How to flash a factory image | Return to stock | Unroot your Nexus 5
Hello Nexus 5 Users!
I see many users that don't know how to restore their Nexus 5 to stock. It may come in handy, either when you want to RMA your phone, or you want to fix your mistakes.
This process consists of wiping and flashing every partition on your phone.
I see many users that don't know how to restore their Nexus 5 to stock. It may come in handy, either when you want to RMA your phone, or you want to fix your mistakes.
This process consists of wiping and flashing every partition on your phone.
WARNING!!!
This process will wipe your phone completely. Backup your storage before you continue.
I am also not responsible if anything goes wrong.
You can backup apps and data using this app before you unlock the bootloader. No root required.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.backup
DO NOT USE TOOLKITS!!!
They have a high probability of something going wrong if you don't know how to use them (which, if you managed to ruin your phone, probably is true).
I don't mean to offend toolkit creators. They did a great job. But don't risk bricking your phone just because you're lazy.
FOLLOW EVERY SINGLE STEP
or you will end up in a bootloop, or with a bricked phone, and we don't want that
Let's get started!!
Setting up
For this process, you will need to:
★Install adb and fastboot drivers. To do this, use this simple program:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2588979
For MAC users:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1917237
*Note: MAC users will have to write "./" before every command in this thread. For example : "./fastboot flash recovery recovery.img"
Linux users should know their stuff
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=921169
★Download the latest factory images from here:
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#hammerhead
★Extract the archive you downloaded (Use WinRAR). It should look like this:
★Unlock your bootloader (In case you haven't already)
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2507905
Flashing the factory images
There is more than one way to flash these images. Each give the same results, but the first is for lazy users
Method 1. Easy method.
★Power off your phone.
★Boot it in fastboot by pressing and holding Power Button + Volume Down at the same time.
★Connect your phone to your PC through your USB cable.
★Execute the flash-all.bat script (for Windows) or flash-all.sh(for MAC and LINUX) in the folder where you extracted the factory images.
**!!** For MAC: You'll have to edit the flash-all.sh, and add "./" before every fastboot command.
★Wait for everything to flash.
★After everything finished, select "Recovery" using the volume buttons.
★When a small dead Android appears, press Power Button + Volume UP.
★Select "Wipe data/factory data reset"
★Reboot. Your phone should be stock. :good:
Method 2. Long method (Same thing actually, but I'll mention it, just in case)
★Extract the image-hammerhead-krt16m.zip somewhere easy to access (On C:\image-hammerhead-krt16m for example). You will have the following files:
★In the same folder, from the original archive, extract "bootloader-hammerhead-XXXXXX.img" (rename it to bootloader.img) and "radio-hammerhead-XXXXXX.img" (rename it to radio.img)
★Power off your phone.
★Boot it in fastboot by pressing and holding Power Button + Volume Down at the same time.
★Connect your phone to your PC through your USB cable.
★Open a CMD window.
★Type the following commands, in this order (If you have a different folder, change the path)
Code:
fastboot flash bootloader C:\image-hammerhead-krt16m\bootloader.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash radio C:\image-hammerhead-krt16m\radio.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash system C:\image-hammerhead-krt16m\system.img
fastboot flash userdata C:\image-hammerhead-krt16m\userdata.img
[B](Note: this command will wipe your device (including \sdcard), EVEN if your bootloader is already unlocked.)[/B]
fastboot flash boot C:\image-hammerhead-krt16m\boot.img
fastboot flash recovery C:\image-hammerhead-krt16m\recovery.img
fastboot erase cache
fastboot flash cache C:\androidimage\cache.img★When a small Android appears, press Power Button + Volume UP.
★Select "Wipe data/factory data reset"
★Reboot. Your phone should be stock. :good:
For both methods:
Optional, but necessary for warranty purposes - Locking your bootloader+ Resetting the tamper flag
The Nexus 5 has a thing implemented in the bootloader called a tamper flag. This shows if the bootloader was ever unlocked, kind of like the flash counter with Samsung devices. You can check it out by using this command
Code:
fastboot oem device-info•So, first, go here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2239421 (Thanks @osm0sis for the wonderful script)
Under "Flashable Zips", you will find the Nexus BootUnlocker script. Download it.
•Put the zip on your internal storage.
•Download the latest TWRP recovery image for the Nexus 5 from here: http://techerrata.com/browse/twrp2/hammerhead. Rename it to TWRP.img.
Now boot it. You do this by booting your phone in fastboot, and typing the following command:
Code:
fastboot boot path\to\TWRP.imgTWRP recovery should boot.
•When TWRP finished booting, select "Install", then navigate to the Nexus Bootunlocker zip, select and install it. After it finished, use the back arrow at the bottom of the screen to go back, and reboot.
Now your bootloader should be locked, and your tamper flag should show "false".
And now you have a brand new Nexus 5 (software wise, at least)
Video Guides
Thanks @techfanatic9.
For Windows:
For Mac:
Another easy and fast tutorial made by @iTzGavin96
These don't contain the tamper flag reset step. Follow the steps above to reset your tamper flag value to "False" for warranty purposes.
If you now have 12 GB of storage instead of 28 GB, go to post #2
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