root rights to Xiaomi: 7 real reasons to get root and how not to harm the phone

Xiaomi smartphones have long gained popularity thanks to the combination of powerful hardware and flexible software. MIUI — With Xiaomi's branded shell, users face limitations: you can't remove pre-installed apps, change system fonts, or transfer game cache to a memory card. Here, root rights come to the rescue. root, which gives full control of the Android operating system.

But root is not just a magic wand for overclocking your phone; it’s a tool that requires caution: wrong actions can lead to loss of warranty, build-up of your device, or security vulnerabilities. In this article, we will discuss why you really need root rights on Xiaomi, what tasks they solve, and in what cases you can do without them, POCO Mi is the easiest to root, and where is the best to look for alternatives.

What are Root Rights and How They Work for Xiaomi

A root right (or superuser) is a special access layer in Android that allows you to make changes to system files, the OS kernel and settings that are not available to the average user. By default, manufacturers (including Xiaomi) block this access to:

• 🔒 Prevent accidental system damage by inexperienced users.
• 🛡️ Protect your device from malware that could gain unrestricted access.
• 📱 Maintain firmware stability and service compatibility (e.g. Google Pay or banking applications).

On Xiaomi smartphones, the process of obtaining root rights usually includes two stages:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool.
2. Installation of custom recaveri (e.g, TWRP) and firmware Magisk - a popular solution for root access management.

The procedure is different for different models: for example, POCO F5 The Redmi Note 12 will take 10-15 minutes, and older devices like the Mi 8 may need to bypass additional protections.

It is important to understand that ruth is not a hack, but a legal Android mechanism that is simply hidden from the average user, but Xiaomi (like other manufacturers) does not recommend activating it, as it is:

• 🚫 Cancellation of warranty (if the device is warranty).
• 🔄 Could be disrupting work. OTA-Updates (you will need to update manually).
• 🛑 Causes problems with some applications (for example, Netflix or Sberbank Online will refuse to work).

7 Real Reasons to Get a Root on Xiaomi

If you think that root is only for overclocking your phone or installing pirated apps, you're wrong. Here are the specific tasks that root rights do better than any alternative:

1. Removal of embedded software and bloatware

MIUI It's known for its abundance of pre-installed apps, Mi Browser, Mi Music, GetApps, Xiaomi games, and so on. Even after you turn off the settings, they take up space in memory and consume resources in the background:

• 🗑️ Completely remove unnecessary system applications (e.g., Titanium Backup or System App Remover).
• 🔄 Freeze them (so as not to remove them altogether, but also to prevent auto-run).
• 📦 Move to the memory card even those applications that do not support it by default.

Example: Redmi Note 11 Pro+ After removing Mi Video, Mi Community and other “extra” applications, up to 1.5-2 GB of memory is freed, and battery life increases by 10-15%.

2. Thin performance tuning

With root rights, you can:

• ⚡ Change the frequency of the processor (CPU) and graphics accelerator (GPU) Balance between performance and energy consumption (via Kernel Adiutor or FrancoKernel).
• 🎮 Optimize input delays for games (e.g., reduce input lag in the game) PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).
• 🔋 Set up battery profiles for different scenarios (e.g., “maximum savings” at work or “performance” in games).

For example, on POCO X3 Pro with root rights can overclock the Snapdragon 860 to 2.96 GHz (instead of the standard 2.7 GHz), which gives a gain of 5-7% in benchmarks!

3. Complete control of the file system

Without root rights, you can't:

• 📁 Edit system files (e.g. build.prop to change screen resolution or simulate another device).
• 🔄 Transfer the cache of games (for example, Call of Duty Mobile or GTA: San Andreas on the memory card.
• 🔍 Recover deleted files directly from internal memory (via DiskDigger or Undelete).

Example: If the Redmi 10 is running out of space, MIUI It does not allow you to transfer the Free Fire cache (weighing 3-4 GB) to the microSD, root rights will solve this problem in 5 minutes.

4.Blocking advertising at the system level

Even if you use AdGuard or Blokada, some advertising modules are available in the MIUI (For example, in the Mi Browser or Security App, you can only block root rights:

• 🚫 Block advertising in system applications through /etc/hosts.
• 🛡️ Install AdAway or DNS66 Full access to network requests.
• 🔍 Disable Xiaomi telemetry collection (e.g., sending application usage data).

