[GUIDE][HOW-TO] Flashing a Custom ROM

This page provides details for running builds on specific devices. These
details complement the information in Building
Android
.

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022

Caution: Flashing or installing firmware using the PhoenixCard Tool, will wipe the data from the device. Therefore, we recommend you take a backup of your data before using the tool.

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022

These are instructions on how to flash or install Stock ROM (firmware) on Mediatek Devices using the SP Flash Tool (SmartPhone Flash Tool).

Caution: Flashing or installing Stock ROM (firmware) using the SP Flash Tool will wipe/delete the data. Therefore, we recommend you take a backup of your data before using the tool.

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022

These are instructions on how to use the Realme Flash Tool to flash or install .ofp firmware on the Realme and Oppo Devices.

Caution: Flashing or installing .ofp firmware using the Realme Flash Tool will wipe the data from the device. Therefore, we recommend you backup your data before using the tool.

It’s not always an attractive situation when you intentionally or accidentally lock your phone, only to find out that your password can’t unlock it anymore. And while it’s unusual to ‘forget’ your password, we can’t but accept that mistake happens, and it might be easy to misplace a character or pattern included in your password if you’ve not mastered it yet. Anyway, the good news is there’s a chance of recovering your phone if you know how to. And in this article, we’ll guide you through how to flash a phone that is locked.

How to Flash a Phone That Is Locked

If you’ve only heard of Project Treble in passing but haven’t looked into it all that much, then you may have heard that it’s supposed to help major Android updates roll out more quickly. At XDA, there’s another benefit that we’ve spoken about at length: the ability to boot an AOSP Generic System Image (GSI) on any supported device. This means that devices that were once running heavily customized Android versions like Samsung Experience on the Samsung Galaxy S9 or EMUI 8 on the Huawei Mate 10 Pro can alternatively run software closer to that of the Google Pixel 2.

After-market custom ROMs (customized versions of Android software that are made by independent developers usually not affiliated with a company) are a big draw to the XDA forums, and thanks to the changes in Android that Project Treble require, Treble-supported devices will have an easier time flashing custom ROMs based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). Without Project Treble, developers have to employ a lot of tricks and hacks to get their custom ROMs working, and while Treble support doesn’t solve everything, it certainly helps kickstart the process.

Devices like the Huawei Mate 9, Honor View 10, Huawei Mate 10 Pro, Honor 7X, Exynos Samsung Galaxy S9, or Allview V3 Viper would have had either no AOSP-based custom ROMs available due to lack of developer interest or ROMs lacking some basic hardware functionality. But as we’ve seen with the in the case of each of these devices, the ROMs that are available thanks to Treble support are mostly functional (there are some differences in terms of what works and what doesn’t, and the community has put together a wiki page you should check out to find that information).


How to flash a phone manually
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Manually flashing a phone is tricky, yet simple at the same time. Even though there is too much to do, the steps are mere instructions that will bring your phone to a new state if well-executed.

Imagine having your phone back to the original state? The flashing process can allow you to enjoy your phone once more when executed properly. And learning how to flash a phone with password is very easy.

Developers built the Android operating system with the capability of customization. Have you ever heard of AOSP (Android Open-Source Project)? It is a website with information and source code to help create custom variants of the Android OS. Therefore, it is easy playing around with your Android device, and flashing is no big deal.

However, beware of the numerous methods out there on how to flash a phone that is locked. Not all work and, if done incorrectly, you might brick yours and render it useless.

Step 1: Backup your phone’s data

How to flash a phone
Photo: @Francesco Carta fotografo
Source: Getty Images

Since the flashing process permanently erases all your phone’s data, it is a good idea to back up your phone’s information. You can do this on a computer, cloud, or an SD card with the appropriate storage space. That is why you need to learn how to flash a phone using pc to hack the backup process.

The backing up process relies upon your Android phone model, so it is integral that you tweak based on your unique circumstances. If you are backing up on the cloud using your Google Account, you will have to access your phone settings and initiate the backup. The great thing about the cloud backup is that you can save all your text messages and call logs.

If you do not want to spend ages backing up to the cloud, you transfer video, audio, pictures, app data, and anything else to your computer. You can also find backup applications from the Google Play Store that will help in the saving process.

Step 2: Unlock bootloader/ root your phone

How to flash a phone
The screen of a phone’s unlocked bootloader. Photo: @Nikita Aulov
Source: UGC

Of course, it varies with the phone model; however, there’s a command that works with most phones. The fastboot flashing unlock command after putting your phone in flash mode works on most models. You have to connect your phone to a computer and use the command prompt interface.

Certain phones will require an unlock code for unlocking the bootloader. For this, you ought to head to the manufacturer’s website and request the code. It is important to note that some phones are bootloader unlockable and require more sophisticated techniques to remove the lock.

Step 3: Download custom ROM

How to flash a phone
Photo: pixabay.com, @kalhh
Source: UGC

The custom ROM download process is the simplest for those wondering how to flash a phone without a computer. Custom ROMS are one of the greatest benefits of using Android.

