Unlock Bootloader, Install TWRP Recovery and Root Realme 8i

Unfortunately, the process of unlocking the bootloader is also quite risky. One tiny mistake and you might end up bricking your device. Most manufacturers also consider the warranty voided the moment the bootloader has been tampered with. In addition to all that, a few services like Google Pay, Netflix, and a few games like Pokemon Go might not function properly on a rooted device.

If you are willing to bear the few downsides that come with an unlocked bootloader, read on to find out how you can unlock the bootloader, install TWRP recovery, and root Realme 8i!

Pre-requisites

Before you go ahead and try to unlock the bootloader and root Realme 8i, there are a few precautions that you need to take care of.

• Make sure you take a complete backup of your phone. This includes media such as your photos, videos, and other app data. Unlocking a phone’s bootloader will result in a full wipe.
• Ensure that your phone has at least 60% battery before beginning the process. This is to avoid any unforeseen shutdowns in the middle of the process which can be fatal for your phone.
• You will need a Windows PC or a laptop to unlock the bootloader and root Realme 8i.
• Enable OEM Unlocking by navigating to Settings > Advanced Settings > Developer Options. You will first need to enable the hidden menu for Developer Options. This can be done by navigating to About Phone > Version and tapping the Build Number button 7 times.
  

How to Unlock Bootloader on Realme 8i

1. On your computer or laptop, open the Windows Store and install Python.
2. Follow the link here to download and install the latest version of USBDk.
3. Download the MTK Client program and extract it in a convenient place on your computer.
4. Download the vbmeta image and the appropriate patched boot image for your phone. Copy both of these files to the MTK Client folder that you just extracted.
5. Open the folder where you copied the files to, right-click while holding down the Shift key on your keyboard, and select Open Powershell Window Here from the menu.
6. Enter the following commands in the command prompt window one after the other and hit enter:

   pip3 install -r requirements.txt
   python mtk e metadata,userdata,md_udc

7.  Turn off your phone and boot it into BROM mode. This can be done by holding down both the volume buttons and plugging your phone into your computer. Make sure you do not let go of the buttons till the end of the process.
8. Once connected, type the following command into the Powershell window and press enter:

   python mtk da seccfg unlock

9. Unplug your phone and turn it on. The first boot can take up to 20-25 minutes so don’t panic. Your phone will also display “dm verity corrupted”, but that’s normal.
10. Once your phone boots up set it up again and you have an unlocked bootloader on your Realme 8i!

How to Root Realme 8i

1. Download and install the Magisk APK on your Realme 8i.
2. On your computer, launch another Powershell window in the same folder and enter the following command:

   python mtk w boot,vbmeta boot.patched,vbmeta.img.empty

3. Just like before, turn your phone off, and connect it to your computer while holding down both the volume buttons (do not let go of them till the end).
4. The Powershell window should now detect your phone and start flashing the new patch.
5. Once done, disconnect your phone and boot it up.
6. Open Magisk and you should now be able to see that your phone is properly rooted.

How to Install TWRP Recovery on Realme 8i

1. Download the TWRP image file for the Realme 8i by following this link.
2. Download and install the Flashify APK on your phone.
3. Open the app and grant it root permissions when prompted.
4. Select Recovery Image from the list and choose the TWRP image file that you just downloaded. Tap on Yup and wait for the process to be over.
5. Once done, you can reboot your phone into the recovery mode using the Magisk app.

Conclusion

That’s all! We hope our guide on how to unlock the bootloader, install TWRP recovery, and root Realme 8i was useful to you! You can now begin flashing custom ROMs or playing with apps that require root access on your phone. If you have been facing any issues while following the procedure, leave a comment below and we would be more than happy to help!