How to safely change firmware on Xiaomi Redmi 4: a complete guide with nuances

Xiaomi Redmi 4

MIUI

Android

Many Redmi 4 owners (codenamed prada) have trouble updating their firmware on their own, from errors when unlocking the bootloader to the device's "brick." In this article, we'll look at all the steps from preparation to final setup, and how to avoid common mistakes.

Before you start, consider that flashing will void the warranty (if it still works) and can lead to data loss. If you're not sure about yourself, you'd better see a specialist. But if you're willing to take risks, follow the instructions carefully: every step is important.

📊 Why do you want to download Redmi 4?
Install a new version of MIUI
Switch to custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)
Remove ads and unnecessary applications
Speed up the work of the smartphone
Another option

1. Firmware Preparation: What to Do Before Starting

The first and most important step is to prepare the device and the computer, and neglecting this step often leads to errors like ERROR: failed to load auth certificate or the inability to connect to the smartphone via Fastboot.

Redmi 4 has several modifications:

  • 📱 Redmi 4 (2/16 GB - markw (Snapdragon) 430)
  • 📱 Redmi 4X (3/32 GB - santoni (Snapdragon) 435)
  • 📱 Redmi 4A (2/16 GB - rolex (Snapdragon) 425)

Check your model in Settings → About Phone → Model or under the battery (on the sticker). firmware for santoni will not work for prada - it will lead to a "brick"!

Next, check:

  • 🔋 Battery charge – at least 60% (better than 100%).
  • 💾 Backup of data (photos, contacts, SMS) via Mi Cloud or Google Account.
  • 🖥️ On the PC must be installed drivers Mi Phone Manager (download from the official site Xiaomi).
  • 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original or qualitative analogue).

If you plan to install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), you will additionally need:

  • 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (bootloader).
  • 🛠️ Established custom recaveri TWRP.
  • 📦 Archive with firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).

⚠️ Warning: If your Redmi 4 was bought in China, check if it supports global firmware.Some Chinese versions (CN) There are restrictions on the installation of Global ROM.

☑️ Checklist before firmware

Done: 0 / 5

2 Unlock the bootloader on Redmi 4

By default, the bootloader on all Xiaomi smartphones is locked, a security measure that prevents the installation of unofficial software, you have to unlock the device to flash it, the process takes 3 to 7 days (due to checking the Mi Account).

Instructions for unlocking:

  1. Connect your device to your Mi Account: Go to Settings → Mi Account → Sign in. Enter your account details (if not, sign up). Activate Device Search and Sync.

Mi Unlock Tool

official website

Mi

Fastboot

Hardware: turn off your smartphone → press the Power button + Volume down for 10 seconds.


Software: Enter adb reboot bootloader in the terminal

Mi Unlock Tool

Unlock

Once you successfully unlock, you'll see Unlocked at the bottom of the Fastboot screen, and you can now install custom Recovery or flash the device through Fastboot.

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the device! don't miss the backup step.

What if the Mi Unlock Tool can’t see the device?
1. Check if drivers are installed (Android Bootloader Interface should be displayed in Device Manager). 2. Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0 on the back of your PC). 3. Disable the antivirus - it can block the program. 4. Use the original Xiaomi cable. 5. Reinstall the Mi Unlock Tool, pre-deleting the old version.

3. firmware selection: official MIUI vs custom builds

Redmi 4 can be used in two types of firmware:

  1. Official (MIUI): stable and weekly versions from Xiaomi.
  2. Custom: LineageOS, Pixel Experience, Havoc-OS and others.

💡

If you choose custom firmware, pay attention to the Android version. For Redmi 4, Android 10 is considered the most stable (newer versions can slow down due to weak iron).

4. Install firmware via Fastboot (for official MIUI)

The most reliable way to flash an official MIUI is through Fastboot mode, which requires an archive with.tgz firmware and the Mi Flash Tool.

Step-by-step:

  1. Download and unpack the firmware (for example, prada_global_images_V12.5.8.0.RAMCNXM_20221010.0000.00_10.0_global_1234567890.tgz).
  2. Install the Mi Flash Tool (included in the Mi Unlock Tool).
  3. Transfer your phone to Fastboot (as described above).
  4. Connect your smartphone to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
  5. In the program, click Select and specify the path to the unpacked folder with firmware.
  6. Select firmware mode: Clean all - clean (recommended); Clean all and lock - clean + lock bootloader (if you need to return the warranty); Save user data - save data (does not always work correctly).

Flash

Once the firmware is successful, the phone will automatically restart. The first run can take up to 15 minutes - don't interrupt the process!

⚠️ If the Mi Flash Tool is making an error 0x80070002, Check the path to the firmware folder (no Cyrillic characters) and try running the program on behalf of the administrator.

💡

Use Clean All mode to avoid conflicts between old and new system files, which prevents most errors after firmware.

5. Install custom firmware through TWRP

To install informal firmware (for example, LineageOS) you will need custom TWRP recavers. This method is more flexible, but also more risky - an error can lead to a "brick".

Installation steps:

  1. Download TWRP for your model: For prada: official website. For santoni: here.

Fastboot

TWRP

fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-prada.img


fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_9-0-prada.img

TWRP

Backup → Select sections → Swipe to Backup

lineage-17.1-20260510-UNOFFICIAL-santoni.zip

GApps

TWRP

Wipe → Advanced Wipe

  • Dalvik / ART Cache
  • System
  • Data
  • Cache
  • Press Install, select the firmware archive, and confirm installation. Repeat for GApps.
  • After completion, press Reboot System.

