Owners of brand devices Fly We often encounter a situation where a smartphone stops loading, is unstable, or freezes on the logo. The only working solution in such cases is a complete reinstallation of the operating system. This process is not complicated, but it requires care and understanding of the architecture of MediaTek processors, on which most devices of this brand are based.
Before starting any manipulations, you need to realize that flashing is a radical measure. It completely deletes all user data, including contacts, photos and installed applications. If the device still shows signs of life, it is critical to back up the information. For models that no longer turn on, this step, unfortunately, is impossible.
The success of the operation depends on proper preparation of the workplace. You will need a computer with the Windows operating system, a working USB cable (preferably the original one) and sufficient battery power, although in firmware mode the phone is often powered from the port. Do not rush to download the first file you come across from the Internet - choosing the wrong image can turn your phone into a “brick” without the possibility of recovery.
Preparing tools and choosing software
The foundation of a successful procedure is correctly selected software. For devices Flyworking on MediaTek chips, the utility SP Flash Tool. It allows you to write system images directly into the phone's memory, bypassing the standard Android bootloader. The app version must be up to date, but the latest build does not always work reliably with older models.
In addition to the utility itself, you need to install drivers MediaTek VCOM or Preloader USB VCOMon your computer. Without them, the computer simply will not see the phone in a special boot mode. Drivers are often included with the firmware archive, but it is better to download them separately from a reliable source and install them in advance to avoid problems with device recognition at a critical moment.
⚠️ Attention: Installing drivers on Windows 10 and 11 may require disabling driver digital signature verification. If the system blocks the installation, use the “Boot with driver signature verification disabled” mode.
The firmware file itself must be searched strictly for your specific model. The model number is usually located on a sticker under the battery or in the box, for example Fly FS514 or Fly IQ450. Using firmware from another model, even if they look the same, will damage the hardware, since the memory and peripheral configurations are different.
Before downloading the firmware, check the Build Number in the specifications of your phone, if it still turns on. This ensures compatibility of the Android version and camera drivers.
Entering Bootrom mode and installing drivers
The most difficult step for a beginner is to get the phone to switch to a mode ready to receive data. For MediaTek chips, this mode is often called Bootrom or Preloader. Unlike Recovery mode, the phone screen remains black and no text appears on it. The computer only makes a sound when a new device is connected.
To enter this mode with the smartphone turned off Fly, you need to hold down the button combination. Most often, this is a simultaneous pressing of the volume keys (both) or just the volume down button, after which the phone is connected by cable to the PC. You need to hold the buttons until the Windows Device Manager shows a new connection.
- 🔌 Connect the phone with the phone turned off while holding the volume button.
- 💻 Check the "Device Manager" for the presence of the port
MediaTek USB Port. - 🔋 Make sure the battery is at least charged 30-40%.
- 🚫 Do not release the button until the computer makes a characteristic connection sound.
If the computer does not respond, try another USB port, preferably located directly on the motherboard (at the back of the system unit), and not on the front panel. It is also worth trying a different cable, since some wires are intended only for charging and do not transmit data.
Setting up the SP Flash Tool
After successfully installing the drivers and preparing the files, you can run the app SP Flash Tool. The executable file flash_tool.exe should be run as an administrator so that the utility has full access to the system's COM ports. The app interface may seem overloaded, but for basic firmware you only need a few tabs.
In the Scatter-loading File field you must specify the path to the file with the extension .txt, which is in the folder with the unpacked firmware. This file contains a memory card and tells the app which sections and to which addresses should be written. After selecting a file, the list of Partitions will be filled in automatically.
| Partition | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
PRELOADER |
First level loader | Uncheck if you do not change the base |
SYSTEM |
Main operating system | Required for firmware |
USERDATA |
User data | Uncheck to save data |
CACHE |
Application cache | It is recommended to clear it (checked) |
An important parameter is the firmware mode, selected in the drop-down list. For most recovery cases, the Download Onlymode is suitable. The mode Format All + Download is used only in extreme cases when the phone has serious memory layout errors, since it erases IMEI and other unique identifiers.
Why can't you flash PRELOADER unnecessarily?
