Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, released in 2017, has become a real bestseller thanks to its successful combination of performance and autonomy. However, time passes, and official support for the device from the manufacturer has long been discontinued. Many owners are wondering whether it is possible to extend the life of their gadget and install a more recent version of the operating system than the one that was installed out of the box.
The relevance of this issue is determined not only by the desire to get new functions, but also by security requirements. Modern applications and banking services are gradually no longer supporting outdated versions of Android, which makes using the phone inconvenient or even impossible to perform basic tasks. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available methods of updating the software, assess the risks and choose the optimal way to upgrade your device.
The process of upgrading software on old devices is always associated with certain risks, from data loss to complete inoperability of the device (“brick”). Therefore, before starting any manipulation backup is a mandatory step that cannot be ignored. We will look at both the official methods offered MIUIand more advanced methods using TWRP Recovery and custom firmware that allow you to go beyond the manufacturer's limitations.
Official update methods via MIUI
The first and safest way to get a new firmware version is to use the system's built-in tools. Xiaomi has long supported its devices with regular OTA (Over-The-Air) updates. To check for updates, the user just needs to go to the menu Settings → About phone → System update. The system will automatically contact the server and offer to download the package if it is available for your model.
However, it is worth considering that official support Redmi Note 4 (global version) ended on Android 7.0 Nougat with MIUI 10 shell or MIUI 11. For the Chinese version (Redmi Note 4X), support lasted a little longer, but also did not exceed Android 7.0. Attempts to find official Android 8.0 or 9.0 updates on Xiaomi servers for this device are doomed to failure, since they simply do not exist in nature.
⚠️ Attention: Official Xiaomi update servers may display the status “No updates”, even if you are not on the latest version of MIUI for your model. This means that the support cycle is complete.
There is an alternative method of installing official firmware manually, which sometimes allows you to bypass automatic bootloader errors. You will need to download the full firmware image (Recovery ROM) from the official website or verified archives. The file must have an extension .zip and not require unpacking. After downloading, move the file to the root of the device’s internal memory.
Next, you need to go to the update menu again and click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen. Select Select firmware file and specify the path to the downloaded archive. The system will check the integrity of the package and, if the version is newer than the current one, will offer to start installation. This method often helps when an OTA update is stuck or shows a download error.
Before manually installing the firmware, make sure that the battery level is at least 60%. Interrupting the process due to a low battery can lead to damage to the system partition.
Preparing the device for flashing
If you decide to go beyond the official updates and install custom firmware based on Android 8.0, 9.0 or even 10/11, you will need to perform a number of preparatory steps. Without this, installing third-party software is impossible. The first step is to unlock the bootloader (Bootloader). This is a procedure that requires submitting an application on the Xiaomi website and waiting from 3 to 15 days.
To unlock, you will need a utility Mi Unlock Tool on your computer. The phone must be put into Fastboot mode by holding down the power and volume down buttons at the same time. After connecting to the PC and logging into the Mi account that was linked to the device at least a week ago, you can initiate the unlocking process. It is worth remembering that this procedure completely clears data from the device.
- 🔋 Charge your smartphone to at least 80% - the flashing process is energy-consuming.
- 💾 Make a complete backup of your contacts, photos and messages to a cloud service or PC.
- 🔌 Use the original USB cable and connect it to the USB 2.0 port on the motherboard (at the back of the system unit).
- 📲 Install the ADB and Fastboot drivers on your computer for the utilities to work correctly.
After successful unlocking, the next critical step is to install a custom recovery, most often used TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project). This modified recovery menu allows you to install firmware that is not signed with Xiaomi digital keys. The TWRP image for Redmi Note 4 (codename mido) is loaded via a computer using the command fastboot flash recovery twrp.img.
⚠️ Attention: Installing a custom recovery and unlocking the bootloader will void the warranty (if it was still valid) and may lead to data loss if done incorrectly. You assume all risks.
☑️ Checklist for preparing for firmware
Installing custom firmware (Custom ROM)
It is at this stage that the owners Redmi Note 4 get the opportunity to install modern versions of Android. The XDA Developers community has created many ports of popular firmware, such LineageOS, Pixel Experience, ArrowOS and others. These firmwares are often based on pure Android (AOSP) and lack the heavyweight MIUI shell, which significantly speeds up the operation of old hardware.
The installation process is as follows: the downloaded zip archive with the firmware and the Google Apps package (GApps), if they are not built-in, is copied to the internal memory or SD card. Then the phone reboots into Recovery mode (holding power and increasing volume). In the TWRP menu, you need to clean the partitions Wipe → Advanced Wipeby selecting Dalvik, Cache, System and Data.
After cleaning, select the item Install, specify the firmware file and confirm with a swipe for installation. If the firmware does not include Google services, the second step is to install the GApps package of the same version of Android. For example, Android 9.0 requires GApps version 9.0. A mismatch between the firmware versions and the Google package will result in an error at the first launch or a cyclic reboot.
| Firmware name | Android version | Features | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| LineageOS 17.1 | Android 10 | Minimalism, high speed | High |
| Pixel Experience | Android 10/11 | Interface like Google Pixel | Medium |
| ArrowOS | Android 11 | Lightweight, only essentials | High |
| Resurrection Remix | Android 9.0 | Huge number of settings | Medium |
What to do if after flashing the phone goes into Bootloop?
