How To Flash an Android Phone: A Step-by-Step Guide
Flashing your Android phone is the process of replacing the operating system with a new one. It is risky, but it is also often necessary when you need to get a new version of Android or recover from a nasty virus or other problem.
In this article, you will learn how to flash an Android device and what flashing means. You will understand the risks involved in that procedure and learn how to flash your device safely.
What Does Flashing Mean?
When you flash a device, you install a different operating system on it. For example, you can flash your device with a new version of Android. The word “flash” comes from the term “flashing lights”. It refers to the flashing lights on the device while the new operating system is being installed. Even though this term is often associated with flashing Android, it can also refer to flashing Windows or any other OS.
You can flash your computer with a Linux OS. It is a very powerful process. And it changes the configuration of your computer’s hardware. That is why it’s so risky. The installation process is extremely delicate and it can easily go wrong. The worst-case scenario is damaging your device so badly that it is no longer usable.
Why Flash Android?
Here are some common situations in which flashing your device can be helpful. You need to recover from a virus or malware infection. You have an Android device but you want to install another OS on it.
You want to install a custom Android ROM. You want to install Android on a computer or a tablet. Let us now look at the risks involved in each of these situations. When you have an Android device and you want to recover from a virus or malware infection, you can flash a clean version of Android on your device using one of the many available custom ROMs.
Risks Involved in Flashing Your Android Device
Flashing an Android device is a risky process. Many things can go wrong while flashing your device. By flashing your device, you could easily damage its internal hardware. You can easily break the device’s internal storage.
If you break the storage, you will lose all your data. Android devices come with a bootloader. This is a small program that runs before the device boots into Android. The bootloader controls the device’s internal hardware and where it looks for the operating system. The bootloader also controls the process of installing an updated version of Android.
A step-by-step guide to flash an Android device safely
Before you begin flashing your Android device, make sure that it is worth the risk. If you don’t know how to flash your device, there’s a high chance that you will damage it. You will also lose any data that’s stored on the device.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to flash your Android device safely.
Preparation
Before you begin flashing your Android device, make sure to have the following: a computer with Internet access, a USB cable, an Android device, a microSD card (optional), and the new version of Android that you want to flash.
Install the ADB and Fastboot Drivers – First, you need to install the ADB and Fastboot drivers on your computer. ADB and Fastboot are tools that you will use while flashing your device. To install the drivers, go online and search for “ADB and Fastboot drivers”.
On the first page of results, you will find a post that directs you to a Google page with the latest version of ADB and Fastboot. Click the “Download” link and follow the instructions to download and install the drivers.
Unlocking the Bootloader
Before you can flash a new version of Android on your device, you need to unlock the bootloader. This will allow you to flash the device’s internal storage.
To unlock the bootloader, you need to go to the device’s settings. Next, select “About Phone”. Then scroll down and choose “Build number”. Keep tapping the “Build number” button until a small pop-up window appears saying “You are now a developer!”. Select “Back” and choose “Developer Options”.
In the “Developer Options” menu, look for “Enable OEM Unlocking” and select it. Now, go back one more time and choose “AB Unlock”. Select “Yes” when prompted to confirm that you want to unlock the bootloader on your device.
Creating a Nandroid Backup
While you can recover from a failed attempt to flash an Android device, you will first need the data that you lost in the process. Before you can try to flash your device, you need to create a Nandroid backup.
Nandroid is a special type of Android backup that creates a full image of your device’s storage. It is a very powerful tool that allows you to completely restore the device to the exact state it was in when the backup was created.
Before you create the Nandroid backup, make sure that you have the following: the latest version of ADB and Fastboot, your device, and a microSD card. Then follow these steps: First, open a command prompt or terminal window and enter the following command: ADB push /data/media/0/ /sdcard/nandroid.img The command creates a full backup of your device’s storage on the SD card. It is a very powerful tool that you can use to completely restore your device to the exact state it was in when the backup was created.
Flashing the New Version of Android
Now that you have a Nandroid backup and you have unlocked the bootloader, it is time to flash a new version of Android on your device. Make sure you have the new version of Android that you want to flash. Then follow these steps: Open a command prompt or terminal window and enter the following command: adb reboot bootloader.
Your device will now boot into fastboot mode. Once it is in fastboot mode, enter the following command: fastboot flash boot image file name>.img
Popular Devices and the tutorials to flash them safely
Now that you know how to flash your Android device safely, it is time to look at some popular devices and the tutorials to flash them safely. Let’s start with the most commonly flashed device, the Nexus 6P.
Nexus 6P – This device is a popular choice for many Android users. It is also the first device to get the latest version of Android, so many people flash it when a new version comes out.
If you want to flash the Nexus 6P, you need to install the following software: ADB and Fastboot.
Follow this step-by-step guide to flash the Nexus 6P safely
Unlock the bootloader and create a Nandroid backup. Download the latest version of ADB and Fastboot, TWRP Recovery, and the latest version of LineageOS. Connect your device to your computer via a USB cable and launch a command prompt or terminal window. Connect your device to your computer via a USB cable and launch a command prompt
Conclusion
Hopefully this guide has given you an idea of why flashing your phone is a good thing, and how to go about doing it for the first time.
It is not a difficult task, but there are certainly some things to keep in mind as you go along. The process will likely be very different from what you are used to with computers, but it can be just as rewarding if done correctly.
There are certainly risks involved, but don’t let that frighten you off things do go wrong, but they aren’t likely to happen if you follow the steps listed above.
Recommended Reading: How To Get More Storage Space on Your Android Phone