If you are bored with your phone’s interface, you can flash the custom ROM and enjoy the improved performance. Best of all, you can always revert to the original firmware if you get bored or problems arise. How do you download the firmware to flash on your phone?

If you are wondering how to flash an Android phone by yourself, you are likely unaware of the safe ROM and firmware sources. Certain manufacturers like Sony, have availed an online database of their phone’s firmware that any phone owner can access using the right tools. Other models have provided the same platforms as well and tools to download their software.

However, if you are interested in a custom ROM, you can access the right XDA Developer’s forum and download the right one from your device. Ascertain that it is compatible with your phone’s model by checking the back of your phone. Once downloaded, save it on your SD card.

Step 4: Boot phone into recovery mode

Although this varies with different phone models, hold volume down + power button to boot into recovery mode. If your phone doesn’t boot into recovery mode, it probably requires a different combination, and you can find that out from the manufacturer’s website.

The action will open the bootloader screen that has various options. Use the power button to select and enter recovery. This is one of the trickiest parts for people looking into how to flash a phone. You do not have to worry about other options, but the recovery mode only.

Step 5: Flashing ROM to your android phone

How to flash a phone
A guy installing software on his smartphone at an outdoor cafe. Photo: @hanieriani
Source: Getty Images

The recovery mode possesses various options as well. Don’t be confused; you only need to concentrate on the install button. You will notice the wipe, install, settings, backup, and many more. Remember, any wrong move could mess up your phone. Therefore, be extra careful when on the recovery page.

Use the volume up and down button to navigate to the install button and select it with the power button when ready. The next screen will require you to choose the firmware source you want to flash on the phone.

Since you saved the firmware on your SD card, choose the option “Install zip from SD card” and commence the flashing process. If all goes successfully, your phone will reboot with the new software installed.

And that is how to flash phone with code or one having any other major problem that doesn’t get solved with the simple resetting procedure.

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Before I begin, Mods, PLEASE pin this. I (when I was a noob) had absolute difficulty installing ROMs. This is very noob-friendly, fixes Status 7 errors, and is easy to follow.

Alright friends and future flashers. I used to have difficulty installing ROMs. Now that I know how (after going through numerous tutorials), I’d like to make it easy for ALL of you. Enjoy your Custom ROM!

Before beginning, you need Android’s SDK,Flashtool and The latest Official firmware.

If ever your phone needs to install drivers, let it install, don’t unplug the phone or whatever.

And, battery at least 30%. Mine does it at even 20% without issues, but just to be safe.

Step 1: Revert to Stock

You don’t need to downgrade. After flashing the latest stock kernel, I have flashed every single GB and ICS ROM in existence without issues, so you don’t need to flash a specific one. But, latest one tends to be more stable. Here’s what you do:
Get the latest Global ftf for your phone. Then, flash it using Flashtool. I won’t go into specifics, but PM me if needed

Step 2: Preparing your Flash.

Download the ROM of your choice. I’d recommend FXP’s Unofficial CyanogenMod9 as it has the best stability and no ICS Multitouch issues. If it is GB, any ROM will do. Most of them are stable.

Copy the ZIP file to your sdcard. It does not have to be the root of SDcard, anywhere will do.

By the end, your Custom ROM’s ZIP file will be in your SDCard, and the kernel file (a.k.a. boot.img or whatever_the _kernel_name_is.img) will be here:

32bit Windows: C:/Program Files/Android/android-sdk/platform-tools
64bit Windows: C:/Program Files(x86)/Android/android-sdk/platform-tools

Now we can

Step 3: Flash your Custom ROM

In the folder above (depending on OS version) press Shift+RightClick. Options will show up. Select “Open Command Prompt Here”. A Command Prompt will open (duh).

Turn off your phone. Wait 10 seconds. While plugging in your phone, press the Menu button (the Right button). The LED Indicator should turn blue. This shows your in fastboot mode. If it starts to boot, rip out the battery and try again. DON’T STOP PRESSING UNTIL IT TURNS BLUE.

-fastboot devices
(This is actually a quick test I do to see if my phone is connected in flash mode or not. If nothing happens, it is not in flash mode or the drivers are installing)

-fastboot flash boot boot.img
(This is telling fastboot to FLASH the BOOT partition of your phone with the file specified. If you are using a different kernel, simply replace boot.img with the name of the kernel, ending with .img and wait for it to finish. Won’t take long)

-fastboot reboot
(This causes the phone to reboot)

Now, while it is starting up, keep repeatedly pressing the Volume Down button until you are in ClockWorkMod Recovery (Assuming you are using it. CWM is the most popular and most kernels use it) Then, If you choose to, make a backup. I personally don’t, as it is not too big an issue and I never revert to an old ROM anyway.

After that, choose Factory Reset. This will remove ALL data in your phone except your Stock ROM. Then, Clear Cache. You might’ve noticed it already did that when you Factory Reset, but this is for safety. Finally, in advanced, Wipe Dalvik-Cache and Wipe Battery Stats. I do this all the time for safety.

