Redmi 4X (codename santoni) was a defining budget phone from 2017, celebrated for its exceptional battery life thanks to the Snapdragon 435 and a 4100mAh battery. If your device is experiencing bootloops, sudden shutdowns, or unresponsive sensors, a clean installation of the stock ROM can often restore its stability. This page provides the final official MIUI fastboot ROMs for the Chinese and Global variants, a streamlined Xiaomi.eu ROM, and the necessary TWRP recovery for customization.
Critical Warning: The Redmi 4X (santoni) uses a Spreadtrum chipset, which is different from most Xiaomi phones. This makes it prone to unique hard bricks and requires specific tools like QPST/QFIL for EDL mode recovery. Always double-check your codename.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: Redmi 4X (santoni)
- Release year: 2017
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (MSM8940)
- Display: 5.0″ IPS LCD, 720p
- Battery: 4100 mAh
- Original OS: Android 6.0, MIUI 8
- Final Official MIUI: MIUI 11 (Android 7.1 Nougat)
Required Downloads
| File / Tool | Download Link |
|---|---|
| QPST / QFIL Tool | Download QFIL (Essential for EDL) |
| Mi Flash Tool | Download (For Fastboot) |
| Spreadtrum Drivers | Download Drivers (Critical for Detection) |
| Bootloader Unlock Tool | Official Mi Unlock |
Fastboot ROMs & Tools
| Type | Build / Version | Android | Release Date | Download | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China Stable (CN) | V11.0.1.0.NAMCNXM | 7.1 (Nougat) | 2019-10-22 | Download | ~1.6 GB |
| Global Stable | V11.0.2.0.NAMMIXM | 7.1 (Nougat) | 2019-11-07 | Download | ~1.6 GB |
| Xiaomi.eu (Custom) | V10.3.1.0.NAMCNXM | 7.1 (Nougat) | — | Download | ~1.0 GB |
| TWRP Recovery (Official) | 3.6.2_9-0 | — | — | Download | ~22 MB |
How to Flash via Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool)
- Unlock your bootloader using the official Mi Unlock tool. This is a mandatory first step for using Fastboot.
- Extract the downloaded .tgz firmware file to get a folder containing the flashable ROM.
- Open Mi Flash Tool. Click Select and browse to the extracted ROM folder.
- Power off your phone. Boot into Fastboot mode by holding Volume Down + Power. Connect it to your PC.
- In Mi Flash Tool, choose the clean all option. Do not use “clean all and lock” on this device as it can cause issues.
- Click Flash and wait patiently. The process may take several minutes. Do not disconnect the phone.
FAQs
Q1. My Redmi 4X is completely dead (hard bricked). How can I revive it?
Due to its Spreadtrum chipset, you must use EDL (Emergency Download) mode with the QFIL tool and a specific prog_emmc_firehose_8940.mbn loader file. This process requires opening the back cover and manually shorting test points on the motherboard to force EDL mode, as the key combination often doesn’t work on bricked devices.
Q2. Why does my phone randomly shut down even with good battery?
This is a very common hardware issue on aging Redmi 4X units. It is often caused by a degraded battery that can no longer deliver stable voltage under load or a faulty power button that is stuck. A software flash can help rule out OS issues, but the fix is usually a battery replacement.
Q3. What is the latest Android version available for santoni?
Officially, the device stopped at Android 7.1. However, thanks to its active custom ROM community, you can install numerous custom ROMs like Pixel Experience or LineageOS that bring Android 10, 11, or even 12 to the device, giving it a new lease on life.
Q4. My proximity sensor during calls is not working. Is this a software bug?
This is a frequent problem, often fixed by running a sensor test in the hidden MIUI hardware test menu (##6484##). If calibration fails, it’s likely a hardware fault where dust has accumulated under the sensor, requiring a careful cleaning of the earpiece grille.
Troubleshooting (Santoni-Specific)
- “Cannot receive hello packet” in Mi Flash: This is a signature santoni driver error. Completely uninstall all previous Qualcomm drivers from Device Manager. Install the specific Spreadtrum VCOM drivers and use a USB 2.0 port. Restart your PC and try again.
- Phone enters EDL mode automatically when connecting USB: This indicates a severe software corruption or hardware failure. You must now use the QFIL method with the correct firehose file to recover. Forcing Fastboot mode may not be possible.
- IMEI lost after flash: The santoni’s NVRAM partition can be corrupted. You will need to restore a backup of your
persistpartition or rewrite the IMEI using SN Write Tool and a specific auth.txt file, which requires an authorized account. - Flashing Xiaomi.eu ROM gets stuck or boots back to TWRP: This is typically a data encryption issue. In TWRP, you must go to **Wipe -> Format Data** and type ‘yes’. This will erase all internal storage, including photos and files, but is necessary to remove encryption before flashing a custom ROM.
- Phone heats up excessively and drains battery after flash: This is often caused by an incompatible modem firmware. Ensure you have flashed the correct ROM for your device’s region. A clean flash of the Global ROM typically resolves modem-related battery drain on international models.
