The Android failed, what should I do? How to reflash an Android phone or tablet if it does not turn on. Can't see home access point

After incorrect firmware, your phone may become non-functional, or as it is called on the Internet, it will become a “brick”. Then the question arises of how to restore the Android brick yourself. Most sources will advise you to immediately contact the Service Center, but we recommend that you first try all available “resuscitation” options. In this article we will describe all possible options for turning a “bricked” Android into a functioning smartphone again.

This article was last updated on March 29, 2018.

We completely remove the consequences of unsuccessful firmware

Let's start with the first few steps, which will need to be done one after another. In order not to call Android a “device” and other names, in the future the word “phone” will be used, it’s more convenient and clearer.

Reviving your phone/tablet via Recovery

If the phone is still on, turn it off. Next, hold down the volume button and the power button at the same time. After this procedure, the smartphone will open double recovery menu. Two options will be presented:

Restore the backup (this point is the main requirement for the firmware; if the smartphone was flashed, then the backup was restored). Select the early position of your system, then the backup will start in Backup and Restore.
Chapter Install zip from sd card allows you to start the firmware installation process. At this point you need to specify the exact path to the archive with the firmware. This option deals with system recovery. Especially if the phone was turned off during the installation of important files.
You may also be interested in the article.

But sometimes when starting the firmware it may not be possible to enter Recovery. Then the situation can only be resolved with the involvement of third-party programs. Typically this application TWRP Manager, ROM Manager or Installer, which are the most popular in this area.

These programs allow you to select all the necessary components for a specific version of the operating system, automatically detecting the gadget and launching Recovery.

If none of these programs helped launch Recovery, then you can try to find a program that can launch it on a specific smartphone model.

Above, we discussed how to restore your Android if it still had a chance of a painless “resurrection.” Now let’s consider what to do with it if the device was completely damaged and became a “brick” that does not function at all. If you think that this process is very complicated, then you should not immediately run to the workshop and pay the master, first try to do it yourself. Let's try to fix the situation ourselves at home.

This instruction is based on restoring phones and tablets from Samsung. If you have a different brand of device, then you need to select a different program or choose the option using FlashTool. Having trouble finding the right one? Write to us in the comments - we will help you!

Let's follow a few simple step-by-step steps:

Install the latest USB drivers for Samsung on your PC;
Download and install the latest version of the program Odin(https://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=648344);
Next you will need download official(non-author's) firmware for your model;
Turn off the device, then press “-” on the volume key and “Home”.

After a while a warning will appear.

Press “+” on the volume key, after which the smartphone will enter Odin mode;
After, we connect it to the computer;
Launch Odin, then press PDA, after which we designate the file in it tar.md5 in the directory in which the firmware is located;
Next, click "Start", we launch the recovery program, after which the smartphone will be ready for use.

In this simple way, we returned the “brick” to its original state of a normal functioning device.

We charge the phone to the maximum so that it does not turn off during recovery (let it stand on charge for a couple of hours);
We take a smartphone that has turned into a real “brick”;
Next, download the official firmware from FTF format;
After which you will need to install the Flashtool program along with the firmware installation files on your computer;
If your antivirus program often complains about other programs, then it is better to disable it for a while so that it does not interrupt the firmware process.

The operation itself to restore Android via Flashtool:

Turn off Android;
Place the FTF file with the firmware at: C:\Users\UserName\.flashTool\firmwares;
After launch, select the correct PC bit depth (32 or 64);
Press the key with lightning logo;
Turn on the “ Flashmode”;
Next, a drop-down window will appear in which you select the available firmware in this program;
At the moment when the firmware is ready, the program itself will inform you that it is time to connect to the PC;
First, the program detects the device and then the Android recovery will begin. After everything is successful, a sign “ Flashing finished”;
After this, you need to disconnect the smartphone from the computer and everything will work.

