How to Get Root Rights on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: A Complete Guide to 4PDA

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is still a popular budget smartphone, but its capabilities are limited by the MIUI stock firmware. Getting root rights gives you access to fine-tuning the system, removing embedded software and installing custom firmware. However, the process of unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk on this model has nuances, especially if you rely on materials with 4PDA.

In this article, we will discuss current ways to obtain root rights to Redmi Note 7 (codename lavender), including official unlocking the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool, installing a custom TWRP recavator and Magisk firmware. Particular attention will be paid to typical errors that users make when following instructions from forums, and alternative methods for those who can not unlock the bootloader in the standard way.

1. Preparation of the smartphone: what to do before unlocking

Before you start unlocking the bootloader, you need to follow a few critical steps, neglecting them can lead to a device “brick” (completely inoperable) or lock your Mi Account.

First, make sure your Redmi Note 7 has the latest version of MIUI installed for your region. This is important because older firmware may contain vulnerabilities that Xiaomi has closed in new updates. Check the relevance of the version in the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version. If the update is available, install it through Settings → System Update.

• 📱 Backup all data (photos, contacts, messages) through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset or Mi Cloud. Once the bootloader is unlocked, all data will be erased!
• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 60%. interruption of the process due to battery discharge can lead to software damage.
• 🔑 Link your Mi Account to your device. Without that, unlocking the bootloader will be impossible. → Mi Account displays your profile.
• 🖥️ Install drivers for Xiaomi on PC. Download them from the official website or through the Mi Flash Tool.

It is also recommended to disable all screen protection (Settings → Screen Lock) and delete your Google account (if it is tied) to avoid FRP (Factory Reset Protection) issues after a reset.

⚠️ Note: If you bought Redmi Note 7 "hands-on", make sure that the previous owner untie your Mi Account. Otherwise, after unlocking the bootloader, the phone may require input of other people's data to activate.

2 Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool

The official way to unlock a bootloader on Xiaomi is to use the Mi Unlock Tool utility. However, since 2021, Xiaomi has tightened the policy, and now the process requires binding the device to an account for 7 days (sometimes longer), This is done to combat device theft.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on MIUI Version. After that, the Settings menu → Additional option For Developers will appear.
2. Enable USB debugging: In the developer menu, activate USB debugging and confirm the resolution when connecting to your PC.
3. Link the device to your account: In the same menu, find the bootloader Unlock Status option and link the device to your Mi Account. Wait 7 days (sometimes it takes up to 360 hours!).
4. Download Mi Unlock Tool: The official utility can be found on the Xiaomi website (authentication required).
5. Start unlocking: Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (press Power + Volume down when the device is off), launch the Mi Unlock Tool and follow the instructions.

If the utility produces a "Couldn't unlock" or "Device not bound" error, it means that it has not been 7 days since the binding, and the error may also occur due to:

• 🔌 Unstable. USB-Connections (try another cable or port).
• 🔄 Mi Unlock Tool (download the latest version from the official website).
• 📵 No Internet connection on the PC (the utility checks the status of the online account).

3. Install TWRP Recovery on Redmi Note 7

After successful unlocking of the boot step - installation of custom recavery TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project is an alternative recovery environment that allows you to stitch through informal environments. ZIP-files, including Magisk, to obtain root rights.

For Redmi Note 7 (lavender), a special TWRP build is suitable, which can be found on 4PDA or the official project website. Importantly, only use versions that are compatible with your firmware (for example, for MIUI 12/13 based on Android 10/11).

Installation instructions:

1. Download the latest version of TWRP for lavender (file with.img extension).
2. Rename the file to twrp.img and place it in the folder with ADB/Fastboot on your PC.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (as in the previous step).
4. Open the command line in the ADB folder and execute the command: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
5. After successful firmware, restart to TWRP, holding Power + Volume up.

If the TWRP doesn't start after the reboot and the phone loads into a standard recaveri, then the stock firmware has overwritten the custom.

• 🔄 Repeat the firmware. TWRP And immediately after the command fastboot flash recovery execute: fastboot boot twrp.img It'll load. TWRP without memory, which will allow you to install Magisk before the first boot system.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI 13+ Xiaomi blocks custom recavator installation through signature verification, in which case it may be necessary to firmware a modified boot image with an already sewn Magisk.

4. Getting root rights through Magisk

Magisk is a universal root-rights tool that allows you to bypass SafetyNet checks, which is important for banking applications and services like Google Pay.

The Magisk installation process on the Redmi Note 7 includes several steps:

1. Download the latest version of Magisk: Official ZIP-You can take the file from the developer's GitHub. For the Redmi Note 7, version 26.0 is suitable.+.
2. Copy file to phone: Connect device to PC in mode MTP or use OTG-wire-stick Magisk-v26.0.zip inner-memory.
3. Install via TWRP: Boot to TWRP (Power + Volume Up). Press Install → select Magisk-v26.0.zip → swipe for confirmation. After installation, press Reboot System.

If Magisk Manager doesn’t appear in the app menu after the reboot, install it manually by downloading the APK from the same GitHub. Also check SafetyNet status in the Magisk settings – if it doesn’t pass, install the Universal SafetyNet Fix module.

On MIUI 12.5+ and Android 11+ versions, additional firmware for the patched boot image via Fastboot may be required, as the standard method of installing Magisk via TWRP sometimes results in looped bootloop.

💡

If the phone doesn’t boot after installing Magisk, try flashing the original boot.img through Fastboot, and then re-install Magisk with the modules disabled.

5. Alternative methods of obtaining root without official unlocking

If you can’t unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (for example, because of the error “This device is locked” or too long waiting), there are workarounds, but they are risky and can lead to hard-brick (irreparable damage).

One of the most popular methods is to exploit vulnerabilities in the EDL-This is an emergency download mode:

• 🔧 Special cable (EDL cable) or short circuit test points on the board.
• 💻 Mi Flash Pro or QFil for firmware via Qualcomm 9008.
• 📄 Firmware file in.mbn or.elf format for your model.

On 4PDA, patched firmware with an already unlocked bootloader is often laid out, but their use is fraught with:

• 🚨 Installation of spyware or backdoors.
• 🔄 Incompatible with your hardware revision (e.g., Redmi Note 7 has multiple board modifications).
• 📵 Loss. IMEI or the inability of the module NFC/Wi-Fi.

⚠️ Attention: Use EDL-The method on devices with Mi Accounts tied to another region (e.g. the Chinese version for a European account) can result in a permanent lock on your phone.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

If the phone starts to overheat or discharge quickly after getting root rights, check the active processes through BetterBatteryStats or turn off unnecessary modules in Magisk. It is also recommended to turn off MIUI Auto Update in the settings, as stock updates can overwrite custom Recovery.

💡

Before any firmware manipulation, save the original images (boot.img, recovery.img) – they will help restore the phone in case of an error.

7. What to do after obtaining root rights

Now that you have root, you can customize the Redmi Note 7 completely. Here are some useful steps:

• 🧹 Remove embedded apps: With Titanium Backup or Root App Deleter, you can remove unnecessary Xiaomi services (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Music).
• ⚡ Performance Optimization: Install Kernel Adiutor to fine-tune the kernel (frequency) CPU/GPU, task-planner).
• 🔒 Ad Blocking: AdAway or Blokada module for system-wide ad blocking in apps.
• 🎨 Topics and design: With the help of Substratum or LSPosed, you can change the system interface without firmware customization ROM.

However, remember that root rights take away your warranty and can create security issues.

• 🛡️ Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) can block access.
• 🔍 Root-access viruses can cause more harm.
• 📱 OTA-Updates will stop working (you will have to update manually).

If you need root rights only to remove ads or backups, consider alternatives like ADB-commands to disable unnecessary services without fully unlocking.

FAQ: Frequent questions about root on Redmi Note 7