The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, also known as the lavender, remains a popular device even a few years after its release, largely due to the ability to deep customize the system. One of the key steps to extend the life of the gadget and gain advanced access rights is the installation of a modified recovery environment, or Custom Recovery. The standard Recovery mode, which the manufacturer provides, has extremely limited functionality and does not allow you to install third-party firmware or make full system backups.
The introduction of an alternative recavator, such as TWRP or OrangeFox, opens the door to the user's world of modifications, from obtaining Superuser (Root) rights to installing current versions of Android that are no longer officially supported by the company. However, this process requires care, since interference with the boot parts of the device always carries certain risks.
Before you start technical manipulation, you need to realize that any actions with the bootloader and system partitions you perform at your own risk. Incorrect execution of instructions can lead to a software failure known as Bootloop, or complete failure of the device. In this article, we will discuss in detail each step from the preparation of tools to the first download into a modified recovery environment.
Preparation of equipment and software
Success of the installation operation TWRP The Redmi Note 7 is ninety percent dependent on the right workplace preparation. You'll need not only the smartphone itself, but also a high-quality one. USB-cable, preferably original or certified, as cheap cables often do not provide a stable connection for data transmission, working only on charging. ADB Fastboot, which is the bridge between the PC operating system and the phone.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure that the battery charge of the smartphone is at least 60-70%. Interrupting the firmware process due to battery discharge can damage the boot partition and the inability to turn on the device.
To work, you will need to download a specific recovery.img image file created specifically for the lavender model. Using files from other Xiaomi models, even if they look similar, is strictly prohibited, as this will lead to incompatibility of memory partitions. It is also recommended to have an archive with Magisk or another root-rights utility on hand, if full access is your ultimate goal.
Remember to make a full backup of all important data. During the process of unlocking the bootloader, which is a mandatory preliminary step, the device is completely reset to factory settings. Photos, contacts and documents will be deleted, so transfer them to a cloud server or external hard drive in advance.
☑️ Firmware readiness
Unlock the bootloader and set up Mi Unlock
The process of installing custom recavator is impossible without unlocking Bootloader. Xiaomi has implemented this security measure to prevent the installation of malware, but for enthusiasts this becomes the first barrier. First, you need to link your Mi Account account to the device through the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version, where you need to click on the build number several times to activate the developer mode.
Once you activate the hidden menu for developers, you should find the item "Factory unlock" and link the device to the account. The official utility Mi Unlock Tool will require you to enter your account information and, most likely, will tell you to wait from 7 to 168 hours. This security timer can not be circumvented by legal methods, and an attempt to cheat the time can lead to the blocking of the account.
After the waiting time, you need to start the Mi Unlock Tool on your PC again, put the smartphone into Fastboot mode (pressing the power and volume buttons simultaneously) and press the "Unlock" button. The process will take a few minutes, after which the phone will automatically restart and reset the data. The bootloader is now open, which is confirmed by the corresponding message when the device is turned on.
- 🔓 Unlocking allows you to install any system images and custom firmware.
- ⏳ The official wait is from 7 days, the rush here is inappropriate.
- 💾 All data on the internal drive will be destroyed during the unlocking process.
- 🔒 The "Find device" function must be disabled before the procedure begins.
Download to Fastboot Mode and Connect to PC
After successfully unlocking the bootloader and re-configuring the smartphone, it is time to directly prepare for the firmware image recovery. Put Redmi Note 7 in Fastboot mode. To do this, turn off the phone completely, and then press the volume button and hold it, connect. USB-The screen should show a picture of a hare repairing an android and a sign that says FASTBOOT.
Open the Windows command line or the terminal in the folder where the files are located ADB and downloaded twrp.img. To check for communication between your computer and phone, type in the command fastboot devices. If the drivers are installed correctly, you will see the serial number of your device. USB-cable.
⚠️ Note: If your computer can’t see your device in Fastboot mode, try replacing it. USB-port (it is better to use ports on the back of the system unit) or reinstall the Qualcomm and Android Bootloader Interface drivers.
It is important to understand that the standard firmware procedure through the command fastboot flash recovery twrp.img on Xiaomi devices has one feature: once the command is executed, the phone must immediately switch to recovery mode, otherwise the standard Android system will rewrite the modified image back to stock on the first boot, this is a security mechanism that needs to be outsmarted by the correct order of action.
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Use it. USB-power hub or connect the cable directly to the motherboard if the ports on the PC case are unstable - the communication break when firmware is critical.
TWRP firmware process via Fastboot
Now, to the most critical step, write the modified image to the recovery section. Make sure the twrp-3.x.x-x-lavender.img file is in the same directory where you executes the command. In the command line, type fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.x.x-x-lavender.img, changing the file name to the current one. The writing process takes only a few seconds.
Immediately after the Finished message appears in the terminal, without turning off the cable, you need to manually put the device into recovery mode. On many smartphones, this is done by pressing the combination of the Up Volume + Power buttons until vibration, after which the power button is released and the volume is held until the TWRP logo appears. If you release the buttons too early, the phone may try to boot the system.
In some cases, if the standard flash command does not give the expected result or the recovery flies after rebooting, you can use the method of temporarily loading fastboot boot twrp.img. This method does not flash the image into memory, but launches it one-way. Once in the TWRP menu, you can already perform a permanent installation from there through the Install → Install Image menu item by selecting the Recovery section.
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.6.1-33-lavender.img
fastboot boot twrp-3.6.1-33-lavender.imgWhat if the TWRP doesn’t open or shows a black screen?
Primary configuration and work with sections
Once you successfully log into the TWRP menu, you'll see an interface adapted for touch control. The first step you need to take is unlocking the modifications. There may be a warning on the screen that the system partition is not modified, and a Swipe to Allow Modifications slider. Be sure to swipe through it, otherwise the system will replace the recavereas with a runoff when you restart.
The Redmi Note 7 uses data partition encryption by default, which may cause TWRP to fail to see internal memory or give a password error. To solve this problem, go to the Wipe menu and select Format Data (not to be confused with a simple Wipe swipe).
⚠️ Note: Format Data deletes all files, including photos, music and documents, to remove encryption so that the Recovery can work with the file system.
Once formatted, the phone will suggest restarting. Select Reboot → Recovery to reboot back to TWRP. Now, when you go to Mount, you should see that the Data partition is available for mounting, and the Files menu displays your storage folders, which means that the recovery environment is ready for full operation.
| Section | Appointment | Installation action |
|---|---|---|
| System | Contains files of the Android operating system | Do not touch (unless you change the firmware) |
| Data | User data, photos, applications | Format Data (to remove encryption) |
| Boot | The core of the system (Kernel) and ramdisk | Stitched together with the custom core |
| Recovery | Section of the Recovery Environment | I'm asking for a TWRP image. |
Installation of Root rights and creation of backups
One of the main reasons for installing TWRP is to get superuser rights. To do this, download the current Magisk.apk archive (renamed the extension to.zip if required) and put it in the phone's internal memory. From the Recovery menu, select Install, find the archive and confirm the swipe installation. After the reboot, you will have full permissions to access the system.
Backup feature in TWRP allows you to create full images of Boot, System and Data partitions. Before making any major changes to the system (install modules, edit system files), it is strongly recommended to make a backup. In case of failure, you can restore the phone to its original state in a couple of minutes through the Restore menu.
You can also clean the dahlvik cache and system cache through TWRP, which often helps solve performance problems after a firmware update. The Wipe → Advanced Wipe menu allows you to select specific sections for cleaning. Regular maintenance in this way helps keep the Redmi Note 7 in good shape even on older versions of Android.
- 🛡️ Root rights give full control, but increase vulnerability to viruses.
- 💾 Boot partition backup will save you if a new core leads to a bootloop.
- 🧹 Dalvik Cache Cleanup Frequently Solves Brake Problems After Updates.
- 📦 Install Image allows you to flash individual.img files without PC.
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Data formatting and Magisk installation are the two final steps that make a TWRP installed a complete system modification tool.
Possible mistakes and ways to solve them
In the process of modifying the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, users often face a number of typical problems. One of the most common is Bootloop (cyclic reboot). If the phone is stuck on the Mi or Android logo, try going to TWRP and run Wipe → Advanced Wipe by choosing Dalvik / ART Cache and Cache. If this does not help, you may need to reflash the system image.
Another common problem is the lack of communication with the PC in Fastboot mode or ADB. This is often solved by installing the original Qualcomm drivers. HS-USB QDLoader or shift USB-Also worth checking is whether the antivirus or Windows firewall blocks work with adb.exe and fastboot.exe.
If TWRP doesn’t see internal memory after formatting, make sure you choose an ext4 or f2fs file system when formatting. For Redmi Note 7, ext4 is usually recommended. Also, the problem may lie in a corrupted file system, which requires full formatting through the Wipe → Format Data menu.