[Redmi Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] the_weird_aquarian:
/*
* Your warranty is now void.
* I am not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards,
* thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please
* do some research if you have any concerns.
* YOU are choosing to make these modifications, and if
* you point the finger at me for messing up your device, I will laugh at you.
*/

A guide to unlock bootloader, flash a custom recovery and root your Redmi Note 8/8T device :

1. UNLOCKING BOOTLOADER :

Backup your data first. Unlocking will erase your data.

- Enable Developer Options in your phone by tapping the "MIUI Version" 7 times in About Phone.

- Go to Settings > Additional Settings > Developer Options.

- Enable OEM Unlocking, USB Debugging and USB Debugging (Security Settings) .

- Also add account in Mi Unlock Status (Can be found in Developer Options).

- Install the required ADB and Fastboot drivers in your PC from here.

- Download Mi Unlock to PC from here, and sign in with your Mi Account.

- Shut down your phone manually, and hold volume down key and power button to enter Fastboot mode.

- Connect your phone to PC using USB cable and click "Unlock" in Mi Unlock Tool.

- You will be given a specific time (168 hours usually).

- Wait for the given time. Make sure to use your phone and don't log out of your mi account from the phone or reset your device.

- Once waiting time is over, redo Unlock process.

- Your phone will be unlocked successfully. :)

2. FLASHING TWRP :

- Install the required ADB and Fastboot drivers in your PC if not already in step 1. from here.

- Download TWRP from here.

- Put that TWRP in the ADB and Fastboot installed folder (mostly C:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot).

- Rename that recovery(TWRP file) to "recovery" for convenience (optional).

- Click on Start Menu, type cmd

- Right click and select Run as administrator

- Then type:

cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot

- Now Connect your phone to PC With USB Debugging on (keep phone on).

- Type:

adb devices

and accept the pop up on phone's screen.

- Now reboot your phone to Fastboot mode either manually by shutting down phone and then holding volume down key and power button or by:

adb reboot bootloader

- Once in Fastboot mode type:

fastboot devices

- Your device ID will be visible on Screen.

- Then type(hit ENTER after each line):

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot boot recovery.img

- Now your phone will boot into TWRP.

OPTIONAL STEPS (Not Recommended): Encryption is always recommended for better security. However if you don't want encryption in your device, follow these steps. Again, not recommended.

- In TWRP go to Wipe and select Format Data(don't go to advanced). Type yes and format data. [This process will format all your data so make sure your data is backed up]

- Go back to TWRP home and Reboot > Recovery.(Don't reboot system or else you will have to repeat whole process again).

- Done :)

3. ROOTING :

- Download Magisk zip to PC from here.

- Download Universal DM-Verity and ForceEncrypt disabler from here. (Only required if you followed optional steps.)

- When in TWRP transfer the file(s) to phone and go to Install.

- Here select Magisk zip file and swipe to flash.

- Then select Universal DM-Verity and ForceEncrypt disabler zip and swipe to flash(Make sure to flash this at last or else phone won't boot). (Only required if you followed optional steps.)

- Reboot system.

- Done. Debloat. Enjoy :)

Links

1. Minimal ADB and Fastboot

2. MI Unlock Tool

3. TWRP

4. Magisk

5. Universal DM-Verity and ForceEncrypt Disabler (OPTIONAL)

If this helped you then hit the Thanks Button. Good Luck. :)