Modern Xiaomi smartphones have powerful hardware, but the standard MIUI shell often limits the capabilities of advanced users. Installing the TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) custom recovery on the Redmi Note 9 Pro gives you access to full file system management, creating full backups, and installing modified firmware. This process requires care, but the result is worth it if you want to gain full control of your device.
Before you start manipulating the system partition, you need to be aware of the risks. Any interference with the bootloader's program code can lead to a loss of warranty or, in the worst case, turn the device into a "brick." However, by following the proven algorithms for the codename: curcuma model, you can minimize the likelihood of error to zero. In this article, we will discuss each step in detail, from preparing tools to the first successful download to a new recovery menu.
Workplace preparation and necessary tools
The success of the operation depends on 90% of the quality of preparation. You will need not only the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro smartphone itself, but also a reliable personal computer running Windows, macOS or Linux. The USB cable should be original or high-quality analogue, capable of transmitting data, not only charging the battery. Cheap cables often cause a connection to break down at a critical moment of firmware.
You need to install the ADB and Fastboot package on your computer, which are the basic tools for communicating with Android devices at a low level, and you will also need current drivers for the Qualcomm or MediaTek chipset, depending on the regional version of your device, although the Redmi Note 9 Pro is often enough standard Google USB Driver drivers.
- 📱 Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro with a battery charge of at least 60%.
- 💻 PC with installed drivers ADB/Fastboot and platform tools.
- 🔌 Original. USB-Type-C cable for stable connection.
- 📂 Image file twrp.img, collected specifically for the code name curcuma.
⚠️ Note: Make sure that the image file TWRP The firmware of the image from Redmi Note 9 (without the prefix Pro) on the Pro version will cause the touchscreen or display to fail.
Download the current version of the recovery from the project’s official website or verified sources like XDA Developers. The file usually has a.img extension and weighs about 30-40 megabytes. Place this file in the root folder on your computer where the adb.exe and fastboot.exe executables are located to make it easier to enter commands in the terminal.
Unlocking the Bootloader bootloader
Xiaomi has implemented strict security measures to block the download of unofficial software. So (the first step) is to unlock the bootloader. Without this step, the Fastboot team will simply reject the attempt to record a new backup.
Activate Developer Mode by pressing the build number 7 times in About Phone. Then, in the Advanced Settings menu, find Developer Mode and enable Factory Unlock. SIM-Only after successful binding can you run the Mi Unlock Tool on your PC.
Wait times can range from 168 hours (7 days) to 360 hours (15 days) depending on Xiaomi's current security policy.Trease in process or data reset during this period may reset the timer.After the wait period expires, repeat the unlock procedure via PC in Fastboot mode.
- 🔓 bootloader status will change to Unlocked when booting in Fastboot mode.
- 🧹 All data on the internal drive will be irretrievably deleted when unlocked.
- ⏳ The wait timer can be increased by the manufacturer at any time without warning.
Switching to Fastboot mode and checking communication
To start the firmware process, you need to switch your smartphone to a special diagnostic mode Fastboot. On the Redmi Note 9 Pro turned off, press the volume down and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Fastboot logo shows a hare repairing an android on the screen, which signals that the device is ready to take commands.
Connect your phone to your computer with a cable. Open the command line or terminal in the ADB tool folder. Enter fastboot devices. If you see the serial number of the device, the connection is established correctly. If the list is empty, check the drivers in Windows Device Manager - the device should be defined as Android Bootloader Interface.
fastboot devices
c3b4a5d6 fastbootIt’s important to make sure you’re using a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port on the motherboard, not hubs or front panels that can give unstable power. The Redmi Note 9 Pro is sensitive to connection quality when transferring large amounts of data, although the image of the recovery is small, channel stability is critical.
☑️ Pre-firmware check
The process of installing TWRP via Fastboot
The moment you write the image to the recovery section is the most important. The installation command looks standard for all Android devices, but requires accuracy in spelling the file name. Make sure the file is renamed simply, for example, to twrp.img, to avoid syntax errors when entering.
Enter the command fastboot flash recovery twrp.img. After successful execution, you will receive the message Finished. Total time: X.XXs. However, at this stage, you can not simply restart the phone in the usual way, since the MIUI rod recap can overwrite the newly installed TWRP at the first regular boot.
⚠️ Warning: Immediately after the firmware is completed, DO NOT press the power button for normal boot. You must execute a special button combination to enter Recovery mode.
To record the changes, press both the volume button and the power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume up until the TWRP menu appears. If you saw the interface with the Install, Wipe and Backup buttons, congratulations, the installation was successful.
What if the TWRP crashed after the reboot?
Primary data configuration and formatting
The first TWRP run on the Redmi Note 9 Pro will require a critical process, which is data formatting, to unencrypt the encryption that was used by the standard Android system. Without this step, you will neither be able to save files nor install new firmware, since the internal memory will not be available for recording.
In the main menu, select Wipe, then click Format Data, and you will need to type in the input field the word yes (all letters in the lower case). Confirm the action. This process will delete all user data, passwords and fingerprints, returning the phone to the "out of the box" state, but already with the bootloader unlocked and the custom recap.
| Action. | The Way to the TWRP Menu | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Resetting encryption | Wipe -> Format Data -> yes | Access to internal memory |
| Reboot. | Reboot -> System | Android launch (Root rights can fly) |
| Re-entry | Reboot -> Recovery | Return to TWRP without resetting |
Once formatted, the system will suggest rebooting. If you plan to use standard superuser firmware, now is the time to flash the Magisk archive. If the goal was only to create backups, you can go back to the system. Remember, after you first log in to Android, you will need to reconfigure all accounts.
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To save TWRP and Root rights after the first boot to the system, install the Magisk application immediately (if necessary) and patch it, or use the "Persist TWRP" script if it is available for your version of MIUI.
Possible errors and methods of their elimination
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro can experience various crashes, most often due to incompatibility of Android and recover versions. For example, trying to run a TWRP assembled for Android 10 on an updated Android 12 can lead to a cyclic reboot. Always check the build date and the target OS.
Another common problem is the “black screen” or lack of touchscreen response in the TWRP menu. This often indicates that the display or touch drivers in the image of the Recovery do not correspond to the region of the device (Global, China, India), in which case you need to find a specific TWRP build labeled “fix touch” or designed specifically for your region.
- 🔄 Bootloop: Clutch power + Volume up for 15 seconds for forced reboot in Recovery.
- 💻 Driver error: Reinstall ADB Drivers via Device Manager by selecting "Update Driver" manually.
- 🔋 Discharge in progress: Leave the phone on charge when off for at least 30 minutes before trying again.
⚠️ If the phone has stopped responding to buttons and the computer does not see it even in mode EDL (Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008) may require disassembly of the case and closure of test points on the board to enter emergency firmware mode.
To restore the system in case of critical errors, use the possibility of recovery via Fastboot ROM. the Official utility Xiaomi Flash Tool allows you to return the phone to the factory state, completely losing all changes, including TWRP.
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The main rule of modification: always have the original Fastboot firmware for your model at hand, so that in case of failure, you can bring the device back to life in 10 minutes.