Important! Please read before tweaking your Mi 8 - Xiaomi Mi 8 Guides, News, & Discussion

Context:
Over the few months i have seen many Mi 8 owners who tweak their phone end up with a bricked device, of all the cases, a huge majority of them is due to the lack of research and jumping into modifying their phones before fully uinderstanding the situation (I almost made the mistake too, taking for granted that all android phones have minimal restrictions)
There are two things to take note of (especially if you decide to tweak your Mi 8/SE):
1. Xiaomi implemented a policy that prevents relocking of bootloader if you install a Global Rom on a China Variant Mi Phone
What this means: You cannot relock bootloader if your Mi8/SE is a China variant and you have Global Miui version installed (Developer/Stable)
Common mistake(s):
1. Avoid 'Clean and lock' option when using MiFlash. Only use 'Clean all' or 'Save user data' option
2. Do not relock your Mi8/SE if you are on Global Beta or Developer or Any MIUI rom that is Global
2. Google implemented a policy that prevents rollback to older Android versions for Android Oreo and above Roms. This is for 'Security' reasons and affects MIUI.
What this means: You cannot rollback to an older Miui version (Below Android 8.0) if you already you are currently on Andorid Oreo (i.e Miui 10) and up.
Common mistake(s):
1. Do not restore an old backup with Miui that has any Android version less than 8.0 from Miui 10 ( Android 8.0)
2. Do not install Miui 9 (Below Android 8.0) after installing Miui 10 (Android 8.0 Above)
*As of now: Developer version with ARB=1 has no ARB activated and it is safe to downgrade.*
*Tip: Ask yourself if the Android version you are about to install is lower than the Android version currently installed, if it is, DO NOT flash it. (Applicable if you are currently on Android 8.0 and up)
3. Downgrading/Upgrading Miui Roms with Locked Bootloader.
Same rules applies: Global Variant use Global Miui Rom, China Variant use China Miui Rom
* Switching between Stable and Developer on locked bootloader possible: Use Miflash or Xiaomi Tool. (Upgrading use updater app "select package"option)
4. Safetynet/ Playstore Certification with unlock bootloader.
You can pass Safetynet with Magisk 17.1 onwards for use with Banking/Payment apps
More info:
* Flash Magisk upon clean wipe and after flashing your Rom.
* Dm-verity & Force encryption disabler is required.Download and flash before first boot from here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/universal-dm-verity-forceencrypt-t3817389
* Encryption must be diabled for Magisk to work. Therefore encryption is not possible if you wish to pass Safetynet.
Please keep all of this in mind before you start tweaking your phone as you will run the risk of bricking your Mi 8/SE. After which, your Mi 8 becomes a very expensive paperweight. I hope this helps to clear things up for many people! Do know that while I disagree with Xiaomi's new anti-consumer policy, i also feel that it is YOUR responsiblility in your own actions, especially when you decide to modify your device and when you do modify anything (not just phones), there are always risks involved. When in doubt, it does no harm to Google it or just ask around in the forums. Moral of the story: Proceed with caution!
For those already bricked:
1. Contact Xiaomi Customer Service and try obtain EDL permission to peform Testpoint fix.
2. Bring your phone to a Mi Store and hope that they can help you with it.
*In the case where my information is wrong, please correct me so that I can update accordingly for the benefit of everyone!
Have a nice day ahead and all the best in your phone tweaking adventures! Hopefully I helped you in clearing things up :good:
Last update: 12/11/2018

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Thanks!

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I installed MIUI 10 and use fastboot mode to roll back to MIUI 9. Nothing happens and everything goes very well

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felixrao said:
I installed MIUI 10 and use fastboot mode to roll back to MIUI 9. Nothing happens and everything goes very well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same with mw, went back from 8.8.7 to 9.5.13.0 via fastboot --> no problems

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felixrao said:
I installed MIUI 10 and use fastboot mode to roll back to MIUI 9. Nothing happens and everything goes very well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing to me. I was not happy with the buggy MIUI10 CHina Dev Version and flashed via Fastboot 9.5.13 global stable.
Everything works fine.

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I think this new policy of Xiaomi sow, but if they want so. That they release at least the EDL Module for users that present the invoice of the device, showing that they have bought and are in trouble. The international market is very large, and those who live in other regions end up with hands tied and with a paper weight in hand. Since there are no Authorized in each country.

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Thanks for your great and Important notifications.
1- Totally agree for note # 1 ( 1. Xiaomi implemented a policy that prevents relocking of bootloader if you install a Global Rom on a China Variant Mi Phone ).
2- For note #2 (2. Google implemented a policy that prevents rollback to older Android versions for Android Oreo and above Roms. This is for 'Security' reasons and affects Miui), i think as long as you are not downgrading to lower android version its fine regardless MIUI version.

