How to restore the “brick” on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: a complete guide with error solutions

What is a brick and why is the Redmi 4X turning into one?

Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni) is one of the brand’s most popular budget devices, but even it isn’t immune to becoming a so-called “brick,” a term that means a condition where the phone stops responding to buttons, doesn’t turn on or hangs on the Mi logo. The reasons can be different: a failed firmware update, an interrupted firmware reflash through Fastboot, experiments with custom Recovery, or even hardware failures after a fall.

Unlike Xiaomi’s newer models, the Redmi 4X has a closed bootloader by default, making it difficult to recover. However, even in the case of a full “brick” (when the phone is not determined by the computer), there are ways to bring it back to life. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods for 2026, from the simplest reset via Recovery to firmware through emergency EDL mode.

It’s important to understand that the recovery process requires patience and follow the instructions accurately. Mistakes in unlocking the bootloader or selecting the firmware can make things worse. If you’ve never worked with ADB, Fastboot or tools like the Mi Flash Tool, we recommend that you carefully study each step before action.

Redmi 4X signs of a brick: how to diagnose a problem?

Before you start to recover, you need to determine exactly what type of brick you are facing, and the choice of repair method depends on it, and here are the main symptoms and their possible causes:

• 🔴 The phone does not turn on at all (no reaction to charging, buttons, connection to the PC) - most often it is a hardware problem (damaged battery, power controller) or a deep software failure that requires firmware through the computer. EDL.
• 🔄 Hangs on the Mi logo or download animations - a typical "soft brick" caused by system files being damaged. Restored via Fastboot or Recovery.
• 📵 The phone is turned on but does not load beyond the lock screen – it is possible that the partition is damaged. /data. Helps reset through Recovery.

If your Redmi 4X falls into one of these categories, don’t panic: 90% of the time, it can be software-repaired, except for physical damage to the board (such as after a drop or moisture) that requires repair at a service center.

Preparation for Recovery: What Will Be Needed?

To successfully restore the Xiaomi Redmi 4X, prepare everything you need in advance. The absence of even one of the components can interrupt the process and exacerbate the problem.

• 🔌 Cable USB — Preferably original from Xiaomi (cheap cables may not provide a stable connection in Fastboot mode).

Pay special attention to the choice of firmware. For Redmi 4X, only files marked santoni in the title are suitable. Incorrect firmware (for example, for Redmi 5A) will lead to complete failure of the device!

Method 1: Recovery through Recovery (for soft brick)

If your Redmi 4X is powered on but not loaded beyond the Mi logo, the first thing you should do is try a reset via a standard recapverie.This method does not require unlocking the bootloader and is suitable for most soft-brick cases.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (if it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the Volume Up + Power combination and hold until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
3. From the menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons for navigation and power button for confirmation).
4. After reset, go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If the phone doesn't boot after reset, try to play it over the Fastboot, but note that it will require unlocking the bootloader (see next section).

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If the Recovery menu does not include Wipe Data, you have customized recoveries (such as TWRP), in which case select Advanced → File Manager and manually delete files in /cache and /data folders (except media).

Method 2: Unlock the bootloader (a mandatory step for Fastboot)

If resetting through Recovery didn't work, the next step is to run the firmware through Fastboot. But there's a key limitation here: on the Xiaomi Redmi 4X, the bootloader is locked by default. Without unlocking it, any attempt to flash the device will end in error.

The official unlocking process requires a Mi Account to be tied to the device and waiting 72-720 hours (depending on Xiaomi policy).However, in 2026, there are workarounds for bricks when the phone is not turned on, one of which is the use of the Mi Unlock Tool utility in combination with the emergency EDL mode.

Unlocking algorithm:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website and install it on PC.
2. Launch your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
3. Connect the device to the PC and wait for the driver to install.
4. In Mi Unlock Tool, log in under the same Mi Account that was linked to your phone.
5. Press Unlock and follow the instructions. If the process fails, try repeating it after 24 hours.

⚠️ Note: If you do not remember the data of the Mi Account associated with the phone, unlocking the bootloader will be impossible without contacting the Xiaomi service center. EDL Using an authorized account (see Method 4).

Method 3: Fastboot firmware (for unlocked bootloader)

If the bootloader is successfully unlocked, you can start firmware through Fastboot, a method that is suitable for most “brick” cases where the phone is detected by the computer but not booted.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the official firmware for Redmi 4X (santoni) in.tgz format and unpack it into a folder without Cyrillic characters.
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool and run on behalf of the administrator.
3. Turn your phone into Fastboot mode (Loudness down + Power).
4. In the Mi Flash Tool, click Select and specify the path to the unpacked firmware.
5. Select firmware mode: Clean all – complete cleaning (recommended for serious failures), Clean all and lock – cleaning + lock bootloader (use if you plan to sell the phone).

Flash

Once the firmware is successful, the phone will automatically restart. The first run can take up to 15 minutes -- that's okay.

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If the Mi Flash Tool is 4032 or 9008, it means that the bootloader is not unlocked or the phone has switched to EDL mode.

Method 4: Firmware through EDL (for “hard brick”)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is the last chance to restore the Redmi 4X when other methods fail. In this mode, the phone is defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 and allows you to flash it around the blocked bootloader, but this will require an authorized Xiaomi account (or bypass utilities like EDL Authorized Account).

In 2026, Xiaomi tightened its firmware controls through EDL, so free login accounts no longer work, and the only legal ways to do so are to contact a service center or buy authorization from official partners (e.g., Mi Authorized Service).

If you have an authorized account, follow the instructions:

1. Download the firmware for EDL (usually a file with the.mbn or.elf extension).
2. Install Qualcomm drivers (can be accessed via QFil or Mi Flash Pro).
3. Connect the phone in EDL mode: Turn off the device. Press Volume up + Volume down and plug in the USB cable.

Mi Flash Tool

Flash

Account

⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL without authorization can lead to a complete locking of the device (Anti-Rollback.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you restore Redmi 4X, you often encounter common errors, and we've collected the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🔌 Phone is not defined in Fastboot: Check the cable and port USB (Try the port USB Reinstall the Mi drivers USB You can use Device Manager.
• 🔄 Mistake. anti_rollback When you're firmware: Download the firmware newer than the one you installed earlier. EDL To circumvent the restriction (authorization is required).
• 📵 Mi Flash Tool freezes 99%: Disable antivirus (it can block the process).Try another version of the Mi Flash Tool (e.g. 20180427).

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be the hardware (damaged memory, power controller) and we recommend that you contact the service center.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions