If you have bricked your OnePlus 8T and cannot get the phone to boot up, you need to unbrick it. OnePlus 8T comes with OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11. As it is the case with every Android phone, the software that comes pre-installed on 8T can be modified and changed. The company has released the kernel source of the phone, and there will be custom ROMs and TWRP very soon.
The OnePlus 8T is the company’s latest flagship phone. It has a 6.55″ Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. There are four cameras on the back, a 48MP wide sensor, a 16MP ultrawide sensor, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. On the inside, the phone has the Snapdragon 865 chipset with Adreno 650 GPU, 128/256GB of internal storage, and 8/12GB of RAM storage. All of this is powered by a decent 4500 mAh battery.
For the majority of users, installing a ROM and modifying the software on the OnePlus 8T goes without any trouble. However, sometimes things go wrong and users can brick the phone during the process. When the phone is bricked, users cannot enter into Fastboot mode. Fastboot is used to restore the stock firmware of the OnePlus 8T. This means that the phone is completely unusable and you need to unbrick it to bring it back to life. For this scenario, MSM Download Tool is used. MSM Download Tool is a flashing tool that unbricks bricked OnePlus devices. It uses Qualcomm’s Emergency Download Mode to flash the stock firmware on the OnePlus 8T, and subsequently unbricking it.
Note: MSM Download Tool only works on Windows computers. This means that you cannot use the tool if you have a Mac or Linux machine. You need Windows 7, 8, or 10.
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There are three variants of the tool, based on your region: European firmware (KB05BA), Indian firmware (KB05DA ), and international firmware (KB05AA). Furthermore, you need to download the Qualcomm driver in order for the computer to recognize your phone and trigger the EDL mode.
MSM Download Tool for OnePlus 8T:
- Indian firmware (KB05DA) | kebab_15_I.12_200918.zip
- Global firmware (KB05AA ) | kebab_15_O.12_200918.zip
- European firmware (KB05BA) | kebab_15_E.12_200918.zip
- T-Mobile firmware (KB09CB ) | kebabt_15_O.01_200924.zip
Qualcomm EDL Driver for OnePlus 8T | Download
Before you proceed with the tutorial below, please make sure to download the Qualcomm driver and install it on your phone.
How to unbrick OnePlus 8T with MSM Download Tool
Note: Please note that by following the tutorial below, you accept full responsibility for your actions. If something goes wrong or your phone stops working altogether, we shall not be held responsible. Please proceed at your own risk.
- Make sure to download the proper region version of MSM Download Tool. Extract the zip file.
- Double click on MSM Download Tool.exe to launch the flashing tool.
- A login panel will pop up. Under “User Type” select “Other” and click on Next. The main window of the tool will appear.
- Under “Target” select:
- O2 for Global region,
- India for Indian region
- EU for the European region
- Click on Start. The tool will automatically recognize the phone and flash the selected firmware when the phone is connected.
- Press and hold the power button to turn off your phone.
- Enter Qualcomm EDL mode. To do so, press and hold the volume up and volume down keys at the same time for around 40 seconds.
- Now connect your phone to your computer using the stock OnePlus cable.
- The tool will recognize the phone, flash the firmware, and automatically restart it. The entire process will last around 5 minutes.
Once the tool has successfully flashed the OxygenOS firmware on your OnePlus 8T, the phone will automatically reboot. Your phone will be up and running like a new one.
This is the quickest and easiest way to unbrick your bricked OnePlus 8T. If you have any questions or issues with the tutorial, please leave a comment down below.
I downloaded msm tool for my device oneplus 8T with variant AA (KB05AA). when starting by following the steps, like nothing happened and waiting for device is there like forever and more than 5 minutes nothing happened. No reboot no nothing. I guess it failed. What else I should do? I wish someone who technically good for this doing it for me….
Hi Ash, did you install the EDL drivers?
Yup, into the phone right? But the file can’t be open since unrecognized format. Install meaning I have to unzip it if it is a zip file. When downloaded into PC, opening the edl file, I could see so many things to be extracted. Which one supposed to be I have no idea.
Hi Ash, connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable. Then open Device Manager on your computer. If your phone shows up as QDLOADER 9008, you are good to go, and try using the tool again. If it says QHUSB_BULK, you need to install the EDL drivers, which need to be installed on the computer and not your phone (I have updated the article clarifying this).
Download the EDL drivers from the download above. The file has the .CAB extension. Now right click on QHUSB_BULK and tap on “Update driver software” -> “Browse my computer” and select the downloaded .CAB file.
Let me know how it goes.
Do you have telegram?
Hi I have a oneplus 8t but in my case it is the Chinese variant flashing a custom rom but I am interested in returning to the stock version. I have used the program but it gives me an error, help me?
Thank you. Want a beer for your help?