How to restore the “brick” Xiaomi Redmi 4: all working methods 2026

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2017, but even it is not immune to becoming a “brick” after a failed firmware, reset or system failure. If your device does not turn on, hovers on the Mi logo, constantly reboots or does not respond to buttons – do not rush to carry it to the service. In 80% of cases, the device can be brought back to life on its own using official tools from Xiaomi and proven methods.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to restore Redmi. 4 (including Redmi modifications 4A/4X/4 Pro, from simple (via Fastboot) to complex (mode) EDL). You will learn how to determine the type of brick, what tools you will need, and how to avoid the typical errors that cause many users to permanently kill their devices.

Before you start, check if your problem is hardware malfunctioning, if your smartphone doesn't respond to charging, warms up, or makes unusual sounds, it could be damage to the board, battery, or connector, and in such cases, software methods won't help.

1.Diagnostics: What type of "brick" does your Redmi 4 have?

Not all bricks are the same. The type of failure determines the method of recovery.

• 🔄 Soft-brick: The device is turned on but only loaded to the Mi logo, a looped reboot occurs, or a No command error appears in Recovery mode.
• 🚫 Hard-brick: The smartphone shows no signs of life — black screen, no vibration, no computer detection. Often occurs after interrupted firmware through Fastboot.
• 🔌 Semi-brick: the device is turned on, but does not load beyond the animation of the boot, or works with critical errors (for example, settings do not open).
• 🔒 Blocked bootloader: when you try to flash custom firmware, an error appears This device is locked.

To determine the problem, try the following steps:

1. Connect your smartphone to charging for 30 minutes – sometimes a discharged battery simulates a “brick”.
2. Squeeze the power. + Volume up 10-15 seconds – if the Recovery menu appears, it’s a soft brick.
3. Connect the device to your PC and check if it is detected in Device Manager (Qualcomm should appear) HS-USB QDLoader 9008 is a sign of the EDL-regime).

⚠️ Warning: If your Redmi 4 doesn't respond to buttons and isn't detected by a computer, don't try to disassemble it or heat the board with a hairdryer - this can aggravate the problem. 90% of the time, the brick is recovered through a computer. EDL, It requires a special cable or an authorized Xiaomi account.

2.Preparation: What will be needed for recovery?

Before you start rebuilding, you must gather everything you need, and even one component that is missing can interrupt the process and ultimately kill the device.

• 💻 Computer on Windows 7/10/11 (64-bit). MacOS or Linux may have driver problems.
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (preferably from Xiaomi) cheap cables often don't transmit data to the Internet. Fastboot/EDL.
• 🔋 Charger (minimum 2A) – the battery must be charged 30% or more.
• 🛠️ Tools: Official firmware MIUI For your model (select Fastboot) ROM). Mi Unlock Tool (if bootloader is locked) Mi Flash Pro (for firmware through the Fastboot/EDL). Qualcomm drivers and ADB/Fastboot (It is automatically installed when connecting the phone).

To restore through EDL need to:

• 🔗 Authorized Xiaomi Account (to unlock) EDL via Mi Flash Pro).
• 🔧 EDL-cable (or homemade adapter with contact closure Test Point).

How to find out the exact model of Redmi 4? On the box or under the battery (if you removed the back cover), look for the marking:

• 2016101 — Redmi 4 Pro (3/32 GB, markw)
• 2016010 — Redmi 4 Prime (3/32 GB, prada)
• 2016011 — Redmi 4A (2/16 GB, rolex)
• 2016117 — Redmi 4X (3/32 GB, santoni)

⚠️ Note: Implementing an incompatible version MIUI (For example, from Redmi 4 Pro on Redmi. 4A) This will cause a repeat “brick” or damage to the module. NVRAM. Always check the model code name (markw, prada, etc.) before downloading the firmware.

3. Method 1: Fastboot Recovery (for soft brick)

If your Redmi 4 is turned on but doesn’t load beyond the logo, or you see a No command error in Recovery, try flashing the official code. MIUI This method works even with a locked bootloader, but requires a computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Fastboot ROM for your model from the official website and unpack the archive in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MIUI\redmi4).
2. Install Mi Flash Pro and run the program on behalf of the administrator.
3. Turn off the phone. Press Volume down. + Power for 10 seconds to log into Fastboot (a bunny with the words Fastboot should appear).
4. Connect your smartphone to your PC. In Mi Flash Pro, press Select and point the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware.
5. At the bottom, select Clean all mode (if you want to save data – Clean all and lock, but this does not guarantee their safety!).
6. Press Flash and wait for the process to finish (5-10 minutes).

If Redmi 4 is back on the logo after the firmware, try:

• Repeat the process with another version MIUI (for example, older).
• Select Clean All and Lock mode in Mi Flash Pro (this will reset all settings).
• Check if the cable is switched off during firmware (use) USB-port on the back of the PC).

