I Flashed Evolution X Recovery On My Redmi Note 4 But It Stuck On MI Logo! What Should I Do??

We understand the critical situation you are facing with your Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (codenamed Mido). You have attempted to flash Evolution X Recovery, a custom recovery essential for installing custom ROMs and modules, only to be greeted by an endless boot loop stuck on the MI logo. This is a frustrating yet common scenario in the Android custom development ecosystem, particularly with legacy devices like the Redmi Note 4, which runs on the Snapdragon 625 chipset. We have extensive experience troubleshooting such boot issues, and we are here to provide you with a comprehensive, step-by-step technical guide to resolve this problem and restore your device to full functionality.

In this detailed guide, we will analyze the root causes of the boot loop, explain the necessary prerequisites for recovery, and walk you through specific methods to regain control of your device. Our goal is to ensure you can successfully boot into your new Evolution X ROM or restore your device to a working state using TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) or Fastboot mode.

Understanding the Root Cause: Why Is Your Redmi Note 4 Stuck on the MI Logo?

Before diving into the solutions, we must understand why this issue occurred. When you flash a custom recovery like Evolution X Recovery (which is essentially a fork or a themed version of TWRP), the boot process changes significantly. The MIUI operating system, which comes pre-installed on Xiaomi devices, has a specific bootloader structure. If the custom recovery is not compatible with the current firmware version or if the vendor partition is mismatched, the device fails to initialize the boot sequence, resulting in a freeze at the MI logo.

Incompatible Firmware or Recovery Version

The Redmi Note 4 runs on Android 7.0 Nougat (upgradable to Android 9 Pie) with MIUI overlays. Custom recoveries are often built for specific Android versions. If you flashed a recovery meant for a newer Android base without updating your firmware first, the device will not know how to proceed. This is the most likely culprit for a boot loop immediately following a recovery flash.

Corrupted Boot Image

Flashing a recovery image involves modifying the boot.img partition. If the transfer was interrupted, the file was corrupted, or the bootloader is locked, the modification fails. The device attempts to load the kernel, finds it corrupted or unsigned, and halts, often without showing an error message.

The Anti-Rollback Protection (Anti-Rectangle)

Xiaomi implements an Anti-Rollback (AR) protection on certain devices to prevent downgrading to vulnerable firmware versions. If the Evolution X Recovery you flashed attempts to downgrade the bootloader or kernel to an insecure version, the device’s security protocols will trigger a brick-like state to protect the hardware. While the Redmi Note 4 is generally lenient, this is still a factor to consider if you are coming from a very new ROM to an older one.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before We Begin

To execute the rescue operations described below, you must have access to a Windows PC, a reliable USB cable, and a set of essential tools. We do not recommend attempting these fixes without a computer, as the device is currently unable to boot into the OS or Recovery Mode natively.

Essential Tools and Drivers

Xiaomi USB Drivers: Essential for the PC to recognize your Redmi Note 4 in Fastboot Mode.
Minimal ADB and Fastboot Tools: A lightweight package to execute command-line instructions.
Mi Flash Tool (Xiaomi Flash Tool): The official utility for flashing Xiaomi firmware via Fastboot.
Stock Firmware (Fastboot ROM): You must download the correct Fastboot ROM for the Redmi Note 4 (Mido). We recommend using the latest MIUI 10 or MIUI 11 Global Stable ROM to ensure maximum stability.

Method 1: Booting into Fastboot Mode and Testing Connectivity

Since you are stuck on the MI logo, the first step is to force the device into Fastboot Mode. This mode allows us to communicate with the device’s bootloader, bypassing the corrupted operating system.

Power off the device: Press and hold the Power button for 10–15 seconds until the device vibrates and shuts down. If it refuses to power off, let the battery drain completely.
Enter Fastboot Mode: Once the device is off, press and hold the Power button + Volume Down button simultaneously.
Connect to PC: You should see a Fastboot splash screen with a rabbit and the word “Fastboot.” Connect the phone to your computer via USB.
Verify Connection: Open a command prompt on your PC, navigate to your ADB folder, and type: fastboot devices If you see a serial number followed by the word “fastboot,” your connection is successful. If not, reinstall your Xiaomi USB Drivers.

Method 2: Flashing Stock Firmware via Mi Flash Tool (The Guaranteed Fix)

This is the most effective solution to resolve a boot loop caused by a corrupted recovery or partition mismatch. By flashing the official Fastboot ROM, we will overwrite the system, recovery, and boot partitions with factory-tested code.

Step 1: Download and Prepare the Firmware

Download the correct Fastboot ROM for the Redmi Note 4 (Mido) Global. The file will be in a .tgz format. Extract it using 7-Zip or WinRAR. You should see a folder containing .bat files and images (like boot.img, system.img, recovery.img).

Step 2: Prepare Mi Flash Tool

Download and install the Mi Flash Tool.
Run the tool as an administrator.
Click “Select” and browse to the folder where you extracted your Fastboot ROM. Select the folder that contains the images folder (do not select the images folder itself, just the parent folder).

Step 3: Select Flashing Method

In the bottom right corner of the Mi Flash Tool, you will see three options:

flash_all: Wipes all data and flashes the entire ROM (Recommended).
flash_all_except_storage: Flashes everything except your internal storage (keeps photos/files).
flash_all_except_data_and_storage: Keeps user data but wipes system partitions.

Because you are stuck in a boot loop, the system data is likely corrupted. Select flash_all (or the flash_all.bat script if using command line) to perform a clean flash.

