[Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Guides, News, & Discussion] prathameshsd:
UPDATED NEWBIE GUIDE v2.0

FOR REDMI NOTE 3 SNAPDRAGON (KENZO)

(WORKS FOR ALL MIUI / AOSP / CM BASED ROMs)​

GUIDE SECTIONS : QUICK LINKS​

#1 : MIUI ROM | TYPES OF MIUI ROM | TWRP | TYPES OF TWRP

#2 : TWRP FLASHABLE ZIPs | FULL PARTITION BACKUP | FLASHING ROM

#3 : RESTORING MIUI FIRMWARE (WIP) | SUMMARY | CREDITS​

IMPORTANT NOTE !!​

- Before following any step or asking any question, please read the guide & the below comments very carefully & thoroughly

- You are choosing to make these modifications, I take no responsibility for bricked devices, dead or corrupt SD cards, accidental data wipe etc.

- This guide only supports users who have UNLOCKED their BOOTLOADER using OFFICIAL method

- I have dropped support for users who have UNLOCKED their BOOTLOADER using UNOFFICIAL method as it was risky & confusing

- This guide will be updated as new information, TWRP, methods are added. Do let me know if I have forgot to mention anything useful

MIUI ROM​

MIUI (pronounced as Me-You-I) is Xiaomi's custom built firmware on top of Android like Samsung's Grace UX, HTC's Sense, OnePlus's OxygenOS which runs on their smartphones. MIUI is also the second most popular Android firmware, after CyanogenMod. MIUI is based on Android's AOSP base with its own modifications and extensive features over the top. At first glance it resembles like a hybrid between Google's Material Design and Apple's iOS. But unlike Stock Android or iOS, MIUI is very intuitive, feature rich and has multiple tweaking options.

MIUI is updated regularly depending on the development branch. Xiaomi takes reports, feedback and suggestions from the community, addresses the bugfixes and integrates new features upon request. Most of Xiaomi devices are regularly patched with monthly security updates. The flagship "Mi" series like Mi3, Mi4, Mi5 receive quicker Android version updates than their budget "Redmi" series like Redmi 2, Redmi 3, Note 2, Note 3 etc.

TYPES OF MIUI ROM​

There are 2 development branches of official MIUI ROMs for all Xiaomi devices.

A) Stable Branch aka Stable Builds

- It is updated on a monthly basis or longer

- New features are added slowly after testing

- Higher system stability and less bugs than Beta ROMs

- It has a four digit numbering scheme (X.X.X.X)

- For eg. 8.X.X.X is MIUI8 Stable ROM

- Stable ROMs come in 2 variants

1. MIUI China Stable ROM

- This ROM is pre-installed on all Xiaomi devices sold in China

- It is made for the Chinese market & contains Chinese MIUI apps

- Google Apps are absent. You can install them manually or by using ADB

- It supports Chinese & English language

2. MIUI Global Stable ROM

- This ROM is pre-installed on all Xiaomi devices sold outside China

- It is made for the International market & contains English MIUI apps

- Google apps are pre-installed by default

- It supports 50+ languages

B) Beta Branch aka Developer Builds

- It is updated on a weekly/bi-weekly basis or longer

- New features are added quickly for testing

- Lower system stability and more bugs than Stable ROMs

- It has a three digit numbering scheme (X.X.X)

- For eg. 6.11.21 is MIUI8 Beta ROM for 21th Nov, 2016

- This ROM is not pre-installed on any Xiaomi device.

- You have to install Beta ROM over Stable ROM manually.

- Beta/Developer ROMs come in 2 variants

1. MIUI China Beta/Developer ROM

- It is made for the Chinese market & contains Chinese MIUI apps

- Google Apps are absent. You can install them manually or by using ADB

- It supports Chinese & English language

2. MIUI Global Beta/Developer ROM

- It is made for the International market & contains English MIUI apps

- Google apps are pre-installed by default

- Supports more than 50+ languages

Vendor aka Unofficial MIUI ROM

- Official MIUI ROM is found on Xiaomi devices that are bought from official channels

- Official channels include Xiaomi stores, flipkart.com, amazon.com etc.

