Root rights on Xiaomi: how to unlock the bootloader and get full control of the smartphone

Getting root rights on Xiaomi smartphones opens up access to hidden system functions, allows you to remove embedded applications, optimize performance and install custom firmware. However, this process requires pre-unlocking the bootloader, which is officially supported by the company, but is fraught with risks of loss of warranty and potential security issues. In this article, we will discuss current ways to obtain root on devices with MIUI 14/15, including Redmi models, POCO and the flagship Xiaomi 13/14 series.

It’s important to understand that the procedure has changed since 2023: Xiaomi has tightened the unlock requirements and some methods (for example, through vulnerabilities in fastboot) have stopped working. We’ll focus on the official method using the Mi Unlock Tool and the subsequent installation of Magisk, the most reliable solution for root rights management. If you’re a beginner, we recommend you to carefully study each step: an error at any step can lead to a device “brick”.

What are root rights and why do you need them on Xiaomi?

Root rights (or superuser rights) give full control of the Android operating system. On Xiaomi smartphones, this is especially true because of the specificity of MIUI firmware, which contains many pre-installed applications and restrictions. Here are the main reasons why users decide to unlock:

🚀 Remove system applications: The ability to get rid of unnecessary software (Mi Browser, Mi Music, GetApps and others), which can not be disabled by standard means.
⚡ Performance optimization: Set up the system core, turn off background processes and fine-tune power consumption.
🔧 Install custom firmware: Switch to LineageOS, Pixel Experience or other alternative OS with pure Android.
🛡️ Backup: Completely save application data (including passwords and settings) with Titanium Backup.
🎮 Game modification: Using cheats or changing graphical settings in games through GameGuardian.

However, there is a downside: getting root rights voids Xiaomi’s warranty (even if you block the bootloader back), and also increases the risk of malware infection. In addition, some banking applications (such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff) may stop working due to the SafetyNet trigger.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 15 and newer Xiaomi blocks the ability to unlock the bootloader for some regions (for example, Russia and the EU.

Preparation of Xiaomi smartphone to unlock the loader

Before you start unlocking, there are a few critical steps that need to be taken, and skipping any of them can cause a procedure to fail or even data to be lost, starting with compatibility checks and device preparation:

Check the model and version of MIUI: Go to Settings → About the phone. Remember the exact model name (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G) and the firmware version (e.g. MIUI Global 14.0.5).
Link your Mi Account to your device: Without a Xiaomi account, unlocking is not possible. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account and log in.
Put the debugging on. USB: Activate Developer Mode by pressing Version 7 times MIUI In the About section, then go to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers and include: 🔌 Debugging by USB 🔓 Unlocking OEM (point-of-point!)

Create a backup copy

Settings → Memory → Backup

Swift Backup

Pay special attention to the item Unblocking OEM. On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5 Xiaomi 13T) This option can be hidden or blocked by the carrier. If it's not on the menu, try it:

🔄 Reboot your phone and check again.
📶 Connect to another network (Wi-Fi or mobile).
🔧 Update the firmware to the latest version through Settings → Updating the system.

Also make sure your PC has ADB and Fastboot drivers installed. Download Android SDK Platform-Tools or use Mi PC Suite. Without properly installed drivers, Mi Unlock Tool will not be able to recognize the device.

Unlock the bootloader with the Mi Unlock Tool

Xiaomi’s official tool, the Mi Unlock Tool, is the only reliable way to unlock the bootloader on modern devices, and the process is made up of several steps, and errors are possible at each of them.

Download Mi Unlock Tool: The official version can be found on Xiaomi's website. Avoid third-party sources - they may contain malware.
Launch the utility on behalf of the administrator: Connect your phone to your PC via the original USB-cable (it is desirable to use the port) USB 2.0 for stability).
Sign in to Mi: Enter the same data as you did on your phone. If a Couldn't verify device error appears, check your Internet connection and time synchronization on your PC.
Turn the phone into Fastboot mode: Turn off the device, then press Volume Down + Power until the Fastboot logo appears.
Start unlocking: In Mi Unlock Tool, press Unlock. It takes 5 to 10 minutes. The device will reboot automatically.

At this point, many users are faced with errors, and the most common ones are their solutions:

Mistake.	Reason.	Decision
Couldn't verify device	Mi accounts on PC and phone do not match	Reauthorize in both places, check the Internet connection
Current account is different from the account info on the device	The device was reset after linking the account	Re-link your account and wait 72 hours (for new devices)
Mi Unlock Tool doesn't see the device	There are no Fastboot drivers	Install drivers manually through Device Manager
This device is locked. Unlocking is not allowed	The model does not support unlocking	Check the list of supported devices on the Xiaomi website

Once the bootloader is successfully unlocked, the phone will be reset to factory settings. That's OK, because Xiaomi is secure, and you can now start getting root rights.

💡

If the Mi Unlock Tool gives a wait error (e.g., “Wait 168 hours”), it means that your Mi Account is new or your device has been recently linked.

Install Magisk for root rights

Magisk is a universal root rights management tool that bypasses SafetyNet checks and hides the unlock status from applications, installing through custom recovery (TWRP) or boot image patching. We'll look at both.

