Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 often face the limitations of the standard shell MIUI, which does not allow you to remove system applications or fine-tune the processor. Obtaining superuser rights gives you access to full control of the device, allowing you to install modified firmware and expand the functionality of the gadget. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to perform rooting exclusively by means of a smartphone without resorting to a personal computer.
There are risks involved in the process of obtaining extended rights, but modern tools minimize the likelihood of errors. You will need to follow each step carefully, as interfering with the system partition can lead to a loss of warranty or unstable operation of the device.
The main tool for our work will be Magisk, which is now the industry standard for modifying Android systems. Unlike the old methods, this approach allows you to hide the root rights from banking applications and anti-cheat games. We will look at device preparation, unlocking the bootloader and directly installing the necessary components directly from the screen of your Redmi Note 4.
Preparation of the smartphone and creation of a backup copy
Before you start any manipulation of system files, you need to secure your data. Getting root rights to Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 in most cases requires a complete cleanup of internal memory, so save all important photos, contacts and documents to the cloud or to an external medium. Ignoring this step can lead to irretrievable loss of personal information.
Also make sure that the battery is at least 60-70%. The process of unlocking the bootloader and flashing can take considerable time, and a sudden power outage at a critical moment can turn the phone into a brick.
Turn on USB debugging even if you’re not working on a computer, as some system flags may require activation of this setting to keep installers running properly. Go to Settings → About Phone and seven times click on the MIUI build number to activate the developer menu. Then, in the Additional → For Developers section that appears, find and activate the USB debugging option.
☑️ Pre-launch check
Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock application
The key step to accessing the system partition is unlocking the bootloader, which is a mandatory procedure on Xiaomi devices, without which installing a modified receiver or obtaining superuser rights is impossible. The official tool usually requires a PC, but there are methods of activation through special APK-files emulating the work of the desktop program.
You need to download and install an app on your smartphone that will request that you link your Mi Account to your device. Once you log in, the system will send a request to Xiaomi servers to verify your device status. If your account is tied for less than 7 days (168 hours), you will have to wait until this deadline expires, since it is almost impossible to get around the security restriction.
⚠️ Note: The process of unlocking the bootloader will automatically perform a full Wipe Data reset. Make sure you save all important files, as it will be impossible to restore them after this step without a preliminary copy.
After successfully binding and waiting for the timer, you need to go to Fastboot mode. To do this, turn off the phone and press the volume and power down buttons at the same time. Connect the device to charging (emulate the connection to the PC via OTG-Adapter is sometimes required for some emulator utilities, you can start the unlock process through the installed assistant application.
What to do if the timer is not going?
Installation of custom TWRP Recovery
The standard MIUI Recovery Recovery menu has limited functionality and does not allow you to install unsigned files, such as Magisk.zip. To do this, we will need to install TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) - an advanced recovery menu adapted for Redmi Note 4. There are installer applications that can flash the image of the recovery directly from the Android operating system.
Download the current twrp-3.x.x.x-mido.img image (where mido is codenamed Redmi Note 4) and installer file. Run the recovery app, select the downloaded image and press the Flash button. The phone will request confirmation of the rights to write to the system memory; if the bootloader is already unlocked, the process will be successful.
Once the firmware is complete, it is important not to boot in normal mode immediately. You need to pinch the button combination to enter recovery mode (usually Volume Up + Power). If you see the TWRP logo with touch control, then the stage is successful. Otherwise, the stock recovery can overwrite the modified one on the first boot.
- 📂 Download the image TWRP The mido model (Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon).
- 📲 Use the installer app to write the image to the recovery section.
- 🔒 Make sure the bootloader is unlocked, otherwise the recording will be banned.
- 🔄 Immediately after the firmware enter Recovery mode to fix the result.
💡
If the phone loads into a regular MIUI after installing the TWRP, the stock recavator has overwritten the modified one. Repeat the procedure and release the power button when the MIUI logo appears, but keep holding the volume button until the TWRP menu appears.
Magisk firmware to obtain Root rights
The most reliable way to obtain root rights on modern versions of Android is to use Magisk. This method is system, which means making changes to the boot image, rather than just replacing system files, which makes it more stable and secretive. ZIP-magisk firmware.
Download your phone to TWRP. In the main menu, select "Install" (Install). In the file manager that opens, find the previously downloaded Magisk-vXX.X.zip file. Click on it and confirm the swipe to the right.
The installation process will take a few seconds. In the log, you will see messages about partition mounting and bootloader patching. Once you see the word "Install from Internal Storage is Done", you can proceed to the final step. Press the "Reboot System" button to reboot the device in normal mode.
| Component | Version/Type | Appointment | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bootloader | Unlocked | Allows modification of sections | Medium. |
| TWRP | 3.x.x (mido) | Recovery menu | Low. |
| Magisk | Stable / Beta | Root rights management | Low. |
| Android | 7.0 Nougat | Basic OS | - |
💡
The successful installation of Magisk is confirmed by the introduction of a new application “Magisk” in the menu and the ability to open a terminal with superuser rights.
Setting up and verifying the rights of the superuser
Once you first boot the system, look for the Magisk icon in the app menu, launch it. The app may request additional downloads of the necessary components — agree and wait until the process is over, after which the phone restarts. That's normal for initial setup.
To test the validity of root rights, you can use specialized tools, such as Root Checker. Run the test, and if you see a green message about successful rights, then the procedure is done correctly. Now you can install modules, change the system fonts, remove the built-in Xiaomi software and make a full backup of the system.
An important aspect is to configure root rights hiding. In Magisk settings, activate Zygisk and DenyList (or MagiskHide in older versions). Select from the list of banks' apps that should not see modifications. This will allow you to use Google Pay and banking customers without restrictions.
⚠️ Note: Some banking applications can detect unlocked bootloader even when hidden root.In such cases, additional modules such as Shamiko may need to be installed through the Magisk module manager.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
When you modify the Redmi Note 4, users may encounter a number of common problems, such as a device that can go into an endless bootloop. If this happened immediately after you install Magisk, try going to TWRP, select Advanced → Terminal, and enter a command to delete the module that caused the conflict, or just make a data waip.
Another common problem is a broken fingerprint or camera, which is often due to incompatibility of the TWRP version or damage to the persist or modem partitions. In such cases, it is recommended to restore the original boot image (boot.img) via Fastboot (if you have access to a PC) or roll back to the stock firmware through Recovery.
If the Magisk app doesn't open or crashes, check if you have a conflicting version of Android or if the MIUI system has updated in the background. Updating the firmware over a modified system often results in loss of root rights and requires a re-routing of the Magisk.zip firmware.
- 🔁 Bootloop: Get in there TWRP → Wipe → Format Data, enter “yes” and reboot.
- 📵 No network: Check the integrity of the modem partition, you may need to flash the drain.
- 📉 Low performance: Remove unnecessary modules and check processor settings.