How to Install TWRP on Redmi 5A

This article shows you all necessary steps to flash TWRP custom recovery on Xiaomi Redmi 5A (codename Riva). Team Win Recovery Project is basically the most popular among many Android users, especially for Mi Fans. The way to install TWRP on any device is basically similar and easy. Some users might find it difficult only for the first time. Otherwise, it would be very easy once they know how to do it properly.

Again, this guide shows you how to install it on Redmi 5A. Please bear in mind that TWRP is always built specifically for a particular device. Therefore, never install the wrong built or your device would end up in a bricked state or bootloop.

Using custom recovery allows you to do many things like flashing custom ROM, flashing SuperSU or Magisk (to gain root access), and so on. Despite many advanced features it can offer, flashing custom ROM, in many cases will void your phone warranty. Moreover, there are still possibilities of getting stuck in error despite the fact that you have followed the procedure correctly. Hence, please create a full backup of your important data (Contacts, messages, photos, etc).

Please proceed with full caution. Read the whole steps properly and make sure you have understood what should be done according to the steps. Proceed only when you have read the whole article thoroughly. We hold no responsibility for any damage caused by this article.

Prerequisites

These are all that you are going to need:

1. A Xiaomi Redmi 5A device (codename Riva) – NOT Redmi 5 or Redmi 5 Plus.
2. A Windows-based laptop / PC. We strongly suggest you to use Windows 8/8.1/10 with 64-bit system.
3. Download either Mi Flash tool or Mi PC Suite.
4. Download Minimal Fastboot & ADB Driver.
5. Download latest version of TWRP for Redmi 5A and extract it.
6. Download Windows Driver Signature Enforcement Disabler tool and extract it.
7. Download DM No Verity disabler tool – do not extract the zip file.
8. A compatible USB data cable. Make sure it is a USB data cable and not USB charging cable only or you can simply use the one comes with your device.
9. Your phone should have enough juice. Make sure it has at least 65% battery power remaining.
10. A spare time of your life which is not more than 30 minutes.

Flashing TWRP

Step 0 – The bootloader of your phone needs to be unlocked officially. Please read our comprehensive guide on how to unlock MIUI bootloader on Redmi 5A. You can skip this if you have done it.

Step 1 – First thing first, you need to disable Windows Driver Signature Enforcement on your laptop or PC. Doing this step is easy. Simply extract the zip file and run the “DRIVER_SIGNATURE_DISABLE.bat” file. Alternatively, if you want to do it the geeky way, you may also follow our previous tutorial.

Step 2 – Now you will need to install Mi Flash tool. This is a special software to flash MIUI ROM. However, in this case, you need to install this tool only for obtaining the Xiaomi USB driver included within its package.

Step 3 – Next, install the Minimal ADB & Fastboot files. This will be installed in default location which is at “C:\adb”

Step 4 – In Windows Explorer, find the extracted TWRP .img file. Rename the file into “recovery.img”. This step is basically optional but it makes you easier when issuing the fastboot command later.

Step 5 – Now grab your phone. You will need to enable Developer Options and USB Debugging which we assume you have already done this when you want to unlock the phone bootloader.

Step 6 – Copy the recovery.img file into the ADB folder.

Also copy the “no-verity-opt-encrypt-5.1.zip” file into that folder:

Step 7 – Connect your phone to your computer using its USB cable. Make sure the connection type is set to MTP. Give your computer a minute to recognize your newly attached device.

Step 8 – Now hold down the “Shift” button and right-click in any area inside the ADB folder. Now choose “Open command window from here” or “Open PowerShell window from here“.

Step 9 – Now issue this command (type it and hit Enter).

adb devices

This will reveal any attached Android devices. Your phone should be displayed there (as a device code). However, if it displays nothing but just “List of devices attached” without any following information, then you will need to try one of these possible workarounds:

• Make sure the USB cable is connected properly.
• Try changing USB cable.
• Try to use any different USB port.
• Try reinstalling the Mi Flash tool or try using this USB Driver.

Step 10 – Next, issue this command to copy the DM Verity disabler tool:

adb push no-verity-opt-encrypt-5.1.zip /sdcard/

This command will copy the zip file into your phone.

Step 11 – Also, issue this command to reboot your phone into Fastboot / Bootloader mode:

adb reboot bootloader

At this stage, your phone should reboot automatically into Fastboot mode. The MIUI Fastboot logo will be displayed on the screen to indicate its state.

Step 12 – Next, this command is the main part of this tutorial, flashing twrp:

fastboot devices
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

The command above attempts to list your device again (making sure it is recognized) and to install TWRP Recovery into your phone. It should be finished within few seconds.

Step 13 – Now it has been installed, you can now reboot your phone into normal mode.

fastboot reboot

Step 14 – Basically at this point the twrp has been installed, but firstly you will also need to flash No Verity encryption disabler tool. Now reboot into recovery which you can do it using one of following methods:

#1 Method: via ADB.

Connect your phone to the computer using its USB cable while the phone is still ON (normal mode). Issue following command in ADB:

adb reboot recovery

#2 Method: do it manually.

Turn off your phone completely. While it is off, press and hold both Power and Volume Up (+) buttons all together simultaneously.

Step 15 – You will now boot into TWRP Recovery. Do not attempt to do Swipe to allow system modification. Now go to TWRP main menu and choose “Install”.

Step 16 – Locate the copied no-verity-opt-encrypt-5.1.zip file. Choose it and install it by doing “swipe to confirm flash” action.

Step 17 – Once done, tap “Reboot” to go back into normal mode.

That is it. Congratulation, you have successfully installed official TWRP on your Redmi 5A device. At this point, you can proceed even further by flashing SuperSU, Magisk, or custom ROM.

Further reading: How to root Redmi 5A (Riva) with SuperSU.

Any difficulties? Succeeded? Do not hesitate to share your experience in the comment section below.