Now, the fun bit. GO to Install ZIP from SDCard. Select Choose ZIP, find your ROMs ZIP file, and install. It might take awhile, but not too long. Just be patient. When it finishes, flash anything else the ROMs forum post says to flash (Gapps, Patch, etc) and select Reboot Phone.

Step 4: Done!
Your phone will start up. First time is always slow, but this WILL WORK. Congratulations. You now have a Custom ROM

If you get a Status 7 error while flashing a ROM, reboot recovery and wipe everything again. If that doesn’t work, flash official firmware and try again.

Credits to:
Google: Providing Android SDK and Gapps
Androxyde: Flashtool
Madfysh: List of Official ICS ROMs
FXP: Creating CyanagonMod9
-And YOU!

P.S.: If you’re confused, or feel this could use something extra PM me.

And uh, if it needs to be moved, please do so. Thanks!

I do know there is THIS but I felt some of his steps were unnecessary. Example, rooting. Any custom ROM will be rooted, so there will be no need to worry about that. And he also provided overclocking tips and an unofficial bootloader unlock which are hazardous and potentially permadamaging to the phone.


music.soul


Alright man. How would I move it? Cause, I only RECENTLY started being active on the forums.


Reck1993


I do know there is THIS but I felt some of his steps were unnecessary. Example, rooting. Any custom ROM will be rooted, so there will be no need to worry about that. And he also provided overclocking tips and an unofficial bootloader unlock which are hazardous and potentially permadamaging to the phone.

Don’t say that thread is unnecessary; they put everything in one thread cause it’s easy to find. the first step we should do is rooting if we are noops. Then we will be curious about unlock or custom rom later.

Sent from Xperia Neo using AOKP B40


kormatoes


Still dev thread so if you don’t know how you should not be trying

It goes like this no dl link no thread

but still is a good post
some unnecessary parts
some dodgy parts
But good for noob never-ending Questions

Don’t say that thread is unnecessary; they put everything in one thread cause it’s easy to find. the first step we should do is rooting if we are noops. Then we will be curious about unlock or custom rom later.

Sent from Xperia Neo using AOKP B40

Okay. I will add an easy rooting instructions to it.

Still dev thread so if you don’t know how you should not be trying

It goes like this no dl link no thread

but still is a good post
some unnecessary parts
some dodgy parts
But good for noob never-ending Questions

Thanks kormatoes. Could you gimme some of the unnecessary/dodgy parts?


Madfysh


I do know there is THIS but I felt some of his steps were unnecessary. Example, rooting. Any custom ROM will be rooted, so there will be no need to worry about that. And he also provided overclocking tips and an unofficial bootloader unlock which are hazardous and potentially permadamaging to the phone.

1) actually that(which you linked) tutorial is good, it just need some updating. but your tutorial is different than that.
2) root is certainly not unnecessary! not all people will go for custom roms, specially as most of them are for unlocked BL.
3) unofficial unlock is not hazardous, it is tricky, but it paid of if we look on the advantage against official unlock

Nice from you that you wrote all this, it’s based only for custom roms’s, thread which is already sticked is for basic things, which any noob should know.
But still, this looks kinda cluttered, and from noob(which you intend this to) point of view, to long/complicate to read :)


lalit387



Jan 29, 2012


1,663


754


Delhi


1) actually that(which you linked) tutorial is good, it just need some updating. but your tutorial is different than that.
2) root is certainly not unnecessary! not all people will go for custom roms, specially as most of them are for unlocked BL.
3) unofficial unlock is not hazardous, it is tricky, but it paid of if we look on the advantage against official unlock

Nice from you that you wrote all this, it’s based only for custom roms’s, thread which is already sticked is for basic things, which any noob should know.
But still, this looks kinda cluttered, and from noob(which you intend this to) point of view, to long/complicate to read :)

Thank you all big guns

but there should be a start-up kit for newbie

There can be a Starter Section with due permission

Thank you all big guns

but there should be a start-up kit for newbie

There can be a Starter Section with due permission

As it is, I am attempting to code a batch file to automatically run the entire flashing process, including kernel and ROM. Having a small issue where it does not wipe dalvik and cache. It also doesn’t flash the custom ROM

Similar threads

Android is great, but sometimes, the version you get with your phone—whether its vanilla Android or something like Samsung’s TouchWiz—leaves a bit to be desired. Here’s how to install a new version of Android (or ROM) on your device for an even better Android experience.

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What’s a ROM?

One of the best things about the openness of the Android platform is that if you’re unhappy with the stock OS, you can install one of many modified versions of Android (called ROMs) on your device. A new ROM can bring you the latest version of Android before your manufacturer does, or it can replace your manufacturer-modded version of Android with a clean, stock version. Or, it can take your existing version and just beef it up with awesome new features—it’s up to you.

If you’re familiar with Linux, it’s sort of similar to installing a different Linux distribution. Each version of the OS has a specific goal in mind, and as such differs quite a bit from the others. Which one you choose is dependent on your priorities and how you use the device. You’ll need to unlock your bootloader and flash a custom recovery (more info on that here), but once you get the hang of it, it’s not too difficult.

G/O Media may get a commission

There are a lot of different ROMs out there, and if you’re looking for a place to start, check out our list of the five most popular. You can also check out this amazing chart which compares a ton of ROMs feature-by-feature, which is a great way to find the right one for you. Even if you have a Nexus phone with pure stock Android, ROMs are a great way to add new features and conveniences to Android.

Note: We originally wrote this guide in 2010, but things have changed quite a bit, so we figured it’s time to revisit the process. Many of you Android vets already know how to do this, but hopefully newcomers will find this guide valuable—and maybe even you veterans will learn a thing or two. Let’s begin!

Step One: Unlock Your Bootloader and Flash a Custom Recovery

First, let’s clear up some confusion: Contrary to popular belief, you do not actually need to root your phone to flash a ROM—you just need to unlock your bootloader and flash a custom recovery. However, this process usually goes hand-in-hand with rooting—and most custom ROMs come with root access—so what you think of as “rooting your phone” is probably what you’re going to have to do first.

Unfortunately, we can’t go through this step in detail here, because it’s different for every phone! So, I highly recommend checking out our everything root guide to learn a bit more about what’s involved, what all the different terms mean, and what to watch out for. Then, search around sites like XDA Developers for instructions on how to unlock the bootloader of your specific phone, which recovery you should use (usually or ), and how to flash it.

I also recommend rooting your phone during step one, since it’ll make the backup process in step two easier—and save you some hassle along the way. A lot of methods and one-click apps will root your phone anyways, so it might be included in the process. Again, this can vary from phone to phone. (If the instructions require you to flash SuperSU.zip, you can refer to step three of this guide for info on how to do that—ironically, it’s just like flashing a ROM).

NOTE: Unlocking your bootloader will most likely wipe your phone, and without root access, you won’t be able to back up very much. So, save anything you want to keep on your computer—you will have to set up your phone from scratch just this once before continuing.

When you’re done, return here and continue to step two for the rest of the ROMming process.

Step Two: Make a Backup of Your System, Apps, and Data

Now that you’ve got a custom recovery on your phone, the first thing you should do—before you ever make a big change to your system—is back it up. First, we’ll make a Nandroid backup, which is basically a image of your current system. That way, if something goes wrong, you can restore your phone to exactly the way it was before you started tweaking. This will save you a lot of hassle if something goes wonky (which, let’s be honest, can happen often). To do this:

  1. Reboot your phone and enter recovery mode. This is a bit different on every phone, but usually involves some permutation of pressing the power and volume buttons at the same time.
  2. Head to the “Backup” or “Nandroid” section of your recovery mode. The default settings should be fine. If given the option, give your backup a name that helps you remember what it is (like “Pre-CyanogenMod Backup 01-17-14”). Confirm your backup and let it run.
  3. Wait for the backup to finish. This may take awhile.

I also recommend making a second type of backup: your apps and settings. If you just unlocked your bootloader and wiped your phone, you can skip this step, but any time you flash a ROM in the future, you’ll want to back up your apps first, since you may have to wipe your phone before you flash. With a backup, you can easily restore those apps and data after flashing, making the process a lot simpler. We recommend using Titanium Backup.

This is different from a Nandroid backup because it just backs up the apps themselves, which you can then restore on any ROM you want. Nandroid backups take your entire system as it is, ROM included.

Note that you’ll need to be rooted to use Titanium Backup (which is why I recommend you root in step one). To perform a backup in Titanium:

  1. Open Titanium Backup and grant it root permissions if it asks for them. If it experiences any problems with root, it’ll tell you right now.
  2. Tap the “Batch” button in the upper right-hand corner (the one that looks like a little checkbox). Scroll down to the “Backup” section and find “Backup All User Apps.” Tap the “Run” button. This will back up any apps you’ve downloaded from the Play Store, and their data. (You can try backing up your system data as well, but I find this usually doesn’t work very well).
  3. Wait for it to finish. If you like, you can also sync these to Dropbox as described here, but you don’t have to for this process.

This may seem like a lot of unnecessary backups, but trust me: it’s going to save you a lot of time in the long run. Now if something goes wrong, you have a nandroid backup to fall back on and don’t have to start from scratch. And, when your ROM flashes successfully, you don’t have to start re-downloading and setting up all your apps yourself because you can restore them with Titanium.

Step Three: Download and Flash the ROM of Your Choice

Now comes the fun part: flashing your ROM. First, obviously, you need to find the ROM you want. Again, this chart is a good place to start, as is our list of the five most popular. You may also want to poke around sites like the XDA Developers forums to see what’s available for your particular phone.

When you’ve found a ROM you want to try, download it and save it to your phone. It should come in the form of a fairly large ZIP file, so you’ll probably want to be on Wi-Fi to download it. You can either download it directly from your phone, or download it on your computer and transfer it over via USB.

