Firmware recovery

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Occasionally, your Flipper Zero may fail to update correctly, display images, or respond to button presses. These issues could be caused by corruption in the device’s firmware.
On this page, you’ll learn how to repair the corrupted firmware of your Flipper Zero.
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How to repair firmware
You can repair the corrupted firmware with the help of qFlipper and the built-in USB Device Firmware Update (DFU) bootloader. The USB DFU bootloader allows you to update your Flipper Zero by bypassing the device’s operating system, which minimizes the risk of errors during the update process.
But first, try doing the following:
Reboot your Flipper Zero by pressing and holding the %left%LEFT and %back%BACK buttons for 5 seconds.

Charge your device with the provided USB Type-C cable for several minutes because your Flipper Zero might have the battery completely drained.
If your Flipper Zero still fails to update correctly, display images, or respond to button presses, follow the steps below.
<div class="warning flipper-callout">
    <div class="callout-header">Firmware repair erases all internal storage data</div>
    The dolphin’s level, settings, and information about paired devices will be erased. <b>Data on the microSD card will be saved.</b>
</div>
<div class="warning flipper-callout">
    <div class="callout-header">Firmware repair erases all internal storage data</div>
    The dolphin’s level, settings, and information about paired devices will be erased. <b>Data on the microSD card will be saved.</b>
</div>
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Step 1. Switching to Recovery mode
Before you start the repair process with qFlipper, switch your Flipper Zero to Recovery mode — this will activate the built-in USB DFU bootloader. Steps for switching your device to Recovery mode may be different and depend on the device state.
If your device is operational but fails to update properly
Switch your Flipper Zero to Recovery mode by doing the following:
1
Go to Main Menu -> Settings -> Power.
2
Then go to Reboot -> Firmware Upgrade.
3
Press %right%RIGHT to reboot.
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4
Connect your Flipper Zero to your computer via a USB cable. The computer should detect your Flipper Zero as a DFU device.
5
﻿Proceed to the firmware repair via qFlipper.﻿
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Alternatively, you can switch the device to Recovery mode by doing the following:
1
Press and hold the %left%LEFT and %back%BACK buttons for 5 seconds.
2
Release the %back%BACK button, but keep pressing the %left%LEFT button until the blue LED lights up.
<video
    autoplay muted loop playsinline style="width: 100%; margin: 0 !important;"
    src="https://cdn.flipperzero.one/Flipper_Zero_DFU_mode_reboot.mp4"
></video>
<video
    autoplay muted loop playsinline style="width: 100%; margin: 0 !important;"
    src="https://cdn.flipperzero.one/Flipper_Zero_DFU_mode_reboot.mp4"
></video>
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3
Connect your Flipper Zero to your computer via a USB cable. The computer should detect your Flipper Zero as a DFU device.
4
﻿Proceed to the firmware repair via qFlipper.﻿
<div class="info flipper-callout">
    <div class="callout-header"></div>
     To exit Recovery mode, press and hold the %left%<b>LEFT</b> and %back%<b>BACK</b> buttons.
</div>
<div class="info flipper-callout">
    <div class="callout-header"></div>
     To exit Recovery mode, press and hold the %left%<b>LEFT</b> and %back%<b>BACK</b> buttons.
</div>
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If your device fails to display any images or respond to button presses
If your Flipper Zero is bricked, switch the device to Recovery mode via a hard reboot:
1
Unplug the USB cable from your Flipper Zero if connected.
2
Press and hold the %ok%OK and %back%BACK buttons for 30 seconds. It is normal if your Flipper Zero has no indications on the screen.
3
Connect your Flipper Zero to your computer via a USB cable. The computer should detect your Flipper Zero as a DFU device.
<video
    autoplay muted loop playsinline style="width: 100%; margin: 0 !important;"
    src="https://cdn.flipperzero.one/flipper_recovery_dfu_mode_compressed.mp4"
></video>

<video
    autoplay muted loop playsinline style="width: 100%; margin: 0 !important;"
    src="https://cdn.flipperzero.one/flipper_recovery_dfu_mode_compressed.mp4"
></video>
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4
﻿Proceed to the firmware repair via qFlipper.﻿
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Checking the connection
You can check if the device is connected to your computer as a DFU device by doing the following:
%windows%Windows
%mac%macOS
%linux%Linux
1
Go to Device Manager.
2
Find the DFU in FS Mode device.
Your Flipper Zero is successfully connected as a DFU device
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<div class="info flipper-callout">
    <div class="callout-header"></div>
    The Flipper Zero DFU device doesn’t come with a driver for Windows. The driver is automatically installed during the qFlipper application installation process.</b>
</div>
<div class="info flipper-callout">
    <div class="callout-header"></div>
    The Flipper Zero DFU device doesn’t come with a driver for Windows. The driver is automatically installed during the qFlipper application installation process.</b>
</div>
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1
Go to  -> About This Mac -> More info -> System Report.
2
Then go to Hardware -> USB.
3
Find the DFU in FS Mode device.
Your Flipper Zero is successfully connected as a DFU device
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<div class="info flipper-callout">
    <div class="callout-header"></div>
    On macOS, the list of connected devices doesn’t refresh automatically when connecting a new device. To update the list and view the newly connected device, press <b>Command+R</b>.
</div>
<div class="info flipper-callout">
    <div class="callout-header"></div>
    On macOS, the list of connected devices doesn’t refresh automatically when connecting a new device. To update the list and view the newly connected device, press <b>Command+R</b>.
</div>
﻿
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You can also check if your Flipper Zero is connected to your macOS computer as a DFU device using Terminal. Run the system_profiler SPUSBDataType command in Terminal:
You can check the connection via macOS Terminal
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1
Run the Terminal and enter the lsusb command.
2
Find the STMicroelectronics STM Device in DFU Mode.
You can check the connection via the Terminal
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If you have a system information tool installed on your computer:
1
Go to USB Devices.
2
Find the DFU in FS Mode device.
You can check the connection via system information tools
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If your Flipper Zero isn’t detected as a DFU device
Use a different USB cable.

If possible, connect your Flipper Zero directly to a USB port on your computer’s motherboard, avoiding the use of an adapter or hub.

First, remove the microSD card from your Flipper Zero, charge the device for one hour, then attempt to connect it without the microSD card inserted.
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Step 2. Repairing the firmware via qFlipper
Once your Flipper Zero is connected to your computer as a DFU device, qFlipper will automatically detect the device.
To repair the firmware:
1
Run qFlipper on your computer.
2
On your computer, click the Repair button. qFlipper will perform a complete installation of the firmware.
qFlipper automatically detects your Flipper Zero as a DFU device
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If qFlipper fails to repair the firmware
Make sure the qFlipper application is installed on your computer correctly. For more details, see Installing qFlipper.

Reboot your device by pressing and holding the %left%LEFT and %back%BACK buttons with a USB cable disconnected, then repeat the repair process.

If qFlipper still fails to repair the firmware, make a hard reboot by pressing and holding the %back%BACK button for 30 seconds with a USB cable disconnected, then repeat the repair process.

Run qFlipper as an administrator.

If possible, connect your Flipper Zero directly to a USB port on your computer’s motherboard, avoiding the use of an adapter or hub.

If you have issues on your Windows computer, visit Troubleshooting drivers on Windows.
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Updated 24 Oct 2024
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