Video instructions

Answers to your main 4 questions about Android resuscitation

Check the serviceability of the installed drivers, reinstall them if necessary, disable the antivirus. And the most common thing is to check the USB cable and connectors.

The smartphone turned into a brick as a result of a fall, and not due to unsuccessful firmware. Is it possible to save it yourself?

The Android operating system on each individual device has its own system, that is, software components. If it happens that your device has become a “brick,” then it is best to find instructions for a specific smartphone.

Flashing a mobile phone to Android on your own is a simple task that rarely leads to bad consequences if you did not make a mistake with the selection of files. But if something goes wrong, the device may refuse to boot.

Today we will learn how to restore a phone after a failed firmware update. It does not require much time, just downloading the necessary software and a few additional steps.

Recovering with the help of official support

If you tried to update Android using the official firmware, then utilities from the manufacturer will help with recovery.

look at the company’s website, download drivers and other software there
connect your computer to your phone
restore the device to its original state

Each company's software has a specific section responsible for this, but finding it is usually not difficult.

Let's use Recovery

If you tried to install third-party firmware on your device, then at best it will be possible to restore the system by resetting the settings. It can be launched by simultaneously pressing the volume and power buttons. Combinations may vary on different devices. Select the line “wipe data”, then start resetting the device’s contents. You can try to install the operating system again; to do this, select “choose zip from sdcard”. We find the archive with the firmware and start the installation process again. It is better to use a different version, as the old version may lead to the same problems.

Using Flash Tool

It is this program that will help you in all those cases when you need to return your mobile device to its original state. The method is applicable to almost all smartphones. First, download and install ADB Driver Installer. Copy the firmware file to the Firmwares folder located in the Flashtool directory. We take the device and connect it to the PC using a USB cable. Now click the button with the lightning icon in the Flash Tool, and then select the device firmware in the program.

Please note that in cases where your smartphone is rooted, installing the official firmware will be problematic; usually such actions lead to failures.

Since the functionality and other important aspects of the device’s operation largely depend on the firmware, many users try to update the firmware of their phones themselves. As a rule, such amateur efforts end successfully, but if something goes wrong, the phone may stop turning on, which is why you will need to take urgent measures to return the phone to a working state.

Possible causes of failure

There are a number of reasons that can cause such manifestations and deprive the phone of its ability to work correctly.

As a rule, they are all associated with a violation of instructions that should be followed. Most often, failure is caused by:

Crashes of the phone or computer during the firmware process;
Inappropriate firmware version;
Other errors made by the user.

Despite the fact that the state of a smartphone after unsuccessful firmware can scare the owner, there is nothing to be afraid of here, since in the vast majority of cases, it is quite possible to return the phone to its original state.

Restoration activities

If the phone does not turn on after flashing the firmware, the Android installation was crooked, first you need to establish which method was used to perform the update. If the mechanism and firmware provided by the manufacturer were used, then restoring the smartphone will be much easier. To do this, you will need to visit the official website of the device manufacturer, which presents the programs necessary for this, and also describes the recovery process in detail. It is important to take into account that it will be different for each smartphone model, which is why it is possible to give only general recommendations.

But the situation changes dramatically if the user planned to install so-called “custom” firmware on the smartphone. This is usually done through the backup recovery mode, called Recovery in most devices. To restore a smartphone damaged in this way, you will need to follow a simple sequence of steps:

Launch recovery mode (in most smartphones, this will require simultaneously holding down the power and volume buttons), which is navigated using the same keys;
Inspect the Backup section to see if there is a backup copy for recovery;
If it is not there, you need to select the Factory reset item or a similar one that does;
Clear the cache by selecting the appropriate item in the menu;
Insert the memory card containing the firmware, and then repeat the installation.

After performing these simple manipulations, the smartphone returns to a working state. For correct operation after such a restoration, you may need to reset your Android settings in the familiar phone interface. This will avoid minor errors and improve stability.