To flash your ROM:

  1. Reboot your phone into Recovery mode, just like we did back when we made our Nandroid backup.
  2. Head to the “Install” or “Install ZIP from SD Card” section of your recovery.
  3. Navigate to the ZIP file you downloaded earlier, and select it from the list to flash it.
  4. Wait for the process to complete; it may take a few minutes.
  5. Depending on your situation (see below), you may also need to wipe your data and/or cache. In TWRP, you’ll find this under the “Wipe” section, and in ClockworkMod, you’ll need to either choose the “Wipe Data/Factory Reset” option or the “Wipe Cache Partition” option. When you’re done, you’re free to reboot into your new ROM.

So, when should you wipe your data and cache? Here are a few general guidelines:

  • If you’re flashing a ROM different than the one you’re currently running, you should wipe data and cache. Essentially, this performs a factory reset on your phone, and you will lose all your data.
  • If you’re flashing a new version of a ROM you’re already running, we recommend wiping your data and cache—but you should be able to get away with just wiping the cache, meaning you get to keep all your apps and settings.

Remember, if you backed everything up with Titanium, then doing a factory reset isn’t all that bad, since you can just restore most of it. Keep in mind that even if you’re just upgrading your existing ROM, factory resets can be helpful. If you only wipe your cache, note that a few apps may run into issues, but reinstalling them or wiping that app’s data usually fixes the problem.

Step Four: Download and Flash Google Apps

Because Google’s apps are not open source, custom ROMs can’t bundle Google’s apps—like Gmail, Hangouts, or the Play Store—with their ROMs. That means you’ll need to download and flash them separately. Luckily, this is pretty easy to do: just head to this page on RootzWiki to find out which ZIP file you need, download it to your phone, and flash it just like you did the ROM in step three. is also a great app that’ll help you find the right package if you’re stuck, and you can download the APK from XDA Developers.

Once you’ve flashed the latest Google Apps package, you should be all set! You’ll have a new ROM with tons of settings to play with, the Play Store to download new apps, and—if you made a backup with Titanium—you can now head into Titanium Backup and restore all your apps and their settings. Enjoy!

How to flash a Generic System Image on a Project Treble-supported device

  • Your device MUST have an unlockable bootloader.
  • Your device MUST be Project Treble compatible. That means your device meets one of the following criteria:
    • Your device LAUNCHED with Android 8.0 Oreo or a newer version (eg. Android 8.1 Oreo) AND is Google Play certified. (If you rooted your device/flashed another custom ROM and somehow ended up with your device being listed as uncertified in Google Play, then don’t worry. We’re only concerned about the status of the device as it was shipped.)
    • Your device UPGRADED to Android 8.0 Oreo or a newer version AND was made Project Treble compatible by the manufacturer. See this article for a list of such devices.
    • Your device does not meet either of the above criteria but DOES have access to an unofficial way to be made Treble compatible. Again, refer to this article for a list of such devices.
  • Your device is free of any heavy modifications such as the Xposed Framework, SuperSU, or Magisk. You can re-install these afterwards, but please be sure you are using the stock boot/ramdisk before proceeding.

Guide to flash GSI on devices that support Project Treble

Preparation for devices that officially support Treble

  1. Unlock the bootloader of your device. The steps you take here are different depending on your device. We have many guides available both on the Portal and in our forums for you to peruse. Just do a quick Google search for “XDA unlock bootloader” + your device name and you should find many guides.
  2. Download the GSI of your choice onto your PC. You can either flash a pure AOSP ROM such as phh-Treble, or if you prefer more features you can grab other ROMs like LineageOS 15.1 or Resurrection Remix GSIs. I have linked the threads as follows. Download the right image for your device type (ARM64 for most of you) and partition type. If your device supports seamless updates (a list of such devices can be found here), then download the A/B image, otherwise download the A-only image.

Preparation for devices that unofficially support Treble

  1. Unlock the bootloader of your device. The steps you take here are different depending on your device. We have many guides available both on the Portal and in our forums for you to peruse. Just do a quick Google search for “XDA unlock bootloader” + your device name and you should find many guides.
  2. Make your device Treble compatible by flashing the appropriate files linked in the posts mentioned in this article. You MUST do this before you can flash a GSI!
  3. Download the GSI of your choice onto your PC. You can either flash a pure AOSP ROM such as phh-Treble, or if you prefer more features you can grab the LineageOS 15.1 or Resurrection Remix GSIs. I have linked the threads as follows. Download the right image for your device type (ARM64 for most of you) and partition type. If your device supports seamless updates (a list of such devices can be found here), then download the A/B image, otherwise download the A-only image.

Flash GSI with TWRP

  1. Perform a factory reset within TWRP.
  2. Transfer the GSI from your PC to your device’s internal storage where TWRP can access it.
  3. Tap on “Install.”
    How to flash a Generic System Image GSI on Project Treble devices
  4. Change the type from “zip” to “image.”
    How to flash a Generic System Image GSI on Project Treble devices
  5. Find and select the GSI you downloaded.
  6. Choose to flash to the system partition.
    How to flash a Generic System Image GSI on Project Treble devices
  7. Once that is done, reboot your device.

Flash GSI without TWRP

  1. Perform a factory reset on your device. You have two options here:
    • Open the settings app on your phone and look for the factory reset option. It’s usually under settings related to backup.
      How to flash a Generic System Image GSI on Project Treble devices
    • Reboot to your device’s stock recovery using either a button combination when booting or issuing the following ADB command when booted in Android: adb reboot recovery. Once here, use the volume keys to navigate and the power button to select the factory reset option.
  2. Once your device has been factory reset, reboot to your device’s bootloader using either a button combination when booting or issuing the following ADB command when booted in Android: adb reboot bootloader
  3. With your device connected to your PC, open up a command prompt or terminal window in the same directory where you downloaded your GSI of choice.
  4. Enter the following command: fastboot erase system
  5. Enter a command in the following format: fastboot -u flash system name_of_system.img
  6. Allow the image to flash, it could take a few minutes. Once it has completed, reboot your device either manually via power key or by entering fastboot reboot.

Hopefully, your device should boot into your GSI of choice. If not, here are some troubleshooting tips.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • On some devices like the Google Pixel 2/2 XL, Android Verified Boot (AVB) needs to be disabled. You can do so by flashing this image to the vbmeta partition (command: fastboot flash vbmeta name_of_vbmeta.img)
  • On the OnePlus 6, you’ll need to follow some special flashing instructions.
  • It’s possible that dm-verity is preventing your device from booting with the GSI. In that case, please go ahead and flash Magisk and then see if it boots. I’m told that this is required for the Razer Phone, for instance.
  • As a last resort, you can try a full format of the data partition (WARNING: THIS WIPES EVERYTHING) by entering fastboot -w from a command prompt/terminal window while in the bootloader. I have had to do this on my Huawei device before it could work.

What to do after flashing the Generic System Image

Next, you can install Substratum for themes or the Xposed Framework if you want further modifications. The Magisk repository has a ton of neat modules you can try as well. LineageOS 15.1 and especially Resurrection Remix already offer a ton of features out of the box, so we don’t believe you’ll really need to tinker with a ton of extra goodies, but the choice is there.

Lastly, please contribute to the Treble Experimentations wiki page so others will know about any potential issues with the ROM (and so developers will know what to fix!)

Flash or install. ofp Firmware using the Realme Flash Tool

  1. Download and install the Google ADB Drivers on the Windows Computer. If in case ADB drivers are already installed on the computer, then SKIP this step.
  2. USB Logo

  3. Download Stock Firmware (.ofp based) of your Realme Device and extract it on the computer (if in case you have already downloaded the Stock Firmware, then SKIP this Step or else you can find the Stock Firmware on Oppo Stock ROM or through Google).
  4. download

  5. Now, Extract Realme Flash Tool on the computer (assuming you have already downloaded it; if not then Download Realme Flash Tool). Once you have extracted the tool, you will be able to see the following files:
  6. Realme Flash Tool Files

  7. Open Realme Flash.exe to Launch the tool:
  8. Realme Flash Tool Open

  9. Once the Flash Tool is launched, you will be able to see the following window:
  10. Realme Flash Tool

  11. Click on the Browse button:
  12. Realme Flash Tool Browse

  13. Locate the .ofp firmware on the computer:
  14. Realme Flash Tool Select ofp

  15. Switch off the Mobile Device > Press and Hold Power and Volume Down key simultaneously to enter the fastboot mode.
  16. Realme Fastboot

  17. Connect your Device to the Computer using the USB cable:
  18. connect mobile computer

  19. Click on the Loading button to allow the flash tool to detect the connected device.
  20. Realme Flash Tool Loading Device

  21. Click on the Flash button:
  22. Realme Flash Tool Start

  23. Click on the Confirm button to begin the flashing or installation process:
  24. Realme Flash Tool Start Confirm

  25. Once the flashing or installation process is completed, you will be able to see the Flashing Completed message on the tool.
  26. Realme Flash Tool Success

    Congratulations! Now, Close the Tool on the computer and Disconnect the device and Restart it.

Building fastboot and adb

If you don’t already have fastboot and adb, you can
build them with the regular build system. Use the instructions in
Building Android and replace the
main make command with this one:

make fastboot adb

See Android Debug Bridge (ADB) for
details on Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

What does it mean when a phone needs to be flashed?

People flash phones for numerous reasons. A phone might require flashing when it is stuck, bricked, dead, or has locked issues. These instances mean that you cannot either use your phone properly or cannot access it at all. The flashing process installs a new ROM on top of the one that came from the manufacture.

The above steps provide great insight on how to flash a phone. Therefore, don’t waste your money going for a new phone when yours is experiencing slight software problems easily fixable through flashing.

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!

