Penguin on the screen Xiaomi Redmi 4X: causes, value and solutions

You've turned on your Xiaomi Redmi 4X, and instead of the usual MIUI logo, you've got a cute penguin in a hat-eared hat on your screen? Don't panic, it's not a virus or a screen breakage. It signals that your smartphone has entered Fastboot mode (or its subtype - EDL), which is used for deep firmware, system recovery or unlocking the bootloader. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved without visiting the service center, but it's important to understand why this happened and how to properly exit mode.

Model Redmi 4X (The codename santoni was released in 2017 and is still popular today for its reliability and maintainability, but its age has a downside: Over time, owners experience software failures, especially if the device was run through informal builds or updated "over the air" with the versions missing. USB-Next, we'll look at all the scenarios that we can think of, from accidental hits to critical crashes that require flashing.

Why Redmi 4X is getting a penguin: 5 main reasons

The penguin symbol (or the FASTBOOT MODE inscription below) is a graphical representation of the Fastboot mode that is activated in the following cases:

• 🔄 Failed Software Update: Interrupted firmware “over the air” or through the Mi Flash Tool often leads to a download cycle in Fastboot.
• 🔧 Manual activation: button combination Volume down + Power is held for more than 10 seconds (for example, when trying to make a hard reset).
• 📱 Bootloader Failure: Boot or recovery damage due to viruses, incorrect root, or experiments with Magisk.
• 🔋 Battery discharge: If the charge dropped below 5% during the upgrade, the system may "hang" in the Fastboot the next time it turns on.
• 🛠️ Hardware problems: A failure of the power button or charging socket sometimes simulates pressing the combination to enter mode.

On the Redmi 4X, the penguin can appear after installing custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), if they are not compatible with the bootloader version, in which case, exiting the mode is possible only through a complete flashing of official software.

What to do if Redmi 4X is stuck on a penguin: Step-by-step instructions

Before you bring your phone to the service, try the standard ways to exit Fastboot mode. They work 80% of the time and require no special knowledge.

Method 1: Forced resetting

The simplest method that works if the penguin appeared due to accidental button pressing:

1. Hold the Power button 15-20 seconds |2. If it doesn't work, press Volume Up + Power for 10 seconds |3. Wait 1-2 minutes and try turning the phone on again |4. If the penguin reappears, move to the next method-->

If the phone vibrates when pressed, but the screen does not go out, the problem may be sticking the Volume down button, knocking it carefully or blowing the nest with compressed air.

Method 2: Download to Recovery Mode

If the forced reboot didn’t help, try to enter Recovery mode:

1. Turn off the phone (hold power until vibration).
2. Press Volume Up + Power and hold for 10-15 seconds.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Reboot → System (use volume buttons for navigation, power for confirmation).

⚠️ Note: If the Recovery displays a No command error or a menu in Chinese, it means that the recovery partition is corrupted).

Method 3: Connect to PC and Fastboot commands

If the phone is detected by the computer in Fastboot mode (Android Bootloader Interface appears in the Device Manager), you can try rebooting it through commands:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
2. Get Redmi on board. 4X computer-to-computer USB-cable (preferably original).
3. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and type: fastboot devices If the device is displayed (serial number appears), run: fastboot reboot

If the fastboot reboot command doesn’t work, try:

fastboot oem reboot-recovery2

This will force the phone to load into stock Recovery.

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Before working with Fastboot, disable the antivirus – it can block Xiaomi drivers as potentially dangerous.

When a penguin signals a serious problem

If none of the above methods helped, and the phone is still loading into Fastboot mode, this could indicate:

• 🚨 bootloader damage: For example, after a failed attempt to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool.
• 📁 System partition removal: Often occurs when cleaning through TWRP ticked off System or Boot.
• 🔌 Hardware power controller failure: Phone may "think" that the Loudness button is being held down, even if it isn't.

In such cases, you will need to completely flash through the Mi Flash Tool in EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode, which even restores bricks with a damaged bootloader, but has nuances:

⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL on the Redmi 4X With a locked bootloader, you need to log in to the Mi Flash Tool. Without this, the program will give you an error Flash is not allowed in locked state. If the phone is not yours, make sure the previous owner untie the account in Settings. → Mi Account → Remove the device.

How to flash Redmi 4X via Fastboot: detailed instructions

If standard methods fail and the phone is detected in Fastboot mode, follow this instruction.

• 🖥️ Windows computer 7/10/11 (on Mac/Linux Possible problems with drivers).
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (do not use extension cords!).
• 📁 Fastboot firmware for Redmi 4X (You can download it on the official Xiaomi website).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool (version not lower than 2020).

Firmware steps:

1. Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\ROM\santoni_global_images...).
2. Install drivers: Connect the phone turned off to your PC, keeping Volume down + Power. In Device Manager, update the driver for Android Bootloader Interface by specifying the folder with the Mi Flash Tool.

Launch the Mi Flash Tool

Select

Select firmware mode

• Clean all – complete cleaning (recommended in case of failures).
• Clean all and lock – Clean + lock the bootloader (only if the phone was officially unlocked!).
• Press Flash and wait for completion (5-10 minutes). the phone will reboot automatically.

⚠️ Note: If after firmware the phone hangs on the logo MIUI, Recovery, or Wipe Data, which will delete all the data, but it will bring back the work.

Hardware causes of penguin: when you need the help of a specialist

If the software methods did not help, the problem can be hidden in the hardware. For the Redmi 4X, the following hardware malfunctions typical of the crash, leading to a freeze in the Fastboot:

• 🔋 Battery Failure: Bloating or Deep Discharge (below) 3.2V) It can block normal loading. Check the voltage with a multimeter if it's lower. 3.5V, battery needs to be replaced.
• 🔌 Charging socket problems: Oxidating contacts or breaking a power chain mimics pressing buttons. Try cleaning the socket with alcohol and blowing air.
• 🎛️ Loudness down: If the button is stuck mechanically, the phone will constantly load into the Fastboot).
• 🔧 Memory chip damage (eMMC): In this case, the phone may be detected in the Fastboot, but the firmware will end in error. Diagnosed only with a programmer (e.g., UFi Box).

💡 How do you tell a software glitch from a hardware one? Connect your phone to charge for 30 minutes. If the penguin disappears and the charging indicator appears, there's a problem with the battery or the power supply chain. If the screen stays black or only the penguin is on fire, it's a software glitch (requires firmware).

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If the phone is not detected in either Fastboot or EDL (the indicator does not burn when connecting to a PC), with a 90% probability it is a hardware malfunction. Self-repair without experience can aggravate the problem - contact the service.

How to avoid penguin appearance on Redmi 4X

To avoid hanging out in Fastboot mode, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Update only through official channels: Avoid firmware from questionable forums, especially if it is intended for other models (for example, Redmi 4 instead of Redmi). 4X).
• 🔋 Watch the battery: Do not upgrade if the charge is below 30%.Use the original chargers.
• 🔧 Don't experiment with unlocking the bootloader unless you understand the consequences. - On Redmi 4X After unlocking, the data encryption is reset, and without a backup, you will lose all files.
• 🛡️ Install Antivirus: Some malicious applications (such as Android.Triada) damage the bootloader.
• 📱 Avoid physical damage: Hits or falls can disrupt button or board contacts.

If you do decide to stitch your phone yourself, always back up your phone through TWRP and save it to your PC, which will allow you to restore your workability even after a failed experiment.

Frequent questions about penguin on Xiaomi Redmi 4X