Xiaomi only recently launched the Redmi Note 5A into market and thanks to its unlockable bootloader, the device has already received an unofficial build of TWRP recovery. The test build works fine as far as installing SuperSU or Magisk is concerned to get root access.

For those who are new to root stuff on Android, know that TWRP recovery is a custom recovery for Android devices that lets you install/flash custom stuff like ROMs, patched boot images and more to your Android device. Basically, with TWRP recovery, you can modify any system file on your device to do whatever you want.

A custom recovery is also critical to get root access on a device. And thankfully, with the availability of a working build of TWRP, we can now get the Redmi Note 5A rooted as well. Huge props to XN Logos over at xda for providing TWRP.

How to flash TWRP Recovery on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A

Once you’ve downloaded the TWRP image (.img) file, you will need to ensure that you have the necessary drivers installed on your PC for everything to work smoothly. Another very important thing to do is to take a backup of all your important data, be it contacts, audio, video or documents. In case something happens to go wrong your data will remain safe.

Once you’ve successfully installed the drivers on your PC, we can begin:

  1. To be able to install TWRP recovery, you need to first unlock bootloader of your Redmi Note 5A. For this, go to this Xiaomi unlock page, and follow the instructions. You may need to create an account for this, as Xiaomi will send you the unlock code on your email ID provided here.
    └ Note: Until bootloader is unlocked, you cannot install TWRP recovery, and cannot root your Redmi Note 5A either.
  2. Download the TWRP recovery file for your Redmi Note 5A from here. Filename: twrp_ugg.img (25.2MB)
  3. Next, setup ADB and Fastboot on your computer.
  4. Open a command window on PC in the folder where you have the downloaded TWRP file (from step 2) on your PC.
    • For this, go to that folder, and then in the address bar, type cmd and hit enter key. A command window will open, and its folder location will be where you have the downloaded TWRP image file.
  5. Now, reboot your Redmi Note 5A into fastboot mode.
    1. Power off your device.
    2. Press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons for about 7 seconds till you see the Mi bunny mascot on the screen. (If this doesn’t work, try Volume down + Home + Power buttons together.)
  6. Now, connect your Redmi Note 5A to the PC with a USB cable (preferably the cable that came with your device).
    └ Check your phone’s screen, if it asks for “Allow USB debugging”, accept it by selecting OK/Yes.
  7. Now, we install TWRP recovery by issuing the following command. 
    fastboot flash recovery twrp_ugg.img
  8. Now restart your device with this command: 
    fastboot reboot

That’s it. TWRP recovery has been installed on your Redmi Note 5A. To check it out, reboot into recovery mode. For that, with device on and connected to PC, run the command adb reboot recovery. You will reboot into TWRP, but wait, read below before you do anything in TWRP.

Important note: When you boot into TWRP recovery for the first time, it will ask your permission to ‘Keep System Read only’. Now, DO NOT ALLOW it. Tap on ‘Keep Read Only‘. Why we did this? Well, once you allow it to modify the system, the DM-verity check kicks in, and the device might not restart properly until and unless you flash a SuperSU file, or DM verity disabler file.
In short, allow for system modification only when you have the SuperSU file (or a DM verity disabler file) ready for flashing, copied to your device. For now, let’s just do not allow for it, so that we can reboot back into OS normally. [When you are ready to root your device as given below, whether by flashing SuperSU or Magisk, it’s safe to allow for system modifications, and then flash the SuperSU/Magisk file right after it, so that device restarts alright.]

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Root Guide

There are two ways to root your Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A, one using Magisk, and another using SuperSU. Magisk is more preferred because you it gets you lots of customization thanks to its modules, and not only that, hiding root is also easy when you need to (in case of apps like Android Pay, etc.). While, SuperSU is a simple root trick, that simply does the job.

  1. Download the Magisk zip file:
  2. Copy the magisk file to your Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A.
  3. Boot your device into TWRP recovery. (Swipe on screen to allow for system modification if it so asks.)
  4. Tap on Install and select the Magisk zip file that you transferred to your device in Step 1.
  5. After selecting the .zip file, do Swipe to Confirm Flash on the bottom of screen to begin the flashing process.
  6. Once Magisk is flashed, you’ll get Reboot System option, select it restart your Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A.
  7. Once your device reboots, open the Magisk Manager app and check for your device’s root status.

That’s all. Enjoy systemless root with Magisk on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A.

#2 Root Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A using SuperSU

  1. Download SuperSU zip file.
  2. Copy the SuperSU zip file to your Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A.
  3. Boot your device into TWRP recovery.(Swipe on screen to allow for system modification if it so asks.)
  4. Tap on Install and select the SuperSU zip file that you transferred to your device in Step 1.
  5. After selecting the .zip file, do Swipe to Confirm Flash on the bottom of screen to begin the flashing process.
  6. Once SuperSU is flashed, you’ll get Reboot System option, select it.

That’s it. Your Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A is rooted. To verify, download/install any root checker app from the Play Store.

Do let us know if you need any help with this.

Happy Androiding!