The Xiaomi Redmi 4A (codename rolex), launched in 2016, was the quintessential ultra-budget smartphone, designed to be the accessible gateway to the digital world for millions. It offered a reliable and smooth experience in a compact and lightweight polycarbonate body. The device was powered by the efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset and featured a dedicated microSD card slot, making it a practical and durable choice for first-time smartphone users. For owners looking to restore this classic device from a bootloop or a bad flash, this page provides the official fastboot ROMs for China and Global, the Xiaomi.eu custom ROM, and the official TWRP recovery.
Important: You must verify your device is a Redmi 4A (rolex). This firmware is not compatible with the metal-bodied Redmi 4X (santoni) or the MediaTek-powered Redmi 4 (prada). Flashing the wrong firmware will hard brick your phone.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: Xiaomi Redmi 4A (rolex)
- Release year: 2016
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 425
- Display: 5.0″ IPS LCD
- Battery: 3120 mAh
- Original MIUI: Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), MIUI 8
Required Downloads
| File / Tool | Download Link |
|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Flash Tool | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Included with Mi Flash Tool |
| Bootloader Unlock Tool | Official Mi Unlock Page |
Official & Custom ROMs / Recovery
| Region | Build | Android | Type | Download | Codename |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | V10.2.2.0.MCCCNXM | 6.0 | Official Fastboot ROM | Download | rolex |
| Global | V10.2.3.0.NCCMIXM | 7.1 | Official Fastboot ROM | Download | rolex |
| Xiaomi.eu (Custom) | V10.1.1.0.MCCCNFI (Based) | 6.0 | Custom Recovery ROM | Download | rolex |
| TWRP (Official) | 3.3.1-0 | — | Custom Recovery | Download | rolex |
How to Flash Official ROM (Mi Flash Tool)
Use this method to unbrick your phone or restore official MIUI firmware.
- Boot into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down).
- Extract the official firmware (.tgz file) and select the main folder containing the
/imagesdirectory in Mi Flash Tool. - Select clean all for a safe installation (you can use clean all and lock to return to a fully stock, locked state).
How to Install TWRP & Flash Custom ROMs
Use this method to install the Xiaomi.eu custom ROM or other community-developed ROMs.
What is TWRP? TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is a powerful custom recovery that replaces your phone’s limited stock recovery. It is the essential tool that allows you to install custom software (.zip files), create full backups of your system (a “Nandroid”), and perform other advanced maintenance. The official ROMs on this page do not require TWRP.
Disclaimer: This is an advanced process. Proceed at your own risk.
- Unlock the Bootloader: This is a mandatory first step. Use the official Mi Unlock Tool.
- Flash TWRP:
- Boot your phone into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down) and connect it to your PC.
- Using ADB & Fastboot tools on your PC, flash the downloaded twrp-3.3.1-0-rolex.img file with the command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.3.1-0-rolex.img
- Boot into TWRP: After flashing, immediately boot into recovery by holding Power + Volume Up.
- Install Custom ROM:
- In TWRP, it’s recommended to first go to “Wipe” and perform a Factory Reset.
- Transfer the Xiaomi.eu .zip ROM file to your phone’s storage.
- In TWRP, tap “Install,” select the .zip file, and swipe to confirm the flash.
- Reboot your system once complete.
Device-Specific Troubleshooting for Redmi 4A (rolex)
The Redmi 4A is a robust device, but it has some well-known quirks, especially when flashing.
- Hard Brick Recovery (EDL Mode is Key): The Redmi 4A is famous for getting “hard bricked,” where it becomes completely unresponsive (no screen, no LED, no vibration). This often happens after a bad flash or re-locking the bootloader on unofficial software. The ONLY reliable way to recover from this is using EDL (Emergency Download Mode). This requires opening the back cover and shorting two specific test points on the motherboard while connecting to a PC, which forces Mi Flash Tool to detect the device in “Qualcomm 9008” mode.
- Flashing with a Locked Bootloader: If your phone is bricked but the bootloader is locked, EDL mode is your only option. Unlike fastboot, EDL mode can sometimes allow flashing official firmware even on a locked device, which can be a lifesaver.
- Performance on Final MIUI Version: The final official update, MIUI 10, can feel sluggish on the Redmi 4A’s 2GB of RAM. For a smoother experience, many users in the community prefer to flash lighter custom ROMs (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) or use debloated versions of MIUI.
- Removing “Fake” Reseller ROMs: If your phone is stuck on an old MIUI version and cannot receive official updates, it likely has an unofficial “vendor” or “fake” ROM installed by a reseller. The only way to fix this is to unlock the bootloader and perform a clean flash of an official fastboot ROM using the guide above.
FAQs
Q1. What is the difference between the Redmi 4A (rolex) and the Redmi 4X (santoni)? The Redmi 4A (rolex) is the lower-cost model with a polycarbonate body, a Snapdragon 425 chipset, and no fingerprint scanner. The Redmi 4X (santoni) is a step up, with a metal body, a more powerful Snapdragon 435 chipset, and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Q2. Why is the Global ROM Android 7.1 while the China ROM is Android 6.0? Xiaomi provided an additional major Android OS upgrade for the Global version of the Redmi 4A that was not released for the China-specific model. Therefore, the final Global ROM is based on a newer Android version.
Q3. What was the final official update for the Redmi 4A? The final MIUI version for the Redmi 4A was MIUI 10. The final Android version was Android 6.0 Marshmallow for the China variant and Android 7.1 Nougat for the Global variant.
