Owners of the legendary Xiaomi Redmi 4 Pro, also known as Primate, often wonder about extending the life of their device. Despite the fact that the official support of this smartphone by the manufacturer has already been discontinued, the development community continues to release current versions of the operating system.
In fact, there are several proven methods that allow even a beginner to perform this procedure. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to update Android on your gadget, what tools will be required for this, and how to avoid common mistakes that can turn a phone into a brick.
Before you start taking action, you need to clearly understand the difference between official updates through OTA and manual installation of custom or global firmware. For the Redmi 4 Pro, the second option is often the only way to get the current version of the system, since update servers may no longer respond to requests from older versions of MIUI.
Preparation of the device for the firmware procedure
The initial phase is critical to the success of the entire operation. First of all, you need to create a complete backup of all personal data. During the upgrade process, especially when you switch between major versions of Android or change the firmware region, the internal memory of the device will be completely cleared.
The second important step is to ensure a stable power source. Charge the smartphone battery to a level of at least 60-70%. Interrupting the system file writing process due to battery discharge can cause permanent damage to the software part. USB-cable that you will connect the device to the PC, as poor contact often causes failures.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure you download the firmware for the Primate model.Installation of an image designed for Redmi 4 Prime (Markw) or other modifications is guaranteed to bring the device down.
You will need to download the current firmware file to work. The source can be official MIUI archives or trusted forums such as 4PDA or XDA Developers. The file usually has the.zip extension to install via Recovery or.tgz for firmware via Fastboot. After downloading, check the checksum of the file to make sure there are no errors when downloading.
☑️ Checklist before start
Determination of the current version and type of firmware
Before choosing the upgrade method, you need to understand the current state of the system. Xiaomi releases firmware for different regions: Global (Global), China (Chinese), Europe (European) and Russia (Russian). Redmi 4 Pro is the most relevant Global and Russia versions. You can find the current version in the settings menu.
Go to Settings → Phone. This is the line "MIUI Version." Click on it a few times to see the details. If you have a Chinese version (CN) and you want a Russified interface, you'll need to change the region, which means unlocking the bootloader. Global versions usually already contain the necessary language packages.
- 📱 Stable – Stable version recommended for everyday use.
- 🐛 Developer – Test version with new features, but possible errors.
- 🌍 Global – International version with multilingual support.
- 🇨🇳 China is the version for China’s domestic market, often without Google services out of the box.
It is important to understand that switching from China to Global or Cross-grade is only possible through Fastboot mode with complete data clearing. Trying to do this through the standard update menu will lead to an error. If you do not know what firmware is worth now, note the presence of Chinese characters in the menu or Baidu apps instead of Google.
Recovery method through built-in Recovery
The easiest and safest way to upgrade to Android on Xiaomi Redmi 4 Pro is to use the regular recovery menu, which is suitable if you upgrade within the same region (for example, from Global 9.0 to Global 10.0) or install an official build on top of an existing one.
To start, place the downloaded firmware file (.zip archive) in the root of the device's internal memory. You don't have to rename the file, but it's better to keep the name short and without special characters. → About the phone and click on the version icon MIUI.
In the window that opens, click on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner and select "Select firmware file." Find the previously downloaded archive and confirm the action. The phone will suggest restarting to start the installation. The process will take 5 to 15 minutes.
⚠️ Note: If the system says "Failed to update" after selecting the file, it means that the version in the archive is older than the current one or the regions do not match.
Once the installation is complete, the device will automatically restart. The first run can take longer than usual, which is normal because the system optimizes applications and cache. Don't interrupt this process even if the phone is hanging on the logo for a few minutes.
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Update via Recovery is possible only if the new version of the firmware is newer than the current one and the regions coincide.
Firmware via Fastboot mode on your computer
If a standard update is not possible, Fastboot mode comes to the rescue. This method requires a Windows computer, an ADB/Fastboot driver installed, and the Mi Flash Tool utility. This is the most reliable way to "revive" the phone or change the firmware region.
First, you need to unpack the downloaded firmware image (.tgz file) into a separate folder on your computer. The path to the folder should not contain Cyrillic characters. Then connect the switched off smartphone to your PC by holding the volume button. The bunny in the orange hat appears on the screen — this is the Fastboot mode.
fastboot devicesEnter this command in the command prompt (cmd) running on behalf of the administrator. If the computer sees the device, you will see the serial number. Run Mi Flash Tool, press the "Select" button and specify the folder with the unpacked firmware. In the lower right corner, be sure to select clean all mode to avoid file conflicts.
| Firmware mode | Data retention | Risk of error | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Update | Preserve. | High-pitched | Not recommended |
| Clean All | Removed | Low. | Recommended |
| Clean All + Lock | Removed | Medium. | Only for Global on Global |
Once you select the mode, press Flash. 300-500 When it's done, it automatically restarts. If there's an error in the process, try it. USB-port or cable, and make sure that the antivirus does not block the utility.
What if the Mi Flash Tool gives an error "Flash All Except Data Storage"? This error often occurs when trying to block the bootloader on custom firmware.
Use of custom Recovery TWRP
For advanced users who want to install unofficial Android builds (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) or newer versions of MIUI that are not officially available, TWRP Recovery is a third-party restore menu that gives full control of the device's file system.
Installation TWRP on the Redmi 4 Pro is only possible with the bootloader unlocked. The file recovery (.img) is stitched through the Fastboot command: fastboot flash recovery twrp_name.img. After that, you need to immediately clamp the combination of power buttons and volume up to get into the menu. TWRP, Otherwise, the standard system will overwrite the Recovery back.
- 🔒 Wipe – partition for complete data cleaning (Dalvik, Cache, System, Data).
- 📥 Install – menu for selecting a zip archive with firmware.
- 💾 Backup – Creating a full backup of phone partitions.
- ⚙️ Advanced – Additional features, including terminal.
In the TWRP menu, make sure to run Wipe before installing the new system. Select Advanced Wipe and select Dalvik/ART Cache, System, Data, and Cache. Don't touch the Internal Storage section if you store a firmware file there, or copy the firmware to the SD card in advance. After cleaning, go to Install, select the archive and swipe.
Once a new system is successfully installed, TWRP often requires data formatting. Go back to the main menu, select Wipe → Format Data, type in the word yes and confirm. This action will delete all files, but it is necessary for the encryption to work properly in the new version of Android.
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If the camera or sound doesn’t work after installing custom firmware, try flashing the Magisk patch or specific add-ons for your model, which often lie in the same forum topic as the firmware itself.
Solving problems and errors in the update
Even with strict adherence to the instructions, there can be unexpected situations, and one of the most common problems is a bootloop, where the phone is constantly hanging on the MIUI or Android logo, and 90% of the time this is solved by re-entering Recovery (volume Up + Power combination) and running Wipe Data/Factory Reset.
If the phone doesn’t turn on at all and the screen is black, but vibrates when you connect to charging, it may be that the firmware is interrupted at a critical stage, in which case only Emergency Download (EDL) mode will help. To enter it, you usually need to disassemble the phone and close special contacts on the board, or use a special ADB command if debugging over USB was enabled earlier.
⚠️ Attention: Regime EDL newer MIUI Often requires an authorized Xiaomi account with paid access.Be careful when contacting service centers to unlock through EDL.
Another problem is that you don't have a network or you don't have a Wi-Fi service after you flash it, which is often when you lose an EFS or modem partition. If you backup before you run the firmware, restore those parts. If you don't, you'll need to find and install a stock modem for your version of the basic Android.
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Most software errors after firmware are treated with a complete data reset (Wipe Data).