Firmware for a smartphone on the Google Android operating system is always accompanied by the risk of being “bricked.” Even if you followed all the points of the manufacturer’s instructions, the smartphone may go into an eternal reboot. Even if the shell you are using is official, there is no guarantee that you will see a working Samsung again after a reboot.

Let's figure out what to do if after flashing the firmware the phone does not turn on at all. How to properly restore a smartphone after unsuccessful firmware? Let’s try to follow the steps exactly according to the instructions; I’ll attach a video instruction at the bottom of the article, it will help you understand such a difficult task as cell phone repair.

The cell phone turned into a brick. No panic.

How to revive an Android brick after flashing the firmware? So, you have flashed the device, a characteristic vibration informed you that a reboot is in progress. The first thing you need to see on the Samsung screen is the green logo with animation. This tells us that the device is alive and functional, perhaps it will start right now. If it doesn't start, then the problem is in the software. But the most important thing is that the gadget is not broken!

The logo that appears not only gives the user hope that the Samsung smartphone can be returned in working condition, but also that it should be restored using the Recovery menu.

Method one - Recovery menu

Recovery is your best friend after installing a different firmware version if android won't start. The recovery menu allows you to fix most errors in homemade smartphone firmware. If the question arises, how to restore a bricked Android phone from Samsung, then the first answer is Recovery. Here are the instructions:

Turn off using the standard button. There should not be a single light on the front panel.
Press and hold the power key and the volume down button (rocker) at the same time; usually the manufacturer places them next to each other. This is a standard procedure, but some manufacturers change the algorithm due to the characteristics of their particular model.
Recovery. In recovery there is an item “restore to the factory”. This item is most likely to bring your gadget back to life because it restores the device as if it just came off the assembly line. First of all, you need to restore this way and make sure that the phone is working. Then you can try to flash it again.
Flashing. Once you have restored the factory settings via recovery and realized that your device is working, you can start updating the firmware to a new version or custom build, as you wish. To do this, you obviously had to download a zip file with firmware onto the gadget, and select install zip from sdcard in the recovery menu. If after all the procedures errors occur and the device becomes bricked, then the problem is in the shell file itself.

As you understand, recovery is the main remedy in the case when the firmware on an Android phone is crooked. It is better to avoid a situation where you need a third-party service to restore your gadget.

Flashboot - an additional method

Flashboot was originally developed for equipment manufactured by Sony. But the method is also suitable for other devices, with rare exceptions. What to do if the phone does not turn on after unsuccessful firmware?

First, you need to download the flashboot program from the Internet and connect your Samsung smartphone to your computer via a cable. There is no need to turn it on. If Flashboot does not respond at all, it means your model is not compatible with the application. If the software “saw” the device, then:

Turn off Flashtool and disconnect the gadget from your personal computer.
Make sure your cell phone is turned off.
Find the folder where you installed the Flashtool program, there find the firmwares folder. It is in this folder that you need to place the downloaded firmware to restore the device.
Relaunch the Flashtool program and click on the lightning bolt
Among the proposed modes, select Flashmode.
You will see a window in which you need to select the downloaded firmware from the firmwares folder.
As soon as the program prepares the necessary files, it will prompt the user to connect the Samsung device to the computer.
Connect the device to the computer and wait for the process to complete until you see “Flashing finished” in the status bar.
Disconnect the gadget from the computer and restart it. Enjoy your use.

This method works well, but there are a number of devices that do not respond to the proposed program. In this case, you need to find out which firmware program your manufacturer recommends. What to do if the phone does not turn on after the next firmware update, and flashtool does not help? Samsung, for example, has developed the Odin program, and Galaxy devices are not flashed using the flashtool utility.

Prevention from bricks

At this stage, we should give some advice to equipment owners so that you no longer have the need to restore a dead brick of an Android smartphone.

