The Xiaomi Mi 4, released back in 2014, remains a legendary device due to its metal body and high-quality screen, but official support from the manufacturer has long since ceased. Owners of this device often face the need to reinstall the operating system to bring the device back to life, get rid of advertising debris or simply install a fresher version of Android, which is offered by third-party developers. The process of flashing can seem intimidating for a beginner, but with strict adherence to the algorithm of actions, it becomes quite feasible even in home conditions without special equipment.
Before you start taking action, you need to clearly understand the risks and prepare the software environment. the firmware procedure Xiaomi Mi 4 requires the presence of original USB-The cable and the port on the computer, because the loss of communication at a critical moment can turn the phone into a "brick". From unlocking the bootloader to installing custom builds that allow you to use the potential of the Snapdragon 801 processor even in 2026.
It is important to understand that there are two main ways to update: through Recovery mode (easier but with limitations) and through Fastboot mode (full data cleanup and deep flashing). The choice of method depends on the current state of your gadget and the goals you set for yourself. Next, we will look in detail at the preparation of tools and files necessary to successfully complete the operation.
Preparation for firmware and necessary tools
The success of the operation depends on 90% of the quality of preparation. You will need a computer running Windows, as drivers and utilities for Xiaomi work best in this environment. Also make sure that the smartphone battery is charged at least 60% so that the device does not turn off at the most inopportune time.
The first step is to install the ADB and Fastboot drivers, without which the computer will not be able to properly interact with the phone in boot mode, you can download the universal Minimal ADB and Fastboot package or use drivers that are part of the SDK Platform Tools from Google.
☑️ Firmware readiness check
The next thing you need to do is download the firmware file itself. For Xiaomi Mi 4 (codenamed cancro), there are different versions: Global, China, Developer and custom builds like LineageOS. The file should have the extension.zip for Recovery or.tgz for Fastboot. Place the downloaded archive in the root of the C disk or in the folder with ADB tools so that the path to the file does not contain Cyrillic characters.
⚠️ Note: Use of firmware from other models (e.g. Mi) 4i or Mi 4c) It is strictly forbidden and will cause the device to break down.
Unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader)
Official MIUI firmware often requires an unlocked bootloader to install global versions or custom software. The standard procedure involves filing an application through the Mi Unlock app and waiting 3 to 15 days.
However, for older devices like the Mi 4, there are often workarounds or already unlocked versions of downloaders sold on marketplaces. If you bought the phone from hand, the bootloader is likely already unlocked. You can check this by holding the volume and power buttons: the FASTBOOT sign and the image of a hare in a hat-earch, or the message about a locked bootloader will appear on the screen.
What does an unlocked bootloader do?
If the bootloader is locked and there is no time to wait, you can use paid unlock services via remote access, as official methods for older models may no longer be relevant or require an account with a certain level of authority in the MIUI community.
Installation of custom Recovery TWRP
Xiaomi’s regular Recovery menu is limited in functionality and does not allow you to install modified firmware. To work properly, we will need to install TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project), a specialized recovery menu with touch control and advanced features.
The installation process is done via Fastboot mode. Connect the phone turned off to your computer by pressing the volume button. The screen should show a picture of a rabbit. Open the command line in the ADB folder and enter a command to check the connection:
fastboot devicesIf you see the serial number of the device, you've got the connection, and then you've got to flash the Recovery image, and the command is as follows:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.x.x.x-cancro.imgIt's important not to restart the phone immediately after you've firmware! If you do, the Android rod system will overwrite the TWRP back. You need to pinch the Volume Up + Power button combination and hold until the MIUI logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to hold the volume until the TWRP menu loads.
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If the TWRP menu doesn’t appear after you have firmware, try renaming the image file to recovery.img and repeating the procedure, or use the fastboot boot command to temporarily download.
Firmware via Fastboot (Full cleaning)
Fastboot is the most reliable way to get your phone back to a store-like state or install a new system completely, erasing all data, so back up your contacts and photos first.
For this method, you will need the MiFlash Tool utility. Unpack the downloaded firmware (archive.tgz) into the root of the disk, for example, in a folder. C:\mi_flash. The path should not contain spaces and Russian letters. Launch MiFlash on behalf of the administrator.
| Firmware mode | Description of action | Data retention |
|---|---|---|
| clean all | Complete cleaning and firmware | No (all removed) |
| save user data | Preserve firmware | Yeah (photos, contacts) |
| clean all + lock | Cleaning, firmware and locking | No (original requirement) |
In MiFlash, click Refresh, select your device, and point the path to the firmware folder. In the lower right corner, select Clean All mode for clean installation. Press Flash and wait for the process to be completed, which can take 100 to 300 seconds.
⚠️ Note: When selecting the "clean all" option + lock make sure the firmware matches the region of the device. Installing global lock firmware on the Chinese version of the phone will make it impossible to boot the system.
Update via Recovery (No PC)
If you don’t have a computer on hand, or you just want to upgrade the MIUI version to the same one (e.g. 9.2.0 to 9.2.1), you can use the Recovery Update method. This method doesn’t require an unlocked bootloader if you’re installing an official firmware in the same region.
Download the firmware file in.zip (Recovery ROM). Rename it to update.zip and place it at the root of the phone's internal memory. Go to the update menu (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version), click three dots in the corner and select "Select firmware file."
Once the file is selected, the system will check the integrity and suggest restarting for installation, a method that is safer for beginners because it does not allow incompatible software to be installed, but also does not allow you to change the region or version of Android.
Frequent mistakes and ways to solve them
In the process of firmware Xiaomi Mi 4 users often face typical problems. One of the most common is the error Flash Error in MiFlash. USB-Try another port (preferably) USB 2.0 at the rear of the system unit) and other cable.
Another problem is Bootloop. If your phone is stuck on the MIUI logo for more than 10 minutes, try doing a Wipe Data reset via Recovery. To do this, press Volume Up + Power, select the language and press Wipe Data.
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Most of the errors in the firmware Xiaomi Mi 4 are not related to the process itself, and with poor quality. USB-cable or lack of administrator rights when running utilities.
If nothing helps, the system partition may have been damaged, requiring manual flashing of all partitions through Fastboot, typing commands for each partition separately (boot, system, recovery, userdata), which requires high skill.