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How to Root Xiaomi Redmi: Step-by-Step Guide

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How to Root Xiaomi Redmi: Step-by-Step Guide

Rooting your Xiaomi Redmi gives you full administrative control over the Android system, letting you remove bloatware, install custom kernels, use root-only apps, and tweak system settings that are otherwise locked. This guide walks you through unlocking the bootloader, installing a custom recovery, and flashing Magisk to root your device. Before starting, back up all important data and ensure your phone has at least 70% battery, as the process wipes the device and can take time.

What You’ll Need

  • A Xiaomi Redmi phone (model-specific files are required)
  • A Windows PC (Mac/Linux work but with extra steps)
  • USB cable (preferably the original)
  • Mi Unlock Tool (download from Xiaomi’s official site)
  • Magisk APK (latest stable from Magisk’s GitHub)
  • Custom recovery like TWRP (for your exact model)
  • Unlocked bootloader (required; see Step 1)
  • Backup of your data (the process wipes everything)

Step-by-Step

  1. Unlock the bootloader. Go to Settings > About Phone, tap “MIUI versionâ€� 7 times to enable Developer Options. Then go to Settings > Additional Settings > Developer Options and enable “OEM unlockingâ€� and “USB debuggingâ€�. Sign into your Mi account on the phone, then visit Xiaomi’s unlock page, request permission, and wait (can take 7–30 days). Once approved, download and run the Mi Unlock Tool on your PC, log in with the same Mi account, and follow the on-screen instructions. This wipes your phone.
  2. Back up your data. After unlocking, set up your phone again and back up any important files to cloud storage or your PC, because the next steps will wipe data again.
  3. Download the correct files. On your PC, download the TWRP image and the stock boot.img for your exact Redmi model and MIUI version. You can extract boot.img from the official ROM package (fastboot ROM) using a tool like Mi Flash or by unzipping the tgz file.
  4. Install TWRP custom recovery. Reboot your phone into fastboot mode (power off, then hold Volume Down + Power). Connect to PC, open a command prompt in the folder with the TWRP image, and run: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img. Then run fastboot boot twrp.img to boot into TWRP temporarily (do not let it boot normally, or it may overwrite TWRP).
  5. Create a Magisk-patched boot image. Transfer the stock boot.img to your phone. Install the Magisk APK, open it, tap “Install� next to “Magisk�, select “Select and Patch a File�, choose the boot.img, and wait. The patched file will be saved in Download.
  6. Flash the patched boot image. Copy the patched boot.img (usually named magisk_patched-*.img) to your PC. Reboot to fastboot again, then run: fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img. Reboot your phone.
  7. Verify root. After reboot, open the Magisk app. If it shows “Installed� and “Magisk� is active, you’re rooted. You can also use a root checker app from the Play Store to confirm.

Common Mistakes

  • Using wrong files: Flashing TWRP or boot.img from a different model or MIUI version can brick your phone. Always verify the exact codename (e.g., “redmi note 8â€� is “ginkgoâ€�) and MIUI version.
  • Skipping bootloader unlock: You cannot root without unlocking the bootloader first. Attempting to flash will fail or cause a bootloop.
  • Letting the phone boot normally after flashing TWRP: On many Redmi models, the system overwrites TWRP during first boot. Use the “fastboot bootâ€� command to boot TWRP directly without flashing it permanently.
  • Not backing up: Unlocking and flashing wipes data. Losing photos or files is irreversible.
  • Using an unstable Magisk version: Beta or Canary builds may cause bootloops. Stick to the stable Magisk release.

Tips

  • Keep your phone charged above 70% to avoid shutdown during flashing.
  • Use the original USB cable and a USB 2.0 port on your PC for stable fastboot connections.
  • After rooting, install a root manager like Magisk’s built-in Superuser to control which apps get root access.
  • If you plan to install custom ROMs later, keep TWRP installed permanently (but be aware of the overwrite issue).
  • Write down your Mi account credentials; you’ll need them if you ever relock the bootloader.

Troubleshooting

Bootloop after flashing: Boot into recovery (Volume Up + Power) and wipe cache/dalvik. If that fails, reflash the stock boot.img from your ROM to restore, then repeat the Magisk patching process with a fresh boot.img.

Fastboot not detecting device: Install the proper USB drivers for Xiaomi (available from Xiaomi’s site or via Mi Flash Tool). Try a different USB port or cable, and ensure USB debugging is enabled.

TWRP not sticking: On some models, you must flash TWRP via “fastboot boot� first, then within TWRP install the TWRP zip from the internal storage to make it permanent.

Magisk app shows “not installedâ€�: This usually means the patched boot image wasn’t flashed correctly. Reboot to fastboot and reflash the patched boot.img, ensuring the command completes without errors.

Phone stuck on Mi logo: Hold Power for 10+ seconds to force restart. If it persists, boot to recovery and perform a factory reset (this wipes data but fixes most boot issues).

Unlock permission denied: Check that you’re logged into the same Mi account on both phone and PC, and that your account is older than 30 days (Xiaomi’s requirement). Some accounts need to apply again after waiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does rooting void my warranty? Yes, unlocking the bootloader and rooting typically voids the manufacturer warranty. Some regions have consumer laws that may override this, but Xiaomi generally treats it as void.

Will I still get OTA updates after rooting? No, OTA updates will fail because the system partition is modified. You’ll need to update manually by downloading the full ROM and re-patching boot.img with Magisk.

Can I unroot later? Yes, you can unroot by flashing the stock boot.img back (download the original ROM and extract boot.img) or by using Magisk’s “Uninstallâ€� option in the app.

Is it safe to root my Redmi? Rooting itself is safe if you follow instructions and use correct files. The risk is bricking your device if you flash wrong files or interrupt the process. Always double-check model compatibility.

What is the difference between rooting and unlocking bootloader? Unlocking the bootloader allows you to flash custom images; rooting gives you superuser access within Android. Unlocking is a prerequisite for rooting on Xiaomi devices.

Will Google Pay or banking apps stop working? Yes, many banking and payment apps detect root and refuse to run. You can use Magisk’s “MagiskHideâ€� (or the newer DenyList) to hide root from specific apps, but it’s not guaranteed to work for all apps.

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