- Vendor/Unofficial MIUI ROM is typically found on Xiaomi devices that are bought from unofficial channels/third-party resellers

- Unofficial channels include geekbuying.com, gearbest.com, banggood.com, ebay.com etc.

- Resellers take any of the official MIUI ROMs and modify it by injecting malwares, adwares, promotional apps etc.

- Vendor ROM may or may not contain Chinese MIUI Apps or Google Apps

- The Vendor ROM is then flashed by the reseller via EDL mode using MiFlash Tool, which bypasses LOCKED bootloader status

- Vendor ROMs can be identified by their odd 5 digit numbering scheme (X.X.X.X.X) eg. MIUI8 8.0.1.1.0, MIUI7 7.9.8.8.0

- You can identify a vendor ROM by comparing its version with official MIUI version here : http://en.miui.com/download.html

- Due to stability & security reasons, such ROMs should not be used and should be changed immediately.

- You should flash official MIUI ROMs using MiFlash Tool via EDL mode.

TWRP​

TWRP stands for Team Win Recovery Project. It is a custom recovery used to flash ROMs, kernels & scripts, take full system backups, restore backups etc. There are multiple versions of TWRPs for the Redmi Note 3 Snapdragon (kenzo). Many new users are confused as to which version of TWRP to flash after UNLOCKING the BOOTLOADER OFFICIALLY.

Thanks to Xiaomi for the multiple hardware revisions, outdated kernel sources & the tiresome process of unlocking the bootloader, this device has become even more complicated for the developers as well as for the end users. Hopefully Xiaomi updates the kernel sources as soon as possible. This will result in a streamlined and unified environment for the developers while compiling ROMs and for the user for a better end user experience.

TYPES OF TWRP​

1. Official TWRP : https://dl.twrp.me/kenzo/

- The base version of TWRP 3.0.2-2

- It is the stock version with no modifications done to it

- Used to flash flash ROMs, kernels & scripts, take full system backups, restore backups etc.

2. F2FS TWRP

Nougat : http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=70148939&postcount=3710

Marshmallow : http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=68023154&postcount=2

- Based on official TWRP 3.0.2-2

- Adds support for F2FS based file systems

- Specifically made for official CyanogenMod ROMs

- Compiled with Android 6.x & Android 7.1 branch respectively.

- Users can convert their /data & /cache partitions from EXT4 to F2FS for better performance (Optional)

3. Unofficial TWRP : http://xdaforums.com/redmi-note-3/development/recovery-twrp-3-0-2-0-t3446909

- Based on official TWRP 3.0.2-2

- Up-to-date with Android 6.0 & Android 7.0 branch

- Adds support for F2FS based file systems

- Users can convert their /data & /cache partitions from EXT4 to F2FS for better performance (Optional)

- Can backup all partitions of the device

- Permissive SELinux

4. ZCX TWRP : http://xdaforums.com/redmi-note-3/how-to/zcx-twrp-install-twrp-flash-supersu-t3462448

- Based on official TWRP 3.0.2-0

- Patches boot.img automatically (Removes dm-verity flag)

- Disables forced encryption

- Updated to Android 7.1 TWRP source

- SuperSU updated to v2.76

- Fixes "0MB Storage", "Unable to mount /" errors

- Adds support for Android 6.0 /data partition decryption

- Can be used to flash incremental OTA updates on MIUI rooted ROMs

5. Cofface TWRP : http://xdaforums.com/redmi-note-3/development/recovery-kenzotwrp-cafface-3-0-0-t3369341

- Based on official TWRP 3.0.0-0

- Patches boot.img automatically (Removes dm-verity flag)

6. Safe TWRP v2 : http://xdaforums.com/redmi-note-3/how-to/modified-twrp-deleting-emmcappsboot-t3371667

- Based on Cofface TWRP 3.0.0-0

- Patches boot.img automatically (Removes dm-verity flag)

- Specifically compiled for users who UNLOCKED the BOOTLOADER using UNOFFICIAL method.

- Prevents hardbrick while flashing MIUI Recovery ROM Zip or incremental OTA Zip

7. Alka TWRP : http://en.miui.com/thread-282773-1-1.html

- Based on Cofface TWRP 3.0.0-0

- Patches boot.img automatically (Removes dm-verity flag)

- Disables forced encryption

- Can backup all partitions of the device