Xiaomi Redmi 4X, despite its venerable age, is still a popular device among those who appreciate compactness and reliability. However, time takes its toll: modern applications require more resources, and older versions of Android no longer receive security updates. In this situation, the only way out is a complete reinstallation of the operating system, which allows not only to refresh the interface, but also to fix software errors.
The process of firmware through a computer is considered the most reliable method, since it eliminates the risks associated with unstable Wi-Fi connection or interruption of the download on the device itself. Using a PC gives the user full control over the operation and allows you to choose a specific version of the software, whether it is an official Global ROM or custom build. It is important to understand that interference with system files is always associated with risks, so strict adherence to the algorithm of actions is critical.
Before you start taking action, you should realize that this procedure will completely destroy all data on the internal drive. Photos, contacts, messages and application settings will be permanently deleted unless you make a backup in advance. Redmi 4X firmware via Fastboot mode requires original or quality USB cable, as cheap cables often do not provide stable data transfer.
Preparation of equipment and software
Success of the operation 90% It depends on the quality of the pre-production. You need a computer running Windows, because Xiaomi drivers and utilities work best in this environment. 5-10 GB of storage space for firmware files and temporary data.
The key is to install the right drivers. Without them, the computer will not see the smartphone in boot mode. Usually they are installed automatically along with the Mi Flash Tool utility, but in some cases, especially on Windows 10 and 11, manual installation is required through the Device Manager. Make sure that the system does not have conflicting programs installed to manage other Android devices.
You also need to download the firmware itself. For the Redmi 4X model (codenamed land), it is important to choose the right file. There are two main types of firmware for this method: Fastboot (extension.tgz) and Recovery (extension.zip). For firmware through the computer, we need only the Fastboot option.
- 🔌 Original. USB-cable or certified analogue with data transmission support.
- 💻 PC with Windows and administrator rights for installing drivers.
- 📁 Downloaded Fastboot firmware for Redmi 4X (codename: land).
- 🔋 Charged smartphone battery at least 60% to avoid shutdown.
Check the integrity of the downloaded archive. If the download is interrupted or the file is corrupted, the process can end in an error during the checksum verification phase.
Unpacking of firmware and installing drivers
After downloading the archive with the firmware, it must be properly unpacked. The file has a double extension, for example, land_global_images_V10.2.3.0.NCGMIXM_20190515.0000.00_7.1_global.tgz. The archive is first unpacked in.tar format and then the contents of the archive are unpacked. TAR-The path to the folder must not contain Cyrillic characters or spaces, otherwise the Mi Flash Tool may not see the files.
ADB and Fastboot drivers are the bridge between your computer's operating system and your gadget. If you connect your phone in boot mode to a device manager that displays an unknown device with a yellow exclamation point, the drivers are not standing up, so you need to manually specify the path to the driver folder, which is usually in the Mi Flash Tool installation directory.
To check if you're installing the drivers correctly, you can use the command line. Once you've connected your phone in Fastboot mode (clamping the volume and power button) and you input the fastboot device command, you'll see the serial number of the device, and it's a signal that you've established the connection and you can move on to the next step.
What to do if drivers are not installed?
Importantly, some versions of Windows may require you to disable the mandatory driver signature verification, and without this step, the security system will simply block the installation of the necessary software, and the computer will not be able to properly interact with the phone bootloader.
Setup Mi Flash Tool and selecting the firmware mode
The Mi Flash Tool is the official tool for working with Xiaomi devices based on Qualcomm processors. The interface of the program is quite simple, but contains several critical settings that determine the final result. After running the program, the first thing you need to do is press the Select button and indicate the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware.
At the bottom of the program window, there's a triradio-button switch that determines how you write data. It's up to you whether your data is saved or your device gets cleaned up completely. For the Redmi 4X, which is often used as a second phone or requires a complete cleanup of old garbage, you're most likely to choose a full cleanup mode.
| Mode (Radio Button) | Description of action | Data retention | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| clean all | Completely clean all memory sections | No (all removed) | Recommended for clean installation |
| save user data | Update the system without deleting files | Yeah (photos, contacts) | Only to update the MIUI version |
| clean all and lock | Cleaning and locking the loader | No (all removed) | Only for global versions on global devices |
The safest and most recommended option for flashing is clean all, which deletes all user data, cache and system settings, returning the phone to a store-like state, avoiding conflicts between old and new system files, which often causes unstable work.
