Xiaomi Redmi 4X: How to unlock your phone in 2026

You turned on your Xiaomi Redmi 4X and saw the words "This device is locked" on the black screen? This means that the smartphone is locked due to resetting, incorrect firmware or binding to your Mi Account. In 90% of cases, the problem can be solved independently without going to the service center. In this article, we will analyze all the working ways of unlocking for Redmi 4X (codename santoni), including bypassing through Fastboot, EDL modes and recovery through Mi Flash Tool.

It is important to understand that the method of unlocking depends on the reason for blocking. If the phone asked for a password from Mi Account after reset, you will need authorization. If the lock appeared after a failed firmware, flashing in EDL mode will help. We will consider options for various scenarios, including cases where the smartphone does not respond to buttons or is not determined by the computer.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge (at least 50% - at a discharge below 30%, unlocking may be interrupted).
• 💻 Windows PC (most methods require Mi Flash Tool or ADB).
• 🔗 Cable USB (Preferably original – cheap cables often do not transmit data to Fastboot).

1. Unlock via Mi Account (if requesting a password)

If Redmi 4X requires you to enter your username and password from Mi Account after resetting, this is standard FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection. You can circumvent it only legally through authorization. Alternative methods (for example, through ADB) on Redmi 4X with the latest firmware do not work due to closed vulnerabilities.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to Wi-Fi (on the lock screen, click Add Network and enter network data).
2. Enter your device-associated email or phone number from Mi Account.
3. If you do not remember your password, use the recovery function at account.xiaomi.com.
4. After successful authorization, the smartphone is unlocked automatically.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Account was created in another region (e.g. China), you may need to VPN To access Xiaomi servers, use servers in Hong Kong or Singapore.

If you do not remember the account details or the phone was purchased by hand, contact the previous owner. In extreme cases, you will need official proof of ownership (check, box) to unlock through the Xiaomi service center.

2. Unlock via Fastboot (if the phone is visible in bootloader mode)

If the Redmi 4X is turned on but hangs on the Mi logo or shows "This device is locked," try unlocking it via Fastboot.

• 🔧 The phone is determined by the computer in Fastboot mode (checked by the command of fastboot devices).
• 📱 Bootloader unlocked (if not, you will need official unlocking via Mi Unlock Tool).
• 💾 There is an original firmware for Redmi 4X (You can download it on the official website).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone. Press Volume down + Power to enter the Fastboot.
2. Connect Redmi 4X to your PC and check for device detection: fastboot devices If the device doesn’t show up, install Mi USB Driver drivers.
3. Download the archive with firmware for santoni (for example, santoni_global_images_V12.0.3.0.QCMMIXM_20210902.0000.00_10.0_global) and unpack it.
4. In the firmware folder, find the file flash_all.bat and run it on behalf of the administrator.
5. Wait until the process is complete (the phone will reboot automatically).

⚠️ Attention: If, in the course of flash_all.bat You get an anti-rollback error, so you're trying to install an older version of the firmware. Download the current build or use the Mi Flash Tool with the Clean All option.

Download the Mi Flash Tool|Install Xiaomi drivers|Download firmware for Santoni|Charge the phone. >50%|Connect the original USB-cable-->

3. Unlock via EDL (if Fastboot doesn't work)

Regime. EDL (Emergency Download Mode is an emergency firmware mode that allows you to restore Redmi 4X Even if the bootloader is damaged, it is activated when the phone is full of bricks (for example, after a failed update or reset through a reset). TWRP). For the entrance EDL need:

• 🖥️ Mi Flash Tool (Version 2020 or later).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C with data transfer support.
• 📄 Firmware in.tgz or.tar format for santoni.
• 🔧 Authorized account EDL (New versions of the Mi Flash Tool).

How to log into EDL:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Volume Down and connect the USB cable to the PC.
3. Hold the buttons for 10-15 seconds until Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 appears in Device Manager.

The firmware through the Mi Flash Tool:

1. Start the Mi Flash Tool and log in (if required).
2. Press Select and indicate the path to the unpacked firmware.
3. Select Clean All (Full Cleaning) mode.
4. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (the process will take 5-10 minutes).

If the Mi Flash Tool requests authorization and you don't have it, try alternative tools like QFil or EDL Tool, but they require manual firehose file designation and are only suitable for advanced users.

4.Reset via Recovery (if the phone loads in the recovery menu)

If the Redmi 4X loads into Recovery Mode, you can try to make a hard reset, which will delete all the data, but return the phone to the factory settings, which is suitable if the lock is caused by a software failure, not a hardware problem.

How to reset:

1. Turn off the phone. Press Volume up + Power until the Mi logo appears.
2. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (use volume buttons for navigation, Power buttons for confirmation).
3. Confirm the reset (Wipe All Data).
4. After completion, select Reboot.

If you reset your phone and you want Mi Account again, it's been linked to your account, so go back to the first way.

⚠️ Note: Some of the Redmi firmware 4X Recovery may not have Wipe Data, which requires firmware via Fastboot or EDL.

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If the sensor is not working in Recovery, use physical buttons: Volume up/down – moving, Power – selection.

5. Unlock bootloader (if required for firmware)

If you try to flash Redmi 4X through Fastboot, but you get a device is locked error, then the bootloader is blocked on the phone. Unlocking it requires official permission from Xiaomi through the Mi Unlock Tool program.

How to unlock bootloader:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
2. Sign in to the program under the same Mi Account that is tied to the phone.
3. Connect Redmi 4X in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
4. Press Unlock and wait until it is completed (usually takes 3-5 minutes).

Important nuances:

• 🔗 Unlocking is possible only with the device-bound Mi Account.
• ⏳ After unlocking, you will have to wait 72-168 hours (depending on Xiaomi policy).
• 📱 On some of the Redmi firmware 4X Unlocking through Mi Unlock Tool does not work – you will need to downgrade to the old version MIUI.

If the Mi Unlock Tool is a Couldn't unlock or Account not bound error, check:

• Is Mi Account linked to your phone (in Mi Account → Mi Cloud settings)
• Is the synchronization active (enable Synchronization and Find the device).
• Do you use a VPN (turn it off before unlocking it)?

6. Alternative methods (if nothing helps)

If the standard methods do not work, try the following options:

A. Firmware via TWRP (only for unlocked bootloader)

If you already have custom TWRP Recovery installed, you can flash clean firmware through it:

1. Download firmware in.zip format (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience for santoni).
2. Boot to TWRP (click Volume Up + Power).
3. Select Wipe → Advanced Wipe and select Dalvik, Cache, Data, System.
4. Fix the firmware through Install.

B. Feedback with Xiaomi (official unlock)

If the phone was bought with hands and the previous owner can not provide Mi Account details, contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase (check, box, IMEI).

Hardware repair (if locking at iron level)

If the Redmi 4X doesn’t respond to buttons, isn’t detected in Fastboot/EDL, and isn’t charging, the problem may be:

• 🔋 Failed battery (replace with a new one).
• 🔌 Damaged connector USB (check on another cable).
• 📱 Damaged motherboard (requires diagnosis in the service).

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If the phone doesn't turn on at all (no response to charging, buttons, PC connection), the problem is more hardware, in which case software unlocking is impossible - repair is required.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Redmi 4X