Pixel 5 stuck in bootloop after flashing recovery img

/e/OS Devices Google
1

Hi,

I was following the instructions from Install /e/OS on a Google Pixel 5 - “redfin” when I got into the issue. The device is stuck in a bootloop and I can’t seem to find any way to stop it.

Here is what I did before it happened:

fastboot flash boot boot-e-3.3-a15-20251211556482-community-redfin.img
Sending ‘boot_a’ (98304 KB) OKAY [ 2.270s]
Writing ‘boot_a’ OKAY [ 0.512s]
fastboot flash dtbo dtbo-e-3.3-a15-20251211556482-community-redfin.img
Sending ‘dtbo_a’ (16384 KB) OKAY [ 0.470s]
Writing ‘dtbo_a’ OKAY [ 0.183s]

fastboot boot recovery-e-3.3-a15-20251211556482-community-redfin.img
creating boot image…
creating boot image - 100665344 bytes
Sending ‘boot.img’ (98306 KB) OKAY [ 2.242s]
Booting (bootloader) boot.img missing cmdline or OS version
FAILED (remote: ‘Error verifying the received boot.img: Unsupported’)
fastboot: error: Command failed

I don’t know why the command failed (I checked the file integrity), but anyway the phone won’t let me boot into recovery mode. The device is fully charged. I tried holding down the power button for 30sec but it won’t even turn off…

The bootloader is unlocked.

adb and fastboot commands don’t show any device, I suppose because it’s busy trying to boot.

Any idea what went wrong and most importantly how do I get out of this? Thanks

2

Hello @romanesk, Welcome to the /e/ users forum.

.

please read carefully the instructions,

is the not the right command but :

fastboot flash vendor_boot recovery-e-3.3-a15-20251211556482-community-redfin.img
3

You are right, I typed the wrong command indeed, my bad!

Well, now the problem is that I can’t even type any more commands because it’s still stuck in the bootloop. I browsed the forum and the internet to find a solution, but nothing seems to work. I’ve tried holding vol down + power, etc. Have I broken something?

4

Are you able to boot into Fastboot with

With the device powered off - hold Volume Down + Power

With very careful timing can you synchronise your button press with the moment the bootloop is at rest?

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5

hold power button for 30 seconds ?

6

It’s not doing anything different, I’m stuck with this going on over and over:

pixel5
pixel51920×1280 127 KB

I’m afraid it’s bricked… Perhaps I should return it, unless there is another way?

7

don’t works ?

pause the boot don’t helps ?

when the screen become black also don’t work ?

.

radical measure is to drain the battery (it willl take time…), then charge it and finally boot to bootloader mode…

8

After loading “dtbo” use the side button on the phone to “restart bootloader”, then load the recovery image. I just ran into the issue.

Also if coming from “official” make sure the bootloader is unlocked LOL, I actually missed that the other day.

9

Alright I tried again several times and I eventually got to fastboot mode!

So I went on and did fastboot flash vendor_boot recovery-e-3.3-a15-20251211556482-community-redfin.img succesfully.

I selected “reboot bootloader” with the side button, then “recovery mode” and I got this:

kcSE4
kcSE4337×300 16.6 KB

adb devices
List of devices attached
0A091FDD4002N7 rescue

There might be something wrong with the recovery img, huh?

10

Great you got fastboot mode … then you do

fastboot flash boot <boot>.img
fastboot flash dtbo <dtbo>.img

before

 fastboot flash vendor_boot recoveryfilename.img

so, I suggest, to be prepared to do all three now.

There is also Android Flash Tool if required.

11

I managed to get to recovery mode and installed the system, so it works! Thanks a lot for the help folks, I thought I’d never get by!

Now the only thing is that the bootloader remains unlocked because the doc says the method there only works for official builds and I have community ( Install /e/OS on a Google Pixel 5 - “redfin” ). I don’t know if it’s okay to just leave it unlocked, or is it a security issue?

12

if you need a relocked bootloader, better is to choose a build from the “official” branch..
why relocking ?

1 Like