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Install LineageOS Android 13 on Mi 8/Pro/SE/EE

In this guide, we will show you the steps to install the latest LineageOS 20 based on Android 13 on Mi 8/Pro/SE/EE. While it has been close to five years since these devices first made their way, however, they still manage to grab the attention of the tech enthusiast. One major reason for the same is the fact that it is still quite an active player in custom development.

There could be no better way of justifying this statement than by having a look at the fact that it has just been blessed with the latest iteration of the OS. So if you are looking to break free from the shackles of the MIUI ecosystem and at the same time, want to welcome abode a clean stock UI experience, then let’s get started with the steps to install LineageOS 20 based on Android 13 on Mi 8/Pro/SE/EE.

What is LineageOS ROM?

One of the oldest players in this domain, you could trace back the lineage of this ROM back to the days of CyanogenMod. Right from its inception to this date, it has stuck with its USP of providing you with just the required bit of crucial apps and services, without incorporating any additional bloatware apps. So while you wouldn’t get a plethora of features baked into the ROM, you are guaranteed a fluid and smooth usage experience.

lineageos 20 android 13

To further cement this statement, the ROM doesn’t even come with any preinstalled Google Apps, Services, and Framework [although you could easily install them later on using the GApps package]. With this, you would have got a decent idea regarding this ROM, let’s now get started with the instructions to install the LineageOS 20 ROM based on Android 13 onto your Mi 8/Pro/SE/EE.

How to Install LineageOS Android 13 on Mi 8/Pro/SE/EE

LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro

Before starting with the process, make sure to take a complete device backup beforehand. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.

Verify Firmware Requirement

First off, make sure that you are running the same firmware version as listed below. If that is not the case, then update or downgrade your device to match that firmware version.

Device modelFirmware version
Mi 8 ChinaV12.5.2.0.QEACNXM
Mi 8 GlobalV12.0.3.0.QEAMIXM
Mi 8 RussiaV12.0.2.0.QEARUXM
Device modelFirmware version
Mi 8 Explorer ChinaV12.5.1.0.QEHCNXM
Device modelFirmware version
Mi 8 Pro ChinaV12.5.2.0.QECCNXM
Mi 8 Pro GlobalV12.0.2.0.QECMIXM
Mi 8 Pro RussiaV12.0.2.0.QECRUXM
Device modelFirmware version
Mi 8 SEAndroid 10 Firmware
STEP 1: Install Android SDK

First and foremost, you will have to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform tools folder, which will be used throughout this guide.

install adb platform tools windows

STEP 2: Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking

Next up, you will have to enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking on your device. The former will make your device recognizable by the PC in ADB mode. This will then allow you to boot your device to Fastboot Mode. On the other hand, OEM Unlocking is required to carry out the bootloader unlocking process.

LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro

So head over to Settings > About Phone > Tap on MIUI Number 7 times > Go back to Settings > System > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking.

STEP 3: Unlock Bootloader

Next up, you will also have to unlock the device’s bootloader. Do keep in mind that doing so will wipe off all the data from your device and could nullify its warranty as well. So if that’s well and good, then refer to our guide to Unlock Bootloader on any Xiaomi Device.

LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro

STEP 4: Download LineageOS ROM, Recovery, GApps for Mi 8/Pro/SE/EE

  1. Now, get hold of the LineageOS ROM and Recovery files corresponding to your device from below:
    Mi 8 [dipper] : LineageOS ROM | LineageOS Recovery
    Mi 8 Explorer Edition [ursa]: LineageOS ROM | LineageOS Recovery
    Mi 8 Pro [equuleus]: LineageOS ROM | LineageOS Recovery
    Mi 8 SE [xmsirius]: LineageOS ROM | LineageOS Recovery
    GApps: Download Link
  2. The ROM and GApps files will be present as a ZIP whereas the recovery will be an IMG file.
  3. Once you have downloaded all these files, transfer them to the platform-tools folder on your PC.
    LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro
  4. Next up, rename the recovery file to recovery.img, ROM to rom.zip, and GApps to gapps.zip

STEP 5: Boot to Fastboot Mode

  1. Connect your device to the PC via USB cable. Make sure USB Debugging is enabled.
  2. Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
  3. After that, type in the following command in the CMD window to boot your device to Fastboot Mode
    adb reboot bootloader

    LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro

  4. To verify the Fastboot connection, type in the below command and you should get back the device ID.
    fastboot devices

    LineageOS Android 13 OnePlus 7T Pro

STEP 6: Flash LineageOS Recovery on Mi 8/Pro/SE/EE

  1. You will now have to flash the LineageOS recovery onto your device. So execute the below command for the same:
    fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

    LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro

  2. Once the flashing is complete, type in the below command to boot to LineageOS Recovery.
    fastboot reboot recovery

    LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro

STEP 7: Factory Reset Device

  1. From the LineageOS Recovery, go to Factory Reset.
  2. Then select Format Data/Factory Reset > Format Data.LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro
  3. Your device will now undergo a reset.
  4. Once done, you shall get the “Data wipe complete” message.
    LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro

STEP 8: Flash empty super image [Mi 8 SE]

If you are on Mi 8 SE, then you have to additionally flash a blank super.img file as well. Mi 8/Pro/ Explorer Edition users should not flash this file and rather move over to the next step.

  1. Download the blank super.img file and place it in the platform tools folder.
  2. From the LineageOS Recovery home screen, go to Advanced > Enter Fastboot.
  3. Your device will boot to FastbootD Mode. Now execute the below command to flash the blank super.img.
    fastboot wipe-super super_empty.img
  4. Once done, select Enter Recovery and your device will reboot to LineageOS Recovery.

STEP 9: Install LineageOS Android 13 ROM on Mi 8/Pro/SE/EE

  1. From the LineageOS Recovery, go to Apply Update > Apply from ADB.LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro
  2. Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter.
  3. This will launch the Command Prompt. So type in the below command to flash the ROM file via Sideload:
    adb sideload rom.zip

    LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro

  4. The process will now begin and once done, you shall get the Total xfer: 1.00x message [Got an error? See FAQ below].
  5. If you want to install GApps, then move over to the next step otherwise select Reboot System Now to boot to the OS.
    LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro

STEP 10: Install GApps

  1. Go to Advanced > Reboot to Recovery. Your device will reboot to LineageOS Recovery.LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro
  2. Once done, go to Apply Update > Apply from ADB.LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro
  3. Now type in the below command to flash the GApps file via Sideload:
    adb sideload gapps.zip

    LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro

  4. You will get a Signature Verification failed message because the GApps package isn’t signed by LineageOS. That’s not an issue, just hit YES to proceed ahead.LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro
  5. Once done, you may now finally reboot your device to the OS via “Reboot system now”.LineageOS Android 13 Mi 8 Pro

That’s it. These were the steps to install the LineageOS ROM based on Android 13 onto your Mi 8/Pro/SE/EE. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know your doubt and the device that you are using in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.



Fix: Error During ADB Sideload

If you get one of the below error messages, then it signifies a successful installation and you could reboot the device to the OS without any issues:

  • Total xfer: 1.00x
  • adb: failed to read command: Success/No error
  • adb: failed to read command: No error
  • (~47%) adb: failed to read the command: No error
  • adb: failed to read command: Undefined error: 0
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