Downgraid firmware Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: the full guide

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (often referred to as the Redmi Note 4) has been one of the most popular devices on the market for many years, but over time, users are faced with the need to return the previous version of the operating system. Often this happens after a failed update, when the new MIUI shell starts to work unstable, quickly lands the battery or contains critical errors.

Before you start taking action, you need to clearly understand what model you have in your hands, because it depends on the success of the entire operation. There are two main modifications: the version on the Snapdragon processor (global, often marked mido) and the version on MediaTek (Chinese, prada), you can not confuse them categorically – the firmware from one version to another will turn the phone into a “brick”, which will be extremely difficult to restore without a programmer.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the details of the downgrade procedure, including unlocking the bootloader and choosing the installation method. You will learn why simply replacing files in the update folder may not work, and what hidden security mechanisms Xiaomi uses to prevent the installation of older versions of the software.

Model identification and choosing the right firmware

The first and most critical step is to pinpoint the hardware platform of your gadget. As mentioned, the Redmi Note 4 came in two radically different versions, and the visual similarity of the cases often misleads users. If you try to install the image for Snapdragon on a MediaTek device, you get a black screen and no reaction to the buttons, which will require complex repairs.

You can find out your model through the settings menu if the phone is still on, or through the Fastboot mode. To do this, press the volume down and the power button at the same time, holding them for about 10 seconds. The MI Bunny logo will appear on the screen with the inscription FASTBOOT. In the information bar, the code name of the device will be indicated: mido stands for Snapdragon 625, and prada is MediaTek Helio X20.

• 📱 Mido: Global version, Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, support LTE All ranges, the most popular model.
• 📱 prada: Chinese version, MediaTek Helio processor X20, Frequently limited communication frequencies in other regions.
• 📱 Markw: Early Chinese version on Snapdragon 625 (less common, but firmware compatible with mido with caution).

Once identified, you need to find the right firmware file. To roll back, you need an archive in.zip format for Recovery or.tgz for Fastboot. It is important to look for the version you want to return to. Archives should be complete (about) 3-4 GB), not updates (OTA), so OTA-Files often do not allow downgrade due to version verification.

⚠️ Note: Never use firmware from other Xiaomi models, even if they are called similar (e.g. Redmi Note). 4X It's a Redmi Note 4 Pro, and it's guaranteed to break the software.

You should only download files from trusted resources, such as the official website miui.com or authoritative forums like 4PDA and XDA Developers. Files downloaded from questionable file sharing sites can be modified, contain viruses or be broken, which will cause an error during installation.

Unlocking the loader: a mandatory stage

Most users cannot roll back the firmware simply because they have a Bootloader locked. Xiaomi's standard security policy prohibits installing older versions of MIUI and custom recavators on a locked device. Without unlocking, you can only install newer official versions through the update menu.

The unlocking process requires you to file with Xiaomi and wait 3 to 30 days, link your Mi Account to your phone settings, download the Mi Unlock Tool to your computer and start the procedure, and it's the only legal way to get full access to the device's file system.

Once you get permission, the process is like this: the phone is put into Fastboot mode, connected to the PC, and the Mi Unlock program presses the unlock button, and all the data on the phone will be completely deleted, so pre-backup is vital.

• 💻 Install the drivers. ADB and Fastboot on the computer.
• 🔒 Enable "For Developers" and activate "Factory Unlocking».
• 🔑 Link your Mi Account to the Mi Unlock Status menu».
• ⏳ Wait for the SMS notification of permission and conduct the procedure through the PC.

There are methods of bypassing the wait through paid services, but they carry risks and do not guarantee stable operation in the future. The official path, although long, ensures the cleanliness of the procedure and the absence of hidden modifications in the bootloader.

Recovery Method: Installation through the Update Menu

The easiest way to roll back firmware is to use the built-in Recovery mode.This method does not require a connection to the computer during the installation itself, but requires the firmware file to be pre-renamed and placed at the root of internal memory. However, the standard update menu often blocks the installation of the older version, giving the error "Can't verify update."

