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The POCO M3 (codename: citrus) is a popular budget device powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662. While it shipped with MIUI 11 and received updates up to MIUI 14, many users want to install a custom recovery like TWRP or OrangeFox to flash custom ROMs, root with Magisk, create full system backups, or simply have more control over their device.

However, installing a custom recovery on the POCO M3 running MIUI 14 comes with a unique catch that you won't find on older MIUI versions. This guide, based on hands-on practical experience, will walk you through the entire process safely,   including the critical MIUI 14-specific issue (non-permanent recovery) and how to work around it.

Important transparency note (E-E-A-T): On MIUI 14, a custom recovery flashed via fastboot is NOT permanent on the stock ROM. After you reboot to the system, the stock recovery will replace your custom recovery. This is a known behavior;   we'll explain exactly why, what it means for you, and how to make it permanent (root with Magisk or flash a custom ROM). We'll also show you the Format Data step required to fix encrypted storage so OrangeFox can read your files properly.

Critical Things You Must Know Before Starting

1. Unlocked Bootloader (UBL) is Mandatory

Your POCO M3 must have an unlocked bootloader. To verify:

• Open Settings > About phone > Tap MIUI version 7 times to enable Developer Options
• Go to Settings > Additional settings > Developer options
• Check "Mi Unlock status"; it must show "Device is unlocked"
• If locked, you must first unlock it using Xiaomi's official Mi Unlock tool (this erases all data)

2. On MIUI 14, Custom Recovery is NOT Permanent (Stock ROM)

This is the most important thing to understand:

• After flashing recovery via fastboot, you can boot into it once
• But after you reboot to the system (home screen), the stock recovery replaces it
• To re-enter custom recovery, you must re-flash it via fastboot/ADB again
• To make it permanent: Either root with Magisk (recovery survives) or flash a custom ROM (recovery becomes permanent automatically)
• Alternative for permanence: Downgrade to MIUI 12 first, then install recovery there

3. Format Data is Required

After booting into OrangeFox for the first time, your internal storage folders will show as random numbers/letters (encrypted). You must Format Data (type YES) to fix this. This erases ALL data on your phone; back up everything important first.

4. Recommendation: Use This as a Stepping Stone

Because recovery isn't permanent on stock MIUI 14, it's best to use this installation as the first step toward either:

• Flashing a custom ROM (recovery becomes permanent)
• Rooting with Magisk (recovery becomes permanent)

Required Downloads

File	Purpose
ADB Drivers	Allows Windows to communicate with your device in fastboot mode
Minimal ADB & Fastboot	Command-line tool for flashing the recovery image
OrangeFox Recovery Image for POCO M3	The custom recovery file (.img format) recommended over TWRP for MIUI 14

Note: OrangeFox is recommended over TWRP for the POCO M3 on MIUI 14 because it handles encryption and the Format Data process more reliably.

Step 1: Install ADB Drivers

1. Download and extract the ADB Drivers package
2. Run the installer
3. When prompted, type "Y" (capital) and press Enter;r repeat three times for each prompt.pt
4. Click Next, then Finish
5. The installer window will close automatically when done

Step 2: Install Minimal ADB & Fastboot

1. Download and extract Minimal ADB & Fastboot
2. Run the installer
3. When prompted, click Yes
4. Uncheck the "Launch Minimal ADB and Fastboot" checkbox at the final step (we'll open it manually later)
5. Click Finish

Step 3: Copy the Recovery Image to the ADB Folder

1. Locate the downloaded OrangeFox recovery image for POCO M3 (e.g., recovery_poco_m3.img)
2. Copy the file
3. Find the Minimal ADB and Fastboot installation folder (usually in C:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot). Tip: Right-click the Minimal ADB shortcut > Open file location
4. Paste the recovery image into this folder
5. If prompted for administrator permission, click Continue

Step 4: Boot POCO M3 into Fastboot Mode

1. Power off your POCO M3 completely
2. Press and hold Volume Down + Power simultaneously
3. Keep holding until you see the Fastboot screen (the "FASTBOOT" text with the Mi bunny logo)
4. Connect your phone to the PC using a good-quality USB data cable

Step 5: Flash the Custom Recovery via Fastboot

Open Minimal ADB and Fastboot (command prompt window)

Verify your device is connected:
fastboot devices

• You should see a string of random letters and numbers; ers this confirms your device is detected.
• If nothing appears: check the cable, USB port, and ADB drivers

Flash the recovery image (replace recovery_poco_m3.img with your actual filename): fastboot flash recovery recovery_poco_m3.img
Wait for the process to complete; you'll see "OKAY" and "finished" messages
Close the command prompt window on your PC

Important: The phone will NOT automatically reboot into recovery, even if you type fastboot reboot recovery. You must enter it manually.

