Xiaomi Mi 8 Official Global ROM vs Xiaomi Mi 8 Global Version/Edition


Hi guys, I just saw a question in a forum that saying that the facial recognition in global version ROM supports only certain regions or countries? Is this correct? After changing the region to the particular country the facial recognition shows up as they said? I'm willing buying an Mi 8. Pls help on this issue. Thanks..
 
If you buy a global version, all google apps and google pay should be working, though I have not test it yet. But global ROM stable is official, you don't need to unlock your bootloader to flash a unofficial ROM, my suggestion is to use official release if you care about security and stability, as google may update their apps to block any custom ROM at anytime, they have improved their app detects uncertified ROM number of times previously, and if you are using a custom ROM, the risk is some apps may suddenly stop working and you will have to wait the community till they find the fix

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Is face unlock feature also working in global ROM? Some forum says have to change the country or region to get face unlock in global version. Please kindly explain. Thank you.
 
hello! I have a question:

I have received a MI8 (chinese version) but with changed ROM (with Google Play etc...) but I have locked the bootloader using ADB and since then I can't get the phone working it's booting only into MI-Recovery saying: This MIUI version can't be installed on this device.

What to do with it?
How can I again unlock the device?

I was not upgrading or doing anything else to the phone...
 
hello! I have a question:

I have received a MI8 (chinese version) but with changed ROM (with Google Play etc...) but I have locked the bootloader using ADB and since then I can't get the phone working it's booting only into MI-Recovery saying: This MIUI version can't be installed on this device.

What to do with it?
How can I again unlock the device?

I was not upgrading or doing anything else to the phone...

Big Mistake that you had unlocked china Mi 8 with global rom and you locked it.
Now you need only to pay for unlocking because xiaomi locked edl mode to unlock it.
you should put china rom first with your mi account at phone, then lock bootloader, then apply for unlocking and unlock.
So in future even if you would lovk your china version Mi 8 with Global rom you could unlock it.
Now im sorry but you have a dead phone and you need to pay for someone with authorized edl account to unlock you.
Google it.
 
This chinese version is a piece of s***t I wasn't even able to use my bank app because of the unlocked bootloader, that's why I locked it back but was not aware it will cause the phone to stop working... So now the only option for the phone to work again is to install it back with the chinese ROM?

Why are this doing the seller's to us, causing only problems to customers/users, I was paying for official version of the phone and not a changed/modified one from the seller, it's all cheating scenario very bad for end customers...

So what will now help for the phone to run please?
1. I can now only install Chinese ROM using MIAssistant which is the only available option I can use from the Recovery Menu? Will this work?
2. I have read about the EDL recovery but it means disassembling the phone that I don't like, will there be a possibility to do it in the future another way?

What has Xiaomi done to the phone? I don't understand the problematic quite well why this all happend to me after I locked the bootloader back? As said I wasn't able to use my banking app at all, that's why I locked it and wasn't aware it will cause the phone to stop working at all saying "This MIUI version can't be installed in this device", so which version of ROM can be installed on the device?
 
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China stable or china dev rom can be installed. Or any china rsource rom like xiaomi.eu.
But you didnt unlock the phone with your account. It came unlocked from seller right?
If you unlocked it by yourself and its locked you can unlock it back and will be fine.
But if you didn't unlock it then you cannot do anything else because mi 8 has edl mode locked and you can't flash china rom that you need.
The only way now is someone with authorised edl account to unlock it so you can install china stable or dev rom, apply for unlocking and then or to stay at china rom or to install the great rom of xiaomi.eu
 
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YES it came unlocked from the seller and I just locked it with using fastboot.
So now the phone is locked and I can't get it unlocked using MIFlash unlock because it is not paired with my MI account.
That means I am done right? I can't do anything just find someone with EDL account as you mentioned or wait forever if something changes?
 
thanks, I'll try to contact them, it seem they can somehow unlock the bootloader with a hacked MIFlash Unlock...

But what's next on my mind, why do the chinese sellers sell us this china version phones with Global ROM when you actually can NEVER achieve the same status of the phone as if it would be official GLOBAL VERSION?

Same what happend to me - the MI8 I purchased with Global ROM is unusable for me because I am not able to use my banking app or any other apps that require locked bootloader and the bootloader can't be locked because the phone bricks and can't run at all. With my phone with Global ROM (installed by the seller) I will never get 100% of the functionality of the official GLOBAL VERSION although hardware-wise is it all the same right?

So the only difference between Global version and Chinese version is that Xiaomi uses 2 different bootloaders that can't be changed? So chinese bootloader allows the phone to run only Chinese or Global ROM? So you will never get 1:1 match between global and chinese version no matter what you install on it because bootloader doesn't allow you to make Global version from the Chinese version?

I really want to completely understand what is happening here...
 
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What is happening is that
Chinese phone= Chinese rom with locked bootloader
Global version= global rom with locked bootloader

Unlocked bootloader (unlocked with your account)= any rom from any source including custom roms.
 
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thanks alvin! perfect & simple explanation!

I have one more question - with my locked bootloader I am NOT able to flash any ROM now? If I would flash Chinese ROM with locked bootloader would it work?
 
thanks, I'll try to contact them, it seem they can somehow unlock the bootloader with a hacked MIFlash Unlock...

