How to determine if there are root rights on Xiaomi smartphone: the complete guide

Have you bought a used Xiaomi or are you trying to figure out unfamiliar settings on your device? Maybe the previous owner has already obtained root rights and you don't know about it. Or you've tried to unlock the bootloader yourself, but you're not sure about the outcome. Either way, having root access isn't just a tick in the settings, it's a major system change that affects security, updates and app performance.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 reliable ways to test root rights on Xiaomi (including Redmi, POCO, and Black Shark models), learn what features a rooted device gives, how to use specialized utilities, and what to do if the results of the tests are contradictory, and also why some methods can give false positives on firmware with MIUI.

Why it’s important to know if there’s a root on Xiaomi

root rights provide unlimited access to Android system files, but at the same time bring risks:

• 🔓 Security: Root-access apps can read passwords, bank card details and personal correspondence.
• 📱 Updates: MIUI block out OTA-updates on rooted devices.
• 🛡️ Guarantee: Xiaomi’s official service may refuse repairs if it detects traces of root.
• 🎮 Games and applications: Pokémon GO, Netflix and Banking Customers May Not Work.

Even if you haven’t intentionally installed root, some “optimized” firmware from third-party developers (such as Xiaomi.eu or custom builds) may include it by default, so checking is mandatory before selling the device, installing important apps, or contacting the service.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ HyperOS standard methods of verification (for example, via su in the terminal) can give a false negative result due to the built-in protection of Xiaomi.

Method 1: Checking with Root Checker

The easiest and most reliable method is to use a specialized utility. joeykrim’s Root Checker (available on Google Play) analyzes the system for the presence of a su binary file, superuser rights and SELinux status.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Root Checker (free version is enough).
2. Open the app and click Verify Root (or similar button in the Russian version).
3. If you see the message "Congratulations! Root access is properly installed..." you have the rights.
4. Scroll down and check for SELinux status: if it is in "Permissive" mode, it indirectly confirms the root.

On some MIUI firmware, the application may give the error "Root access is not properly configured" even if it is present, in which case move on to the next method.

Check the availability of the Internet (the application downloads the database)

Restart the device and repeat the test

Install an alternative: Root Validator or Root Beers

Try the ADB method (Section 4)

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Method 2: Manual detection through system settings

Some root rights can be found directly on the Xiaomi menu without installing additional programs.

• 📱 Root obtained through Magisk (popular root rights manager).
• 🔧 Custom recovery installed (TWRP Or OrangeFox).
• 🔄 System modified (e.g. system applications removed).

Where to look:

1. Open Settings → About your phone and click on “MIUI Version” several times. If you see “You’re a developer!”, that’s fine, but if you open a menu with unfamiliar items (like “Magisk Manager”) instead, there’s root.
2. Check the list of installed applications: Magisk, SuperSU, KingRoot or TWRP is a clear sign.
3. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management and find the System tab, if there are no standard services from Google or MIUI (e.g. com.miui.analytics), they may have been removed through root.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) system applications can be hidden even without root. Use this method only in conjunction with other checks.

Method 3: Terminal and Su Command

If you have root rights, you must have a su binary file (superuser) on the system that allows you to execute commands on behalf of the administrator, and you can check for it through the terminal.

Instructions:

1. Install any terminal from Google Play (e.g., Termux or Simple Terminal).
2. Enter the command: su and press Enter.
3. If you see an input invitation (e.g. root@xiaomi:/#) you have the right. If you see "Permission denied," there is no root.
4. For additional verification, do: id The answer should be uid=0(root).

On some MIUI firmware, the su command may not work even if there is root (because of Xiaomi protection).

/system/xbin/su

or

/system/bin/su

💡

If the terminal produces a "command not found" error, it doesn't always mean no root. On some custom firmware, the path to su may be different. Try finding it through the root-access file manager (section 5).

Method 4: Checking through ADB (for power users)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a tool for debugging Android devices through a computer, which can perform the same checks as in the terminal, but with more detail.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📦 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools.

Step-by-step action:

1. Enable “Debugging by USB” on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times), then Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB.
2. Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your trust in the device.
3. Open the command line (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type in: adb shell
4. Inside the shell, follow: su If you see the invitation root@xiaomi:/ # - there are rights.
5. To check for SELinux status, type: getenforce The answer "Permissive" is another root sign.

If the commands don’t work but you suspect root, try an alternative method:

adb shell ls -l /system/bin/su /system/xbin/su

If the answer is strings with the rights -rwsr-sr-x, then the binary su is present in the system.

Yes, I've set it up)|Yes, but through service/master|No, but I want to try.|No, and no planning.|I don't know what it is.-->

Method 5: Viewing System Files through File Manager

If you have a root-enabled file manager installed on your device (such as Root Explorer, FX File Explorer, or Solid Explorer), you can manually check for key files and folders.

What to look for:

• 📁 folder /system/su.d/ — contains scripts executed when obtaining root.
• 📄 File. /system/bin/su or /system/xbin/su — binary.
• 📁 folder /magisk or /data/adb/magisk — traces of Magisk.
• 📄 File. /system/app/SuperSU/SuperSU.apk — If the root is obtained through SuperSU.

How to check:

1. Open the file manager and give it root rights (if requested).
2. Go to the root directory (/) and check the paths from the list above.
3. Pay attention to the date of file changes: if they coincide with the date of the device firmware, it is possible that the root was received a long time ago.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete or change files in folders /system or /vendor If you find root traces but are not sure of their origin, you better do a factory reset via Fastboot.

Frequent errors and false positives

Not all test methods give 100% results, and here are the most common cases where tests can be wrong:

• 🤖 MIUI and HyperOS: Built-in protection can block access to su even if root is available. Use MagiskHide or check through TWRP.
• 🔄 Temporary root:KingRoot only gives rights until reboot.
• 📱 Firmware from third-party developers: Xiaomi.eu or LineageOS can be enabled SELinux Permissive without full root.
• 🛡️ Banking applications: If they work normally, it does not guarantee the absence of root – modern methods of camouflage (e.g. Magisk) + Universal SafetyNet Fix is bypassing inspections.

If you get conflicting results (e.g., Root Checker shows no root, but the system has a /magisk folder), follow these steps:

1. Check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone. On firmware 14.0.4+ and HyperOS, standard methods may not work.
2. Install Magisk (if it isn’t) and check the status on its menu.
3. Try rooting through Fastboot with the instructions for your model – if the process is successful, you already have the right.

💡

On HyperOS devices (2026), standard root verification methods only work 60 percent of the time. Use the ADB + system file check combination for accurate diagnosis.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions