How to Root Xiaomi Mi A3 using Magisk (2 Methods)

In this comprehensive guide, I will show you how to root Xiaomi Mi A3 using Magisk. This could be done through two different methods. First, by flashing the Magisk installer zip using TWRP, or second, by flashing the patched boot image using fastboot.

The Mi A3 was launched this year and just like its predecessors, it has received quick attention from the developer community in a short period of time. A major reason for that is that the phone runs near-stock Android OS since it is a part of the Android One program. This makes a lot of things a bit easier at the developers’ end to set things in motion when it comes to custom development.

That being said, rooting Xiaomi Mi A3 is now possible and could be easily done using Magisk. Rooting your phone via Magisk has a lot of perks. For starters, it allows you to pass SafetyNet and play games like Pokemon GO or use apps like Google Pay. You can also use MagiskHide to hide root from apps that might not work if root is detected. And of course, you can use apps that require root permissions.

Prerequisites

Before you head to the instructions below to root Xiaomi Mi A3, make sure that you fulfill all the requirements listed below.

• Rooting your phone will not wipe data. But we still strongly recommend that you take a complete backup of all your data, including the internal storage, to prevent data loss if anything goes wrong. Here’s a detailed guide on how to manually backup your Android device completely, just in case you need it.
• In order to root, you must first enable OEM unlocking and unlock your Mi A3’s bootloader. If you have not unlocked yet, then note that unlocking the phone’s bootloader will wipe all the data including internal storage.
• Charge your phone to a sufficient battery level (About 50% or above). This shall help avoid any sudden shutdowns during the rooting process.
• (For Method 1 only): Download the latest TWRP for Mi A3 and install it. If you already have TWRP installed, then skip this step and head over to the instructions.
• (For Method 2 only):
  • Enable USB Debugging on your Mi A3. We will be using ADB to pull the Magisk Patched Boot Image from the device to the PC.
  • Download the latest ADB and Fastboot package and extract it to a suitable location on your PC (example: C:\platform-tools).
  • Launch the command-line window on PC:
    • PowerShell in Windows: Go to the folder where ADB and Fastboot are installed. Then hold the Shift key on the keyboard and right-click on any empty space inside the folder. Finally, select the ‘Open PowerShell window here’ option.
      
    • Terminal in macOS/Linux: Open the Terminal window and “cd” to the folder where ADB and Fastboot are installed (example: cd Documents/platform-tools)
      
  • When executing ADB or fastboot commands during the instructions, make sure to prepend them with “.\” while using Windows PowerShell or “./” when using macOS/Linux Terminal.

Downloads

If you’re going to use Method 2, you will need the stock boot image (boot.img) corresponding to the software version/build number installed on your Mi A3.

Below, we have provided links to download stock boot images for Xiaomi Mi A3, for various software versions. These include boot images for both the Global and European variants. We would not be providing pre-patched boot images because by using them, you will lose the ability to restore the stock boot image, which is very helpful when installing OTA updates on your rooted phone.

Xiaomi Mi A3 Stock Boot Images

• For Global Variant:
  • V10.3.13.0.PFQMIXM (January 2020 update): stock_boot_10.3.13.0_mi_a3_global.img
  • V10.3.12.0.PFQMIXM (December 2019 update): stock_boot_10.3.12.0_mi_a3_global.img
  • V10.3.9.0.PFQMIXM (November 2019 update): stock_boot_10.3.9.0_mi_a3_global.img
  • V10.3.8.0.PFQMIXM (October 2019 update): stock_boot_10.3.8.0_mi_a3_global.img
  • V10.3.6.0.PFQMIXM: stock_boot_10.3.6.0_mi_a3_global.img
  • V10.3.5.0.PFQMIXM: stock_boot_10.3.5.0_mi_a3_global.img
  • V10.3.4.0.PFQMIXM: stock_boot_10.3.4.0_mi_a3_global.img
• For European Variant:
  • V10.3.14.0.PFQEUXM: stock_boot_10.3.14.0_mi_a3_eu.img
  • V10.3.13.0.PFQEUXM: stock_boot_10.3.13.0_mi_a3_eu.img
  • V10.3.12.0.PFQEUXM: stock_boot_10.3.12.0_mi_a3_eu.img
  • V10.3.11.0.PFQEUXM: stock_boot_10.3.11.0_mi_a3_eu.img
  • V10.3.9.0.PFQEUXM: stock_boot_10.3.9.0_mi_a3_eu.img
  • V10.3.8.0.PFQEUXM: stock_boot_10.3.8.0_mi_a3_eu.img
  • V10.3.7.0.PFQEUXM: stock_boot_10.3.7.0_mi_a3_europe.img