Don't install custom skins on Samsung. Usually, it is after manipulations with third-party shells that problems arise from enthusiasts. The question arises, what to do if the phone does not turn on after the next firmware update. Remember, the manufacturer tests new firmware for months before releasing it to the public.
Stitch through the air. Most manufacturers allow users not to download firmware. You can update your Samsung device directly from the settings menu. This will protect most people from further potential problems.

Conclusions

If after the firmware the mobile phone does not turn on and your computer does not see it, be sure to contact the service. Android is configured in such a way that it responds to the computer even when “bricked”. If it doesn't respond, then the problem is serious. It’s not worth repairing microcircuits yourself; you can “screw up” the gadget even more, in which case restoring microcircuits and other modules will cost a lot of money.

In all other cases, use recovery and third-party utilities if the phone does not turn on after manual flashing. The cell phone should return to factory condition.

Video instructions

Many users, wanting to give new life to their devices, flash them themselves, but unfortunately, this is not always successful. Problems arise with loading the system, options, up to a complete refusal to start in Recovery mode. Is it possible to improve the situation?

The main problems that arise after the firmware

Unlike iOS, the Android platform is open, so quite often fixing an error is easier than it seems at first glance. In each case, the reasons and solutions are different. There is no single panacea for all situations, so they need to be considered separately.

The device does not turn on

Sometimes, after flashing the firmware, the device does not want to turn on because the battery is low. Therefore, before you start flashing, you need to make sure that your phone or tablet has enough charge. If the gadget does not turn on, but the PC recognizes it, it would be logical to recharge it first.

If the device does not turn on, but can boot into recovery mode, you need to take advantage of this chance. How to restore your phone system using Recovery Mode will be discussed in detail below.

Won't turn on or charge

If the device does not turn on and does not want to be charged via USB, you can try to charge the battery outside the phone, that is, using the so-called frog.

"Frog" allows you to charge batteries separately from devices, and it does not matter what manufacturer your smartphone is from.

If it turns out that the problem is not the battery, but the device is recognized on the PC, you need to flash the phone again. It is better to contact a service center, but you can do this at home.

If your phone still has the same firmware version, it is recommended to install it. If it is not there, the right solution would be to download the required file from the manufacturer’s website, and not from a third-party web page. The firmware must necessarily match the device model.

The file must be downloaded to the root folder of the MicroSD card and installation can begin using Recovery mode. To start the mode, press the power and volume buttons simultaneously. This combination may differ for different phone models. If this option does not work, you can try holding down the Home key and the same volume button.

Recovery using standard ADB tools

If the smartphone does not support SD cards, then you can use ADB commands. This method is also suitable for the case when the device constantly reboots. The procedure is carried out as follows.

Enable USB debugging and run the ADB Run program on your computer. If the driver is missing, download and install it. Select the Backup menu.
In the main menu of the ADB Run program, select Backup
Click on Adb Restore.
In the menu that opens, click on Adb Restore
On the device itself, click on the “Recover data” button.
The device will ask you to restore data, which you must confirm.

The device constantly reboots

With constant spontaneous rebooting, control over the phone is lost. To return it, you must first check the condition of the battery, since often the problem occurs due to its malfunction. If the battery is not swollen, you need to reset the settings to factory settings using Recovery Mode or in the settings themselves. More details about this are written below in the sections about the black screen and the slowness of the phone.

The device freezes on the splash screen

The problem is that the flashed phone starts to launch, but hangs on the logo. Then everything goes out and the user is left with nothing. This problem is called bootloop. The reason is the installation of firmware that is not suitable for a smartphone or tablet. Another option is an unsuccessful replacement of files in the system partition of the OS. The device is trying to start something that constantly reloads the system memory. It is logical that device failure is inevitable.

The reason why a smartphone freezes is usually the installation of incompatible firmware or unsuccessful replacement of system files

Touch screen stopped working

If the touch screen stops working, you should immediately try to enter Recovery Mode. If the phone boots in this mode and the user has a backup of their data, rollback to the old version. Detailed instructions in the next section.

Just a black screen

If the phone does not boot and even the manufacturer's logo does not appear, but the phone enters recovery mode, it is obvious that you need to try to restore the old version of Android. If the device does not enter Recovery mode, you need to resort to a last resort: install a new version of the OS or custom Recovery using a PC and ADB commands.

Enable recovery mode. Again, each brand (and sometimes model) of smartphone/tablet uses different key combinations to log in:
- in Samsung devices you need to hold down the device’s power button and “Vol +”;
- in Sony products - Power, “Vol –” and the camera power button;
- for HTC – “Vol –” and Power before enabling Recovery mode.
In the Recovery menu, use the volume keys (in some cases you can use the touch screen to move) and select wipe data/factory reset. Press the device's power key to access this menu.
In the Recovery menu, select wipe data/factory reset
Confirm your consent to delete data from your smartphone and perform a rollback by selecting the appropriate sub-item.
We confirm the deletion of user data
Wait until the rollback process to the old version of the OS is completed, and then select reboot system now to exit recovery mode and let the operating system boot.
Select the reboot system now item and wait for the operating system to reboot

After successfully completing the described operations, the previous version of Android will return to the device.

Recovery Mode does not work after flashing

If, after flashing the firmware, Recovery Mode does not start, but the smartphone turns on and works, this may be caused by a mismatch between the factory Recovery mode and the new OS version. A special recovery platform, for example, CWM (ClockworkMod), can save the situation. The Rom Manager program will help you install it. There are also other, more complex methods for flashing the recovery service. For example, if you have a Samsung phone, it is better to use Odin. Many well-known manufacturers create their own special software, as in the case of Acer.

To flash your device using Rom Manager, you need to obtain Root rights. This can easily be done using another utility, for example Framaroot. When superuser rights are obtained and Rom Manager is loaded, you need to do the following:

After this, the files will begin to download, and then a notification will appear indicating that you need to grant Root rights to the program. Next, the installation of CWM will begin.

The computer stopped seeing the device

First of all, you need to check the functionality of the USB port and install the drivers. If this does not help correct the situation, you can use the following instructions.

Enable debugging mode by going to settings. For different smartphone models and different OS versions, the sequence of actions may differ. For example, in Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc based on Android 4.0.4, you need to select the “Developer options” section in the settings, and then “USB debugging”.
Go to the “Developer Options” section and enable debugging mode
Confirm enabling debugging mode by clicking OK.
Click OK to confirm entering debug mode
Go to settings again and select Xperia.
Find the Xperia item in the settings and open it
Select "Connection".
Select "Connection" - this is the last line in the menu
Click on “USB Mode” and select “Media Transfer Mode”.
Select a media transfer mode - your computer and mobile device can share files

After these manipulations, the smartphone should be detected correctly on the PC again.

No sound on the device

The problem indicates that the custom firmware is not compatible with the device. The solution is to reflash the device again, but with a different version. You need to download the firmware file to a removable card and replace the version using Recovery Mode.

However, first you can try resetting your phone to factory settings. This method is described below in the section on combating decreased device performance.

"Invalid IMEI" message after flashing

The notification means that the IMEI was erased or changed during the firmware update. There can be two reasons: a violation of the firmware procedure or the installation of a custom version of poor quality from an unreliable developer (the version does not have the appropriate functionality for IMEI).

First you need to determine whether the code was actually erased. To do this, go to dialing mode and enter *#06#. A window will appear with the IMEI number, which needs to be checked against a series of numbers written on the device box. If they do not match, this means that the IMEI has been erased.

To check the IMEI code stored in the device memory, you need to enter *#06# in dialing mode

In this case, you must manually enter the code to restore the GSM connection. After this, the phone will be able to make calls and send messages.

How to enter IMEI manually

There are at least two ways to change a worn-out IMEI to the correct one in the Android OS. The first of them is to enter the IMEI in the phone’s engineering menu.

