Smartphones HTC once set the standards in the industry, offering high-quality metal and advanced cameras. However, time is inexorable, and official support for many models has long been discontinued. Device owners are often faced with the need to update software manually in order to gain access to new functions or eliminate software glitches.
The flashing process may seem difficult for an untrained user, but with clear instructions and the necessary software, this task becomes quite doable. You have to go from unlocking the bootloader to installing a custom recovery and the final installation of the system image.
It is important to understand that any manipulation of the system partition carries certain risks. Wrong actions can turn your gadget into a “brick”, so before starting the procedure you need to weigh all the pros and cons, as well as make a full backup copy of your data.
Preparation of tools and backup
Before taking active steps, you need to prepare your workplace. You will need a computer running Windows, since most specialized utilities for HTC are optimized specifically for this platform. Also find a high-quality USB cable, preferably original, to ensure a stable connection while transferring large amounts of data.
The most critical stage is storing information. When you unlock the bootloader and install new firmware, all user data will be permanently deleted. This applies to photos, contacts, messages and application settings. Ignoring this step will result in the loss of important information.
Use Google cloud services or local copying to your PC. Make sure your device's battery is charged at least 60-70%. A sudden power outage while writing system files may disrupt the structure of memory partitions.
⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader on HTC devices will void the warranty (if it is still valid) and erase all data from the internal memory automatically the first time you run the unlock command.
☑️ Checklist before flashing
Installing drivers and setting up debugging
Special drivers are required to communicate between a computer and a smartphone in service mode. Without them, the system will not recognize the device in Fastboot or ADBmode. Download and install HTC Sync Manager or a separate package ADB Drivers from the official developer portal.
After installing the drivers, you need to activate developer mode on the phone itself. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the “Build number” item. After this, a new section “For Developers” will appear in the menu.
Inside this section, find the item “USB Debugging” and activate it. Confirm the action in the pop-up window. Your smartphone is now ready to receive commands from your computer. Check the connection by entering the command adb devicesin the PC command line. If everything is correct, you will see the serial number of the device.
Sometimes Windows may automatically install standard MTP drivers that are not suitable for the firmware. In this case, you need to manually update the driver through Device Manager, specifying the path to the folder with the downloaded files. ADB files.
If the computer does not see the phone in Fastboot mode, try using another USB port, preferably located directly on the motherboard (at the back of the system unit), and not on the front panel of the case.
Unlocking the bootloader (Unlock) Bootloader)
Bootloader Bootloader is a app that runs before the operating system starts and verifies the digital signature of the loaded software. By default, it is blocked by the manufacturer, allowing only signed images to run. To install custom firmware, it must be unlocked.
The procedure is carried out through the official website HTCDev. You will need to register there, select your device model and receive a special unlock token. This token is unique for each smartphone.
Put the phone into bootloader mode by turning it off and holding down the volume down button along with the power button. Connect the device to the PC and enter the command in the command line:
fastboot oem get_identifier_tokenCopy the resulting token string and paste it into the appropriate field on the HTCDev website. You will receive a file by email Unlock_code.bin. Place this file in the folder with Fastboot utilities on your computer and run the token firmware command:
fastboot flash unlocktoken Unlock_code.binA confirmation request will appear on the smartphone screen. Use the Volume buttons to navigate and the Power button to select Yes. The device will reboot and the unlocking process will be completed.
What to do if the token is not accepted?
Sometimes the HTCDev website may throw an error when accepting a token due to an extra space at the beginning or end of the line. Carefully check the copied text in a notepad before sending. Make sure that you copy only the hash itself, without command symbols.
Installing custom recovery (TWRP)
The standard recovery menu (Stock Recovery) has limited functionality and does not allow you to install unsigned zip archives. For full firmware, you need to install custom recovery, the most popular of which is TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project).
Download the image twrp.imgthat corresponds specifically to your model. HTC. Do not try to use an image from another device, even if they are similar in characteristics - this will lead to the touch screen not working or a complete system failure.