Overwriting the bootloader with the wrong version can cause the phone to stop responding to buttons and the cable. After this, you can restore it only through the programmer (hardware method).
The process of writing the firmware
When all the settings have been checked, press the big orange button SP Flash Tool verified, press the big orange button Download. The app will go into standby mode for the device to connect. Now you need to physically connect the phone, which is already in mode Bootrom (or switch it to this moment if it was turned off).
If the drivers are installed correctly, a colored progress bar will appear at the bottom of the window. The red bar indicates initialization, yellow indicates the process of writing data, and purple indicates finalization. The entire process usually takes from 3 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of the firmware and the speed of the USB port.
⚠️ Attention: It is strictly forbidden to disconnect the cable or press buttons on the phone while the yellow or purple bar is on. This will interrupt the recording and damage the file system.
When the process is complete, you will see a large window with a green check mark indicating success (Download OK). After this, you can disconnect the cable. When you first turn on the smartphone, it may take longer to boot than usual - from 5 to 15 minutes, as the system optimizes applications and creates new cache files.
The green success window in the SP Flash Tool is the only indicator of correct recording. If the process is frozen at 99% for more than 15 minutes, a checksum error may have occurred.
Possible errors and solutions
Even with careful preparation, failures may occur. The app SP Flash Tool produces error codes that can be used to determine the cause of the failure. One of the most common problems is an error STATUS_BROM_CMD_STARTCMD_FAILwhich indicates that the phone did not enter download mode or the drivers did not work.
Another common error is S_BROM_SEND_DA_FAIL or problems with the checksum (Checksum Error). This often indicates that the firmware file was corrupted when downloaded or is not suitable for a given board revision. In this case, it is worth downloading the archive and checking its checksum.
- 🛑 Error 4050: Problem with the Secure Boot. You must use an authorized file or an old version of the utility.
- 🛑 Error 3168: Bootloader version mismatch. Try unchecking the partition
PRELOADER. - 🛑 Error 1003: Problem with NAND storage. Perhaps the phone's flash memory is physically faulty.
If the phone is detected, but the firmware does not work, try closing the app, turning off the phone, holding down the buttons again and only then pressing Download. Sometimes changing the version SP Flash Tool to an older one (for example, v5.15xx) helps, since new versions may not work correctly with older MediaTek chips.
First steps after flashing
After a successful reboot, you will see the Android setup welcome screen. At this stage, it is important not to rush to restore data from the cloud, but first check the basic functionality of the device. Make sure the touch screen, audio, microphone and communication modules are working.
Pay special attention to checking IMEI. Enter the code *#06#into your phone. If instead of numbers it is displayed Null or the line consists of zeros, it means that the section NVRAM has been erased. This is a critical error in which the phone will not be able to connect to cellular networks. IMEI recovery requires an NVRAM dump from your device.
It is also worth checking the Android version in the menu Settings → About phone. Make sure it matches the one you planned to install. Sometimes after flashing some functions may not work, for example, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, if drivers from another modification of the board were used.
☑️ Checking after flashing
Can Is it possible to reflash the phone if it turns on but slows down?
Yes, this is one of the main ways to speed up work. However, if the problem is physical wear and tear of the flash memory, flashing the firmware will only provide a temporary effect. Before the procedure, be sure to reset to factory settings (Hard Reset) through the Recovery menu, perhaps this will solve the problem without the risk of flashing.
What to do if after flashing the phone does not see the SIM card?
Most likely, the NVRAM partition, where the radio module and IMEI calibrations are stored, was damaged. You will need to find an NVRAM dump specifically for your model and write it through the engineering menu or the same SP Flash Tool in Write Memory mode. Simply flashing the system again will not help in this case.
Where can I find the official firmware for Fly?
The manufacturer’s official website has not updated the support section for several years. Current and verified system images can be found on specialized forums, such as w3bsit3-dns.com, in branches of specific models. Instructions for restoring IMEI are often posted there.
Will the firmware erase files on the memory card (SD)?
When using the mode Download Only the memory card is usually not affected. However, if you selected the mode Format All + Download or the Scatter file has a section responsible for external memory, the data may be deleted. For safety, it is better to remove the card before starting work.