Quectel 9008 EDL Drivers Issue [Fixed]

Understanding the Quectel 9008 EDL Interface and Driver Conflicts

In the realm of Android device firmware recovery and low-level flashing, the Qualcomm EDL (Emergency Download Mode) stands as a critical gateway for reviving soft-bricked devices. Among the various hardware identifiers encountered during this process, the Quectel 9008 interface is frequently observed, particularly on devices utilizing Qualcomm chipsets where the standard 9008 COM port fails to initialize correctly. We understand that encountering the “Quectel 9008” entry in Windows Device Manager instead of the expected “Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008” can be a source of significant frustration, especially when attempting to utilize tools like the MSM Download Tool, OxygenOS Flasher, or Mi Flash Pro.

The fundamental issue arises from a driver mismatch. Windows operating systems, by default, attempt to associate unknown USB hardware with generic drivers or drivers previously installed for similar devices. When a device enters EDL mode, it presents a specific Vendor ID (VID) and Product ID (PID) to the host computer. The standard Qualcomm 9008 driver is configured to recognize specific VID/PID combinations (typically 0x05C6 and 0x9008). However, certain device manufacturers or specific modem configurations (like those found in Quectel modems integrated into development boards or specific phone models) may present a slightly different identifier, such as VID_05C6&PID_901B or similar variants, which Windows categorizes under the “Quectel” umbrella.

When the Quectel 9008 EDL driver is not correctly signed or forced to load, the flashing tool cannot communicate with the bootloader. This results in errors such as " Sahara Failed," “Firehose Handshake Failed,” or simply a timeout error because the COM port is not active. Our guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step methodology to resolve this issue by manually forcing the correct Qualcomm driver onto the Quectel hardware identifier, thereby enabling successful firmware restoration.

Prerequisites for Resolving Quectel 9008 Driver Issues

Before attempting to manipulate drivers, it is imperative to prepare the computing environment correctly. We have observed that driver installation failures are often exacerbated by an unstable environment. To ensure the highest success rate, we recommend the following prerequisites:

1. Disable Driver Signature Enforcement: Windows 10 and 11 enforce strict driver signing policies. The modified Qualcomm drivers often required for flashing older or specific devices may not have a valid Microsoft signature. You must temporarily disable this feature via the Advanced Boot Options menu.
2. Universal ADB Driver Installation: While not a direct substitute for EDL drivers, installing a comprehensive ADB driver package (such as the 15-seconds ADB installer) can sometimes help Windows correctly categorize the device initially.
3. USB Cable and Port Selection: Use a high-quality, data-enabled USB cable (avoid charge-only cables). Connect directly to a USB 2.0 port on the motherboard; USB 3.0 ports and external hubs are notorious for causing handshake timeouts in EDL mode.
4. Administrative Privileges: All driver installations and modifications must be performed with Administrator rights.

Identifying the Quectel 9008 Device in Device Manager

The first diagnostic step is to confirm exactly how the device is reporting itself to the operating system. We must ensure that we are targeting the correct hardware instance.

1. Boot your device into EDL Mode. This is usually achieved by holding specific key combinations (often Volume Up + Volume Down + Power) while the device is disconnected from the PC. For some devices, this requires a test point method if the software method is unavailable.
2. Connect the device to your PC via USB.
3. Right-click the Start Menu and select Device Manager.
4. Expand the Ports (COM & LPT) section. Look for an entry labeled Quectel 9008 or Quectel USB Emulation.
5. If it appears under Other Devices with a yellow exclamation mark, it indicates that no driver is currently associated with it, which is the primary hurdle we need to overcome.

In some cases, the device might appear under Modems or Universal Serial Bus controllers. Regardless of the category, the goal is to update the driver manually to the Qualcomm interface.

Method 1: Manual Driver Update via Qualcomm Drivers

This is the most reliable method to force the Quectel device to function as a standard Qualcomm EDL port.

Downloading the Correct Driver Package

We recommend using the standard Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 driver package. This is widely available in the Android development community. Ensure you download the package that includes both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) support, typically found within the “Drivers” folder of the package.

