The software replacement procedure for Xiaomi Redmi 4 (Prima) can be required in a variety of situations, from fixing system bugs and a “bootloop” to wanting to install custom firmware with advanced functionality. Despite the age of the model, its Snapdragon 425 hardware platform still allows you to comfortably use the device as a secondary smartphone or multimedia player if you install an optimized operating system. Deep Firmware is a radical but often the only way to bring the gadget back to life when standard reset methods do not help.
Before you start taking action, you need to be aware of the risks associated with interference with the system partition. Any manipulation of the bootloader and the image of the system can theoretically lead to complete failure of the device, turning it into a "brick." However, with strict adherence to algorithms and using verified files, the probability of success is close to one hundred percent. It is important to prepare all the necessary tools in advance so that at a critical moment you do not look for drivers or utilities.
In this guide, we will look at not only the standard installation of official firmware through Fastboot, but also more advanced methods, including unlocking the bootloader and installing a TWRP recap. This approach gives the user full control of the device, allowing you to remove system debris, obtain root rights and install current versions of Android that the manufacturer has already stopped releasing for this model.
Preparation of the workplace and tools
The success of the operation depends on 90% of the quality of preparation. You will need a computer running Windows (preferably versions 7, 10 or 11), a good service. USB-The battery charge of the device should be at least 60%, and it is better to fully charge it before starting work. Unstable power during the recording process can lead to damage to the boot sector.
You need to install specialized ADB and Fastboot drivers on your computer. Without them, the system will not be able to correctly recognize the phone in the engineering access mode, and you will also need an archiver to unpack firmware files and MiFlash utility, the official Xiaomi developer tool for working with Qualcomm devices.
Pay special attention to the choice of firmware source. download system images only from official resources or trusted forums, such as 4PDA or XDA Developers. The file should have the.tgz extension for the Fastboot method. It is important to make sure that the firmware version matches your model: Redmi 4 (codename primus) and Redmi 4 Prime (codename markw) have different processors and incompatible system images.
☑️ Ready to flash
Unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader)
Modern Xiaomi devices come with a locked bootloader, which prohibits installation of unofficial software and modification of system partitions. The first step to full-fledged flashing is obtaining permission from the company to change the software. This process requires having a Mi Account and linking the device to it through the developer menu.
To activate debugging mode, go to Settings → About Phone and click on the MIUI build number seven times. Then, in the Developer Menu, turn on “Debugging by USB” and “Factory Unlocking.” After that, you need to start the Mi Unlock Tool application on your PC, log into your account and transfer the phone to Fastboot mode, pressing the volume down button when you turn on.
⚠️ Attention: The bootloader unlock procedure results in the complete removal of all data from the internal drive of the smartphone.
Once you apply through Mi Unlock, you'll have to wait 7 to 360 hours, which is a security measure implemented by the manufacturer, and when the timer expires, the tool will unlock the device, and if the status doesn't change to Unlocked, repeat the connection and verification procedure.
Installation of custom TWRP Recovery
The standard MIUI recovery menu has limited functionality and does not allow installing third-party zip archives. For advanced features, installing TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is a customized recovery that provides a user-friendly touch interface and support for file systems of modern versions of Android.
The installation process is done via the Windows command line. Once you unlock the bootloader and log in to Fastboot mode, connect the smartphone to your PC. Open the console in the folder with ADB tools and enter a command to check the connection:
fastboot devicesIf the serial number of the device is displayed in response, the connection is established, then you enter a command to flash the image of the recovery. It is important not to restart the phone immediately after this operation, otherwise the standard recavery is used. MIUI re-write TWRP. Use the following command by replacing twrp_image_name.img in the name of your file:
fastboot flash recovery twrp_image_name.imgImmediately after you execute the command, press the combination of power and volume buttons to enter the recovery menu you just installed. If you just restart the device in the usual way, the system can reset the changes.
What happens if TWRP doesn’t start?
Firmware via Fastboot with MiFlash
The official and most reliable way to restore or update the system is to use Xiaomi MiFlash, a method that requires the bootloader to be unlocked. Download and install the latest version of the program, then unpack the firmware archive (namely the Fastboot version with the.tgz extension) into the root of the C disk so that the path is short, for example: C:\rom_primus_global.
Launch MiFlash on behalf of the administrator. Transfer the smartphone to Fastboot mode (volume button down). + Power) and connect it with a cable. Press the Refresh button in the program, the serial number of the device should appear. In the lower right corner, select the clean all firmware mode to completely clear the memory and avoid file conflicts.
| Firmware mode | Description of action | Data retention |
|---|---|---|
| clean all | Complete cleaning and installation | No (all removed) |
| save user data | Updating with preservation | Yes (risky) |
| clean all + lock | Cleaning, installation and locking | No (blocks BL) |
After selecting the mode, press the "Flash" button. The process will take from 200 to 600 seconds. At this time, it is strictly forbidden to turn off the cable or interrupt the program. The progress indicator will move, and after completion, the status will appear "success".
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If MiFlash gives you a Flash Error or a Missmatching Image error, try replacing it. USB-cable or switch the device to another USB-port, preferably USB 2.0, located on the motherboard behind the system unit.
Solving Typical Errors and Problems
When you flash Xiaomi Redmi 4, you often encounter error codes, and one of the most common is error: can't find 'misc' partition, which occurs when you try to flash global firmware over Chinese (or vice versa) without first changing the bootloader region, and the solution is to use the fastboot oem emmc-storage command before the firmware, but this requires high skill.
Another common problem is hanging on the Mi logo after installation, which can mean a corrupted firmware file or version incompatibility, in which case you need to return to Fastboot mode and repeat the procedure with the clean all option, having previously checked the checksum of the downloaded archive.
If the device does not respond to buttons at all and does not turn on (black screen), but the computer emits a connection sound USB, Maybe the phone's gone. EDL (To get out of it will require disassembling the case of Redmi 4 and closing test points on the board or using a special “needle” for the purpose of the project. USB-cable to force a signal to enter load mode.
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Most of the Redmi 4 firmware errors are not due to hardware malfunction, but to the wrong firmware version (Prime instead of the usual one) or a bad one. USB-cable.