How to enable root rights on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: a safe guide with unlocking the bootloader

Getting root rights to Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni) is a task that requires careful and process understanding. This smartphone, released in 2017, is still popular due to its balanced performance and support for custom firmware. However, unlocking the bootloader and installing root on Xiaomi devices have their own nuances: the company actively blocks informal manipulation of the system, and errors in executing instructions can lead to the loss of warranty or turn the phone into a “brick” without the possibility of recovery through standard means.

In this article, we will discuss the current ways to obtain root rights to the Redmi 4X in 2026, given the changes in Xiaomi policy and the peculiarities of working with utilities like Fastboot, ADB and Magisk. It is important to understand that the procedure consists of several stages: unlocking the bootloader, installing a custom recovery (for example, TWRP) and directly obtaining root through Magisk. Each step is critical – skipping or incorrectly executing any of them can make the phone unusable.

Before you start, make sure you are prepared for the possible consequences: denial of warranty service, the risk of data loss, and the need to manually update your firmware in the future. If you use Redmi 4X as your primary device, we recommend backing up all important data to an external drive or to the cloud.

Preparation for unlocking the loader

The first and most important step is to unlock the bootloader, which Xiaomi officially allows, but the process requires linking the Mi Account to the device and waiting for confirmation from the company's servers.

• 📱 Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 4X battery-charged%.
• 💻 Computer running Windows (recommended) 10/11) Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original or qualitative analogue).
• 🔐 Mi Account linked to phone (required with a confirmed phone number!).
• 🛠 Utilities: Mi Unlock Tool (last version), drivers ADB/Fastboot.

Before you start, check the MIUI version on your phone. Only official global or Chinese firmware is suitable for unlocking (Xiaomi developers block unlocking on custom builds). You can find out the version in the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version. If you have unofficial firmware installed, first go back to the stock via Fastboot.

Also note the status of the bootloader: if you previously tried to unlock it, but interrupted the process, the device could be blacklisted by Xiaomi servers, in which case unlocking will be impossible without additional manipulations (for example, changing the IMEI or waiting 30 days).

Step 1: Linking your Mi Account to your device

Without a linked Mi Account, unlocking the bootloader is impossible. Here's how to do it correctly:

1. Go to Settings → Mi Account and log in (or create a new account).
2. In the same menu, find the Mi Unlock Status item (may be called Additional → Unlock the bootloader).
3. Click Link your account to your device and confirm the action via SMS or email.
4. Turn on USB debugging: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging and OEM Unlock.

Critical: Once an account is linked, you have to wait 72–168 hours (3–7 days) before Xiaomi servers allow unlocking, a rule that applies to all devices released after 2017, and trying to unlock the bootloader ahead of schedule will result in a “Couldn’t unlock” error.

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If you see a message saying "This device is locked" when you connect to the Mi Unlock Tool, try using a different version of the utility (e.g. 5.5.224.30 instead of the latest).

Step 2: Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool

After the waiting period has expired, you can proceed to unlock.

1. Download the Mi Unlock Tool (official website) and install it on PC.
2. Turn off Redmi 4X and press Volume Down + Power to go to Fastboot mode (a hare in a hat-eared hat will appear on the screen).
3. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable.
4. Launch the Mi Unlock Tool on behalf of the administrator and log in to the same Mi Account that is linked to the phone.
5. The utility should automatically identify the device. Press Unlock and confirm the action.

It takes a few minutes. When it's done, the phone automatically restarts, and the bootloader unlocks. Check this out by rebooting in Fastboot: Unlocked should appear at the bottom of the screen.

The device restarted without errors|Fastboot mode displays "Unlocked"|Mi Unlock Tool: Unlocked successfully"|Phone does not ask for a password from Mi Account when enabled-->

⚠️ Warning: If the phone does not turn on after unlocking or hovers on the logo MI, Try to boot into Recovery mode. + Power, and reset to factory settings, which will delete all the data, but return the phone to working order.

Step 3: Installation of custom TWRP recaveria

To get root rights, you need to install a custom recovery — usually a TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) — the official version for Redmi 4X (santoni) is available on the developer's website. Here's how to do it:

1. Download the latest version of TWRP for santoni from the official website (file with the extension.img).
2. Rename the file to twrp.img and place it in the folder with ADB/Fastboot (e.g., C:\platform-tools).
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode to your PC.
4. Open the command line in the ADB folder (press Shift + PCM → Open the command window) and execute the command: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
5. After a successful recording, execute: fastboot boot twrp.img This will temporarily boot TWRP without overwriting the stock Recovery.

If it's a success, you'll see the TWRP touch-controlled menu. Importantly, at this point, don't restart your phone through the TWRP menu, or the stock recap will overwrite the custom! Instead, get to Magisk right away.

Step 4: Getting root rights through Magisk

Magisk is a universal tool for obtaining root rights without changing the systemless root, it also allows you to hide root from applications (for example, banking or games). 4X:

1. Download the latest version of Magisk (.zip file) from GitHub.
2. Move the archive to your phone (for example, internal memory or SD-map).
3. From the TWRP menu, select Install → Select Magisk.zip → Swipe to Confirm Flash.
4. After installation, press Reboot System.

The first download after installing Magisk can take up to 10 minutes. After successful startup, check for root rights using the Magisk Manager app (you can download it from the same repository on GitHub). If Installed: XX.XXX is displayed in status, then root is successfully obtained.

To check root health, run a terminal (such as Termux) and type in the command:

su

If you have a request for rights, everything works!

Solving common problems

Even with the correct following of the instructions, errors can occur. Let's consider typical scenarios and ways to eliminate them:

⚠️ If after all the manipulations the phone stopped turning on (black screen, flashing indicator), do not try to flash it through the Mi Flash Tool with the clean all option - this can erase it. IMEI Instead, use fastboot flash to restore only damaged partitions (e.g. boot or recovery).

What to do after obtaining root rights?

Now that you have root, you can:

• 📱 Remove Bloatware from Titanium Backup or System App Remover.
• ⚡ Optimize performance with Kernel Adiutor or FrancoKernel.
• 🔒 Block ads systemically via AdAway or Blokada.
• 📀 Install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience, etc.).
• 🔧 Modify system files (e.g., modify build.prop to trick applications).

But remember, root rights are not just opportunities, they're also risks.

• 🚫 Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) can block work on rooted devices.
• 🛡 Antiviruses and certain games (e.g, Pokémon GO) refuse to launch.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI through OTA They will be inaccessible (you will have to install them manually).

To hide root from apps, use the MagiskHide module (built into Magisk Manager).

1. Open Magisk Manager and go to Settings → Enable MagiskHide.
2. Add problematic apps to the MagiskHide list.
3. Reboot the phone.

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Use the SafetyNet Fix module to pass the SafetyNet check (required for Android Pay and some games).Install it as an optional module in Magisk.

FAQ: Frequent questions about root on Redmi 4X