The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro (codename equuleus), released in 2018, was the international version of the stunning Mi 8 Explorer Edition, bringing its futuristic design and technology to a global audience. The device was an instant head-turner, featuring a unique transparent glass back that offered a stylized view of its internal components. It was also at the forefront of biometric technology with a pressure-sensitive in-display fingerprint scanner. Powered by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, the Mi 8 Pro offered top-tier performance in a beautifully crafted package. This page provides the official fastboot ROMs for Global and Russia, along with the TWRP custom recovery needed for advanced modifications.
Important: The Mi 8 Pro (equuleus) has specific hardware for its in-display fingerprint sensor. This firmware is not compatible with the standard Mi 8 (dipper), which has a rear-mounted sensor, or the Mi 8 SE (sirius). Flashing the wrong ROM will cause hardware failure and brick your device.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro (equuleus)
- Release year: 2018
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
- Display: 6.21″ Super AMOLED, HDR10
- Battery: 3000 mAh
- Original MIUI: Android 8.1 (Oreo), MIUI 10
- Key Features: Transparent Back, In-Display Fingerprint Scanner
Required Downloads
| File / Tool | Download Link |
|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Flash Tool | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Included with Mi Flash Tool |
| Bootloader Unlock Tool | Official Mi Unlock Page |
Official ROMs & Custom Recovery
| Region | Build | Android | Type | Download | Codename |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global | V12.0.2.0.QECMIXM | 10.0 | Official Fastboot ROM | Download | equuleus |
| Russia | V12.0.2.0.QECRUXM | 10.0 | Official Fastboot ROM | Download | equuleus |
| TWRP (Custom Recovery) | 3.3.1 | — | Custom Recovery | Download | equuleus |
How to Flash Official ROM (Mi Flash Tool)
Use this method to unbrick your phone or restore official MIUI firmware.
- Boot into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down).
- Extract the official firmware (.tgz file) and select the main folder containing the
/imagesdirectory in Mi Flash Tool. - Select clean all for a safe installation (you can use clean all and lock to return to a fully stock, locked state).
How to Install TWRP & Its Purpose
Use this method if you want to install custom ROMs, root your phone, or create full backups.
What is TWRP? TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is a powerful custom recovery that replaces your phone’s basic stock recovery. It is the essential tool needed to perform advanced modifications, such as installing community-developed ROMs (like Pixel Experience or LineageOS), gaining root access with Magisk, or creating complete system backups (known as Nandroids).
Disclaimer: This is an advanced process. Proceed at your own risk.
- Unlock the Bootloader: This is the mandatory first step. Use the official Mi Unlock Tool.
- Flash TWRP:
- The TWRP download is a .zip file containing the recovery .img and flashing scripts. Extract it.
- Boot your phone into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down) and connect it to your PC.
- Run the fastboot-flash-recovery.bat script from the extracted folder to install TWRP.
- Boot into TWRP: After flashing, immediately boot into recovery by holding Power + Volume Up to prevent the stock ROM from overwriting it.
- From here, you are ready to perform advanced tasks like flashing custom ROM .zip files.
FAQs
Q1. What is the difference between the Mi 8 Pro and the Mi 8 Explorer Edition?
They are very similar. The Explorer Edition (ursa) was for the China market and featured a 3D structured light face unlock system. The Mi 8 Pro (equuleus) was the global version, which kept the transparent back and in-display fingerprint scanner but used a simpler IR face unlock.
Q2. Can I flash a standard Mi 8 (dipper) ROM on my Mi 8 Pro?
No, absolutely not. The standard Mi 8 has a physical, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. Flashing its firmware on the Mi 8 Pro will cause the in-display scanner to fail and will likely brick the device.
Q3. What was the final official update for the Mi 8 Pro?
The Mi 8 Pro launched with Android 8.1 Oreo and received its final major OS upgrade to Android 10. The MIUI 12 builds provided on this page are the last official software updates for this model.
Q4. I don’t see a custom ROM link, so why is TWRP provided?
TWRP is the universal tool that enables the installation of any custom ROM. We have provided the TWRP file as the essential first step for users who wish to explore the rich custom ROM community for the Mi 8 Pro, which includes popular ROMs like Pixel Experience, LineageOS, and others.
Troubleshooting
- Drivers: If your PC does not recognize the phone in fastboot mode, reinstall the Xiaomi USB drivers and run Mi Flash Tool as Administrator.
- Fastboot errors:
- “error: not catch checkpoint” → This common error means you have selected the wrong folder. In Mi Flash Tool, be sure to select the parent folder that was created when you extracted the .tgz file, not the images folder inside it.
- “Anti rollback error” → You are attempting to flash an older firmware version than what is currently on the device. Xiaomi’s Anti-Rollback Protection (ARB) prevents this.
- TWRP Issues:
- TWRP asks for a password → This means your phone’s storage is encrypted. The standard fix is to go to the “Wipe” menu in TWRP and choose “Format Data”. This will erase everything on your internal storage.
- Stuck on boot after flashing a custom ROM → Reboot to TWRP, perform a full wipe (Cache, Dalvik, System, Data), and then re-flash the ROM .zip file.
