No, root permissions are not needed, iProxy works on all Android devices.
Please note that rooting XiaoMi devices may take 7-14 days, during which the manufacturer will grant you permission to obtain root rights. Tip: check in advance with the specialist that will root your XiaoMi device, whether they know how to do it without waiting 7-14 days.
For those who want to experiment with root-rights on their own, we recommend checking out the guide on 4pda.
Root is a flashing that gives applications "super rights". The iProxy app with root rights can independently toggle Airplane mode (to change the device’s IP address) and remotely reboot the device.