How to install another receptacle on Xiaomi: TWRP, OrangeFox and alternatives

Why Xiaomi’s standard Recovery limits the user’s experience

The MI-Recovery stock recovery, pre-installed on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, offers minimal functionality: factory reset, install official firmware via update.zip and system integrity check. However, for advanced users who want root rights, install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) or backup through Nandroid, these capabilities are critically lacking.

Alternative recoveries like TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) or OrangeFox offer advanced features like manual partition mounting, unofficial firmware installation, file system editing directly from your phone, and even data recovery after crashes. But installing them requires pre-unlocking the bootloader, a procedure that Xiaomi has made difficult in recent versions of MIUI (14/15) due to security requirements.

It is important to understand that replacing a recovery is not just a “firmware update” but an interference with the system partitions of a smartphone, and errors at this stage can lead to a blink (complete failure of the device), loss of warranty or blocking of the Mi Account account, so before starting the procedure, critically evaluate your skills and have time to recover in case of a failure.

Preparation of the smartphone: unlocking the loader

Without an unlocked bootloader, custom recavator installation is not possible. Xiaomi uses a security that checks the digital signature of the recavéri at each download. The unlocking process is officially supported by the company, but has a number of limitations:

• 🔗 Requires the binding of the Mi Account account to the device (necessarily with a confirmed phone number).
• ⏳ Waiting for resolution from Xiaomi servers – 3 to 360 hours (on average 72 hours for new accounts).
• 📱 Support only for official global/Chinese firmware (custom builds) MIUI They can block the unlocking).
• 🔄 After unlocking, a full data reset will occur (factory reset).

To begin the procedure:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on this item.
2. Turn it on. OEM-unlocking and debugging USB Settings menu → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install drivers ADB/Fastboot (Download from the official Android website).
4. Run the command in Terminal (PC): fastboot oem unlock and follow the instructions on the smartphone screen.

⚠️ Note: If you are using a smartphone with a MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi Note) 11/12, POCO M4 Pro, unlocking via fastboot oem unlock may not work. MTK Client or contacting a service center.

Alternative Recovery Choice: TWRP vs OrangeFox vs Others

Xiaomi’s custom recavator market is dominated by two solutions: TWRP and OrangeFox. However, the choice depends on the smartphone model, Android version and your tasks. Below is a comparative table of key features:

For most users Xiaomi optimal choice will be OrangeFox – it is better adapted to the features of firmware MIUI, Supports data encryption and has built-in partitioning tools dynamic_partitions (Used in new models with Android 12+). TWRP It is suitable for installing custom firmware based on AOSP (For example, LineageOS, but may not work properly with official updates MIUI.

Where to download the current versions?

• 📥 TWRP: official website twrp.me (see Devices section by model) or thematic community XDA Developers.
• 📥 OrangeFox: repository on orangefox.download (choose build for your device code, such as alioth for your device code) POCO F3).
• 📥 PitchBlack/SHRP: only through forums XDA Telegram chats of developers (risk of unofficial builds!).

⚠️ Attention: Download the recoveries ONLY for your exact smartphone model! Install the file destined for the Redmi Note 10 Pro (sweet) on POCO X3 NFC (The device code can be found in the Device Info app or the fastboot getvar product command.

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Before downloading the recovery, check the hash file (MD5/SHA1) through the utility certutil-hashfile in Windows or md5sum in Linux.

Install TWRP/OrangeFox via Fastboot

Once you unlock the bootloader and download the appropriate recovery file (usually in.img format), you can start installing it.

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/MacOS and established ADB/Fastboot.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).
• 📱 Smartphone with a battery charge of at least 60%.
• 📁 Recaveri file, renamed in recovery.img (convenienceally).

Algorithm of action:

1. Transfer the smartphone to Fastboot mode: turn off the device, then press the Power button + Volume down for 10 seconds.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and check for device detection by the command: fastboot devices If the list is empty, install drivers or try another USB port.
3. Fastboot flash recovery recovery recovery.img
4. For Android models 10+ and MIUI 12+ Recovery signature verification required: fastboot flash recovery_ab recovery.img (For some devices): Fastboot flash boot recovery.img
5. Reboot to the new recovery NOT through the standard reboot, but with the command: fastboot boot recovery.img This will temporarily load the custom recovery without writing to the section (useful for testing).

If after the reboot, the smartphone automatically replaces your recap with a stock one, then anti-rollback protection is turned on.

Turn off MIUI updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update

Install Magisk to disable signature verification

Use the patch. disable_forceencrypt (Android 9 below)

Swipe the recaveri through the custom recaveri itself (Install menu → Install Image)

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On models that support Dynamic Partitions (such as the Xiaomi 11/12 series), the standard fastboot flash recovery command will not work.

fastboot flash recovery_a recovery.img


fastboot flash recovery_b recovery.img

Problem Solving: Installation errors and their causes

Even with the correct following of the instructions, users often encounter errors, and consider the most common ways to eliminate them:

If after installing the recovery smartphone stopped booting (hang on the MI logo), try:

1. Download to Fastboot and flash stock recaveries: fastboot flash recovery stock_recovery.img
2. Perform reset via MI-Recovery (keep Volume up + Power up when booting).
3. Use the Mi Flash Tool for full flashing with official firmware (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).

⚠️ Note: On devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset 8 Gen 1/2 (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi K50 Gaming) in case of incorrect firmware recovery can work hardware protection Qualcomm Secure Boot, requiring an authorized service center for recovery.

Additional settings after installation of the recavery

Successful firmware custom recaveri is only half the battle, and to avoid problems in the future, follow a few critical steps:

1. Turn off automatic recovery update: in MIUI go to Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three → Settings and deactivate the option to Update Recoveries.
2. Create a backup: in the recovery menu, select Backup and save the Boot, Data, System sections to the SD-It's going to save your data in future experiments.
3. Install Magisk for root rights: download the latest version of Magisk from GitHub and run it through the recavers as a.zip file.
4. Encryption Patch: If you use OrangeFox, turn on Disable DM-Verity and Force Encryption Disabler (for Android 10+) in your recavator settings.

For Android models 12/13/14 and dynamic partitions (super.img) You may need an additional patch. disable_dm-verity_forceencrypt, To avoid looping downloads, download the corresponding.zip file for your version. MIUI and run it through the recavers after installing Magisk.

If you plan to install custom firmware, look at the firmware version. POCO F3 (Alioth) firmware Pixel Experience requires the preliminary installation of the firm from MIUI 13, otherwise the camera and modem won't work.Relevant firms can be found in the themes XDA Developers or Telegram chats about your model.

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After installing custom recavator DO NOT update MIUI through the standard update menu! this will lead to the replacement of the Recovery with stock and possible loss of root rights.

Alternative methods: installation without PC

If you do not have access to a computer, you can flash recoveries directly from your smartphone using the official application. TWRP App or OrangeFox Installer. However, this method is only suitable for devices with an already unlocked bootloader and requires root rights (which in itself implies a custom recavator). Thus, the PC-free method is only applicable to updating an existing recovery or installing it on a time-root device (e.g., via Magisk in the Internet). RAM).

Instructions for OrangeFox Installer:

1. Download. APK-application file from the official website.
2. Install APK by pre-allowing installation from unknown sources.
3. Open the application, select your model and download the current version of the recovery.
4. Press Install Recovery and confirm the reboot to the new Recovery.

For TWRP App:

1. Install the app from Play Market or APK.
2. Give root rights (if any).
3. Select TWRP Flash → specify the path to the.img file → confirm the installation.

⚠️ Note: PC-free applications often contain ads or collect data. download them only from official sources! Also note that new Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) This method may not work due to blocking the entry to the recovery section at the kernel level.

FAQ: Frequent questions about installing recovery on Xiaomi