Database Users

Bootloader Unlock issue

EDIT: Well after a few hours of bashing around at it I managed to get the bootloader unlocked. However I am having one wicked time trying to get twrp installed as my recovery, and to S-off my device.
When I got to run : fastboot flash recovery twrp.img I get the error "unable to load twrp.img" Now I know darn good and well it is prob some stupid error on my part, but this is driving me batty and help would be greatly appreciated.
Brad
OK..Maybe I'm dumb...but I'd rather post a question than screw around and brick my phone.
Admittedly it has been a couple years since I had an HTC device. (Just got a Bolt today) Been to HTC Dev unlock to try and unlock my bootloader however I am running into an issue when trying to run oem get_identifier_token. Getting 'fastboot' is not recognized as an internal or external command. operable program or batch file.
Been thru this a couple times before on older HTC Devices (last one was an M8-HK Edition) and not had issues.
I installed everything it said to on the HTC site. But I'm stalled out at step 5 on the HTC Dev site. and can't seem to get any further than that. (and yes phone is in DL mode)
Anyone kind enough to help an old dummy out?

PodCulture said:
EDIT: Well after a few hours of bashing around at it I managed to get the bootloader unlocked. However I am having one wicked time trying to get twrp installed as my recovery, and to S-off my device.
When I got to run : fastboot flash recovery twrp.img I get the error "unable to load twrp.img" Now I know darn good and well it is prob some stupid error on my part, but this is driving me batty and help would be greatly appreciated.
Brad
OK..Maybe I'm dumb...but I'd rather post a question than screw around and brick my phone.
Admittedly it has been a couple years since I had an HTC device. (Just got a Bolt today) Been to HTC Dev unlock to try and unlock my bootloader however I am running into an issue when trying to run oem get_identifier_token. Getting 'fastboot' is not recognized as an internal or external command. operable program or batch file.
Been thru this a couple times before on older HTC Devices (last one was an M8-HK Edition) and not had issues.
I installed everything it said to on the HTC site. But I'm stalled out at step 5 on the HTC Dev site. and can't seem to get any further than that. (and yes phone is in DL mode)
Anyone kind enough to help an old dummy out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. make sure you're in download mode, not bootloader
2. make sure twrp.img is in your sdktools folder
maybe a bad download of twrp?

The saga continues...
Now Im stuck in this weird loop after S-off getting this screen:
It says "your phone is encrypted" enter your lock screen password. I did and it said correct, but your data is corrupted. You must do a factory reset. I try that process, the phone reboots, comes back up to that same "your phone is encrypted"
PodCulture said:
EDIT: Well after a few hours of bashing around at it I managed to get the bootloader unlocked. However I am having one wicked time trying to get twrp installed as my recovery, and to S-off my device.
When I got to run : fastboot flash recovery twrp.img I get the error "unable to load twrp.img" Now I know darn good and well it is prob some stupid error on my part, but this is driving me batty and help would be greatly appreciated.
Brad
OK..Maybe I'm dumb...but I'd rather post a question than screw around and brick my phone.
Admittedly it has been a couple years since I had an HTC device. (Just got a Bolt today) Been to HTC Dev unlock to try and unlock my bootloader however I am running into an issue when trying to run oem get_identifier_token. Getting 'fastboot' is not recognized as an internal or external command. operable program or batch file.
Been thru this a couple times before on older HTC Devices (last one was an M8-HK Edition) and not had issues.
I installed everything it said to on the HTC site. But I'm stalled out at step 5 on the HTC Dev site. and can't seem to get any further than that. (and yes phone is in DL mode)
Anyone kind enough to help an old dummy out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

PodCulture said:
Now Im stuck in this weird loop after S-off getting this screen:
It says "your phone is encrypted" enter your lock screen password. I did and it said correct, but your data is corrupted. You must do a factory reset. I try that process, the phone reboots, comes back up to that same "your phone is encrypted"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, after s-off u have to format data

OMJ said:
yes, after s-off u have to format data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've no problem doing that, but teh phone isn't letting me do it.