On some phones, after pressing the specified button, the message “This command is not allowed in UserBuilld” may pop up. There's nothing wrong with that. Just in the line you entered, place the cursor after the “+” symbol, add a space and apply the settings.

To restore the IMEI for the second SIM card (if you have one), you will need to close the engineering menu, repeat all the above steps, but instead of EGMR = 1.7, enter EGMR = 1.10, and indicate the IMEI for the second SIM card in quotes.

After this you need to restart the device. IMEI codes will be rewritten, and the GSM module will work again.

Change or generate new IMEI using Chamelephon application

The second method is to install IMEI through special software. It is simpler than the first one, but requires Root rights:

Video: how to change IMEI code

The device does not see the GSM network and does not connect to Wi-Fi

If the phone does not detect any GSM network, it means there is a problem with the IMEI code. How to fix this problem was described in the previous section.

Does not obtain an IP address and does not identify the network

The problem connecting to a Wi-Fi router can manifest itself in different ways. For example, the device does not connect to certain access points and constantly displays “Obtaining an IP address” or “Identification problem.” In the second case, you just need to re-enter the password, since, most likely, it was damaged when updating the device.

If the saved password for the Wi-Fi access point was damaged during flashing, just enter it again

In the case of the “Obtaining an IP address” message, temporarily deleting the network will be an effective way to solve the problem.

Connects to the access point, but does not load pages

The essence of the following variant of the problem with connecting to Wi-Fi: the device has successfully connected to the required access point, but the pages do not load. The reason must be looked for in the proxy server settings.

Another reason: the date was lost during the update. You can check it in the “Date and Time” settings item. It may have changed at the firmware release date.

Can't see home access point

If your home access point is not in the list of available networks, this means that the new firmware has changed the broadcast frequency on the mobile device. In this case, you need to change the settings on the router. The following instructions will help troubleshoot the problem.

This procedure is only available if we are talking about a home network and not a public network. If nothing works, it makes sense to reset the settings on the device. This will help solve a system error that often appears when merging an existing version with a new one.

If the problem still does not go away, the problem is in the firmware itself. You should sacrifice the update and reset the device to the previous version or install custom firmware.

Video: setting up a home router

The device is slow or glitchy

Users often notice to their surprise that after flashing the device began to work even slower, which is exactly what they wanted to get rid of by updating the OS. Clearing the cache and reinstalling applications will not give noticeable results. An effective solution would be to reset your phone or tablet or Hard Reset. This is done in the menu “Settings” - “Backup and reset” - “Reset phone settings”.

It is important to note that after a reset, all information will be erased: contacts, photos, videos, settings and applications. Thus, it is advisable to backup your data if necessary by checking the “Backup” and “Auto-Recovery” checkboxes. The latter is needed to reinstall applications and restore settings and data.

Photo gallery: how to do a Hard Reset on Android

Click "Backup and reset" in your phone settings Select the last item - “Master reset” Click on “Reset phone settings”

Lost internal memory

After updating to a new OS version, the phone may refuse to recognize its own internal memory. The supposed reason is a bug in the firmware version or a mismatch between the phone parameters and the custom firmware. The problem can be resolved by resetting the phone to factory settings (the Hard Reset procedure described in the previous section of the article).

Flashing a phone or tablet is an activity for those who are tech-savvy. For an ordinary user, this will most likely be difficult - it is better to contact a service center with knowledgeable people. However, if you have studied a lot of instructions, re-read a lot of information and still decided to install the firmware yourself, you should consider a few more points before carrying out this difficult procedure.

It is recommended to flash the device only to people knowledgeable in this topic. This does not mean that an ordinary user who strictly follows reliable instructions will not be able to solve the problem. However, there is a risk of problems occurring - both serious and not so serious. There is no single panacea to solve all problems; each malfunction has its own method of elimination.