How to remove TWRP from Xiaomi completely: 3 proven ways

Installing a custom TWRP recavator on Xiaomi smartphones opens up opportunities for experimenting with firmware, root rights and system modifications. However, sooner or later, many users face the need to return a standard recavator - whether before selling the device, for warranty repairs or because of unstable system operation. The process of removing TWRP seems simple only at first glance: wrong actions can lead to a device "brick", data loss or locking the bootloader.

In this article, we will discuss three officially supported ways to remove custom recavators on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, including models with locked and unlocked bootloader. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances for devices on MIUI 14/15 and new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3 chipsets, where standard methods may not work, and you will learn how to check the success of the removal and avoid the typical errors that lead to a rebootloop cycle.

Why You May Need to Remove TWRP

TWRP is a powerful tool, but it's not always justified on the device, and here are the most common reasons Xiaomi users choose to get rid of it:

  • πŸ“± Warranty repair: Xiaomi service centers deny warranty if a modified recavator or unlocked bootloader is detected.
  • πŸ”„ Updates MIUI airborne (OTA): S TWRP System updates often result in an Error 7 error or crash.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Security: Castomic Recovery can become a vulnerability if the device falls into the wrong hands (the ability to bypass the lock screen).
  • πŸ’₯ Unstable performance: On some models (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12) TWRP conflicts with the core modules, causing random rebuttals.
  • πŸ“¦ Selling the device: Buyers often check the smartphone for modifications, and TWRP It could reduce the cost.

It’s important to understand that simply removing TWRP via fastboot doesn’t always solve all the problems. For example, if you previously obtained root rights through Magisk, they also need to be removed, otherwise the system may remain unstable.

πŸ“Š What Xiaomi model do you use?
Redmi Note 11/12
Xiaomi 12/13
POCO F4/F5
Redmi K50/K60
Another model

Preparing for TWRP Removal: What to Do in advance

Before you start the procedure, follow the mandatory preparatory steps, which can lead to loss of data or inability to restore the device to work.

Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, messages)

Check the battery level (minimum 60%)

Download the original firmware for your model

Install ADB/Fastboot drivers on PC

Prepare. USB-cable (preferably original)

Disable Mi Account protection (if you plan to block the bootloader)

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Pay special attention to firmware selection. To remove TWRP, you will need stock ROM for your model.

  • 🌐 Xiaomi official website: miuidownload.com (select the Fastboot version for your region).

For devices with Dynamic Partitions (all Xiaomi smartphones after 2021), download firmware in.tgz or.zip format marked "Fastboot." Avoid Recovery ROM versions - they are not suitable for full system recovery. Also make sure that the firmware version is not lower than the one installed on your device (downgrad can lead to a breeze!).

⚠️ Note: If your device has the status of locked (bootloader locked), but it is installed TWRP, Trying to flash the original firmware through the Mi Flash Tool without first unlocking will lead to an anti-rollback error.

This method is suitable for 90% of Xiaomi models and is considered the most reliable, it involves running the original backpack through fastboot mode and then cleaning the partitions.

Step-by-step:

  1. Turn the device into Fastboot mode: Turn off the smartphone. Press the Power + Volume down buttons for 10-15 seconds until the rabbit in the Fastboot mode appears.

Connect the device to the PC

fastboot devices

If the device is not displayed, install Mi USB Driver drivers or use the Mi Flash Tool for automatic installation.

Swipe the original Recovery

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img


fastboot flash boot boot.img

Files. recovery.img and boot.img stock-based ROM (Unpack the firmware archive).

Clear the cache and data

fastboot erase cache


fastboot erase userdata

On devices with Dynamic Partitions, additionally perform:

fastboot erase super

Reset the device

fastboot reboot

The first download can take up to 10 minutes – do not interrupt the process!

If after the reboot the device is getting stuck on the MI logo, perform a hard reset via fastboot:

fastboot -w

This command will reset all settings and data, but return the device to a working state.

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If after firmware TWRP appears again when downloaded to the recovery, then the device is installed Magisk or modified boot.img. In this case, flash the original boot.img again and execute the command fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img (the vbmeta.img file is also taken from stock ROM).

Method 2: Remove TWRP via Mi Flash Tool (for locked bootloader)

If your bootloader is locked but you have TWRP installed on your device, the only reliable way to return a standard backup is to run full firmware through the Mi Flash Tool, which will also help if the first method led to a bootloop.

Instructions:

  1. Download and install the Mi Flash Tool (the latest version can be found on the official website).

Flash

Wait until the process is completed (the process will take 5-15 minutes).

Firmware modeDeletes the data.Locks the loader.Suitable for warranty
Clean allβœ… Yes.❌ No.❌ No.
Clean all and lockβœ… Yes.βœ… Yes.βœ… Yes.
Save user data❌ No.❌ No.❌ No.

Once the firmware is installed, the device will automatically restart. If you choose Clean all and lock, the bootloader will be locked, and you will need to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool (with a wait of 7-30 days) to re-install the TWRP.

⚠️ Note: On devices with MediaTek chipsets (Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro, etc.) Mi Flash Tool can lead to an error SLA Auth. In this case, stitch through SP Flash Tool with selected scatter.txt file.

Method 3: Remove TWRP without PC (via ADB Sideload)

If you don’t have access to a computer, you can try removing TWRP directly from the device via ADB Sideload mode, which is suitable for power users and requires a working TWRP (if the Recovery is damaged, the method will not work).

Instructions:

  1. Download the original firmware in.zip format (not Fastboot ROM!) to the memory card or internal memory of the device.
  2. Boot to TWRP: Turn off the device. Press Power + Volume up until the TWRP logo appears.

Advanced β†’ ADB Sideload

Connect the device to the PC

OTG-cable

adb sideload rom.zip

where rom.zip is the name of the firmware file.

