Install TWRP on Huawei Honor 4X: Full Guide

You can install TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) on the Huawei Honor 4X, but the process is more involved than on many other Android phones because of Huawei’s bootloader lock and the device’s older chipset. This guide walks you through the prerequisites, unlocking the bootloader, flashing TWRP, and dealing with the common pitfalls specific to this model.

Background: Why the Honor 4X Is Different

The Honor 4X (also known as the Che1-L04, Che1-CL10, or Che1-L24 depending on region) was released in late 2014 running Android 4.4 KitKat with Huawei’s Emotion UI (EMUI) 3.0. It uses a Kirin 620 processor, which is a 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 chip. This matters because TWRP builds for the Honor 4X are compiled specifically for this SoC, and using a generic ARM build will not work.

Unlike many other manufacturers, Huawei locks the bootloader on all its devices. Without an unlocked bootloader, you cannot flash a custom recovery image. Huawei officially provided bootloader unlock codes until 2018, after which the service was shut down. This means your method for unlocking depends on when you bought the phone and whether the bootloader was ever unlocked before.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Starting

Before you touch any software, gather these items and back up your data. The process will wipe your phone.

• A Windows PC (the flashing tools are Windows-only).
• The original USB cable that came with the phone, or a high-quality data cable.
• Huawei USB drivers installed on the PC.
• The ADB and Fastboot tools (platform-tools) downloaded and extracted.
• A TWRP image file specifically for the Honor 4X (usually named twrp_che1.img or similar).
• The Huawei bootloader unlock tool or an unlock code, depending on your phone’s status.

Make sure your phone’s battery is above 70% and that you have backed up any photos, contacts, or files you care about. Unlocking the bootloader and flashing TWRP will erase everything.

Step 1: Unlock the Bootloader

If your Honor 4X still has a locked bootloader, you need to unlock it first. Here is the general process:

1. Enable Developer Options: Go to Settings > About Phone and tap “Build Number” seven times.
2. Go to Settings > Developer Options and enable “OEM Unlock” (if present on your Android version) and “USB Debugging”.
3. Connect the phone to the PC via USB and confirm the debugging authorization prompt on the phone.
4. Open a command prompt in the folder where you extracted the platform-tools.
5. Type adb reboot bootloader to reboot the phone into fastboot mode.
6. Once in fastboot, type fastboot oem unlock or fastboot oem unlock [UNLOCK_CODE] if you have a code. The exact command depends on the Android version. On older EMUI, it is often fastboot oem unlock.
7. Confirm the unlock on the phone screen when prompted. The phone will reboot and wipe all data.

If the command fails with “unknown command” or “not allowed”, your phone may have a newer bootloader that requires a unique unlock code from Huawei. Since Huawei stopped issuing codes, you may need to look for a paid unlocking service or a third-party tool that can generate a code based on your device’s IMEI and serial number. These services are not official and carry some risk, but they are the only option for many users.

Step 2: Flash TWRP Using Fastboot

Once the bootloader is unlocked, flashing TWRP is straightforward:

1. Place the TWRP image file (e.g., twrp_che1.img) in the same folder as the platform-tools.
2. Reboot the phone into fastboot mode again using adb reboot bootloader.
3. In the command prompt, type: fastboot flash recovery twrp_che1.img
4. Wait for the message “OKAY” to appear. Do not disconnect the cable during this step.
5. Type fastboot reboot to reboot the phone.

Important: On many Huawei devices, the first boot after flashing a custom recovery will overwrite it with the stock recovery. To prevent this, do not let the phone boot normally. After flashing, instead of rebooting normally, you should immediately boot into recovery by holding Volume Up + Power (or Volume Down + Power, depending on the model) while the phone is off. If you accidentally boot normally, you will need to reflash TWRP.

Common Problems and Fixes

Here are the most frequent issues people run into and how to resolve them:

• Fastboot not recognizing the device: Install the correct Huawei USB drivers and try a different USB port (preferably a USB 2.0 port on the back of the PC).
• “FAILED (remote: Command not allowed)”: This usually means the bootloader is still locked. Double-check that you completed the unlock step.
• TWRP boots to stock recovery instead: This is the auto-overwrite issue. Reflash TWRP and immediately boot into recovery without letting the system start.
• Phone stuck in a boot loop: This can happen if you flashed a TWRP build that is incompatible with your exact firmware version. Try a different TWRP build (look for one matching your model number and EMUI version).
• TWRP touchscreen not responding: Some early builds had touch issues. Try a newer build from a trusted developer forum.

How to Choose the Right TWRP Build

Not all TWRP files labeled “Honor 4X” are the same. The phone has several variants with different model numbers, and the TWRP build must match your specific variant. Check your model number under Settings > About Phone. Common variants include Che1-L04 (China), Che1-CL10 (China Telecom), and Che1-L24 (international).

Look for TWRP builds on XDA Developers forums or other reputable Android communities. A good build will have a thread with user feedback and a list of supported model numbers. Avoid downloading from random file-sharing sites, as these files can be tampered with. If you are unsure, ask in the forum thread for your device before flashing.

Safety and Risks

Flashing a custom recovery voids your warranty and carries a small risk of bricking your phone. The Honor 4X is an old device, and many guides assume you have a certain firmware version. If you flash TWRP on a phone with a newer or older firmware than the build was designed for, you may end up with a device that only boots to fastboot or recovery.

Before flashing, make sure you have a backup of your stock recovery and boot image. You can extract these from a stock firmware package (available from Huawei’s official site or firmware repositories) and keep them on your PC. If something goes wrong, you can restore them via fastboot.

Also, be aware that the Honor 4X does not support Project Treble, so you cannot install GSI (Generic System Image) ROMs. You are limited to ROMs specifically built for the Kirin 620.

Alternatives to TWRP

If you only need root access or want to install a custom ROM, there are alternatives to TWRP:

• Stock recovery with update packages: If you just want to update the official firmware, you can use the stock recovery’s “Apply update from sdcard” option.
• Magisk patched boot image: Instead of TWRP, you can patch the stock boot image with Magisk and flash it via fastboot. This gives you root without a custom recovery.
• Other custom recoveries: Some older devices have ClockworkMod (CWM) or PhilZ Touch recovery. However, TWRP is generally more maintained and feature-rich.

For most users, TWRP is still the best choice because it allows you to make full Nandroid backups, install ZIP files, and wipe partitions cleanly. But if you are only rooting, the Magisk patched boot method is simpler and less risky.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will installing TWRP delete my data?

Yes, unlocking the bootloader will wipe your phone completely. Flashing TWRP itself does not wipe data, but the bootloader unlock step does. Back up everything you want to keep before starting.

Can I install TWRP without unlocking the bootloader?

No. Huawei devices require an unlocked bootloader to flash any custom recovery. There is no safe workaround for the Honor 4X.

How do I boot into TWRP after flashing?

Turn off the phone, then press and hold Volume Up and Power together until the TWRP logo appears. Some variants use Volume Down instead. If you are not sure, try both.

My phone is stuck on the Huawei logo after flashing TWRP. What do I do?

This usually means the TWRP build is incompatible or you flashed the wrong variant. Reboot into fastboot (Volume Down + Power) and reflash the stock recovery from a firmware package, then try a different TWRP build.

Can I uninstall TWRP later?

Yes. You can flash the stock recovery image back using the same fastboot command: fastboot flash recovery stock_recovery.img. You do not need to relock the bootloader for the phone to work, but if you want to relock it, use fastboot oem lock (this will wipe data again).

Is it safe to use a paid bootloader unlock service?

These services are unofficial and require you to provide your device’s IMEI and serial number. They are generally safe if you use a reputable provider, but there is always a risk of the service being a scam. Only use services with good reviews and clear refund policies.

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