Xiaomi Redmi 4X is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, but even it is not immune to accidental freezes. If your device suddenly stopped responding to touch, does not turn off in the standard way or shows the “black screen”, do not rush to panic. In 90% of cases, the problem can be solved without going to the service center.
In this article, we’ll look at all the reboot techniques you can use, from the simplest power button retention to forced reset via Fastboot. We’ll focus on the unique feature of the Redmi 4X: the button combinations for entering Recovery are different from the newer Xiaomi models, which is often confusing, and you’ll learn how to avoid re-hangs and what to do if the smartphone doesn’t turn on after the reboot.
Why Redmi 4X might be hanging: the main reasons
Before you start rebooting, it's important to understand what caused the crash, which will help you avoid recurring problems in the future.
- 🔋 Critical battery discharge (below 5%) Smartphone can "hang" on the logo MIUI or completely disconnect without reacting to charging.
- 📱 RAM overload.Redmi. 4X It has only 2-3 GB of RAM, and at the same time running heavy applications (games, video editors), the system can “hang up».
- 🔄 Firmware failure. Especially relevant after the update MIUI «airborne» (OTA) or manually installing custom firmware.
- 💥 Hardware malfunctions: motherboard damage, battery contacts oxidation, or processor overheating (Snapdragon 435 is prone to this under heavy loading).
- 🦠 Viruses or application conflict: Malware or incompatible APK-Files can block the operation of the system.
If the freeze occurred after a fall or moisture, there is a high risk of mechanical damage, in which case a forced reset can only aggravate the problem - it is better to contact the service immediately.
Method 1: Soft reboot (holding the power button)
This is the safest and most recommended method, and one worth trying first, and it mimics the normal shutdown, but it's forced.
- Hold the power button (located on the right end of the body) for 10-15 seconds.
- If the screen is gone, release the button and wait for the vibrations – this is a signal to start the reboot.
- If the smartphone does not respond, repeat the hold up to 20 seconds.
On the Redmi 4X, the power button sometimes sticks to dust. If you feel it's pressing tightly, try brushing it gently with a toothpick (not a metal object!).
Connect the charger (if the battery is discharged)|Make sure the power button is not blocked by the cover|Try pressing the button from different angles (sometimes contacts are oxidized)|If the screen responds to touch, try calling the power menu through Settings. → Additionally. → Turn it off.-->
⚠️ Warning: If, after holding the power button, the smartphone emits a double vibration and turns off, but then turns on again in an infinite loop, this is a sign of a bootloader failure.
Method 2: Forced reset (hard reset)
If a soft reboot doesn't work, you'll have to use hardware reset, which works even when the screen is completely dead, but can lead to the loss of unsaved data.
On the Xiaomi Redmi 4X, the button combination for the hard reset is different from other Xiaomi models.
- Press and hold at the same time: Power button (right) Volume button (top left)
15-20 seconds
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Release the buttons – the smartphone will start to restart.
If after that the device is turned on, but it works unstable (brakes, spontaneously reboots), it is worth resetting to factory settings.
What to do if the buttons don’t work?
| Symptoms. | Possible cause | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| The screen is black, but the notification indicator is flashing. | Graphics driver failure or overheating | Hard reset (Method 2) + let cool for 10-15 minutes |
| The smartphone vibrates, but does not turn on | Damage to firmware or loader | Reboot to Recovery Mode (Method 3) |
| Cyclical reboot (bootloop) | Conflict after MIUI update | Reset to factory settings or flashing |
| Reacts to charging, but does not turn on | Battery discharged below critical level | Charge 30-60 minutes, then try Method 1 |
Method 3: Reboot with Recovery Mode
Recovery Mode is a service mode that allows you to restore the performance of the smartphone even in case of serious failures. On Redmi 4X, it is entered in a special combination.
Instructions:
- Turn off your smartphone (if it doesn’t respond, use Method 2 to force you to shut down).
- Press and hold: Power button Volume up button
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Recovery
The Recovery menu can:
- 🔄 Reboot system – if the smartphone is frozen, but the firmware is intact.
- 🧹 Reset the settings (Wipe Data) - delete all data, but return the functionality.
- 📥 Install the update (Apply update) - if the failure occurred after a failed update.
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If there is no touch control in the Recovery menu, use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to select the item.
⚠️ Note: If you choose Wipe Data, all data (photos, contacts, messages) will be permanently deleted. Make sure you have a backup or sync with Mi Cloud beforehand.
Method 4: Reset to factory settings via Fastboot
If Redmi 4X doesn’t boot even to Recovery, the last option is to use Fastboot mode, which requires connecting to your computer and installing special drivers.
You'll need:
- 💻 Computer with Windows/Mac/Linux
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original)
- 📦 Mi Flash Tool (download from the official website of Xiaomi)
- 🔑 Unlocked bootloader (if not previously unlocked, this method will not work)
Step-by-step:
- Turn off your smartphone.
- Press the power button + volume down button and hold for 10 seconds until the image of a rabbit in the hat (Fastboot Mode) appears.
- Connect your smartphone to your computer.
- Launch the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware for Redmi 4X (model santoni) and press Flash.
- Wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes) and the smartphone will reboot automatically.
After flashing through Fastboot, all data will be erased and the smartphone will return to “clean” MIUI, a method guaranteed to solve problems with freezes caused by software failures.
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Fastboot mode is the only way to bring the Redmi 4X back to life if it doesn't respond to other reboot methods.However, it requires the bootloader to be unlocked before the computer sees the device.
Method 5: Alternative methods (if nothing helps)
If all of the above methods didn’t work, try these non-standard solutions:
- 🔌 «Deep charging: connect your smartphone to charging and leave for 1-2 hours, even if the indicator is not on.Sometimes the power controller blocks the onset at a critically low charge.
- ❄️ Cooling: If the smartphone overheats (the case is hot), put it in a cool place for 20-30 minutes, then try again to turn on.
- 🔊 Sound signal: when connected to charging, a serviceable Redmi 4X It makes a short sound, and if it's not, it could be the battery or the motherboard.
- 📡 Wireless charging: if the connector USB damaged, try putting your smartphone on a wireless charging station (if supported).
If after all the manipulations the smartphone and did not turn on, most likely, the problem is hardware. In this case, self-repair is not recommended - contact the Xiaomi service center or a proven master.
How to Prevent Frosting in the Future
To minimize the risk of repeated failures, follow these guidelines:
- 📵 Don't let the discharge be below 10%.Redmi Lithium Batteries 4X deep-discharge.
- 🗑️ Clean the cache regularly: go to Settings → Memory. → Clean and delete unnecessary files.
- 🔄 Update your firmware, but only through official channels (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
- 🛡️ Use antivirus (such as Mi Security) to check installed applications.
- 🌡️ Watch the temperature if the body heats up above 40.°C, let the smartphone cool down.
It is also worth disabling auto-run of unnecessary applications:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Autorun.
- Turn off autoplay for games and rarely used programs.
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If Redmi 4X is starting to slow down but hasn’t stopped yet, try rolling back the firmware to the previous version. To do this, download the old version of MIUI from miuirom.xiaomi.com and install it via Recovery (Apply update).