To flash your stockrom innto your phone(if you have a stubborn virus or you wanna upgrade), youll need this. Note that your phone must be unrooted to avoid it from bricking. Note that a bricked phone means one thing: your phone won't turn on in any way, shape or form, and there's nothing you can do to fix it, except if you flash into it another ROM (which may not work at times if not done completely/well). It is, for all intents and purposes, as useful as a brick. A phone stuck in a boot loop is not bricked, nor is a phone that boots straight into recovery mode Don’t panic! In contrast to iOS, Android is a rather open operating system which makes fixing a soft-bricked device sometimes really easy. This guide will take you through the standard steps to get your tablet or phone back running. You can revive your device as long as it is only soft-bricked! But beware, depending on your device it can be quite tricky to fix a soft-brick.
What’s the difference between a hard and a soft-brick?
Before we get started I quickly want to discuss the difference between a soft-bricked and a hard-bricked device. It’s actually quite simple. Ask yourself the following question: What can I do with a brick? It’s simple – basically nothing. You can use it as a paperweight or decoration. You can easily identify a (hard-) bricked device based on the following points:- It does not turn on anymore AND
- Your computer / Mac does not recognise it anymore
Android device does not boot anymore
If you’re able to turn on your phone or tablet, but it won’t boot, it mean that the device is stuck in the so-called “bootloop”. This happens if you flashed (installed) something that does not work with your device. This is typically a ROM or Kernel, or a combination of both. What happens in this case, is that your device is trying to load something which overloads the system memory, resulting in the device crashing. In the following I’m going to guide you through different steps that you need to follow. This should help you with finding your problem and getting the perfect solution for it.Step 1. Does your device boot?
- Yes – Go to step 3
- No – Go to step 2
Does it work?
- Yes – Go to step 3
- No – It looks like your phone is bricked.
Step 3. Are you able to access the bootloader or recovery mode?
- Yes – Go to step 4
- No – Go to step 2
- Yes – Go to step 9
- No – Go to step 5
- Yes – Go to step 6
- No – Go to step 7
Did it work?
- Yes – Enjoy your working device!
- No – Go to step 8
Step 8. Are stock ROM files available?
- Yes – Try installing them. Most stock files come with instructions how to install them. Follow them. Your device should be working again
- No – Try consulting the XDA developers forum.

What’s the difference between a hard and a soft-brick?
Before we get started I quickly want to discuss the difference between a soft-bricked and a hard-bricked device. It’s actually quite simple. Ask yourself the following question: What can I do with a brick? It’s simple – basically nothing. You can use it as a paperweight or decoration. You can easily identify a (hard-) bricked device based on the following points:- It does not turn on anymore AND
- Your computer / Mac does not recognise it anymore
The easiest fix: Use a toolkit for your device
Make sure to check the XDA-Forums if there is a toolkit available for your device which might make the recovering process far easier. Toolkits often install the correct drivers, download the right files and guide you through the process of getting your phone or tablet back running.If you rather want to do everything by hand, make sure that the latest ADB and fastboot drivers are installed on your computer. :
Download this software for Mac or this one for Windows
Write down the location of the drivers (or copy them to a easily accessible folder) – you’ll need them later!
Android device does not boot anymore
If you’re able to turn on your phone or tablet, but it won’t boot, it mean that the device is stuck in the so-called “bootloop”. This happens if you flashed (installed) something that does not work with your device. This is typically a ROM or Kernel, or a combination of both. What happens in this case, is that your device is trying to load something which overloads the system memory, resulting in the device crashing. In the following I’m going to guide you through different steps that you need to follow. This should help you with finding your problem and getting the perfect solution for it.Step 1. Does your device boot?
- Yes – Go to step 3
- No – Go to step 2
Does it work?
- Yes – Go to step 3
- No – It looks like your phone is bricked. Try consulting the XDA-Developer forums for more help
Step 3. Are you able to access the bootloader or recovery mode?
- Yes – Go to step 4
- No – Go to step 2
- Yes – Go to step 9
- No – Go to step 5
- Yes – Go to step 6
- No – Go to step 7
Did it work?
- Yes – Enjoy your working device!
- No – Go to step 8
Step 8. Are stock ROM files available?
- Yes – Try installing them. Most stock files come with instructions how to install them. Follow them. Your device should be working again
- No – Try consulting the XDA developers forum.
Custom Recovery is gone
Sometimes flashing a ROM can overwrite your custom recovery. There are two ways to get it back.1. You have root access
- Install ROM Manager and use it to flash ClockworkMod Recovery or
- Install the TWRP app and use it to flash Team Win Recovery Project
2. You don’t have root access
- Download the TWRP or CWMR image for your device and save it into the same directory as the ADB / fastboot drivers
- Boot into the bootloader. Key-combinations can be found here.
