Smartphone Xiaomi Mi 9T, also known as the Redmi K20, It remains one of the most popular devices of the middle segment due to its frameless AMOLED-It's a display and a powerful processor, but it's a standard shell. MIUI, Despite its functionality, it often limits the capabilities of advanced users, blocking access to system files and advertising its own services. Obtaining superuser rights opens up completely new horizons for the owner of the gadget, allowing you to remove system software, install optimization modules and fully control the operation of iron.
The rooting process is not a trivial task and requires attention to detail, as any error can lead to the failure of the device. In this article, we will discuss all the steps from unlocking the bootloader to installing the modern rights manager Magisk. It is important to understand that you act at your own risk, and strict adherence to the algorithm of actions minimizes the likelihood of problems.
Before any manipulations are initiated, it is important to realize that unlocking the bootloader, which is a mandatory first step, will automatically cancel the warranty on the device in most service centers.In addition, all user data will be irretrievably deleted during the preparation process, so creating a full backup is not a recommendation, but a mandatory requirement before starting.
Toolkit preparation and backup
You should start by creating a full copy of all important data, as the procedure to unlock the bootloader completely clears the internal memory of the smartphone. You will lose photos, contacts, messages and installed applications if you do not transfer them to the computer or to the cloud storage. Use built-in MIUI tools or third-party utilities to create an image of the system, so that in case of failure you can quickly return to the original state.
You will need quality work to do. USB-cable, preferably original, coming with the device, as cheap analogues can cause connection breaks at a critical time of firmware. ADB and Fastboot, as well as the platform SDK Platform Tools, which can be downloaded from the official Android developer site, without these components, the computer will not be able to correctly interact with the phone in bootloader mode.
Don’t forget to charge your smartphone battery at least until 70-80%, So that when you flash or unlock the device, it doesn't turn off because you don't have enough power, and a sudden surge in voltage or battery drain while you write data to the system partition can damage the partition table, which requires a difficult recovery through the system partition. EDL-regime.
- 📱 Charge the Xiaomi Mi battery 9T Up to a level of at least 80% for stable work.
- 💾 Make a full backup of data to an external media or to the cloud.
- 🔌 Prepare the original. USB-cable USB-computer-port.
- 💻 Install the drivers. ADB/Fastboot and Platform Tools on PC.
⚠️ Warning: The bootloader unlock procedure permanently deletes all data from the device. Make sure you save all important files, passwords and access keys before starting work.
Unlocking the Bootloader bootloader
The first technical step is to unlock the bootloader, which is impossible without first linking the Mi Account account to the device. You need to log into the phone settings, select About Phone and click on the version several times. MIUI, To activate the developer menu, then you need to enable "Debug by Debugging" in the advanced settings. USB» and the status of “Mi Unlock”, where the current device is associated with your account.
Once you have an account attached, the system will require you to wait a certain period of time, usually between 7 and 168 hours (7 days), before unlocking the bootloader. This is a security measure by the manufacturer, and it is almost impossible to circumvent it with official methods, so you just have to wait for the specified time without leaving the account on your phone. If you try to unlock the device earlier, the utility will give an error indicating the remaining time.
When the timer expires, turn off your smartphone and press the power and volume reduction buttons simultaneously to go to Fastboot mode. Connect your phone to your computer, launch the Mi Unlock Tool utility, log in to the same Mi Account and press the unlock button. The process will take several minutes, after which the phone will automatically restart and clear the data.
☑️ Checking before unlocking
There is an important caveat that is often overlooked: once the bootloader is unlocked, Android security may consider some apps unsafe, including banking apps and Google Pay (now Google Wallet) that may stop working normally, requiring additional manipulations of Magisk Hide or Zygisk to hide the fact that superuser rights exist.
Installation of custom TWRP Recovery
Xiaomi’s standard recovery mode does not allow installing third-party zip archives and modifying system partitions, so installing a custom recovery such as TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is necessary. There are several versions of TWRP for Xiaomi Mi 9T (codename davinci), but it is recommended to use a stable build that supports data encryption and work with the Android 10/11/12 file system, depending on your firmware.
The installation process is carried out through the computer in Fastboot mode. The downloaded image of the recovery (file with the extension.img) should be renamed to twrp.img for convenience and placed in the folder with ADB tools. After connecting the phone in Fastboot mode, the image firmware command is performed in the recovery section, after which you must immediately execute the combination button to enter the installed recovery, otherwise the standard MIUI system will overwrite it back.
