How to Sweat Xiaomi Redmi 4A via computer: complete guide with unlocking the bootloader

Why PC Firmware Is the Best Way for Redmi 4A?

Xiaomi Redmi 4A (The codename rolex) remains a popular budget smartphone despite its age, but over time, its firmware becomes obsolete, lags appear or need to be restored after a failure (OTA):

First, you have full control over the process – you can choose any version. MIUI (It works even if the smartphone is not turned on (hang on the logo, cyclic reboot) or if it is customized like LineageOS, or even rolled back to a more stable build. Finally, the firmware through Fastboot or EDL Minimizes the risk of “bricking” compared to recovery methods.

But there are pitfalls: without unlocking the bootloader, official firmware will not be installed, and careless actions can lead to loss of power. IMEI In this article, we'll look at all the steps from PC prepping to final smartphone setup, with a focus on the nuances specifically for Redmi. 4A.

Preparation for firmware: what to do before the start

Before you plug in Redmi 4A To your computer, follow the mandatory steps, and skipping them can lead to errors like fastboot: error: can't load or the inability to identify the device.

1. Check the firmware model and version. Go to Settings → About the phone and write it down:

• 📱 Model: Must be Redmi. 4A (If 2016101 or 2017032 are subvariants of the same model, there is no difference for firmware.
• 🔢 Version. MIUI: for example, MIUI Global 12.5.1 Stable. This will help you choose the right firmware file.
• 🔓 bootloader status: type in the engineering menu ##4636##, then check Bootloader. If it says Locked, you'll need to unlock.

2. Download the necessary files (links are valid for 2026):

• 🖥️ Official firmware MIUI for rolex (select Fastboot or Recovery depending on the method).
• 🔧 Mi Flash Tool (version 2023.4.1 or later).
• 🔑 Mi Unlock Tool to unlock the bootloader (if required).
• 🛠️ ADB Fastboot (part of Platform Tools).

⚠️ Note: Do not download firmware from unverified sources! Files with the.tgz or.zip extension from unofficial repositories may contain viruses or be collected with errors. Xiaomi official firmware hash sums MD5, which can be checked through the utility md5sum.

Prepare the computer:

• 🪟 Disable the antivirus (it can block the Mi Flash Tool as suspicious software).
• 🔌 Use the original. USB-cable (cheap cables may not transmit data in Fastboot mode).
• 🔋 Charge your smartphone at least 60% when you run through EDL (Emergency mode: the battery discharges faster.

Download the official firmware for rolex|I have installed the Mi Flash Tool and ADB|Disabled antivirus and firewall|Charged the phone. >60%|Prepared the original USB-cable-->

Unlocking the bootloader: without this firmware will not succeed

The bootloader on all Xiaomi smartphones is locked by default. This is a security measure, but it also blocks installation of any firmware through Fastboot. Unlocking takes 3 to 15 days (due to Xiaomi's policy), so start the process in advance.

Step 1. Link your Mi Account to your phone:

1. Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account and log in (if you don’t have an account, create one).
2. Activate the Settings option → Additionally. → For developers → Unlocking OEM (If there is no item, tap 7 times according to the version MIUI, to enable the developer mode).
3. In the same menu, turn on the debugging by USB.

Step 2. Launch the Mi Unlock Tool:

1. Get Redmi on board. 4A PC in Fastboot mode (click Volume Down) + Power with the phone turned off).
2. Open the Mi Unlock Tool and log in with the same Mi Account as your phone.
3. Press Unlock. If the message appears Couldn't unlock. Try again after XX hours – wait for the specified time (usually 72-360 hours).

⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, the smartphone will automatically reset to factory settings. back up the data via Mi Cloud or TWRP (The account is also linked to the device for 30 days, so if you sell the phone during this period, the new owner will not be able to unlock the bootloader.

Step 3: Check the Unlocking Status:

• After successful unlocking, when connecting to Fastboot, the command line should display the inscription Device is UNLOCKED.
• If the Locked status is repeated, or check if the account link has gone wrong.

Choosing a firmware method: Fastboot vs. EDL

For Redmi. 4A There are two main ways of firmware running through a PC, and the difference is in the mode of operation of the smartphone and the level of risk:

Fastboot is the preferred method for most users, and is simpler and safer, but requires a smartphone to work. EDL — "ambulance for recovery, but without experience it is better not to use: an error in choosing a firmware can lead to the loss of the serial number of the Qualcomm module.

If you choose Fastboot, download the firmware marked Fastboot (for example, rolex_global_images_V12.5.1.0.RCCMIXM_20210310.0000.00_10.0_global_65d6a63a0d.tgz). For EDL The same file will be used, but you will need an additional file. prog_emmc_firehose_8917.mbn (It can be extracted from the firmware archive).

💡

For 90% of Redmi users 4A Optimal method of Fastboot. EDL Use only if the phone does not respond to buttons or after a failed firmware.

Step-by-step: Firmware via Fastboot

This method is suitable for setting an official MIUI Follow the instructions carefully, skipping the steps can lead to errors such as the invalid sparse file format at header.

Step 1. Transfer your smartphone to Fastboot mode:

• Turn off Redmi 4A.
• Press the buttons Volume down + Food for 10 seconds until the image of a hare in a hat-eared (Fastboot logo) appears).

Step 2. Connect your phone to your PC and check the connection:

• Open the command prompt in the ADB folder (click Shift + right mouse button → Open the PowerShell window here).
• Enter the command: fastboot devices Must display the serial number of the device (for example, 1234abcd If the list is empty, check the drivers or cable.

Step 3. Launch the Mi Flash Tool:

• Unpack the downloaded firmware (.tgz) in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MIUI\rolex).
• Open the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and point the path to the firmware folder.
• At the bottom, select the firmware method: 🔄 Clean all – complete cleaning (recommended when changing version) MIUI). 🧹 Clean all and lock - cleaning + bootloader lock (use if you want to return official status). 📥 Save user data – saving data (not always working correctly).
• Press Refresh, your device should appear in the list. Then click Flash.

Step 4. Wait until it's done:

• In the Mi Flash log, you will see lines like sending 'boot' (1234). KB)... OKAY.
• At the end of the log, Flash Done. Rebooting... will appear, and the smartphone will automatically restart.
• The first run after firmware can take up to 15 minutes – do not interrupt the process!

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Flash Tool gives an error critical partition flashing is not allowed, then the bootloader is blocked or you are trying to flash the wrong version. MIUI (Check the lock status with the command: fastboot oem device-info In the answer, look for the line Device unlocked: true.

💡

If after firmware smartphone stuck on the logo for more than 20 minutes, press the Volume up + 20 seconds power for forced reboot. If that doesn't work, repeat the firmware with Clean all option.

Firmware through EDL: brick-building"

Regime. EDL (Emergency Download Mode: Last Chance to Bring Redmi Back 4A It's a life-changing processor that doesn't respond to buttons or is stuck in a reboot cycle, and it works at the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor level, so it doesn't require unlocking the bootloader:

Dangers. EDL-firmware:

• 🚨 Loss of loss IMEI, Baseband or serial number (if you flash the wrong version).
• 🔧 Mi Flash authorization (Xiaomi account must be linked to the device).
• ⚡ Problems with sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer) when using informal firmware.

Step 1: Put your smartphone in mode EDL:

• Turn off the phone (if it doesn’t respond, remove and insert the battery).
• Press the buttons Volume up + Loud down and plug in. USB-The screen will stay black, that's okay.
• In the Windows Device Manager should appear Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.

Step 2. Sweat through the Mi Flash Tool:

• In Mi Flash, select firmware (required for the rolex model!).
• At the bottom, specify the Clean All method.
• Click Flash. If you have an authorization error, log in to Mi Flash under the same account you had on your phone.

Step 3. Post-firmware check:

• After restart, check it out. IMEI In Settings → The phone. → General information, if not available (Null/Null), Restore it through the Engineering Menu (##4636##) utility SN Write Tool.
• Check network operation: if there is no signal, file file file stitching separately modemst1 and modemst2 firmware-archive.

Resolving errors after firmware

Even with the successful firmware of Redmi 4A You can have problems. Here are the typical scenarios and their solutions:

If, after the firmware is through EDL missing IMEI And it's impossible to restore it by standard methods, and the only way out is to contact the Xiaomi service center with a check to buy it. IMEI through unofficial utilities can lead to the blocking of the communication module.

Additional advice:

• 🔄 If after firmware appeared lags, make a reset through Settings. → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge.
• 📡 To speed up work, turn off animation: in Settings → For developers, set the scale of window animation and the scale of animation transition to Off..
• 🔋 If the battery is running out quickly, calibrate it: completely discharge the phone, then charge to 100% without interruption.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions