How to turn on Xiaomi Redmi 4: from basic launch to recovery after a failure

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, released in 2016. Despite its considerable age, the device is still actively used due to its reliability and the ability to install custom firmware. However, even with such a proven device, there can be problems with inclusion, from banal battery discharge to software failures after a failed update.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn on Redmi 4 – from the standard procedure to restore via Fastboot and Recovery. You will learn how to diagnose the cause of a malfunction, which buttons are responsible for what, and what to do if the phone does not respond to charging or freezes on the Mi logo.

Standard Incorporation: Basic Actions

If your Redmi 4 is off and has no visible damage, start with the simplest one:

• 🔋 Connect the charger. Even if you're sure the battery is charged, try holding the phone on a charge for 10-15 minutes. Redmi 4 may not turn on at a charge level below 5%.
• 🔄 Press the power button for 5-7 seconds. In this model, the button is located on the right end and requires a noticeable effort to actuate.
• 🔊 Check the indicator. When you connect the charge, a red or orange LED should light up (depending on the charge level). If the indicator does not burn, the problem may be in the cable, power supply or Micro-USB connector.

If the phone doesn’t show signs of life after this, move on to the next section. Note: Redmi 4 (unlike the newer models) doesn’t have a quick double-press function, just a standard power button.

Diagnosis of the problem: why not included

Before you start taking drastic measures, identify a possible cause.Redmi 4 may not turn on because of:

Critical: If the phone vibrates when charging, but does not turn on, it is a sign of a short circuit in the power supply or a faulty charge controller, in which case self-repair is not recommended.

⚠️ Warning: If you drop your phone or get wet before a problem, don't try to turn it on right away. This can short circuit and permanently fail.Let the device dry for 24 to 48 hours in a dry place (such as rice or silica gel).

Forced reboot: button combinations

If Redmi 4 is stuck and does not respond to standard on, use hardware combinations.

• 🔄 Soft reset: clamping down on the power supply + Volume up for 10-15 seconds. Release when the Mi logo appears.
• 🛠️ Recovery: Reduce the power supply + Volume up, hold until the Recovery menu appears (about 20 seconds).
• 🚀 Fastboot mode: pinch the power + Volume down. Used to run through the PC.

The Redmi 4 (unlike the Redmi Note 4) doesn’t have a separate reset button, so all manipulations are done through combinations with volume buttons. If the phone doesn’t respond to any of the combinations, the problem may be a power button malfunction (a common problem after falls).

Turn off the charger.

Make sure the buttons are not stuck

Use two hands to press evenly.

Hold the combination for at least 15 seconds-->

Important: If you're on the Recovery menu but don't know what to do next, don't choose Wipe Data at random, which will result in total data loss without recovery.

Recovery through Recovery Mode

The Recovery menu on Redmi 4 allows you to reset or install the update manually.

1. Turn off the phone (if it is frozen, use the Power + Volume combination for 15 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume up until the Mi logo appears, then let go.
3. In the Recovery menu, use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button for selection.

The following options are available on the menu:

• 🔄 Reboot - Reboot system.
• 🗑️ Wipe Data – reset to factory settings (deletes all data!).
• 📦 Install update.zip — memory-card firmware.
• 🔧 Advanced – additional settings (for example, cleaning the cache).

If you choose Wipe Data, the phone will reboot and start the reset process, which can take 5 to 10 minutes, and don't interrupt the process even if it seems to be getting stuck.

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If the Recovery menu doesn’t have a sensor (on Redmi 4 it’s disabled in this mode), use the volume buttons to move and the power button to confirm the selection.

Fastboot firmware: if the phone doesn't boot

If Redmi 4 doesn’t even include Recovery, you’ll still have a firmware option via Fastboot.

• 💻 Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers.
• 🔌 Micro-USB cable (preferably original).
• 📁 Firmware in.tgz format for your model (you can download it on the official website).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool Programming.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to log into Fastboot.
2. Connect your phone to your PC. The Android Bootloader Interface should appear in the Device Manager.
3. Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic symbols.
4. Open the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware folder and press Refresh.
5. Select Clean All (complete clean) or Clean All and Lock (if you want to lock the bootloader).
6. Press Flash and wait for the process to end (5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: Fastboot removes all data on your phone, including photos, contacts and apps. If you have backups of Mi Cloud enabled, you can recover some of the information after you run.

If the Mi Flash Tool is 0x8007001f or 0x80070017, try:

• 🔌 Use the other USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).
• 🔄 Reinstall the driver manually through the Device Manager.
• 📥 Download the firmware again (maybe the file is damaged).

Hardware problems: when to carry in the service

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be the hardware.

• 🔋 Battery – swells or loses capacity (check if the back cover is moving away).
• 🔌 Charging connector – oxidizes or breaks off the board (check if the cable staggers when connected).
• 📱 Display plume - after falling, the connector may move away, because of which the screen does not turn on, but the phone vibrates.
• 🔊 Power button – the mechanism breaks or the contact leaves (check if there is a click when pressed).

You can try it yourself:

1. Disassemble the phone and check the battery bloating (if any - replace).
2. Clean the charging connector with alcohol and toothpick (if there is oxidation).
3. Check the density of the adjoining plume of the display (partial disassembly is required).

Warning: If you don’t have experience in electronics repair, you should contact the service. For example, replacing the battery with a Redmi 4 requires soldering work, since the battery is soldered to the board (unlike newer models where it is on the connector).

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If the phone falls into water or is subjected to a strong vibration (for example, in a car), there is a risk of microcracks on the board, in which case repairing the service will be cheaper than buying a new device.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to turn on Redmi 4, users often make mistakes that exacerbate the problem:

• ⚡ Using a non-original charger - can lead to overheating of the power controller and complete failure of the phone.
• 🔄 Interrupting the reset process – if you pull the battery out during Wipe Data, the phone can turn into a brick".
• 📥 Installation of unofficial firmware without unlocking the bootloader will lead to locking the device (requires binding of the Mi Account).
• 🛠️ Disassembling the phone without turning off the battery - the risk of short circuit and failure of the motherboard.

To avoid problems:

• 🔋 Use only original accessories or certified analogues (e.g. from Anker or Baseus).
• 📡 Before you run your firmware, check the phone model (on the box or under the battery).Redmi 4 Pro firmware won't work for the Redmi 4 Standard.
• 🔒 If your phone is blocked by your Mi Account, don’t try to bypass the lock via Fastboot – this will result in complete data loss.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions