The situation when your Xiaomi Redmi 4X suddenly stops responding to buttons and shows only a black screen or the Mi logo, frightens many users. In the enthusiastic environment, this state of the device is often called “brick”, implying a complete or partial failure of the smartphone.
Before you carry the gadget to the service center, it's worth trying to resuscitate it yourself. - For the Redmi model 4X (codenamed santoni, there's a well-established algorithm that, in most cases, can bring your phone back to life. You'll need a Windows computer that's working. USB-cable and a little patience to perform technical procedures.
It is important to understand that software recovery is a delicate process. Any interruption of electricity or cable disconnection at a critical moment can make things worse. However, if you follow the instructions clearly and use proven tools, the chances of a successful launch of the Android operating system are extremely high.
Diagnostics of device status
The first step to saving a smartphone is to pinpoint its current status. The term "brick" can mean things from a got stuck system to the complete death of the bootloader. If the screen is black and the phone is not vibrating when you connect the charger, try to pinch the power button for a long time (up to 30 seconds), in some cases, this helps to reset the static charge and start BootROM.
The most common states that Redmi 4X can be in after a crash require different approaches. If you see the Mi logo and then it does not load, or the phone is cyclically restarted, it indicates damage to the system partition.
⚠️ Note: If you connect to a PC in the Device Manager is displayed"QUSB_BULK" or Qualcomm. HS-USB QDLoader 9008", This means that the phone has gone into emergency boot mode, in which case the usual firmware through the Fastboot may not work without special manipulations with the closure of contacts.
For a precise diagnosis, connect your smartphone to your computer and open Device Manager. Pay attention to the Ports (COM and LPT) or USB Controllers sections. Having a device with a yellow exclamation mark or the specific name of the Snapdragon chipset will tell you at what stage the failure occurred.
- 🔌 Black Screen + Vibration: The screen is black, but there is vibration – most likely a problem with the display or plume, the system is working.
- 🔄 Bootloop: Infinite reboot on the logo – Android files are damaged.
- 💻 Fastboot Mode: Screen with the image of a hare in a hat-eared - the loader is alive, flashing is possible.
- 🚫 Dead: No reaction to buttons and charging – deep discharge or hardware breakdown.
Tools and drivers preparation
The success of Xiaomi’s recovery operation depends 90% on the correct preparation of the workplace, and you need to install specialized drivers that allow the computer to “see” the phone even when it is turned off, without this step, no firmware utility will be able to transfer data to the device.
The main tool for working with devices based on Qualcomm processors, which includes Redmi 4X, is the Mi Flash Tool. This is the official utility from Xiaomi, which can work with the Fastboot and EDL modes. You will also need an archive with the firmware itself, which you need to download exclusively from trusted sources to avoid the introduction of malicious code.
Required components:
1. Mi Flash Tool (last stable version)
2.Qualcomm ADBC and Xiaomi USB Driver
3. Fastboot firmware for Redmi 4X (santoni)
USB- Original quality cableWhen installing drivers on Windows 10 or 11, you may need to disable the driver digital signature check, which is standard for working with low-level Android hardware. If you ignore this step, the system will simply block the installation of the necessary software, and the phone will remain invisible to the computer.
☑️ Firmware readiness check
Enter Recovery and Fastboot Mode
To start the repair work, you must force the smartphone to one of the service modes. Recovery mode allows you to reset settings or install the update manually, but it is often not available if you have serious damage to the system. Fastboot mode is deeper and allows you to completely rewrite partitions of memory.
To get into the Recovery menu on Redmi 4X, turn off the phone completely. Then simultaneously press the volume button and the power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to keep the volume. If done correctly, you will see a menu with a black background and orange/blue inscriptions.
The algorithm is similar to Fastboot mode, but it uses a volume button. Press the volume button and the power button. In a few seconds, an image of a rabbit repairing an android will appear on the screen, saying "FASTBOOT." This is a signal that the phone is ready to receive commands from the computer.
⚠️ Note: In the Recovery menu, the navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is confirmed by the power button. Be careful when choosing "Wipe Data", as this will result in the complete deletion of all user data.
If the phone doesn't respond to the button combinations and the screen stays black, try connecting it to your computer by holding the volume button you want, sometimes helping to wake up the device and get it into the desired mode without the standard on procedure.
What to do if you recover in Chinese?
Recovery process via Fastboot
Fastboot mode is the most reliable way to bring the Xiaomi Redmi 4X back to life, turning into a brick, and it allows you to ignore the damaged operating system and write new data directly to memory, using the previously installed Mi Flash utility and downloaded firmware archive.
Unpack the firmware archive at the root of the C disk so that the path to the files is short and Cyrillic-free. Launch the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. Connect the phone in Fastboot mode to your computer and press the Refresh button in the program. If the drivers are installed correctly, the device with its serial number will appear in the list.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Clean All | Complete cleaning and firmware | Recommended for the treatment of bricks |
| Save user data | Data retention | Does not work with a damaged loader |
| Clean All + Lock | Cleaning, firmware and locking | Use with caution |
Choose the path to the firmware folder by pressing the "Select" button. At the bottom of the window, select the firmware method. For cases where the phone is not turning on, the Clean All option is the best option. It is guaranteed to remove all file system errors. Once selected, press "Flash" and wait for the process to end, which can take from 200 to 500 seconds.
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Never turn off the cable or turn off the computer during the firmware process, even if the bar (boot strip) has been getting stuck for a while.
Solving problems with drivers and ports
A common cause of failure when restoring Redmi 4X is a driver conflict or misdefinition of the COM port. The computer may see the device but not know how to work with it. In Device Manager, this is displayed as a "Unknown Device" or an error device.
If Mi Flash can't see the phone, try manually updating the driver. In Device Manager, find an unknown device, select "Update driver" -> "Select a driver from the list of available." You need to find the list "Xiaomi Android" or "Android Phone" and select a specific driver, for example, "Android Bootloader Interface".
Sometimes it helps to change the COM port letter in advanced settings. Go to port properties in Device Manager, go to Port Settings -> "Advanced" and select the port number with the lowest value (for example, COM1 or COM3). Lower port numbers often work more consistently with firmware utilities.
- 🔍 Check if the tick "Prohibit installation of devices with codes..." in the Windows settings is worth the check box.
- 🔌 Use it. USB-Port 2.0 instead of 3.0 if you have problems with connection stability.
- 🛡️ Disable the antivirus and firewall for the time of firmware, they can block access to ports.
EDL (Emergency Download Mode)
If Fastboot is unavailable or blocked, the last rescue software option is EDL (Emergency Download Mode), a low-level Qualcomm processor boot mode that allows you to flash a phone even with a completely destroyed bootloader, but this mode often requires special Mi Authorized account rights.
To log into EDL on Redmi 4X without disassembling the phone, you can try a special command via ADB, if the phone is somehow defined: adb reboot edl. If ADB does not work, you will have to resort to the "Test Point" method. It requires removing the back cover and closing two special contacts on the board when connecting the cable to the PC.
In EDL mode, the phone is defined as "Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008." The firmware in this mode is produced similarly to Fastboot via Mi Flash, but the process is slower and requires absolute connection stability. The error in this mode is more critical, since you will have to recover through the programmer.
⚠️ Attention: Firmware in mode EDL modern-day MIUI If you don't have access to such an account, this method may not be useful and you will have to contact the service for software unlocking.
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When using Test Point, be extremely careful with metal tools. One awkward movement can close the power circuit and burn the charge controller or the processor itself. Use dielectric-coated tweezers or a special needle.