Installation OrangeFox Recovery on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: a complete guide with unlocking the bootloader

Why is OrangeFox better than Xiaomi’s standard recavator?

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro (global joyeuse and curtana models for Indian) sooner or later face the limitations of the regular MIUI Recovery Recovery, which does not allow you to install custom firmware, make full system backups or restore data from third-party backups. Here comes OrangeFox Recovery, one of the most functional alternative recoveries for Android devices.

Unlike the classic TWRP, OrangeFox offers:

• 🔹 Intuitive interface with touch control and support for design themes
• 🔹 Built-in file manager with access to system partitions
• 🔹 Automatic partition mounting when connected to a PC (MTP)
• 🔹 Support for encryption (including FBE and FDE)
• 🔹 Integration with Magisk for root rights without additional manipulation

But there's a caveat: installing a custom recovery on the Redmi Note 9 Pro requires unlocking the bootloader, which resets the device to factory settings, a process that is irreversible and voids the warranty (if it's still valid), but for enthusiasts who want to gain full control of their smartphone, the game is worth the candle.

Preparation of the device: unlocking the loader

The first and most critical step is to unlock the bootloader, without which no custom Recovery will boot, and the procedure is officially supported by Xiaomi, but has a number of limitations:

• 📱 The device must be linked to your Mi Account (require to confirm your email and phone!)
• 🔗 There should be no restrictions on the account (for example, blocking for suspicious activity)
• ⏳ After applying for an unlock, you will have to wait 72-168 hours (depending on the region)
• 🔄 Unlocking will reset the device to factory settings (all data will be deleted without recovery capability)

To start the process:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap it 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → More → For developers and enable: Debugging by USB Unlock OEM (an important item!)

Connect the phone to the PC, confirm the debugging permission.

Mi Unlock Tool

Mi Account

"Wait XX hours"

💡

If the Mi Unlock Tool is a “Couldn’t unlock” error, try 3.5.512.24, which is more stable than new releases.

⚠️ Warning: Once the Redmi Note 9 Pro bootloader is unlocked, it will no longer pass SafetyNet checks, which can block access to banking apps, Google Pay, and some games.

Downloading the necessary files

Before OrangeFox Recovery firmware, prepare the following components:

Unpack the archive from OrangeFox into a folder with platform-tools. The file of the recaveri must have the name of the species. OrangeFox-R11.1_2-Stable-joyeuse.img. Rename it for convenience in orangefox.img.

Install OrangeFox via Fastboot

The most reliable way to flash a recavator is through Fastboot mode. Follow the instructions carefully, as incorrect actions can lead to a "brick" of the device.

Turn off the phone.|Hold the Power. + Vol− for the entrance to the Fastboot|Connect your phone to your PC|Check device detection by the fastboot devices command-->

Open the command line in the platform-tools folder (press Shift + right mouse button → Open PowerShell window here) and execute commands in order:

fastboot flash recovery orangefox.img


fastboot reboot recovery

If it goes well, the phone will reboot to OrangeFox Recovery, and if the standard MIUI instead loads, the recaps were overwritten the first time you downloaded them. It's normal for Xiaomi to repeat the firmware and immediately after the fastboot flash recovery command, do:

fastboot oem reboot-recovery

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (If you stop loading after you've run a recavator, or if you get an "Invalid image" error, your firmware version is newer than the one supported by OrangeFox. MIUI fastboot.

Set up OrangeFox and disable forced encryption

After the first download in OrangeFox, you will be greeted with a menu in English (or Chinese if you downloaded the wrong version).

• 📁 Install - installation ZIP-firmware and modules
• 🔄 Wipe – cleaning partitions (including Dalvik/ART Cache, Data, Cache)
• 🔧 Settings – settings of the interface, language, themes
• 📥 Backup – backup (recommended to make backup Boot, Data, EFS)
• 🔌 Mount – Partition mounting (for example, to access files via PC)
• 💾 Full System Backup: Go to Backup → Select Partitions. Mark Boot, Data, System, EFS. Select a storage location (internal memory or storage). SD-Start the process and wait until it's done.

For experienced users, OrangeFox supports:

• 🔹 ADB Sideload – installing firmware through adb without copying to the device.
• 🔹 Terminal – built-in command line for executing scripts.
• 🔹 Checksum verification – verification ZIP-files before installation.