[Nokia 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] yozil:
Hello everyone.

I know many Nokia 8 users experience some issues with both Oreo and Pie (it can be battery, freeze, etc..). Bear in mind that Nougat is totally adapted to Nokia 8 performances as it has been sold along with it.

Anyway, this guide is mainly for TA-1012 model, but I guess it can work with other models as well.

I. The Downgrade part

1. Unlock your bootloader (critical)

Before anything, you must unlock your bootloader critically.

As far as i'm concerned, I did the official method, that is described here : https://xdaforums.com/nokia-8/development/official-nokia-8-bootloader-unlock-t3848051/

But there is a lot of topics on here on how to unlock (+critical)

2. Flash Nougat firmware with NOST

I used the first released Nougat firmware, namely NB1-0-303A-00WW-B01.nb0.

You can find it here : https://fih-firmware.hikaricalyx.com/hmd_en.html

Or on my MEGA : https://mega.nz/#!lodxDaAR!u5ZJLv8LHKL0U3irqTlRMdZoz1adzni1oN87KC2D-Fg

2.1 Download NOST

NOST (Nokia Service Tool), is a modded version of OST, easy to use. A huge thank to the developer.

I've had issues with NOST 0.5, so please download 0.6 (last version when I write those lines) :

Github link

: https://github.com/StollD/NOST/releases/download/v0.6/NOST-v0.6.exe

Mirror link

: https://mega.nz/#!E9kERajA!KnELFSHV9ekHhJFnWu4lL0PbkIbLT5qHCvupr8Kawk0

2.2 Download ADB and Fastboot drivers

Here is an easy guide : https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/

ADB Windows mirror link : https://mega.nz/#!AhsBSYgJ!R_s2pE6fvFXNKsATSGffdjNGoPJy57HkgQeg9XNID6M

2.3 Reboot into Bootloader (aka Download Mode)

You can boot into Download Mode with VOL DOWN and POWER key, or with this method :

- First, turn on USB Debugging on your phone, and plug in into your computer

- Then, extract the content of the previous downloaded ADB/Fastboot driver

- Next, go to the root of the extracted folder, hold SHIFT and do a Right click on that same folder, and open a command prompt here

- On the commande box, just type :

adb reboot bootlader

2.4 Install NOST and flash nb0 file

Your phone is now into Download Mode, plugged into you PC.

Open NOST, load your nb0 file, and make sure that you check Erase User Data (an Normal Download, but it's already checked)

Just press next, and your firmware is now flashing.

Wait until your phone reboot.

Congratulations you are now on Nougat 7.1.1 !

II. The Root part

I don't used the TWRP flashing wat to root my phone, since I never suceeded to boot it, idk why.

So we'll use the magisk boot image flashing here.

1. Download Magisk Manager APK

Github link : https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/releases/

Mirror link (7.1.1 version) : https://mega.nz/#!Zk8ESAQA!n3JLUC-nU4xBKB7E3J0aTsvAzp9WlAHM5_VbgXob6c0

Then install the APK on your phone, open the app, and make sure everything is up to date inside.

2. Patch stock boot image from extracted nb0

The normal way to do it is to extract your nb0 file with this software :

- XDA link : https://xdaforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4468396&d=1523018789

- Mirror link : https://mega.nz/#!AksQDSyb!zTt_L4x-DgP6aQG83D0DF4m34v78gFjA855JzSN-yBY

BUT, the software needs a lot of RAM to end the process, and I got an OutfMemory error. I had to use a powerful computer to extract the file.

So to make the task more easy for you, here is the stock boot image from the extracted nb0 :

- Mega link (Stock boot image) : https://mega.nz/#!khUFVArZ!KJ7ezdXKzisVtFgiGiTL1WiEnxBoTYJdhs9rI5CrI0w

If you want to patch it yourself with Magisk, you can, but again, I give you my patched boot image (so just ignore the above link) :

- Mega Link (Patched boot image) : https://mega.nz/#!sok2kS6B!WRUJK_B2vsFIMA8VJpyCCw98xVOgEWLQIjHj6zxq-lI

3. Flash patched boot image

Go into the ADB extracted folder (the one with fastboot.exe).

Copy the downloaded NB1-0-303A-00WW-boot-patched_boot.img into this folder.

Then open the command windows with SHIFT + Right Click.

Plug your phone into your computer, and reboot into bootloader, as always with :

adb reboot bootloader

Once into Download Mode, flash the patched boot image with :

fastboot flash boot_a NB1-0-303A-00WW-boot-patched_boot.img

(be sure that your main partition is a. Otherwise you'll have to do boot_b)

(you can rename the .img file to make the command line more easy, e.g. boot.img, then type fastboot flash boot boot.img)

Now reboot your phone and go to Magisk Manager. Check that everything is updated, and on the left panel, go to Super User. You are now rooted !