How to check root access on Xiaomi: all working methods

Getting root rights on Xiaomi smartphones opens up access to hidden system settings, but often users are faced with the question: is root access activated? This is especially true after updating MIUI or resetting when superuser rights can fly. In this article, we will discuss 5 reliable ways to check root access, including methods through specialized applications, ADB, terminal and even without installing software.

It's important to understand that root rights are not just a checkmark, they're a complex change in the system that can only be verified by specific tests. We will look at both visual cues (such as the appearance of a SuperSU or Magisk Manager app) and technical checks that will show whether your device can execute commands on behalf of a superuser. MIUI (from 12 before 15) model Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO.

1. Verification through root rights management applications

The easiest way is to use utilities that interact directly with the system to verify the rights of a superuser, and if your Xiaomi has Magisk, SuperSU or their counterparts installed, it will take less than a minute to verify.

How it works: these applications ask the system for root access confirmation when you first start up. If you have permission, you will see a notification. If not, an error or an offer to get a root will appear.

• 📱 Magisk Manager is the official Magisk management app. Open it after installation: If a green tick is on the top of the screen that says Magisk: Installed, root access is active. If the gray cross, no rights.
• 🛡️ SuperSU – a classic solution for older versions MIUI (Run the application: if you see a list of installed applications with the ability to manage their rights, root is available.
• 🔍 Root Checker is a dedicated verification tool. Download it from Google Play, launch and press Verify Root. If you get a positive result, you will see a message Congratulations! Root access is properly installed on this device!.

⚠️ Note: If you have installed Magisk but the Magisk Manager app does not display root status, try updating it via the Magisk app. → Update or reinstall the Magisk module via TWRP. Sometimes the problem is in the conflict of versions.

Verification through the terminal (without installing applications)

If you don’t want to install additional software, you can check the root access through the built-in Xiaomi terminal or the Termux app, which is suitable for advanced users, as it requires knowledge of basic Linux commands.

Instructions:

1. Install Termux from Google Play (or use the built-in terminal in MIUI if you have one).
2. Type the command: su If you have permission, you will see the root@ invitation and the # character instead of $. If not, the message Permission denied will appear.
3. For additional verification, do: id The answer should be uid=0(root).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (In particular, Chinese terminals can block the su command even if they have root rights. ADB.

3. Checking through ADB (for advanced users)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a tool from Google that allows you to control a device through a computer, with which you can check the root access, even if the smartphone does not have special applications.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on Xiaomi: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging on USB.
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable and confirm the debugging permit.
3. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type: adb shell su If you have permission, you will see an invitation to root@[device].

Critical detail: on some Xiaomi devices with a locked bootloader, the su command via ADB may not work even if the root access is available.

adb shell "echo $(id)"

In the answer, look for uid=0.

4. Visual signs of root rights

Sometimes root access can be determined without technical checks, by indirect signs in the system.

• 🔧 Appearance of a new Magisk Manager, SuperSU or their analogues in the menu.
• 📁 Ability to edit system files (for example, in /system or /data) via a file manager with root access (e.g., Root Explorer).
• ⚙️ Adding additional items to your settings, such as Magisk Settings or Superuser.
• 🚫 Reports of blocking certain features (such as Google Pay or banking apps) due to root rights.

⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS or Pixel Experience) may not have visual features even if root access is available.

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If after obtaining the root license, banking applications stopped working, install the MagiskHide Props Config module and activate the root access concealment function for specific programs.

5. Verification through specialized files

There are several files on Android that are indirectly confirmed by root access, and you can check them through a file manager or ADB.

Key files and folders:

• /system/bin/su is the primary binary file for root rights.
• /system/xbin/su is an alternative location (found on older firmware).
• /data/adb/magisk.db is the Magisk database (if this rooting method is used).
• /system/app/SuperSU is a folder with the SuperSU application (for older versions).

How to check:

1. Install a file manager with root access support (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go one of these paths, and if there are files, there's probably root access.
3. Try editing the system file (e.g. /system/build.prop). If the changes are saved, the rights are confirmed.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI files may be present, but root access may not work due to incorrect installation of Magisk or SuperSU. Always combine this method with other methods of verification.

6. Checking through third-party applications (banking, games)

Some apps automatically detect root rights and block their work, which can be used as an indirect test:

• 💳 Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB) - at launch can show an error.
• 🎮 Protected games (e.g., games, Pokémon GO Genshin Impact – Refuse to run on rooted devices.
• 🔒 Security applications (such as Kaspersky or Dr.Web) – may issue a root access warning.

If such applications are working normally, chances are that there are no root rights or they are successfully hidden using MagiskHide.To check the concealment, disable MagiskHide in the Magisk Manager settings and restart the device.

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Banking apps and games are not 100% root-right verification methods, as their blocking may be caused by other reasons (such as custom recovery or unlocked bootloader).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When checking root access, users often encounter typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🔄 The su command does not operate in the terminal, but Magisk is installed. → Reinstall Magisk through TWRP Update it to the latest version.
• 🔌 ADB can't see the device → Check if the debugging is on USB, Install the latest Xiaomi drivers on PC.
• 📱 Root-rights testing applications give a false positive result → Use several methods (e.g. Root Checker) + terminal).
• 🔒 After updating MIUI root access missing → Repeat the rooting process or install a patch for a new firmware version.

If none of these methods worked, the root access may have been removed or blocked by the system, in which case you'll have to re-unlock the bootloader and install Magisk or SuperSU again.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions