How to Download and Install TWRP on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Compatibility Checking

Installing custom TWRP on Xiaomi smartphones gives you access to advanced features from system backup to unofficial ROM firmware. However, the process requires accuracy - an error at any stage can turn a device into a "brick." In this article, we will discuss legal ways to download TWRP, check compatibility with your Xiaomi model, as well as the nuances of unlocking the bootloader, without which installation is impossible.

Xiaomi devices feature a closed bootloader by default, which makes it difficult to work with custom firmware. We will explain in detail how to circumvent this restriction without violating the warranty (if it is still valid), and where to download official TWRP builds, not fake files with viruses. You will also learn how to check the integrity of the downloaded image and avoid common errors like Invalid image format or hanging on the Mi logo.

Why TWRP and not standard Recovery?

Stock recovery on Xiaomi limits the user to basic functions: reset to factory settings, clear cache and update via update.zip. TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) offers:

• 📦 Full backup of all partitions, including data, boot and system.
• 🔧 Installation of custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience, MIUI Pro and others.).
• 🔄 The possibility of “rollback” to the previous version of the firmware, if the new one is unstable.
• 🛠️ Access to the file system through ADB or MTP straight out of the river.
• 🔐 Bypassing lockdown FRP (If you forget your Mi Account).

Important: TWRP doesn't automatically give root rights -- it's a separate procedure (Magisk installation), but without custom recavers, it's almost impossible to get a root on modern Xiaomi.

Preparation: unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi

Without an unlocked bootloader, installing TWRP is impossible, which is Xiaomi’s main difference from most Android devices, which takes up to 72 hours and requires a Mi Account to be linked to the device.

Steps to unlock:

1. Link your Mi Account to your phone in Settings → Xiaomi account.
2. Activate Developer Options: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI 7 times.
3. In Developer Options, enable OEM Unlock and USB Debugging.
4. Download the Mi Unlock Tool (only official website!).
5. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when the device is off).
6. Launch the Mi Unlock Tool and follow the instructions. The waiting time depends on Xiaomi’s policy (usually 3-5 days).

⚠️ If you see a "Couldn't unlock" or "Device not bound" error, check it out:

• 🔗 Mi Account is tied to phone for at least 30 days (new rule from 2023).
• 📱 The device is not linked to another account (for example, after purchasing a used account).
• 🖥️ You're using the original. USB-cable (cheap cables often don’t transmit data to Fastboot).

Where to download the official TWRP for Xiaomi?

The only reliable source is the official TWRP website. Avoid third-party resources: even on popular forums (4PDA, XDA) there are modified builds with backdoors.

How to find the correct version:

1. Go to the device page and type in the Xiaomi model (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro or Poco X3 Pro).
2. Download a file with the.img extension (for example, twrp-3.7.0_12-0-joyeuse.img).
3. Check the hash amount of the file (usually listed on the download page) through the sha256sum utility:

sha256sum twrp-3.7.0_12-0-joyeuse.img

If your model is not on the TWRP site, check out the informal builds on XDA Developers, but only in themes marked [OFFICIAL] or [UNOFFICIAL] [STABLE].

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Use the ADB Fastboot Tools utility to automatically check for TWRP compatibility with your Xiaomi model.

Install TWRP via Fastboot: step-by-step instructions

Before installation, it is necessary to:

• 🔋 Charge your phone to at least 70%.
• 📂 Create a backup of important data (installation) TWRP Erase data on some models).
• 🖥️ Install. ADB and Fastboot on PC.

Instructions:

1. Move the downloaded twrp-*.img file to the folder with the platform-tools.
2. Open the command line in this folder (Shift + PCM → Open in the terminal).
3. Transfer your phone to Fastboot mode:

adb reboot bootloader

1. Check the connection of the device:

fastboot devices

(The serial number of the phone must be displayed.)

1. Install TWRP temporarily (for the test):

fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_12-0-joyeuse.img

If the recavéry is started, you can install constantly:

fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_12-0-joyeuse.img

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12), stock recaps overwrite TWRP When you first restart, to avoid this, go to the TWRP → Advanced → Flash Current TWRP.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even with the exact following of the instructions, there are possible failures.

If the phone does not boot into the system after installing TWRP, try:

• 🔄 Refuse the stock Recovery through Fastboot, then repeat the installation TWRP.
• 📱 Restore stock firmware through Mi Flash Tool (instructions on the official website).
• 💬 Contact the forum XDA model and precise error.

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If TWRP doesn’t see internal memory, the reason is most often FBE encryption. Solution: enter the screen lock password in the Mount menu or format the data partition (data will be lost!).

How to upgrade TWRP to Xiaomi?

Recavery update is recommended when:

• 🐛 Emergence of bugs (for example, data is not mounted).
• 🔄 Install a new custom firmware that requires a fresh version TWRP.
• 🛡️ Removing vulnerabilities (rarely, but sometimes).

Refreshment methods:

1. Through TWRP itself: Download a new.img file to your phone. Download to TWRP, select Install → Install Image. Specify the path to the file and select Recovery. Confirm the firmware and restart.
2. Through Fastboot: Repeat the steps from the Installation section, but with a new file.

After the update, check whether the backup and partition mounting work. If the new version is unstable, roll back to the previous one.

FAQ: Frequent questions about TWRP on Xiaomi