Android recovery mode

The Android recovery mode is a mode of Android used for installing updates and wipe data.^[1]^[2] It consists of a Linux kernel with ramdisk on a separate partition from the main Android system.

Recovery mode can be useful when a phone is stuck in a bootloop or when it has been infected with malware.^[3]

Enablement

The way of entering recovery is different for every vendor.^[4]

Examples:^[5]

Zebra and symbol devices: left scan/action button

Nexus 7: Volume Up + Volume Down + Power
Samsung Galaxy S3: Volume Up + Home + Power
Motorola Droid X: Home + Power
Older Samsung devices [home]
Samsung Galaxy A10s: Volume Up + Power

Features

Features of the recovery mode usually include:

Applying updates using the Android Debug Bridge
Applying updates from the SD card
Hard resetting
Mounting partitions
Running a system test

Custom recovery

The recovery that is preinstalled on Android can be replaced by other software, such as TWRP, OrangeFox or ClockWorkMod. It can include features such as:^[6]

Full backup and restore functionality
Applying unsigned update packages
USB mass storage access to SD cards
Full ADB access, with ADB running as root

References

^ Morgillo, Ivan (2016). Learning embedded Android N programming: create the perfectly customized system by unleashing the power of Android OS on your embedded device. Stefano Viola. Birmingham, UK. p. 171. ISBN 978-1-78528-328-4. OCLC 957278992.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Tamma, Rohit (2015). Learning Android forensics: a hands-on guide to Android forensics, from setting up the forensic workstation to analyzing key forensic artifacts. Donnie Tindall. Birmingham, UK. pp. 61–63. ISBN 978-1-78217-444-8. OCLC 910639389.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Hill, Simon. "How to Use Android Recovery Mode". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
^ Gordon, Whitson (2021-08-14). "What to Do If Your Phone Won't Turn On". PCMag Australia. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
^ Hoffman, Chris. "How to Factory Reset Your Android Phone or Tablet When It Won't Boot". How-To Geek. Archived from the original on 2022-01-01. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
^ Skulkin, Oleg (2018). Learning Android Forensics: Analyze Android Devices with the Latest Forensic Tools and Techniques, 2nd Edition. Donnie Tindall, Rohit Tamma (2nd ed.). Birmingham: Packt Publishing Ltd. pp. 63–65. ISBN 978-1-78913-749-1. OCLC 1082187226.

[1] Morgillo, Ivan (2016). Learning embedded Android N programming: create the perfectly customized system by unleashing the power of Android OS on your embedded device. Stefano Viola. Birmingham, UK. p. 171. ISBN 978-1-78528-328-4. OCLC 957278992.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[2] Tamma, Rohit (2015). Learning Android forensics: a hands-on guide to Android forensics, from setting up the forensic workstation to analyzing key forensic artifacts. Donnie Tindall. Birmingham, UK. pp. 61–63. ISBN 978-1-78217-444-8. OCLC 910639389.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[3] Hill, Simon. "How to Use Android Recovery Mode". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

[4] Gordon, Whitson (2021-08-14). "What to Do If Your Phone Won't Turn On". PCMag Australia. Retrieved 2021-09-11.

[5] Hoffman, Chris. "How to Factory Reset Your Android Phone or Tablet When It Won't Boot". How-To Geek. Archived from the original on 2022-01-01. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[6] Skulkin, Oleg (2018). Learning Android Forensics: Analyze Android Devices with the Latest Forensic Tools and Techniques, 2nd Edition. Donnie Tindall, Rohit Tamma (2nd ed.). Birmingham: Packt Publishing Ltd. pp. 63–65. ISBN 978-1-78913-749-1. OCLC 1082187226.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

Enablement

Features

Custom recovery

See also

References