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
fastboot boot twrp.imgIt is important to understand the difference between flash and boot: the first writes the image to memory permanently, and the second only runs it once. Xiaomi Mi 9T often requires a sequence of actions when you immediately hold the buttons, log into TWRP to prevent overwriting by the stock loader.
- 📥 Download the current version TWRP For the Davinci model (Mi) 9T).
- 💾 Rename the image file to twrp.img and put it in a folder. ADB.
- 🔌 Transfer your smartphone to Fastboot mode and connect to the PC.
- ⚡ Run the firmware command and immediately enter Recovery mode.
What happens if TWRP doesn’t start?
Magisk installation process and obtaining Root rights
The current standard for obtaining superuser rights is Magisk, which allows you to modify the system without changing the systemless root, which means that the integrity of system files is not violated, which increases stability and makes it easier to delete rights in the future. You will need to download the latest stable version of Magisk in the format APK, Rename the file extension to.zip or simply copy APK phone-on.
When you boot into the installed TWRP, the first thing you need to do is to unblock the modification of the system by moving the slider "Allow Modifications." If you do not do this, the recovery can block access to partitions or the system will not boot. Next, you need to press the Install button, select the Magisk file (apk or zip) and confirm the firmware swipe to the right.
Once installed successfully, you need to restart the system. When you first start up, Android may show a message that the operating system has been changed - this is a normal reaction to the presence of an unlocked bootloader and a modified boot image. The Magisk icon will appear in the list of applications, when you open it, you will see a request for full rights and completion of the installation of additional components.
| Component | Function | Post-installation status |
|---|---|---|
| MagiskSU | Managing Superuser Rights | Active. |
| MagiskHide | Hiding the root from apps | Requires customization |
| Zygisk | ||
| Bootloader | Loader of the device | Unlocked. |
Magisk settings and bypassing the detection
After successfully obtaining rights, many users are faced with the fact that banking applications refuse to launch, and Google Pay does not see. NFC-This is due to the SafetyNet and Play Integrity security mechanisms that check the integrity of the environment. In Magisk settings, you need to activate Zygisk (in newer versions) or MagiskHide to hide the fact that the root is from specific applications.
In the Magisk settings menu, turn on “Zygisk” and “Enforce DenyList.” In DenyList itself, you need to find all banking apps, Google Play Services and Google Play Store, check the boxes in front of them. After that, you need to completely reboot the device to make the changes effective. In some cases, you may need to install the Universal SafetyNet Fix module if standard methods are not enough to pass the checks.
It’s worth noting that fighting the root detector is a constant “arms race”: App developers are updating detection methods, and the modder community is releasing new patches. For the Xiaomi Mi 9T, it’s also important to disable debugging options in the developer’s settings after all settings are complete, since having USB debugging enabled can also trigger some bank security systems.
⚠️ Warning: Don't give superuser rights to the first app you see. Read the access requests that appear in Magisk pop-ups carefully, and only let the trusted system utilities be accessed.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Mi 9T firmware modifications can cause errors ranging from logo getting stuck to loss of communication with your computer. One common problem is “bootloop” (cyclic reboot), which often occurs when you install an incompatible TWRP or Magisk module. In this case, you need to re-enter Recovery (TWRP) mode and perform a data reset (Wipe Data) or delete the last installed module through the file manager.
If the phone is no longer detected by the computer in Fastboot mode and only the charging indicator is on, the device may have gone into EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode. To exit it on the Xiaomi Mi 9T, it is often helped by pressing the power button for a long time (up to 30 seconds) or closing test points on the board (which requires disassembling the case).
Another common problem is a failed proximity sensor after flashing or installing custom cores. This is treated by calibrating the sensor through the engineering menu (code # # #6484##) or installing a special fix in TWRP. It is important to always have stock firmware on hand for your regional version, so that in case of critical errors, you roll back to factory condition.
💡
Save stock firmware! Before any experiments download the full Fastboot ROM image for your Mi 9T version. This is the only guarantee of recovery in the event of a major failure.
Remember, the development community is constantly updating tools, and what worked yesterday may need to be adjusted today. Keep an eye out for thematic threads on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums, where the current TWRP and Magisk builds are published specifically for the Snapdragon 730 processor installed in the Mi 9T.