How to root the Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5 (Redmi 5 Plus)

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 5 and Redmi 5 are two handsets that could rule the low-end smartphone segment in the year 2018. Along with the Redmi Note 5 Pro, that is. If you are looking bring one home, you would be glad to know that the TWRP recovery is already available for download for the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus. This also opens the door to root the device right away, once it reaches your home.

In order to root the Xiaomi Redmi 5, or Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus (renamed from Redmi Note 5), you would first need to unlock the bootloader of your device. Thereafter, you need to install TWRP recovery (downloads and instructions are below), and once that is done, use the TWRP to get root access by installing either of Magisk or SuperSU root package zip file.

Related: Redmi Note 5 Pro root

How to root the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi 5

An alternate method: Using a One Click Root PC software

The guide below is a very comprehensive one, that gets you everything — which is quite interesting too — but if don’t want to be bogged down by that much of details and all, here’s a shortcut solution. A one-click root tool by XDA member, Pr1nc3V, to get all things done via a PC software made specifically for this purpose.

→ Download the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi 5 one click root tool (alternate link)

To use the tool to root your Redmi 5/Redmi Note 5, well, download the tool from above, open it, and follow the instructions. The software will guide you to it.

In case the one click root doesn’t work, you can always try the ever-trusted step-by-step guide to root the Redmi 5/Redmi Note 5 yourself. Also, we are just a shout away, so if you need help, use the comments box below.

Let’s see the guide to get root access on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and the Redmi 5.

Warning!

Do not try anything given on this page if you do not know completely what you are doing. In case any damage occurs, we won’t be held responsible.

Compatibility

The stuff given on this page is compatible only with the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus. Do not try this on any other device as you might end up damaging your device.

Downloads

Redmi 5 TWRP
Redmi Note 5 TWRP (also works for the Redmi 5 Plus)

Install TWRP recovery first!

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:

To be able to install TWRP recovery, you need to first unlock the bootloader of your Redmi 5. 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 5 either.
Download the TWRP recovery file for your device from the above.
Next, setup ADB and Fastboot on your computer.
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 the enter key. A command window will open, and its folder location will be where you have the downloaded TWRP image file.
Now, reboot your Redmi 5 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.)
Now, connect your Redmi 5 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.
Now, we install TWRP recovery by issuing the following command.
fastboot flash <twrp-recovery-filename.img>
You need to use the filename (with extension) of your device’s TWRP file in the command above.
Now restart your device with this command:
fastboot reboot

That’s it. TWRP recovery has been installed on your Redmi 5. To check it out, reboot into recovery mode. For that, with the 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.]

Time to root the Redmi 5 or Redmi Note 5

There are two ways to root your Xiaomi Redmi 5/Redmi Note 5, one using Magisk, and another using SuperSU. Magisk is more preferred because 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 Root Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5 using Magisk

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

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

#2 Root Xiaomi Redmi 5and Redmi Note 5 using SuperSU

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