By 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.
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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)
- 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.
- 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.
Download Xiaomi Mi A3 Stock Boot Images
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.
For Global Variant
| Software Version / Build Number | Download Link |
|---|---|
| V11.0.17.0.QFQMIXM | stock_boot_v11.0.17.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V11.0.16.0.QFQMIXM | stock_boot_v11.0.16.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V11.0.15.0.QFQMIXM | stock_boot_11.0.15.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V11.0.14.0.QFQMIXM | stock_boot_v11.0.14.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V11.0.11.0.QFQMIXM | stock_boot_v11.0.11.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V11.0.8.0.QFQMIXM | stock_boot_v11.0.8.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V10.3.13.0.PFQMIXM | stock_boot_v10.3.13.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V10.3.12.0.PFQMIXM | stock_boot_v10.3.12.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V10.3.9.0.PFQMIXM | stock_boot_v10.3.9.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V10.3.8.0.PFQMIXM | stock_boot_v10.3.8.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V10.3.6.0.PFQMIXM | stock_boot_v10.3.6.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V10.3.5.0.PFQMIXM | stock_boot_v10.3.5.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
| V10.3.4.0.PFQMIXM | stock_boot_v10.3.4.0_mi_a3_global.zip |
For European Variant
| Software Version / Build Number | Download Link |
|---|---|
| V11.0.3.0.QFQEUXM | stock_boot_v11.0.3.0_mi_a3_eu.zip |
| V11.0.2.0.QFQEUXM | stock_boot_v11.0.2.0_mi_a3_eu.zip |
| V11.0.1.0.QFQEUXM | stock_boot_v11.0.1.0_mi_a3_eu.zip |
| V10.3.14.0.PFQEUXM | stock_boot_v10.3.14.0_mi_a3_eu.zip |
| V10.3.13.0.PFQEUXM | stock_boot_v10.3.13.0_mi_a3_eu.zip |
| V10.3.12.0.PFQEUXM | stock_boot_v10.3.12.0_mi_a3_eu.zip |
| V10.3.11.0.PFQEUXM | stock_boot_v10.3.11.0_mi_a3_eu.zip |
| V10.3.9.0.PFQEUXM | stock_boot_v10.3.9.0_mi_a3_eu.zip |
| V10.3.8.0.PFQEUXM | stock_boot_v10.3.8.0_mi_a3_eu.zip |
| V10.3.7.0.PFQEUXM | stock_boot_v10.3.7.0_mi_a3_eu.zip |
Instructions to Root Xiaomi Mi A3
As I mentioned earlier, there are two different ways/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: Flash Magisk ZIP via TWRP Recovery
- Download the latest Magisk installer package (Magisk-v20.4.zip).
- Connect your Xiaomi Mi A3 to the PC using the USB cable.
- Copy the downloaded Magisk installer package from the PC to your phone’s storage.
- Disconnect the phone from the PC and power it off completely.
- Boot your Xiaomi Mi A3 into TWRP recovery mode.
- Go to the ‘Install’ menu in TWRP.
- Navigate to the internal storage and select the Magisk installer package (e.g. Magisk-v20.4.zip).
- Swipe the ‘Swipe to confirm Flash’ to flash the package and root Xiaomi Mi A3.
- 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: Flash Magisk Patched Boot Image using Fastboot (without TWRP)
- Download the stock boot image for Xiaomi Mi A3.
- Extract the downloaded file (stock_boot_vxx.x.x.x_mi_a3_xxxx.zip) to get the ‘boot.img’.
- Transfer the extracted stock boot image to your phone’s storage.
- Download and install the latest Magisk Manager APK on your Mi A3.
- Now launch Magisk Manager and tap on the ‘Install’ button.
- Tap on ‘Install’ and select the ‘Select and Patch a File’ option.
- Navigate to your phone’s internal storage and select the stock boot image file (boot.img).
- Magisk Manager will now patch the stock boot image of your Mi A3.
- The resultant Magisk Patched Boot Image (magisk_patched.img) file will be stored in the ‘Download’ folder of your phone’s internal storage.
- Launch the command-line window (PowerShell in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux; refer to pointer #4 in the ‘Prerequisites’ section).