PodCulture said:
I've no problem doing that, but teh phone isn't letting me do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How are you trying to format data?
Sent from my unknown using XDA Labs

Unlocked needs root and twrp
Honestly...I don't know where I screwed up. (in the various how-to's I read I didn't see a format data step) I took the phone to Sprint and they were kind enough to flash it for me...so I am back up and running. Booted into DL mode and verified that I'm still unlocked and S-off. But where to go from here I don't know. I'd love to flash twrp and SU, but paranoid about semi-bricking it again. I used to know how this crap worked but that was quite awhile ago. (a couple phones and a couple versions of Windows ago)
OMJ said:
How are you trying to format data?
Sent from my unknown using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

PodCulture said:
Honestly...I don't know where I screwed up. (in the various how-to's I read I didn't see a format data step) I took the phone to Sprint and they were kind enough to flash it for me...so I am back up and running. Booted into DL mode and verified that I'm still unlocked and S-off. But where to go from here I don't know. I'd love to flash twrp and SU, but paranoid about semi-bricking it again. I used to know how this crap worked but that was quite awhile ago. (a couple phones and a couple versions of Windows ago)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flashing twrp & SU isn't difficult...since you unlocked bootloader, you should already have the fastboot tools needed.
1. download latest twrp (3.1.1-0 as of now) https://dl.twrp.me/pme/twrp-3.1.1-0-pme.img
2. copy that img to your sdktools/fastboot folder
3. reboot into download mode
4. flash twrp: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.1.1-0-pme.img
5. reboot to bootloader, then reboot to recovery
6. create a backup if u want
7. flash/install SuperSU https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/supersu/download/zip/SuperSU-v2.82-201705271822.zip

Thanks! Got everything back up and running now. Nice to have a phone I can use the way I want to again. TONS of bloat though.
OMJ said:
flashing twrp & SU isn't difficult...since you unlocked bootloader, you should already have the fastboot tools needed.
1. download latest twrp (3.1.1-0 as of now) https://dl.twrp.me/pme/twrp-3.1.1-0-pme.img
2. copy that img to your sdktools/fastboot folder
3. reboot into download mode
4. flash twrp: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.1.1-0-pme.img
5. reboot to bootloader, then reboot to recovery
6. create a backup if u want
7. flash/install SuperSU https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/supersu/download/zip/SuperSU-v2.82-201705271822.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

How did u get s off

After Pie: Bootloader unlocked & TWRP install didn't work

Hi,
I was really unhappy with Pie and tried to prepare my device for Oreo downgrade.
What I did was
- unlock bootloader
- tried to install TWRP
- mixed something up in that processs
- realized TWRP cannot be installed apparently on Pie right now
- MiFlash seems to be not working as well when trying to install stock rom (says flashing but nothing happens)
Well Pie is running right now, but when trying to lock the bootloader again for future updates, the phones is only showing a black screen.
After that I am trying to unlock bootloader again (fastboot oem unlock) and everything works again, except when I try to boot into recovery ("the system is destroyed" or something like that).
Trying to "hotboot" into TWRP currently is also not working, "unable to mount..." and after that automatically reboots into the system itself.
Any idea how I can either put a standard Pie installation with working recovery and locked bootloader on?
Or how I can maybe install Oreo instead? As I said, the MiFlash tool doesn't do anything (tells me "flashing" but actually doesn't do anything).
Thanks for your help!

cyrrel said:
Hi,
I was really unhappy with Pie and tried to prepare my device for Oreo downgrade.
What I did was
- unlock bootloader
- tried to install TWRP
- mixed something up in that processs
- realized TWRP cannot be installed apparently on Pie right now
- MiFlash seems to be not working as well when trying to install stock rom (says flashing but nothing happens)
Well Pie is running right now, but when trying to lock the bootloader again for future updates, the phones is only showing a black screen.
After that I am trying to unlock bootloader again (fastboot oem unlock) and everything works again, except when I try to boot into recovery ("the system is destroyed" or something like that).
Trying to "hotboot" into TWRP currently is also not working, "unable to mount..." and after that automatically reboots into the system itself.
Any idea how I can either put a standard Pie installation with working recovery and locked bootloader on?
Or how I can maybe install Oreo instead? As I said, the MiFlash tool doesn't do anything (tells me "flashing" but actually doesn't do anything).
Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mi-a1/development/treble-twrp-installer-treble-manager-t3793637

Hi,
I somehow managed to put 8.1 on and everything is back to normal.
Thanks

cyrrel said:
Hi,
I somehow managed to put 8.1 on and everything is back to normal.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you explain us the procedures that you have followed to downgrade. It would be really helpful. i have tried this
method but it didn't work for me. i am facing IMEI 0/no signal issues using this method.
Thanks

well I have done a lot of stuff that made my phone not working anymore because using a wrong .img file and didn'T understand the tutorial (same link you have provided) fully.
But at the end it was quite close to the link you have sent, the MiFlash tool I needed for example to try like 10 times per step until it worked, maybe a bad cable - I don't know.
But finally it was working, after March update without network signal, but with /boot & /efs partitions and Nov fastboot image, it was working.
If you need any more detail for a specific step, you can of course ask and I can check if there was anything special I can remember

cyrrel said:
well I have done a lot of stuff that made my phone not working anymore because using a wrong .img file and didn'T understand the tutorial (same link you have provided) fully.
But at the end it was quite close to the link you have sent, the MiFlash tool I needed for example to try like 10 times per step until it worked, maybe a bad cable - I don't know.
But finally it was working, after March update without network signal, but with /boot & /efs partitions and Nov fastboot image, it was working.
If you need any more detail for a specific step, you can of course ask and I can check if there was anything special I can remember
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are your imei & mac same as original? won't the imei/mac get affected by restoring someone else efs?