- Open the Windows command or Mac terminal and navigate to the direction where the ADB / fastboot drivers are located
- Execute the following command: fastboot flash recovery filename.img (with filename.img being the name of the recovery image you downloaded earlier)
You don’t have root access anymore
If your root stops working, there are two ways to get it back:1. You still have access to a custom recovery
- Download SuperSU and install the zip file in custom recovery
How to get files to or from a device if you can’t boot to Android
If your Android device does not boot anymore it can be tricky to get files to your device (to install a backup) or from your device (to backup personal files on your computer). Luckily, TWRP and CWMR include ADB drivers.- Open the Windows command or Mac terminal and navigate to the direction where the ADB / fastboot drivers are located
- Use the following command to push files to your device:
ADB push filename(or folder) directory on your device - Example: ADB push /backup/ /sdcard/ – This will transfer the complete folder backup from your computer to the SD card on your device
- Use the following command to get files from your device:
ADB get filename(or folder) directory on your computer - Example: ADB get /downloads/ /backup – This will transfer the complete folder “downloads” from your device to the /backup/ folder on your computer
Bootloader/Fastboot and Recovery Mode for Nexus Devices
»Nexus One
- Bootloader/Fastboot mode: Power off the device. Press and hold the Trackball and Power button simultaneously.
- Recovery mode: While in Bootloader mode, highlight RECOVERY with the volume keys and select using the Power key.
- Bootloader Mode: Power off the device, press and hold Volume Up and Power keys.
- Recovery Mode: While in Bootloader mode, use Volume keys to highlight Recovery and select it using the Power button.
- Bootloader Mode: Power off the device, press Volume Up, Volume Down and Power buttons altogether.
- Recovery mode: While in Bootloader mode, use Volume keys to highlight Recovery and select it using the Power key.
- Bootloader Mode: Power off the device, press Volume Down and Power buttons altogether.
- Recovery Mode: While in Bootloader mode, use Volume keys to highlight Recovery and select it using the Power key.
Download & Recovery Mode for Samsung Devices
These instructions are applicable to almost
all Samsung manufactured Android devices. If you feel that your Samsung
Device follows a different criteria, mention it in comments and we
shall update it in our article.
- ODIN/Download mode: Power off the device. Press and hold Volume Down, Home and Power keys altogether.
[For Galaxy Tabs: Press and hold Volume Down and Power keys. Press Volume Up button when prompted with a security warning] - Recovery mode: Power off the device. Press and hold Volume Up, Home and Power buttons altogether.
[For Galaxy Tabs: Press Volume Up and Power keys, release the keys when the Samsung logo is displayed]
Bootloader & Recovery Mode for HTC phones
[This will work for almost all HTC devices]
To enter into Bootloader mode, do this:
- Turn off your phone
- Hold down Volume Down + Power button
- Release the Power button when device starts and continue to hold the Volume Down key until you see a white screen, that’s the bootloader.
To enter into Fastboot mode, do this:
- Turn off your phone
- Hold down Volume Down + Power button
- Release the Power button when device starts and continue to hold the Volume Down key until you enter into the bootloader. [For some phones, bootloader mode itself acts as Fastboot mode]
- Scroll up or down with Volume keys and select Fastboot with the power key.
To enter into Recovery mode, do this:
- Turn off your phone
- Hold down Volume Down + Power button [older devices: Home + Power button]
- Release the Power button when device starts and continue to hold the Volume Down key until you enter into the bootloader.
- Scroll up or down with Volume keys and select Recovery with the power key.
Exclusions:
HTC Legend
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot: (while turned off) Press and hold Down on Trackball + Volume Down + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press Down on Trackball + Volume Down + Power Highlight Recovery with the volume keys and select with the Power key.
Fastboot & Recovery Mode for LG Phones
LG is not much friendly for entering
fastboot with the key-combination and hence, will have to be done by
connecting to a pc and hence it is not covered in this guide. There are some exclusions though. Booting to recovery with key-combinations is just fine.
For All Devices that do not Support Fastboot Key Combination
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power
Exclusions:
LG Optimus One P500 and Optimus Net P690
To enter into Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Home + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Home + Power
LG Optimus Me P350
To enter into Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Up + Call key+ Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Call key + Power
LG Optimus GT540
To enter into Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Camera + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Home + Power
LG Optimus L3
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Menu button + Power
LG Optimus L5
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power and immediately followed by pressing and holding Home key.
LG Optimus G
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power then scroll down to Recovery Mode with the Volume Keys and select with the Power key.
Bootloader & Recovery Mode for Motorola Phones
Motorola Droid Razr XT 910/912
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume UP + Power, now scroll down with Volume Down key only, and select AP Fastboot with Volume Up key.
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume UP + Power, now scroll down with Volume Down key only, and select Recovery with Volume Up key.
Motorola Droid X
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume UP + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Home + Power
Motorola Droid X2
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Motorola Droid Bionic
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power, scroll down to AP Fastboot with Volume Down and select with Volume Up
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Motorola Droid 3
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Slide out the keyboard and press M + Power, scroll down to Fastboot with Volume Down and select with Volume Up
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Slide out the keyboard and press M + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down and select with Volume Up. Now hold down Volume Up + Volume Down to get the menu. Or slide out the keyboard and press X + Power
Motorola Droid 4
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power, scroll down to AP Fastboot with Volume Down and select with Volume Up
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Motorola Defy XT535
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Up + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power
Motorola Defy Plus
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Up + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power
Motorola Xoom
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Motorola Atrix
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Motorola Atrix 2
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Motorola Atrix 4G
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power, at the “Starting Fastboot protocol support” screen, press Volume Up
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Motorola Atrix HD
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power, scroll down to AP Fastboot with Volume Down and select with Volume Up
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Motorola Photon 4G
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Motorola Razr M
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power, scroll down to AP Fastboot with Volume Down and select with Volume Up
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Motorola Razr i
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Motorola Razr HD
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power, scroll down to AP Fastboot with Volume Down and select with Volume Up
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power, scroll down to Recovery with Volume Down key, press Volume Up to select Recovery.
Flash & Recovery Mode for Sony Phones
SONY Xperia S, Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro, Xperia Ray
To enter into Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Up, at
the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to
PC. You should see a blue LED. You’re in Fastboot mode now.
To enter into Flash Mode : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Down button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Recovery:
- Xperia S : (while turned off) Power on and when you see blue LED lit up, press Volume UP
- Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro, Xperia Ray : (while turned off) Power on and keep pressing Volume Down key few times to land into recovery.
SONY Xperia Arc, Xperia Arc S, Xperia Neo, Xperia Neo V, Xperia Pro
To enter into Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold the Menu button, at
the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to
PC. You should see a blue LED. You’re in fastboot mode now.
To enter into Flash Mode : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Down button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Recovery:
- Xperia Arc, Xperia Arc S : (while turned off) Power on and press and hold Volume Down key
- Xperia Neo, Xperia Neo V, Xperia Pro : (while turned off) Power on and keep pressing Volume Down key few times to land into recovery.
SONY Xperia Play
To enter into Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold the Search button, at
the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to
PC. You should see a blue LED. You’re in fastboot mode now.
To enter into Flash Mode : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Down button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Power on and keep pressing (depends on which recovery you flashed) Volume Down or Volume Up key few times to land into recovery.
SONY Xperia P, Xperia U, Xperia Sola, Xperia Go
To enter into Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Up button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Flash Mode : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Down button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Power on and keep pressing (depends on which recovery you flashed) Volume Down or Volume Up key few times to land into recovery.
SONY Xperia X10, Xperia X10 Mini, Xperia X 10 Mini Pro, Xperia X8
To enter into Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Up button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Flash Mode : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Down button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Recovery:
- Xperia X10: (while turned off) Power on and keep the Back key pressed
- Xperia X10 Mini, Xperia X 10 Mini Pro, Xperia X8: (while turned off) Power on and keep pressing Back key repeatedly
SONY Tablets
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Power on and keep pressing Volume Up key few times to land into recovery.
Fastboot is not yet available for Tablets
SONY Xperia Miro, Xperia Tipo, Xperia Tipo Dual, Xperia J, Xperia E
To enter into Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Up button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Flash Mode : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Down button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Power on or plug into charger and keep pressing Volume Down repeatedly.
SONY Xperia T, Xperia TL, Xperia TX, Xperia V
To enter into Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Up button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Flash Mode : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Down button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Power on or plug into charger and keep pressing Volume Down repeatedly.
SONY Xperia Z, Xperia ZL
To enter into Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Up button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Flash Mode : (while turned off) Press and hold the Volume Down button, at the same time plug in the micro USB cable which is already connected to PC.
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Power on or plug into charger and keep pressing Volume Up repeatedly.
Bootloader & Recovery Mode for ASUS Devices
Asus Transformer Prime TF101
To enter APX mode: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Up + Power
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power, press Volume Up within 5 seconds.
Asus Transformer Prime TF201, Transformer TF300T, Transformer TF700
To enter into Bootloader/Fastboot : (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power, now select the USB icon, press Volume Up
To enter into Recovery: (while turned off) Press and hold Volume Down + Power, press Volume Up within 5 seconds.
Final words
I hope that I was able to offer you a first-aid for your Android emergency. There are many ways to get your Android device back to life. Please comment below or consult the XDA-developers forums if you have any questions!Also, you can unbrick your device by flashing your rom using sp flash tool.. Just download the ROM. Open sp flash tool on your pc. Click on scatter loading and choose the scatterfile inside the ROM, and press Ctrl+D or download. When phone is off, remove battery and long press volume down. Then, insert the battery and it starts. Done!
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