[Redmi Note 8 Pro ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Othe] blackdingo:
XRN8P recovery example

Well I have to say Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is a disappointing device - in terms of TWRP recovery.

Refer to twitter for MAJOR issue: #note8probrick

Apparently, too easy to brick.

piunikaweb.com/2019/12/20/redmi-note-8-pro-bricking-issue/

gizchina.com/2019/12/17/redmi-note-8-pro-owners-and-developers-suffering-with-bricked-devices/

XRN8P = Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

Stock recovery on XRN8P has main menu of Xiaomi’s Mi Recovery 3.0

The third option “Connect with MIAssistant” goes to a screen referring to “pcsuite.mi.com” and showing a requirement for a USB connection to PC. However, the PC software (last updated in 2015) it refers to is not valid for any version greater than Marshmallow. The error it gives is that you must update the software on the phone. Really? From Pie to Marshmallow. So why is it there with no explanation? Sloppy implementation by Xiaomi.

So what do we know? Facts are as follows:

I have phone model M1906G7G running MIUI Global 10.4.5 Stable 10.4.5.0(PGGEUXM)

I followed the standard well-documented procedure to unlock the bootloader – I waited 7 days for permission. No known way to shorten the wait.

Unlocking the bootloader wiped all personal data from the phone – as expected.

Whatever I flashed as recovery was immediately overwritten by stock recovery - Xiaomi’s Mi Recovery 3.0 when rebooting.

Flashing alternate recovery never reset any personal data on my phone - as expected.

However, I was able to use the Chinese version and when I quickly went into recovery mode I saw LR version of TWRP.

However, LR version of TWRP always got overwritten once I rebooted into system (Android system)

So, my situation was that I had effectively done NOTHING since unlocking bootloader, so I relocked my bootloader using command “fastboot oem lock”. It wiped all personal data from my phone.

I again unlocked my bootloader in the standard manner. Immediate action, no wait delay. All data wiped.

Testing of TWRP images:

1. twrp-3.3.1-0-begonia_UNOFFICIAL_1811.img

2. OrangeFox-Unofficial-begonia.img

3. LRtwrp.img TWRP-3.3.1-0924 for Redmi Note Pro –wzsx150 md5: 9a9e997f2729a57ee70c6a5fbed3ab52

“fastboot boot xxxxx.img” does not boot any TWRP image I found. For each I tried twice, with and without holding Volume+

“fastboot flash recovery xxxxx.img” followed by “fastboot reboot” and pressing Volume+ showed black screens for 1. and 2.

However, option 3. booted, I had to go from Chinese to English, and I was able to do a full backup (24 partitions, yes 24).

From within LRtwrp recovery I was able to reboot into LRtwrp recovery repeatedly.

So, now when I want TWRP I just flash the TWRP version of recovery and quickly go from fastboot into my temporary recovery setup. I know that when I boot into the Android system that Xiaomi’s Mi Recovery 3.0 will replace the TWRP.

Final status: Not rooted just unlocked bootloader.

Hope it helps someone. Merry Christmas!!

PS. So question is will this still work when system updated to the the now-available MIUI v11? Will it still work with the scheduled upgrade to Android 10?

Post #87 worries me. Tried a restore and bricked his device. Did he try to restore more than just user data?