How to Manually Install or Update the OS on Your Brax Device¶

Two Installation Methods¶

Prerequisites¶

Install via spflash¶

Installing via spflash holds some advantages over installing via fastboot, mainly the possibility to not erase userdata, possible since the bootloader can be locked when using spflash.

Before you start, you need to ensure that you have downloaded MediaTek's SP Flashh tool.

How to Install the OS on Windows

1. Open the SPFlashToolV6 application located in the folder where your spflash is downloaded.

2. Add the Download-XML file, by pressing on the choose button (next to Download-XML), and selecting the flash.xml typically located in the download_agent folder in the OS installation package you've downloaded.

3. Next step provides several options, which will determine whether your user data will get deleted or not.

Option 1: Select Download only and deselect user data. Bychoosing this option, you will keep the userdata already stored on the device. Please note that some OS versions do not allow the Download only option, as they require a firmware update, which will lead to erasing user data. If a firmware upgrade is required, select Firmware upgrade from the dropdown and press Download. Once ready, you can then select Download from the dropdown and continue with the next steps.

Option 2: Select Format All + Download. By choosing this option, you will reformat the device while installing the latest version. Note that deselecting userdata will not be an option when Format All + Download is selected, meaning you will be deleting your user data. Important: If you select Format All + Download, you will also wipe the device's IMEI and serial number. Make sure you take a note of those before you start the installation process, as you may need to insert them later on in order to receive mobile connectivity from your telco operator.

1. Press download.

2. Turn your device off.

3. Plug in your device via USB cable.

4. Once plugged, the process of flashing the OS will start. The process usually takes 2-3 minutes.

5. When completed, you will see an indication that the process has finished successfully.

Congratulations – Your OS is now installed/updated!

You can now reboot your phone and enjoy the version you've installed.

Install via fastboot¶

Before you start, you need to ensure the following: - Your device has an unlocked bootloader (see how to unlock the bootloader) - Android Platform Tools downloaded and extracted to your Desktop folder

Steps¶

1. Download the latest OS installation package.

2. Unarchive the installation package file.

3. Copy all the Disc Image Files and .bin file from the installation package folder (see step 2) and paste them in the platform-tools folder (where your Android Platform Tools have been saved).

4. Copy the flash.sh file and paste it in the platform-tools folder (where your Android Platform Tools have been saved).

5. For Windows users: Edit the flash.sh file and remove #!/bin/bash comment, as well as any other comments in the file (comments start with "#"). Save the file after you're done. At the end, rename the file to flash.bat so it changes its type to Windows Batch File.

!!! tip "Preserve User Data" If you're updating your OS and don't want to wipe your user data, remove the command fastboot format userdata from your flash.bat or flash.sh file. That way your user data, including your installed apps, files, images, etc. will be preserved.

1. Connect your device to your PC by using a reliable USB data cable.

2. Press Allow when you're prompted to Allow USB debugging.

3. Open the Command Prompt (press Win + R, type cmd, and hit Enter) for Windows or Open your Terminal for Linux.

4. Navigate to the Platform Tools folder using the following commands:

For Windows:

cd C:\Users\[Your Username]\Desktop\platform-tools-latest-windows\platform-tools

Tip: You can get the path to your folder by clicking on the navigation bar in your file explorer.

For Linux:

cd ~/Desktop/platform-tools_r34.0.4-windows/platform-tools

1. Type adb devices and press enter.

   • If successful, you should see an identifier of your connected device, with the word "device" on its right.

2. Type adb reboot bootloader and press enter.

3. The phone will now reboot into fastboot mode (you should see a "FASTBOOT MODE" indicator on screen).

4. On your PC, open your platform-tools folder and double click the flash.bat file (for Windows) or flash.sh file (for Linux).

5. The installation of the OS will now commence. You will see the installation progress on your terminal.

6. Once completed, unplug your device from the USB and hold the power button.

Congratulations – Your OS is now installed/updated!¶

Common Issues When Installing the OS via Fastboot (and How to Fix Them)¶

If you're running into problems while installing the OS on your device, you're not alone.

1. Device Not Detected by ADB or Fastboot

Problem: Running adb devices or fastboot devices returns nothing, or just says "unauthorized".

Fix: - Make sure USB debugging is enabled on your device - Tap Allow when prompted with "Allow USB debugging" - Reconnect the USB cable and try a different port (preferably USB 2.0) - Use a data-capable cable, not just a charging cable - Try restarting both your phone and PC - Reinstall or update the MediaTek USB drivers

2. "Command not found" or Unrecognized Command in Command Prompt

Problem: Commands like adb or fastboot aren't recognized in Command Prompt.

Fix: - Make sure you're in the correct folder: the one that contains adb.exe and fastboot.exe - Use the cd command exactly as shown in the guide, and verify the path - Alternatively, drag the platform-tools folder into your Command Prompt window to autofill the path - Use .\adb or .\fastboot if Windows doesn't recognize the command alone

3. Nothing Happens When Running flash.bat (Windows only)

Problem: You double-click the flash.bat file but the installer doesn't run or closes immediately.

Fix: - Double-check that you followed step 5 correctly: - Removed the #!/bin/bash line and other comments starting with # - Saved the file as flash.bat, not flash.sh or flash.bat.txt - Right-click the file and select "Run as Administrator" - Ensure all the Disc Image Files were correctly copied into the platform-tools folder

4. Installation Fails or Freezes Midway

Problem: The flashing process starts but fails midway, or appears to freeze with no progress.

Fix: - Confirm that all required files were copied into the platform-tools folder (not just flash.bat) - Try using a different USB cable and/or port - Do not use USB hubs or adapters; plug directly into your computer - Restart the process and make sure the device is in Fastboot mode (you should see "FASTBOOT MODE" at the bottom left)

5. Device Boots to Old OS After Flashing

Problem: After the flash completes, the device boots into the old operating system or doesn't reflect changes.

Fix: - Make sure the flashing process actually completed successfully - Verify you downloaded the correct OS package for your device - Try performing a factory reset from recovery mode after flashing - Ensure the bootloader is unlocked if required for the OS you're installing

6. Stuck in Fastboot Mode After Flashing

Problem: Your device doesn't boot into the system and stays on the Fastboot screen.

Fix: - After the flashing completes, disconnect USB and hold the power button for 10-15 seconds until it reboots.