I don't know about mac, but imei is ok

note 3 not booting - pls help

[email protected]
thx for taking a look on my Problem
3month old note 3 no root, stock Rom, 3months no Problems,
was last week outside and i guess i was low on battery it was off as i had it in Hand
was loading all the evening and the battery is fully green
it starts, i can see mi logo, it changes to Android with loading dots at the Bottom and then it goes off
tried several times
fastboot is available
and main menu with reboot/wipe data/connect with mi assistant
i already tried:
wipe data - finished with ok (all my data gone) but still same issue
connect with mi assistant - no connecttion to Software
someone any ideas - thanks for any help
greetz

Since you already lost your data, try to flash the ROM again. I don't remember if you can transfer/flash the stock ROM without an unlocked bootloader (I suppose it is locked), if you can at least dirty install it as an update it may work too (google it). Unfortunately, providing more information over unlocking the phone is inappropriate.

GreatApo said:
try to flash the ROM again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How?
GreatApo said:
I don't remember if you can transfer/flash the stock ROM without an unlocked bootloader (I suppose it is locked)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes it locked
GreatApo said:
Unfortunately, providing more information over unlocking the phone is inappropriate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can u pm me please?
u are the onle one who relied to my post
thanks in advance

Since your bootloader is locked, your options are limited.
To expand a little what i mentioned, your best try it may be to try and update the current from from the stock recovery. That may fix a potential corrupted partition. To do so, you can follow the steps of method 2 in this article. However, I am not aware if you can transfer the update.zip in the phone... I suppose that the stock recovery doesn't mount the phone to the PC. Thus, you probably need to try and transfer if through fastboot but that may not be possible too (could check if adb push works or if you can boot a twrp recovery, not flash just boot, but you probably wont be able)...
If you can't do the above steps, you are in a half-brick mode right now with a locked bootloader. Generally, there is no official way to get around this.

OnePlus 6T - Can't unlock bootloader nor get into Android

My OP6T had Ubuntu Touch (equivalent to Android 9) installed on it. When it broke, I tried to flash TWRP (version 3.3.1) to clear and reinstall Ubuntu Touch. For some reason it wouldn't boot, so I foolishly decided to flash TWRP onto every single partition. This only succeeded in breaking recovery mode. Following some advice I used the 6T MsmDownloadTool v4.0.58 (OOS v9.0.11), which fixed recovery mode, but not Android - it just showed the booting animation in a infinite loop (bootloop).
I've attached an image I found online showing the screen: bootloop
The issue is that I cannot flash in fastboot mode as the bootloader was relocked by MsmDownloadTool, *and* I cannot get into Android to enable OEM mode/USB debugging. I seem to have encountered a paradox where fastboot mode requires the permissions to be enabled in Android, but I can't boot to Android to enable those permissions, nor can I flash anything else to fix Android.
Is this possible to solve?

AOnePlus6TDestroyer said:
My OP6T had Ubuntu Touch (equivalent to Android 9) installed on it. When it broke, I tried to flash TWRP (version 3.3.1) to clear and reinstall Ubuntu Touch. For some reason it wouldn't boot, so I foolishly decided to flash TWRP onto every single partition. This only succeeded in breaking recovery mode. Following some advice I used the 6T MsmDownloadTool v4.0.58 (OOS v9.0.11), which fixed recovery mode, but not Android - it just showed the booting animation in a infinite loop (bootloop).
I've attached an image I found online showing the screen: bootloop
The issue is that I cannot flash in fastboot mode as the bootloader was relocked by MsmDownloadTool, *and* I cannot get into Android to enable OEM mode/USB debugging. I seem to have encountered a paradox where fastboot mode requires the permissions to be enabled in Android, but I can't boot to Android to enable those permissions, nor can I flash anything else to fix Android.
Is this possible to solve?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

You can try booting with the twrp.img. "fastboot boot name.img" using that ADB command. If that does not work the only other option is to completely retore your phone using msmdownload tool. This method will also depend on whether you have the international version or the T-Mobile version as there are different approaches depending on the type of phone. Read and study carefully how to proceed. If the msm tool does not work I'm pretty damn sure there are no other options.

rogerrulez said:
You can try booting with the twrp.img. "fastboot boot name.img" using that ADB command. If that does not work the only other option is to completely retore your phone using msmdownload tool. This method will also depend on whether you have the international version or the T-Mobile version as there are different approaches depending on the type of phone. Read and study carefully how to proceed. If the msm tool does not work I'm pretty damn sure there are no other options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He can't boot into anything with bootloader locked. This is why msm tool sucks and people should stop recommending it for any little problem.

Only option now is to use msm tool again and hopefully get something working

Even with the bootloader locked you still should be able to boot the recocery image.

I have the 6T and 7T Pro. When I messed up my 6T my only hope was the msmdownloadtool. But make sure it's the right one.

When I had to use the msm download tool it did lock the bootloader. But I was able to unloack it again from the ADB command prompt at the bootloader screen by typing fastboot oem unlock. But this can only be done if it is set in developer options.
I spent alot of time trying to figure it out but later found outthat I was using the wrong msm tool.
Good luck. I hope you get it and running again because the 6T is still a very good phone.

Brettroth said:
He can't boot into anything with bootloader locked. This is why msm tool sucks and people should stop recommending it for any little problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are there more suitable tools for fixing a broken recovery mode? It did successfully do that.

rogerrulez said:
Even with the bootloader locked you still should be able to boot the recocery image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How?
rogerrulez said:
When I had to use the msm download tool it did lock the bootloader. But I was able to unloack it again from the ADB command prompt at the bootloader screen by typing fastboot oem unlock. But this can only be done if it is set in developer options.
I spent alot of time trying to figure it out but later found outthat I was using the wrong msm tool.
Good luck. I hope you get it and running again because the 6T is still a very good phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! And yes, I tried that command but it is probably unset in the developer options (which I cannot reach, as Android isn't working anymore). I guess I'm using the incorrect version - how do you identify the correct one? I think I've used both the T-Mobile one and the other. I don't think the phone is T-Mobile, but I'm not sure how to identify whether it is or not.

It is very easy to convert a t-mobile variant to the international version. If you bought the phone used you would not know. One tell tale sign could be if you sim card holder supports either one or 2 sims. But that's not a sure way either because you can buy a replacement sim card holder. The fastet was would be to look up the IMEI # and see what variant of the 6 you have.
As for the msm tool you would needd a modified version of that tool. You first use it to downgrade to Android 9. Then you have to upgrade that verion of android 9 to a slightly higher version before you are able to fully upgrade feely to 10 than 11 if you wanted.
If you have the international version pretty much and version of the msm tool would work but a modified version would be best.
However, the first step is to find out which variant you have.
When you used the msmdownload tool which version did you use, and did it finish the job ?

If you have the t-mobile vesion there is a thread on here that gives you step by step instructions to convert from t-mobile to international along with the links to download the software. And even the modified version will know what variant you have simply by not working.

If you are able to get into the bootloader than you have a great chance of fixing your phone. Your phone is bootlooping so that tells me you can access the bootloader screen.

When I bricked mine I thought it was gone forever, I spent several days working on it but I was able to restore it. But I would never use the ubuntu rom on any phone that I care for.

When you are at this level it is very important you proceed with caution and don't just start flashing anything you can find. It will nake matters much worse.

rogerrulez said:
Even with the bootloader locked you still should be able to boot the recocery image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wasn't sure about that. If that's the case, can you also flash from twrp then?

Brettroth said:
Wasn't sure about that. If that's the case, can you also flash from twrp then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Not without an unlocked bootloader. But booting into twrp would give you the ability to flash a ROM tho.

rogerrulez said:
No. Not without an unlocked bootloader. But booting into twrp would give you the ability to flash a ROM tho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I meant. Flash a ROM from twrp. Ok so if that works this guy can fix everything from there. Gonna be a hassle tho. Instead of rebooting to recovery I think you would have to shut off phone and fastboot boot back into twrp to change slots right?

Somehow I feel like that won't work but I'm not locking my bootloader to test it

rogerrulez said:
The fastet was would be to look up the IMEI # and see what variant of the 6 you have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid I can't' find it... It is dual-sim though.
rogerrulez said:
When you used the msmdownload tool which version did you use, and did it finish the job ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used a few - both T-Mobile and not. They all succeeded with (seemingly) no error, but didn't fix the bootloop.
rogerrulez said:
If you have the t-mobile vesion there is a thread on here that gives you step by step instructions to convert from t-mobile to international along with the links to download the software. And even the modified version will know what variant you have simply by not working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see, but won't that need me to be in Android to be able to run the software?
rogerrulez said:
If you are able to get into the bootloader than you have a great chance of fixing your phone. Your phone is bootlooping so that tells me you can access the bootloader screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, fastboot and recovery mode work fine. The bootloader is locked though, else installing TWRP, etc. would be easy.
rogerrulez said:
When you are at this level it is very important you proceed with caution and don't just start flashing anything you can find. It will nake matters much worse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah...
rogerrulez said:
Even with the bootloader locked you still should be able to boot the recocery image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't do it automatically. Is there another way to boot it?
Brettroth said:
Somehow I feel like that won't work but I'm not locking my bootloader to test it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I can tell there's no way to flash TWRP without unlocking the bootloader. And there doesn't seem to be any way to do that without getting into Android. And I can't get into Android...
Someone else suggested using this tool (https://github.com/bkerler/edl) as a last-ditch attempt. I'm going to give it a try and hope for the best!
Thank you both for your suggestions.

Is my Mi 9t bricked?

Hello. I recently tried to flash the latest fastboot global rom which included locking the bootloader. I used the latest miflash unlock program and everything went well and displayed the green "successful' when it was done. But when I rebooted to the system it loaded directly into stock recovery and boot loops by itself, restart>recovery>restart>recovery etc. It also displays at the bottom of the recovery screen "This MIUI version can't be installed this devise' but I'm sure I flashed the right one.
Now I don't know what to do. If I try to reunlock the bootloader it doesn't go through because I haven't linked my account to the phone (and cant do that because it wont boot up properly). I've tried wiping data in recovery but that doesn't change anything. I can however boot the phone into fastboot and also ADB but I don't know what to do from there. If I try to erase the data via fastboot I get an error saying it can't do that on a locked devise.
So I'm really stuck here and if someone knows what I can do (if anything) I would really appreciate your help.

yurtal said:
Hello. I recently tried to flash the latest fastboot global rom which included locking the bootloader. I used the latest miflash unlock program and everything went well and displayed the green "successful' when it was done. But when I rebooted to the system it loaded directly into stock recovery and boot loops by itself, restart>recovery>restart>recovery etc. It also displays at the bottom of the recovery screen "This MIUI version can't be installed this devise' but I'm sure I flashed the right one.
Now I don't know what to do. If I try to reunlock the bootloader it doesn't go through because I haven't linked my account to the phone (and cant do that because it wont boot up properly). I've tried wiping data in recovery but that doesn't change anything. I can however boot the phone into fastboot and also ADB but I don't know what to do from there. If I try to erase the data via fastboot I get an error saying it can't do that on a locked devise.
So I'm really stuck here and if someone knows what I can do (if anything) I would really appreciate your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, classical case to seek a paid EDL support
Btw, I don't know did the ROM really forced relocking BL or you didn't pay attention - there was an option in MiFlash to avoid relocking BL (unfortunately, by default it is enabled and many users then come to the same situation and have to seek for and pay EDL support, if anything goes wrong while flashing the ROM - one must disable relocking BL to stay on the safe side)
You should look around XDA if you can find somebody (it's not allowed to advertise, hence most posts would be deleted) or ask on Telegram or similarly

zgfg said:
Unfortunately, classical case to seek a paid EDL support
Btw, I don't know did the ROM really forced relocking BL or you didn't pay attention - there was an option in MiFlash to avoid relocking BL (unfortunately, by default it is enabled and many users then come to the same situation and have to seek for and pay EDL support, if anything goes wrong while flashing the ROM - one must disable relocking BL to stay on the safe side)
You should look around XDA if you can find somebody (it's not allowed to advertise, hence most posts would be deleted) or ask on Telegram or similarly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi thank you for your reply. I wanted to lock the bootloader as I was going to sell the phone and wanted it all back to stock standard. What does EDL do exactly?

yurtal said:
Hi thank you for your reply. I wanted to lock the bootloader as I was going to sell the phone and wanted it all back to stock standard. What does EDL do exactly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please google about
It's very deep flashing. Something like how they flash the phones when they are assembled - they have to flash Bootloader and everything

zgfg said:
Please google about
It's very deep flashing. Something like how they flash the phones when they are assembled - they have to flash Bootloader and everything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh ok. Yes I'll read up on it. Thanks for your help.

zgfg said:
Please google about
It's very deep flashing. Something like how they flash the phones when they are assembled - they have to flash Bootloader and everything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, just to follow up. I managed to get it back up and running from someone with EDL support.