Fastboot Mode on Android: How to Enter, Use and Exit It
What fastboot (bootloader) mode is, how to enter it with adb or button combinations on Pixel, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola and more, basic commands, and how to exit.
Fastboot mode, also called bootloader mode, is a small screen your phone can start into before Android loads. From there a computer can flash system images, unlock the bootloader or boot a test image, using a tool called fastboot. You usually only need it for flashing factory images, installing a custom recovery or recovering a phone that no longer starts.
Fastboot is different from ADB. ADB talks to a running Android system. Fastboot talks to the bootloader when Android is not running. Both come in Google's Android SDK platform-tools. More on the difference in what ADB is.
Way 1: from ADB (easiest)
If the phone starts normally and USB debugging is on:
adb reboot bootloaderThe phone restarts straight into fastboot mode. On Android 10 and newer there is also adb reboot fastboot, which goes to fastbootd, a fastboot mode that runs inside recovery and is needed to flash the dynamic partitions of newer phones. The difference is explained in ADB reboot: recovery, bootloader, fastboot and download mode.
In ADBKit you can do the same from the power menu next to the screen: Boot modes › Bootloader / fastboot. The ADB connection ends when the phone leaves Android, and ADBKit does not run fastboot commands, so continue with the fastboot tool from there.
Way 2: button combinations
When the phone does not start or USB debugging is off, use the buttons. First turn the phone off completely, then hold the keys below until the fastboot screen appears.
| Brand | Buttons (phone off) | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel | Power + Volume Down | "Fastboot Mode" in red on the bootloader screen |
| Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO | Power + Volume Down | A rabbit fixing an Android robot and "FASTBOOT" |
| Motorola | Power + Volume Down | The bootloader menu |
| OnePlus | Power + Volume Up + Volume Down on recent models, Power + Volume Up on older ones | "Fastboot Mode" menu |
| Nokia | Volume Down held while you plug in a USB cable connected to a computer | Fastboot screen |
| Sony Xperia | Volume Up held while you plug in a USB cable connected to a computer | Blue notification light, no screen |
| Samsung | No fastboot mode | Samsung uses Download mode instead |
Combinations change between models and years, so if one does not work, check your exact model on the maker's support site. Some phones also need the cable plugged in before the bootloader screen appears.
Check the computer sees the phone
With the phone in fastboot mode and connected by USB:
fastboot devicesYou should see a serial number followed by fastboot. If you see nothing:
- Windows: install the Google USB Driver (for Pixel) or your maker's driver. Without it,
fastbootwaits forever with< waiting for any device >. - Linux: add a udev rule for your phone, or try the command with
sudoto confirm it is a permissions problem. - All systems: try a different cable and a USB port directly on the computer instead of a hub. A USB 2.0 port sometimes works when a USB 3 port does not.
Basic fastboot commands
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
fastboot devices | List phones in fastboot mode |
fastboot getvar product | Show the device's code name |
fastboot getvar unlocked | Show whether the bootloader is unlocked |
fastboot reboot | Restart into Android |
fastboot reboot bootloader | Restart into fastboot mode again |
fastboot flashing unlock | Unlock the bootloader (wipes all data) |
fastboot flash <partition> <file.img> | Write an image to a partition |
Not every phone answers every getvar, and some makers use their own unlock process (for example Xiaomi requires its own unlock tool and a waiting period).
Risks before you flash anything
- Unlocking the bootloader erases the phone. All apps, photos and files are deleted. Back up first.
- An unlocked bootloader lowers security. Some banking apps and Google Wallet stop working, and the phone shows a warning at every start.
- Flashing the wrong image can leave the phone unable to start. Only use images made for your exact model and region.
- Warranty: some makers treat unlocking as voiding the warranty.
If you only want to look around, fastboot devices, getvar and reboot are harmless.
How to exit fastboot mode
- From the computer:
fastboot reboot - On a Pixel, Motorola or OnePlus menu: use the volume keys to select Start (or Reboot) and press Power.
- On a Xiaomi FASTBOOT screen: hold Power for about 10 to 15 seconds until the phone restarts.
- Still stuck: hold Power and Volume Down together for about 15 seconds. Most phones force a restart.
If the phone always comes back to fastboot mode, Android itself may be damaged. Then reflashing the official firmware for your model, or the maker's repair tool, is the way back.