If the phone endlessly reboots, go back to TWRP. Try doing a full Wipe (Format Data) by entering the word "yes". If it doesn’t help, try a different firmware version or restore an EFS backup if you have made one.
Compatibility issues and camera performance
One of the most painful issues when switching to custom firmware is the quality of the camera. Standard camera drivers in Android AOSP often cannot fully unlock the potential of the sensors installed in Redmi Note 4. As a result, users may experience that photos turn out worse than on stock MIUI, or there is no ability to record video in high resolution at all.
To solve this problem, the community has developed special camera mods, known as GCam (Google Camera). These are ports of the camera application from Google Pixel smartphones, adapted for other devices. For the processor Snapdragon 625installed in Redmi Note 4, there are stable versions of GCam from the developers Arnova8G2 or BigKaka. They allow you to use HDR+ and Night Sight processing algorithms.
Installing GCam is simple: download the APK file of the appropriate version and install it as a regular application. However, you may need to configure a configuration file (.xml), which optimizes the parameters for a specific sensor. Without such a file, the application may crash when trying to take a photo. It is better to search for the appropriate version of GCam for your sensor (Samsung or Omnivision) on specialized forums.
⚠️ Attention: VoLTE (calls over 4G) or a fingerprint scanner may not work on some custom firmware. Carefully read the firmware topic on the XDA forum before installation to be aware of possible bugs.
It is also worth mentioning the problem with data encryption. Some older custom firmware may not work correctly with encryption of internal memory, which makes it impossible to boot the system after the first restart. In such cases, it is recommended to disable encryption in the TWRP settings before installation or use firmware where this problem has already been fixed by the developers.
System recovery after unsuccessful firmware
Even experienced users are not immune from errors. If, after installing the new firmware, the smartphone does not turn on, does not respond to presses, or does not work correctly, you must perform a recovery procedure. The easiest option is to return to the menu TWRP and restore the previously created backup copy (Backup). This will return the phone to the state it was in before the experiments began.
If there is no backup or the recovery partition is damaged, you will have to use the mode Fastboot and the official Mi Flash Tool. To do this, you will need to download the stock firmware image in Fastboot format (with the extension .tgz, not .zip). After unpacking the archive on your computer, you will see a set of scripts and image files.
fastboot flash boot boot.imgfastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot reboot
Using Mi Flash Tool automates this process. Just specify the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware and press the Flashbutton. It is important to select the Clean all (full clear) mode to avoid file system conflicts. The process can take from 10 to 30 minutes, and the phone will reboot several times during the firmware.
Returning to stock firmware via Fastboot is the most reliable way to revive the phone after unsuccessful experiments with custom software, but it completely deletes all user data.
Optimization and further operation
After successfully installing a new operating system, it is important to properly configure the device for stable operation. Custom ROMs often come with a minimal set of pre-installed applications, giving you freedom of choice. However, you should be wary of installing tweakers and system modifiers that promise “super acceleration.” They often do more harm than good, disrupting the stability of background processes.
Pay attention to the energy saving settings. Despite the fact that new versions of Android have improved power management algorithms, on older hardware Redmi Note 4 aggressive settings can lead to messengers not sending notifications on time. It is recommended to add important applications to the list of exclusions from battery optimization in the menu Settings → Applications → Special access → Battery saver.
Regular firmware updates are also important, even if it is a custom build. The developers release monthly security patches and bug fixes. You can monitor updates either through the built-in menu in the firmware itself (if there is OTA support for custom), or manually by downloading new versions on the forums. Don't forget to make a backup before every major Android version update.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that turning an old Redmi Note 4 into a modern smartphone is a great way to save money and get a useful experience. A device that officially stopped at Android 7 can run quite comfortably on Android 10 or 11, remaining relevant for most everyday tasks for several more years.
If your phone's battery drains quickly after flashing, let the device run for 1-2 days as usual. The system calibrates the usage statistics, and the battery life will return to normal.
Is it safe to unlock the bootloader on Redmi Note 4?
Yes, this is a standard procedure provided by the manufacturer. However, it erases all data from the phone. The warranty (if still valid) may be void. The risk of “bricking” is minimal if you strictly follow the instructions.
Will I lose the ability to use banking applications after installing custom firmware?
By default, yes, since the integrity of the system (SafetyNet) is violated. However, you can get around this problem by installing Magisk and hiding root permissions from banking applications. Many modern firmware already have built-in bypass mechanisms.
Is it possible to return to the official MIUI after custom firmware?
Yes, of course. To do this, you need to unlock the bootloader again (if it is closed) and flash the official Fastboot firmware via the Mi Flash Tool app on your computer.
Which version of Android is the maximum for Redmi Note 4?
Officially - Android 7.0. Unofficially (custom firmware) stable versions of Android 10 and 11 are available. Versions above 11 exist, but may work unstable due to limitations of the drivers of the old processor.
Do Root access is needed to update the system?
No, to install updates (both official and custom via Recovery) root access is not required. Moreover, having superuser rights can sometimes interfere with the installation of OTA updates.