The first launch of custom firmware can take up to 20 minutes, and if the device has been stuck on the logo for more than 30 minutes, something has gone wrong, and you need to repeat the process.

How to return a standard recap after TWRP?
1. Download the original recavators for your model (e.g. recovery-prada.img.). 2. Transfer the phone to Fastboot. 3. execute the command: fastboot flash recovery recovery-prada.img 4. Reboot the device.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even with the exact following of the instructions, there can be problems.

Error 1: Device not defined in Fastboot

  • 🔌 Check the cable and port USB (Try another port on the PC).
  • 🖥️ Install drivers manually through Device Manager (select Android Bootloader Interface).
  • 🔄 Reinstall the Mi Flash Tool or ADB.

Error 2: Firmware through the Mi Flash Tool ends with error 0x8007010b

  • 📁 Check the integrity of the archive with firmware (unpack and compare hashes).
  • 🔄 Try another version of the Mi Flash Tool (e.g. 2018340 instead of 20200710).
  • 🔓 Make sure the bootloader is unlocked (Fastboot must say Unlocked).

Error 3: After firmware, the phone bootloop (cyclical reboot)

  • 🔄 Come back in TWRP (clamp down on power. + Increased volume when loading).
  • 🧹 Run the Wipe. → Format Data (enter yes to confirm).
  • 📦 Refresh the firmware.

Error 4: No network after firmware

  • 📶 Check if the firmware supports your modem model (for example, santoni requires firmware with a scalable device). modem.img for Snapdragon 435).
  • 🔧 B Settings → SIM-Maps and mobile networks select network mode manually (e.g, LTE).
  • 🔄 Refuse the modem section through Fastboot: fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin

💡

If you have lost your IMEI after the firmware, restore it using the engineering menu (#4636##) or the SN Write Tool (requires NVRAM backup).

7.Optimization and customization after firmware

After successfully installing a new firmware, it is recommended to follow several steps to improve performance:

For the official MIUI:

  • 🚀 Turn off animation: Activate Developer Mode (7 taps by Assembly Number in Settings) → About the phone. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers, set the scale of the animation window, the scale of the animation transition and the scale of the duration of the animator on the Off..
  • 🗑️ Clear the app cache in Settings → Annexes → Clear the cache.
  • 🔋 Calibrate the battery: Charge the phone to 100%. Turn off the charger and use until full discharge. Repeat the cycle 2-3 once.

For custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience):

  • 🔒 Set up root rights (if needed): Install Magisk through TWRP. Activate in the Root Access Developer Settings.
  • 🎯 Optimize the kernel: Install Kernel Adiutor or FrancoKernel. select Battery or Balanced profile.
  • 🔄 Update Google Services: Settings → Annexes → Google Play Services → Update

If you notice a battery overheating or rapid battery drain after firmware, check the background processes in Settings → Battery → Battery Use. Often unoptimized applications or synchronization services are to blame.

8.How to return a standard firmware (rollback)

If custom firmware was unstable or you want to return the warranty, you can roll back to the standard MIUI.

Method 1: Fastboot (recommended)

  1. Download the official firmware for your model (for example, prada_global_images_V12.5.3.0.RAMCNXM).
  2. Unpack the archive and launch the Mi Flash Tool.
  3. Select Clean All and Lock mode (this will block the bootloader back).
  4. Switch the device and wait for the reboot.

Method 2: TWRP (if the bootloader is unlocked)

  1. Download the archive with the official firmware in.zip format (for example, with Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
  2. Move it to your smartphone.
  3. In TWRP, run Wipe → Advanced Wipe (select System, Data, Cache).
  4. Install the archive through Install.

⚠️ Note: If you block the bootloader after rolling back to standard firmware, all data will be erased, and the ability to install custom firmware will disappear before a new unlock (which will take another 7 days).

💡

Before rolling back to standard firmware, make a data backup via TWRP or Mi Cloud – after blocking the bootloader, data recovery will not be possible.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi firmware 4

Can I flash Redmi 4 without unlocking the bootloader?
No, official and custom firmware is only installed on the unlocked bootloader. Except for Settings Update → System Update, but they only work for the current version of MIUI.
Which firmware is best for Redmi 4 in 2026?
Depending on the purpose: For stability: MIUI 12.5 Global Stable. For performance: LineageOS 17.1 (Android 10). For pure Android: Pixel Experience 10. Avoid firmware on Android 11+ - they can slow down due to a weak Snapdragon 430/435 processor.
What if the camera doesn’t work after the firmware?
The problem is typical of custom firmware. Solutions: Install a patch for the camera (search on XDA for your model). Sweep the stock firmware back and check the camera — if it works, then the problem is in the custom build. Try another camera app (e.g., Google Camera with Camera2API support).
How to check if the bootloader is unlocked?
Turn off your phone and press Power + Volume Down to enter the Fastboot. If it says Unlocked at the bottom of the screen, the bootloader is unlocked. If Locked, you need to unlock.
Can I use Redmi 4 to help you? SD-map?
Yes, but only if you have custom Recovery. TWRP. Copy the firmware on SD-Map, put it on the phone, go to the phone. TWRP and select Install → Select Storage → Micro SD For official firmware, this method does not work - you need a Fastboot.