How to put TWRP on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Installing custom recavator is the first and most important step to complete freedom of action within the Android operating system. Xiaomi smartphone owner gets the ability to make full backups, install third-party firmware and modify system files. Standard recovery mode is often limited to basic functions, while Team Win Recovery Project opens the door to deep customization.

The procedure is not trivial and requires care, as interference with boot partitions always carries certain risks. However, if you follow the algorithm of actions and prepare the necessary tools, success is guaranteed even for beginners. In this guide, we will discuss in detail how to put TWRP on a particular Xiaomi model, avoiding typical errors.

Before you get to the bottom of the game, make sure your device is compatible. There is no universal firmware file for all models, and trying to install an inappropriate image can cause the gadget to fail. Make sure you download a version created specifically for your smartphone's code name.

Preparation of the device and the workplace

Start by carefully preparing the software environment and the smartphone itself, and without the right drivers and utilities, your computer won’t see the device in the right mode, and you’ll need to install ADB and Fastboot drivers, which provide low-level communication between your PC and your phone.

It is also critical to back up all your data, and when you manipulate the recovery partition, you may lose your user files, or copy your photos, contacts, and documents to an external medium or to the cloud.

• 📱 Charge the smartphone battery to at least 60-70%, to avoid sudden shutdown.
• 💻 Download and install Qualcomm or MediaTek drivers depending on the processor.
• 🔌 Use the original. USB-cable or quality analogue with data transmission support.
• 📂 Download the current image of.img Recovery just for your model.

⚠️ Attention: Use of faulty USB-cable USB 3.0 on some older motherboards may cause a connection to break at a critical firmware point.

Once you have the drivers installed, check them. Connect your phone in normal mode and debugging mode. If Windows Device Manager displays correct names without the yellow exclamation points, you can proceed to set up your smartphone.

Unlocking the Bootloader bootloader

Xiaomi has implemented a strict security policy that blocks the default modification of system partitions, so installing TWRP is impossible without first unlocking Bootloader.

First, you need to link your Mi Account to your device and get permission to unlock, a process that can take anywhere from a few hours to seven days, depending on the region’s policies and the manufacturer’s server loads.

After obtaining the status "Allowed" in the Mi Unlock Status application, you must go to the Settings menu. → About the phone and several times click on the version MIUI, To activate the developer menu, then turn on the debugging. USB and permission to unlock the loader.

The unlocking process itself is done through the Mi Unlock Tool on your computer. Put your phone to Fastboot mode by pressing the volume button when the cable is connected, and start the program. Once you have successfully checked, the device will be unlocked and all data on it will be deleted.

Download to Fastboot mode and check the connection

When the bootloader is unlocked, the smartphone is ready to receive commands from the outside. Fastboot mode allows you to write images directly into the device memory, bypassing the operating system, and this is the mode in which we will flash the recovery file.

To enter this mode, press the volume reduction button and connect USB-The phone is turned off, and there's going to be a picture of a hare repairing an android, or a sign that says, FASTBOOT. If the screen is black, try to pinch the button combination after the cable is connected.

Now open the command line on your computer in the folder with the ADB tools installed. Enter the command to check the connection:

fastboot devices

If you see the serial number of the device in response, the connection is correct. If the line is empty, check the drivers in Device Manager or try another one. USB-Without the successful execution of this command, no further action is possible.

The process of installing TWRP via Fastboot

This is the most important step in the instruction. We'll use the fastboot flash command to write the image to the appropriate partition memory. An error in the partition name or file can lead to a device building, so be careful.

Place the downloaded image file (e.g. twrp-3.7.0-0-device.img) in the platform tool folder. Rename it for convenience to recovery.img so you don't make a mistake when you type commands. Open the console in this folder.

Enter the following command to record the image:

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

Wait until the process is over. The console should have a message Finished successfully. Immediately after that, without releasing the buttons, you need to go to the installed receptacle so that it is not overwritten by the system on the first boot.

⚠️ Note: Some models with dynamic partitions (A/B partitions) the command may be different. recovery.img to start the first run and then install it through the menu itself TWRP.

To get to the new menu right away, press the volume button and press the power button without letting it go. Hold both buttons until the TWRP logo appears. If you see the standard Mi Recovery menu, the system has overwritten the partition back, and you need to repeat the procedure faster.

Primary configuration and work with sections

Once you're signed in, you'll see Team Win. First thing you need to do is allow modifications to the system partition. Swipe Allow Modifications. Without that, the system may not boot or require a password all the time.

Next comes a big point for Xiaomi users: Standard MIUI or HyperOS firmware uses data encryption. To access files inside the phone via TWRP, you may need to format the Data partition. This will delete all files, but it is necessary for proper operation.

To do this, go to the Wipe menu and select Format Data. Type the word yes to confirm. After that, restart the device to Recovery mode again so that the changes take effect.

Now you can use all the functions: make backups (Backup), install firmware (Install) or clear cache. The interface is intuitive, but be careful with the EFS or Persist section - they are absolutely not allowed to touch.

Solving problems and mistakes

Users often face typical difficulties in installing a phone, such as a Bootloop, which often happens if the recovery version doesn’t match the Android or kernel version.

Another problem is that you can't connect your phone to your PC in TWRP mode, so you should try another cable or port, and check if the MTP driver is installed in the Device Manager, and sometimes just rebooting the recovery itself through the Reboot menu helps.

Below is a table of errors and ways to solve them:

If nothing works, you can always get it back to the way it was, and you can download the stock firmware and flash it through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode, and that will put the bootloader and the recoveries back into factory condition.

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Save the recovery.img stock image before installing the TWRP command "fastboot getvar all" or through the backup to be able to roll back.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Installing TWRP is an irreversible process in terms of warranty, but reversible in technical terms: you can always go back to factory settings.