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How to Flash Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon Using SP Flash Tool: A Comprehensive Guide

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Disclaimer:

  • Flashing your phone carries risks. Your warranty might be void, and there’s a possibility of bricking your device. Proceed at your own risk.
  • This guide is for informational purposes only. I am not responsible for any damage to your device.
  • It is crucial to backup all your important data before proceeding, as this process will wipe your phone completely.

Note: For Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon (codenamed “nikel”), unlocking the bootloader typically requires flashing a China Developer firmware first. This guide will walk you through flashing this ROM using SP Flash Tool, unlocking the bootloader, and even provide steps for unbricking your device if necessary.

Prerequisites:

Before you begin, ensure you have downloaded the following essential files and tools:

  1. Redmi Note 4 (Snapdragon) Phone (Codename: nikel): This guide is specifically for the Snapdragon variant of the Redmi Note 4, compatible with both 2GB and 3GB RAM versions.
  2. Unlock Approval from MIUI: You need to obtain bootloader unlock permission from Xiaomi. Apply for it at the official MIUI unlock portal: MIUI Unlock Apply.
  3. Mi Unlock Tool: Download the official Mi Unlock tool from Xiaomi: Mi Unlock Download.
  4. Drivers & SP Flash Tool: Download the necessary drivers and the SP Flash Tool package: Drivers & SP Flash Tool Download. This package includes the SP Flash Tool and MediaTek (MTK) drivers.
  5. Latest Redmi Note 4 China Developer ROM (Fastboot Version): Download the latest China Developer ROM for Redmi Note 4 from the official MIUI website. Ensure you download the Fastboot ROM (TGZ file): Redmi Note 4 ROMs. For unbricking purposes, you can also use a Global ROM.
  6. Custom CUST.BIN File: Download the custom cust.bin file, which can help prevent potential issues during flashing: Custom CUST.BIN Download.

Steps to Flash China Developer ROM (for Bootloader Unlock):

  1. Install MTK Drivers: Locate the MTK_Driver_Installer_.1352 ext folder within the downloaded Drivers & SP Flash Tool package. Run DriverInstaller.exe as Administrator to install the MediaTek USB drivers.

    • Windows 10 Driver Issue: If you encounter driver installation problems on Windows 10, you may need to disable Driver Signature Enforcement. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run the following commands, then restart your PC:
    bcdedit.exe -set loadoptions DISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS
bcdedit.exe -set TESTSIGNING ON

  2. Extract ROM Files: Extract the downloaded China Developer ROM TGZ file into a new folder on your computer.

  3. Replace CUST.IMG: Navigate to the images subfolder within the extracted ROM folder. Replace the existing CUST.IMG file with the custom cust.bin file you downloaded and rename the custom file to CUST.IMG. This step is crucial.

  4. Launch SP Flash Tool: Run flash_tool.exe as Administrator.

  5. Load Download Agent: In SP Flash Tool, click on the “Download Agent” button and select the MTK_AllInOne_DA.BIN file. This file is located in the SP Flash Tool folder.

  6. Load Scatter File: Click on the “Scatter-loading” button and choose the MT6797_Android_scatter.txt file. This file is located in the images folder of the extracted ROM.

    The partition list will populate in SP Flash Tool.

  7. Partition Selection: Uncheck the “preloader” partition. Ensure all other partitions are selected.

  8. Power Off Your Redmi Note 4: Completely turn off your phone.

  9. Initiate Flashing: Click the “Download” button in SP Flash Tool. Do not connect your phone yet.

  10. Connect Phone in Flashing Mode: On your powered-off phone, press and hold the Volume Down (-) button. While holding Volume Down, connect your Redmi Note 4 to your computer using a USB cable. Continue holding Volume Down until SP Flash Tool detects your phone and the flashing process begins (indicated by a yellow progress bar at the bottom of the SP Flash Tool window).

  11. Wait for Flashing to Complete: The flashing process will take approximately 3-5 minutes. Once completed, a “Download OK” message will appear in SP Flash Tool.

  12. First Boot: Disconnect your phone from the computer. Press and hold the Power button until your phone vibrates. Release the Power button and wait for the phone to boot up. The first boot may take up to 10 minutes, so be patient.

  13. Initial Setup: Once booted, complete the initial setup process. Select English as your language and connect to Wi-Fi. Crucially, log in to your MI Account during setup. Do not skip this step.

  14. Enable Developer Options and OEM Unlocking: Go to Settings -> About phone and tap on “MIUI version” repeatedly (about 7-10 times) until “Developer options” is enabled. Then, navigate to Settings -> Additional settings -> Developer options. Enable “OEM Unlocking” and also turn on “USB debugging”. Enabling OEM Unlocking is essential for bootloader unlocking and pairs your MI Account with your device.

  15. Find Device in Mi Cloud: Go to i.mi.com on your computer and log in with your MI Account. Click on “Find device”. Wait for a minute for your device to be located and show as “Online, Located”.

  16. Unlock with Mi Unlock Tool: Launch the Mi Unlock app on your computer and follow the on-screen instructions. You will need to boot your phone into Fastboot Mode during this process. To enter Fastboot Mode: Power off your phone, then press and hold Volume Down + Power button simultaneously until the Fastboot Mode screen appears.

  17. Bootloader Unlocked: Congratulations! You have successfully unlocked the bootloader on your Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon.

How to Check Bootloader Status:

To verify the bootloader unlock status, boot your phone into Fastboot Mode and use the following command in the Command Prompt or Terminal:

fastboot getvar unlocked

The command will return either “yes” (bootloader unlocked) or “no” (bootloader locked).

Steps to Install TWRP Recovery (Optional):

After unlocking your bootloader, you can install a custom recovery like TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project). TWRP allows you to flash custom ROMs, kernels, and perform advanced operations.

  1. Download TWRP Recovery Image: Download the TWRP recovery image for Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon (nikel) from a reliable source like Android File Host: TWRP for Redmi Note 4.
  2. Flash TWRP via Fastboot: Open a command prompt or terminal in the directory where you downloaded the TWRP image. Boot your phone into Fastboot Mode and execute the following commands:
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flash recovery cofface_twrp_nikel_recovery1124.img
fastboot boot cofface_twrp_nikel_recovery1124.img

(Note: Replace cofface_twrp_nikel_recovery1124.img with the actual filename of your downloaded TWRP image if it’s different.)

Steps to Unbrick Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon:

If your Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon gets bricked (e.g., stuck in a boot loop or not powering on), you can often unbrick it using SP Flash Tool. The process is very similar to flashing the China Developer ROM.

  1. Install Drivers: Ensure MTK drivers are installed as described in Step 1 of the flashing guide.
  2. Extract ROM Files: Extract a Fastboot ROM (either Global or China Stable/Developer) for Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon.
  3. Replace CUST.IMG: Replace CUST.IMG in the images folder with the custom cust.bin file as before.
  4. Launch SP Flash Tool, Load DA, Scatter File, Select Partitions: Repeat steps 4-7 from the flashing guide.
  5. Initiate and Complete Flashing: Repeat steps 8-11 from the flashing guide to start and complete the flashing process.
  6. First Boot: Disconnect and power on your device. With luck, your Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon should now be unbricked and boot up successfully.

Credits:

This guide is based on the work and contributions of the Android developer community, particularly:

  • @masterross
  • @mitch002
  • @cofface for TWRP recovery.

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