The Xiaomi Redmi 8 (codename olive), launched in 2019, solidified Xiaomi’s dominance in the entry-level market with its blend of style and endurance. It was widely praised for its premium “Aura Mirror” design, a massive 5000 mAh battery with 18W fast charging support, and the inclusion of a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. Powered by the efficient Snapdragon 439 chipset and featuring a dual-camera setup, the Redmi 8 offered a complete and reliable user experience. This page serves as a comprehensive resource for owners, providing official fastboot ROMs for China, Global, India, and Indonesia, alongside the popular Xiaomi.eu custom ROM for unbricking, updating, or restoring the device.
Important: You must verify your device codename is olive. The Redmi 8 is often confused with the Redmi 8A (olivelite), but they have different hardware (notably the fingerprint scanner). Their firmwares are not interchangeable, and flashing the wrong ROM will lead to a brick.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: Xiaomi Redmi 8 (olive)
- Release year: 2019
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 439
- Display: 6.22″ IPS LCD, HD+
- Battery: 5000 mAh, 18W fast charging support
- Original MIUI: Android 9 (Pie), MIUI 11
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 |
Fastboot ROMs
| Region | Build | Android | Release Date | Download | Codename |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | V12.5.5.0.QCNCNXM | 10.0 | 2021-12-29 | Download | olive |
| Global | V12.5.3.0.QCNMIXM | 10.0 | 2021-10-25 | Download | olive |
| Indonesia | V12.5.3.0.QCNIDXM | 10.0 | 2022-08-05 | Download | olive |
| India | V12.5.2.0.QCNINXM | 10.0 | 2021-10-10 | Download | olive |
| Xiaomi.eu (Custom) | V12.5.5.0.QCNCNXM (Based) | 10.0 | — | Download | olive |
How to Flash
For a step-by-step process, drivers, and troubleshooting, read our Ultimate Mi Flash Guide.
- Boot into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down).
- Extract the firmware (.tgz file) and select the main folder containing the
/imagesdirectory in Mi Flash Tool. - Select clean all for a safe installation (avoid clean all and lock unless you are on the correct stock ROM for your region).
FAQs
Q1. What is the main difference between the Redmi 8 and the Redmi 8A?
The Redmi 8 (olive) features a dual rear camera and a fingerprint scanner. The Redmi 8A (olivelite) has a single rear camera and no fingerprint scanner. Because of these hardware differences, their firmwares are not compatible.
Q2. Can I flash a Redmi 8A (olivelite) ROM on my Redmi 8?
No, absolutely not. Flashing the incorrect firmware will cause hardware to stop working (especially the fingerprint scanner) and will likely brick your device. Always use olive firmware for the Redmi 8.
Q3. What was the final official update for the Redmi 8?
The Redmi 8 launched with Android 9 (Pie) and received its final major OS upgrade to Android 10. The last significant MIUI version it received was MIUI 12.5.
Q4. The Xiaomi.eu ROM is a .zip file. How do I install it?
The .zip file is a recovery ROM, which requires a custom recovery like TWRP to be installed. It cannot be flashed using Mi Flash Tool. You must unlock your bootloader first.
Troubleshooting
- Drivers: If your PC doesn’t recognize the phone, try reinstalling the Xiaomi USB drivers, using a different USB port (USB 2.0 is often best), and running Mi Flash Tool with administrator rights.
- Fastboot errors:
- “error: not catch checkpoint” → This common error means you have selected the wrong folder. In Mi Flash Tool, select the main extracted folder, not the images sub-folder.
- “Anti rollback error” → You are trying to flash an older firmware version than the one currently on your device. Xiaomi’s security prevents this.
- EDL mode: For a hard-bricked device that won’t enter fastboot, EDL mode is a last-resort recovery option that often requires test points and an authorized Mi account.
