How’s it going, gang? Prepare to be blown away, because what’s coming next is seriously cool. Today, we’ll share our universal methods for installing root access on Android devices, suitable not only for Xiaomi models but also for many other Android devices, even those without TWRP recovery. Unshackle your smartphone’s full potential by understanding root access inside out. Here, we’ll scrutinize its advantages and disadvantages, cover the basics of configuring it correctly, master the art of concealment from prying payment services, and eventually, neatly eliminate root access when the time comes. Before we start, don’t forget to hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss other helpful videos. Kickoff time! The time for small talk is over; it’s action time.
What is Root Access?
As you probably know, root access allows you to gain full control over your smartphone and unrestricted access to the system. Imagine being able to dig into the firmware, pruning system files, and reshaping app data to suit your needs - that’s exactly what you’ll get. However, there is a downside: improper use can disrupt the system’s operation or even turn your smartphone into a brick. So, if you’re wondering why you need root access at all, you probably don’t need it and should steer clear. But if you’re confident in your abilities, let’s proceed.
Preliminary Steps
In truth, if you follow the instructions carefully, everything should be relatively simple. However, there are important nuances—if you skip them, nothing good will come of it, so make sure to watch the video until the end. All actions are performed at your own risk. First of all, for Xiaomi smartphones, you must unlock the bootloader. For detailed instructions on how to do this, check out our channel via the link in the description or the prompt in the corner of the screen. Without unlocking the bootloader, installing root access or custom firmware is impossible.
Next, it’s advisable to back up all important data and save it on your computer. Generally, during the root installation process, your data is unlikely to be affected, but it’s always better to be safe in case of an error.
Installing Magisk
Now we’ll need Magisk, the very tool that allows you to gain root access and use various modules. Follow the link in the description on your smartphone to the official GitHub resource, where all current versions of Magisk are posted directly by the developer. In the Assets section, download the latest Magisk APK version.
The next step is to simply install Magisk on your smartphone like a regular app. Of course, after installing this app, root access won’t be granted immediately—we’ve just installed the manager. By the way, you can immediately check in the app that root access is currently unavailable.
Universal Method (Without Custom Recovery)
Root installation involves modifying the boot image, i.e., the boot partition that essentially makes the smartphone turn on. So, you’re faced with a decision: two roads, one outcome. the first is universal, allowing you to root any Xiaomi device even without custom TWRP recovery. The second method is simpler but requires custom TWRP recovery, which, as we know, is not available for all models. Therefore, we’ll start with the universal method without using TWRP.
Downloading and Preparing the Firmware
We need to download the official firmware in Fastboot format that is currently installed on your smartphone. So, go to Settings -> About Phone and note down the exact firmware version, including the letter index. Then, from a computer, visit miui.com, and in the search bar, enter the exact MIUI version and its letter index as shown in the video. You should see two firmware versions: Recovery and Fastboot. Download the Fastboot version.
If there’s no firmware for your model, check the alternative sources linked in the description. You might be wondering what happens when you download firmware - well, it often comes packaged as an archive. Extract it so that you end up with one folder named after the firmware version.
Now, navigate to the extracted folder and open the images folder. We’re only interested in one file called boot.img, which is the boot image where we’ll be flashing root access. Everything else can be deleted. Copy the boot.img file to your smartphone’s memory.
Patching the Boot Image
Launch the previously installed Magisk app. Go to the Install section, tick the Select and Patch a File option, and choose the boot.img file from your smartphone’s memory. As a result, a patched image file named magisk_patched.img will appear in the Download folder. This is the file we need to install on the smartphone.
Installing the Patched Boot Image
Download the necessary tools and our script for automatically installing this image via the link in the description, and extract them, preferably on drive C: to avoid errors. Then, copy the patched image to the extracted folder on your computer. Turn off your smartphone completely, and press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons until the Fastboot mode appears on the screen. Connect your smartphone to the computer in this state. Run the script named boot_installer.bat and confirm the installation of the patched Magisk image.
After successful installation, the smartphone will automatically turn on. If your computer doesn’t recognize your device, don’t forget to install the necessary drivers, which you can find via the link in the description. Once the smartphone has booted up, you can check for root access in the Magisk app—the Superuser and Modules tabs should be active.
Configuring Magisk for Stealth
Before we move on to tips on configuring Magisk to hide it from various checks and payment apps, let’s consider the second method of installing root access, which is relevant for those who have TWRP recovery.
Method with TWRP Recovery
To install root access this way, we’ll need to rename the file format of the previously downloaded Magisk APK to ZIP. Simply find the file in your file manager on the smartphone, select Rename, and change the extension from APK to ZIP.
Next, launch TWRP recovery, go to the Install section, and choose the Magisk ZIP file from your smartphone’s memory. The boot image will automatically be patched directly on the smartphone, and all you have to do is reboot the smartphone into the system. With a flourish, I slam the door shut on this project! All that remained was to dot the i’s and cross the t’s, and now it’s really done. That’s the exact moment when relief washes over you, like a wave crashing on the shore. The weight lifts, and you can finally exhale. You can now safely use root access.
Hiding Root from Payment Services
To avoid issues with payment services and other protected apps, we recommend immediately applying a few tricks:
Go to Magisk Settings and activate Zygisk and DenyList.
Open the DenyList settings and tick all the payment services and other apps where you need to hide root access, such as Sberbank, QIWI, and Tinkoff.
For these settings to take effect, reboot your smartphone.
Root access is no longer a concern for these apps – we’ve effectively bridged that gap. But that’s not all—some apps check the bootloader status and system integrity. To hide this parameter from checks, install the SafetyNet Fix module, which you can also download via the link in the description.
Finally, some advanced apps may check for the presence of the Magisk Manager itself and refuse to work. To achieve full stealth, let’s hide Magisk too. Open the Magisk Settings and select Hide the Magisk App. In the pop-up window, specify any name (e.g., “Manager”) and confirm the installation. The app will be recompiled with a unique package name, giving you complete stealth for root access, bootloader status, and Magisk itself on your smartphone.
Will the Smartphone Update Over-the-Air (OTA)?
One common question is whether the smartphone will continue to receive OTA updates. The answer is yes, if you have the official MIUI firmware installed, it will keep receiving OTA updates. However, there’s a caveat: root access will be lost after updating, and you’ll need to reinstall it as shown in this video.
Removing Root Access
If you decide to remove root access and return everything to its original state, simply install the official firmware via MiFlash. Detailed instructions on how to do this can be found in the video linked below.