Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to update software to get new features and security fixes. The Redmi 4, released in 2016, became a real bestseller thanks to the successful combination of a metal body and autonomy. However, the support of this model by the manufacturer is officially completed, making the upgrade process not as obvious as on new devices.
There are several ways to solve the problem, each of which has its own risks and advantages: you can try to find official updates through the device menu, download firmware manually or even install a custom version of Android from third-party developers. It is critical to understand that each new version of the system requires more resources from the processor and RAM. So before starting any manipulations, it is worth weighing whether your device will really get better, or the current version of MIUI is optimal for its hardware.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the stages of preparation and the process of installing new versions of the software. We will consider the nuances of working with the backup, the features of file systems and methods of rolling back changes in the event of a failure. Redmi 4 is based on the Snapdragon 430 platform, which has its limitations, but with a competent approach allows you to extend the life of the gadget. Read carefully to avoid common errors.
Analysis of the current version and available updates
The first step is to always diagnose the current state of the system, and it's not a good idea to blindly trust third-party sources, but to check the data directly in the smartphone interface, go to the Settings menu, select About Phone, and look at the MIUI version bar, which number determines which service packs are compatible with your device.
Officially, Xiaomi Redmi 4 (codename prada for Prime and ido for the regular version) has settled on the version of MIUI 9 or MIUI 10 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow or Android 7.0 Nougat. If your phone offers a more recent version through the regular menu, this can be a sign of a fake or previously installed custom firmware. Owners of the original devices should prepare for the fact that the “official” path is no further.
- 🔍 Go to Settings. → About the phone and record the exact version of the system.
- 📱 Make sure you have a Redmi 4, not a Redmi. 4X or 4A, Because the firmware is not compatible.
- 🌐 Check for updates through the "System Update" item in the "About Phone" menu».
⚠️ Note: Never try to install the firmware from Redmi 4X This will cause the touchscreen to fail or the download to be completely blocked.
It's worth noting that global firmware (Global) and Chinese (CN) have different partition structure. If you've reflashed your phone before, the paths to rollback may be different. In some cases, the update menu may not see new packets if the region of the device and firmware do not match, a common situation for devices imported with parallel imports.
Preparation of the device for the firmware procedure
Before you start any manipulation of the system partition, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps. Ignoring this step in 90% of cases leads to data loss or installation errors. Backup is not just a recommendation, it is a requirement. Your contacts, photos and applications can be irretrievably lost in the event of a failure.
It is also important to ensure stable power. The process of writing data to flash memory is energy intensive, and sudden power loss can damage the boot loader. Charge the battery to at least 60-70%, or better keep the device connected to the charger during the entire process, if the design of the cable and usability allows.
☑️ Checklist before update
Free up internal storage. Even if you upgrade over the air, the system needs time to unpack the archives. Delete unnecessary videos, messenger cache and heavy files. The minimum free space threshold for a successful upgrade is 3-4 GB, otherwise the process may be interrupted in the middle.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Critical minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Battery charge | 80-100% | 50% |
| Free seat | 5-6 GB | 3GB |
| Wi-Fi stability | Tall. | Medium |
| USB-cable | Original. | Quality analogue |
Remember to enable USB debugging if you plan to use computer methods. This feature is in the hidden “Developers” menu. To activate it, you need to quickly click 7 times on the version number in the “About Phone” menu. Then in the advanced settings, you will see the “Developers” option, where you need to move the debugging slider over USB to the active position.
Automatic update via smartphone menu
The easiest and safest way for every user is to upgrade through the built-in MIUI Updater mechanism, which does not require a computer, special cables or deep technical knowledge, and the system will check the servers for new packages that are suitable for your modification of the device.
To start the process, go to Settings → About Phone and click on the system version icon (large MIUI number). If the update is available, it will start loading automatically. If the system says "No Updates found", it does not always mean that there are none. Sometimes the server does not see the device due to a changed region or previous modifications.
Secret bootloader menu
During the installation process, the phone will reboot several times. The screen may go out and light up, the Android logo with the robot installer may appear. Don't touch the buttons at this point. Interrupting the process during the patch phase can lead to a cyclical restart (bootloop).
- 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network as the package can weigh over 1.5GB.
- 🔋 Make sure the power saving mode is turned off so that the screen does not go out during booting.
- ⏳ Wait for the system to boot up after the final restart.
If the automatic search didn't work, try changing the region in the settings (Moreover → Region) to India or Global, then check again for updates. Sometimes this helps to rock the server check, but remember that changing the region can affect the operation of some system applications and services.
Manual installation of firmware through Recovery
If the automatic method doesn’t work or you want to upgrade to another version MIUI (For example, from Chinese to Global, you need to manually install it. ROM), which you need to download from an official website or a proven resource like MIUI bootloader.
Copy the downloaded archive to the root of the phone's internal memory. Don't put it in folders, use the root directory so that Recovery can easily find it. Then go to the update menu, click three dots and select "Select firmware file." The system will check the integrity of the file and suggest that you start installing it.
⚠️ Note: When switching between different types of firmware (e.g. China) ↔ Global) data will be completely deleted. Store all important information in advance to your computer or to the cloud.
In the manual installation process, the system will perform a signature check on the file. If the file is damaged or not intended for this model, the installation will be blocked. In some cases, when you switch from a newer version to an older version (downgrade), the standard method may not work, and you will need to clean all the data through the Wipe Data menu before installation.
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If the standard installer says, "Failure to verify a file," rename the firmware archive to "update.zip" and place it at the root of the memory. This sometimes helps bypass the file name check.
Once successfully installed, the phone will restart. The first boot can last up to 5-7 minutes, which is fine, as the system optimizes applications and creates cache. Don't panic if the MI logo hangs longer than usual. If the download lasts more than 15 minutes, there may have been a failure and a reset via Recovery will be required.
Using Fastboot and Computer for Advanced
For those who want to gain full control of the device or restore the “brick”, there is a Fastboot mode. This method requires the presence of a PC, a driver installed. ADB/Fastboot It's a more complicated way, but it allows you to install the system completely, bypassing the limitations of the bootloader.
To put Redmi 4 into Fastboot mode, turn off your phone and press the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously. The screen will show a picture of a rabbit fixing a robot. Connect the device to your computer via a computer. USB-In Windows Device Manager, it should be defined as Android Bootloader Interface.
fastboot devices
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot rebootUsing the fastboot command allows not only to flash the system, but also to unlock the bootloader (requires permission from Xiaomi and a wait of 168 hours). Unlocked bootloader gives superuser rights (Root) and the ability to install custom recaps such as TWRP. However, this deprives the warranty and can disrupt the operation of banking applications.
- 💻 Install Qualcomm or Xiaomi drivers USB Driver on the computer.
- 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader is possible only through the official utility Mi Unlock.
- ⚡ In Fastboot mode, do not turn off the cable until all operations are completed.
It is important to understand that firmware through Fastboot (especially the team). flash_all) It's a nuclear method that puts the phone back into a store-like state, and only use it in extreme cases or when you change regions and you clean it completely.
Solving common mistakes and problems
Redmi 4 users often experience typical problems during the update process, with one of the most common being a signature verification error or a message saying “Failure to check file” that may be due to a corrupted firmware file, version incompatibility, or memory shortage.
Another common problem is the bootloop, which is that the phone is constantly rebooting without ever reaching the desktop, and it's going to help you log in to Recovery mode and execute the Wipe Data/Factory Reset command, which will delete all the data, but often saves the system.
⚠️ Note: If the sensor or sound stopped working after the update, you probably installed firmware from another model (for example, from Redmi). 4X). Urgent reflashing with the correct version is required.
Users may also notice that after the upgrade, the phone starts to run out faster, which is normal in the first 2-3 days while the system re-indexes files and optimizes the operation of applications. If the problem persists longer, try to delete the cache of system services or perform a complete reset.
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Most of the errors when updating Xiaomi Redmi 4 are due to the incompatibility of the versions of the bootloader and firmware.Always use the Recovery ROM of the same branch (Global/China) as the current system, unless you do a full cleaning.