๐Ÿ“ฑ Flashing Guides

SP Flash Tool

Difficulty: ๐ŸŸก Intermediate
Read time: 15 min
Updated: May 13, 2026
Tool Version: v5.2216
High Risk โ€” backup first!
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Pre-Flight Checklist

Complete ALL items before proceeding. Skipping any step increases the risk of bricking your device.

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Guide Steps

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After downloading SP Flash Tool, extract the ZIP file to a simple folder path like C:\SPFlashTool. Avoid paths with spaces such as C:\My Folder\SP Flash โ€” this causes launch errors.

The extracted folder should contain:

  • flash_tool.exe โ€” the main application
  • MT6xxx_Android_scatter.txt โ€” example scatter file
  • lib/, Tools/, Brom_Driver/ โ€” required driver folders
โš ๏ธ Warning: Do NOT rename or delete any files inside the SP Flash Tool folder. The tool needs them all to function correctly.

Extract your firmware ZIP to a separate folder. After extraction you should see multiple .img or .bin files (boot.img, recovery.img, system.img, etc.) and most importantly โ€” a scatter file.

The scatter file is usually named one of:

  • MT6580_Android_scatter.txt
  • MT6737_Android_scatter.txt
  • MT6765_Android_scatter.txt
  • Any file ending in _scatter.txt or _scatter.xml
๐Ÿšซ Critical: If there is NO scatter file, this firmware is not meant for SP Flash Tool. Do not proceed โ€” find the correct firmware from our Firmware Hub.

Navigate to your SP Flash Tool folder, right-click flash_tool.exe and select "Run as administrator". Click "Yes" when the UAC prompt appears.

When it loads you'll see the main window with tabs: Download, Format, Readback, Memory Test, etc. Stay on the Download tab.

๐Ÿ’ก Tip: If SP Flash Tool crashes immediately on launch, your antivirus is likely blocking it. Disable Windows Defender real-time protection temporarily.

In SP Flash Tool, click the "Scatter-loading File" button (or "Choose" next to the scatter field). Browse to your firmware folder and select the *_scatter.txt or *_scatter.xml file.

Once loaded, the table below will populate with all the partition names (PRELOADER, MBR, EBR1, BOOT, RECOVERY, SYSTEM, etc.) and their addresses. Each row has a checkbox.

โš ๏ธ Do NOT uncheck PRELOADER unless you know exactly what you're doing. Flashing without a preloader can brick your device.

For a full firmware flash, leave all checkboxes enabled (default). For a partial flash (e.g., only recovery), uncheck everything except the partition you need.

In the top toolbar, select your download mode from the dropdown:

  • Download Only โ€” Flashes only the selected partitions. Preserves user data if you unchecked userdata/cache. Best for fixing boot issues.
  • Format All + Download โ€” Wipes the entire device and flashes everything fresh. Best for "clean install" or if your phone is stuck in a bootloop. This will erase all data.
  • Firmware Upgrade โ€” Upgrades firmware while preserving data where possible. Only works if current firmware is similar.
๐Ÿ’ก Recommendation: Use "Format All + Download" for the safest, cleanest result. Always back up first!

This is the most critical step. Follow this sequence exactly:

  1. Click the green Download button in SP Flash Tool. The progress bar will say "Waiting for DA" or similar.
  2. Power OFF your phone completely. Hold power for 10 seconds if needed.
  3. Remove the battery (if removable), wait 5 seconds, reinsert.
  4. Connect your phone to PC with a USB cable while pressing and holding Volume Down (some devices use Volume Up).
  5. SP Flash Tool will detect your device and the flash process begins automatically.
โš ๏ธ DO NOT disconnect the USB cable while flashing. This will brick your device.
๐Ÿ’ก For non-removable batteries: Keep your phone OFF, connect the USB cable while holding Volume Down. Some phones use the power key combination โ€” check your device-specific instructions.