On the Mi 11 Lite, after blocking system advertising through AdAway, traffic in the background is reduced by 20-30%, and the battery lasts longer.

5. Backup and restoration

With root rights, you can create a complete copy of the system, including:

• 📱 Data applications (including game saving).
• 📞 SMS, call log, Wi-Fi settings.
• 🔧 System settings (e.g. screen brightness, gestures, sound profiles).

Examples of programs: Titanium Backup (for applications), TWRP (It's a big save if you're experimenting with firmware or want to transfer all the data to a new phone without any loss.

Installation of custom firmware

Root rights are often needed to install alternative firmware, such as:

• 📱 LineageOS – “pure” Android without shell MIUI.
• 🎨 Pixel Experience – firmware with the interface and features of Google Pixel.
• ⚡ Havoc-OS or Corvus OS — scaling-up.

For example, on POCO F3 Many users are switching to Pixel Experience to get rid of the heavyweight experience» MIUI But custom firmware requires an experienced hand: improper installation can lead to a "brick" (complete inoperability) of the device.

7. Advanced features for photography and video

With root rights, you can:

• 📸 Activate hidden camera functions (e.g, RAW-Shooting on budget models like Redmi 9A).
• 🎥 Unlock video recording in 4K@60fps on devices where this is limited by software (for example, on the POCO X3 NFC).
• 🔍 Use modified versions of Google Camera (e.g., GCam from Google Camera) BSG or Arnova8G2) refined HDR.

Example: on Mi 10T After installing GCam root-rights, the quality of photos in the dark improves by 30-40% due to more aggressive noise cancellation and processing Night Sight.

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Root rights are not for hacking, but for extended control of the device. MIUI — It is better to do without root, so as not to risk stability.

What can be done without root rights: alternatives

Before you take risks and get a root, check if you can solve your problem with standard means.

For example, if you just need to make room, instead of root rights, you can:

• 🗑️ Clear the cache in Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 📁 Transfer media files (photos, videos) to a memory card or to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 🔄 Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play.

If you need to block ads, try:

• 🛡️ Install Blokada (works through the VPN, no root).
• 🌐 Use a browser with an ad blocker (for example, Brave or Firefox with the uBlock Origin extension).
• 📵 Disable personalized advertising in Google settings (Settings) → Google → Advertising).

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Before you get a root, try to solve a problem without it. For example, to transfer games to a memory card, sometimes it is enough to reformat it as Internal Memory in the settings. MIUI (But it'll erase all the data on the map!).

Risks and disadvantages of root rights on Xiaomi

root rights give you freedom, but with it come serious risks.

⚠️ Note: On root-right devices, Xiaomi blocks Mi Pay and some Mi Account features (such as cloud backup). L1 — This means that Netflix, Disney+ Other services will not play content in Full HD.

1. Loss of guarantee

Xiaomi officially states that unlocking the bootloader and getting root rights voids the warranty.This means that if your phone:

• 🔥 Overheats and turns off.
• 🔋 It discharges quickly (due to incorrect kernel settings).
• 📵 Not activated after a failed firmware.

The service center will refuse free repairs. You can only return the warranty by rolling back all changes (unlocking the bootloader back and installing the stock firmware), but this is not always possible.

2. Security concerns

Root rights give access to system files not only to you, but also to potentially malware.

• 🕵️ Theft of data (passwords, photos, messages) through vulnerabilities in custom firmware.
• 💳 Interception of bank transactions (many applications, such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff, refuse to work on rooted devices).
• 📡 Traffic leakage through hidden mining scripts (if you install pirated app modifications).

Example: In 2022, a vulnerability was discovered in some versions of Magisk that allowed attackers to access the root remotely over Wi-Fi, a problem that was fixed, but it shows how important it is to keep an eye on updates.

3. System instability

Even if you do everything right, root rights can lead to:

• 🔄 Accidental reboots (especially if you changed the kernel settings).
• 📱 Interface freezes (due to modified system file conflicts).
• 🔊 Sound or camera problems (if important libraries are removed).

For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro, after installing the custom core of FrancoKernel, some users experienced overheating when charging, which was solved by rolling back to the drain core, but required reflashing.

4. Problems with updates

After obtaining the root license:

• 🔄 OTA-Updates (Settings) → System updates will stop working.
• 📥 You will have to update manually through TWRP or Fastboot.
• 🔧 Each update may require re-installation of Magisk.

Example: when updating MIUI 13 to MIUI 14 on Xiaomi 11T Many users have experienced a bug called "Cannot verify update" that was solved by disabling Magisk modules before the update.

5. Application problems

Many applications refuse to work on rooted devices:

• 💳 Banking applications (SberBank, VTB, Tinkoff).
• 🎮 Protected games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, Pokémon GO).
• 📺 Streaming services (Netflix, Disney)+, OKKO — They don't play Full. HD).

Some applications (like Google Pay) can be made to work through Magisk modules like MagiskHide Props Config, but this requires additional customization and does not always work.

⚠️ Note: If you use your phone to handle sensitive data (such as corporate email or 1C), root rights may violate your company’s security policies.

How to get root rights on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

If you do decide to get root rights, follow this instruction. We will look at the process using the example of the Redmi Note 11, but the steps are relevant for most Xiaomi models, POCO Mi (except for devices on HyperOS – for them the process may be different).

Backup all important data (photos, contacts, messages)

Charge your phone at least 70%

Download Mi Unlock Tool from Xiaomi official website

Install ADB and Fastboot drivers on PC

Download firmware TWRP for your model

Download the latest version of Magisk (e.g. Magisk) v26.4)

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Step 1: Unlock the bootloader

1. Enable Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times).

2. Activate. OEM-unlocking USB: Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

3. Link your Mi Account to your device: Settings → Xiaomi account (require to confirm email and phone!).

4. Download the Mi Unlock Tool from the official website and run it on PC.

5. Connect the phone in Fastboot mode (turn off the phone, then press Volume down). + Food) and follow the instructions in the program.

⚠️ Important: Xiaomi requires you to wait 7 days after you link your account before unlocking.This is a security measure to prevent users from accidentally unlocking the downloader.

Step 2: Installation of TWRP

1. Download the image. TWRP For your model from the official website twrp.me.

2. Rename the file to twrp.img and place it in the folder with ADB.

3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode and execute the command:

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img


fastboot boot twrp.img

Step 3: Installation of Magisk

1. Download the latest version of Magisk (Magisk-v26.4.zip) And put it on a memory card.

2. TWRP Choose Install → Select the Magisk file → Swipe to Confirm Flash.

3. Reboot after installation. Ready!

Check for root rights using the Root Checker app or by entering the command in the terminal:

su

If a request for rights appears, the root is installed successfully.

How to hide root rights from apps (MagiskHide)

Many apps (banking, gaming, streaming) block the work on rooted devices, and to get around this, Magisk has a MagiskHide feature.

1. Open Magisk Manager and go to Settings.

2. Enable the MagiskHide option.

3. Return to the main screen and click MagiskHide in the menu.

4. tick the applications that need to hide the root (for example, SberBank, PUBG Mobile).

5. Reboot the phone.

If the app is still Detects root, try:

• 🔄 Update Magisk to the latest version.
• 📱 Install MagiskHide Props Config and replace the device fingerprint (fingerprint).
• 🔧 Disable other Magisk modules that may conflict.

Example: to work Google Pay on Xiaomi Mi 11 with root rights you need:

1. Turn on MagiskHide.
2. Install the Universal SafetyNet Fix module.
3. Restart and pass the SafetyNet check (must be ctsProfile: true).

💡

If MagiskHide doesn’t work, try using an alternative method – Island or Shelter to isolate applications.

How to Remove Root Rights and Return Guarantee

If you decide to return the phone to its original state (for example, for sale or repair under warranty), you need to:

1. Delete Magisk: Open Magisk Manager. Click Delete → Completely deleted. Reboot the phone.
2. Return stock recavators: Download the original recavers for your model (e.g., from Xiaomi Firmware Updater). stock_recovery.img
3. Block the bootloader: Use the Mi Flash Tool to run the official firmware in clean all mode. Or run the command: fastboot oem lock ⚠️ Warning: This will erase all data on the phone!

After that, the phone will return to factory settings, and Xiaomi will not be able to determine that it was rooted (unless you have manually changed the system partitions), however, some service centers may check the bootloader log - in which case the warranty will not be restored.

FAQ: Frequent questions about root rights on Xiaomi