The situation when your favorite smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 suddenly stops responding to commands, goes into an endless reboot or just shows a black screen with a logo, familiar to many enthusiasts. Among users, this phenomenon has received a frightening name “brick”. However, you should not panic ahead of time, since in most cases the device is subject to software recovery without contacting the service center.
Before you start active, you need to accurately diagnose the current state of the hardware of the gadget. The mode in which the system is stuck depends on the choice of further resuscitation strategy. We will consider all possible scenarios, from hanging on the logo to the complete failure of the buttons.
It is important to understand that the recovery process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours, depending on the method chosen and the availability of the necessary files. Complete data loss is guaranteed using methods of deep memory cleaning or flashing through EDL mode.
Diagnostics of device status
The first step is always to define the type of brick. Xiaomi devices have multiple load levels, and understanding the difference between them is critical. If the screen is black, but the phone vibrates when charging, it's a good sign that the power controller is alive. If the reaction is zero, maybe the problem lies in deep discharge or hardware damage to the plume.
Try to pinch the button combination Loudness down + Power for 10-15 seconds. If you see a picture of a hare repairing an android on the screen or the word Fastboot, then the bootloader is intact and the system is partially damaged, this is the most favorable scenario, allowing you to restore work through standard tools.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone heats up in the CPU area when connected to the computer, but the screen remains black, a short circuit is possible.
If the phone is responding to the PC with the sound of the device, but the screen is silent, check Windows Device Manager. The presence of a recording of "Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008" indicates a transition to EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode, which allows you to flash the device clean even if the bootloader is damaged.
Tools and drivers preparation
To successfully reanimate the Redmi Note 4, you will need a personal computer with Windows. Mobile applications or versions for macOS are not suitable in this case, as specific drivers and command line utilities are required. USB-cable also plays a role: use the original wire or high-quality analogue with thick veins.
You need to install the ADB and Fastboot driver package, as well as Qualcomm drivers. Without them, the computer simply will not see the smartphone in the desired modes. Often the problems of beginners are associated with the lack of driver signatures in the system, so you may need to temporarily disable the verification of driver signatures in Windows.
Download the official firmware for your model. For Redmi Note 4 (codename mido) and Redmi Note 4X (codename midong), firmware is different, and installing incompatible software can lead to final failure. The firmware file must have a.zip extension for recovery method or be unpacked for MiFlash.
☑️ Checklist for preparations for recovery
Recovery Methods through Recovery Mode
If the phone turns on and hits the Recovery menu (usually a black screen with a menu in English or Chinese), then the recovery section is intact. In this menu, you can try to clear the cache or perform a full reset. To enter, use the combination Volume up + Power.
Navigate the menu with volume buttons and select the power button. Select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data. Once confirmed, the process of deleting all user data will begin. If the system has not been critically damaged, then the phone will restart in working condition.
However, if the phone freezes on the logo again after the reset or throws it into Recovery, then the files of the operating system itself are damaged, in which case a simple cleaning is not necessary, you will need a complete firmware reflash, sometimes updating through the Connect with MIAssistant menu, if you can connect the phone to the PC in this mode helps.
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If the Recovery menu is in Chinese, look for the buttons: Wipe Data is usually the second or third line on top, Confirm is the bottom right button.
Firmware via Fastboot and MiFlash
The most reliable way to bring the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 back to life is to use the MiFlash Tool utility and Fastboot firmware. This method requires an unlocked bootloader. If the bootloader is locked, the system will give an error when trying to firmware, and you will have to wait 168 hours (7 days) after applying for an unlock.
Unpack the downloaded firmware to the root of the C disk so that the path does not contain Cyrillic and spaces. Launch MiFlash on behalf of the administrator, connect the phone in Fastboot mode (clamping Volume Down + Power). Press the button "Refresh" - the device must be determined. Choose the option clean all for full cleaning or clean all and lock if you want to return the locked bootloader (only for global versions on firmware!).
| Type of firmware | File extension | Tool. | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery | .zip | Built-in menu | Recovery worker |
| Fastboot | File folder | MiFlash Tool | Unlocked Bootloader |
| EDL (9008) | .xml/Folder | MiFlash / QPST | Authorized Mi Account (sometimes) |
The firmware process takes 200 to 600 seconds. If the progress bar is 100% and the message "success" appears, the phone automatically restarts. The first download after the firmware can last up to 10 minutes - this is normal, the system forms a cache of applications.
⚠️ Note: When selecting the “clean all and lock” method, make sure the firmware region matches the region of the device.Firmware of the Chinese version of the software on a global device with a bootloader lock will lead to verification error and the inability to start the system.
EDL mode and firmware without unlocking
The hardest part is when the bootloader is locked, Recovery is removed, and the phone is not responding to buttons. EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is a help. The Redmi Note 4 often requires disassembling the case and closing the special contacts on the motherboard, as the software input can be blocked.
MiFlash is also used for firmware in this mode, but the process requires an authorized Xiaomi account. In recent years, the company has limited the ability to run firmware through EDL for ordinary users, so you may need to contact a service center or use paid services for remote firmware.
If you managed to enter 9008 (Qualcomm) mode without authorization (on older versions of the bootloader), the procedure is similar to Fastboot: choose the path to the firmware files and start the process. The main difference is that the data transfer speed is lower, and the risk of interruption is more critical.
Where are the test points on the Redmi Note 4?
Typical errors and their solution
In the recovery process, users often encounter error codes. For example, a MiFlash “Miss matching image” error means you’re trying to flash firmware from another model or region. The “Anti-rollback check failed” error indicates you’re trying to roll back to an older version of Android, which is prohibited by Anti-rollback protection.
If your computer stops seeing your phone during the firmware process, check the cable and USB port. It is recommended to use USB 2.0 ports located on the back of the motherboard (for desktop PCs), as they provide more stable power and communication.
Sometimes it helps to use a different version of MiFlash (for example, the 2018 version for older devices). USB-Drivers in Device Manager manually by selecting “Qualcomm” HS-USB QDLoader 9008" from the list even if the device is defined as "Unknown».
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The main rule for firmware errors: never forcefully interrupt the process unless the progress is in place for more than 10 minutes.