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HOW TO FLASH FULL FACTORY IMAGE

How to Flash Full Factory Image: A Comprehensive Guide for Pixel Devices

We understand the need for a reliable and detailed guide on flashing a full factory image to a Google Pixel device. The process can seem daunting, especially when dealing with critical system partitions and bootloader operations. Our goal at Magisk Modules is to provide clear, step-by-step instructions that ensure a successful and safe flashing experience. This guide is designed to be exhaustive, covering every prerequisite, command, and precaution necessary to restore your Pixel device to its original factory state or upgrade to a new Android version cleanly.

Flashing a factory image is the most direct method to revert your device to its stock firmware, removing all custom modifications, including root access and custom recoveries. It is also the preferred way to manually update a device without waiting for an Over-The-Air (OTA) notification. We will walk you through the entire procedure, from backing up your data to verifying the final installation. While the original request mentioned a Spanish tutorial, we are providing this comprehensive guide in English to ensure universal clarity and precision, as the commands and tools are language-independent. This guide is specifically tailored for Google Pixel devices, such as the Pixel 10 Pro XL mentioned in the query, but the principles apply to most Pixel models.

Understanding Factory Images and Prerequisites

Before initiating any flashing procedure, it is crucial to understand the components involved and prepare your system correctly. A factory image is a complete package containing all the necessary partitions to boot and run your device, including the bootloader, radio, system, vendor, and recovery images. Downloading the correct image for your specific device model is the single most important step.

Why Flash a Full Factory Image?

Flashing a factory image is a powerful tool for several scenarios. It is the definitive solution for resolving persistent software issues that cannot be fixed through a simple cache wipe or factory reset. If your device is stuck in a boot loop, experiencing frequent crashes, or has been compromised by a faulty modification, a factory image flash will restore it to a pristine state. It is also the standard procedure for manually updating to the latest Android version when you do not wish to wait for the staged OTA rollout. Furthermore, for developers and enthusiasts, flashing a factory image is a necessary step before unlocking the bootloader or installing a custom recovery like TWRP.

Essential Prerequisites for a Successful Flash

We must emphasize that preparation is key to a smooth process. The following items are non-negotiable for flashing a factory image on a Pixel device:

Enabling Developer Options and USB Debugging on Your Pixel

To begin, you must enable the developer options on your phone. This is a straightforward process:

  1. Navigate to Settings > About Phone.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Build Number seven times. You will see a notification saying, “You are now a developer.”
  3. Return to the main Settings menu and enter System > Developer Options.
  4. Scroll down and enable USB Debugging. A dialog box will appear asking for permission; tap OK.
  5. In the same menu, enable OEM Unlocking. This setting is critical for unlocking the bootloader, a prerequisite for flashing the factory image.

Downloading the Official Factory Image

We always source our files directly from the official Google developers’ website to ensure authenticity and safety. Downloading from third-party sites carries a significant risk of malware or corrupted files.

  1. Open your web browser and go to the Google Factory Images for Nexus and Pixel Devices page. A quick search for “Google Factory Images” will lead you to the official page.
  2. Locate your specific device in the list. For a Pixel 10 Pro XL, you would find the corresponding codename (e.g., “comet” for the Pixel 10 Pro XL, though this may vary based on release). Ensure you select the exact model to avoid compatibility issues.
  3. Find the latest build version you wish to install. It will be listed with a date and an Android version (e.g., “AP4A.241205.013”).
  4. Click the small arrow to expand the dropdown menu and agree to the terms and conditions.
  5. Download the file, which will be a .zip archive. The file size is typically between 1.5 GB and 3 GB.

Verifying the Integrity of the Downloaded File

After downloading, it is good practice to verify the file’s integrity, although Google does not provide SHA checksums for these public downloads. The primary verification is ensuring the download completes without errors. Most archive managers can test the integrity of a ZIP file. If you encounter an error while extracting, the download may be corrupt and should be re-downloaded.

Setting Up Your Computer and ADB/Fastboot Tools

The Android SDK Platform-Tools package contains the essential command-line utilities we need: ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and Fastboot. ADB is used to communicate with your device when it is booted into the Android OS, while Fastboot is used when your device is in bootloader mode.

Installing Android SDK Platform-Tools

  1. Download the latest SDK Platform-Tools for your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux) from the official Android developer website.
  2. Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a convenient location on your computer, such as C:\platform-tools on Windows or ~/platform-tools on macOS/Linux.
  3. For easier access, you can add the platform-tools directory to your system’s PATH environment variable. This allows you to run ADB and Fastboot commands from any terminal window without navigating to the directory each time.

Verifying ADB and Fastboot Connectivity

Once the tools are installed, we need to verify that your computer can communicate with your Pixel device.

  1. Connect your Pixel phone to your computer using the USB cable.
  2. On your phone, a prompt will appear asking, “Allow USB debugging?” Check the box for “Always allow from this computer” and tap OK.
  3. Open a Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux).
  4. Type adb devices and press Enter.
  5. You should see your device’s serial number followed by the word “device.” If it says “unauthorized,” you have not approved the USB debugging prompt on your phone. If no devices are listed, there is an issue with your USB drivers (Windows), cable, or USB debugging settings.
  6. Next, test Fastboot by rebooting your device into the bootloader. With your phone connected, type adb reboot bootloader and press Enter. Your phone should restart and display the bootloader screen (often called “Fastboot Mode”).
  7. Now, in the same terminal, type fastboot devices. You should see your device’s serial number listed. If so, your setup is correct.
  8. To return to the normal Android system from the bootloader, you can either use the volume keys to select “Start” and press the power button, or use the command fastboot reboot.

Unlocking the Bootloader: A Critical Step

Warning: Unlocking the bootloader will void your warranty (for software-related issues) and will completely wipe all data on your device. This step is irreversible without re-locking, which is not typically recommended for regular users. Proceed only if you are certain you want to continue.

The bootloader is a program that runs when your device starts up, responsible for loading the operating system. For security, Google locks the bootloader on Pixel devices to prevent unauthorized software from being loaded. To flash a factory image manually, you must first unlock it.

Step-by-Step Bootloader Unlocking Process

  1. Ensure your phone is connected to your computer via USB and is in normal Android mode with USB debugging enabled.
  2. Open your terminal or command prompt and navigate to the platform-tools directory if it is not in your PATH.
  3. Enter the following command to reboot your phone into the bootloader:
    adb reboot bootloader
  4. Once your device is in Fastboot Mode and displaying the bootloader screen, use the volume keys to navigate to the “Unlock Bootloader” or “Unlock OEM” option (the wording may vary slightly). Press the power button to select it.
  5. A confirmation screen will appear warning you that this will erase all user data. Use the volume keys to select “Yes” and press the power button to confirm.
  6. Your device will now begin the unlocking process. It may take a minute or two. Once complete, the bootloader screen will reappear, and the text at the top may say “Unlocked” or show a unlocked padlock icon.
  7. Your device’s data has now been wiped. You will need to set up your phone again if you were just testing, but for flashing the factory image, we will continue from here.

Extracting the Factory Image and Flashing the Device

Now that the bootloader is unlocked, we can proceed to flashing the factory image. This is the most critical part of the process, and we must follow the steps precisely.

Preparing the Factory Image Files

  1. Locate the factory image ZIP file you downloaded earlier (e.g., pixel-10-pro-xl-factory-....zip).
  2. Extract this ZIP file. Inside, you will find another ZIP file (often named something like image-....zip). Do not skip this step. You must extract the inner ZIP file as well.
  3. After extracting the inner ZIP, you will see several image files, such as:
    • boot.img
    • recovery.img
    • system.img
    • vendor.img
    • vbmeta.img
    • radio.img (for cellular modem)
    • bootloader.img
  4. It is highly recommended to keep all these files in the same folder as your platform-tools for simplicity, or open your terminal in the directory where these image files are located.

Executing the Flashing Commands

With your device still in Fastboot Mode and connected to the computer, we will now flash each partition individually. This gives us more control and transparency compared to the older flash-all script.

  1. Flash the Bootloader and Radio (if applicable): This is the first and most sensitive step. The radio image is often separate. If a radio.img is present, flash it first. The order is important, but generally, bootloader comes first.

    fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img
fastboot flash radio radio.img

    Note: If your device has an A/B partition scheme (common on newer Pixels), you may need to flash to both slots. The factory image may contain bootloader.img and radio.img that are designed for this. After flashing, reboot the bootloader to ensure the new bootloader is active:

    fastboot reboot-bootloader

  2. Flash the Remaining Partitions: Now, flash the rest of the system images in a logical order.

    fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash vendor vendor.img

    Note: The system.img and vendor.img can be large files (several gigabytes) and may take several minutes to flash. Be patient and do not disconnect the device.

  3. Flash the VBMeta and Other Partitions: The vbmeta partition contains cryptographic verification data for the boot and system partitions.

    fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img

    Note: If your device uses a dtbo.img or other specific partitions listed in the extracted files, flash them as well using the same command structure.

Verifying the Flash and Locking the Bootloader (Optional)

After all partitions have been flashed successfully, we recommend rebooting the device to ensure it boots correctly.

  1. Reboot your device from the bootloader:
    fastboot reboot
  2. The first boot may take longer than usual as the system prepares itself. Do not interrupt it.
  3. Once your device has booted to the setup screen, you can verify the build number in Settings > About Phone > Build Number. It should match the factory image you flashed.

For security, it is possible to re-lock the bootloader. This will return the device to a “locked” state, which improves security and allows for official OTAs again. However, only re-lock the bootloader if you are on a completely stock, unmodified system. If you have any custom modifications, re-locking the bootloader can brick your device. To re-lock:

fastboot flashing lock

Your device will wipe data again and reboot into a locked state.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful execution, issues can arise. Here are solutions to common problems.

Device Not Recognized by ADB or Fastboot

If adb devices or fastboot devices returns no results:

Flashing Errors (e.g., FAILED (remote: ‘Not enough space to resize partition’))

Bootloop After Flashing

If your device gets stuck in a bootloop (continuously restarting):

Conclusion and Final Recommendations

Flashing a full factory image on a Google Pixel device is a precise but manageable procedure when you follow the steps methodically. We have covered the entire workflow, from preparing your device and computer to executing the flash commands and troubleshooting potential issues. The key to success lies in using the correct files for your specific device model, maintaining a stable connection, and executing each command carefully.

After your device is successfully restored to its factory state, you may be interested in exploring the world of Android customization again. If you wish to regain root access, we encourage you to visit our website, Magisk Modules, and our dedicated Magisk Module Repository. There, you can find a vast collection of modules to enhance your device’s functionality in a safe and modular way.

By understanding the flashing process, you gain greater control over your device’s software, allowing you to fix problems, update manually, and start with a clean slate whenever needed. Always remember to back up your data, source your files from official channels, and proceed with caution during critical steps like unlocking the bootloader.

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