How to Root Xiaomi Mi 5x (Mi A1) and Install TWRP Recovery

If you own a Xiaomi Mi 5X [Code Name: tiffany] and also want to root the device, then you are on the right page.

Xiaomi Mi 5X is the latest smartphone from Xiaomi, which was launched in July 2017 itself in China, in multiple color options, which are Black, Gold and Rose Gold. The smartphone is now being sold in two storage variants, including 64GB and 32GB. The smartphone has a picture-perfect Dual Camera, which are 12 megapixels and 12 megapixels dual cameras which optical zoom. The phone measures 5.5-inch and packed in full metal unibody with the rounded edges. Running on Snapdragon 625 processor, coupled with a 4GB of RAM, the smartphone takes power from a 3080 mAh battery, and as said earlier, it comes with either 64GB or 32GB storage.

The smartphone features high-quality audio, thanks to the DHS Audio Calibration Algorithm, which improves the sound output through the headphone or speakers, while the Standalone audio amplifier captures the true potential of the headphones. The 5.5-inch display phone has a body size of 155.4mmx75.8mmx7.3mm and weighs 165 grams. The rounded edges design makes it fit perfectly in the hands, whereas the discreet antenna design makes the phone looks elegant. The Mi 5X is the second-ever smartphone with the dual-camera setup from Xiaomi. It contains a 5 megapixels front-facing camera for selfies, while a fingerprint sensor is provided on the backside of the device. The phone supports the latest USB Type-C standard and supports 4G VoLTE, dual-band WiFI 802.11ac, and USB Type-C interface.

If you are an Android Enthusiast and want to Root and Install TWRP recovery on your beloved, then you have landed on the right page. In the due course of the article, we will be guiding you through the process to root Xiaomi Mi 5X.

The TWRP features the material design, and attractive user interface (UI), and by following this guide you can install the latest TWRP for Xiaomi Mi 5X. You can download TWRP Recovery from the links provided in the pre-requisite section of this article. Kindly note that this is an unofficial TWRP recovery and is only for Xiaomi Mi 5X (Kindly confirm the model by going to Settings>About). The process given below is merely for rooting and installing TWRP on Xiaomi Mi 5X, do not try out this method on any other device.

If you want to unleash the full potential of the hardware of your Xiaomi Mi 5X, then rooting and flashing custom recovery like TWRP is the main concern. The Stock ROMs have often limited and unsupported features in the sense of Customization. When you have a rooted device and also flashed TWRP recovery, then you are free to install any Custom ROMs, Mods, Kernel, and Xposed, etc., as well as many apps that require root access to work properly. You can easily root the device with One Click Android Root Tool, with either via PC or through the APK, which is a quick process.

Brief Details and Advantage of TWRP Recovery

TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is an open-source, community development project. By flashing the TWRP, your device will be enabled to install any custom firmware, rooting your smartphone, mod zip files for customizations, Xposed Modules for customized features, one-click root and unroot processes. Apart from that, it allows you to take Full Nandroid Backup and restore it later, one-click image file flashing, remove bloatware, overclock and underclock. Using TWRP, one can easily clean Wipe, Cache, and Data after flashing any image file to reflect the changes and rectify minor errors due to cache.

For installing the TWRP, your Xiaomi Mi 5X phone must have the Unlocked bootloader. That means you have to firstly unlock the bootloader to root your device as well doing any customization.

Prerequisite

Ensure to check your model number, which must be:

• Xiaomi Mi 5X [Code Name: tiffany]

You must have to ensure that prior to rooting your phone, you have read thoroughly the disclaimer and you agree to proceed further on your risk.

• Phone Should be Charged

Your phone must be 70% charged at least, else, it may lead to complications sometimes while experimenting. Why take the risk, try to charge it fully.

• Back-Up

If you are either going to root your phone or install a Custom ROM, it is a good habit to make a back up of your phone. Make a back up of all your media like images, videos and all on your PC and your contacts on Cloud.

• Enable USB Debugging

(Applicable only for PC method, Skip if you will use APK method)

You must enable the USB debugging option by going into Settings, Applications and Developer options.

Downloads For Rooting Xiaomi Mi 5x (Mi A1)

Make sure that you have downloaded the required files (link in the pre-requisite section of this article). Then, proceed to the steps.

Steps to Unlock Bootloader of Xiaomi Mi 5x (Mi A1)

Note: If you have already unlocked bootloader, then skip these steps.

Gone are the days, when Xiaomi’s devices came with the Unlocked bootloader, but with the time, Xiaomi has started shipping their devices with the locked bootloader, and Xiaomi Mi 5X is part of the same initiative. Unlocking the devices, aka Unlocking bootloader is easy, practically it is just 3 step process, as mentioned below.

Step 1: Visit the MIUI website’s MiUnlock page, after visiting, just Sign in with your Mi ID. Make sure to register an account with proper details, if it is already registered, which is a general case since you are a Mi user, then it’s good and well. Now, at the website you must request for the unlocking permissions/Bootloader unlock, mentioning the proper reason to unlock the device. The reason should be justifiable and following which your device’s bootloader would be unlocked.

Step 2: After receiving permission from Xiaomi to unlock the bootloader of your device, download the MiUnlock app. After downloading the MiUnlock app, just unlock the bootloader of your device.

Now, you can Root Xiaomi Xiaomi Mi 5X, as the bootloader of your device is already unlocked.

Steps to Flash/ Install TWRP and Root Xiaomi Mi 5x (Mi A1)

Step 1: Make sure you have unlocked the bootloader using the process described above, and also have downloaded the required files from the prerequisite section.

Step 2: Now, navigate to the zipped toolkit file downloaded above, and then extract it in your PC. Navigate to the folder, and then install ADB and Fastboot Driver on the computer.

Step 3: Now, run the S-droid toolkit.exe file, which is located in the twrp/tool folder.

Step 4: Then, connect the device to the computer, with USB Debugging enabled, and either follow the on-screen instructions or type 41 to flash the TWRP. That’s it, this has begun the TWRP flashing process, and it will take a few moments to complete.

Step 5: As you are already in ADB after flashing the TWRP, now don’t boot the device from recovery to normal, and directly type ’45’ and then hit ‘Enter’. This will transfer the required files to the device, and then boot the Xiaomi Mi 5X to the TWRP, automatically.

Step 6: Now, click on ‘Backup’ and create ‘Nandroid’ backup, and then perform the factory reset.

Step 7: Install and select the ‘No verity’ from the device’s storage, and confirm the install. Once again, navigate to the ‘Install’ and then select the file ‘magisk’ which is located in Device’s storage i.e. storage>sdcard, and then confirm the installation.

Step 8: That’s done! Now reboot the device, if it will boot into the recovery once again, then simply use the option ‘Reboot system now’ and that completes the process.

Congratulations, now you have rooted Xiaomi Mi 5X and also flashed the TWRP. Now, you can install the Xposed Framework, and customize your smartphone as per your preference. If you wish to verify, you may download and check the Root Status through the Root Checker app.

Credits:  XN Logos

Source: XDA