Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 5 line of smartphones, known in China as the Redmi Note 5 Pro, have been popular for several years due to their excellent price-performance ratio. However, the standard MIUI shell often limits the capabilities of advanced users, blocking access to system files and prohibiting deep customization of the interface. Obtaining superuser rights opens access to hidden Android functions, allowing you to remove system debris, install specialized modules and even overclock the processor.
The procedure for gaining full control of the device requires care and accurate follow-up instructions, as any errors in the work with the bootloader can lead to the inoperability of the gadget. In this article, we will discuss all the steps in detail: from unlocking Bootloader to installing the Magisk rights manager through the custom TWRP recovery. You will learn about the necessary tools, potential risks and ways to restore the system in the event of a failure.
Before you start taking action, you need to clearly understand that interference with the software structure of the smartphone removes the official warranty. Device manufacturers do not welcome modifications to the system partition, so all further steps you take solely at your own risk. However, with a competent approach, the probability of success is almost 100%, and the functionality of your Redmi Note 5 will grow significantly.
The success of the operation depends on 90% of the quality of the pre-preparedness, you will need not only the smartphone itself, but also a working computer running Windows, as well as a high-quality computer. USB-A cable that can transmit data, not just charge the battery. Cheap cables often cause a communication breakdown at a critical point in firmware, which can lead to driver errors.
The first thing you need to do is make a full backup of all the important data, as the process of unlocking the bootloader will completely clear the internal memory of the device. Copy photos, contacts and documents to an external medium or to the cloud storage. Also make sure that the battery charge of the smartphone is at least 60% so that the device does not turn off in the middle of the process.
To do this, you'll need to download and install a dedicated set of ADB and Fastboot tools on your computer, which are Google's official tools that allow your computer to send commands to your smartphone in a special mode, without which you can't interact with the bootloader.
An important step is to activate the developer mode on the device itself. → About the phone and seven times quickly click on the version MIUI. After the message about the activation of the developer mode appears, go to the advanced settings and turn on the option. USB-It allows the computer to execute debugging commands.
Unlocking the Xiaomi bootloader
The most difficult and lengthy step is unlocking Bootloader. Xiaomi has introduced this security measure to prevent malware installation, but for enthusiasts, this has become the first barrier: You will need a Mi Account account that must be linked to the device.
Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → For developers, select Mi Unlock Status. Press the Add Account and Device button. Once successfully linked, download the official Mi Unlock Tool to your computer. Launch it, log in to your account and put your phone into Fastboot mode, holding down the volume and power buttons at the same time.
⚠️ Warning: Once an account is linked, the system can report that unlocking is only possible after 168 hours (7 days), a mandatory wait that is virtually impossible to circumvent by legal means.
After the wait period expires, reconnect the phone in Fastboot mode to your computer and press the Unlock button in the utility. The process will take a few minutes, after which the phone will restart and clear all data. Now the bootloader is unlocked, and the corresponding Unlocked icon will appear on the boot screen.
What if the Mi Unlock Tool can't see the phone?
