Let's take a look back at a true classic, the Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codename `santoni`). This legendary compact phone from 2017 became a massive bestseller worldwide. In markets like Nigeria, it was the perfect pocket workhorse: a tough metal body, a huge **4100 mAh battery** that could easily last two days through power cuts, and an affordable price tag.
In 2025, this device is a beloved vintage classic. Its official software journey ended long ago with **MIUI 11, based on the ancient Android 7.1 Nougat**. For the huge community of enthusiasts and long-time owners, a clean firmware flash is the best way to restore its amazing battery life, unbrick it from a failed experiment, and, most importantly, prepare it for its incredible second life in the custom ROM world.
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi 4X
For `santoni`, flashing is the key that unlocks its continued relevance and usability.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: santoni)
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware to serve as your recovery tool and the stable base for all future customization.
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 11 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
This is the universal unbricking tool and the foundational first step for all `santoni` owners.
➡ Your phone will reboot into a perfectly clean, official MIUI 11 system.
Method 2: Installing a Custom Recovery (TWRP)
This is the gateway to the `santoni`'s incredible second life with modern Android.
➡ With TWRP installed, you can now explore the massive library of custom ROMs on forums like XDA and bring modern, secure Android to your classic device.
FAQs
**Q1: Why was the Redmi 4X so popular in Nigeria?**
It was the perfect phone for many people at the time. It was compact and strong with its metal body, very affordable, and the battery could easily last two days, which was a huge advantage when dealing with power cuts. It was a true pocket workhorse that you could rely on.
**Q2: Can I get modern Android on my Redmi 4X?**
Not officially, but yes! `santoni` has one of the best and most dedicated custom ROM communities in the world. You can find stable, unofficial builds of nearly every version of Android, from Oreo all the way up to Android 14, on forums like XDA-Developers.
**Q3: Is the Redmi 4X safe to use in 2025?**
On its stock MIUI 11 software, **no**. It is very insecure. However, if you install a modern custom ROM (like a recent version of LineageOS) that receives regular security patches from the community, it can be made much safer for daily use.
**Q4: My battery doesn't last long anymore. Will this fix the problem?**
It has a very high chance of fixing any software-related battery drain. A clean flash restores the system to its most efficient state. For even better results, a modern, lightweight custom ROM can often provide even better battery life than the old MIUI 11. Of course, after 8 years, the physical battery may also be degraded.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
In 2025, this device is a beloved vintage classic. Its official software journey ended long ago with **MIUI 11, based on the ancient Android 7.1 Nougat**. For the huge community of enthusiasts and long-time owners, a clean firmware flash is the best way to restore its amazing battery life, unbrick it from a failed experiment, and, most importantly, prepare it for its incredible second life in the custom ROM world.
- ✔ A tribute to the legendary compact workhorse and its enduring popularity
- ✔ Download links for the final official MIUI 11 (Android 7.1) firmware
- ✔ Instructions to unlock the massive potential of the `santoni` custom ROM scene
- ✔ Links to a working TWRP custom recovery and all essential tools
- ✔ The ultimate unbricking guide for one of the most popular Redmi phones ever
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi 4X
For `santoni`, flashing is the key that unlocks its continued relevance and usability.
- Prepare for Modern Android via Custom ROMs (Primary Reason) → The `santoni` has a legendary custom ROM community that has kept it alive with modern Android. Flashing the latest stock firmware is the essential first step to update all the base partitions before you can install these new ROMs.
- Unbrick a Bricked Device → As one of the most tinkered-with phones ever, `santoni` is often soft-bricked. This guide is the universal recovery tool to bring it back to life.
- Restore Its Legendary Battery Life → A clean flash of the stock ROM is the best way to fix software-related battery drain and restore the incredible endurance this phone was famous for.
- Fix Lag and Slowness → A clean installation of its final official firmware will make the stock experience as smooth and responsive as possible.
- Install a Clean MIUI (Xiaomi.eu) → For users who want a debloated version of the classic MIUI experience.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: santoni)
- Model: Xiaomi Redmi 4X
- Release Year: 2017
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 435
- Display: 5.0” HD IPS LCD
- Battery: 4100 mAh
- Key Feature: Compact size, legendary battery life, huge custom ROM support
- OS at Launch: MIUI 8 on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- Final Official OS: MIUI 11 on Android 7.1.2 Nougat (End of Life)
- Codename: santoni
SECURITY WARNING & LEGACY NOTICE: The Redmi 4X is running critically outdated software (Android 7.1) and is not secure for online use with personal data. Its true value today is its incredible custom ROM community, which keeps this compact legend alive with modern, more secure versions of Android.
