Along the same lines, these devices are, to this day, among the most active players in custom development. Once you unlock the device’s bootloader, there is a plentitude of things to try out. These include the ability to flash a custom ROM, install a custom recovery like TWRP, or flash tons of mods. For the last one, you need to gain access to the system partition by rooting your device via Magisk. Once you do so, you stand in a position to flash Magisk Modules, Xposed Framework, Substratum Themes, Viper4Androd, among others. However, this is just one side of the coin. While these tweaks do end up adding more to your device, but on the flip side, could prove to be quite risky as well. If you are among the lucky ones, then the device would end up in a bootloop or soft brick. In those cases, you could easily flash the OxygenOS ROM via Fastboot Commands and bring your device back to life. However, in the case of hard brick, that is not possible. You would have to take the help of Qualcomm Emergency Download Mode to force flash the firmware via MSM Tool. And in this guide, we will show you how to do just that. So let’s get started with the steps to unbrick the OnePlus 8/8 Pro/8T devices using the MSM Download Tool.
How to Root OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, and 8T via TWRP and MagiskRestore OnePlus 8/8T/8 Pro to Stock via Fastboot CommandsHow to Pass Magisk SafetyNet on Rooted Android
How to Unbrick OnePlus 8/8 Pro/8T using MSM Download Tool
The below instructions are listed under separate sections for ease of understanding. Make sure to follow in the exact same sequence as mentioned. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device (although it’s already bricked!) and data by performing the below steps.
STEP 1: Disable Firewall/Antivirus
Many users have reported that they were unable to use the tool because Windows Defender or Antivirus app conflicted with the tool. So it’s better to temporarily disable them. Here is how to do so on Windows Defender:
STEP 2: Disable Windows Driver Signature Verification
You will also have to disable the Driver Signature Verification on your Windows PC so that you could install unsign driver Qualcomm (mentioned in the next step) and the MSM Tool. So refer to our guide to Disable Driver Signature Verification on Windows 10.
STEP 3: Install Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 Drivers
Next up, you would require the drivers so that your PC is able to recognize the connected device in EDL Mode. As a result, your device will then be recognized as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 by the Device Manager.
However, if you don’t install these drivers, then your PC wouldn’t be able to identify the connected device and the Device Manager would list pout the device as QHUSB_BULK. So refer to our guide to Download and Install Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 Drivers.
STEP 4: Download MSM Download Tool for OnePlus 8/8 Pro
As opposed to other tools, MSM doesn’t come as a standalone tool. Rather it comes bundled with the firmware file as well. So you should only use the MSM Tool that corresponds to your device. If you wish to use it for any other device for whatever reason (though not recommended), then make sure to replace the OPS firmware with the one for your device.
OnePlus 8 IN21BA MSM Download Tool
OnePlus 8 IN21AA MSM Download Tool
OnePlus 8 IN21DA MSM Download Tool
OnePlus 8 Pro IN11BA MSM Download Tool
OnePlus 8 Pro IN11AA MSM Download Tool
OnePlus 8 Pro IN11DA MSM Download Tool
OnePlus 8T KB05AA MSM Download Tool
OnePlus 8T KB05BA MSM Download Tool
OnePlus 8T KB05DA MSM Download Tool
STEP 5: Setup MSM Download Tool
STEP 6: Boot OnePlus 8/8T/8 Pro to EDL Mode | Flash Unbrick Firmware via MSM Tool
That’s it, the process stands complete. So with this, we conclude the guide on how to unbrick the OnePlus 8/8T/8 Pro devices using MSM Download Tool. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions as well as some fixes for some of the most common issues faced by the users.
Fix MSM Tool OnePlus 8/8T/8 Pro stuck on “Param pre-processing”
If the MSM Tool, while flashing the unbrick firmware, shows the Param pre-processing error, then fret not. The fix is fairly simple- all you need to do is install the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 drivers onto your PC [see STEP 3]. Likewise, it is also recommended that you disable the Windows Driver Signature Verification [See STEP 2].
Fix MSM Tool OnePlus 8/8T/8 Pro “Sahara communication failed”
Sahara Communication failure is among the most common issue with MSM Tool. There isn’t any single fix as such for this issue, there around 8-10 different tweaks that you would have to try out to rectify this error. So please refer to our guide to Fix the Sahara communication failed error in MSM Download Tool.
An alternate way to Boot OnePlus 8/8T/8 Pro to EDL and Start Flashing
As of now, this is all from this tutorial on how to unbrick the OnePlus 8/8T/8 Pro devices using MSM Download Tool. All queries are welcomed in the comments section below.
Unbrick OnePlus 8/8T/8 Pro via Fastboot Enhance
This is a tool created by XDA Senior Member xzr467706992 and beholds a slew of intriguing features, including the ability to directly flash the payload.bin file, without the need to even manually extract it first. Do note that even though this tool was created for OnePlus 8T but it should work across other OnePlus devices too. [Well, I have personally tested it on OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 10 Pro, it works well and good even on those devices]. Moreover, as is evident from the tool’s name, it will only work if you could at least access the Fastboot Mode, which is a possibility when your device is soft brick or in a bootloop mode. However, if your device is completely bricked [in EDL Mode], then this method would not work [unless you could aces Fastboot Mode somehow] and you will have to ty out the MSM Download Tool method mentioned above.
STEP 1: Download Fastboot Enhance Tool
Download the Fastboot Enhance Tool from GitHub [direct link]. Once downloaded, extract it to any convenient location on your PC. The biggest advantage of this tool is that you could directory flash the payload.bin file, there is no need to extract it and get the resultant IMG files!
STEP 2: Download OnePlus OnePlus 8/8T/8 Pro ROM
STEP 3: Install Android SDK
Next up, install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform tools folder, which will be used throughout this guide.
STEP 4: Install Fastboot Drivers
The tool doesn’t come with the Fastboot Drivers, so you will manually have to install it on your PC. For that, please refer to our guide on How to Install Fastboot Drivers in Windows 11. Likewise, make sure to install the OnePlus USB Drivers as well [they are usually automatically installed as soon as you connect your device to the Windows PC for the first time].
STEP 5: Boot to Fastboot Mode
STEP 6: Flash Downgrade Firmware on OnePlus 8/8T/8 Pro via Fastboot
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