Instructions to Root Xiaomi Mi A3

Now, there are two methods to root your Mi A3 using Magisk. You can either use Method 1 to flash the Magisk installer zip package using TWRP. But if you don’t have TWRP installed, or don’t want to install it because rooting is your only requirement, then you can use Method 2 that involves flashing the Magisk patched boot image via fastboot.

Method 1: Flashing Magisk ZIP using TWRP Recovery

1. Download the latest Magisk installer package (Magisk-v20.3.zip).
2. Connect your Xiaomi Mi A3 to the PC using the USB cable.
3. Copy the downloaded Magisk installer package from the PC to your phone’s storage.
4. Disconnect the phone from the PC and power it off completely.
5. Boot your Xiaomi Mi A3 into TWRP recovery mode.
6. Go to the ‘Install’ menu in TWRP.
   
7. Navigate to the internal storage and select the Magisk installer package (e.g. Magisk-v20.3.zip).
8. Swipe the ‘Swipe to confirm Flash’ to flash the package and root Xiaomi Mi A3.
   
9. Finally, press the ‘Reboot System’ button once the flashing process finishes.

That’s it! Your Xiaomi Mi A3 should now be rooted with Magisk.

Method 2: Flashing Magisk Patched Boot Image using Fastboot (without TWRP)

1. Download the stock boot image for Xiaomi Mi A3.
2. Transfer the downloaded file (stock_boot_10.x.x.x_mi_a3_xxxx.img) to the phone’s storage.
3. Download and install the latest Magisk Manager APK on your phone.
4. Now launch Magisk Manager and tap on the ‘Install’ button.
   
5. Tap on ‘Install’ and select the ‘Select and Patch a File’ option
6. Navigate to your phone’s internal storage and select the stock boot image file (e.g. stock_boot_10.3.13.0_mi_a3_global.img)
7. Magisk Manager will now patch the stock boot image of your Mi A3.
   
8. The resultant Magisk Patched Boot Image (magisk_patched.img) file will be stored in the ‘Download’ folder of your phone’s internal storage.
9. Launch the command-line window (PowerShell in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux; refer to pointer #4 in the ‘Prerequisites’ section).
10. Enter the below command to pull the ‘magisk_patched.img’ file from the phone to the PC:

    adb pull /sdcard/Download/magisk_patched.img

11. Now power off your Xioami Mi A3 and boot it into Fastboot Mode.
    
12. Connect your phone to the PC using the USB cable.
13. Enter the following command to flash the Magisk Patched Boot Image and root Xiaomi Mi A3:

    fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img

    

14. Once the flashing process finishes, enter the following command to reboot your phone back into the OS:

    fastboot continue

Once your phone reboots, go to the app drawer and launch the Magisk Manager app. If it prompts you to complete the Magisk installation process, then do it by following the on-screen instructions. When done, your phone will automatically reboot.

With your phone rooted now, you can install use apps that require root permissions, flash Magisk Modules to gain additional software features, and much more.

So, this was our guide on how to root Xiaomi Mi A3 using Magisk. If you have any questions regarding the instructions the rooting procedure enlisted in this post, feel free to post a comment below.