When your Xiaomi Redmi 4X stops responding to commands, hangs on a logo or displays a black screen, it is known as a “brick” among enthusiasts. This condition can arise from a failed system update, interrupted file recording or an attempt to install a modified firmware. However, it is too early to panic: the architecture of the Snapdragon processors installed in this model allows you to restore the device even in the most severe cases when standard resuscitation methods are powerless.
Recovery requires an accurate understanding of the processes inside the bootloader and a rigorous algorithm of actions. Unlike simpler crashes, deep firmware requires a connection to a computer and the use of specialized software. It is important to realize that any manipulation of system partitions carries risks, but a competent approach reduces the likelihood of final failure to a minimum.
Before you start active actions, you need to determine the degree of "bricking" of your gadget. Devices can fall into Fastboot mode when a hare appears on the screen in headphones, or go into deep mode. EDL (Emergency Download, which is visually black screen but is defined by a computer as COM-It is from this primary diagnosis that the choice of tool for further work and the type of firmware file used will depend.
⚠️ Note: All flashing actions are performed at your own risk.The author of the article is not responsible for possible data loss or device failure. 50-60%, Discharge at critical point of system file writing may cause irreversible damage to the power controller.
⚠️ Attention: The process of firmware through mode EDL newer MIUI You may need an authorized Mi Account with enhanced privileges. If standard methods don't work, you may need to contact a service center or search for special patches to bypass server checks.
Diagnostics of the smartphone state and preparation of tools
The first step is to accurately determine the current state of Redmi 4X. If you connect to a PC and hear the characteristic sound of a USB device, and Windows Device Manager displays Android Bootloader Interface, then the phone is in Fastboot mode. This is an easy case, allowing you to use standard recovery methods without deep interference with lower-level protocols.
If the screen remains black, but in the Device Manager in the section "Ports (COM and LPT)" appears recording Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008, then the smartphone has moved to EDL mode. This mode is designed by engineers for emergency booting and allows you to write the image of the system directly into memory, bypassing the damaged bootloader.
For successful operation you will need a high-quality USB-cable, preferably original or certified, as cheap analogues often do not provide stable data transfer, which is critical when writing gigabytes of information. ADB/Fastboot on the computer so that the operating system can correctly interact with the hardware of the smartphone.
It is important to check whether the bootloader is blocked by previous owners or carriers. Although EDL mode often allows you to bypass this lock, having an unlocked bootloader greatly simplifies the process and gives you more options for choosing the type of firmware. In some cases, you may need to reset through recovery if the recovery menu is available.
Firmware Choices: Global, China and Recovery vs Fastboot
The key to recovering is choosing the right firmware file. For Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codename mdg), there are different software options. Firmware is divided into two main types according to the installation method: Recovery (extension.zip) and Fastboot (extension.tgz). To restore the brick, we absolutely need the Fastboot option, since it contains a full image of all memory partitions.
Geographical reference also plays a role. Global Stables include Google services and support for many languages, including Russian. Chinese versions (China ROM) may not have Google Play pre-built and require additional customization, but they often update faster. When recovering from a crash, the best way to use the latest stable Global version is to eliminate localization errors.
You should only download files from trusted sources, such as the official website miui.com or authoritative portals like XiaomiFirmware. The use of modified builds from unknown authors during the resuscitation stage of the device is unacceptable, as they may contain errors that will aggravate the situation.
The.tgz archive needs to open and extract a folder, inside which there will be many files with the.img extension and a launch script. flash_all.bat. It is the path to this unpacked folder that you will need to specify in the sewer program.
Installation of drivers and preparation of PC for firmware
Before you connect a brick to your computer, you need to make sure that all the necessary components are installed in the system. Windows 10 and 11 often automatically find the basic drivers, but working with EDL mode often requires specific Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader drivers. Without them, the computer will see the device as “Unknown device”.
To install drivers, you can download the Qualcomm Driver package or use the installer that is part of the Mi Flash Tool program. After installation, it is recommended to restart the computer. You can check for drivers through the Device Manager: when connecting the phone in mode EDL In the section "Ports" should appear appropriate COM-harbour.
You also need to install the Mi Flash Tool, the official software from Xiaomi, designed to record firmware images. Download the latest version, as older releases may not support new types of memory markup or encryption algorithms used in the latest versions of MIUI.
Remember to disable the digital signature check for drivers in Windows if the system blocks their installation, which is often required for drivers of older devices or specific engineering modes. Without properly installed drivers, no program will be able to transfer data to the phone.
The process of firmware through the Mi Flash Tool
Once all components are ready, you can proceed to the immediate recovery process. Launch the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. In the program interface, click select and specify the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware (where the file is located). flash_all.bat). The program automatically counts the path and displays it in the address bar.
Put your smartphone in mode. Redmi 4X most often requires EDL. To get into it on the phone turned off, press the volume buttons (both) and connect the USB cable to the computer. If the screen is black, but the computer made the connection sound, you're in the right place. The Mi Flash Tool should show a serial number in the list of devices.
At the bottom of the program window, select firmware mode. To fully restore, choose either clean all (full cleaning and firmware) or clean all and lock (clean, firmware and lock the bootloader). The option to save user data when restoring the brick usually doesn't work or isn't recommended, as it can lead to file conflicts.
Press the flash button to start the process. The progress bar will show the status of partition writing. The whole process takes 200 to 600 seconds. At this time, you should absolutely not turn off the cable or interrupt the power of the computer. Any interference can damage the boot sector.
☑️ Checklist before pressing Flash
When the process is complete, the status will change to success in green. The phone will automatically reboot. The first boot after the firmware can last up to 10-15 minutes — that's OK, the system is optimized. If the device is turned on and the welcome screen appears, the operation was successful.
Solving Typical Errors and Problems
There may be bugs in the firmware process that are displayed in the program log, and one of the most common is Missmatching image and device, which means that the firmware is not for the right model, so make sure you use the software for the Redmi 4X (mdg) instead of the Redmi 4 or 4 Pro, which are similar in appearance but have different hardware.
A Not enough storage or Flash storage error may indicate a physical fault in the eMMC memory or that partitions of memory were marked incorrectly by previous actions, sometimes by trying again with another cleaning method or using the command line for manual markup, but this requires high skill.
If the program produces an error Can not find the script file, check the path to the folder. It should not contain Russian letters or spaces, C:\xiaomi\mdg_global\. Also make sure that the antivirus does not block the script. flash_all.bat.
If the phone is detected but the firmware does not start (the flash button is inactive or the process freezes by 0%), try changing the phone. USB-Sometimes the problem is a power shortage or a poor contact in the Micro-USB connector, which over time shatters.
| Code/Error text | Probable cause | Method of decision |
|---|---|---|
| Missmatching image and device | Wrong firmware model | Download ROM strictly for Redmi 4X (mdg) |
| Not enough storage | Memory or markup error | Repeat with Clean All mode, check the memory |
| Flash storage error | Record failure or damage to eMMC | Change. USB-Port, cable, try another PC |
| Can not find the script file | Wrong path or file name | Remove Russian letters from the way, check for presence.bat |
| Unauthorized account | Mi-account authorization is required | Use an account with rights or a patch for EDL |