- Enter the below command to pull the ‘magisk_patched.img’ file from the phone to the PC:
adb pull /sdcard/Download/magisk_patched.img
- Now power off your Xioami Mi A3 and boot it into Fastboot Mode.
- Connect your phone to the PC using the USB cable.
- Enter the following command to flash the Magisk Patched Boot Image and root your Xiaomi Mi A3:
fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img
- 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.
Hi, can you update boot img ? I need stock_boot_v11.0.17.0_mi_a3_global.zip and I don’t know get to https://git.rip/dumps/xiaomi/laurel_sprout/
Hi Santigo. I have added the stock boot image for V11.0.17.0. Please refresh the page and check now.
Could you provide us with the latest boot images for both eu and global. Thanks!
Hi Ventsi. I have the stock boot images for both Global (11.0.16.0) and EU (11.0.3.0) variants within the post. Please check now.
Any idea where I could find V11.0.3.0.QFQEUXM stock boot image? Thanks!
Hi Jake. I have just uploaded it and updated the download links. Please check.
I have a question about method 2. How to update the device after I install the root? Is it possible to do it by flashing the stock boot image provided above?
Also I’d be very happy if you could provide us with the latest boot image for the global variant 11.0.15.0
Hi again, Ventsi. I have added the download link above. The stock boot has been packed inside the ZIP file, so you will need to extract the downloaded ZIP first.
Hi Ventsi. It’s quite easy actually. Magisk automatically creates a backup of the stock boot image when you patch the boot image for rooting. After your phone is rooted, you can use Magisk Manager to restore that boot image and install the OTA update. The detailed instructions for this could be found on this page.
You’d only need to manually re-flash the stock boot image in case Magisk fails to restore the backup or if the OTA update still fails after following the instructions I linked above.
hello sir
i have one question
i have updated in android 10
and i am using the method ( without twrp)
please tell me that whether i have to give the command set_active b or not ???
means whether i have to flash the image_patched.img into slot a or b
cause in earlier i have given the command in (A slot) and its bricked my phone
i am using mi a3 with android 10 ( custom rom )
thanks
Hi Kunal. You simply have to flash the boot image using the following command:
.\fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img
When you do not mention the slot (a or b), the command automatically flashes the boot image to the currently active slot, which is what you need to do.
Oh, I just noticed you’re using a custom ROM. If so, then make sure that you extract the boot image from the ROM zip file itself, then patch it and flash it. DO NOT use the boot image of the stock firmware for rooting the custom ROM.
This also begs me to ask you a question. Since you’re using a custom ROM, why didn’t you keep TWRP installed?
Amigo pues ya no se, porque tengo el celular dañado, no pasa de modo fastboot no entra ni a recovery, solo se queda en modo fastboot, le instale la rom stock y tampoco
Hi Davison. Have you tried downloading and restoring the latest stock firmware from here? Download the fastboot ROM, extract it, and run the ‘flash_all_except_storage.bat’ file while your phone is connected to the PC in fastboot mode.
I run into some issues getting Magisk.zip installed when using Method 1; My phone was stuck in Download Mode even though TWRP was installed successfully. I had to flash stock boot in slot a and b to get the phone back.
I therefore switched to Method 2, but no luck there either. Installing TWRP after rooting the phone with magisk_patched.img wipes the root functionality, so tried flashing Magisk.zip with TWRP, but this time my phone got stuck into TWRP Recovery not able to boot to system even when I swicth slots.
After all of this I decided to Flash Android 10 Stock ROM and check my luck: It took while to get the stock_boot_image since there isn’t any in the firmware, and getting the correct twrp for android 10 (https://mega.nz/f868acfe-cd28-4439-b300-89b0478a69eb). Neither method 1 nor 2 worked, so I altered and combined the steps in Method 2 and steps for TWRP; I know there might a better way but that’s what worked for me.
Repeated Steps 2, then 4 through 10 with the twrp.img; I renamed the pulled magisk_patched.img each time by adding “stock_” or “twrp_”.
At Step 13: Flash patched stock boot “fastboot erase boot” then “fastboot flash boot stock_magisk_patched.img”
Swicth to inactive slot (it should be either a or b) by typing “fastboot getvar current-slot” if (a) then type “fastboot –set_active b” and vice versa.
Flash stock and twrp boot there by doing “fastboot erase boot” then “fastboot flash boot stock_magisk_patched.img” followed by “fastboot flash boot twrp_magisk_patched.img”
Type “fastboot reboot” to reboot (do not revert to the original slot yet)
When the phone reboots into TWRP, Choose Reboot and Choose “Slot A” in b is active and vice versa, then return to main menu.
Choose “Install” then “Install Image”, and choose “twrp_magisk_patched.img”.
Select the “Install Recovery Ramdisk” partion and Swipe at the slider.
Wait the flashing to finish then Choose “Reboot System”
Enjoy TWRP and Magisk.
sorry for bad English, it is not my main langue
Thanks Jude for sharing your findings. When you mentioned ” I renamed the pulled magisk_patched.img each time by adding stock_ or twrp_”, did you mean that you created a copy of the same file and renamed it to those two?
I have using second method (Flashing Magisk Patched Boot Image using Fastboot (without TWRP)) to root xiaomi mi a3 . I have stuck at step 13. I execute this command fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img but CMD stuck at waiting for any device> Give me solution ASAP.
Pankaj kumar
Hi Pankaj. It’s good to have you here.
The problem you have mentioned concerns the USB drivers. It seems like the PC is not able to recognize your Mi A3 over the fastboot interface.
Please try to download the latest drivers from here, install them on your PC, reboot it, and then try the fastboot command again.
A side tip: Prefer using USB 2.0 ports. USB 3.1/3.0 ports may pose unusual problems when flashing via fastboot.
Thanks sir this issue is resolve but now I am stuck in next step after run fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img command showing this error below:
C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img
Sending ‘boot_a’ (19572 KB) OKAY [ 0.437s]
Writing ‘boot_a’ FAILED (remote: ‘Flashing is not allowed in Lock State’)
fastboot: error: Command failed
Hi again, Pankaj. Your phone’s bootloader isn’t fully unlocked, that’s why you’re seeing this error.
how can make my phone’s bootloader fully unlocked . Please guide me. Actually I want restore format data of my phone. so I am trying to Root Xiaomi Mi A3. My important data of office. Give me best solution and tell me it is possible or not.
Hi again, Pankaj. The complete instruction for unlocking the bootloader of your Mi A3 could be found here.
Do note that unlocking will erase all the data on the device including that on the internal storage, so take a full backup before you start.
Thanks Sir, Is it possible I will restore all the format data from my after complete all the steps. Please give me best way how I can restore my formatted data from my phone. Please give me best way.
A mi intentado hacer el método dos, ya lo había hecho en android 9 pero lo hice con android 10, no sé si me equicove de stock.img y se me atasco en fastboot no entra ni en modo recovery, alguna solución?
Ya le instale la stock pero no arranca
Hi Davison, could you please tell me which build number of Android 10 is currently installed on your Mi A3?
Hi again, Pankaj. Your contacts, emails, photos, and videos can all be synced with Google. For messages and call logs, I would advise using this handy application: SMS Backup and Restore.
Next, connect your phone to the PC and transfer all the data from the internal storage of your phone to the PC. It’s simply copy/paste.
Once you have unlocked the bootloader and rooted your phone, you can restore all the backed up data via Google, the application I suggested, and finally copying back all the files and folders from your PC back to your phone’s storage.
I need this (V11.0.8.0.QFQMIXM) boot img.
Hi Nazmul, the 11.0.8.0 boot image file has been uploaded and added to the ‘Downloads’ section.
Thanks a lot, it is perfectly works with Method 2.
Hi again, Nazmul. Glad it worked! If you have any further questions, please do let me know.
Hi, I have got new update,
Plz update V 11.0.11.0 boot img
Hi Nazmul, the boot image for the V11.0.11.0 update has already been added to the downloads section. Please refresh the page and check again.
my phone got stuck in bootloop everytime i try to install magisk and the rooting process is not completed.I tried all the above steps and it didnt work.
Hi Saif, may I know exactly on which phone you’re trying to install Magisk and also which Android version is it running?