Method 2: Unlock the bootloader (if the phone is locked)

If you try to flash Redmi 4, you see an error This device is locked, it means that the bootloader is blocked. Xiaomi blocks it on all devices to protect against unauthorized changes. To unlock, you need to use the official Mi Unlock Tool tool, but there are nuances:

• ⏳ The process takes 72-360 hours (up to 15 days) – Xiaomi deliberately delays unlocking for security reasons.
• 📱 Requires a device-associated Mi Account (the one that was added in the phone's brick-to-brick settings).
• 🔗 You need a stable Internet connection (unblocking is done through Xiaomi servers).

Instructions for unlocking:

1. Download the Mi Unlock Tool and install it.
2. Sign in to your Mi Account (the one that was on the phone!).
3. Connect Redmi 4 in Fastboot mode (Loud down buttons) + Nutrition).
4. In the program, click Unlock and follow the instructions. If you receive a message to wait, wait for the specified time (usually 72 hours).
5. After unlocking, repeat the firmware via Fastboot (see Method 1).

If you don't remember the Mi Account attached to the phone, or you can't log in to it, it won't be possible to unlock the bootloader through the official tool. EDL (See the following section, but it requires an authorized Xiaomi developer account.

1. Use another Mi Account that was previously added to your phone.

2. Connect the phone to another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

3. disable driver verification in Windows (via gpedit.msc) → User configuration → Administrative templates → System system → Installation of the driver).-->

5. Method 3: Recovery through EDL (for hard brick)

If Redmi 4 does not turn on, is not detected in Fastboot and does not respond to buttons, then there is a last chance: EDL (Emergency Download Mode: This mode is activated at the Qualcomm processor level, and allows you to flash your phone even with a damaged firmware:

How to log into EDL:

1. Turn off your phone (if it doesn’t respond, just wait 10 minutes).
2. Connect. EDL-cable or close Test Point (for Redmi 4, these are contacts near the charging connector, see the diagram for your model).
3. Connect the cable to your PC. The Device Manager should have a Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
4. Run Mi Flash Pro, select firmware, and press Flash, and it takes 5-15 minutes.

If you don't. EDL-cable, you can make it yourself:

• Take the usual. USB-cable.
• Short up the D.+ and D- (green and white wires) for 2-3 seconds, then connect to the phone.
• If the phone didn't go to EDL — Try to close the D-on GND (black-wire).

⚠️ Warning: Test Point contacts may be incorrectly closed, and if you're not sure, you'd better buy a ready-made one. EDL-cable (stands) ~300-500 rubles) or contact the service.

💡

Firmware through EDL — The only way to recover Redmi 4 with completely dead firmware, but requires special tools and knowledge. If you are not willing to take risks, take the phone to a service center with experience with Qualcomm devices.

Method 4: Recovery Recovery (if the phone is turned on)

If your Redmi 4 is turned on but doesn’t load beyond the logo, or you see the Recovery menu, you can try resetting or flashing the update through the app. ADB Sideload: This method does not require a computer (or only requires it to download files).

Resetting settings (Wipe):

1. Enter Recovery: Press the Volume Up + 10 seconds power.
2. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (control – volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
3. After reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If the reset didn’t help, try to flash the update through ADB Sideload:

1. Download Recovery ROM For your model from the official website (do not unpack!).
2. In Recovery, select Connect with MiAssistant (a picture with a cable will appear).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and run the command in ADB: adb sideload path to file.zip For example: adb sideload C:\MIUI\redmi4_global_images_V12.0.1.0.QCMCNXM_20210316.0000.00_10.0_global_1234567890.zip
4. Wait for the installation to finish (5-10 minutes) and restart the phone.

If ADB Sideload is adb: failed to read command:

• Is the file path (without Cyrillic) correct?
• Does it work? ADB (Enter the adb device command – the phone should be displayed).
• Do you have a connection interrupted (use the original cable)

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Most of the Redmi 4's failures are due to typical user errors.

• 🔌 Use non-original cables. Cheap cables often don't transmit data to the Internet. Fastboot/EDL, why the firmware is interrupted.
• 📥 Download firmware from questionable sources. Only the official Xiaomi site or verified forums (XDA-Developers, 4PDA).
• ⚡ Stitching through a phone with a low battery charge, and if the battery runs out during the process, the machine can finally die».
• 🔄 Even if it's 99 percent dead, wait until your phone is finished or turned off.
• 🔒 Stitching custom firmware without unlocking the bootloader is guaranteed to turn the phone into a brick.

How do you know if the recovery has been successful?

• The phone automatically restarted and booted into the system.
• In Mi Flash Pro, the Flash Done message appeared.
• In Recovery after the reset appeared menu with a suggestion of reboot.

If after the restoration of Redmi 4:

• 📵 Does not catch the network – flash the firmware again or check IMEI (Maybe damaged. NVRAM).
• 🔋 Fast discharge – Calibrate the battery (discharge to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruptions).
• 📱 Touchscreen is not working – check if you have installed the correct firmware (for example, the firmware for Redmi 4 Pro on Redmi). 4A It can cause such glitch).

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions