Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T smartphone often face the limitations of standard MIUI firmware, which blocks access to system partitions. Obtaining superuser rights opens up limitless possibilities for customization, removal of system debris and fine-tuning the device’s performance, but this process requires technical literacy and strict adherence to the sequence of actions, since an error can lead to the inoperability of the gadget.
The main tool for modifying the system in 2026-2026 remains Magisk, which allows you to obtain root access, hiding its availability from banking applications and Google services. Before starting any manipulation, you must understand that you take full responsibility for the device. In this article, we will discuss all the steps from unlocking the bootloader to final installing the patch and checking the results.
The procedure consists of several critical steps, skipping any of which makes further actions meaningless or dangerous. USB-cable and stable Internet connection, and it is also worth downloading all the necessary files in advance, so that during the work you do not get distracted by software searches.
Preparation of the smartphone and the necessary tools
The first step is to carefully prepare the workplace and the device itself. You will need to download and install ADB and Fastboot drivers on your computer, as well as specific drivers for Xiaomi. Without properly installed drivers, the computer will simply not see the smartphone in the right mode, and all commands will be ignored by the system.
On the smartphone itself, you need to activate the hidden developer menu. To do this, go to Settings → About the phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number seven times. After the notification “You became a developer”, you can move to advanced settings. In the menu Additional → For developers, include “Debugging by USB” and “Factory unlocking”.
- 📱 Original. USB-cable (preferably the one that came with the kit), as cheap analogues often do not support data transfer.
- 💻 Computer or laptop with Windows 10/11 and Internet access.
- 🔋 Charge of the smartphone battery at least 60% to prevent shutdown during firmware.
- 📂 A hard copy of all important data, as unlocking the bootloader will completely delete the information.
⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi devices automatically performs a full Wipe Data reset. Save photos, contacts and documents to the cloud or computer before starting work.
You will also need a Mi Account that must be linked to the device, a requirement Xiaomi has to address stolen devices, and make sure that the device status option is enabled in the Mi Account settings and the phone has access to the network (preferably via mobile internet, not Wi-Fi, to avoid connection issues).
Unlocking the bootloader (Unlock Bootloader)
Without the Bootloader, you can't install a modified bootloader or root rights. This is the first and longest step, because Xiaomi artificially creates latency. You'll need the official Mi Unlock Tool, which you need to download from the official website miui.com/unlock.
After installing the program on your PC and logging into your Mi Account, turn your smartphone into Fastboot mode. To do this, turn off the device completely, and then press the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously. The screen will show an image of a hare repairing an android, which signals the correct entry into mode. Connect the phone to the computer with a cable.
In Mi Unlock Tool, click the "Check" button. If the device status is shown as "Connected", click "Unlock". The system will warn you of the risks and deletion of data. Once confirmed, a process will begin, which in 90% of cases will be interrupted by a message about the need to wait. Usually Xiaomi requires waiting from 7 to 168 hours (1 to 7 days) from the first attempt.
Why is Xiaomi introducing a wait for unlocking?
When the timer expires, repeat the procedure: log in to Fastboot, connect to your PC, and press the Unlock button in the Mi Unlock Tool. This time, the process will be successful, the phone will restart, and you will see a clean system. Now the path to modifications is open.
Installation of custom TWRP Recovery
Standard Recovery Recovery does not allow third-party zip files or patches to be installed, so installing TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is essential. There are many builds available for the Redmi Note 8T (codenamed ginkgo), but it’s best to use the current stable version that supports your version of Android.
Download the image file twrp.img And put it in a folder with ADB-You can also download the installation zip archive. TWRP And you can use the Magisk file, save it to the phone's internal memory. Put it in Fastboot mode and connect it to your PC. Open the command line in the tool folder and type in the command to run the recovery firmware:
fastboot flash recovery twrp_ginkgo.imgThe important point is that once you've done the command, you can't just reboot the phone with the buttons. You need to immediately, holding the Volume Up and Power buttons, wait for the vibration and the Mi logo, then release the power button, keep the volume up. This will load the installed TWRP. If you just reboot the device, the standard Xiaomi system will overwrite the TWRP back to the stock recave.
- 🔍 Make sure you downloaded it. TWRP For the codename Ginkgo, the other Redmi Note 8 versions may not be compatible.
- 🔒 V TWRP You may need to enter a screen unlock password; if not accepted, use the Format Data feature.
- 📦 Magisk files and TWRP-The installer must lie at the root of the internal memory or on the SD-map.
From the TWRP menu, select the language (Available in the lower right corner), then go to Wipe and make Format Data by entering the word yes. This is necessary to decrypt the data, otherwise you will not be able to write files to the phone. After that, reboot to Recovery again and through the Advanced → File Manager, copy Magisk files to internal memory if they are not available.
Magisk installation process and obtaining Root
Now the most important thing is to directly set the rights of the superuser. In the TWRP menu, select Install. Find the previously saved zip file Magisk.apk (rename it to.zip if you downloaded apk, or use a ready-made zip). It is also recommended to flash the Disable-Force-Encryprion patch if your version of TWRP does not remove encryption automatically.
Swipe to confirm Flash. The installation process will take a few seconds. In the logs you will see messages about partitioning and patching. Once successful, the Reboot System button will appear. Press it to restart the smartphone as normal.
☑️ Checklist of successful installation
Once you boot, look for the Magisk icon in the application menu. If it's not there, find the downloaded Magisk Manager apk file and install it as a regular application. When you first start, the application can request permission to access the files and complete the installation of the components, and then you will see the status of "Installed", which means successful root rights.
⚠️ Note: If after installing Magisk, the phone goes into an endless restart (bootloop), try booting into the phone. TWRP Make a Restore last backup or Wipe Dalvik/Cache.
License Check and Security Setup
Getting rights is only half the battle, and now you need to make sure that they work correctly and, if necessary, are hidden from applications with strict security policy. You can use specialized tools to verify them, such as Root Checker or the built-in feature in Magisk itself.
Open Magisk and go to the settings (cogwheels). Here it is important to activate the option Zygisk (if you use a modern version) and "Enforce DenyList." In the DenyList list, you need to note all banking applications, Google Pay (Wallet) and games with anticheat, which will make Magisk hide the presence of root modifications for selected programs.
| Parameter | Status before setup | Status after setup |
|---|---|---|
| Superuser access | Absent. | Active. |
| Visibility for banks | See root. | Root is hidden |
| Google Pay's job | It's not working. | Works (usually) |
| Backup capability | Only user-generated | Full system. |
It is also worth checking for modules. Magisk has a Modules tab where you can download extensions to change fonts, improve sound, control battery, etc. However, only install proven modules, as they have deep access to the system and can cause instability.
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Use the Universal SafetyNet Fix module (if available for your Android version) to get Integrity checked in Google Play Services and run high-security apps.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Modification process Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T It's not always going to go perfectly smoothly for all users. It's a common driver problem when the computer doesn't see the phone in Fastboot mode. USB-Connect the device to another port (preferably) USB 2.0 at the back of the system unit) or reinstall drivers through Device Manager, manually pointing the path.
Another common problem is the unblocking error of the bootloader (code 10008 or similar). This is often due to unstable Internet or problems on Xiaomi servers. USB) shift IP-Also helps to log in to Mi Unlock Tool under different accounts, if the main "clogged" attempts.
If your fingerprint or camera stopped working after installing Magisk, chances are you were using an incompatible version. TWRP In this case, you need to return the stock Recovery via fastboot command fastboot flash recovery. recovery.img (where recovery.img — stock file) and reflash the system cleanly.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to update the firmware OTA (by air) after obtaining root rights and installation TWRP. This will result in loss of rights or cyclical reboot. manually update through full firmware zip archives.
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The stability of a smartphone with root rights depends on the quality of the TWRP and Magisk files used, as well as on the accuracy of executing instructions for decrypting encryption.