This tutorial is for Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro - Begonia & Begoniain.
There are 2 variants of the Redmi Note 8 Pro. begonia is the global variant whereas begoniain is the Indian variant. The only difference between the 2 is NFC. The Indian Variant has no NFC.

Source: XDA

Table of Contents

Packages

sudo pacman -S android-tools android-udev

 

Unlock

The unlocking tutorial was performed on a Windows 10 computer.

There is also a tool for Linux & Mac available (can also be used for Windows). We haven`t tested it yet. So it's up to you.

Arch Linux - AUR
GitHub
xiaomitool.com

 

On phone

Before you start, write down some information about your phone.

Go to Settings -> About phone -> All specs.

Write down:

  • MIUI version = especially between ()
  • Model = M1906G7*
  • Baseband version

Or just take a picture ;-)

  1. Go to Settings -> About phone -> click 7 times on -> MIUI version until Developer options are available.
  2. Go back to Settings -> Additional settings -> Developer options -> enable OEM unlocking -> click on Mi Unlock status and Add account and device -> copy id number under your avatar
    (Create a new account if necessary.)

 

On computer

  1. Go to miui.com and click on unlock. Change language to english (footer). After logging in, you must create a new user for the forum if you have just created an account.

    TIP 1: Use some chinese signs behind your nickname if you're using the alphabet.

    TIP 2: Follow again `step 1` to reach the site -> [download - unlock file]

  2. Connect your phone and let Windows install all necessary drivers.

  3. Now turn your phone off and start it again with VOL DOWN + POWER BUTTON and hold it until FASTBOOT is written. Connect your phone and let Windows install all the fastboot drivers for your phone (if not done in step 1).

  4. Download Mi Unlock and extract the files to C:\unlock\ and start miflash_unlock. Sign in and connect your phone again if necessary. Now click unlock button.

    Problems (Unlock button greyd out)? Try that XDA.
    Couldn't unlock - Please unlock XXX hours later? Wait XXX hours later.

  5. Click on Unlock -> Unlock anyway -> Unlock anyway

 

Up to this point it is no longer necessary to use a Windows computer.

 

USB debugging

  1. Go to Settings -> About phone -> click 7 times on -> MIUI version until Developer options are available.

  2. Go back to Settings -> Additional settings -> Developer options -> enable USB debugging.

 

Brick safe mode

This is a quick guide with the important info. Check the xda thread for the whole info!

Before you go any further make sure you're running Android 9!!! If you are on Android 10, you must first downgrade.

  1. Go to Settings -> About phone.

 

fastboot

Download the files from xda.

 

Reboot your phone to fastboot mode by holding VOL DOWN + POWER BUTTON or run adb reboot bootloader in your terminal.

Got to the images folder and run the following commands: 

fastboot flash preloader preloader_begonia.bin
fastboot flash lk lk.img
fastboot flash lk2 lk.img

 

TWRP

Download

 

Download Firmware

You have 2 options to download your firmware:

  1. mi.com
  2. Your phone

I suggest number 2. That way it's pretty sure you'll be using your firmware for your particular phone.

For that, got to:

  1. Go to Settings -> About phone -> System update -> 3 dots (top right)) -> Download latest package
  2. Connect your phone to your computer click on File transfer and go to the folder downloaded_rom and copy the file to your computer.
To 1.: You can also click Reboot later (but do step 2. first. After the restart the firmware is gone) to make sure you are using the firmware (make sure it is Android 9).

 

Android Verified Boot (AVB)

This device uses Android Verified Boot (AVB)
This means that installing TWRP or swiping to allow system modifications will prevent you from being able to boot. To bypass AVB's boot prevention, you will have to disable it or install a custom ROM that ships with disabled AVB.

To disable AVB via fastboot, grab the vbmeta image from the ROM you are on, and flash it with the following command:

fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img

AVB should be now disabled on your device.

 

Click on your downloaded firmware and extract vbmeta.img.
Reboot your phone to fastboot mode by holding VOL DOWN + POWER BUTTON or run adb reboot bootloader in your terminal.

Copy both files vbmeta.img and twrp-3.4.0-0-begonia.img in one folder and run the following commands:

fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.4.0-0-begonia.img
You must boot into recovery immediately after rebooting. Otherwise, MIUI recovery gets installed again.

Restart your phone with fastboot reboot and immediately press and hold VOL UP until you reach the recovery mode or until you need to select the recovery mode.

 

Custom Firmware (CFW) & Custom ROMs

First follow all the steps above if you have not already done it.

 

Download:

CFW

Recovery:

ROMs

Just check the XDA thread for your preferred ROM. Make sure that the [CFW] tag is in the title of your favorite ROM.

 

Flash

It's more or less from the XDA post.

Boot into recovery

Follow these steps again if you are not already in your recovery.

Wipe system, cache, dalvik

Click Wipe -> Advanced Wipe -> Dalvik / ART Cache & Cache & System -> Swipe to Wipe

Flash CFW, CFW compatible ROM

Install -> begonia(n)-A10-CFW_20200530.zip -> Add more Zips ->Your-ROM -> Swipe to confirm Flash

Backup

  1. Backup -> select everything and Swipe to Backup
  2. Connect your phone to your computer and copy the whole Internal Storage. At least the TWRP folder.

Format data

You'll lose all data

Wipe -> Format Data -> yes

Reboot to bootloader

Reboot -> Bootloader

Flash CFW recovery 

fastboot flash recovery twrp-CFW-3.4.0-2-begonia_UNOFFICIAL_0707.img

Reboot!

fastboot reboot

 

Going back to MIUI from CFW

  • Flash full MIUI firmware from SP Flash Tools or fastboot