What to do if the Android system on your smartphone crashes?

Currently, Android OS has gradually occupied the largest market in the world. More and more people are choosing Android phone as their mobile phone. As an Android phone user, sometimes you may get annoyed by Android phone recovery methods when you lose files. Thus, how to restore your Android phone when you accidentally deleted files? The article provides 3 best solutions for you to restore your Android phone with a few simple steps.

• Part 1: Restore Android Phone Using Google Backup
• Part 2. Best Way to Restore Android Phone
• Part 3. Restore Android Phone to Previous State

What is firmware on Android?

For the functioning of each smartphone, firmware is required to ensure correct operation of the Android operating system, installed on most mobile devices and discussed throughout the article, with the hardware of the device.
After purchase, it is built into the smartphone by default, however, if the capabilities provided in the original are limited, you should consider the option of installing custom firmware, the implementation of which can be done using dozens of methods that differ only in the convenience of the process and do not make any difference in terms of the final result. . Device firmware changes are made more often than it seems - for example, every time you install an update released by the gadget manufacturer. Its installation takes just a few minutes and always requires a reboot of the device, after which you can continue to use it and at the same time evaluate the innovations that become visible immediately or are described before installing the version.

How to reflash a smartphone with Flashtool

This option is 100% applicable to Sony phones, however, devices from other brands can be restored in the same way.

What do you need:

• “brick” Android;
• licensed firmware in FTF format;
• Flashtool program installed on the computer, firmware drivers for it;
• disabled antivirus, firewall, which can react to Flashtool as a viral component;
• It is enough to charge the phone well so that it does not turn off during recovery.

When is it necessary to restore the firmware on Android?

The main reason for the need for recovery is a violation of the rules for flashing the phone. The principles described in the list below should not be violated, but in this situation there is no need to worry - the methods described in the material will help remove the device from the “bricked” state, in which it cannot boot into normal mode. These points are strongly recommended:

• The battery charge should be at least 30%, and better – 100%. Despite the quick installation of most firmware, whether official or found on the Internet, we advise you to play it safe to save time if problems arise;
• You should not use images that are incompatible with the gadget - you can find out whether this is so in the smartphone discussion thread on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum, where active members of the community have compiled a list of recommended firmware. We also recommend asking your question in the comments under this post;
• discard old cables if the procedure is performed with the need to connect to a PC. Additionally, it is recommended to evaluate the quality of the ports themselves. They may need to be replaced.

If you do not follow these important nuances, the question of returning the previous firmware arises. The device may work normally, but if for some reason you want to return the phone to its previous state, this will not pose any difficulties due to the maximum similarity of the procedure.

Windows 10 Mobile

Microsoft has long given up on its mobile division, so the company reacted extremely calmly to the leak of Secure Boot keys and vulnerabilities in the bootloaders of almost all models discovered two years ago, completely ignoring the existence of exploits. (It’s not entirely clear whether the company could do anything in principle, given that the very first build of the system is always flashed through WDRT: no rollback protection was provided in devices running mobile Windows.) To date, the bootloader vulnerability in On Lumia smartphones, you can obtain superuser rights, extract information (unless optional data partition encryption is enabled, which uses the completely secure BitLocker), or install some other operating system on your smartphone - for example, a full-fledged ARM build of Windows 10, Windows RT or Android.

What about data extraction? Everything is boring: Cellebrite has long developed specialized bootloaders for extracting data from Lumia smartphones (however, if you enable encryption, the company cannot bypass it).

BlackBerry 10

There is no access to user data via EDL mode. More precisely, it’s not like that: there is access, but only if you enter the correct device lock code (the code is entered directly from the computer, this is a standard feature of the system). If you do not enter it or enter it incorrectly, then ten attempts later all data will be destroyed.