But what's next on my mind, why do the chinese sellers sell us this china version phones with Global ROM when you actually can NEVER achieve the same status of the phone as if it would be official GLOBAL VERSION?

Same what happend to me - the MI8 I purchased with Global ROM is unusable for me because I am not able to use my banking app or any other apps that require locked bootloader and the bootloader can't be locked because the phone bricks and can't run at all. With my phone with Global ROM (installed by the seller) I will never get 100% of the functionality of the official GLOBAL VERSION although hardware-wise is it all the same right?

So the only difference between Global version and Chinese version is that Xiaomi uses 2 different bootloaders that can't be changed? So chinese bootloader allows the phone to run only Chinese or Global ROM? So you will never get 1:1 match between global and chinese version no matter what you install on it because bootloader doesn't allow you to make Global version from the Chinese version?

I really want to completely understand what is happening here...
They are selling both, Global ROM and Global version of the phone. Its up to you, what you will pick. For instance i chose global ROM in purpose. I would unlock bootloader no matter what (TWRP, ROOT,...) and with Chinese Global ROM version (or so its called International version) you have it already unlocked (saves time) and you will save some money too. Dont blame sellers for your mistake. AND when you discovered, you have unlocked bootloader, you could google some information before locking back the bootloader.

AND one more thing. I think you can hide unlocked bootloader with Magisk and probably some other methods so your bank app will not recognize unlocked bootloader. So the locking was actualy for nothing :)
https://en.miui.com/thread-3530298-1-1.html
 
thanks alvin! perfect & simple explanation!

I have one more question - with my locked bootloader I am NOT able to flash any ROM now? If I would flash Chinese ROM with locked bootloader would it work?

Νo it won't work don't try it.
You need unlocked bootloader to go from global to china rom through fastboot flash.
 
AND one more thing. I think you can hide unlocked bootloader with Magisk and probably some other methods so your bank app will not recognize unlocked bootloader. So the locking was actually for nothing :)
https://en.miui.com/thread-3530298-1-1.html

yeah I really wasn't thinking that something like locking bootloader will leave the phone in a bricked status... I just don't follow everything around the phone business as detailed because there's so much info about it that I simply can't catch all the stuff, I just fall into problems now so I am searching for solution...

With my purchase I was a bit cheated by the seller because when I was buying the phone it was marked as Official Global ROM, now they have it titled as Chinese/English version which is more correct for people like me who don't follow every detail in the phone business. That's why I thought this one is the Global Version just they named it a little bit different and the reality was that I bought a chinese version...

About hiding bootloader etc. I really never stepped this far into phone problematics (although in PC world I do everything possible HW&SW install, solving problems etc. also for friends) so I don't know anything about it, thanks for letting me know.

So conclusion is that all the MI8 phone are same in HW but only differ in ROM and bootloader, am I now understanding it correctly?

And what should I do to make my chinese MI8 be the same as MI8 Global Version? Bootloader change&lock + ROM change and how?
 
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Just keep your Bootloader unlocked ave you are good to go.

Having magisk installed does not necessarily mean to actually use the benefit it deliveres ( no ads, more control) you can simply cloak the unlock and not use root at all.

Having root is not a bad thing, i could never imagine to use a plain phone without it, i don't feel secure if I'm off control

My advice, flash the xiaomi.eu Rom, leave magisk out of it for now and see, how far you get, if you face any obstacles / not working apps issues, then post back, we will take you from there.

Do not attempt to re-lock your Bootloader, chances to brick your device are quite high!

Regards.

Sent from my MI 8 Explorer Edition using Tapatalk
 
last Q from me - how to make my MI8 chinese version be the same as MI8 Global Version? What do I need to change? Bootloader change&lock + ROM change? Anything else? And is it possible?
 
To unlock Chinese version with your account and to flash vua fastboot global rom is all you need to do.
And of course to leave bootloader unlocked.
But the first thing is to unlock bootloader with your account.then even if it will lock you can unlock it fine.
As hardware the phones are same.
Only rom change.
 
OK but if I want to lock the bootloader I will again fall into Recovery Menu bootloop with Global ROM, so what to change more to have the phone in the Global Version status ? I need locked bootloader because of my banking app...
 
Untrue!
We already explained!

Check my video again ;)

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OK but if I want to lock the bootloader I will again fall into Recovery Menu bootloop with Global ROM, so what to change more to have the phone in the Global Version status ? I need locked bootloader because of my banking app...

Sent from my MI 8 Explorer Edition using Tapatalk
 
Then put china stable or developer rom and lock bootloader.
You want everything on your side!!!!
And china phone and global rom and locked bootloader.
2 options you have only.
1st. China rom with locked bootloader
2d. Global rom with unlocked bootloader.
Choose and go with it.
Its not nuclear science.
 
hello! I have done nothing with the phone since my last post on 13th Nov 2018, has anything changed in this case regarding unlocking of the MI8? Has Xiaomi made it already possible or is there any other new solution appeared in the last 3 months?

my MI8 is bricked like before with locked status saying This MIUI version can't be installed on this device.

Is there any new solution available?