To get around this limitation, the firmware file should be called strictly update.zip. If you are using the global version and trying to roll back to an earlier global version, it sometimes helps to clean the data before installing. But if you change the region (for example, from China to Global), standard Recovery will not allow you to do this without an unlocked bootloader and a special mode.

The algorithm for the Recovery method:

1. Copy the update.zip file to the root of the smartphone’s internal memory.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
3. Click on three dots in the corner and select “Select firmware file”.
4. Please indicate the path to the archive and confirm the installation.

⚠️ Warning: If your phone says “Bag is damaged” or “Can’t check” then you are trying to do a downgrade with a locked bootloader or cross-install (China) ↔ Global. Unlocking is required.

If successful, the phone will restart and start the upgrade process, which can take 5 to 15 minutes.Do not interrupt this process and monitor the battery level, as a sudden power outage at this point is fatal to the system.

Fastboot Method: Professional Approach Through PC

The most reliable and versatile way is to run firmware through Fastboot mode using a computer, which allows you to install any version of software, change regions, and completely clean up memory partitions, and you will need Mi Flash Tool and Qualcomm or MediaTek drivers to work.

Unlike Recovery, it uses a.tgz archive that needs to be pre-expanded into a folder without the Cyrillic characters in the title, C:\miui_mido. This eliminates path-reading errors by the software-shifter.

The firmware process looks like this:

1. Launch the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator.


2. Press the "Refresh" button and connect the phone in Fastboot mode.




3. Press "Select" and specify the path to the unpacked folder.




4. Select "Clean all" mode at the bottom (complete cleaning).)




5. Press Flash and wait for completion (green status "Success").

It is important to choose the right firmware mode in the Mi Flash Tool. Clean all mode erases data completely and puts a clean system. Clean all and lock mode does the same, but blocks the bootloader again - use it only if you return the phone to the original global firmware, otherwise you get a brick. Save user data mode when downgrading can not be used, since the structure of these versions may differ, which will lead to a cyclic reboot.

Solving errors in rollback

Even with careful preparation, errors can occur, one of the most common is Error 7 or a message that you can't verify a packet, and this is a direct indication that the bootloader is locked or the hash amount of the file is not the same, in the first case you need to unlock BL, in the second you need to download the firmware.

Another problem is the “brick” after the firmware, when the phone is hanging on the MI logo. Often this is solved by holding the power button for a forced reboot for a long time (more than 20 seconds). If it does not help, repeat the procedure through Fastboot, selecting Clean all mode.

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Use the original. USB-cable and connect it directly to the motherboard port (back of the PC), not through the front panel or hubs.

If the Mi Flash Tool is Missmatching image and device, you are trying to flash the wrong model. Check the device code again. This error can also occur if you try to flash a version of Android below the one in the Anti-Rollback, but this is less relevant for the Redmi Note 4 than for new models.

• 🔄 Cyclical Reboot: Try to log in to Recovery (Loudness up) + Powering) and making Wipe Data/Factory Reset.
• 🚫 Mi Flash Error 4: A problem with drivers or a port USB. Reinstall Qualcomm drivers HS-USB QDLoader.
• ⏳ 99 percent freeze: Don't panic. Sometimes it takes up to 10 minutes to finalize. If it's longer, interrupt and try another. USB-port.

In rare cases, a temporary change in system time on your computer to a year ago (if the firmware is very old) helps, as some security certificates may have an expiration date, but for the Redmi Note 4 this is more of an exception.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The main key to success is the exact match of the model (mido/prada) and the firmware version, as well as the availability of an unlocked bootloader for any manipulation with old versions of the software.

The process of rolling back firmware on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 requires care, but allows you to return the device to a second life. Properly selected version of MIUI can significantly improve the autonomy and speed of your smartphone, eliminating the bugs of new builds.