Wait for completion

Reboot System

This method does not guarantee complete removal of TWRP, as firmware through ADB Sideload does not always overwrite the recovery partition. After rebooting, check the Recovery type by clamping Power + Volume Up. If the TWRP remains, use Method 1 or Method 2.

What if ADB Sideload is 47% frozen?
The β€œ47%” error in adb sideload is related to checking the firmware signature. Solutions: 1. Turn off TWRP verification: go to Mount β†’ Disable DM-Verity before you run the firmware. 2. Use unsigned firmware (e.g., a modified MIUI from xiaomi.eu). 3. Fastboot (Meth 1).

How to check if TWRP has been removed

After you do any of these, you need to make sure that the TWRP is actually removed. Here are 4 reliable methods of checking:

  • πŸ”„ Download to the recavator: Turn off the device. + Turn up the volume if you have a standard menu with Mi Bunny), TWRP remotely.
  • πŸ“± Team in ADB: adb reboot recovery If the device reboots to standard recavery – success.
  • πŸ” Check out fastboot: fastboot getvar product 2>&1 | find "product" if the output contains lines with TWRP, Recovery.
  • πŸ“‹ System Logs: Adb logcat | grep -i recovery No mention TWRP log-in confirms deletion.

If TWRP is still present, repeat the removal procedure, paying special attention to cleaning the recovery and boot partitions. Some devices (Xiaomi 12T, Redmi K50 Ultra) may require vbmeta firmware:

fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img

Typical errors and their solutions

When removing TWRP, users often encounter errors that can be avoided by knowing the cause, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

Mistake.Reason.Decision
FAILED (remote: 'Flashing is not allowed in Lock State')The bootloader is locked, but you try to flash through fastboot.Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool or use the Mi Flash Tool with Clean All and Lock mode.
Error: Update process ended with ERROR: 7Try to flash firmware older than the current version (anti-rollback).Download a newer version of stock ROM or use firmware with the same build number.
The device hung on the logo MI (bootloop)Firmware incompatibility or damaged super/vendor partitions.Run fastboot-w or run the full stock ROM through the Mi Flash Tool.
Invalid sparse file format at headerThe file is damaged. recovery.img or boot.img.Download the firmware and check the integrity of the files (compare hash amounts).
TWRP returns after rebootThe device is equipped with Magisk or modified boot.img.Sweep through the original boot.img and run fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img.

If none of the methods helped and the device remains inoperable, try emergency firmware mode (EDL For this purpose:

  1. Turn off the device.
  2. Press Power + Volume + Volume Reduce Volume for 10-15 seconds (some models require short circuit test points).
  3. Connect to a PC – the device should be defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
  4. Fluidify the firmware via Mi Flash Tool or QFil.

⚠️ Attention: Regime EDL requires an authorized Xiaomi account (for new models) or a special cable.Incorrect actions in this mode can permanently disable the device (brick at the hardware level).

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If after all the manipulations the device does not turn on, contact the service center with the problem "soft brick after removing TWRP". wizards will be able to restore the device via EDL or replace the motherboard under warranty (if the bootloader is blocked).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing TWRP on Xiaomi

Can I delete TWRP without losing data?
Theoretically, yes, but in practice, it's risky. TWRP The userdata (where your files are stored) is not affected by fastboot or Mi Flash Tool, but the system settings will reset. However, if the device boots with errors after deleting, a full reset will be required. -w), We recommend you to make a backup copy in advance through TWRP (backup section or Mi PC Suite.
How to remove TWRP on Xiaomi with a blocked bootloader?
If the bootloader is locked but the device has TWRP installed, this means that it was previously unlocked and then automatically locked after firmware. In this case: Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (you need to link the Mi Account and wait 7-30 days). Sweep the original backpack through fastboot (Meth 1). If you want to return the warranty, block the bootloader by command: fastboot oem lock Attention: after this command, installing TWRP or root rights will become impossible without re-unlocking.
Why is it after removal? TWRP not working OTA-update?
This is because even after removing the TWRP, the device may still have traces of modifications (e.g., modified boot.img or disabled dm-verity check). To restore OTA: Scroll the full stock ROM through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean all mode. Make sure the firmware version matches the current version of MIUI on the device (not lower!). Reset the settings in the Settings menu β†’ Additional β†’ Recovery and Reset. If the problem persists, check the integrity of the partitions with the command: fastboot getvar all and compare the output to the reference values for your model.
Can I remove TWRP on Xiaomi with a MediaTek processor?
Yes, but the process is different from the devices on Qualcomm. for MediaTek (Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro et al.: Download stock ROM in.zip format with scatter.txt file. SP Flash Tool instead of Mi Flash Tool: Download scatter.txt to the program. Check only recovery and boot (if you want to save data). Connect the device turned off to your PC (without battery, if removable). Press Download and wait until it's finished. MediaTek devices with Dynamic Partitions (Redmi Note 12 and later) require firmware to run the full image via fastboot using the utility. MTK Client.
What if the device does not turn on after removing the TWRP?
If the device does not respond to the power button and is not detected in fastboot, try the following steps: Check the battery charge: Connect to charging on the 30 minutes, then try to clamping the power supply + Volume up. Emergency firmware through EDL: Shut down the device. Close the testpoints (they are different for each model, look for a circuit for your device). Connect to a PC, it should be determined as Qualcomm. 9008. Write through Mi Flash Tool or QFil. Contact the service: If self-attempts did not help, indicate to the wizard that the device is in soft brick state after removal TWRP. On devices with Snapdragon chipset 8 Gen 2/3 (Xiaomi 13/14 in case of a failed firmware, eFuse protection can work, blocking access to the EDL. In this case, recovery is possible only in the authorized service Xiaomi.