Step 4: Execute the Flash

With your device in Fastboot Mode and connected, click the “Flash” button in Mi Flash Tool.
The tool will begin flashing the partitions. This usually takes 3–5 minutes.
Crucial Note: If Mi Flash Tool throws an error like “FAILED (remote: Not enough space to resize partition)” or “INVALID OPERATION,” ensure you are using the correct ROM version. Sometimes, flashing the China Stable ROM first and then the Global ROM is required if the partition table is mismatched, though this is rare for the Redmi Note 4.

Once the progress bar turns green and says “success,” the flashing is complete. The device will automatically reboot. The first boot may take up to 10 minutes.

Method 3: Reflashing Custom Recovery (If You Still Want Evolution X)

If you flashed the stock ROM successfully via Method 2, your device is now back to MIUI. You are back to square one, but now you have a working device. If you still wish to install Evolution X (or any custom ROM), we must ensure the process is done correctly to avoid the boot loop again.

Unlocking the Bootloader

Ensure your bootloader is unlocked. If you just flashed the stock ROM, the bootloader is usually still unlocked. If it is locked, you must unlock it via the Mi Unlock Tool (requires permission from Xiaomi).

Checking Firmware Compatibility

We highly recommend flashing the “Vendor” firmware before flashing any custom ROM. The Vendor partition contains the hardware drivers (camera, sensors, modem). If your custom ROM requires a specific vendor version and you are on an older one, the device will boot loop.

Download the Vendor firmware compatible with your ROM (usually linked in the ROM’s XDA thread).
Flash the vendor image via TWRP or Fastboot.

Clean Flashing Procedure

To avoid system conflicts:

Boot into TWRP/Recovery.
Select Wipe -> Advanced Wipe.
Select Dalvik / ART Cache, System, Data, and Cache. Swipe to Wipe.
Go back and select Format Data. Type “yes”. (This encrypts the data partition, required for most custom ROMs).
Transfer the Evolution X ZIP file to your device.
Go to Install, select the ZIP, and swipe to flash.
(Optional but Recommended) Flash Magisk immediately after the ROM to ensure root access and safety net pass.

Method 4: The “Clean All” Command Line Approach

If Mi Flash Tool fails, we can use the Fastboot Command Line to manually flash each partition. This is more tedious but guarantees that every partition is written correctly.

Open a command prompt in your Fastboot ROM folder.
Run the following commands one by one (ensure your device is in Fastboot Mode): fastboot flash boot boot.img fastboot flash recovery recovery.img fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.0 fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.1 (repeat for all sparsechunks) fastboot flash vendor vendor.img fastboot flash persist persist.img fastboot flash userdata userdata.img fastboot flash mdtp mdtp.img
Finally, reboot the device: fastboot reboot

This manual method bypasses any potential errors caused by the Mi Flash Tool GUI.

Troubleshooting Specific Error Codes

Sometimes, the boot loop persists even after flashing the stock ROM. This usually points to a Logical Partition error or a Bootloader mismatch.

“Critical Partition” Error

If you encounter a warning regarding critical partitions, you may need to flash the Bootloader and Radio images specifically with the --critical flag. fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img --critical fastboot flash radio radio.img --critical

Stuck on “Verifying Package” or “Error 7”

If you are trying to flash a ZIP in recovery and get stuck, it is usually an issue with the assertions in the updater-script. This means the ROM is checking for a specific fingerprint (MIUI version) that you do not have. To fix this, you must flash the Firmware that matches the ROM requirements exactly.

Final Recommendations for Redmi Note 4 (Mido) Users

The Redmi Note 4 is a legendary device for custom development, but it is not without its quirks. It requires a very specific setup to run modern Custom ROMs like Evolution X or LineageOS.

Always use TWRP as Base: While Evolution X Recovery is aesthetic, standard TWRP 3.7.0 (or the unofficial variants for Android 12/13/14) is often more stable for flashing. You can always flash Evolution X as a ROM on top of a TWRP installation.
Keep the “Persist” Partition Safe: Never flash over your persist partition unless you know exactly what you are doing. It contains calibration data for your sensors and IMEI. Corrupting it leads to “IMEI Null” issues.
Battery Level: Ensure your battery is above 60% before attempting any Fastboot flashes. A sudden shutdown during a flash can hard-brick the device, requiring a EDL (Emergency Download Mode) cable and authorized Xiaomi account to repair.

Conclusion

Getting stuck on the MI logo after flashing Evolution X Recovery on your Redmi Note 4 is a solvable problem. It almost always indicates a mismatch between the recovery image, the existing firmware, or a corrupted boot partition. By using Method 2 (Mi Flash Tool), you will almost certainly restore your device to a functional state. Once restored, proceed with caution: update your firmware, unlock your bootloader, and flash a compatible TWRP before attempting to flash a custom ROM again.

We hope this guide has provided the clarity and technical depth required to unbrick your device. Follow the steps precisely, and you will have your Redmi Note 4 running smoothly again.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will I lose my data during the fix?

Yes. To fix a boot loop, we must usually perform a clean flash, which wipes the Data partition. If you use Mi Flash Tool with the “flash_all” option, your internal storage (photos, videos) will be wiped if not formatted as internal storage. If you use “flash_all_except_storage,” your media files might survive, but apps and settings will be lost.

Can I fix this without a PC?

It is extremely difficult to fix a boot loop without a PC if you cannot access the recovery. If you could previously boot into TWRP, you could flash a new ROM or fix permissions. However, since you are stuck on the MI logo, the recovery might not be accessible. The only non-PC method is if you can boot into EDL Mode (Emergency Download Mode) by holding Power + Volume Up + Volume Down, but flashing EDL usually requires an authorized Xiaomi account or a special authorization exploit tool.

Is the device hard-bricked?

A “hard brick” usually means the device does not vibrate, does not show the charging light, and does not enter Fastboot mode. If you can enter Fastboot Mode (rabbit logo), your device is soft-bricked, which is 100% recoverable using the methods we provided above.

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