Owners of the popular budget smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 4X often face the limitations of the standard shell MIUI, which does not allow you to remove system applications or use powerful automation tools. Obtaining superuser rights opens access to deep system configuration, allowing you to fully unlock the potential of the device, including overclocking the processor and installing specialized modules.
The process of obtaining root rights on this device without using a personal computer is quite real, but requires strict adherence to the sequence of actions and a stable Internet connection. Unlike the old methods, modern methods are based on unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom TWRP recap, which ensures the safe implementation of the Magisk rights manager.
Before you start taking action, you need to realize that any manipulation of the system partition carries certain risks. The procedure of unlocking the bootloader officially erases all user data from the device, so creating a full backup is a mandatory step, ignoring which will lead to the loss of photos and contacts. Next, we will look in detail at each stage of preparing and implementing access to the file system.
Preparation of the device and necessary conditions
The first step is to thoroughly check the status of your Redmi 4X and prepare the software. Make sure that the smartphone is charged at least 60% of the battery, as a sudden power outage during the firmware recovery can lead to irreversible consequences.
You need to activate the developer mode, which is hidden by default for security purposes of the regular system. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI Version seven times. Once the message about successful activation appears, a new section will appear in the settings menu Additional → For developers, where you need to enable Factory Unlock and Debugging over USB.
⚠️ Warning: Factory Unblocking Activation May Require Mi Account Linking SIM-map and waits between 7 and 168 hours depending on the region's policies.
In parallel with the phone setup, you need to prepare a file manager. MIUI They can block the installation of applications from unknown sources, so it is recommended to install a reliable file manager in advance, for example, MT Manager or standard conductor, and allow them to install APK-file.
- 📱 Charge the Redmi smartphone 4X minimum 60-70%.
- 📡 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network at good speed.
- 🔓 Link your Mi Account and wait until the unlock timer ends.
- 💾 Download all necessary files to the internal memory of the device.
Unlock the loader through a smartphone
Without the unlocked bootloader, a modified recovery is not possible. The official method requires the use of the Mi Unlock Tool utility on a PC, but there is an alternative way for advanced users to initiate the process directly from the phone, although final confirmation often requires a server response.
To start, make sure the Factory Unlock option is on the developer menu. Click on it and agree to the system warnings. If the status indicates that the device is locked and the waiting time has expired, you can try executing a command through the terminal if it is installed, or use the dedicated terminal emulator apps available on Google Play.
Enter a command to check the status:
fastboot oem device-infoHowever, the most reliable way for Redmi 4X without a PC is to use the Find Device feature in the Mi Account settings, which sometimes allows you to reset the lock status after the timer expires. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Find the device and turn off this feature, then turn the unlock back on the developer menu.
If the status has changed to Unlocked, the system will reboot and completely clear the data. This is Xiaomi's standard security behavior. Once enabled, you will need to reconfigure the language, Wi-Fi and log into your Google account.
Installation of custom TWRP Recovery
The next critical step is to install a modified TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) recovery menu. Standard recovers do not allow you to install third-party zip archives and make changes to system partitions. Redmi 4X (codename santoni) must find a strictly compatible version of the image.
Download the twrp-3.x.x-x-santoni.img file and rename it to recovery.img for convenience. Put it at the root of internal memory. You’ll also need a Fastboot mode application that can be installed directly on Android, such as Bugjaeger or similar utilities running via USB-OTG, if you have an adapter, or special applications that can rewrite Android partitions with root rights (but we don’t have root rights yet, so we use a fastboot method).
The procedure for entering the firmware mode:
- Turn off your smartphone completely.
- Press the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time until the Fastboot logo appears.
- Connect your phone to another Android device OTG-cable (if you use a flashing app) or use the built-in features of some custom cores.
Since we don't have a PC, the most affordable method is to use the FastbootD app or something similar that can send fastboot commands. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode, launch the app, select the recovery.img file, and click "Flash." After a successful record, you need to immediately reboot to Recovery mode, clamping Volume Up and Power.
⚠️ Note: If after the re-flashing TWRP You just restart the system as normal, standard MIUI rewrites the custom Recovery back to the stock. TWRP It should be done immediately after the firmware!
The TWRP menu can have an English interface. Don't worry, the basic functions are intuitive. First, the system will ask you to confirm that you can make changes, swipe your finger across the screen.
Root rights process through Magisk
The current standard for obtaining superuser rights is Magisk. Unlike the old SuperSU, it works systemless, which allows you to pass security checks in banking applications and games. APK-Magisk file and rename its extension from.apk to.zip.
From the TWRP menu, select Install. The file manager will open, where you need to navigate to the place where your renamed Magisk.zip file lies. Select it and confirm the swipe installation.
☑️ Checklist of Magisk installation
The installation process will take a few seconds. In the log, you will see messages about partitioning and binary file embedding. Once complete, the Reboot System button will appear. Press it to boot to the root-rights system for the first time.
Once you download, you'll find a new Magisk icon in the app menu. When you first start, the app may request additional downloads of components, agree. If the app opens and the version status bar displays a number, and next to it a green icon that says "Installed" is lit, then the root rights have been successfully obtained.
- 🔨 Magisk works on the principle of systemless, without changing the system partition directly.
- 🛡️ Built-in MagiskHide feature allows you to hide root from banking applications.
- 📦 Supports installation of modules that extend the functionality of Android.
Checking rights and basic system setting
To make sure that you have access, you can use specialized tools. Install the Root Checker app from Google Play. Launch it and press the Verify Root button. If you see a green message with a congratulations, then the superuser's access is working correctly.
Now that you have full control of Redmi 4X, it is recommended that you set up rights management. In the Magisk app, go to settings (cogs) and make sure that the Zygisk option (if you plan to hide root) and Enforce DenyList are enabled.
| Annex | The need for a Root | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Banking Apps | No. | Add to DenyList |
| Google Pay | No. | Hide through MagiskHide |
| System Cleaner | Tall. | Grant access |
| AdBlocker (hosts) | Critical | Grant access |
Also, remove unnecessary system applications (bloatware) that previously could not be touched. Be careful: removing system components responsible for communication or interface can lead to bootloop (cyclic reboot).
To clean the system, use proven tools like Titanium Backup (with caution) or modern analogues like SD Maid with root rights enabled. They allow you to delete the remnants of remote applications and clean the cache of system services, which is especially true for Redmi 4X with its limited memory.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
There are a number of challenges in modifying the Xiaomi Redmi 4X. One common problem is that you can't log in to TWRP after you reboot. This almost always means that the stock recovery has replaced the custom reclaimer. The solution is one: repeat the recovery.img firmware and reboot to Recovery immediately, without downloading to Android.
Another common problem is a broken sensor in TWRP. For the 4X Snapdragon 435 processor, there are special versions of the recovery where the touchscreen works correctly. If the sensor does not respond, try to find an alternative TWRP build marked "fixed touch" or use control through volume and power buttons.
Users may also encounter a "Verification failed" error when trying to boot into the system, which is due to the integrity check of the bootloader. TWRP You can try to disable the check by deleting the file. verity_orange_state.zip (If you have one for your version, or simply ignore the warning if the system is loading.
⚠️ Note: When errors occur in the Data partition (inability to mount) /data), This section may need to be formatted in TWRP (Wipe → Format Data → Type yes. This will delete all files, but solve the encryption problem.
If the sound or camera stopped working after all the manipulations, the modem or persist partitions were likely damaged, and can only be restored from a full backup made before the modifications began, or by flashing the stock image of these partitions through Fastboot.