Q1. My phone is infected with a virus that shows pop-up ads. Will this firmware remove it?

Yes. This is a very common problem for this type of device. Flashing the official stock ROM is the only guaranteed way to completely remove deep-rooted malware and adware that a factory reset cannot.

Q2. I keep getting errors like "Google Play Services has stopped." How do I stop this?

This indicates corruption in the core system apps. Reinstalling the entire operating system by flashing this firmware will provide a clean version of all Google apps and services, resolving these errors.

Q3. Why is my phone so incredibly slow and laggy?

The BQ Aquaris Q8 has very limited hardware (1GB of RAM). A clean firmware flash will restore it to its original factory speed by removing all software clutter. To keep it usable, you should only install essential, lightweight apps after flashing.

BQ Aquaris Q8 Firmware (Stock ROM)

The BQ Aquaris Q8 is an entry-level smartphone running the older Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system. With its basic hardware, including a MediaTek MT6580 chipset and 1GB of RAM, the device is highly susceptible to severe software problems over time. The most common user complaints for this class of device include malware or adware infections causing pop-up ads, critical system errors like “Unfortunately, System UI has stopped,” and debilitating slowness. For users facing these issues, or those with a bricked device, flashing the official stock firmware is the definitive method to completely wipe the system and restore it to its original, clean state.

ℹ️ Important Note:
This phone is powered by a MediaTek MT6580 chipset. The flashing process requires the SP Flash Tool and will completely erase all your personal data. Ensure you have backed up any important files before you begin.

⚠️ Prerequisites: Before You Begin

Click Here for the Essential Pre-Flashing Checklist

Backup Your Data: All your contacts, photos, and files on the phone’s internal storage will be permanently wiped.
Charge The Battery: To prevent the phone from shutting down during the update, ensure the battery is charged to at least 50%.
Windows PC & USB Cable: You will need a Windows computer and a standard micro USB cable to perform the flash.

📱 Quick Device Specifications

Device: BQ Aquaris Q8
Chipset: MediaTek MT6580
Display: 5.0″ IPS (854×480)
Operating System: Android 5.1 Lollipop
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 8GB
Battery: ~2200 mAh (Removable)

🛠 Required Tools & Downloads

File / Tool	Download Link
SP Flash Tool	Download Tool
MediaTek USB VCOM Drivers	Download Drivers

⬇️ BQ Aquaris Q8 Stock ROM / Firmware

Android Version	Build Date	Chipset	Download Link
5.1 Lollipop	2017-11-29	MediaTek MT6580	Download (MediaFire)

Quick Steps to Flash BQ Aquaris Q8 Firmware

Download and install the MediaTek VCOM drivers. Extract the firmware ZIP file (BQ_Aquaris_Q8_..._5.1.zip) and the SP Flash Tool on your PC.
Launch flash_tool.exe. Click the “Scatter-loading” button and select the MT6580_Android_scatter.txt file from the extracted firmware folder.
Ensure the flashing mode in the dropdown menu is set to “Download Only.”
Power off your phone and remove the battery. Click the green “Download” button in SP Flash Tool, then connect the phone to your PC via USB cable (without the battery).
The flash will start automatically. Once you see the green checkmark pop-up, you can disconnect the phone, re-insert the battery, and power it on.

For a more detailed, step-by-step guide on this process, please refer to our main tutorial:
👉 Full Tutorial: How to Flash MediaTek Firmware with SP Flash Tool

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. My phone is infected with a virus that shows pop-up ads. Will this firmware remove it?: Yes. This is a very common problem for this type of device. Flashing the official stock ROM is the only guaranteed way to completely remove deep-rooted malware and adware that a factory reset cannot.
Q2. I keep getting errors like “Google Play Services has stopped.” How do I stop this?: This indicates corruption in the core system apps. Reinstalling the entire operating system by flashing this firmware will provide a clean version of all Google apps and services, resolving these errors.
Q3. Why is my phone so incredibly slow and laggy?: The BQ Aquaris Q8 has very limited hardware (1GB of RAM). A clean firmware flash will restore it to its original factory speed by removing all software clutter. To keep it usable, you should only install essential, lightweight apps after flashing.

🔧 Device Troubleshooting

The phone is not detected by SP Flash Tool: The removable battery on MT6580 devices makes this easier. Ensure the VCOM drivers are installed, click “Download” in SP Flash Tool, remove the battery from the phone, and then connect the phone to the PC without the battery inside. This is the most reliable connection method.
The flash fails with a “PMT changed for the ROM” error: This error means the partition layout is mismatched. To fix this, change the flashing mode in SP Flash Tool from “Download Only” to “Firmware Upgrade” and try the process again.
After flashing, the phone is stuck on the BQ or Android logo: The first boot can be slow. If it’s still stuck after 15 minutes, boot into recovery mode (Power + Volume Up), and perform a “Wipe data/factory reset” to clear any old data conflicts.