How to Fix Bricked Redmi Note 4 (Nikel)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 has been around in countries outside China due to massive demand of consumers. Thanks to its awesomeness and its monster specs. The phone is Xiaomi’s first smartphone powered with MediaTek MT6797 Helio X20 chipset having Deca-core 2.1 GHz and Mali-T880 MP4 GPU (Graphic Processing Unit). MediaTek helio X20 / X25 is known as the world’s first mobile processor with Tri-Cluster CPU architecture and ten processing cores (Deca–core). Hence, many users are curious on its real usage performance while getting stunned by its benchmark score.

Several mod and tweaks for this device have also been around not so long after its release including TWRP and root package. Therefore, there will be a chance for unexpected error causing bootloop or bricked device. Luckily, in most cases flashing and re-installing its stock MIUI ROM can simply solve the problem and bring back a bricked device to life.

This tutorial will guide you to fix a bricked Redmi Note 4 (Nikel) as well as a method to flash MIUI Fastboot ROM even with locked bootloader or in bootloop condition. However, there are certain conditions need to be met before implementing the steps.

Also read: How to root Redmi Note 4.

Objectives

This tutorial will also answer following objectives:

• How to fix bricked Redmi Note 4 MTK (soft-bricked: software-level brick and not a hard bricked).
• How to fix Redmi Note 4 MTK bootloop.
• How to flash MIUI Fastboot ROM on Redmi Note 4 MTK.
• How to reset Redmi Note 4 MTK.
• How to upgrade from MIUI Stable to Developer build.
• How to downgrade from MIUI Developer to Stable build.

Requirements

1. A Redmi Note 4 MTK device (codename Nikel) with at least 55% battery power.
2. Its USB cable.
3. USB Debugging must be enabled previously. If you never enabled it before then most-likely you will not be able to proceed. We believe you must have enabled this or otherwise your phone might not get bricked.
4. A Windows-based computer (PC/Laptop).
5. Windows Driver Signature Enforcement must be disabled in your computer.

If your device is not bricked and is still in normal mode, you can follow this sequence to enable USB Debugging: Settings >> About phone >> tap MIUI version at least 7 times to activate the Developer options. Go to Additional settings >> Developer options >> USB debugging >> Enable it.

The Steps

Please read all the steps and understand each of them thoroughly before you actually do it.

Step 1 – Download all necessary software into your computer:

1. Redmi Note 4 MIUI Fastboot ROM. You may check the latest version here or use this MIUI 8 v8.1.2.0. The file should have .tgz extension.
2. MediaTek VCOM USB Driver (Driver_Auto_Installer_v1.1236.00.zip).
3. Latest version of SP Flash Tool – MediaTek flashing tool.

Step 2 – Extract all the packages (.tgz and .zip) above using either Winrar or 7zip. In terms of MIUI ROM, you should have files and folders similar to following:

Step 3 – Now you’ll need to install the MTK USB driver. Simply open the extracted folders of  “Driver_Auto_Installer_v1.1236.00.zip” and double-click the install.bat file. This will automatically install all necessary drivers onto your computer.

Step 4 – Next, go to the folder of where you have extracted SP Flash tool. Right-click on flash_tool.exe file and choose “Run as administrator”. This will open the MTK flashing tool.

Step 5 – You’ll then need to click on the “Download Agent” and locate “MTK_AllInOne.bin” file from the unzipped SP Flash Tool folder earlier. Finally click Open to choose the file. However, in newer version of SP Flash tool the file is already selected automatically or otherwise you need to locate it by clicking the Choose button.

Step 6 – Next, click the “Scatter-loading” button and then locate the “MT6797_Android_scatter” file located in the extracted MIUI fastboot ROM.

In newer version of SP Flash tool the button is now a “Choose” button.

Step 7 – Make sure all options are unchecked except boot and system.

Step 8 – Grab your Rednote 4 and turn it off completely.

Step 9 – Grab the USB cable and connect it to your PC USB port but just don’t connect the phone to the cable first.

Step 10 – Now click the “Download” button or simply press Control+D.

Step 11 – Grab your phone again. Press and hold the phone’s Volume Down (-) button and immediately connect your phone to the other end of the USB cable (don’t release the Volume Down button just yet).

Step 12 – You will then see the progress bar in SP Flash tool going Red, Purple momentarily, and Yellow for a few minutes until the flashing process is complete. Once completed, you may release the Volume Down button now.

Congratulation! You have successfully flashed MIUI Fastboot ROM on your Redmi Note 4 Nikel using SP Flash Tool. This should be the ultimate solution to fix bootloop device and to bring back a bricked phone to life.

Haven’t been successful yet? Try from Step 11 again but this time press and hold Volume Down (-) and Power buttons all together simultaneously.

Step 13 – Your phone should now reboot automatically. However, if it doesn’t reboot accordingly then you have to simply unplug the phone from computer and reboot it manually by pressing the Power button until you see the familiar Mi logo.

Usually the initial boot time takes longer than usual.

Step 14 – Final step. Once the phone is completely turned on, now go to Settings >> Additional Settings >> Backup and Reset >> Factory Data Reset >> Reset Phone >> Erase.

Step 15 – Enjoy using your phone.

Please feel free to share your experience or add any missing tips. Just drop it at the comment section below.

Credits belong to Mitch002 of MIUI English forum. Do not forget to like and share it on your favorite social media like facebook or twitter.