How to install TWRP on Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro, codenamed kenzo, remains a legendary device in the custom firmware world. Despite its age, it continues to attract enthusiasts with its excellent hardware base and extensive support from the development community. Installing TWRP Recovery is the first and most important step to gaining full control of the system, allowing you to install informal Android builds, make full backups and make deep system changes.

The process of software modification requires careful follow-up. Any interference in the boot section carries certain risks, so before you start manipulating, you need to soberly assess your skills and prepare all the necessary tools. In this article, we will discuss in detail each step, from unlocking the bootloader to the first download to the modified environment.

Preparation of equipment and software

The success of the operation depends on the quality of preparation. You will need a Redmi Note 3 Pro smartphone with a battery charge of at least 60%, as well as a personal computer running Windows, Linux or macOS. USB-cable, as cheap analogues often cause unstable connection, which can lead to interruption of the firmware process and potential errors.

You need to install the current ADB drivers and Android SDK Platform Tools on your computer. Without these components, the computer will not be able to properly communicate with the device in debugging mode. You should also download the current image of the recovery, specially assembled for the kenzo model, since the use of files from other modifications, such as kate or ido, is strictly prohibited and can bring the device down.

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Use it. USB-port built directly into the computer motherboard (back of the system unit), avoiding front ports and USB-hubs to eliminate power and data transmission problems.

Among other things, make sure that your PC hard drive has a short-track folder where all downloaded files will be placed, which will make it easier to work with the command line and reduce the likelihood of errors when entering paths to files. All necessary archives are better checked in advance with antivirus and unpacked to have direct access to executable files and images.

Activation of the developer mode and unlocking the bootloader

The first step in the software part is to activate hidden system functions. To do this, go to the Settings menu → About the phone and quickly click on the MIUI version seven times. After you receive a notification that you have become a developer, return to the main settings menu, open the Advanced Settings → For developers and activate the paragraphs “Debugging by USB” and “Factory Unlock”.

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader will result in the complete removal of all data from the internal drive of the smartphone. Create backup copies of contacts, photos and important documents in advance.

Next, link the device to your Mi Account. Turn on mobile internet (not Wi-Fi), run the Mi Unlock app on your PC, enter your account details and follow the instructions on the screen. Once successfully linked, the system can require waiting from 72 hours to 30 days. This is Xiaomi's standard security procedure, which cannot be circumvented by software methods without the risk of locking the device.

After the wait period, reconnect your smartphone in Fastboot mode. To do this, press the device turned off simultaneously with the buttons Loud Down and Power until the logo with the hare appears. In Mi Unlock, press the unlock button and wait for the process to be completed. Successful unlocking will be confirmed by the corresponding message in the program and on the phone screen.

Installation of drivers and check of communication with PC

Once the bootloader is unlocked, make sure the computer sees the device correctly. Connect your smartphone in Fastboot mode and open Windows Device Manager. Android Devices or Other Devices should display Android Bootloader Interface. If the device is identified as unknown, you must manually update the driver by indicating the path to the folder with the SDK installed.

To check the connection, open the command line in the ADB tool folder and type in the command fastboot devices. The response should display the serial device. If the list is empty, check the cable, port or reinstall the drivers. The lack of response at this stage makes further installation of TWRP impossible.

It's important to understand the differences between modes of operation. Fastboot is used for low-level partition firmware, while ADB runs inside the running operating system. To install the Recovery, we need the first option, as we will overwrite the system partition recovery.

The process of installing the image TWRP Recovery

Now, go to the direct installation. Place the downloaded image file (usually with the.img extension) in the Fastboot tool folder and rename it to twrp.img for convenience. Open the command prompt in this folder and make sure the phone is in Fastboot mode and connected to the PC.

Enter the command to firmware the image in the recovery section. The syntax of the command is as follows:

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img

Once the command is successfully completed, the console will receive a success message, but you can not boot immediately, as the regular Xiaomi bootloader will try to replace the modified recovery with the original one at the first start, and to prevent this, you need to perform a special login procedure immediately after the firmware is completed.

⚠️ Warning: Don't let the phone just reboot into the system after firmware.If you see the Mi logo, the installation process TWRP It will be cancelled and you will have to start again.

Once the successful firmware indicator flashes, press the Up Volume and Power button combination. Hold them until the Mi logo disappears and the TWRP menu appears. If you're on a regular Android system, the standard Recovery has recovered, and the fastboot flash procedure needs to be repeated.

Primary tuning and Russification of TWRP

Once you're on the TWRP menu, you'll see the interface in English. The first thing you need to do is allow modifications to the system partition. Swipe the Allow Modifications slider at the bottom of the screen. If you don't, if you try to install firmware or root rights, you'll get an error. Then go to the Settings menu and click on the Language button to select the Russian language of the interface.

For stable operation, it is recommended to format the Data partition. Go to the Cleanup menu, select Data Formatting and type yes. This action will remove the encryption that can interfere with the correct operation of custom firmware and save files to internal memory.

If you plan to use a smartphone with root rights, now is the time to install Magisk. ZIP-archive, copy it to a memory card or internal storage, go to the TWRP, Select "Install" and specify the path to the file. Once the superuser rights are set, you can proceed to custom firmware installation.

Possible errors and methods of their elimination

There may be a number of problems during the installation process. One of the most common is the FAILED (remote:'Flash partition error') error, which usually indicates that the bootloader is still locked or the image file is corrupted/unsuitable for the model. Always double-check that you are downloading the version for the kenzo, not for other Redmi Note 3 devices.

⚠️ Attention: Image use TWRP, device with different memory markup (GPT against MBR) or other processor architecture, may cause the device to not boot (bootloop).

Another common problem is the “bricking” of communication interruption. If you pull the cable during the firmware process, the device can go into EDL (Emergency Download Mode), which is defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader.

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The key to successful installation – exact matching of the version TWRP Device models and stable USB-Uninterrupted connection at critical time of data recording.

If the touch screen is not working or internal memory is not readable after installing TWRP, try using an alternative recovery build from another author. Developers often release updated versions that fix bugs of specific versions of Android or drivers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)