If the utility is not responsive to the connection, check the installed drivers in Windows Device Manager. Often you need to manually update the driver for the Android Bootloader Interface device. USB-port, preferably USB 2.0, It's on the motherboard behind the system unit. TWRP stainless_recovery_Xiaomi environment does not allow third-party files to be installed, so installation is necessary TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project is a modified recovery menu with touch control and installation capability. ZIP-For the Redmi Note. 5 (codename whyred) you need to download the corresponding image.img. Copy the downloaded image file to the folder with the installed tools ADB and rename it in recovery.img Open the command line in this folder and connect your phone in Fastboot mode. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the serial number is displayed in response, then the connection is established. Now enter the command to temporarily load the Recovery: fastboot boot recovery.img The device will go to the menu TWRP. And it's important to note that at this point, the Recovery is not permanently stored, and if you just reboot the system, the stock menu will come back. TWRP, you need to first flash a patch that prevents the replacement of the Recovery when booting the system, or immediately flash the archive with root rights if the version TWRP allows. 📱 Connect your phone in Fastboot mode to your PC 💻 Run the command line in the folder ADB 🔄 Enter the command fastboot boot recovery.img ✅ Wait for the menu to come out. TWRP The process of installing Root rights through Magisk To date, the gold standard for obtaining superuser rights is Magisk. Unlike the old SuperSU, Magisk is systemless, which allows you to hide the presence of root rights from banking applications and services Google Pay (now Wallet). Magisk.apk From the official GitHub repository. Rename the file extension from.apk to.zip to installer. TWRP You can recognize it as a flashable package. Copy this file into your phone's internal memory while it's in Recovery mode. TWRP Select Install, find the downloaded archive Magisk.zip And you can swipe it, and it takes a few seconds. Once it's done, press the Reboot System button. When you first boot it can last longer than usual, which is normal, because it optimizes. Step Action Result 1 Download Magisk Apk file on PC 2 Rename zip file ready for firmware 3 Installation in TWRP Modification of boot image 4 Reboot Appearance of Magisk icon in the menu After booting system find in the application menu new icon Magisk. Launch it and provide the necessary permissions. If the application offers to install additional components or update - agree. To check the availability of rights, you can use specialized test applications or just try to start the terminal and enter the su command. 💡Magisk Manager allows you to enable and disable root rights for specific applications, as well as hide the very fact of the rights from banking programs, which is critical for everyday use of a smartphone. Solution and possible errors in the process of modifying Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 One of the most common is a cyclic bootloop after installing the modules. If the phone doesn't boot, you need to re-enter Recovery mode (shutting up volume and power) and through TWRP remove the problem module or make a complete reset of Wipe Data. Another common problem is a broken fingerprint or camera after the firmware. TWRP Not fully compatible with your Android version or regional firmware (Global, China, EU). In such cases, the reflashing of the stock image helps boot.img same version as the firmware, but with the Magisk patch, instead of using ZIP-archive. ⚠️ Warning: If after all the manipulations the phone stopped responding to buttons and did not turn on (Black Screen), it is possible that the bootloader is damaged. EDL Mode, but it often requires an authorized Mi Account or paid services. L1. After unlocking the loader, the level of protection DRM fall off L1 before L3, Netflix and other streaming services stop showing content in the Internet HD-I'll give it back. L1 On an unlocked bootloader on a Snapdragon 636 processor, it is almost impossible without complex manipulations with backups, which are risky for beginners. 📊 What is the problem you have most often faced?TWRP All successfully passed Security and consequences of obtaining Root Obtaining superuser rights is not only new features, but also increased responsibility for data security. With root access, any malicious application that has received the appropriate permission can theoretically gain full control of the device, including reading the device. SMS, In addition, many banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.) default to work on rooted devices, while Magisk Hide (or Zygisk in newer versions) allows you to bypass this protection, it is a game of cat and mouse: Banks are constantly updating detection methods, and Magisk developers are constantly updating methods of hiding. You will need to constantly monitor updates. 🔒 Risk of personal data leakage when installing unverified modules 🚫 Refusal of banking applications and Google Pay 📉 Reduced protection DRM (trouble HD streamingly) ⚠️ The ability to turn a phone into a brick when you make mistakes, however, for power users, the benefits often outweigh the risks. The ability to make full system backups, cut ads at the hosts file level, change system fonts and animations, and install custom cores to save battery make this process worthwhile. Formally, yes, obtaining root rights and unlocking the bootloader are grounds for refusing warranty service. However, if you can return the device to a stock state (shroud the bootloader and install the original firmware), the service center may not notice the interference if there are no physical damage or software traces visible during deep diagnostics. Can you upgrade to "over the air" with Root rights? OTA-Updates with a modified system partition (which Magisk does) are usually not installed or reset root rights after installation. MIUI manually through Recovery, pre-backup data. TWRP For the model whyred (Redmi Note 5 Pro) the most stable are the builds from the OrangeFox team or the classic versions. TWRP 3.3.x and above, adapted for Android 9 and 10. Using older versions for Android 8 can lead to encryption errors. Should the bootloader be re-unblocked when you reflash? No, a single unlock is enough. You can change the firmware, install custom ROMs (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) and return to the stock as many times as you want while the bootloader remains in Unlocked status. Why does Google Pay not work after installing Magisk? Google Pay requires a high degree of security. Even with hidden Root, some applications see modifications. You need to include Zygisk in the Magisk settings, add the Bank application and Play Services to the exclusion list (DeegnyL) and Google Player module, as well as use Inix.