I first got the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro back in October but it’s taken a while before the developer community began to really support it. Things are really starting to pick up now that Xiaomi has launched the device in India and today I will finally be showing you how to root the smartphone.
Now, there were some strange versions of TWRP available for a while but I just didn’t feel comfortable using them. I missed out on posting a tutorial a few days this past month because of the issues those unofficial versions had. I was even about to give up before I was finally able to show you how to install a proper version of TWRP on the device.
The first thing I recommend people do after installing TWRP is to create a backup. And that was the entire point of writing the tutorial on how to create a TWRP backup on the Redmi Note 6 Pro. Now that you have a backup created though, we can dig into the really fun mods for the phone.
Requirements
Before we can root the Redmi Note 6 Pro though, we need to have to have some things done ahead of time. So, if you are start from a freshly unpackaged smartphone then you need to follow these steps first. . .
- Request Bootloader Unlock Permission from Xiaomi
- Unlock the Bootloader of the Redmi Note 6 Pro
- Install TWRP on the Redmi Note 6 Pro
Unlocking the bootloader may take a while depending on how long of a wait period Xiaomi gives you. I’ve seen some people get instant unlock access, others have had to wait 3, 7, 15, 30, or even up to 60 days. Xiaomi still has yet to explain why some only have to wait 3 days while others have to wait as long as 2 months.
Either way. Once you get to the point where you have TWRP installed, then you can begin the tutorial below and gain root access to the Redmi Note 6 Pro. In fact, if you want then you can replace the installation of the Universal Disable DM-Verity/Force_Encrypt ZIP file from that TWRP guide and replace it with Magisk instead.
That way, you can install both TWRP and gain root access to the Redmi Note 6 Pro all at the same time. However, if you followed along with me and finished the three tutorials below then follow the step by step guide below to gain root access.
How to Root the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro
Again, make sure you have steps 1, 2 and 3 of the Requirements section completed above before you continue
Then you can download the Magisk ZIP file
and move/copy it to the internal storage of the Redmi Note 6 Pro
Boot the Redmi Note 6 into Recovery Mode
This should be the TWRP main menu
Tap the Install button
Browse to and tap on the Magisk ZIP file from Step #2
Swipe the white arrows to the right to begin the installation
Wait for Magisk to perform its checks and root the Redmi Note 6 Pro
This step should only take a minute or two to complete
Then tap the Reboot System button at that appears at the bottom right
A lot of people are put off by the process of gaining root access to an Android smartphone. But as you can see, the process is relatively easy. Now. If this was a 4,000 word tutorial that included all of the steps I detailed in the requirements section then more people would be worried about it.
That is one of the big reasons why I prefer to break down my tutorials into digestible step by step guides. Firstly, it prevents me from having to repeat myself. Sure, it may annoy some people that they have to click into other pages but it’s a much easier process once things have been separated.
Don’t Forget the Requirements!
It’s not like you can do anything included in this tutorial without following through with those three steps in the first place though. Still, make sure that you read through all three of those tutorials before you begin with this one. The goal is to get to the point where you have TWRP installed on the Redmi Note 6 Pro.
TWRP is where we do most of our heavy lifting when it comes to installing various mods. The difficult part of this entire process is unlocking the bootloader so that we can install TWRP. As once that is out of the way we can quickly and easily install ZIP files such as Magisk, Xposed Framework, etc.
Remember to be patient during the bootloader unlock process. You will find tons of “scams” online that promise you an instant bootloader unlock. There have been a few of those available in the past but only for specific devices. They are referred to as exploits and they usually get posted in the XDA forums for your device for free.
Just don’t expect it to happen anytime soon because they are rare. I’ve only seen a few of them make it online and they were patched up pretty quick.
Installing TWRP and Root at the Same Time
Before I wrote up this tutorial on how to root the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 I talked about replacing the Universal Disable DM-Verity/Force_Encrypt ZIP file with the Magisk ZIP file from the TWRP tutorial. This is entirely possible and to be honest, it’s most likely what people are looking for.
However, I don’t like to force things on people if they don’t want to do it that way. Learning how to install TWRP on a smartphone is something a lot of people want to do and they do don’t care about root at all. So why would I make people install Magisk in that tutorial?
This goes back to me breaking these tutorials down to bitesize guides too. There will be people who are searching for how to install TWRP just like there will be people searching for how to gain root access. In my opinion, there’s no need to make these guides more complex and combine two in one.
Just know that if you want, you don’t have to install the Universal Disable DM-Verity/Force_Encrypt ZIP file during the TWRP tutorial if you don’t want to. If you would like to, you can replace that segment of the guide with the Magisk ZIP file and you will have installed TWRP and gained root access to the Redmi Note 6 Pro at the same time.
It all boils down to personal preference and that is what I enjoy so much about the Android operating system.
Magisk Gives Root and Passes SafetyNet Checks
Thankfully, once you have Magisk installed you can finally pass Redmi Note 6 Pro SafetyNet checks. This is a security check that a lot of applications leverage in order to make sure you aren’t rooted and are attempting to cheat the system. Applications (and games) that use this range from Netflix to banking apps and games like Pokemon Go as well.
Knowing how to root the Redmi Note 6 Pro can give you a lot of access to the software you have on your phone. It can let you do a lot of things that you are normally not allowed to do. In Pokemon Go’s example, you can use a program that tricks the game into thinking you’re walking around catching Pokemon.
Banking applications are worried that if your phone is rooted then there is a high chance that it has been compromised. This can result in a hacker gaining access to your banking information. Once they have that the hacker can use it to transfer your money away or they could sell/trade it on the dark web.
