flashing pixel 2 without usb debugging

[mayankggrwl]

Hey guys, I need help flashing my Google pixel 2. It was off for a couple of months and now when I am trying to start it, its not booting without putting it on charge and even then it only shows the battery icon then the google icon and restarts (So a bootloop). But when I press and hold the power button and volume down key, it goes in the fastboot mode ( the one where all device information is shown with an Android Logo) (Pic att).
If I select Download mode, it just shows operation denied and if I select recovery mode then it goes to bootloop again. Also as far as I remember when I last used the phone, the usb debugging was turned off so please suggest what to do from here.

 

[Alekos]

If you have USB debugging disabled with OEM unlocking off there's not much you can do. That's why I usually suggest if you're going to relock your bootloader keep oem unlocking enabled so you can flash the factory image if you run into problems. this has saved me a few times.

try downloading the platform tools and usb driver and running the unlock command, what message do you get? The first command you want to run is ADB devices to make sure that your device appears in the list and the command prompt. second command to run is fastboot reboot bootloader , If your phone restarts back into bootloader then you know you have the driver and fastboot /ADB installed and working properly. then go to the Android developer page and find the proper unlock fast boot command I think there's a different one for the Pixel 2.

 

[mayankggrwl]

If you have USB debugging disabled with OEM unlocking off there's not much you can do. That's why I usually suggest if you're going to relock your bootloader keep oem unlocking enabled so you can flash the factory image if you run into problems. this has saved me a few times.

try downloading the platform tools and usb driver and running the unlock command, what message do you get? The first command you want to run is ADB devices to make sure that your device appears in the list and the command prompt. second command to run is fastboot reboot bootloader , If your phone restarts back into bootloader then you know you have the driver and fastboot /ADB installed and working properly. then go to the Android developer page and find the proper unlock fast boot command I think there's a different one for the Pixel 2.

Hey thanks for the update man. I know I should have kept atleast oem unlocking enabled. My fault.

Now I followed your instructions and the phone only shows under fastboot devices. But when I run ADB devices it comes as blank under list of devices attached. I still tried the fastboot reboot bootloader command but the phone just restarts with the battery charging icon flashing on screen and then going back into the fastboot mode. (pic of which I attached in the original post).
Any other ideas would be appreciated, else ill just take it to a service centre.

 

[Alekos]

Hey thanks for the update man. I know I should have nlocking enabled. My fault.

Now I followed your instructions and the phone only shows under fastboot devices. But when I run ADB devices it comes as blank under list of devices attached. I still tried the fastboot reboot bootloader command but the phone just restarts with the battery charging icon flashing on screen and then going back into the fastboot mode. (pic of which I attached in the original post).
Any other ideas would be appreciated, else ill just take it to a service centre.

Mine shows blank also when running the devices command.

If you can run commands like "fastboot reboot bootloader" or "fastboot reboot recovery" etc and the device restarts, then platform-tools and driver is installed. I mean make sure you have the latest versions of both or else there's no point on going any further. An older version platform-tools will cause a bunch off issues so update that for sure.

what happens when you run any of these commands when your in the bootlaoder menu (where it says Fastboot and device state: locked) (after you've updated platform-tools, check the version by typing the command " fastboot --version" - 31.0.3 is the latest version)

fastboot flashing unlock
fastboot flashing unlock_critical
fastboot oem unlock

If you can unlock your device, you can flash recovery/bootloader image and go from there. But it doesn't look good.

 

[mayankggrwl]

Mine shows blank also when running the devices command.

If you can run commands like "fastboot reboot bootloader" or "fastboot reboot recovery" etc and the device restarts, then platform-tools and driver is installed. I mean make sure you have the latest versions of both or else there's no point on going any further. An older version platform-tools will cause a bunch off issues so update that for sure.

what happens when you run any of these commands when your in the bootlaoder menu (where it says Fastboot and device state: locked) (after you've updated platform-tools, check the version by typing the command " fastboot --version" - 31.0.3 is the latest version)

fastboot flashing unlock
fastboot flashing unlock_critical
fastboot oem unlock

If you can unlock your device, you can flash recovery/bootloader image and go from there. But it doesn't look good.

Hey man, Thanks for the update.
Unfortunately none of these commands are working and yes I have the latest platform tools and drivers installed. Attaching image of the same.

 

[Alekos]

Hey man, Thanks for the update.
Unfortunately none of these commands are working and yes I have the latest platform tools and drivers installed. Attaching image of the same.

yeah, it means the oem unlocking option is disabled in developer options. damn.
can you try logging into recover menu at all so you can update both boot slots A/B with the ota using adb update option in the recovery menu.

