from 10 to 20 minutes depending on the speed of the flash memory.
Manual installation via Recovery mode
If the OTA update gives an error or the file does not load, you will have to use the manual installation method of Recovery ROM. You will need to download the full firmware archive (Recovery ROM) with extension .zip from the official website or trusted resources. Make sure that you are downloading the version specifically for the model begonia (code name Redmi Note 8 Pro).
Copy the downloaded file to the root of the device’s internal memory. Rename it to update.zip for convenience, although this is not always necessary. Next you need to go into recovery mode. To do this, turn off the smartphone and simultaneously press the Volume Up and Power buttons until the logo appears.
In the menu Recovery select a language (English and Chinese are usually available). Click on item Install Update or Choose Update Package. Find your archive in the list of files update.zip and confirm the installation. The system will check the digital signature of the file.
| Firmware type | File extension | Installation method | Saving data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery ROM | .zip | Through the Recovery menu | Yes (usually) |
| Fastboot ROM | .tgz | Via PC and MiFlash | No (complete cleaning) |
| OTA Package | .zip (smaller size) | Only through the update menu | Yes |
⚠️ Attention: When you try to install firmware from another region via Recovery, the system will generate a signature verification error. Cross-regional updating requires an unlocked bootloader and the use of Fastboot mode with data clearing.
What to do if Recovery does not see the file?
Make sure that the file is in the internal memory and not on the SD card. Also check that the file is not damaged when downloading (check the MD5 checksum if it is provided by the developer).
Updating via Fastboot and computer
This method is the most powerful and allows you to restore the device even in difficult cases, as well as change the firmware region. To work, you will need a PC with Windows OS, installed drivers Qualcomm or ADB/Fastboot, as well as the utility MiFlash Tool.
Download the archive Fastboot ROM (extension .tgz). Unpack the archive on your computer into a folder with a path that does not contain Cyrillic characters and spaces (for example, C:\Xiaomi_ROM). Inside there should be a folder with the system image and installation scripts.
Switch the smartphone to Fastbootmode by holding down the Volume Down and Powerbuttons. Connect your phone to PC with a cable. The device Android Bootloader Interfaceshould appear in Windows Device Manager. Run MiFlash Tool, press the button Refresh and select the path to the unpacked firmware.
fastboot devices
fastboot getvar all
At the bottom of the MiFlash utility, select the firmware mode. For a clean installation of Android 11 with removal of all data, select the option clean all. If you are simply updating within one region and want to save files, theoretically you can choose clean all and lock (only if the bootloader is closed and the region matches), but it is safer to use the save mode, if available, or make a backup in advance.
Using Fastboot mode is the only way to legally change the firmware region (for example, from CN to Global), but this requires an unlocked bootloader.
Unlocking the bootloader: necessity and risks
To install custom recovery or unofficial builds of Android 11 (if official support has been discontinued), you need to unlock the bootloader (Bootloader). On devices Xiaomi this procedure is officially supported, but has limitations on the waiting time.
You will need to link your account Mi Account to the device through the menu Settings for developers → Mi Unlock status. After submitting an application for unlocking through a special utility on your PC, you will have to wait from 7 to 168 hours (depending on account activity and region). Only after this timer has expired will the utility allow unlocking.
- 🔓 Unlocking allows you to install any software version, including custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience).
- 🛡️ When After unlocking, all data on the device is permanently deleted for security purposes.
- ⚠️ Some banking applications and games with anti-cheat protection may stop working or require additional manipulations (Magisk, Hide My Applist).
Is it worth unlocking the bootloader for Android 11? If official firmware is already available for your model, there is no urgent need for this. However, if you want to get a “pure” Android without the MIUI shell, unlocking will be a mandatory first step.
Possible problems and solutions
During the update process, users may encounter a number of common errors. One of the most common is a signature verification error when installing Recovery ROM. This happens when you try to downgrade the Android version (downgrade) or install firmware from another region on a locked bootloader.
If the device goes into an endless reboot (bootloop) after installation, try entering Recovery mode and resetting the data (Wipe Data → Wipe All Data). This will delete user files, but often saves the system from software conflicts between old settings and the new OS.
⚠️ Attention: If the phone does not turn on and does not respond to buttons (hard brick), bootloader recording may have been interrupted. In this case, only flashing the firmware via EDL mode (Emergency Download Mode) will help, which requires an authorized service center account or a special box.
It is also possible that battery life will decrease in the first days after the update. The Android 11 system carries out deep optimization of applications and indexing of files in the background. Let the device work for 2-3 days in normal mode, without installing heavy applications, so that the battery stabilizes.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to update Redmi Note 8 Pro to Android 12 or 13 officially?
No, official support for the model has ended on the Android version 11 (MIUI 12.5). Further security updates were minimal. To obtain newer versions of Android, you need to install custom firmware through an unlocked bootloader.
Will information be erased when updating via OTA?
When updating “over the air” or through the Recovery menu within one region, all user data (photos, contacts, applications) are saved. The reset occurs only when changing the region or using the mode clean all in Fastboot.
Why does MiFlash display the error "Missmatching image and device"?
This error means that you are trying to flash firmware that is not intended for your device. Make sure that the archive is downloaded specifically for the code name begonia. The firmware from the regular Redmi Note 8 (ginkgo) will not work and can damage the device.
How to return to an old version of Android if the new one works poorly?
It is impossible to officially downgrade (rollback) without unlocking the bootloader due to Anti-Rollback protection. If you try to install old firmware on a locked device, you will receive an error. You will need to unlock and completely clear data via Fastboot.