Last Updated on July 15, 2022 by Mathew Diekhake
The following tutorial demonstrates how to enter Bootloader Mode on each different Android manufacturer.
What is Bootloader Mode
The bootloader is the program that boots the Android operating system. Sometimes you may wish to be in the environment called Bootloader Mode so you can perform certain tasks that you couldn’t do from the operating system itself, such as when running ADB commands capable of performing tasks such as flashing new boot images. Bootloader Mode is similar to Recovery Mode in that they are different environments to the OS itself.
Most popular smartphone manufacturers that choose to run Android as the operating system have different methods for getting their devices into Bootloader Mode. But thankfully they all have methods using hardware keys directly on the device; only the key combination itself is what changes.
Here are the different key combinations you need to get into Bootloader Mode:
How to Enter Android Bootloader Mode for Each Manufacturer
HTC Smartphones: Press and hold the Volume Down button and then press the Power button while still keeping the Volume Down button pressed. HTC refers to the Bootloader Mode as Fastboot Mode (due to the assumption people will be running fastboot commands).
LG Smartphones: Press and hold Power and Volume Down and release them when the LG logo appears on the smartphone’s display. Alternatively, only release them for a second and then press them again a second time to get Bootloader Mode to appear.
Motorola Smartphones: Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously for a few seconds and then release them both at the same time.
Samsung Smartphones: Samsung doesn’t have a Bootloader Mode but instead replaces it with a Download Mode that is compatible with their proprietary flashing tool, Odin. Download Mode can be accessed by pressing the Power + Volume Down + Home buttons simultaneously until the Samsung logo appears.
Nexus and Developer Smartphones: Press and hold Power and Volume Down until the Google splash screen appears and then release them.
In conclusion, that is how to enter Android’s Bootloader Mode for each manufacturer.
July 15, 2022 @ 15:01
My Micro Pro doesn’t boot into bootloader mode anymore. I used to boot into bootloader so I know it’s possible but all of a sudden it has stopped working. I think I know part of what happened: I was installing QMK Toolbox and uploaded a .hex file that was large and it seemed like it got stuck so I hit the reset button. Ever since then I can get back into bootloader mode.
July 15, 2022 @ 14:57
I use the gigadevice microcontroller GD32F10x.
Is it possible to get into bootloader mode via software? I have read people talking about there being more than one method of getting into bootloader mode and it sounded like there were alternatives to hardware keys. I have also seen apps available that will boot into bootloader mode but they required root.