Step 6: Manually Boot into OrangeFox Recovery

1. Unplug the USB cable from your phone
2. Press and hold Volume Up + Power simultaneously
3. Keep holding until the OrangeFox Recovery logo appears
4. You are now in custom recovery!

Step 7: Format Data (Critical – Fixes Encryption)

When you first enter OrangeFox, you may notice that internal storage folders show as random numbers and letters. This is because MIUI 14's encryption hasn't been decrypted. To fix this:

1. In OrangeFox, tap the Wipe (trash bin) icon
2. Select Format Data
3. Type "YES" to confirm
4. Wait for the format to complete
5. Your internal storage is now decrypted and readable

Warning: This erases ALL data on your phone:   photos, apps, messages, everything. Make sure you backed up before this step.

Step 8: Verify Recovery is Working

After Format Data:

• OrangeFox should display your internal storage with normal folder names
• You can now flash ZIP files (custom ROMs, Magisk, etc.)
• You can create NANDroid backups
• The device is safe:   no bootloop, no random reboots

At this point, you have two recommended paths:

Option A: Flash a Custom ROM

• Immediately flash your chosen custom ROM through OrangeFox
• After flashing a custom ROM, the custom recovery becomes permanent

Option B: Root with Magisk

• Flash the Magisk ZIP through OrangeFox
• Reboot to system with Magisk root; the custom recovery becomes permanent

If you reboot to stock MIUI 14 without doing either: The custom recovery will be replaced by stock recovery. You'll need to re-flash it via fastboot to use it again.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: `fastboot devices` shows nothing

Solution: Reinstall ADB drivers, try a different USB port (preferably USB 2.0), use a different USB cable, ensure the phone is in fastboot mode (not normal boot).

Issue 2: Flashing fails with "remote: partition table doesn't exist" or similar error

Solution: Verify you're using the correct recovery image for POCO M3 (codename citrus). Double-check the filename in your fastboot command matches the actual file.

Issue 3: Stuck on Fastboot screen, can't boot to system

Solution: Hold the Power button for 10+ seconds to force a reboot. If it still won't boot, re-flash the stock boot/recovery via fastboot or use Mi Flash Tool to restore stock firmware.

Issue 4: OrangeFox shows random folder names after Format Data

Solution: Reboot back into OrangeFox once. If folders still show as encrypted, you may need to flash a custom ROM or use a newer OrangeFox build that supports MIUI 14 encryption.

Issue 5: Custom recovery disappeared after rebooting to the system

Solution: This is normal on the MIUI 14 stock ROM. Re-flash via fastboot (Step 5), or make it permanent by rooting with Magisk or flashing a custom ROM.

Issue 6: Touchscreen not working in recovery

Solution: Use a different OrangeFox build;   some older versions have touch driver issues on certain MIUI versions. Try the latest stable OrangeFox release for POCO M3.

Pro Tips & Best Practices

• Backup everything before starting.   Format Data is unavoidable on MIUI 14
• Use OrangeFox, not TWRP, for better encryption handling on MIUI 14
• Have your custom ROM or Magisk ZIP ready before flashing recovery since recovery is temporary; do your next step immediately
• Keep the recovery image file safe; you may need to re-flash it multiple times
• Use USB 2.0 ports more reliable for fastboot operations than USB 3.0
• Don't interrupt the flashing process; a failed flash can brick the recovery partition (recoverable via fastboot, but annoying)
• For permanent recovery on stock MIUI 14: Consider downgrading to MIUI 12 first, then install recovery there

Final Verdict

Installing a custom recovery on the POCO M3 running MIUI 14 is entirely doable, but it requires understanding the platform's limitations. The fastboot flashing method works reliably, and OrangeFox handles the MIUI 14 encryption well after a Format Data. The non-permanence on stock ROM is a genuine limitation, but it's easily overcome by immediately flashing a custom ROM or rooting with Magisk.

For most users, this installation is best treated as the gateway step; once OrangeFox is running, you're one flash away from a custom ROM or root, both of which unlock the full potential of your POCO M3 long after official support has ended.

Disclaimer: This guide is based on practical hands-on experience with the POCO M3 on MIUI 14. Unlocking the bootloader and flashing custom software voids your warranty and carries inherent risks. Always download files from trusted sources, back up your data, and follow instructions carefully. The author is not responsible for bricked devices or data loss. This guide is for educational purposes only.