What about running a few fastboot commands to delete userdata and even switch boot slots. that Fastboot screen will show what slot you are booted in (either a or b). try switching slots and booting then?
fastboot --set-active=a (if you are in Slot-B)
fastboot --set-active=b (if you are in Slot-A)

After swithing slots, hit restart device and as soon as you see the Google Logo, hold volume down. If you can boot into Android, enable oem unlocking as soon as you can, don't even connect to wifi or whatever. Or try accessing Recovery mode after switching slots. Main goal is to try to access recovery to update ota and/or access Android to enable oem unlocking.

have you looked on xda for other fastboot commands to try? There's a few Unbrick posts on the Pixel subs - worth a try?

edit-- sorry, I deleted some of my comment by mistake, had to rewrite it/

 

[mayankggrwl]

yeah, it means the oem unlocking option is disabled in developer options. damn.
can you try logging into recover menu at all so you can update both boot slots A/B with the ota using adb update option in the recovery menu.

What about running a few fastboot commands to delete userdata and even switch boot slots. that Fastboot screen will show what slot you are booted in (either a or b). try switching slots and booting then?
fastboot --set-active=a (if you are in Slot-B)
fastboot --set-active=b (if you are in Slot-A)

After swithing slots, hit restart device and as soon as you see the Google Logo, hold volume down. If you can boot into Android, enable oem unlocking as soon as you can, don't even connect to wifi or whatever. Or try accessing Recovery mode after switching slots. Main goal is to try to access recovery to update ota and/or access Android to enable oem unlocking.

have you looked on xda for other fastboot commands to try? There's a few Unbrick posts on the Pixel subs - worth a try?

edit-- sorry, I deleted some of my comment by mistake, had to rewrite it/

Okay so I tried switching slots. Currently active slot is A but it again shows error that slot chage is not allowed in locked state. Well was worth a try.

I tried almost everything to get into recovery menu as per my knowledge but cant. It just restarts back into the fastboot state or goes into bootloop.

I did a bit of searching before creating this thread but didnt found anything. Ill try again and see if someone has something similar.

 

[Alekos]

Okay so I tried switching slots. Currently active slot is A but it again shows error that slot chage is not allowed in locked state. Well was worth a try.

I tried almost everything to get into recovery menu as per my knowledge but cant. It just restarts back into the fastboot state or goes into bootloop.

I did a bit of searching before creating this thread but didnt found anything. Ill try again and see if someone has something similar.

this thread is interesting:

{Solved} Pixel 2 Bricked, need help.

Hey Guys. I'm new to the Pixel 2 and have found myself stuck and not sure what to do. I'm stuck at this screen and keep getting getting an error message staying "Slot Unbootable: Load Error". I am not able to get into fastboot to flash the...

forum.xda-developers.com

specifically this comment:

{Solved} Pixel 2 Bricked, need help.

Hey Guys. I'm new to the Pixel 2 and have found myself stuck and not sure what to do. I'm stuck at this screen and keep getting getting an error message staying "Slot Unbootable: Load Error". I am not able to get into fastboot to flash the...

forum.xda-developers.com

download the full factory image (not ota) and extract it, and move the radio and bootloader images into platform tools folder and try flashing? But don't think you can.

Also, maybe try installing Skipsoft and see what commands you can execute from there? https://skipsoft.net/download/unified-android-toolkit-v1-7-2/
it supports the Pixel 2.

Not sure how the op in that thread above fixed his Pixel 2 with Skipsoft tool. His Device state said Locked in his screenshot on his post.

Also try draining the battery and see if it will boot into Recovery Mode at all. And check the other Pixel threads (like Pixel 3 XL) there's a few unbrick posts there also.

edit--try these commands
fastboot erase system
fastboot erase data
fastboot erase cache

 

[mayankggrwl]

this thread is interesting:

{Solved} Pixel 2 Bricked, need help.

Hey Guys. I'm new to the Pixel 2 and have found myself stuck and not sure what to do. I'm stuck at this screen and keep getting getting an error message staying "Slot Unbootable: Load Error". I am not able to get into fastboot to flash the...

forum.xda-developers.com

specifically this comment:

{Solved} Pixel 2 Bricked, need help.

Hey Guys. I'm new to the Pixel 2 and have found myself stuck and not sure what to do. I'm stuck at this screen and keep getting getting an error message staying "Slot Unbootable: Load Error". I am not able to get into fastboot to flash the...

forum.xda-developers.com

download the full factory image (not ota) and extract it, and move the radio and bootloader images into platform tools folder and try flashing? But don't think you can.

Also, maybe try installing Skipsoft and see what commands you can execute from there? https://skipsoft.net/download/unified-android-toolkit-v1-7-2/
it supports the Pixel 2.

Not sure how those users in the thread flashed the bootloader image since I didn't think you could if the device state is locked, but worth a try.
Also try draining the battery and see if it will boot into Recovery Mode at all. And check the other Pixel threads (like Pixel 3 XL) there's a few unbrick posts there also.

Okay great !! Thanks for these. Ill go through that thread and will see if any of the listed methods work. Will also try that software. In a rush so will try these later on and then ill update you.