Ways to restore firmware on Android

Factory reset your phone

This option is divided into several types, the simplest of which is to use the Settings application. Its disadvantage is its inaccessibility if there are problems turning on the device, but if everything is normal in this regard, you should follow these steps:

• Open device settings;

• Find the “Backup and reset” section, tap on it;

• at the bottom of the screen, where the “Personal Data” section is located, click on “Reset settings”, read the warning about the process and confirm your intentions by clicking on “Ok” in the selection window.

There is also a way to go through these steps through the engineering menu, the opening code of which differs depending on the brand, and must be entered into the call panel. For example, on LG devices the combination *2767*3855# . A more universal sequence is *#*#7378423#*#* , available on most smartphones.

A method that works if the device cannot be turned on, or without these problems, is represented by entering recovery. To do this, you will need to hold down the volume down or up rocker (depending on the model) and the power button at the same time, and then wait for the control panel to appear. Next follow these instructions:

1. Select "Wipe data/factory reset". You probably won't be able to use the touchscreen in recovery mode, so navigation will be provided by the side buttons;

2. Among the mass of “No” items that serve to protect against accidental clicks, select the “Yes” option;

3. Wait for the process to complete and reboot the gadget.
   Read also:  How to set the global folder view in Windows 10

On gadgets from Xiaomi, the type of recovery is different and, in most cases, supports touchscreen control, which is why it deserves a separate description:

1. Hold down the volume up and power keys for a long time, turn on the English version for a better understanding of how the functions work;

2. Tap on “recovery” - you will see another window, the navigation of which is clear and is literally provided by three buttons;

3. Click “Wipe data”, confirm your actions by tapping “Confirm”;

4. As soon as a green message appears on the screen, select “Reboot to System”.

How to turn on the phone.

To turn on your touch phone, you must do the following:

Press and hold the Power key until the phone vibrates. - If the phone was turned on, but the screen went dark, press and release the Power key to turn it on. — an image of a lock will appear on the screen; to unlock the screen, drag the lock icon or click on it. — when prompted to enter a code, enter the PIN code from your SIM card. In most cases this is 0000 and click OK. — wait for the phone to start.

Note:

The PIN code for the SIM card is located on a plastic card or in a package received when purchasing a SIM card at a mobile phone store. But be careful, if the PIN code is incorrect three times, you can activate the SIM card only through the PUK code, which is also included in the package received when purchasing the SIM card. If the PUK code is lost, it can only be restored using the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation for which the SIM card is issued. Therefore, do not enter your PIN incorrectly more than three times. If you have lost your PIN code and there is no way to recover it through your telecom operator, you can do the following.

Cancel the PIN prompt when you turn on your phone. To do this, find another SIM card with a PIN code you know (you can assign a PIN code in the settings) and insert it into your phone. Turn on the phone according to the steps described above, when entering the password, enter the PIN code you know from another SIM card. Once you have successfully turned on your phone, go to your phone settings and cancel the PIN prompt when you turn on your phone. Having done this, turn off the phone and change the SIM cards. Now, when you turn on the phone, the system will not require you to enter a PIN code.

This is, of course, elementary advice, but there are solutions to more serious problems.

Advice.

The SIM PIN is initially provided by your network operator, but can be changed in the Settings menu. To correct an error when entering your SIM card PIN, tap the “Delete” icon.

Show more

Using specialized programs (reanimators for stock firmware)

LG – LG Mobile Support Tool

Large brands create special utilities to expand the functions of smartphones, including LG, which has undeservedly lost its high share in the mobile industry. The process of using the program is extremely clear due to the presence of Russian-language localization and requires establishing a connection between the computer and the phone using a USB cable.

The sequence of actions is presented as follows:

1. Download the latest version of the program from the manufacturer's website and install it on a PC running Windows. When you first start, you will be asked to install the USB driver, which will be done automatically after clicking on the “Ok” button;
2. Establish a connection between your phone and computer;
3. Click “Advanced features”, then click “recovery after update error”. To access it for security purposes, you must specify the IMEI of the device, which is obtained using the code *#06#, entered in the call menu. You only need to specify the first 15 digits, after which you will be able to open the section. By the way, we recommend reading the article about how to recover IMEI on Android after flashing;

4. wait until the procedure is completed, after which the device will begin to operate normally.

Sony – Xperia Companion

Reflashing the device using this utility is also easy to do. The program is available for all Sony smartphones running Android. After downloading the application from the company’s website, you will need to launch it and perform the following steps:

1. Click on the “Start” button in the “Support zone” card;

2. Click on “Phone/tablet software update”;

3. Review the information about the duration of the procedure, select “Next” in the lower right corner to go to a slide containing information about which files will be lost without the possibility of recovery if there are no previously created backup copies (for example, Google automatically synchronizes installed applications and photos taken) ;

4. The utility will check the stability of the connection with the device and display information on the screen about the need to keep the charge at a level of no less than 80% (work is possible at lower values, but it’s not worth the risk). Check the box indicating that you have read these items and select “Next”;

5. A list of models will appear. Choose the one that suits you best;

6. Follow the steps related to the need to insert the cable after turning off the device and holding down the volume up key during the procedure;

7. The installation of the official firmware over the Internet will begin. First it will download to the PC, and then to the phone itself.

As soon as information about the completion of the process appears on the screen, you can turn on the phone and take advantage of all its capabilities provided by the manufacturer.

Samsung - Odin program

The utility, suitable for Samsung devices, regularly receives new updates to ensure high speed of the process and minimal risk of errors, however, not all versions are compatible with specific devices. For models released after 2014, the latest release is suitable, for those born from 2011 to 2014 - 3.07, and even earlier products - 1.85. The interfaces of the programs differ slightly, but this does not harm performance.

Once you have Odin installed, proceed to these steps:

1. Launch the program;
2. In the “PDA” line, specify the path to the firmware file. It can be found in the thread dedicated to discussing the smartphone on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum. Check the checkbox on the left of this item;

3. Click on the “Start” button, wait until the progress bar of one cell is filled - others will probably be empty, which is explained by the possibility of flashing several devices at the same time using this application. At the same time, PASS will appear on the screen, indicating the completion of the procedure.

If the image is divided into several files, the instructions are slightly different - you will need to point to a specific archive for each line. APBOOT should be in place of BOOTLOADER , CODE – PDA , MODEM – PHONE , CSC – in the item of the same name. If you have a PIT file, you will need to enable that too. Next, all that remains is to click on “Start”.

SP Flash Tool

The key advantage of this program is expressed in working with a lot of devices thanks to the support of chipsets from MediaTek, which are implemented in a lot of gadgets - from budget to almost flagship models. Since the utility is downloaded to a computer, for it to work you will need a USB cable that allows information to be transferred with a mobile phone.

The following steps are required:

1. Upload the image by contacting brand representatives or finding it on the Internet - for example, on w3bsit3-dns.com. Extract the files, if they are in the archive, so that the path to them does not contain any characters except Latin. If the built-in Windows tools do not help, use 7-Zip or WinRAR;
2. Run the program as administrator. To do this, right-click and select this item. If you need to provide a password to complete it, try to remember it or, if the computer is located somewhere outside the home, contact the company’s IT department;
3. Specify where the download-agent and scatter files are located. Often the first one is called DA_SWSEC, and the second one contains the word “scatter” in the name;

4. To avoid damage to NVRAM, go to the Readback tab and indicate in it the folder where its backup copy will be saved;

5. Click on the “Read back” button and wait until the process is completed. This step is only responsible for the backup - the firmware has not yet been installed;

6. Return to the “Download” section, click on the button of the same name, after selecting the “Firmware Upgrade” option in the drop-down menu. As soon as the flashing is completed, a window with a green check mark will appear.

Despite the apparent complexity, the program interface is intuitive, which means there is no need for a long study of the utility’s features.

Next, we do everything strictly according to the instructions:

1. Unpack the newly downloaded firmware to the root of drive C (C:\);

2. Download a new preloader from here (this preloader is only for LENOVO S820), in some cases you can do without it, but if that doesn’t work, then follow the further instructions;

3. Go to the target.bin folder in the firmware folder, now you need to replace the original preloader file in it with a new one, the one that was downloaded in step 2.

4. Now delete the checksum.ini file in the same target.bin folder

6. Check the box next to DA DL All With Check Sum;

7. Specify the path to the scanner file, and then click the Firmware Upgrade button;

8. Take your phone, or rather a brick, take out the battery from it and connect it to the computer.

9. That's it, now we wait for the end of the flashing process.

That's all, now you have a manual for restoring bricks. We look forward to new comments from you.

Stay tuned, there is still a lot of interesting things ahead.

Let's look at how to restore Android if it has turned into a brick. Methods for resuscitating Android when it is “bricked”.

Scrapping is a complete or partial loss of functionality of an Android device. Not a single user who independently flashes a gadget is immune from this situation.

Update via Recovery (modified third-party firmware)

All the instructions discussed below are also relevant if you are using official recovery - then you will need to flash it first, and only then the main image. This is acceptable, but not recommended - it is more logical to install the firmware directly, so further actions proceed from the position of having TWRP , CWM and Titanium Backup before the need for this process arises.

To enable this mode, hold down the power and volume down (or up) buttons for a couple of seconds. The device must be turned off, but charged!

TWRP

Team Win Recovery Project - along with the recovery described below, is one of the most popular modifications of the built-in recovery mode. Using it is distinguished by a user-friendly interface and, in particular, by the presence of touch controls that some phones lack. There is a Russian version, but the absence of complex technical terms makes it available in English.

To restore the firmware or install a new one, you will need to perform the following steps:

1. Completely clear the files remaining from the previous image by going to the Wipe section and clearing the directories visible in the screenshot;

2. Using your PC, move the img file to the root directory. You may need to enter recovery again;
3. Tap on “Install”, select only the image. Once this step is complete, a blue “Successful” message will appear under the console. On the same screen, click “wipe cache/dalvik”, and then swipe to the right and reboot the device. In general, we recommend that you read our separate material, where we described how to install custom recovery TWRP on Android.

Recovery mode in Xiaomi: how to enter and exit, return to stock recovery

Yaroslav Dragun 01/26/2021 31

Recovery Mode is translated into Russian as recovery mode. Recovery mode on Xiaomi is designed to manipulate the operating system. There is no Russian language in it, only English.

In terms of functionality, the official Recovery is significantly inferior to the custom one (for example, the same TWRP). However, it is quite suitable for performing basic operations with the firmware and phone memory.

CWM

Recently, this recovery has lost ground relative to TWRP, but its use is still possible. The key advantages are the ability to control if the touchscreen is damaged and compatibility with older models. As in the previous case, you will need to place the image in the root of the device. You can also name it "update.zip" for easier access. Then, after entering recovery mode, do the following:

1. Reset your device to factory settings by going to the Wipe Menu and then selecting “Wipe Data – Factory Reset”. Don't know how to do this? Check out the article - how to reset Android to factory settings;

2. Return to the main menu, select "Install zip";

3. If you gave the archive the name “update.zip”, click on “Apply /sdcard/update.zip”, otherwise click “Choose zip from SD card” and select the file - most likely it will be located at the very bottom;

4. A console will appear showing the progress of the actions. The end of the procedure becomes clear thanks to the “Install from sdcard complete” message that appears;
5. Reboot your device using the “reboot phone” button at the very top of the main panel.

The process is just as fast as using the method above.

Recovery Menu in MIUI and Android One

The menu in stock Recovery Xiaomi is divided into several levels. At each level there is a certain number of points in English. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at the translation and purpose of each menu item and tell us what it is used for.

Structure of the Recovery Menu and its translation into Russian:

The image above shows the recovery menu of a MI brand smartphone, as indicated by the inscription Mi Recovery 3.0. If it were a Redmi phone, then we would see Redmi Recovery 3.0. Apart from this inscription, they are no different.

Navigation through the recovery menu is carried out using the volume buttons. To select one or another item, you need to press the power button.

In Mi A series smartphones - A1, MI A2 (A2 Lite), Mi A3, the recovery is different from the standard version of other Xiaomi phones. This is due to the fact that the A-series comes with pure Android One, while the rest of the devices use MIUI.

Structure of the Recovery Menu for Xiaomi A-series smartphones:

The recovery in Xiaomi A series is much more functional than that used in MIUI. You also need to enter this mode: hold down the power button and volume up. You need to release the buttons when a picture with a disassembled robot and a red triangle appears on the screen.

Titanium Backup

The main purpose of this utility is to create backup versions of applications, but one of its additional functions is firmware recovery. The application is used to fulfill the purpose specified in the text as follows:

1. In the upper right corner, click on the picture of the rectangle and checkmark;
2. In the menu, find the “Recovery Mode” section, next to its only item, tap on “Start”;
3. Check the applications that you want to copy and proceed to this procedure, which will provide progress information for each application;
4. The files will be saved in an archive called update.zip in the root of the memory. To restore it, you can use both the above-mentioned recovery and Titanium Backup itself - in the same panel, select “Restore all software with data”;
5. Indicate what you need to download, then tap the checkbox. Once the process is finished, you should reboot the device.

Proper use of the program allows you not to worry about the safety of data when performing complex operations, such as flashing the firmware of a device.

We use recovery from backups using special software

Now the user must restore the files that he saved earlier. After a backup, this is possible if he created a backup copy. In order to do this, you need:

1. Open settings on your phone;
2. Go to “Restore and reset”;
3. Open a window about restoring the required backup;
4. After this, you can select the backup file that was previously transferred from your computer to your phone;
5. Confirm the operation;
6. Wait for the end.

Typically, the process itself takes about 20 minutes. This is enough to return the phone to its previous state.

Problems and solutions

Inability to transfer files

Some cables used to charge the device are incompatible in terms of working with files, so you need to use methods that do not require interaction with a computer, or simply purchase the required cable.

Lack of necessary drivers

If your USB cables support data, but you can't use them when flashing the firmware, the problem is either incompatible software or, more likely, driver issues. They need to be downloaded from the official website of the brand or processor manufacturer. Most of them have digital signatures, but if they don't, you'll need to disable authentication as follows:

1. Use the Win+R key combination and enter in the window that appears bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network and press Enter, restart your PC;

2. In the “Select action” tab, click on “Diagnostics”, then “Advanced options” and “Boot options”;

3. Select the seventh option, then return to the operating system.

Returning to stock firmware is carried out in the same way as installing a new one, so when turning a smartphone into a “brick”, you should not panic - it is better to use any method described here, depending on your skills and the availability of certain device functionality.

Share link:

Restoring dead phones that won't turn on at home.

Restoring Samsung galaxy series phones after unsuccessful firmware. The description posted on the site uses the so-called Jag method. The essence of the method is that it is necessary to make a special Jag plug by soldering contacts (4 and 5) together through a 301 kOhm resistor. This Jag is inserted into the phone with the battery removed. More details on how to restore your phone this way are described here.

For owners of Motorola phones, the FAQ on restoring the phone is available at the link above. The site also provides a description of how to restore a phone by closing the contacts when the battery is removed. Before restoring your phone, you need to download and install a special program on your PC: Random’s Developments Flash&backup. Next you need to: remove the battery, connect pins 4 and 5 to each other on the phone connector (see photo), keeping the needles closed, insert the battery, open the needles, insert the cord into the connector and connect to the computer, a message should appear in the Random's Developments Flash&backup program that the phone is connected.