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Install or Flash Scatter Firmware using SP Flash Tool

  1. Download and install Mediatek Driver Autoinstaller on your computer (if in case Mediatek Driver is already installed on the computer, then SKIP this step).
  2. usb logo

  3. Download the Stock ROM (firmware) of your Mediatek Device and extract it on the computer (you can find Stock ROM on FirmwareFile or through Google).
  4. download

  5. Download and Extract SP Flash Tool on the Computer. Once the Tool is extracted, you will be able to see the following files:
  6. SmartPhone Flash Tool Extracted Files

  7. Open flash_tool.exe to launch the tool.
  8. Open SmartPhone Flash Tool

  9. Once SP Flash Tool is launched, Click on the Scatter-Loading Button.
  10. SP Flash Tool Scatter Loading

  11. Locate and Select the Scatter File (you can find the scatter file in the Stock ROM of your device) and Click on the Open button.
  12. SP Flash Tool Select Scatter

  13. Untick the Preloader option (flashing the preloader.bin can brick the device).
  14. SmartPhone Flash Tool Untick Preloader

  15. Click on the Download Button to Begin the Flashing Process.
  16. SP Flash Tool Download

  17. Connect your Mediatek Device to the Computer using the USB Cable (make sure it is power off). After connecting the device to the computer Press Volume Down or Volume Up key, so that SmartPhone Flash Tool can detect the device.
  18. Mobile Connected Computer

  19. Once the Computer detects your Device, the Flashing process will Start Automatically.
  20. SmartPhone Flash Tool Flashing

  21. Once Flashing Process is completed, a Green Ring will appear at the End.
  22. SP Flash Tool Green Tick

  23. Now, Close the Flash Tool on the computer and Disconnect the Device.
  24. disconnect mobile computer

    Congratulations! You Just learned to flash or install Stock Firmware on Mediatek Devices.

Using flash lock states

  • frameworks/base/services/core/java/com/android/server/PersistentDataBlockService.java
  • frameworks/base/core/java/android/service/persistentdata/PersistentDataBlockManager.java

Flash or install. img Firmware using PhoenixCard Tool

  1. Download and install the Android Driver on the Computer (if in case you have already installed the Android Drivers, then SKIP this step).
  2. USB Logo

  3. Download and Extract PhoenixCard Tool on the computer. Once the tool is extracted, you will be able to see the following files:
  4. PhoenixCard Files

  5. Open PhoenixCard.exe to Launch the Tool:
  6. Open PhoenixCard

  7. Once PhoenixCard Tool is launched, you will be able to see the following screen:
  8. PhoenixCard launched

  9. Now, Connect the SD Memory Card to the Computer. Make sure it is Empty, as it will be Formatted by the Tool.
  10. connect sd card computer

  11. Now, Add the IMG Firmware on PhoenixCard Tool (assuming you have already downloaded the .IMG Stock Firmware of your Device).
  12. PhoenixCard Img File

    PhoenixCard IMG Added

  13. Once IMG Firmware is loaded in the PhoenixCard Tool, Click on the Burn Button.
  14. PhoenixCard Start Burn

  15. The Burning process will initially Format the SD Card, and then it will write the IMG Firmware on the SD Card. This process may take up to 2-10 minutes depending on the size of IMG Firmware.
  16. PhoenixCard SD Format

  17. Once Burning is completed, you will be able to see the Burn End Message.
  18. PhoenixCard Burn End

  19. Now, remove the SD Memory Card form the computer and insert it on the Android Device.
  20. remove sd card computer

  21. Once you have inserted the SD Memory Card on your device, you need to Boot your Android Device (by long pressing on the power button).
  22. tablet power

  23. Once your device is booted, it will automatically start the Flashing process on the device. During this process, you will be able to see the Green Progress bar on the device Screen.
  24. PhoenixCard Flashing

  25. Once Flashing Process is completed, remove the SD Memory Card from the device and Restart it.
  26. remove sd card tablet

    Congratulations, Now you can enjoy the Stock Firmware you have flashed on your Allwinner Android Device.

Restoring devices to factory
state

Factory images for Google devices are available from
Factory
Images for Nexus and Pixel Devices
. Factory images for the Motorola Xoom are
distributed directly by Motorola.

Flashing a device

To flash a device:

  1. Place the device in fastboot mode by holding the appropriate
    key combination at boot or using the following command:
    adb reboot bootloader
  2. After the device is in fastboot mode, run:
    fastboot flashall -w

    The -w option wipes the /data partition on the
    device; this is useful for your first time flashing a particular device but is
    otherwise unnecessary.

Selecting a device build

The recommended device builds are available from the lunch
menu, accessed when running the lunch command with no arguments. See
Choosing a target for available build types and more
information on the lunch command.

You can download factory images and binaries for Pixel and Nexus devices from
developers.google.com.
See Device binaries for downloads.
For details and additional resources, see Obtaining proprietary
binaries
.

How to Flash a Phone That Is Locked

If you’ve not forgotten yet, the most prominent way of flashing a locked Android phone is by hard reset—which doesn’t require going through the phone’s settings. Basically, all you’ll need is to power off and boot the device into recovery mode to perform a hard reset.

Mind you, resetting your phone will erase everything you’ve stored on it. Although it’ll help you recover the locked Android phone, it won’t keep your data. So, be sure you have a substantial backup before embarking on resetting it at all.  

