Google Home/Nest hub flash method exposed and TOOL REVEALED !!

[Texnolog74]

It's been a while since the initial release of the google home hub but no one knows how the firmware really get's flashed using the hidden micro usb port under the rubber bottom surface.

Well, it's very simple, it uses the Amlogic S905D2G chip ( similar to what cheap tv boxes have ) which means it can be simply flashed with a custom rom via the Amlogic Usb burning tool. In order for it to go into flashing mode you need to hold both volume up and down buttons then plugging the power cable whilst also having the micro usb cable is plugged into a computer.

As you can see the connection is successful meaning that this can truly be flashed but...


There is a small catch, google never reveals pre compiled firmware for these devices meaning you would have to compile it. There was recently an update from which there was a high possibility google was transitioning to a different OS called fuchsia while seamlessly leaving the same UI as the original OS was and hopefully still is android.

Once the drivers are installed, The google home hub can be seen as what is above. before driver install, your computer should've detected it as GX-CHIP

Hope this helps with future development on this little platform as I don't see much going on.

LINKS :

Amlogic USB burning tool - https://androiddatahost.com/qh5pm

Amlogic drivers - https://mega.nz/file/7TBhwSTC#AE_oDwohj7TnZZB0aLq8idcDKWlu-LX2x-FnXhERxhM

 

[GuyInDogSuit]

{Mod edit: Quoted post removed}

Wrong thread?

 

[CSX321]

Yeah, wrong section, but I don't see a way to delete it. Sorry about that.

 

[Zastando]

{Mod edit: Quoted post removed}

Does this apply to other Google Home Speakers, more specifically to the LG WK7 ?

 

[Oswald Boelcke]

Yeah, wrong section, but I don't see a way to delete it. Sorry about that.

I've removed your post that I recognised by accident. If you require any type of thread maintenance like the deletion of a post, simply use the report button and alert the moderators team. We're happy to assist.

Regards
Your friendly neighbourhood watch

 

[latino147]

I was hoping to find a way to flash the original firmware on the first gen hub, but there are no roms available anywhere?

 

[bazzap_nz]

Mine has toasted itself - I suspect it got corrupted doing an update and Google can't help me. They say "It's dead Jim!". Has anyone found a valid ROM that I can flash it with and see if I can resuscitate it? TIA

 

[Zastando]

I see that some of you guys are interested in fixing/modifying your device(s), me included.
So I wondered if you may be interested in creating a Github project to help us out eachother.
I definitely would!

 

[keerttttt]

Maybe good to know that after the fuchsia upgrade everything has changed. Holding volume up while powering up gives fastboot mode. Volume down gives recovery mode but I don't know what that does.

I flashed a TWRP build over my recovery and now the recovery is broken... Stupid. Anyone wanna try to tinker with the recovery? Maybe try a port scan. Or try volume up or down while in recovery?

 

[dv03]

Hello - I also have a bricked google nest hub. I removed the bottom. The micro usb socket is connected to the pc. A cdc device was found. more precisely two of them. I have loaded the armlogic driver, but the device is not recognized in the burning program. I would be very interested if someone could generate a recovery file to repair the device. thx martin

 

[ThoughtFraud]

My Google Nest Hub bricked itself. I believe it happened when I powered it off while it was booting up.

I can hold 2 keys and get into Recovery mode, but I just get stuck on the "G" screen when trying to reset the device.

I too have a "CDC-Ethernet" device when I plug the micro USB (hidden underneath) into my computer.

I would love to be able to restore a standard ROM, or even a custom one.

 

[Cr4z33]

I am trying to fastboot my 1st gen Nest Hub, but it looks like it doesn't.

What I do is to keep pressed VOL+ and then I power up the device.

Is that correct?

I desperately need to fastboot it because it looks like something f up the firmware (factory reset has the same behaviour) and it ends up with a white screen loop crash.

 

[Electro_]

Does anyone have a Compiled version of the nest hub software?

 

[MAIKELN80]

any news? I have a google nest hub wotn boot onlyG logo, any solution? factory reset dont resolve the problem

 

[danico253]

did i find this link? It will be that it is the solution or it is fake http://gofirmware.com/content/google-nest-hub-custom-firmware

 

[matteo94s]

do you also have the firmware? Can you download it from your nest hub?

 

[Jaavilf]

Ha pasado un tiempo desde el lanzamiento inicial de Google Home Hub, pero nadie sabe cómo se actualiza realmente el firmware utilizando el puerto micro USB oculto debajo de la superficie inferior de goma.

Bueno, es muy simple, utiliza el chip Amlogic S905D2G (similar a lo que tienen las cajas de TV baratas), lo que significa que simplemente se puede flashear con una rom personalizada a través de la herramienta de grabación Amlogic Usb. Para que entre en modo intermitente, debe mantener presionados los botones para subir y bajar el volumen y luego enchufar el cable de alimentación mientras también tiene el cable micro USB conectado a una computadora.

Como puede ver, la conexión es exitosa, lo que significa que esto realmente se puede flashear, pero...


Hay un pequeño problema, Google nunca revela el firmware precompilado para estos dispositivos, lo que significa que tendrías que compilarlo. Recientemente hubo una actualización a partir de la cual había una gran posibilidad de que Google estuviera haciendo la transición a un sistema operativo diferente llamado fuchsia mientras dejaba sin problemas la misma interfaz de usuario que el sistema operativo original y, con suerte, todavía es Android.

Una vez que se instalan los controladores, Google Home Hub se puede ver como lo que está arriba. antes de instalar el controlador, su computadora debería haberlo detectado como GX-CHIP

Espero que esto ayude con el desarrollo futuro en esta pequeña plataforma, ya que no veo que suceda mucho.

ENLACES :

Herramienta de grabación USB Amlogic - https://androiddatahost.com/qh5pm

Controladores Amlogic: https://mega.nz/file/7TBhwSTC#AE_oDwohj7TnZZB0aLq8idcDKWlu-LX2x-FnXhERxhM

Have you found any firmware? Since my Nest Hub entered a loop mode and stayed in recovery mode so I would like to reinstall the software



Has encontrado algun firmware? Ya que mi Nest Hub entro en un modo de loop y se quedo en modo recovery por lo cual me gustaria volver a instalar el software

 

[deadman96385]

Thought I would drop this here, in theory it would be possible to expand the exploit to affect more models.

Breaking Secure Boot on Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) to run Ubuntu

In this post, we attack the Nest Hub (2nd Gen), an always-connected smart home display from Google, in order to boot a custom OS. First, we explore both hardware and software attack surface in search of security vulnerabilities that could permit arbitrary code execution on the device. Then...

fredericb.info

 

[Motorih90]

Hi! Help me find the original firmware ROM for google nest 2
I have a dummy version, but it can be reflashed via micro usb and usb flasher tool from first post

 

[bloxycola]

I managed to reboot one in bootloader mode