Team Win Recovery on Xiaomi Redmi: How to get your phone back to normal

You're in Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP) on your Xiaomi Redmi, and you don't know how to get back to standard firmware? Or after a failed custom software installation, the phone only loads into the recovery? This is a situation that many people who experiment with firmware know. Unlike the regular Mi Recovery, TWRP offers advanced features, but the wrong actions can lead to a device "brick" - when the smartphone refuses to boot into the system.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the working ways to exit TWRP on Redmi (including Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C, and others) to return the phone to factory status or install the official firmware correctly. You’ll learn how to avoid Error 7 or Failed to mount/data errors, what to do if the sensor doesn’t work in the backup, and how to recover data after a reset. Importantly, the procedures are different for devices with unlocked and locked bootloader – we’ll look at both options.

Why the phone is stuck in TWRP and what to do first

The reasons for the "hang" in Team Win Recovery usually boil down to three scenarios:

• 🔄 Failed firmware: You tried to install custom software (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) but the file was corrupted or didn’t fit your Redmi model.
• 🔧 Resetting settings through TWRP: They did not perform the same Wipe partitions (e.g., erased). /system flat-fibre).
• 🔒 Conflict with Mi Account: on some Redmi after resetting through TWRP Xiaomi account lock may work (especially on devices with a Xiaomi account) MIUI 12+).

Before you start radical measures, perform basic checks:

1. Make sure the battery is at least 50% charged (plug in if the phone is drained).
2. Check if the sensor is responsive in TWRP. If not, use the hardware buttons (Loud +/- for navigation, Power for selection).
3. Connect your phone to your PC via USB and check if it is detected in Device Manager (should be displayed as MediaTek Preloader or Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader).

⚠️ Attention: If you see in TWRP message OS Installation! means that the section is /system In this case, you will need firmware through Fastboot or EDL.

Method 1: Recovery through a regular reset to TWRP (if the system is damaged)

If the phone is loaded into TWRP but there are crashes (infinite boot, application errors), try a soft reset without losing data:

1. In the main TWRP menu, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe.
2. Check only Dalvik/ART Cache and Cache (don’t touch Data or System!).
3. Swipe to Wipe (Swipe to Wipe)
4. Go back to the main menu and select Reboot → System.

If this method does not help, you will have to do a complete reset (with loss of data):

Save important files on PC (photos, contacts)

Make sure you have an IMEI backup.

Charge your phone at least 70%

Download the official firmware for your model-->

1. In TWRP, go to Wipe → Format Data.
2. Enter yes for confirmation (this will format the /data partition).
3. Return to Wipe and select Advanced Wipe by marking System, Data, Cache, and Dalvik.
4. After reset, reboot to Fastboot (keep Volume down + Power) for further firmware.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmis (e.g. Note 11 Pro)+) After Format Data, you may need to re-unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool. Without this, the phone will not accept the official firmware!

Method 2: Install the official firmware via Fastboot

If the reset didn't work or you wiped the system, the only surefire way to bring the phone back to life is to flash the official MIUI through the Fastboot.

• 💻 PC with installed Xiaomi drivers (official website).
• 📱 Firmware for your model (download only with Xiaomi Firmware Updater or MIUI ROM).
• 🔧 Mi Flash Tool (Last version).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the downloaded firmware (you should get a file with the.tgz extension, inside of which is a folder with.img files).
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool and run on behalf of the administrator.
3. Turn off the phone, then press Volume Down + Power to enter the Fastboot (screen with a rabbit in its cap).
4. Connect Redmi to your PC. In the Mi Flash Tool, press Refresh, the device needs to be determined.
5. In the Select field, specify the path to unpacked firmware. Select firmware method: Clean all (recommended when crashes) Clean all and lock + Locking the bootloader (only if you want to return everything to factory condition!).

Flash

Critical information: On Redmi Note 10 Pro models (and some others) IMEI may disappear after Fastboot firmware. To avoid this, save /nvram from TWRP before firmware or use persist.img patch from the original firmware.

Method 3: Firmware through EDL (for "bricks")

If the phone doesn't turn on at all (black screen, no button response) or is not detected in Fastboot, then the last chance is the firmware via Emergency Download Mode (EDL), which is available even on locked devices, but requires:

• 🔌 Authorized account for Mi Flash Tool Pro (or patched version of the tool).
• 💽 Specialist EDL-a firmware (e.g. QFil for Qualcomm or SP Flash Tool for MediaTek).
• 🔍 Exact name of the model (e.g, m1803e7sg For the Redmi 6 Pro).

Instructions for Qualcomm devices (most Redmi):

1. Download QFil and firmware in.mbn format (search for 4PDA or XDA).
2. Turn off the phone. Press the volume up. + Loud down and plug in. USB-cable (the screen will remain black).
3. In QFil, select Flat Build, specify the path to the file. prog_emmc_firehose.mbn and press Download.
4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL on Redmi with MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi) 9A/9C) requires SP Flash Tool and scatter.txt file. Wrong firmware can permanently damage the memory module (eMMC).

How to avoid mistakes when working with TWRP on Xiaomi Redmi

To avoid getting into a situation where the phone refuses to boot, follow these rules:

• 📋 Check firmware compatibility: files for Redmi Note 10 will not work for Redmi Note 10 Pro, even if the names are similar.
• 🔐 Unlock the bootloader officially: use the Mi Unlock Tool (Xiaomi account binding is required). IMEI.
• 📦 Make backups in. TWRP: Before any manipulation, save the Boot, Data and EFS (stored IMEI and serial numbers).
• 🔄 Do not upgrade "over the air": if you have custom firmware installed, OTA-Xiaomi updates could lead to bootloop.

Top.-3 rookie-buyer:

1. Installation GSI-Firmware without a vbmeta patch → This leads to dm-verity error and inability to load.
2. Formatting System without prepared firmware → the phone turns into a “brick”.
3. Ignoring the MIUI version: the firmware of the old version to the new (downgrade) is blocked by the Anti-Rollback mechanism.

💡

Before installing custom software, check if your Redmi model supports the TWRP project officially.

Data recovery after reset via TWRP

If you have completed Format Data or Wipe but have not backuped, the chances of returning the data are there, but they depend on the type of reset:

• 📂 Photo/video on internal memory: use programs like DiskDigger or PhotoRec (root access required).
• 📞 Contact and SMS: If you have synced with Google or Mi Account, the data will be restored automatically after you log in.
• 🔑 IMEI Serial numbers: if the section is erased EFS, You can only restore them from the backup or through the engineering menu (#4636##).

Instructions for recovery through DiskDigger:

1. Install DiskDigger on your PC and connect Redmi in MTP mode (if the phone is turned on).
2. Select internal memory scan (not SD-map!).
3. Mark the file types (e.g. JPG, PNG, MP4).
4. Save the files found on the PC.

To restore the IMEI (if it has dropped):

1. Enter ##4636## and go to Phone Information.
2. If the IMEI is displayed as Null, use the Maui META tool (for MediaTek) or QCN Rebuilder (for Qualcomm).
3. Restore the IMEI from the EFS backup or enter the original values (specified on the box or under the battery).

💡

If you haven't done an IMEI backup, never enter random values! this could result in a lockdown of the operator's network.

FAQ: Frequent questions about leaving TWRP on Xiaomi Redmi