Disclaimer: Flashing firmware can be a dangerous process that can cause data loss or device bricking if not done correctly. Make sure you follow every step contributor and back up your IMPORTANT DATA before the flashing process. Make sure to always be careful and make sure you are ready!

Before You Begin

Backup Your Data:

• When you flash a firmware, it wipes your device clean. First, be sure to backup all your important data — contacts, messages, videos, photos, and all other files you need. You can back up your data using cloud services, or transfer it directly to your computer, among other ways.

Charge Your Device:

• Make sure that your device and battery are charged above 50% before flashing; otherwise, this process will fail. Flashing is a process that can take a bit of time, and you want to have enough battery in the device to prevent it from just shutting down out of the blue, which could damage it.

The Comprehensive Guide for Flashing Xiaomi Redmi 8A Firmware Using SP Flash Tool

Install Required Drivers:

• Install first the drivers in your computer required for flashing the firmware. You must install these drivers for your PC to detect the Xiaomi Redmi 8A and communicate with the device using the SP Flash Tool.
• Download Xiaomi USB Drivers: If in case you have not put  the Xiaomi USB drivers in your pc, obtain and set them up on your pc. These drivers are essential to make your computer recognize your Xiaomi device and interact with it as intended.

MediaTek USB VCOM Drivers — SP Flash Tool needs to have the MediaTek USB VCOM drivers installed on your PC for the tool to detect the device properly during the flashing process. For this reason, you should also check to ensure that these drivers are included with the SP Flash Tool package. If they’re not already on your machine, download them from a trusted place.

How to Download Firmware to Flash and SP Flash Tool

Download Stock Firmware:

• Download Xiaomi Redmi 8A Stock FirmwareDownload the stock official firmware file for Xiaomi Redmi 8A which will usually be in the form of a compressed archive (ZIP or RAR). The firmware can be downloaded from a trusted source like the official website of Xiaomi or from a third-party site that focuses on providing the firmware files. Make sure to download firmware with the exact version of the device model to prevent any malfunction.

Download the above firmware, and unpack to a convenient folder on your PC.

Download SP Flash Tool:

• After that download SP Flash Tool from a trusted download site. This is necessary for flashing firmware on your device. Download the tool and extract it to a folder on your computer.

Open SP Flash Tool:

• Extract SP Flash Tool and then open the folder and double-click on flash_tool. Exe. Open up the tool by double-clicking the file. For the best results, it is advisable to right-click on the tool and select Run as Administrator when prompted, as this gives the tool the necessary permissions.

Load the Scatter File

Open Scatter File:

• Open the SP Flash Tool and click on the Scatter-loading button. This will ask you to browse for and pick your scatter file (a text file that tells what partitions will be flashed on your device). You would usually find this scatter file inside the folder where you extracted your firmware.
• It will look something like MTxxxx_Android_scatter. Txt” where “xx” pertains to your own device’s chipset. Make sure to choose the appropriate scatter file based on your device model.

Select Flash Options

Choose Flash Options:

• When you open the SP Flash Tool, you will have options for what to flash. Make sure the “Download” option is only checked. This enables you to upload the firmware to the device without changing any other configurations. Use other options such as “Format All” very carefully as they completely erase everything from your device including data, apps, and settings.

Flash Firmware

Start the Flashing Process:

• After setting up flash options, click on the Download button to mount【48†source】【49†source】. Then Power off your Redmi 8A before taking the flash.

Connect Your Device:

• Turn off the device and connect it to your computer via a USB cable. Confirm the device is connected correctly, and it will be detected by the SP Flash Tool. You will see a progress bar showing the process as a light has already been flared. Firmware is transferred, do NOT disconnect your device or stop the process.

Monitor Flashing Progress:

• And you’ll see the progress bar blinking while the firmware is uploaded. So we just wait until it finishes. [Do not unhook the device until the tool shows flashing is done.]

Completion of Flashing

Flash Completion Message:

Once the Flashing is complete, you will get a green circle or checkmark on the SP Flash tool implying that the flashing was successful without fatal errors. At this point, it’s safe to disconnect your Xiaomi Redmi 8A from the PC. Switch off the device and remove the USB cable. Power the device back on; it may take a while longer than usual due to the initial firmware flash. Proceed with the setup afterward. Note: These procedures are generic and standalone for MTK-based devices such as the Xiaomi Redmi 8A. Depending on the SP Flash version being used or the firmware, there might be slight variations in the procedure. It is recommended to check the device’s official manual and the SP Flash Tool guide. The information here may develop issues if the products in use are not compatible, leading to voiding the warranty. Take extreme caution while using these procedures; the information presented is for informational purposes only. Proper care should be taken to handpick drivers and the flashing tool before the process.