Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the limitations of the standard operating system, which cannot be circumvented by conventional methods. For advanced users, the solution is to install a specialized recovery that replaces the standard recovery mode. TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is the gold standard in the world of custom firmware, providing full access to the device's file system.
Using this tool opens up possibilities that a regular MIUI Recovery can only dream of: you get the ability to make full backups of the system, install modified versions of Android and obtain super-user rights. However, before you start experimenting, you need to clearly understand that unlocking the bootloader permanently erases all data from the device, so preparation is mandatory.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the architecture of the modified recovery, its differences from stock software and the step-by-step algorithm of actions. It is important to understand the risks associated with interfering with system partitions, but with the right approach, this process allows you to significantly expand the functionality of your gadget.
Differences between TWRP and stock recovery
The standard recovery pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones has extremely limited functionality focused solely on basic maintenance, allowing you to reset to factory settings or upgrade the system through an official service package. Unlike it, TWRP is a full-fledged operating environment with a graphical interface controlled via a touch screen.
The main advantage of custom recavator is the ability to work with partitions of memory regardless of the state of the main system. If your phone is in a “bootloop” (cyclic reboot), the standard mode may not cope with recovery, while Team Win will remove problematic files or roll back the system to the previous recovery point without losing personal data.
⚠️ Note: Using modified recovery automatically violates the integrity of the system partition, which may result in denial of warranty service in authorized service centers.
TWRP also supports file formats that the stock bootloader doesn’t understand, especially when installing custom firmware from third-party developers who often use specific archive structures, and without this tool, installing alternative OSes would be impossible for most users.
Tools and training required
Before you start any manipulation of the system partition, it is critical to prepare the work environment: you will need not only the smartphone itself, but also a personal computer with ADB and Fastboot drivers installed. Without the right software on the PC, interaction with the phone in bootloader mode will not be possible.
The second, equally important step is unlocking the bootloader. On Xiaomi devices, this procedure is officially supported by the manufacturer, but requires a wait of 7 to 168 hours after submitting an application through the Mi Account. Ignoring this step will make installing TWRP impossible, since the signatures of stock keys will block the download of third-party code.
☑️ Preparation for installation TWRP
You also need to download the version of the image (.img), which is designed strictly for your model. Using the file from Xiaomi Mi 9 on Xiaomi Mi 10 is guaranteed to lead to inoperability of the touchscreen or complete “bricking” of the device, since the addresses of memory partitions differ from processor to processor.
The process of installing TWRP on Xiaomi
The installation procedure is done through Fastboot mode, which is a low-level interface for the device's firmware. To enter this mode, you need to turn off the phone and press the volume reduction key combination and the power button until the android-repairing hare appears on the screen. After connecting to the PC in the command line, you need to enter a communication check command.
The process of writing an image is fast, but requires attention to the syntax of commands. A single letter error can lead to writing data to the wrong partition. Below is a command to install where twrp.img is your file name and recovery is your target partition.
fastboot flash recovery twrp.imgImmediately after a successful image recording, many users make the critical mistake of restarting the phone as normal, which will cause the MIUI or HyperOS stock system to overwrite the modified recovery partition back to the factory, and to avoid this, immediately after blinking, switch the device to Recovery mode, holding the volume and power button.
What if the TWRP crashed after the reboot?
Main functions and menu capabilities
TWRP is designed with fingers in mind, which makes it different from many other utilities. The main menu contains large buttons, each of which is responsible for an important functional unit. Understanding the purpose of each button is necessary for safe operation.
- 📱 Install allows you to choose ZIP-archives with firmware, mods or patches and install them in the system.
- 🔄 Wipe – provides advanced partition cleaning capabilities, including Data, Internal Storage and Cache formatting.
- 💾 Backup – creates a complete cast of the current system (Boot, System, Data, Vendor) that can be restored at any time.
- ⚙️ Advanced – contains tools for working with files, terminals and keys.
Advanced Wipe is a feature that is particularly noteworthy, as opposed to a simple reset, it allows selectively formatting partitions. For example, when switching from one custom firmware to another, you often need to clear the Dalvik / ART Cache and Cache partitions, but save the Data partition with photos and contacts.
Backup and restoration
One of the most powerful features of Team Win Recovery Project is to create full backups (Nandroid Backup), unlike cloud services that only save contacts and photos, this feature creates an exact copy of the state of all selected memory parts at the time of creation of the backup.
When creating a backup, it is recommended to choose the Boot, System, Data and Vendor partitions. The Data partition usually takes up the most space, since it contains all the installed applications and user data. SD-transfer to a computer so as not to take up internal memory.
| Section | What does it contain? | Needs a recovery. |
|---|---|---|
| Boot | The core of the system and ramdisk | Yes (critically for download) |
| System | Operating Android files | Yes (OS base) |
| Data | Applications, photos, settings | Yes (personal details) |
| Vendor | Equipment drivers | Yeah (iron work) |
Recovery from a copy takes longer than creation and requires stable power to the device. interruption of the System or Boot partition recovery process can cause the phone to stop turning on and require reflashing through the Fastboot.
Install Magisk and get Root rights
Superuser rights (Root) are obtained on modern Xiaomi smartphones by patching the boot image. This is done using the Magisk utility. TWRP acts here as a platform for implementing a modified bootloader into the system.
The process is as follows: first downloaded APK-Magisk file, renamed.zip (or selected via the installation menu) APK newer TWRP), And then it's stitched through the Install menu, and after that, and then it's rebooted, the Magisk app comes in, and it allows you to manage access rights for other programs.
⚠️ Attention: Root rights make many of Google Pay (Wallet) banking apps and services vulnerable, and will require additional root hiding settings via Magisk Hide or Zygisk to work.
Importantly, on devices with dynamic partitions (A/B partitions), which are characteristic of many new Xiaomi models, the process may be different, in which case TWRP may require a special patch to maintain health after the first reboot, otherwise the phone will again boot into the stock receivers.
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Use the "Keep Read Only" function in TWRP only if you do not plan to make changes to the system. To install mods, this section must be mounted as Read/Write.
Possible problems and solutions
In software modification, users often face typical problems, most of which have known solutions, the most common being a bootloop, where the phone is endlessly rebooted on the manufacturer's logo, often when installing an incompatible version of the firmware or module.
Another common problem is a broken touchscreen in TWRP mode. This indicates that the image of the Recovery is not collected for your particular device or Android version. In such cases, it helps to search for an alterbork (unofficial build) on specialized forums where enthusiasts collect versions with corrected drivers.
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90% of TWRP installation problems are caused by trying to flash an image designed for another model or Android version, or by an unlocked bootloader.
If the phone stopped responding to buttons and the screen is black, it may have gone into deep EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode, which can only be exited through Mi Flash service software and an authorized account, or by disassembling the device and closing contacts on the board.