FP4 won't go into recovery mode

[Thaleb]

I was just browsing and all of a sudden my FP4 turned off and was stuck in a boot loop on the FAIRPHONE logo. I got into the boot loader with volume down + USB C cable, but when I select recovery mode it just keeps boot looping…it won’t enter recovery mode.
I didn’t install any other OS or did anything with the FP4, it’s all stock… How can I recover my FP4?

[Razem]

Does this work for you?

Fairphone 4 bootloop, without software modification? Weird issue, help needed

Interesting If you don’t manage to get out of FFBM you will always be brought back to that mode. I’m an idiot, my phone is always connected to my PC when I tinker with it and I just checked, leaving FFBM only works if it’s connected via USB, strange. Could you please try again with your phone connected to power or a PC BTW: Your first error wasn’t a error, you are supposed to adb reboot bootloader that brings you to what most people refer to as fastboot,…

[Thaleb]

Tried everything in that topic. Nothing works…

[hirnsushi]

Are you able to access recovery with fastboot reboot recovery or if that fails does fastbootd (fastboot reboot fastboot) still work?

If you haven’t used fastboot before here is a tutorial how to set it up:

Dictionary Entry: Fastboot

What is Fastboot? Fastboot is two things (to keep things simple) A way to start up your Fairphone (FP2/FP3/FP4). This allows you to connect to your Fairphone from a computer with Fastboot Software on your computer you use to connect to a Fairphone in fastboot mode. How to start the Fairphone in Fastboot mode Disconnect your Fairphone from your computer Shutdown the Fairphone Press and hold down the Volume down button while pressing the Power button The black startup screen with the logo o…

[Thaleb]

@Dictionary Entry: Fastboot

How to start the Fairphone in Fastboot mode

• Disconnect your Fairphone from your computer
• Shutdown the Fairphone
• Press and hold down the Volume down button while pressing the Power button

The black startup screen with the logo of Fairphone and Android will appear and stay. This means the phone is now in Fastboot mode.

I can’t get the Fairphone and Android logo to “stay”, it always continues to loop…
The only thing I can do is go into the boot menu when I turn on the FP holding volume down and releasing it as soon as I see the FP logo. The first line I see is “FastBoot Mode” in red, so is this the FastBoot menu or something else? Maybe i’m stuck in fastboot mode?? When I plug in the cable when on the boot menu screen nothing happens and the “fastboot devices” command returns nothing.

[hirnsushi]

@Thaleb

The first line I see is “FastBoot Mode” in red, so is this the FastBoot menu or something else?

Yes that’s fastboot, exactly where you want to be

If your phone doesn’t get recognized try a different USB port or cable, fastboot can be a bit picky when it comes to cables.

[Thaleb]

Tried 4 diffirent cables on 2 diffirent computers…no results at all.
“fastboot devices” gives nothing and “fastboot reboot recovery” just says “Waiting for devices” forever. Seems like my FP can’t connect to the pc.

[hirnsushi]

If it doesn’t show up under fastboot devices it’s either not recognized by your PC (driver or USB issue) or you are lacking the necessary permissions. What operating system are you using?

For Windows follow the steps under Prerequisites here:

FP4. Install Fairphone OS offline (Windows)

If you are on Linux, check if it shows up under lsusb and try using sudo fastboot devices.

In any case you might want to #contactsupport as well (if you haven’t already), they can be a bit slow to respond, better to get started early.

[Lidwien]

Is in Settings, System, Advanced, Developer options USB Debugging enabled (green)?

In case you get in the process an Android robot lying on its back showing No command then read the article factory reset and recovery mode .

[OldRoutard]

@hirnsushi

better to get started early

too true.

@Lidwien

USB Debugging enabled

too late for that seemingly, Thaleb can’t get it to boot.

At least it’s under guarantee. Sounds to me like it’ll have to go back for repair (as anticipated by hirnsushi’s enjoinder to contact support). Could be a hw pb on the motherboard, memory or something.

[hirnsushi]

@OldRoutard

Sounds to me like it’ll have to go back for repair (as anticipated by hirnsushi’s enjoinder to contact support). Could be a hw pb on the motherboard, memory or something.

Yeah, I suspect that might be it, we’ve had similar cases before

But I’m not giving up hope yet, there’s still plenty of time for debugging before FP support reacts

[Thaleb]

Nothing… I even installed the universial adb drivers just in case.
I also just contacted support.

I must say that I’m a bit disappointed that i’m already having a (hardware) issue in just 2 months time after purchase. I didn’t even tinker with it…

[Josh_FP3]

Hello

@hirnsushi

Yeah, I suspect that might be it, we’ve had similar cases before

But I’m not giving up hope yet, there’s still plenty of time for debugging before FP support reacts

I can sing you a song about that

@Thaleb

I must say that I’m a bit disappointed that i’m already having a (hardware) issue in just 2 months time after purchase. I didn’t even tinker with it…

Please here long, but in the back of the line . . .

Horror story about Fairphone support

I’m just writing this as another data point for people considering purchasing the phone. (TL;DR: DO NOT! Fairphone can’t support their products!) The product is almost exactly what I want from a phone (smaller would’ve been nice, but what ya gonna do?!). The company sounds lovely… on paper. I made a purchase of a Fairphone 4 that arrived May 20. I had a simple question regarding the phone warranty/registration. In the end nobody was able to answer my simple question, so I thought to myself “thi…

[hirnsushi]

@Thaleb

Nothing… I even installed the universial adb drivers just in case.

Alright, so you are on Windows then.

Did you try installing the driver mentioned in the instructions:

If Fairphone 4 does not connect, try installing the latest Google USB driver (ZIP) (click on the link and select “Save link as…” and click the “SAVE” button). To read the instructions, you can click here

If it isn’t a driver issue it’s probably still the USB connection. fastboot is notoriously difficult with USB cables, it’s a known problem (and not exclusive to Fairphones). I for example have to change the USB port if I’ve used the hold Vol. Down and plug in USB cable method before.

All I can tell you is keep trying different cables (especially from different manufacturers) and different ports (USB 2.0 ports seem to work more reliably, but that’s only backed up by my anecdotal evidence…) until one combination hopefully works.

[Thaleb]

Also tried connecting the Fairphone on 2 Linux devices and multiple different cables. lsusb and dmesg had no output…
This is probably a hardware issue. I’m gonna let support handle it.
Thanks for the help tho!