How to disable TWRP encryption on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone users who have decided to expand the capabilities of their device often face the need to install custom recavator, but after the first download of the modified recovery environment, many find an unpleasant surprise: Inability to access internal memory: the screen requests a password or PIN-The code you typed to lock the screen, but even the correct code doesn't unlock the Data partition, is because of the manufacturer's forced encryption mechanism.

It becomes critical when you need to copy important files, backup or install modified firmware. Standard bypass methods often don't work on newer versions of Android, especially in the shells of MIUI 12, 13 and 14. Data encryption is an important security element, but for enthusiasts involved in system modification, it becomes a serious barrier.

It is important to understand that the process of decrypting or disabling this feature requires a complete reset of user data. Android uses keys tied to the current system and account, so you can not simply turn off encryption without losing files. Below are step-by-step instructions that will help you regain full control of the file system of your smartphone.

Reasons for Problems with Access to Data

The main reason for blocking access to TWRP is ForceEncrypt, which is activated by firmware developers to protect user data. When you install custom receptacles on top of the stock, the new recovery environment does not have the necessary decryption keys, since they are stored in encrypted form inside the system. Without these keys, the Data partition remains unreadable and unwritten.

Another factor is the Android version. Starting with Android 6.0 and up, encryption has become a mandatory standard, and in newer versions like Android 10, 11, 12 and 13, algorithms have become even more complex. Xiaomi in its MIUI firmware often uses its own encryption implementations that can conflict with standard TWRP builds. This leads to the fact that even the official version of the recovery may not cope with unlocking without additional manipulation.

⚠️ Attention: All the activities described in this article involve working with system partitions. Incorrect execution of instructions can lead to loss of data or inability to boot the system%.

It’s also worth considering that some TWRP builds simply don’t have built-in binary files to work with the specific type of encryption used in your version of MIUI. In this case, even if you do everything right, file access won’t appear until a compatible version of the backup is installed or a full reset is made.

Preparation of the device and necessary tools

Before you start taking active action to disable encryption, you need to make sure that your device is fully ready for modifications.The basic requirement is to have an unlocked Bootloader. Without this step, installing a custom recovery is impossible, and any attempts to interfere with system partitions will be blocked at the iron level.

You will need a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux, as well as a serviceable one. USB-It is advisable to use the original cable that came with the smartphone, as cheap analogues may not provide a stable connection for data transmission. ADB and Fastboot on the computer.

You also need the recovery file shell itself. It's important to download the version of TWRP that's designed for your particular smartphone model. Using universal builds can lead to errors in the touchscreen in recovery mode or incorrect display of memory partitions.

Complete Data Resetting Through TWRP

The most effective and often the only way to get rid of encryption is the full Data partition format, which deletes all user data, including photos, contacts and apps, but it also removes the encryption keys, making the partition available for recording again.

Go to the Wipe menu in the TWRP interface. Don't confuse this with a simple reset swipe, which often doesn't help with encryption. You need to select the Format Data button. After you press, the system will ask you to confirm the action by typing the word yes on the virtual keyboard. This is done to protect against accidental deletion.

Format Data -> yes

Once you've entered the confirmation, you'll start the formatting process, which can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the amount of memory and the speed of the memory, and when you're done, you'll see a success message, and then you'll have to reboot the recovery by selecting Reboot -> Recovery. Once you restart, the encryption will be decrypted, and you'll have full access to the file system.

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After formatting Data, be sure to immediately restart to Recovery mode (Reboot -> Recovery, not the system. If you boot into Android right away, the system can re-encrypt the partition the first time you set it up.

It’s worth noting that this method is a standard solution for most users, and if you still see a password request or a blank file list after formatting and rebooting, it may be the version of the TWRP itself or the specific features of your MIUI firmware that are the problem.

Use of Disabler and Magisk patches

If a simple data format doesn’t help or you want to save data (which is rarely possible when changing the type of encryption), you can use special data storage systems. ZIP-The most popular solution is the file. Disable_Dm-Verity_ForceEncrypt. This script makes changes to the system files of fstab, disabling integrity check and forced encryption when booting.

To install such a patch, you will need an already working one. TWRP You can access the System or Vendor partition. If you have access, just download it. ZIP-The patch file is sent through the Install menu and then you need to format the Data again, as the changes will only take effect after the keys are cleared.

There is also the option of using Magisk. If you already have superuser rights, you can find modules that control encryption settings. However, on modern Xiaomi devices with Android 11+, this method works unstable and often requires disabling VBMeta, which is a more complicated procedure.

Solving Access Problems After Firmware

There are situations where even after formatting Data, file access does not appear, or TWRP displays partitions as "0 MB." This often happens when you switch between different versions of Android (for example, from Android 10 to 11) or when you change the file system type.

From the TWRP menu, go to Wipe -> Advanced Wipe. Select Data, then press Repair or Change File System. Here, try changing the file system to ext4 or f2fs if the current one doesn't work. Once you change the format, swipe again for formatting.

⚠️ Warning: Unnecessarily changing the file system may cause system instability or inability to boot. Use this method only if standard formatting has failed.

Another common problem is that the TWRP version is incompatible with the Android version. If you have stitched Android 13 and the recovery is left over from Android 11, it simply won’t be able to work properly with the new encryption algorithms, in which case only installing an up-to-date TWRP build or using an alternative, such as OrangeFox Recovery, which is often updated faster for new Xiaomi devices.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The only guaranteed way to unencrypt TWRP on Xiaomi is to fully format the Data (Format Data) partition inside the recovery itself, followed by a reboot to Recovery mode.