For good or bad, SafetyNet is there to keep you protected. As long as you know what you’re going (and not installing premium games that have been cracked and injected with malware), then you’re going to be safe from anything that uses SafetyNet checks. As always, just be aware of what you’re doing and know the risks that are involved.
Hello my friend. First of all, thanks for create this content. You are helping me a lot.
I have notice that the hyperlink in step 2 is quite weird (XD).
When you press over the “Boot the Redmi Note 6 into Recovery Mode” the web browser directs you to TWO different URL deppending on “where” you click.
It redirects to the (what i think is the correct one) link: https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/releases/
And it also redirects to: https://github.com/EnesSastim/Downloads/releases
Please, check that.
Regards.
Ahhh, I see what you’re saying and you are definitely right. That confused me at first, but I think it had something to do with the new WordPress Gutenberg block system combined with Yoast’s how-to Schema thing.
Thank you for pointing that out, it should be all linked correctly now 🙂 and thank you for the kind words
Hello, thanks a lot for your tutorial.
I tried one on en.miui I think but it hasn’t worked. On contrary your’s is much better and easier.
Again thanks a lot.
Thanks for the kind words, man. I’m happy to help and try to break things down to be as simple as possible. Let me know if you ever need help anything else (ideas for new tutorials)
Hi, Thanks for this tutorial, but I’m having difficulties. I have unlocked the bootloader and successfully installed the official TWRP 3.2.3-0. However, when I boot to recovery, TWRP is showing a screen that says “Mount” and “Decrypt Data” as well as asking for a password. Password for what? From where? The phone is brand new and I never added any password upon setup. What password am I supposed to be entering if I haven’t created any password of my own? If I select cancel and bypass that screen, then I cannot access any contents from the sdcard folder which is where I have copied Magisk. Any advise would be very much appreciated. Thanks.
Kenneth,
I ran into the same problem. It turns out that the Disable DM-Verity/Force_Encrypt zip file *must* be installed to eliminate the Mount screen from TWRP from displaying. This was confusing to me as in the tutorial above it states: “you don’t have to install the Universal Disable DM-Verity/Force_Encrypt ZIP file during the TWRP tutorial if you don’t want to”. Once that’s installed, then it’s no problem.
Except that the two versions of Magisk that I used, both do not work to allow root access to the phone. They go through their install scripts and it appears everything is working, but when checking root access after the phone is rebooted, it shows that root is not properly installed.
I first tried with Magisk v18.1 and then with v17.3, both did not allow root access for me.
This is the log provided when I installed Magisk v18.1:
Updating partition details…
…done
Full SELinux support is present.
MTP Enabled.
Installing zip file ‘/sdcard/MAGISK/Magisk-v18.1.zip’
Checking for Digest file…
Skipping Digest check: no Digest file found
********************
* Magisk v18.1 Installer
********************
– Mounting /system, /vendor
– Target image: /dev/block/mmcblk0p58
– Device platform: arm64
– Constructing environment
– Boot image is signed with AVB 1.0
– Unpacking boot image
– Checking ramdisk status
– Stock boot image detected
– Backing up stock boot image
– Patching ramdisk
– Repacking boot image
– Flashing new boot image
– Sign image with test keys
– Unmounting partitiions
– Done
Updating partition details…
…done
From the log, it would appear that Magisk was installed correctly. Unfortunately, the phone does not have root access. Not sure what else can be done. Maybe SuperSU would work?
It is true, you don’t have to install that verity ZIP file if you don’t want to. But you are also right in saying that Magisk has had some issues with Xiaomi devices.
From what I have read, a fix is currently in the Canary build of Magisk but most have turned to use older versions to get it working.
You likely want to install version 17.1 and then make sure you sideload v6 of Magisk Manager (if it isn’t installed when you reboot)
hi thanks ,for this post ,
I have hidden folder in MI note 6 pro folder which have some personal images but i cant take backup of it and phone is formatted.
So MY BIG QUESTION IS CANE WE RECOVERY it possible ?
if we able to help me please help me
I flashed TWRP and then i installed Magisk.zip but when i load the phone i can not enter TWRP again it is lost everytime. I tried 3 times and it is lost. I can not enter TWRP after loading system. Do you know why?
I can see that comments are not being answered by the author. Still I will raise my query in a hope that it will be answered.
My Redmi Note 6 Pro was accidentally factory reset, and I didn’t took backup of my photos, whatsapp messages etc except Contacts & Notes. Now I want to restore the data. There are several applications like iMobie, FonePaw etc, but the pre-requisite to restore the data using those requires a Rooted Phone. I tried KingoRoot but the root failed. That’s the reason I am here. But in every step towards enabling root the phone is formatted..like in 1st step Unlocking BootLoader, 2nd step Installing TWRP. So in every step phone is being formatted. And at the end even if the phone is rooted, what are chances that I will be able to recover my data from the recovery apps?
Anyone successful to recover the data after rooting the phone using the above method?
My Redmi Note 6 Pro was accidentally factory reset, and I didn’t took backup of my photos, whatsapp messages etc except Contacts & Notes. Now I want to restore the data. There are several applications like iMobie, FonePaw etc, but the pre-requisite to restore the data using those requires a Rooted Phone. I tried KingoRoot but the root failed. That’s the reason I am here. But in every step towards enabling root the phone is formatted..like in 1st step Unlocking BootLoader, 2nd step Installing TWRP. So in every step phone is being formatted. And at the end even if the phone is rooted, what are chances that I will be able to recover my data from the recovery apps?
Can you/someone please tell me were you successful to recover the data after rooting the phone using the above method?
Apologies for the late response but the chances of this are slim and depending on a few factors.