Owners of budget smartphones often face a lack of performance or functionality that can only be enhanced with deep customization of the system. Xiaomi Redmi 9C is a popular entry-level model, and for many users, obtaining superuser rights becomes the only way to unlock its real potential.
The current methods of accessing the root directory are very different from those used a few years ago. If you used to have just one application, now the process involves unlocking the bootloader, patching the boot partition image and implementing specialized rights management modules. Android of the latest versions has become significantly stricter to change, but with the right approach Magisk allows you to remain in the system undetectable for most banking applications.
Before you start to take action, you need to be clear about what you're doing with the device. You're not just changing the wallpaper, you're modifying the boot sector. Any bug in the firmware phase can lead to a Bootloop state where the phone will be endlessly rebooted. However, if you follow the algorithm and prepare everything you need, success is guaranteed and your gadget's functionality will grow many times over.
Preparation of the device and necessary tools
The first step is to carefully prepare the workplace and the smartphone itself. You will need a computer running the Windows operating system, since most tools for working with the computer are very useful. ADB And Fastboot works best in this environment. USB-cable, preferably original, to avoid connection breaks at a critical time of firmware.
On the smartphone itself, you need to activate the hidden developer menu. → On the phone and press quickly 7-10 once in the field "Version" MIUI". Once you have been notified that you have become a developer, go back to the main settings menu and select "More" where you will find "Developers". USB.
- 📱 Charge your smartphone battery to at least 70% to avoid power outages.
- 💻 Install the drivers. ADB and Fastboot on the computer.
- 🔓 Link your Mi Account to your phone (required to unlock).
- 📥 Download the official firmware (Fastboot) ROM) It is for your model.
It's Fastboot ROM, not Recovery. It has the.tgz extension and is designed for computer firmware, and you can find it on official websites or trusted resources like XiaomiFirmwareUpdater. Make sure the firmware version matches the one installed on the device or is newer to avoid compatibility issues.
☑️ Preparation for obtaining Root
Unlocking the Bootloader bootloader
The most difficult and longest step is unlocking the bootloader, and Xiaomi has implemented this security measure to prevent unauthorized software tampering. First, you need to download the official Mi Unlock Tool utility from the developer's website and log in under the same account that is linked to the phone.
Once you connect your smartphone in Fastboot mode (clamping the volume button when turned on), the utility will check the status of the device. If you do this for the first time, the system will require you to wait from 7 to 168 hours (from week to month), This wait is officially impossible to get around, the timer is tied to the account and IMEI of the device on the company's servers.
⚠️ Warning: The process of unlocking the bootloader will completely remove all data from the phone's internal memory. be sure to back up photos, contacts and documents before starting the procedure.
When the timer expires, repeat the connection procedure and press the "Unlock" button in the utility. The phone will restart and the process will go automatically. After successfully unlocking the boot screen, an open lock icon will appear on the boot screen. Now your Redmi 9C is ready for modifications, but remember that after that some security features, such as MI Pay or Widevine L1 keys, will stop working, which will reduce the quality of streaming in HD.
What if Mi Unlock can’t see the phone?
Removing and patching the boot.img image
To implement superuser rights, we'll need to modify the boot image of the system, using the popular Magisk tool. APK-Magisk file on the smartphone itself. Then extract the file. boot.img from a previously downloaded firmware archive (.tgz) If the firmware archive contains a file payload.bin, You will need a special utility Payload Dumper to extract the image.
Copy the received file boot.img Start the Magisk app, click the "Install" button next to the Magisk version, and select the "Select and Patch File" method. boot.img. The application will create a modified version of the file with a prefix magisk_patched bootloader.
magisk_patched_[random_string].imgThis new file needs to be copied back to your computer in a pack of platform tools (ADB/Fastboot) and it will be written to the device boot section. Make sure you don't confuse the original file with the patched one, as downloading the original file after unlocking the bootloader can lead to an integrity check error.
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Always save the original boot.img from your current firmware version. If something goes wrong, this file will help restore the “system specialty” without completely reflashing it.
Firmware of modified image via Fastboot
Now, to the final stage, put your smartphone into Fastboot mode and connect it to your PC. Open the command line or PowerShell in the ADB tool folder. Check the connection with the command:
fastboot devicesIf you see the serial number of the device, you've got the connection, you've got to flash the modified image.
fastboot flash boot magisk_patched_[ your name file].imgAfter a successful recording (the message "Finished" will appear), enter the command to reboot:
fastboot rebootThe first download can take longer than usual, from 5 to 10 minutes. Don't panic, take the battery out (if it's not removable) and don't turn off the cable. If the phone is loaded, open Magisk. If the main menu displays the version number and activates the "MagiskSU" option, you have successfully obtained root rights.
| Fastboot Team | Description of action | The result |
|---|---|---|
| fastboot devices | Connection check | Displaying device ID |
| fastboot flash boot ... | Image recording | Successful section firmware |
| fastboot reboot | Reboot. | Android launch |
| fastboot oem device-info | Status information | Display of loader status |
Checking rights and hiding root from applications
Once you have super-user rights, many applications, especially banking (Sber, Tinkoff) and anti-cheat games, may refuse to work. They detect Magisk and block startup. To get around this, you need to use the Zygisk feature and the exception list in the Magisk settings.
Turn on the "Zygisk" and "Exclusion List" options in Magisk settings. Then, in the "DenyList" section, tick against all banking applications, Google Pay and Google Play system services.
- 🛡️ Enable the concealment of the Magisk application itself (rename the package).
- 🚫 Remove or freeze system applications related to Xiaomi security.
- 📲 Use the MagiskHide Props Config module to change your device’s fingerprint.
⚠️ Attention: Constantly updating banking applications may reset the concealment settings. Regularly check root rights status through the Root Checker app to make sure the cloaking works correctly.
For advanced users, you can install modules that extend functionality, such as modules to overclock the processor or change the system fonts. However, on the Redmi 9C with a MediaTek Helio G35 processor, you should be careful with resource-intensive modifications to not reduce the already not maximum performance.
Possible problems and solutions
When modifying the Xiaomi Redmi 9C, you may experience unexpected situations, most often users will experience a cyclic reboot. If the phone is stuck on the MI logo, try pressing the power and volume button up to enter Recovery Mode and do a data reset (Wipe Data). If this does not help, you will need to flash the stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.
Another common problem is the loss of broadband or broken Wi-Fi, which happens if you have stitched the wrong boot.img image from another firmware or region, and then you need to find an exact copy of the stock firmware that was installed before the modifications, and flash the boot, recovery and vbmeta partitions again.
It is also worth mentioning the problem with DRM-Once the bootloader is unlocked, Netflix and other services may stop showing content in the bootloader. HD Return the protection level of Widevine L1 on an unlocked bootloader is almost impossible without complex manipulations with the backup of the keys made before unlocking, which is too difficult for the average user.
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The most common mistake is to firmware boot.img image from another version of Android or MIUI. Always check the original firmware version before patching.