Method 1: Installation via TWRP (recommended)

This method will require:

📱 Unlocked bootloader (see previous section).
💾 Custom recovery TWRP For your model (you can download it on the official website).
📦 The latest version of Magisk (download) APK GitHub).

Instructions:

Download the image TWRP for your model (for example, twrp-3.7.0_12-v6.5_A13-redminote12proplus.img) and rename it in recovery.img.
Move the file to the folder with the platform-tools (where ADB and Fastboot are installed).
Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode and connect to the PC.
In the command line, run: fastboot flash recovery.img fastboot boot recovery.img The phone will boot to TWRP.
In TWRP, click Install, select the downloaded Magisk file (.zip format) and swipe for installation.
After completion, reboot to the system.

Method 2: Patching boot.img via Magisk (alternative)

If you do not have a stable TWRP for your model, you can use an alternative method:

Download the original boot.img for your firmware (you can extract from the official ROM from the Xiaomi website).
Install Magisk APK on your phone and open it. Press Install → Select and Patch a File, select boot.img.
Patch file (magisk_patched.img) copy it to a PC.
In Fastboot mode, execute the command: fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img

After the reboot, check for root rights using the Root Checker app. If everything goes well, Magisk will display Installed status.

What to do if Magisk is not installed?

If you install Magisk, try 1. Repeat the procedure with another version of Magisk (e.g. 26.4 instead of 27.0). 2. Install Magisk in slot B (if your device supports A/B markup). 3. Reverse to an older version of MIUI and try again. 4. Check the integrity of the downloaded files (possibly corrupted).

Solving problems after obtaining root rights

Even if you successfully root, you can still have problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

1.Apps are not working because of SafetyNet

Many banking and payment applications (such as Google Pay or Revolut) refuse to run on devices with the unlocked bootloader.

🔄 Enable MagiskHide in the Magisk Settings section → Enable MagiskHide).
📱 Add problematic apps to the Hiding List (MagiskHide) → Select applications).
🔒 Install Universal SafetyNet Fix via Magisk → Modules.

2. It's not working. OTA-update MIUI

Once root is received, automatic firmware updates will become unavailable.

📥 Download the full service package (.zip) from Xiaomi.
🔧 Set it up through TWRP (Pre-disable Magisk in the settings).
🔄 After the update, re-sweep Magisk.

3. the phone does not turn on after manipulation

If the device is in bootloop (infinite boot) or soft-brick (not turned on at all), try:

🔌 Download to Fastboot (Loudness Down) + Food) and re-stitch boot.img.
🛠️ Use the Mi Flash Tool for full flashing (official required) ROM).
📡 If nothing helps, contact the service center (but note that the warranty will be lost).

TWRP| Patching boot.img| Another way | Hasn't received root-->

How to get it back: root removal and bootloader lock

If you need to return your device to its original state (for example, for sale or warranty repairs), follow the following steps:

Delete Magisk: Open the Magisk app. Go to Settings → Complete Uninstall. Confirm the action and restart the phone.
Sweep through the original boot.img: fastboot flash boot boot.img (where boot.img is the original file from the official firmware).
bootloader: Put your phone in Fastboot mode. In the command line, do: fastboot oem lock ⚠️ Warning: This command will completely reset data on the device!

Restore factory settings

Settings → Reset

Once the bootloader is locked, the phone will return to the “out of the box” state, but the Xiaomi warranty will still be canceled.

fastboot oem device-info

In the conclusion, look for the line Device unlocked: false.

FAQ: Frequent questions about root on Xiaomi

❓ Can I get root without unlocking the bootloader?

No, on modern Xiaomi devices (starting with MIUI 12), unlocking the bootloader is mandatory. There were exploits to circumvent this requirement (for example, through the DirtyCOW vulnerability), but they have long been closed. The only official way is the Mi Unlock Tool.

❓ Why Mi Unlock Tool Should Wait 7 Days?

This is a security measure from Xiaomi designed to protect users from accidentally unlocking, and if you just linked your Mi Account to your device or reset your settings, the system may require a wait (usually 168 hours), which you can’t get around — you have to wait.

❓ Will Google Pay and banking apps work after rooting?

The default is not, because they check SafetyNet status. But with Magisk and Universal SafetyNet Fix, you can fool those checks. To do this, turn MagiskHide on in Magisk settings. Install Universal SafetyNet Fix. Add banking apps to the MagiskHide Hidden List. Reboot your device. After that, Google Pay and most banking applications will work fine.

❓ Can I update you? MIUI root-righted?

Automatic Update (OTA) is disabled after you get root. To update: Download the full service pack (.zip) from the official website. Install it via TWRP (by pre-disabling Magisk in the settings). After the update, re-scan Magisk. If the update causes a crash, go back to the previous firmware version.

❓ How to check if there is a root right on Xiaomi?

The easiest way is to install the Root Checker app from Google Play, and you can manually: Open the terminal (like Termux) and type in the command: su If you request permissions, root is installed successfully.

💡

Getting root rights to Xiaomi is a multi-step process that requires unlocking the bootloader, installing Magisk and carefully configuring the main risks: loss of warranty, problems with SafetyNet and potential brick devices. However, with the right approach, root opens up wide opportunities for customization and optimization of the smartphone.