Obtaining superuser rights, or Root rights, on Xiaomi smartphones is a step that turns a regular device into a powerful tool for deep customization. The standard MIUI or HyperOS shell, despite its functionality, has a number of restrictions that block access to system files. It is Root access that allows you to fully unlock the potential of iron, remove undeleteable system applications and install specific modules.
Device owners often face aggressive battery optimization that prevents background apps from working as they should. Many are also annoyed by built-in advertising hidden deep within system processes. Administrator rights are the only way to legally and safely (with the right approach) interfere with the Android operating system at the kernel level.
But the process is not without risks. Mistakes can lead to a loss of warranty, disruption of banking applications or, in the worst case, the transformation of a smartphone into a brick. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to issue rights to Xiaomi using current methods of unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk, bypassing popular but insecure utilities like KingRoot.
Preparation of the device and necessary tools
Before you start modifying the firmware, you need to carefully prepare the software and hardware environment. USB-All further actions are meaningless. You will need a PC running Windows, since the standard utilities Xiaomi. ADB/Fastboot Tools are most often used in this environment.
The critical step is to create a full backup of all data. The process of unlocking the bootloader, which precedes the receipt of Root, completely cleans the memory of the smartphone. All photos, contacts and correspondence will be irrevocably deleted unless you backup in advance. Use cloud services or local copying to your computer.
- 🔋 Charge the device to minimum 70-80%, so that a sudden shutdown does not interrupt the critical firmware process.
- 💾 Download and install drivers ADB Fastboot for your operating system.
- 📱 Make sure your Mi Account is linked to your phone and you remember your password.
- 🔌 Use the original. USB-cable or quality analogue with data transmission support.
You'll also need a stable Internet connection on your computer and smartphone itself. In the process of setting up the developer and requesting to unlock, Xiaomi's servers must verify your identity. SIM-The card is installed and has access to the mobile Internet, as SMS-Verification is often a mandatory step.
☑️ Ready to receive Root
Activation of Developer Mode and Unlocking Bootloader
The foundation for obtaining superuser rights is the unlocked bootloader. While it is blocked, any attempts to write modified system partitions will be blocked by Xiaomi's security mechanisms.
Go to the phone settings and find About Phone. You need to quickly click on MIUI or HyperOS seven times. After you have become a developer, you can go to advanced settings. From the Advanced Settings menu, select Developer-friendly.
You need to enable two key settings here: “Debug over USB” and “Unlock the bootloader.” Once you turn on the second item, the system will require you to enter a password from the Mi Account and warn about the risks, at which point the device is associated with the account for subsequent unlocking.
⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader unlock function is enabled, the device may require a wait of 7 to 360 hours (1 to 15 days) to protect against theft and cannot be circumvented by legal means.
Unlocking itself requires the Mi Unlock Tool, download it from the official website, launch it to your PC and log in to your account, turn your phone into Fastboot mode, holding both the power and volume buttons when the device is off, plug the cable and press the Unlock button in the program.
What if the Mi Unlock Tool is running a 10008 error?
Installation of custom TWRP Recovery
The standard recovery menu (Stock Recovery) does not allow you to install third-party ZIP-archives or access the system partition for modification. TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project is a must-do. This custom recovery has touch control and full file system access.
First, we need to find an image. TWRP, It's compatible with your smartphone model, and using the version for another device is guaranteed to cause a touchscreen to fail or a complete breakdown of the recovery menu. twrp.img put it in the tool folder. ADB computer-based.
Put your smartphone into Fastboot mode and connect it to your PC. Open the command line in the ADB folder and enter a command to check the connection:
fastboot devicesIf the device is determined, enter the command to temporarily download TWRP:
fastboot boot twrp.imgIt's important to understand the difference between fastboot boot and fastboot flash: the first one runs the image once, which is safe for the test, the second one runs it forever. First, you just boot up to make sure the Touch interface works.
