Follow the instructions below carefully to download and learn how to flash stock firmware image on our Google Pixel or Pixel XL smartphone.
Disclaimer: You should already know by now that this content was written just to help you get the best out of your smartphone. But your use of this guide is entirely at your own risk.
PREREQUISITES
- Unlock your Pixel or Pixel XL’s bootloader. Please note that unlocking the bootloader and restoring to stock will wipe your phone’s data, so backup your apps and data.
- Download the appropriate factory image package for your Google Pixel XL (codename= marlin), Pixel (codename= sailfish): Click Here
- Your Pixel (XL) apps and data might be wiped after flashing the factory images. If you don’t want this to happen, install NotePad++ and open the flash-all.bat file (found in the factory image package), and remove the “-w” from the script.
- Enable Developer options on your Pixel XL: Go to Settings> About phone> Build number and tap it 7 times. Then go back to Settings> Developer options and enable USB Debugging and OEM unlocking.
- Install Minimal ADB and Fasboot Setup on your computer. When the program prompts you to create a desktop shortcut while installing, allow it. Also, take note of your Minimal ADB and Fasboot Setup installation path/directory, because you’ll need that later.
- Install the latest Google USB drivers on your computer.
- Have your Pixel (XL) charged to at least 50%.
FLASHING FACTORY IMAGES ON GOOGLE PIXEL OR PIXEL XL
Once you have fulfilled the steps above, get started with the following:.
- Copy the downloaded factory image zip package (for instance, “marlin-nde63l-factory-71a65e7e.zip”), navigate to the Minimal ADB and Fastboot directory.
- Now extract the contents of the zip file to the same folder. Your Fastboot folder should look like as shown below:
- Turn off your device and boot it into the Bootloader Mode. To do so, press and hold the Volume Down + Power buttons until you see a screenshot like shown below.
- Now connect your Pixel XL to your computer using the stock USB cable and wait for a few seconds so that the device drivers are installed.
- Now launch the Minimal ADB and Fastboot by clicking the desktop shortcut. If you forgot to create the shortcut earlier, go to Windows Start menu> All Programs> Minimal ADB and Fastboot and click it. A command window will pop up.
- To ensure that your phone is properly connected, run the following command. You’ll see a code for your device in the command window
adb devices
- Now type the following command in the command window and hit the Enter key on your keyboard.
flash-all.bat
The installation process will begin and you’ll see a string of outputs for the ongoing processes as shown below:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot>flash-all.bat
target reported max download size of 536870912 bytes
sending 'bootloader_a' (32820 KB)…
writing 'bootloader_a'…
(bootloader) Valid bootloader version.
rebooting into bootloader…
< waiting for any device >
target reported max download size of 536870912 bytes
sending 'radio_a' (57048 KB)…
writing 'radio_a'…
rebooting into bootloader…
< waiting for any device >
target reported max download size of 536870912 bytes
archive does not contain 'recovery.img'
archive does not contain 'vendor_other.img'
wiping userdata…
Creating filesystem with parameters:
Size: 26663190528
Block size: 4096
Blocks per group: 32768
Inodes per group: 8192
Inode size: 256
Journal blocks: 32768
Label:
Blocks: 6509568
Block groups: 199
Reserved block group size: 1024
Created filesystem with 11/1630208 inodes and 146354/6509568 blocks
Bootloader Version…: 8996-012001-1608281716
Baseband Version…..: 8996-012511-1609150631
Serial Number……..: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
checking product…
checking version-bootloader…
checking version-baseband…
sending 'boot_a' (26481 KB)…
writing 'boot_a'…
erasing 'system_a'…
sending sparse 'system_a' 1/3 (523506 KB)…
writing 'system_a' 1/3…
sending sparse 'system_a' 2/3 (524279 KB)…
writing 'system_a' 2/3…
sending sparse 'system_a' 3/3 (512303 KB)…
writing 'system_a' 3/3…
erasing 'system_b'…
sending sparse 'system_b' 1/4 (517263 KB)…
writing 'system_b' 1/4…
sending sparse 'system_b' 2/4 (514150 KB)…
writing 'system_b' 2/4…
sending sparse 'system_b' 3/4 (516790 KB)…
writing 'system_b' 3/4…
sending sparse 'system_b' 4/4 (96127 KB)…
writing 'system_b' 4/4…
erasing 'vendor_a'…
sending 'vendor_a' (234277 KB)…
writing 'vendor_a'…
Setting current slot to 'a'…
erasing 'userdata'…
sending 'userdata' (138957 KB)…
writing 'userdata'…
rebooting…
finished. total time: 128.109s
Press any key to exit…
- When you’re prompted to press a key, do that. Your phone will reboot automatically.
- Be patient, first boot might take about 10 minutes to complete.
- Done!