Installing TWRP opens up a smartphone to a vast array of new features. A version of this custom recovery is now available for Xiaomi Redmi 7 users and we can install it on our smartphone right now. You will just make sure you have unlocked the bootloader before you begin thinking about installing the custom recovery on the device.
So, before we can begin to install TWRP, you will need to unlock the bootloader of the Redmi 7. I have previously shown you how this is done in a previous tutorial so please reference that if you have yet to do so. Once the bootloader is unlocked, we can begin the process of preparing to install TWRP and Magisk (if you want) on the Redmi 7.
This is required because we want to install unofficial software (aka software not made by Xiaomi) on a partition of the smartphone. Without unlocking the bootloader, the smartphone would reject the installation of TWRP (as well as any other software that isn’t signed by Xiaomi).
Sadly, most people end up having to wait 15 days for the unlock timer but once that is done you can come back here and install TWRP on the Redmi 7 as your custom recovery. From there (and I’ll make note of it in the step by step guide), you can choose to stick with just temporarily booting into TWRP or going all in with a Magisk install too.
Because, without installing Magisk, TWRP will be overwritten by the stock recovery data when you reboot the smartphone back into MIUI. This gives those the ability to simply boot into TWRP when they want to do something (such as creating a Nandroid backup), or go with a permanent install by flashing Magisk.
Warning: Installing TWRP on the Xiaomi Redmi 7 will modify the smartphone in a way that will prevent you from accepting OTA updates using the traditional method. You can still manually install OTA updates if you want, but trying to install them from the update notification will result in the update failing to be installed.
Time needed: 5 minutes
How to Install TWRP on the Xiaomi Redmi 7
- Download TWRP for the Redmi 7
Make sure this file stays named to twrp.img so the command we use in Step #6 works.
- Move or copy the twrp.img file into the same folder as your ADB and Fastboot tools
- Boot the Redmi 7 into Fastboot Mode
- Connect the smartphone to the PC with a USB cable
- Open a Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell in the same folder as your ADB and Fastboot tools
- Then execute the following command. . .
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
- . . .and make sure you get two OKAY messages in response
- We can then unplug the USB cable
- So we can press and hold the Power button and Volume Up button at the same time
As soon as the Redmi 7 reboots, let go of the Power button but keep holding the Volume up button.
- Continue holding the Volume Up button until you see it boot into the blue TWRP splash screen
The smartphone will reboot again on its own. Again, just wait and you’ll be taken back into TWRP
- Change the language and swipe the white arrows to the right to proceed to the main menu
- If you want TWRP fully installed, proceed to step #13
If you stop here, you have only temporarily booted into TWRP and it will go away if you reboot into MIUI without completing this tutorial.
- Download Magisk
This .ZIP file needs to be moved/copied to the Redmi 7. Version 19 worked for me (as of writing this).
- Then tap the Install button in the TWRP main menu
- Browse to and tap on the Magisk .ZIP file we just downloaded
- Swipe the white arrows to the right to begin the installation
- Wait for Magisk to be installed and then tap the Reboot System button that appears in the bottom right
So as mentioned, you could stop at Step #11 if you wanted. This would let you have access to some key features of TWRP while not risking the loss of accepting OTA updates. Being able to download these OTA updates directly from Xiaomi from the notification is important to a lot of people.
This means that if you stop at that step then you can do things including creating and restoring TWRP backups while not modifying the software. This will mean that Mi Recovery will replace TWRP when you boot back into MIUI but you will be able to accept those OTA update notifications.
You will always have the ability to temporarily boot back into TWRP any time by following those same steps.
Redmi 7 OTA Updates with TWRP Installed
Now, if you go through with the full tutorial and completely install TWRP (by installing Magisk), then you will stop MIUI from replacing TWRP with Mi Recovery. This is great for those who want frequent access to TWRP because it stays installed and doesn’t get replaced when you boot back into MIUI.
The downside here is that you will not be able to install OTA updates from the notification. However, that does not mean you can’t install OTA updates on your own. You can still install these OTA updates. You just can’t do them through the traditional method via the notification from MIUI.
Instead, you will need to manually download what is referred to as the Recovery ROM for the version of MIUI you want to update to. You’ll find these on sites like XDA and they will be in a .ZIP format (instead of .TGZ like the Fastboot ROMs have). You just have to download that file and flash it in TWRP.
You can treat it as if you were dirty flashing a custom ROM update on top of your older build. The Recovery ROM is flashed right on top of your current install of MIUI so you won’t lose any data here. The only time I don’t recommend doing this is if your update brings you from one major version of Android to the next (e.g. Android 8 to Android 9, or Android 9 to Android 10).