The clean all and lock option requires special care, and is only permissible if you flash the unlocked bootloader device onto the official global firmware corresponding to the region of the device. If you try to lock the bootloader on the Chinese version with global firmware or vice versa, the phone can turn into a brick with the Device Status: Unlocked error or stop loading altogether.
☑️ Pre-firmware check
Redmi 4X is now in Fastboot mode
To start the recording process, the smartphone needs to be switched to a special debugging mode called Fastboot. In this mode, the device does not load the operating system, but waits for commands from the computer. On Redmi 4X, this is done by hardware, which guarantees entry into mode even if the system is completely inoperable.
Turn off your smartphone completely. Then simultaneously press and hold the volume down and power button, and hold them until you see a picture of a rabbit repairing an android labeled FASTBOOT on the screen, which usually takes 3 to 5 seconds.
After the appearance of the hare, connect the phone to the computer through USB-The command line of the Mi Flash Tool should show a string with the serial number of the device. If the number shows an error or the field remains empty, check the cable and drivers. Sometimes it helps to reconnect the cable or use another one. USB-port, preferably USB 2.0.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to remove the cable or turn off the phone during the firmware process. interrupt system partition recording on Redmi 4X almost guaranteed to damage the bootloader, which will require complex recovery through EDL-hull-to-body.
If the phone suddenly restarts as normal, repeat the login procedure. Sometimes the first start of the Fastboot may not be correct due to static electricity or features. USB-Make sure that the screen is on the orange or blue indicator (depending on the status of the loader) and the inscription Fastboot.
Starting the firmware process and monitoring
Once the device is defined, the file path is selected and the clean all mode is activated, you can press the Flash button, and from that point on, the writing process begins, and the sequences of the operation statuses will start appearing in the program log: partition reset, formatting, image writing. The entire process takes 300 to 600 seconds depending on the speed. USB-port and storage state.
During firmware, the indicator will be filled with green. Don't be afraid if the process hangs on a certain percentage (e.g., 6% or 50%) for a while. The system can check the integrity of the data being recorded, which takes time. The main thing is not to interrupt the process ahead of time.
When you complete the operation, the status field will be marked success, and the phone will automatically restart. The first boot after the firmware (called First Boot) can last up to 10-15 minutes, during which time the system optimizes applications and adjusts partitions. The screen can go out and light up, the Mi logo can appear - this is normal behavior.
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If after the reboot, the phone is stuck on the Mi logo for more than 20 minutes, try pressing the power and volume button upwards for a forced reboot.If the cycle repeats, it may be incompatible with your model or damaged.
It's worth noting that right after the first boot, the system can run slowly, because it's due to background indexing and tuning, so let the device lie on a charger with the screen on around the corner. 20-30 minutes to complete all background tasks.
Possible mistakes and ways to solve them
Even with strict adherence to the instructions, technical failures can occur. One of the most common errors is the Not enough space message, which means that you are trying to flash firmware that is larger than the phone’s memory, or, more often, you have chosen the wrong type of firmware (for example, Recovery instead of Fastboot).
Another common problem is the Miss matching image and device error, which occurs when you try to install firmware designed for a different region or model on your device. Redmi 4X bootloader checks compatibility and blocks installation of inappropriate software. Make sure the code name of the firmware (land) matches the model of the device.
There may also be a partition signature error, especially if the phone has previously had custom firmware or a bootloader changed. In such cases, pre-cleaning through the fastboot erase persist or fastboot format userdata command sometimes helps, but this requires advanced knowledge and is done through the Windows command line.
⚠️ Warning: An “anti-rollback check failed” error means you’re trying to roll back to an older version of Android or a new version of Android. MIUI, The anti-rollback system blocks this action for safety, and you can only go back to the version with the same or higher protection index.
If you fail, look at the log at the bottom of the Mi Flash Tool, which contains the error code and a brief description. USB-cable or port, as an unstable connection is the main enemy when firmware.
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Successful firmware Redmi 4X through the computer is possible only with the use of Fastboot firmware (extension.tgz), serviceable cable and the choice of "clean all" mode to avoid system conflicts.