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware to serve as your recovery tool and the stable base for all future customization.
| Tool / File | Purpose / OS Version | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Flash Tool | For flashing official Fastboot ROMs. | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Ensures your PC can communicate with your phone. | Driver Pack |
| Mi Unlock Tool | Required to unlock the bootloader. | Official Unlock Page |
| Custom Recovery (TWRP) | The gateway to all custom ROMs. | Official TWRP for Santoni |
| Fastboot ROM (China) | Official MIUI 11 (Android 7.1) | V11.0.1.0.NAMCNXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Global) | Official MIUI 11 (Android 7.1) | V11.0.2.0.NAMMIXM |
| Xiaomi.eu ROM (Custom) | Older MIUI 10 (Android 7.1) build | V10.3.1.0.NAMCNXM |
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 11 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
This is the universal unbricking tool and the foundational first step for all `santoni` owners.
- Unlock Bootloader: Your device's bootloader must be unlocked. Use the official Mi Unlock Tool. This will erase your data.
li>Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off your Redmi 4X. Press and hold Power + Volume Down until the Fastboot logo appears. - Extract Firmware: On your PC, extract the downloaded `.tgz` Fastboot ROM twice until you have a folder with an `images` directory.
- Launch Mi Flash Tool: Open the tool as an administrator. Click "select" and choose the extracted firmware folder.
- Connect Device & Flash: Connect your phone to the PC, click "refresh", ensure "clean all" is selected at the bottom, and click "flash".
➡ Your phone will reboot into a perfectly clean, official MIUI 11 system.
Method 2: Installing a Custom Recovery (TWRP)
This is the gateway to the `santoni`'s incredible second life with modern Android.
- Unlock Bootloader: Ensure your bootloader is unlocked.
- Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off the phone and boot into Fastboot by holding Power + Volume Down.
- Flash TWRP: Download the official TWRP `.img` file. Flash it using the command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.6.2_9-0-santoni.img - Boot into Recovery: After flashing, hold Power + Volume Up while the phone reboots to enter the newly installed TWRP.
➡ With TWRP installed, you can now explore the massive library of custom ROMs on forums like XDA and bring modern, secure Android to your classic device.
FAQs
**Q1: Why was the Redmi 4X so popular in Nigeria?**
It was the perfect phone for many people at the time. It was compact and strong with its metal body, very affordable, and the battery could easily last two days, which was a huge advantage when dealing with power cuts. It was a true pocket workhorse that you could rely on.
**Q2: Can I get modern Android on my Redmi 4X?**
Not officially, but yes! `santoni` has one of the best and most dedicated custom ROM communities in the world. You can find stable, unofficial builds of nearly every version of Android, from Oreo all the way up to Android 14, on forums like XDA-Developers.
**Q3: Is the Redmi 4X safe to use in 2025?**
On its stock MIUI 11 software, **no**. It is very insecure. However, if you install a modern custom ROM (like a recent version of LineageOS) that receives regular security patches from the community, it can be made much safer for daily use.
**Q4: My battery doesn't last long anymore. Will this fix the problem?**
It has a very high chance of fixing any software-related battery drain. A clean flash restores the system to its most efficient state. For even better results, a modern, lightweight custom ROM can often provide even better battery life than the old MIUI 11. Of course, after 8 years, the physical battery may also be degraded.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
- Bricked after flashing a custom ROM: This is the most common reason to use this guide. As long as your PC can detect the phone in Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down), using Method 1 will always bring it back to life.
- Bootloop after flashing a new ROM: You must format data in TWRP before flashing a new ROM, especially when coming from MIUI. Go to Wipe -> Format Data, type "yes", and then flash your ROM.
- Mi Flash Tool shows a "sahara" or "xbl" error: This is a common error on very old Qualcomm devices. It can indicate a bad USB connection, but after many years, it can also point to a hardware failure of the eMMC (internal storage) chip.
- "The system has been destroyed": A generic Xiaomi error for a failed boot. It is easily fixed by forcing the phone back into Fastboot mode and flashing the stock firmware again.