The situation where your Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 suddenly starts to reboot endlessly can take you by surprise and cause panic.The screen goes out, the Mi logo appears, then goes out again, and this cycle repeats until the battery dies.This phenomenon, known as bootloop, is one of the most common problems in the company's line of budget smartphones.
The reasons for this behavior of the device can range from a banal software failure to critical hardware problems, most often the culprit is damage to system files after a failed update or overflow of internal memory. However, you should not immediately carry the gadget to the workshop, since in many cases you can restore the workflow yourself.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithms that will help to revive the smartphone, learn how to distinguish between software and hardware malfunctions, and learn how to safely reset data or flash the firmware, the main thing is not to ignore the first symptoms and act consistently so as not to aggravate the situation.
Primary diagnosis: software failure or hardware breakdown
Before taking drastic measures, it is important to understand the nature of the malfunction. If the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 phone reboots immediately after the logo is turned on, this may indicate damage to the bootloader. However, if the device manages to show the lock screen or vibrates before turning off, the problem may lie in the application conflict.
Note the heating of the case. If there is a strong heating in the processor or battery area even when switched off (when connected to charging), this is an alarm. Hardware failure is often accompanied by overheating, whereas software errors rarely cause thermal stress of components.
⚠️ Warning: If you hear crackling inside the case or smell burning, immediately disconnect the device from the network and stop trying to turn on.
It's also worth checking the power button. Mechanical key sticking is a common cause of cyclic reset. Press the button several times while listening to the click; if the tight stroke or button doesn't return to its original position, that's the problem.
Forced reset and safe mode
The simplest and often most effective method is to perform a forced restart, which is similar to removing the battery on older phones and allows you to reset the static voltage from the motherboard, to do this, press and hold the power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen is completely turned off.
If the smartphone starts to boot again after turning on, try entering Safe Mode, in which the MIUI operating system only loads with system applications, ignoring all third-party software, which will help identify the culprit of the conflict.
☑️ Diagnosis in safe mode
In order to enter Safe Mode, different versions of MIUI may have different actions, sometimes you need to press the volume button immediately after the logo appears, and if the phone is stable in this mode, then the problem is in one of the applications you installed.
- 📱 Remember which apps were installed or updated just before the problem occurred.
- 🗑️ Remove suspicious programs through the Settings menu or Application Manager.
- 🔋 Turn off power saving for system processes if it has been activated by third-party utilities.
Using Recovery Mode to Reset Settings
If Safe Mode is not available or has not helped, you will have to resort to a more serious method - reset via Recovery Mode. This is a special recovery mode built into Xiaomi firmware, which allows you to clear user data and cache, which often eliminates file system errors.
To enter Recovery mode on the Redmi Note 4, you need to turn off the phone (if it turns on but cyclically restarts, wait until the moment of shutdown or put the battery on, then put it on charge). Press both the power button and the volume button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release power, continuing to keep the volume up until the menu in English and Chinese appears.
In the Recovery menu, the navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to find Wipe Data or Clear User Data. Be careful: this step will delete all your photos, contacts and applications.
What to do if the Recovery menu is in Chinese?
⚠️ Note: Before running Wipe Data, make sure you have a backup of important data in the Mi Cloud or on your computer, if this has been done before.
After selecting a cleanup, the system will ask for confirmation, often requiring you to type in the word "yes" or select "Confirm." Once the process is complete, select Reboot -> Reboot to System. The first download can take up to 5-10 minutes.
Fastboot and Mi Flash Tool
When the software failure is too deep and Recovery doesn't work, the last software method is complete flashing, USB-This method will overwrite all memory partitions, including system partitions, which is guaranteed to eliminate software errors.
First, you need to put your smartphone in Fastboot mode. To do this, plug the phone off to your PC by holding down the volume button. The screen should show a hare in an orange hat fixing an android. If the device is detected by a computer, you can start the firmware.
The firmware process requires you to download the official firmware in.zip or.tgz format for your model. It is important to choose the Fastboot version, not Recovery. After unpacking the archive and running the Mi Flash Tool, specify the path to the firmware folder and press the Flash button.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Flash mode | clean_all | Complete cleaning, recommended for bootloop |
| Flash mode | save_user_data | Attempt to save data (not recommended in case of failure) |
| Drivers. | ADB/Fastboot | Must be installed in the system |
| Battery charge | At least 50% | To avoid disconnection in the process |
Make sure the cable is USB It is serviceable and connected directly to the computer motherboard, not through USB-Interrupting the firmware process can cause the board to fail completely, turning the phone into a brick".
Memory problems and storage overflow
One hidden but frequent cause of the Redmi Note 4’s cyclical reboots is a system partition overflow. Android requires free space for temporary files and logs. If internal memory is crammed, the system cannot function properly.
In such cases, the phone can turn on, work for a few seconds and go into a rebuke. If you manage to get into the menu for even a short time, the first thing you do is delete heavy videos, messenger cache (Telegram, WhatsApp) and unnecessary applications. Freeing even 500 MB can stabilize the work.
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Use a file manager on your PC to connect your phone in MTP mode and delete large files if your phone’s screen doesn’t have time to respond to touch.
It is also worth checking the integrity of the microSD card. A damaged or poor-quality flash drive can cause the system to freeze when you try to access it. Take out the memory card and try to start the phone without it. If the cyclic reboot has stopped, the problem is solved by replacing the drive.
- 🗑️ Clear the app cache through the storage settings.
- 📸 Transfer photos and videos to a cloud server or computer.
- 📲 Remove the rarely used heavy games.
Hardware malfunctions: processor dump and battery
If none of the software methods worked, the problem is probably hardware. The Redmi Note 4, like many smartphones of the period, is subject to what is known as a processor or memory dump, due to the degradation of soldering under the chip as a result of constant heating and cooling cycles.
Symptoms of hardware failure often include the appearance of artifacts on the screen (strips, ripples) before turning off, and the phone can warm up at the top even when the charge is switched off, in which case software repair is powerless.
Another common cause is battery degradation, and if the battery can't deliver the current it needs at peak load (start), the voltage drops below critical, and the phone goes into reboot, and you can check that by plugging the phone into a powerful charger; if it's charging consistently and it's cycling without it, change the battery.
⚠️ CPU repair (rebolling) is a complex procedure that requires professional equipment. Do not try to warm up the board with a hairdryer at home, it can finally destroy the device.
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If resetting and flashing did not eliminate the reboot, the problem with a probability of 95% is hardware (memory, processor, plumes).