The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite (codename platina) made a splash in late 2018 with its stylish, eye-catching gradient designs and the powerful performance of the Snapdragon 660 chipset. It was a well-rounded mid-range device that received strong software support, culminating in an update to MIUI 12 based on Android 10.
However, this is where the software story diverged. While the Chinese variant of the Mi 8 Lite received the refined and optimized MIUI 12.5 update, Global and other regional users were left on the initial, often buggy, MIUI 12.0 build. This left many users dealing with notification glitches, lag, and poor battery life that were fixed in the later release.
This guide is the definitive solution for Mi 8 Lite owners in 2025. We provide the links to the official stock firmware for restoration, but more importantly, we show you how to easily upgrade your Global, Russian, or European device to the superior MIUI 12.5 experience using the trusted Xiaomi.eu custom ROM.
This is your complete upgrade and repair guide for the Mi 8 Lite:
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Mi 8 Lite
Flashing firmware for this device is about fixing bugs and unlocking a better experience.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: platina)
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the firmware for your goal—either the official MIUI 12.0 build for your region or the MIUI 12.5-based Xiaomi.eu ROM for an upgrade.
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 12.0 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
Use this method to perform a clean installation of the final official firmware for your Global or Russian device.
➡ Your phone will reboot into a fresh, official MIUI 12.0 system.
Method 2: Upgrading to MIUI 12.5 via Xiaomi.eu ROM (Recommended)
This is the best way to get a modern, stable, and bug-free experience on your global Mi 8 Lite.
➡ Your Mi 8 Lite will now boot into a clean, debloated, and fully-featured MIUI 12.5 system.
FAQs
Q1: Is the Xiaomi.eu ROM safe?
Yes. The Xiaomi.eu project is a highly respected and long-standing community effort. They create their ROMs from the official Chinese Stable builds, remove bloatware, add full language support, and integrate Google services. They are often considered more stable and secure than the official global ROMs.
Q2: Will this upgrade my phone to Android 11?
No. The Mi 8 Lite's official support ended at Android 10. The Xiaomi.eu ROM is based on the final official China build, which is Android 10. To get Android 11 or newer, you would need to look for third-party custom ROMs like LineageOS.
Q3: Which version is truly better: official Global MIUI 12.0 or Xiaomi.eu MIUI 12.5?
For almost every user, the Xiaomi.eu MIUI 12.5 ROM provides a far superior experience. It's based on a more mature, optimized, and bug-fixed version of MIUI 12, leading to better performance, stability, and battery life.
Q4: Why did Xiaomi not release MIUI 12.5 for the global Mi 8 Lite?
It is common for Xiaomi to provide longer support and more minor version updates for its Chinese ROMs compared to its global ones. The exact reasons are internal, but it's a frequent pattern that projects like Xiaomi.eu exist to solve.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
However, this is where the software story diverged. While the Chinese variant of the Mi 8 Lite received the refined and optimized MIUI 12.5 update, Global and other regional users were left on the initial, often buggy, MIUI 12.0 build. This left many users dealing with notification glitches, lag, and poor battery life that were fixed in the later release.
This guide is the definitive solution for Mi 8 Lite owners in 2025. We provide the links to the official stock firmware for restoration, but more importantly, we show you how to easily upgrade your Global, Russian, or European device to the superior MIUI 12.5 experience using the trusted Xiaomi.eu custom ROM.
This is your complete upgrade and repair guide for the Mi 8 Lite:
- ✔ An explanation of the MIUI 12.0 vs. MIUI 12.5 software divide
- ✔ Official MIUI 12.0 firmware for Global and Russian regions
- ✔ The official MIUI 12.5 firmware for the Chinese region
- ✔ The Xiaomi.eu ROM, which brings the MIUI 12.5 update to everyone
- ✔ Step-by-step instructions to restore or upgrade your device
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Mi 8 Lite
Flashing firmware for this device is about fixing bugs and unlocking a better experience.
- Upgrade Global Version to MIUI 12.5 → This is the best reason to flash your Mi 8 Lite today. Get the performance optimizations, bug fixes, and extra features of the update that Xiaomi never officially released for your region.
- Fix Annoying MIUI 12.0 Bugs → If you are frustrated with notification shade glitches, control center lag, floating window problems, or poor battery life on your stock global ROM, upgrading is the answer.
- Improve Performance and Smoothness → The Snapdragon 660 is still capable, but it runs much better on the more polished MIUI 12.5 than on the initial MIUI 12.0 release.
- Unbrick or Fix a Bootloop → If your phone is stuck on the Mi logo after a failed update or modification, a clean Fastboot flash will bring it back to life.
- Return to a Clean Stock State → Easily restore your phone to its final official software for your region.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: platina)
- Model: Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite
- Release Year: 2018
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
- Display: 6.26” FHD+ IPS LCD
- Battery: 3350 mAh
- OS at Launch: MIUI 9 on Android 8.1 Oreo
- Final Official OS: MIUI 12.0 (Global) / MIUI 12.5 (China) on Android 10
- Codename: platina
Software Notice: The Mi 8 Lite's official support ended on different versions. The Chinese variant received a final, more polished MIUI 12.5 update. This guide shows global users how to install a custom ROM based on that superior version to get the best possible experience.
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the firmware for your goal—either the official MIUI 12.0 build for your region or the MIUI 12.5-based Xiaomi.eu ROM for an upgrade.
| Tool / File | Purpose / OS Version | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Flash Tool | For flashing official Fastboot ROMs. | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Ensures your PC can communicate with your phone. | Driver Pack |
| Mi Unlock Tool | Required to unlock the bootloader. | Official Unlock Page |
| Custom Recovery (TWRP) | Needed to flash the Xiaomi.eu ROM. | Official TWRP for Platina |
| Fastboot ROM (China) | Official MIUI 12.5 (Android 10) | V12.5.1.0.QDTCNXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Global) | Official MIUI 12.0 (Android 10) | V12.0.3.0.QDTMIXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Russia) | Official MIUI 12.0 (Android 10) | V12.0.1.0.QDTRUXM |
| Xiaomi.eu ROM (Custom) | MIUI 12.5 Upgrade (Android 10) | V12.5.1.0.QDTCNXM |
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 12.0 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
Use this method to perform a clean installation of the final official firmware for your Global or Russian device.
- Unlock Bootloader: Your Mi 8 Lite's bootloader must be unlocked. Use the official Mi Unlock Tool. This will erase all your data.
- Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off your phone. Then, press and hold Power + Volume Down until the Fastboot logo appears on the screen.
- Extract Firmware: On your PC, extract the downloaded .tgz Fastboot ROM twice until you have a folder with an images directory.
- Launch Mi Flash Tool: Open the tool as an administrator. Click "select" and choose the extracted firmware folder.
- Connect Device: Connect your phone to the PC. Click "refresh" in Mi Flash Tool to see your device's ID.
- Select "clean all": At the bottom of the tool, ensure the "clean all" option is selected for a bug-free installation.
- Flash: Click the "flash" button and wait for the process to complete with a "success" message.
➡ Your phone will reboot into a fresh, official MIUI 12.0 system.
Method 2: Upgrading to MIUI 12.5 via Xiaomi.eu ROM (Recommended)
This is the best way to get a modern, stable, and bug-free experience on your global Mi 8 Lite.
- Unlock Bootloader & Install TWRP: Ensure your bootloader is unlocked and you have installed a compatible TWRP custom recovery for platina.
- Boot into TWRP: Power off the phone. Press and hold Power + Volume Up to enter the TWRP menu.
- Wipe Data: This is a mandatory step. Go to Wipe → Format Data and type "yes" to confirm your choice.
- Transfer ROM File: Connect your phone to the PC and copy the downloaded Xiaomi.eu .zip file to its internal storage.
- Install the ROM: In TWRP, tap Install, select the ROM .zip file, and swipe the slider to begin the flashing process.
- Reboot: Once the installation is complete, tap "Reboot System."
➡ Your Mi 8 Lite will now boot into a clean, debloated, and fully-featured MIUI 12.5 system.
FAQs
Q1: Is the Xiaomi.eu ROM safe?
Yes. The Xiaomi.eu project is a highly respected and long-standing community effort. They create their ROMs from the official Chinese Stable builds, remove bloatware, add full language support, and integrate Google services. They are often considered more stable and secure than the official global ROMs.
Q2: Will this upgrade my phone to Android 11?
No. The Mi 8 Lite's official support ended at Android 10. The Xiaomi.eu ROM is based on the final official China build, which is Android 10. To get Android 11 or newer, you would need to look for third-party custom ROMs like LineageOS.
Q3: Which version is truly better: official Global MIUI 12.0 or Xiaomi.eu MIUI 12.5?
For almost every user, the Xiaomi.eu MIUI 12.5 ROM provides a far superior experience. It's based on a more mature, optimized, and bug-fixed version of MIUI 12, leading to better performance, stability, and battery life.
Q4: Why did Xiaomi not release MIUI 12.5 for the global Mi 8 Lite?
It is common for Xiaomi to provide longer support and more minor version updates for its Chinese ROMs compared to its global ones. The exact reasons are internal, but it's a frequent pattern that projects like Xiaomi.eu exist to solve.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
- Bootloop after flashing Xiaomi.eu: This is almost always because the "Format Data" step was skipped in TWRP. A simple "Wipe" is not sufficient. You must boot back into TWRP, use the "Format Data" option, and then re-flash the ROM.
- Notifications are still buggy after upgrading: This is a common MIUI quirk. Go into your phone's Settings > Apps > Manage apps, find the problematic app, and ensure that Autostart is enabled and that there are no Battery saver restrictions applied to it.
- Mi Flash Tool "can't find file" error: This error means you have not extracted the .tgz Fastboot ROM correctly. Make sure you extract the file twice, until you have a folder that contains the images sub-folder.
- The device is not detected in Fastboot mode: This points to a driver issue. Reinstall the Xiaomi USB Drivers from the link above, restart your PC, and use a high-quality USB cable connected to a main port on your computer.