How to install root rights on Xiaomi Redmi 9A: a complete guide to unlock the bootloader

Xiaomi Redmi 9A is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its capabilities are limited to stock firmware MIUI. Getting root permissions allows you to remove system applications, optimize performance, install custom firmware and modifications. However, the process requires care: wrong actions can turn a phone into a “brick.” In this guide, the only proven way to unlock the bootloader and install root rights to the Redmi 9A in 2026, taking into account all the changes in Xiaomi’s policy.

It's important to understand that once you get a root license, you lose your official warranty and you run the risk of problems with banking applications (because of the SafetyNet trigger), but if you're ready to experiment, this guide will help you get it right the first time, and we'll look at two key steps: unlocking the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool and installing Magisk to manage the root rights.

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

Before you start unlocking the bootloader, you need to follow a few critical steps, and skipping any of them can lead to failures or inability to continue the process.

First, check the MIUI version on your Redmi 9A. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Current firmware versions (starting with MIUI 12.5) require you to bind your Mi Account to your device. If you have an older version, upgrade through Settings → Software Update.

• 📱 Back up all your data (photos, contacts, messages) and use Mi Cloud or third-party apps like Titanium Backup (required after you get your root rights).
• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 60%. interruption of the process due to battery discharge can make the phone inoperable.
• 🔗 Link your Xiaomi account to your device. Without that, unlocking the bootloader is impossible. Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Synchronize and make sure the device is tied.
• 🛠️ Install drivers for Redmi 9A Download them from the official Xiaomi website or use the Mi package PC Suite.

Xiaomi has tightened the rules: if an account was not linked to the device in advance (at least 7 days before unlocking), the system can block an attempt for 720 hours (30 days), which is valid from 2022 and applies to all models, including the Redmi 9A.

⚠️ Warning: If you bought your phone with your hands, make sure the previous owner untie your Mi Account from the device. Otherwise, unlocking will not be possible without it.

2 Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool

The Xiaomi Redmi 9A bootloader is blocked by default, and unlocking it is a mandatory step before obtaining root rights. This will require the official Mi Unlock Tool utility, which can be downloaded from the Xiaomi website (en.miui.com/unlock).

The unlocking process consists of several steps:

1. Download and install Mi Unlock Tool on Windows PC (macOS and Linux are not supported).
2. Activate Developer Mode on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on MIUI Version. Then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging and OEM Unlock.
3. Connect your phone to your PC through the original USB-In the window that appears on the phone, allow debugging. USB.
4. Launch Mi Unlock Tool on behalf of the administrator, log in to your Mi Account and follow the program instructions.

Once you have successfully logged in, the utility will start checking the device, and if all the conditions are met (account tied, phone not new, no time limit), the Unlock button will appear. Press it and wait until the process is complete. The phone will reboot and the bootloader will be unlocked.

⚠️ Warning: If you see a message when unlocking, “You need to wait 168 hours,” it means that Xiaomi has imposed a temporary ban on unlocking, usually on the first attempt or if you have previously unlocked the bootloader on another device. Wait for the specified time (7 days) and try again.

3. Installation of custom TWRP Recovery

Once the bootloader is unlocked, the next step is to install the custom TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) recavator, which will allow you to flash modified system images and install Magisk for root rights. For Redmi 9A (codename dandelion), there is a special version of TWRP adapted for this smartphone.

Download the current version TWRP for Redmi 9A from the official website (twrp.me) at the time of writing (2026 year) recommended version — 3.7.0_12-0. You will also need a fastboot utility for flashing recavery through a PC.

Installation instructions:

1. Unpack the archive from TWRP into a folder from fastboot (usually C:\platform-tools if you have installed Android SDK).
2. Put your phone into fastboot mode: turn it off, then press Volume Down + Power before the Fastboot logo appears.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with fastboot.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), continue.
5. Please. TWRP Team: Fastboot Flash Recovery twrp-3.7.0_12-0-dandelion.img
6. Reboot to Recavator: Fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_12-0-dandelion.img

Once you reboot, you'll be in the TWRP menu. You can either back up your current firmware (recommended!) or start installing Magisk right away. Don't reboot your phone to the system through the standard menu, which will lead to a TWRP overwrite with stock recaves. Instead, select Reboot → Recovery.

💡

If the phone is stuck on the Xiaomi logo after TWRP, press Volume Up + Power for 10 seconds for a forced reboot. Then repeat the TWRP login via fastboot.

