How I Unbricked My OnePlus Free of Cost!
We all know the current status of OnePlus. Ever since it got in the hands of Oppo, it spelled doomsday for tech enthusiasts. The first thing it did was to stop the MSM Download Tool right away [OnePlus 9 series is the last bunch of devices to relish this tool]. However, some developers did manage to capture data packets that were being transferred between a user and an official service center employee via the Man in the Middle attacks.
The end result? We were able to use the Oppo Flash Tool to unbrick a bunch of OnePlus devices [such as OnePlus 11]. At the same time, we were greeted by the OPLUS Flash Tool that required OTPs to function, but the developers were again able to get their hands on these OTPs and share them for the rest of us. However, it was all too much for Oppo to digest, and it patched both these tools beginning with Android 15.
So if your OnePlus was ever updated to OxygenOS 15, you wouldn’t be able to use any of these unbrick tools. So what are the remaining options? Well, there are two: use paid remote services [which Oppo had blocked as well but now they seem to be back again] or go to the official service center. Many users chose the first option as not only is the process easy and time saver but most of the users don’t even have a service center in their country.
So exporting their device to a supported country, waiting for it to be unbricked, and then bringing it back will end up taking ages, not to mention the financial aspects involved. Although I live in India, where there’s an abundance of service centers, however, I was running short on time, so I decided to give these services a try.
There’s always an element of risk involved in opting for these services; however, the one I chose had its presence on XDA Developers, and plenty of users had vouched for that guy. So I contacted him and got the entire process done within 15 minutes. While my device got unbricked [it was a OnePlus 11], however, I had to shell out some bucks, close to $30.
Close to a couple of months later, I was going back to stock ROM from a custom ROM by flashing the firmware via Fastboot Firmware Flasher. I have flashed tons of firmware in the past using this tool without any issues whatsoever. That day, too, the flashing went fine without any issues [the logs were also free of errors]; however, the device booted straight to EDL Mode instead of the OS.
I tried all the usual tweaks that were there in my disposal but to no avail. So I once again contacted the same guy, but this time I straightaway refused his service due to two reasons: the cost had doubled to $60, and now I had to share my IMEI number as well. While money was not a major factor [$800>$60], however, I would never compromise on the device’s privacy and safety.
So now I was left with only one option- to take my device to the OnePlus service center. Here’s how the event unfolded:
How I Unbricked My OnePlus Free
Initially, I acted dumb by telling the lady at the counter that my device was not booting after I installed an update. To this, she replied that there’s a high chance of a hardware issue, and your device needs to be opened before it can be debugged correctly. There was no point debating there, so I just told her OK and let her prepare my job sheet.
My device was then sent to the technicians, who, fortunately, sit at a position where you can interact with them [this seems to have been done intentionally by OnePlus, so kudos to them]. As soon as they got my device, I told them that it had been hard-bricked and is currently in the EDL Mode; you just need to flash the EDL firmware, and the issue will be fixed.
He gave me a little smile and then said OK, we will try that fix first. But why did he accept my request? Well, he had 10s of other devices and earbuds lined up. So if one issue can easily be fixed by flashing the firmware, why would he waste his time opening the device and interacting with the hardware component? So he just connected my device by pressing both the Volume Keys, and started flashing on his laptop.
The installation of the firmware began, and it hardly took 2 minutes. He was like You’re a lucky one that there’s no hardware issue, otherwise you might have to empty your pockets. To which I replied, it’s not about luck; I was well aware of the issue because I created it in the first place; the only reason I cannot fix it myself is that I don’t have an authorized account.
To this, he simply gave a smile and then transferred my device to the main counter. While that was happening, I politely asked him, “Sir, what would be the cost of this process?”. He said: Nothing, it’s all free of cost. Debugging and flashing firmware is free from OnePlus”. Well, this sent me to cloud 9, and I was lost in the ecstasy while the lady at the counter kept calling my name.
After a few seconds had passed, I went to collect the device, but with a slight smile on my face [signifying to her that: “Look, it was indeed a software problem and not a hardware one!”]. All in all, I was really impressed by OnePlus, right from the start of dealing with the customers to the end result of getting my device unbricked- at absolutely no cost!
(Cancel Reply)
Δ