Some Android devices have different ways of booting into the recovery mode, but you can try this common way first. Here’s how to flash a phone that is locked via recovery mode:

  • First, shut down the phone and wait for a few seconds.
  • Press and hold the Volume down button + Power button
  • Release the Power button once the logo shows up.
  • Wait till you see the “No command” with the fallen robot screen, then press the Power + Volume down buttons again to enter the recovery mode.
  • Use the Volume down button to highlight “Wipe data factory reset”
  • Select it by pressing the Power button.
  • Use the volume button to highlight “Yes” and confirm with the power button again.
  • Wait for a moment to complete the process, then select “Reboot system now” to power on your phone.

That’s it. You’ve successfully learned how to flash a phone that is locked by hard resetting it. Meanwhile, kindly note that while the hard reset has removed your lock screen and lock password pattern, you’ll still have to pass through Google’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP) before you can access the phone properly. That should be relatively easy if you can log in to the Google account linked to the phone. Isn’t it? Yes, it is.

Factory Reset Protection exists on the Android system to prevent thieves from unlocking your phone by hard reset without your consent. Inability to confirm your Google account after resetting the phone may render the phone useless until professional intervention.

How Do I Factory Reset Infinix, TECNO, itel Phone?

There are usually two data factory reset options on devices from these brands. First, you can perform a hard reset through the recovery mode (as analyzed earlier). And second, you can use the traditional data factory reset option from the Settings app.

But since your phone is locked and you can’t find a way to unlock it, you’re only left with the first option. Either way, remember that resetting your phone will result in data loss. So, remember to create a backup and proceed with caution.

Here’s how to reset a TECNO, Infinix, or itel phone via the recovery mode:

  1. Power off the phone.
  2. Press and hold the Power + Volume down buttons to start the phone.
  3. Release the Power button once you see the boot logo/animation
  4. Press the Power + Volume down keys simultaneously to pass through the “No command”
  5. Scroll to “Wipe data factory reset” with the volume down button, then click the Power button to select it.
  6. Select Yes to confirm your request.
  7. Click the Power key to reboot the phone after the reset is completed.

FAQs on How to Flash a Phone That Is Locked

1. How Do You Reset a Phone Without Unlocking It

To reset an Android phone that you’ve forgotten its password, you’ll have to perform a hard reset. Doing that requires you to boot your phone into recovery mode and select the data factory reset option.

Different Android phone brands have their own way of accessing the Android system recovery mode. So, you may need to search for how to boot your particular phone model into recovery mode.

E.g: “how to boot TECNO CAMON 19 into recovery mode”

Nonetheless, entering recovering mode on most Android phones requires combining the volume down or up button with the power button to power on the phone, as explained earlier in this article.

2. How Do I Bypass the Android Lock Screen?

Besides hard reset, some computer software, like Dr.Fone’s Android Screen Unlock, claims they can help bypass and unlock the Android lock screen without losing your data. And while Android’s security has gotten tighter over the years, chances are this method may work. However, it is usually not free and limited to selected Android brands.

So, if you don’t want to lose your data after a factory reset, you can try out one of the software.

3. Will a Factory Reset Unlock My Phone?

Absolutely Yes! Factory resetting your phone will help unlock it. Nonetheless, you must be able to pass Google’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP) before you’re guaranteed success. It contains simple steps that mandate you to enter the password of your Google account to authenticate if you genuinely own the device.

[GUIDE][HOW-TO] Flashing a Custom ROM

Final Thoughts

Accidentally forgetting your phone’s password and getting denied access to anything on the phone can be a pain in the ass. But with this simple guide on how to flash a phone that is locked, you should be able to recover your phone, even if it leads to data loss.

Booting into fastboot mode

You can flash a device when it’s in the fastboot bootloader
mode. To enter fastboot mode when a device is undergoing a cold
boot, use the key combinations given in the table below.

You can also use the command adb reboot bootloader to reboot
directly into the bootloader. See

Flashing instructions
for full instructions.

Unlocking the bootloader

You need to unlock the bootloader only once, and you can re-lock it if
necessary.

Unlocking recent devices

All Nexus and Pixel devices released since 2014 (starting with Nexus 6 and
Nexus 9) have factory-reset protection and require a multistep process to
unlock the bootloader.

  1. To enable OEM unlocking on the device:
    1. In Settings, tap About phone, then tap Build
      number
      seven times.
    2. When you see the message You are now a developer!, tap the
      back button.
    3. In Settings, tap System, then tap Developer options
      and enable OEM unlocking and USB debugging. (If
      OEM unlocking is disabled, connect to the internet so the device can
      check in at least once. If it remains disabled, your device might be SIM locked by
      your carrier and the bootloader can’t be unlocked.)
  2. Reboot into the bootloader and use fastboot to unlock it.
    • For newer devices (2015 and higher):
      fastboot flashing unlock
    • For older devices (2014 and lower):
      fastboot oem unlock

    Tip: if you’re seeing `adb devices` output before reboot but fastboot or the
    flash script are misbehaving, it might be issues with your USB cable. Try a
    different port and/or switching connectors. If you are using a USB C port
    on your computer try a USB A port instead.

  3. Confirm the unlock onscreen.

Re-locking the bootloader

To re-lock the bootloader:

  • For newer devices (2015 and higher):
    fastboot flashing lock
  • For older devices (2014 and lower):
    fastboot oem lock

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