Updating the Driver via Device Manager

Once the driver package is extracted to a known location (e.g., C:\Qualcomm_Drivers), proceed with the following:

1. In Device Manager, locate the Quectel 9008 device.
2. Right-click the device and select Update driver.
3. Choose Browse my computer for drivers.
4. Click Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
5. Click the Have Disk… button.
6. Click Browse and navigate to the folder where you extracted the Qualcomm drivers. Look for the .inf file (commonly named qcqmhsser.inf or similar, depending on the driver version).
7. Select the file and click Open, then OK.
8. You should now see a list of compatible hardware. Look for Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
9. Select it and click Next. Windows will likely show a warning that it cannot verify the driver publisher. Select Install this driver software anyway.
10. Once completed, the device should reappear under Ports (COM & LPT) as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (COMxx).

Method 2: Solving “The Hash for the File is not Present” Error

A common roadblock we encounter is a Windows security prompt that blocks the driver installation with the message: “Windows cannot verify the digital signature for this file.” This occurs because the driver lacks a valid SHA2 signature recognized by Windows 10/11.

Temporarily Disabling Driver Signature Enforcement

To bypass this, we must boot Windows into a mode that ignores signature requirements.

1. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click Restart in the Windows Start Menu.
2. The system will reboot into the Choose an option screen.
3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
4. Click Restart.
5. Once the PC reboots, you will see a list of startup settings. Press the F7 key on your keyboard to select Disable driver signature enforcement.
6. The system will boot normally. Now, attempt Method 1 again. The driver should install without the signature error.

Note: This setting is temporary and resets upon the next normal reboot. If you need to reinstall the driver in the future, you must repeat these steps.

Method 3: Using Zadig for USB Driver Replacement

For advanced users or when standard installation fails, Zadig is an invaluable open-source tool that allows for the replacement of Windows drivers for USB devices using the generic WinUSB driver. This is particularly effective for the Quectel 9008 interface when standard COM port drivers fail.

Using Zadig to Force WinUSB

1. Download and run Zadig (ensure you run it as Administrator).
2. With your device in Quectel 9008 mode connected, go to Options in the Zadig menu and check List All Devices.
3. From the dropdown list, select Quectel 9008 (or whatever USB ID is detected).
4. In the target driver box, ensure WinUSB is selected (usually the default).
5. Click Replace Driver or Install Driver.
6. Zadig will install a generic driver that allows tools like Python scripts or custom flashers to communicate with the device via libusb, bypassing the strict COM port requirements. However, for the MSM Download Tool, this may not always be the preferred method, as that tool specifically looks for a COM port. If Zadig installs WinUSB and the MSM tool stops seeing the device, you must uninstall the WinUSB driver and revert to the Qualcomm COM driver using Method 1.

Resolving Device Manager Code 10 and Code 43 Errors

When the Quectel 9008 driver is installed but the device fails to start, you may see Code 10 (This device cannot start) or Code 43 (Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems).

Code 10 Analysis

This usually indicates a resource conflict or a communication failure with the device.

• Solution: Unplug the device, restart the PC, and boot into EDL mode before plugging it in again. Ensure no other Android debugging tools (like ADB or Fastboot) are running in the background, as they can interfere with the USB port.

Code 43 Analysis

Code 43 is frequently related to hardware detection issues or corrupted driver caches.

• Solution: We recommend using a dedicated driver cleaner tool (like USBDeview) to remove all instances of previous Qualcomm and Quectel drivers. Once the system is clean of these entries, reboot and perform a fresh installation using Method 1.

Troubleshooting the MSM Download Tool Connection

Even with the driver correctly installed, the MSM Download Tool may still refuse to connect. The interaction between the tool and the driver is sensitive.

Checking the COM Port Number

The MSM Download Tool typically looks for a specific range of COM port numbers (often COM1 through COM16).

1. Go to Device Manager > Ports (COM & LPT).
2. Look at the COM port assigned to Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008. It will look like COM3, COM5, etc.
3. If the port number is high (e.g., COM17 or higher), the tool might not detect it.
4. To change the COM port number:
   • Right-click the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 device > Properties.
   • Go to the Port Settings tab.
   • Click Advanced.
   • Change the COM Port Number to a lower, unused number (e.g., COM1 or COM2).
   • Click OK. The driver will reload, and the tool should now see the device.

Bypassing " Sahara Handshake" Failures

If the tool initiates the connection but fails at the “Sahara” stage, this is almost always a hardware or timing issue.

1. Cable Integrity: Reiterate the need for a high-quality USB cable. Cheap cables have high resistance and introduce data errors during the high-speed handshake.
2. Port Selection: Move the USB cable to a different port, preferably a USB 2.0 port directly on the back of the motherboard (rear I/O).
3. Timing: Some devices require a specific timing for the handshake. Try disconnecting the cable, waiting 5 seconds, and reconnecting while the MSM tool is attempting to connect.

Advanced Registry Tweaks for Driver Forcing

If automatic driver installation fails repeatedly, we can force the driver via the Windows Registry. Warning: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system instability. Proceed with caution.

1. Open Device Manager, find Quectel 9008, right-click > Properties > Details tab.
2. Change the Property dropdown to Hardware Ids. Copy the first value (e.g., USB\VID_05C6&PID_901B&REV_0000).
3. Open the Qualcomm driver .inf file in Notepad. Locate the [Manufacturer] and [Standard.NTamd64] sections.
4. Add a new line under the manufacturer section: %Qualcomm%=Qualcomm, NTamd64 (if not present).
5. Under the model section, add: Qualcomm_HS_USB_QDLoader_9008 = USB_Install, USB\VID_05C6&PID_901B (using the Hardware ID you copied).
6. Save the file (requires Admin privileges).
7. Now, go back to Device Manager, update driver, browse to the modified .inf file, and install.

Specific Issues with Quectel Chipsets and Modems

It is important to distinguish between a smartphone in EDL mode and a dedicated Quectel cellular modem module (like the EC25 or BG96) entering update mode. While the driver resolution is similar, the context differs.

For Quectel Modules used in IoT devices or custom development:

• The driver package provided directly by Quectel (often called Quectel USB Driver) usually contains drivers for multiple interfaces: AT Port, NMEA Port, and DM Port.
• When updating firmware on these modules via EDL, you may need to utilize the Quectel Update Tool.
• If you are flashing a smartphone that utilizes a Quectel modem internally, the standard Qualcomm drivers are usually sufficient, but if the phone boots up as a “Quectel” device (mass storage or modem mode) rather than EDL, you may need to use a software trigger (like a specific dialer code) to force the device into 9008 mode.

Preventing Future Driver Conflicts

To maintain a stable flashing environment, we recommend the following best practices:

1. Use a Dedicated Flashing PC: If possible, use a clean Windows installation (virtual machine or physical) solely for flashing devices. This prevents driver conflicts from other USB devices.
2. Avoid Automatic Driver Updates: Windows Update sometimes overwrites the manually installed Qualcomm drivers with generic versions. To prevent this:
   • Search for “View advanced system settings” > Hardware tab > Device Installation Settings.
   • Select No (your device might not work as expected).
3. Keep Driver Backups: Keep a local copy of your working Qualcomm drivers. Once you get the Quectel 9008 issue resolved, back up the driver via Device Manager (Right-click device > Export).

Conclusion: Restoring Device Functionality

Resolving the Quectel 9008 EDL driver issue requires patience and a methodical approach to driver management. By understanding that the device is essentially a Qualcomm interface reporting under a different label, we can systematically force the correct driver using the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 package. Whether utilizing the standard Device Manager update method, overriding signature enforcement, or utilizing advanced tools like Zadig, the goal remains the same: establishing a stable COM port connection for the flashing tool.

Once the driver is successfully installed and the COM port is active in the correct range, the MSM Download Tool or other flashing utilities will be able to communicate with the device’s bootloader, allowing you to restore the firmware, unbrick the device, or perform low-level system modifications. Always prioritize high-quality USB hardware and a clean driver environment to minimize the risk of interruption during the critical flashing process. For further support and community-driven solutions, we invite you to explore the resources available at Magisk Modules and our Magisk Module Repository.