The flashing process will take 2โ€“15 minutes depending on the firmware size and your USB cable quality. You'll see:

  • A progress bar filling up across multiple stages (PRELOADER โ†’ BOOTLOADER โ†’ SYSTEM โ†’ etc.)
  • The status bar showing which partition is being written
๐Ÿšซ Do NOT:
  • Unplug the USB cable
  • Turn off your computer
  • Let your laptop battery die
  • Touch the phone buttons

When finished, a green circle with a checkmark ("Download OK" dialog) will appear.

Once the green checkmark appears:

  1. Click OK to dismiss the dialog.
  2. Disconnect your phone from the USB cable.
  3. Press and hold the Power button to boot your device.
  4. The first boot (initial setup) will take longer than normal โ€” sometimes up to 15 minutes. This is perfectly normal as Android sets up for the first time.
๐Ÿ’ก If your phone doesn't boot after 20 minutes, try a factory reset via recovery mode. See the troubleshooting section below.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

Common errors and their solutions. Read this before asking for help.

0x0003 / S_COM_PORT_OPEN_FAIL

This means SP Flash Tool cannot communicate with your device. Solutions:

  1. Reinstall MTK USB Drivers
  2. Try a different USB port (preferably USB 2.0 on your PC, not USB 3.0)
  3. Try a different USB cable (use the original cable that came with your device)
  4. Run SP Flash Tool as Administrator
  5. Disable antivirus / Windows Defender

Auth errors occur on newer MediaTek devices (MT6763 and above) that have SLA (SP Locked Area) protection. Your device has a locked preloader that requires authentication to flash.

Solutions:

  1. Use SP Flash Tool version 5.2208 or newer which supports newer auth methods
  2. Use an MTK Auth Bypass method (see our MTK Auth Bypass guide)
  3. Use an official service tool that has auth support for your chipset

A bootloop after flashing usually means the firmware didn't write completely, or you used incorrect firmware. Try these steps:

  1. Re-flash using "Format All + Download" mode to wipe everything first
  2. Verify you're using the correct firmware for your exact model number (check Settings โ†’ About Phone โ†’ Model Number)
  3. Try entering Recovery Mode (Volume Up + Power) and doing a factory reset
  4. If still bootlooping, re-download the firmware โ€” it may be corrupted

Not necessarily bricked, but this is serious. A preloader failure usually means:

  • Wrong scatter file for your chipset
  • Corrupted preloader.img in your firmware package
  • Auth protection preventing the write

Try: Uncheck PRELOADER in the partition list and flash everything except it. If your device still has an intact preloader, it will boot. Then reflash with the correct full firmware.

If the progress bar freezes for more than 5 minutes:

  1. Close SP Flash Tool (force close if needed)
  2. Remove and reinsert battery (or hold power 30 seconds)
  3. Try with a different, higher-quality USB cable
  4. Try on a different USB port or different PC
  5. Re-extract SP Flash Tool and firmware to new folders

No! This is one of SP Flash Tool's biggest advantages. It communicates directly with the MediaTek chipset at the hardware level (BROM โ€” Boot ROM), completely bypassing Android. Bootloader lock status does NOT matter for SP Flash Tool flashing.

In most cases, yes. Flashing custom or stock firmware through SP Flash Tool is considered device modification. However, if you're flashing the official stock firmware for your exact device model, some manufacturers allow warranty repairs. This varies by brand and region. Check your manufacturer's warranty policy.

If Windows Device Manager shows nothing when you connect your phone:

  1. Download and install MTK VCOM USB Preloader Drivers
  2. In Device Manager, look for unknown devices with yellow exclamation marks
  3. Right-click โ†’ Update Driver โ†’ Browse My Computer โ†’ select the driver folder
  4. Also try: Device Manager โ†’ View โ†’ Show Hidden Devices
  5. On Windows 10/11: Disable Driver Signature Enforcement in Advanced Startup Options

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