4. Install Magisk for root rights

Magisk is a universal root rights management tool that allows you to bypass SafetyNet checks and use banking applications. The latest stable version as of 2026 is Magisk v26.4. You can download it from the official repository on GitHub (github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk).

Installation process:

1. Download the Magisk-v26.4.zip file (not up!) and transfer it to your phone or memory card.
2. Download to TWRP (as described in the previous section).
3. In the main TWRP menu, select Install, then search and select the Magisk-v26.4.zip file.
4. Swipe to confirm installation. Once completed, press Reboot System.

The first download after installing Magisk can take up to 10 minutes, which is normal. After you start, install the Magisk Manager app (available as an APK on the same GitHub) to manage root rights. Open it and check the status: if everything goes well, you will see a green tick and the inscription Installed: 26.4.

To make sure root rights work, install any application that requires root (such as Google Play's Root Checker).It's also a good idea to check SafetyNet status in Magisk Manager: if it shows FAIL, install the Universal SafetyNet Fix module through Magisk → Modules.

5. Performance check and problem solving

Once you have a root license, you need to make sure that the system is stable.

• 📱 System operation: Make sure the phone boots without freezes. If the message "Android is starting..." appears longer than 5 minutes, there may have been an error when installing Magisk.
• 🔒 Root access: Use a Root Checker or terminal with a su command. If access is available, you will see a superuser invitation.
• 🛡️ SafetyNet: Check the status in Magisk Manager. FAIL, Install Universal SafetyNet Fix and restart.
• 📶 Network and communication: Sometimes, after modifications, the mobile network disappears. IMEI through TWRP (Look for firmware for dandelion on 4PDA).

The most common problems and their solutions:

⚠️ Note: If your fingerprint or Face Unlock stop working after installing the root rights, this is due to a section change /data. Solution: Go to Settings → Security → Delete all biometric data and reconfigure.

💡

If the phone starts to overheat or discharge quickly after getting root rights, check the active processes through BetterBatteryStats. Often the fault is background tasks from Magisk modules or incorrectly remote system applications.

6. System optimization after root rights

Now that you have root rights, you can optimize the Redmi 9A for your needs. Here are some useful modifications:

• 🧹 Bloat Removal: Use Titanium Backup or System App Remover to remove unnecessary system applications (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video).Be careful: removing critical services can cause crashes!
• ⚡ Overclocking of the processor: With Kernel Adiutor, you can increase the frequency of Helio G25, But it will reduce battery life. Optimal balance settings: governor - ondemand, max CPU — 2000 MHz.
• 🔋 Battery Optimization: Install Battery Charge Limit in Magisk to limit charge to 80% and extend battery life.
• 🎨 Customization of the interface: With a module MIUI Mix Explorer can change the icons, fonts and animations of the system without firmware custom theme.

For power users, custom cores (such as the Hellcat Kernel for Redmi 9A) are available to install, which improve performance and autonomy, but this requires deep knowledge and can lead to unstable system operation.

If you are planning to flash custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), consider that Redmi 9A is limited to weak iron (Helio G25 + 2GB of RAM). Most alternative firmware is slower than stock MIUI, so installing them is only advisable for experiments.

7 How to Get Everything Back: Removing Root Rights and Returning Guarantees

If you need to return the phone to its original state (for example, for sale or warranty repair), you need to remove Magisk, restore the stock recap and flash the original firmware.

1. Delete Magisk: Load to Magisk Manager. Go to Settings → Complete Deletion. Confirm action and wait for the reboot.
2. Restore Stock Recovery: Download the Official Firmware for Redmi 9A From Xiaomi, unpack the archive and find the file. recovery.img. Fastboot: Fastboot Flash Recovery recovery.img
3. Sweep through the stock firmware: Download the firmware (in.tgz format) to the folder from fastboot. Launch the script flash_all.bat (for Windows or flash_all.sh (for Linux/macOS). Wait for the process to be completed (the phone will reboot automatically).

After this, the phone will return to factory status and the bootloader will remain unlocked, and to completely cover the traces of unlocking (for example, for warranty repairs), you will need:

1. Log in to Mi Unlock Tool and press Lock Bootloader (if option is available).
2. Restore the original boot.img via fastboot.
3. Reset the anti-rollback counter (if it has been increased), which can only be done with the help of service utilities that Xiaomi distributes to official service centers.

⚠️ Warning: Restoring bootloader lock erases all data on the device, including internal memory (/data). Make a backup copy in advance!

FAQ: Frequent questions about root rights on Redmi 9A