Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X smartphone (the nikel model) often face a situation where the device is locked.This can happen after buying from hand, resetting settings or accidentally installing a pattern lock that has been forgotten.The problem is exacerbated by the fact that standard methods of recovery through the Recovery menu may not work if the device activates Mi Account protection.
The process of firmware locking requires carefulness and strict adherence to the algorithm of actions. Wrong actions can lead to complete failure of the motherboard, turning the phone into a "brick." However, with the necessary knowledge and tools, you can successfully unlock the gadget and return it to full functionality.
In this guide, we will look at all the steps from driver and software preparation to logging into special boot modes. You will learn how global firmware differs from Chinese firmware, and why Fastboot ROM is critical to unlocking the bootloader. We will also discuss the use of EDL mode for the most difficult cases.
Diagnostics of the type of lock and preparation of equipment
Before you start active actions, you need to clearly define the nature of the lock. There are several scenarios: lock the screen (pattern lock, PIN-code, Mi Account lock (Mi Account Lock) or bootloader lock (Redmi Note) 4X — The device is old enough and the methods of unlocking it may differ from modern models.
If the phone turns on but asks for a password from a Mi Account you don't know, standard flashing through the update menu won't help, requiring a full data reset and flashing in Fastboot mode. If the device doesn't respond to buttons at all or hangs on the logo, it could be a software glitch that requires deeper intervention.
For a successful firmware you will need quality USB-cable, preferably original or certified, with thick wires. Cheap charging cables often fail to provide stable data transfer, which will lead to errors in the process of writing system files. You also need a computer running Windows, as most firmware tools are sharpened for this OS.
⚠️ Warning: Before starting the procedure, make sure that the smartphone battery is charged at least 60%. interruption of the firmware process due to battery discharge can irreversibly damage the system partition of the device.
It's important to download all the files you need in advance so you don't have to spend time searching at a critical time. You'll need ADB and Fastboot drivers, Mi Flash Tool and the firmware itself, and the absence of any of these components will make the process impossible.
Required software and drivers for firmware
The foundation of successful firmware is a properly configured software environment. Without drivers installed, the computer simply will not see the smartphone in the right mode. For Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X, it is critical to install Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 drivers that are activated when the phone goes to EDL mode.
The main tool for the work will be the Mi Flash Tool. This is the official utility from Xiaomi, allowing you to flash devices in Fastboot and EDL mode. There are also alternative tools such as QFIL (Qualcomm Flash Image Loader), but the Mi Flash Tool is more beginner friendly and has a clear interface.
- 📥 Mi Flash Tool - the main firmware, download the latest stable version from the official website.
- 💻 ADB Fastboot Drivers – a set of drivers that allows the PC to interact with Android at a low level.
- 🔌 Qualcomm Drivers – required to work in deep firmware (EDL), Without them, the phone in this mode will be displayed as an unknown device.
The firmware should be selected strictly in the format of Fastboot. Such files have the extension.tgz, not.zip. Inside the archive should be the folder images with system files and script. flash_all.bat. Using Recovery firmware (.zip) via Mi Flash Tool is not possible and will lead to an error.
☑️ Firmware preparation
Enter Fastboot and EDL modes on Redmi Note 4X
To start the firmware process, the phone needs to be switched to a special mode. Fastboot mode allows you to replace system partitions, while EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is used to restore bricks and bypass some types of bootloader locks.
To enter the Fastboot on the Redmi Note 4X turned off, press the volume down and power button at the same time. Hold them until an image of a hare repairing an android appears, or an orange FASTBOOT inscription appears. If the screen catches fire with the Mi logo, then you didn't release the buttons in time - try again.
Regime. EDL This model is more difficult to activate because it requires disassembling the case or using special scripts, and the most reliable method is to physically close the contacts on the board. It is necessary to remove the back cover, disable the battery plume, find test points (Test Points) on the motherboard and close them, simultaneously connecting them. USB-plug-in.
adb reboot edlThis command only works if the phone is debugging over USB and has access to the system, which is unlikely in the case of a locked device. Therefore, the Redmi Note 4X method with test points or using a paid Box (for example, Z3X or Chimera) is most relevant if you do this professionally.
| Mode of work | Way of entering | Indication on PC | Appointment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastboot | Volume Down + Nutrition | Android Bootloader Interface | Standard firmware, unlocking BL |
| EDL (9008) | Close of test points | Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 | Recovery after failure, deep firmware |
| Recovery | Volume Up + Nutrition | Not defined as a port | Resetting, installation ZIP-firmware |
The process of firmware through the Mi Flash Tool
Once all the components are ready, you can start the process. Unpack the firmware archive in the root of the C disk so that the path is short and does not contain Cyrillic characters. Launch the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator.
Press the Refresh button in the program. If the drivers are installed correctly and the phone is connected in Fastboot mode, the device with its serial number will appear in the list. If the field is empty, check the cable or reinstall the drivers. Select the firmware file by pressing the "Select" button and specifying the folder with the unpacked files.
At the bottom of the Mi Flash Tool window, you'll see three options. For an unlocked device or for a regular flashing, choose clean all. This mode erases all data and installs a clean system. Clean all and lock mode will lock the bootloader back, which can lead to a validation error if the firmware doesn't match the region.
⚠️ Warning: Never select the "clean all and lock" option if you are flashing Global Firmware to a Chinese device (or vice versa) without first changing the region.
Press the "Flash" button and wait until the process is complete. The green status bar and the word "success" signify successful completion. The phone will automatically reboot. The first launch can take up to 10-15 minutes, don't worry if the screen is lit with a logo for a long time.
Bypassing Mi Account Lock and resetting passwords
The most difficult situation is that you have an activated Mi Account with Find Device enabled, and once you have firmware and Clear All, the phone will require you to enter the username and password from the account that was previously linked, and you will not be able to log in without this data.
There is no official way to reset a password without access to a mail or phone, however, there are software-based bypassing methods that often require superuser rights (Root) or the use of specialized reset software. FRP (Factory Reset Protection for Redmi Note 4X Use of vulnerabilities in older versions of Android.
One method is to firmware a special Recovery (TWRP) through which you can delete account files.
- 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (officially via Mi Unlock, 168 hours waiting time required).
- 📲 Install custom Recovery TWRP via Fastboot.
- 🗑️ On the menu. TWRP choose → Advanced Wipe and mark the Data and Dalvik sections, then swipe to clean up.
If the bootloader is already locked and the account is hanging, only paid Xiaomi service accounts or the services of specialists with access to authorization servers help. Self-knock out an account on a blocked bootloader is extremely difficult and requires deep knowledge of Linux and work with ADB.
Frequent errors and methods of their elimination
In the process of firmware, users often face typical problems, and one of the most common is that the phone goes into an endless reboot (Bootloop), which can mean that the firmware is damaged or not suitable for this model, in which case you need to repeat the procedure, first making sure that the integrity of the downloaded archive.
The “Anti-rollback” error is another major issue: Xiaomi is implementing rollback protection. If you try to flash an older version of Android than the one that was before, the device may lock at the bootloader level. Always check the Anti-rollback version before firmware, comparing it to the current version on the device.
If your computer stops seeing your phone after you connect, try:
- Replace USB-cable-on.
- Use it. USB-port 2.0 instead 3.0/3.1 (They often conflict with old drivers).
- Install drivers manually through Device Manager by selecting Qualcomm’s model manually.
⚠️ Note: If you have lost your firmware after IMEI or the network does not work, it means that the persist or modem partition was overwritten. Recovery of these partitions is possible only if there is a backup made before the failure, or through service centers with a programmer.