Install /e/ on a Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro - “violet” (beta)

Requirements

• If required take a backup of all important data from your phone on an external storage device before proceeding.
• Do not take a backup on the same device as some of these actions will format the device and delete the backup.
• A guide on backing up with TWRP is available here
• Ensure your phone is charged more than 50%
• Check that adb and fastboot are enabled on your PC. If not you can find the setup instructions here
• Download all the files and images mentioned in the download section below before starting the installation

• Make sure you have a working data cable to connect your device to the PC. There are cables which are only for charging and do not transfer data.

• Enable USB debugging on your device. You can find the instructions here

Downloads for the violet

• Custom recovery (not required if you already have it running on your phone)

• /e/OS build : Pie dev

To understand the difference between /e/OS builds check this guide

• MiUI Unlock tool link

• MiUI Flash Tool

Unlocking the bootloader

1. Visit Xiaomi’s official unlocking website and apply for unlocking permissions.
2. Wait until you get the approval, which may take some days.
3. At the same time, link the device to your Mi account in Settings > Additional settings > Developer options > Mi Unlock status. This step is mandatory and will trigger a countdown of 360 hours, the waiting period before a device can be unlocked.
4. Once you get the approval, visit the website again and you will be redirected to the Mi Unlock app download page.
5. Download the Mi Unlock app (Windows is required to run the app).
6. Once the 360 hours waiting period is over, run the Mi Unlock app and follow the instructions provided by the app.
7. After device and Mi account are successfully verified, the bootloader should be unlocked.
8. Since the device resets completely, you will need to re-enable USB debugging to continue.

A Mi account is required to apply for permissions. You don’t need to re-apply for permissions to unlock new devices, but beware that one account is only allowed to unlock one unique device every 30 days.

It is highly recommended to have the latest official MIUI dev package installed on the device, before proceeding with unlock.

Booting a custom recovery using fastboot

1. Before proceeding ensure you have downloaded the custom recovery from the link given in the Download section above

2. Connect your device to your PC via USB.

3. On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:

    adb reboot bootloader
   

   You can also boot into fastboot mode via a key combination:

   • With the device powered off
   • hold Volume Down + Power. Keep holding both buttons until the word “FASTBOOT” appears on the screen, then release.

4. Once the device is in fastboot mode, verify your PC finds it by typing:

fastboot devices

5. Flash a recovery image onto your device by typing

fastboot flash recovery recoveryfilename.img

Replace the recoveryfilename with the name of the recovery image you downloaded in the previous section

6. Now reboot into recovery to verify the installation:

• With the device powered off
• hold Volume Up + Power.

Installing /e/ from recovery

1. Before proceeding ensure you have downloaded the /e/OS for your device, from the link given in the Downloads section above

2. If you aren’t already in recovery mode, reboot into recovery mode by typing the below command in the console of an adb enabled PC

    adb reboot recovery
   

   Tip: You can also do this manually using the below key combination
   • With the device powered off, hold Volume Up + Power.

3. In TWRP return to main menu, then tap Wipe

4. Now tap Format Data and continue with the formatting process.

   Here a new screen may show where you will have to type Yes and confirm the action by clicking a button.

   Caution: Format Data will remove encryption as well as delete all files stored on the internal storage. Remember to take a backup first. Check Requirements section above.

5. Return to the previous menu and tap Advanced Wipe.

6. Select the Cache and System partitions to be wiped and then Swipe to Wipe

7. Sideload the /e/ .zip package.

   Tip: Sideload requires actions in two places to be done. One on your phone in the TWRP UI and secondly on the connected PC which should have adb enabled. Also note the sideload process while running may stop abruptly around 50%. The console would show a message Total xfer: 1.00x. This would mean that the transfer has successfully completed.
   • On the device in TWRP,

     select Advanced, ADB Sideload, then swipe to begin sideload.

   • On the host machine, in the console , start the sideload of the package by typing

    adb sideload filename.zip
   

   Tip: Change the filename to the name of the file you downloaded

8. Once installation has finished, return to the main menu, tap Reboot, and then System

This documentation “Install /e/ on a Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro - “violet”” is a derivative of “install LineageOS on violet” by The LineageOS Project, used under CC BY.