After successfully downloading to TWRP, if you plan to stay in this menu, you can flash it permanently. To do this, select Install from the TWRP menu, click the "Install Image" button at the bottom, select an image and specify the Recovery section. Don't select the Boot section, otherwise the recaveri will be replaced.
| Parameter | Stock Recovery | TWRP Recovery |
|---|---|---|
| Management | Volume buttons | Touch screen |
| ZIP installation | Only signed by Xiaomi | Anybody. ZIP-file |
| Access to files | Limited. | Full access (MTP) |
| Backup | Just settings. | Complete copy of the system |
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If after installing the TWRP, the phone stopped booting into the system (Bootloop), don't panic. Press the power and volume button up (or down, depending on the model) to force the reboot. If that doesn't help, boot into Fastboot and flash the original Boot image using your PC.
Magisk installation for obtaining Root rights
At the current stage of Android modding, Magisk is the gold standard. Unlike the old SuperSU, Magisk works systemlessly, which allows you to hide the fact that you get rights from banking applications and Google Pay services.
Download the current version of Magisk in APK format from the official GitHub repository. Rename the extension file to.zip (although modern versions of TWRP often understand APK), or simply copy the APK to your phone. From the TWRP menu, go to the Install section and select the downloaded file.
The installation process takes a few seconds. When you complete the installation, you will see the message "Successful." Now you need to restart the system by pressing the "Reboot System" button. The first boot process can take more than usual, which is normal, since Magisk makes changes to the boot structure.
- 📲 After downloading, find the Magisk icon in the application menu and open it.
- 🛡️ The application may request additional permissions to install add-ons – agree.
- ✅ In the main window opposite the Magisk item there should be a green switch with the version.
If the app offers "Additional Customization" and requires a reboot, do it. Now your smartphone has full superuser rights. You can check for rights through special applications like Root Checker, but Magisk itself is the main indicator.
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Magisk allows you to use modules that can change system fonts, emojis, sound profiles and even emulate GPS without installing separate faker apps.
Magisk setup and hiding Root rights
Getting rights is only half the battle. Many applications, especially banking ones, fail to work when they find a modified firmware. Magisk Hide (or Zygisk in newer versions) is designed to address this problem. It eliminates specific processes from the list of things Root sees.
Open the Magisk settings (cog in the upper right corner). Find the option “Set up the Hidden List” (or “DenyList” depending on the version). In the list that opens, find your banking applications, Google Pay, Sberbank Online and check the boxes against them and all their subprocesses.
Magisk also recommends that you turn on Zygisk and Enforce Deny List, and once you turn on these features, you need to restart the device, which activates the mechanism for implementing the hidden code early in the boot process, making it extremely difficult for most applications to detect.
⚠️ Note: Even with hidden functionality enabled, some applications (e.g. banking security) may block work, and in such cases, you may need to install the Shamiko module or use the Magisk Delta version (Canary), which have more aggressive concealment algorithms.
Don't forget to update Magisk. Developers are constantly improving detection bypass mechanisms. Keep an eye on the official developer channel to keep up with new versions as older versions quickly fail to cope with new security verification methods.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
The firmware modification process rarely goes perfectly smoothly for all users. The most common problem is a bootloop. If the phone is stuck on the Xiaomi logo, try clamping the power and volume button up to enter Recovery and make Wipe Cache/Dalvik. If it doesn't work, you'll need to flash it through Fastboot.
Another common problem is the broken touch screen in TWRP. This means that you downloaded the image of the recovery for the wrong version of Android or the region (Global/CN) that you have installed, in which case you can not flash anything, you need to go out and look for the correct img file.
Users also often experience the loss of Widevine L1, which leads to the inability to watch HD content on Netflix or other streaming services. Unfortunately, on many new Xiaomi models, unlocking the bootloader permanently resets the certificate to L3 level. Returning L1 without closing the bootloader (and losing Root) is usually impossible.
If you lost access to the Internet on your phone after you ran the firmware, check the APN settings. Sometimes custom cores or modifications can reset the access point settings. In extreme cases, a full TWRP reset helps solve software conflicts.