Boot the phone back into Fastboot mode and connect it to the PC. Enter the command to temporarily download the image:
fastboot boot twrp.imgIf the TWRP menu launched successfully, it is recommended to immediately install it into the Permanently device memory. This can be done through the TWRP menu by selecting “Install” and specifying the image file, or through the command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp.imgAfter installation, it is important to immediately boot into recovery mode so that the standard Android system does not overwrite the modified recovery partition with its original file at the first start.
| Device model | Code name | Processor type | TWRP support status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTC One M7 | m7 | Snapdragon 600 | Stable version |
| HTC One M8 | m8 | Snapdragon 801 | Stable version |
| HTC 10 | pme | Snapdragon 820 | Beta / Unstable |
| HTC U11 | ocean | Snapdragon 835 | Limited support |
The process of installing firmware and obtaining root access
Now that you have access to advanced recovery functions, you can begin installing a new operating system. Download the archive with the firmware (usually in format .zip) and the trunk rights file Magiskif you plan to get Root access.
Copy the downloaded files to the internal memory of the phone or to an SD card. Boot into TWRP mode (by holding down the Volume Down and Power buttons). Before installation, be sure to make a full backup of the current system state through the “Backup” menu.
Next you need to clear the data partitions. Go to the menu Wipe and select Advanced Wipe. Check the boxes Dalvik / ART Cache, System, Data and Cache. Do not touch the partition Internal Storage, otherwise you will delete the firmware files themselves.
After cleaning, return to the main menu and select Install. Find the archive with the firmware and swipe to confirm the installation. Wait for the process to complete. If you want to get root access, immediately, without rebooting the system, install the archive Magisk.zip in the same way.
⚠️ Attention: When installing custom firmware on older HTC models, the camera or fingerprint sensor may not work due to closed manufacturer drivers. Always read the firmware topic on the 4PDA or XDA forum before downloading.
After successfully installing all components, press the button Reboot System. The first launch of a new system can take from 5 to 15 minutes, as applications are optimized and new system files are created.
The first launch after firmware always takes longer than usual. Do not try to force a reboot of the device if you see the boot logo for more than 5 minutes - give the system time to complete the setup.
Returning to stock state and eliminating errors
Sometimes it becomes necessary to return the device to its original state, for example, for sale or contacting a service center. To do this, use the utility RUU (ROM Update Utility). These are official firmware packages from HTC that completely restore factory software.
RUU files have the extension .exe and run directly in Windows. The phone must be switched to USB Download Mode mode (usually this means pressing the volume button down when connecting the cable to the phone being turned off). Run the executable file and follow the instructions of the installation wizard.
If you try to flash firmware from a different region, the utility will throw an error and abort the process. In such cases, you need to first change the CID via Fastboot commands, which is only possible on S-OFF devices.
If after flashing the firmware the phone goes into an endless reboot (bootloop), try logging into TWRP again and performing a full Wipe of data (Format Data). This will remove the remnants of old settings that may conflict with the new system.
In cases of serious errors, when the phone does not turn on at all, it may be necessary to reflash it through the engineering mode or use special repair boxes, but this already requires professional equipment.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe unlock the bootloader on HTC?
The procedure is officially supported by the manufacturer through the HTCDev website, so it is safe in software. However, this erases all data and voids the warranty. Physical damage is only possible when the power is turned off while writing files.
What is S-OFF and do I need it?
S-OFF (Security Off) is a state in which signature verification of not only the bootloader, but also other critical sections is disabled. This allows you to change the phone region, downgrade Android version and modify system partitions. For normal installation of custom firmware, an unlocked bootloader (S-ON) is sufficient.
Why does the camera not work after the firmware?
Custom firmware often uses open drivers, which may not work correctly with unique HTC camera modules. Try installing a Google Camera (GCam) port adapted for your processor, or look for a different firmware build.
Is it possible to update Android on a very old HTC?
Officially - no. But thanks to the developer community, many older models (for example, HTC One M7/M8) can be installed with modern versions of Android up to 10 or 11 through projects like LineageOS, although the performance may be poor.
How to enter Fastboot mode if the buttons do not work?
If the volume buttons are faulty, you can try using the command adb reboot bootloader with the phone turned on and USB debugging active. This is a software way to put the device into the desired mode.