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felixrao said:
I installed MIUI 10 and use fastboot mode to roll back to MIUI 9. Nothing happens and everything goes very well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JoB46 said:
Same with mw, went back from 8.8.7 to 9.5.13.0 via fastboot --> no problems
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
magnum2323 said:
Same thing to me. I was not happy with the buggy MIUI10 CHina Dev Version and flashed via Fastboot 9.5.13 global stable.
Everything works fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
anasmhds said:
Thanks for your great and Important notifications.
1- Totally agree for note # 1 ( 1. Xiaomi implemented a policy that prevents relocking of bootloader if you install a Global Rom on a China Variant Mi Phone ).
2- For note #2 (2. Google implemented a policy that prevents rollback to older Android versions for Android Oreo and above Roms. This is for 'Security' reasons and affects Miui), i think as long as you are not downgrading to lower android version its fine regardless MIUI version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for all your info, i have updated the OP for greater clarity!

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The Mi 8 doesn't have anti rollback at the moment.
I never seen such many post about bricked phones ever in my entire life, the only thing i've read about this phone and the note 5 is post about bricked phone.
It is a crazy amount of ppl that have already bricked their phones.
Truly amazing, never seen this before.

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NO ARB system on Mi 8 yet. The current situation is the china variant flashes Global Rom forgot to uncheck the lock bootloader on Miflash tool and ended up bricking.

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It is important to add information about Xiaomi Deep Flash Cable which can help flash already bricked devices migrated from Chinese to Global and accidently locked bootloader. No EDL authorization needed as far as I read.

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masterakalin said:
It is important to add information about Xiaomi Deep Flash Cable which can help flash already bricked devices migrated from Chinese to Global and accidently locked bootloader. No EDL authorization needed as far as I read.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? I've seen a few threads some time ago saying that deep flash cable would not work

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Kernel code is released apparently ! https://www.xda-developers.com/xiao...xplorer-edition-kernel-source-code-available/

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achickennugget said:
Context:
Over the few months i have seen many Mi 8 owners who tweak their phone end up with a bricked device, of all the cases, a huge majority of them is due to the lack of research and jumping into modifying their phones before fully uinderstanding the situation (I almost made the mistake too, taking for granted that all android phones have minimal restrictions)
There are two things to take note of (especially if you decide to tweak your Mi 8/SE):
1. Xiaomi implemented a policy that prevents relocking of bootloader if you install a Global Rom on a China Variant Mi Phone
What this means: You cannot relock bootloader if your Mi8/SE is a China variant and ou have Global Miui version installed (Developer/Stable)
Common mistake(s):
1. Avoid 'Clean and lock' option when using Mi Flash. Only use 'Clean all' or 'Save user data' option
2. Do not relock your Mi8/SE if you are on Global Beta or Developer or Any MIUI rom that is Global
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought the global version and the phone has Global MIUI 10 Stable. Will it brick if I relock after installing Magisk or the brick only happens on Chinese phones with global ROMs?

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PedroCaseiro said:
I bought the global version and the phone has Global MIUI 10 Stable. Will it brick if I relock after installing Magisk or the brick only happens on Chinese phones with global ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Global variant must have global ROM, China variant must have China ROM. Relocking is possible if u follow the rule above. Global phone with China ROM, relocking will brick, vice versa. Be careful! :good:

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PedroCaseiro said:
I bought the global version and the phone has Global MIUI 10 Stable. Will it brick if I relock after installing Magisk or the brick only happens on Chinese phones with global ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One more thing, don't relock after installing magisk, it either wouldn't relock as boot.img is modified or u will probably soft brick. U cant modify boot if u want to relock, correct me if I'm wrong

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But relock the bootloader when I´m on Global Rom will work when I use a Global device?

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achickennugget said:
One more thing, don't relocking after installing magisk, it either wouldn't relocking as boot.img is modified or u will probably soft rock. U cant modify boot if I want to relocking, correct me if I'm wrong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahhh yes, because Magisk modifies boot.img
You're probably right
Thanks

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martin192 said:
But relock the bootloader when I´m on Global Rom will work when I use a Global device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes

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I bought my Mi8 and it had a fake Global ROM, it was a modified Chinese MIUI that looked like global with unlocked bootloader via the unofficial way .
So I locked the bootloader and installed MIUI 10 Beta China Developer and I am waiting 30 days for the official unlock . When the time comes how can I install Global stable MIUI 10 or at least the latest Global stable ?