How to restore Moto G (1st Gen) from softbrick after Android 5.0 Lollipop update

Senior XDA member GI0/NNI have shared a tutorial using which Moto G (2013) users can unbrick the smartphone if it has got softbricked after the Android 5.0 Lollipop update.

The tutorial explains the procedure of using ADB and fastboot with CMD, then flashing fresh firmware, and then installing the Android 5.0 OTA update again, reports XDA.

In case you feel the first method is slightly tricky and you are not comfortable performing it, then go for the alternative method, by downloading Android 4.4.4 firmware first and then creating a .bat file with the codes and finally using this file to install the firmware.

Keep in mind that this method is only for softbricked Moto G devices and not hard brick.

How to restore softbricked Moto G after Android 5.0 Lollipop update

Method-1

Step-1: Plug your Moto G into fastboot in your PC.

Step-2: Flash a custom recovery, like CWM on Moto G.

Step-3: Open recovery, while keeping the phone plugged into the PC. The recovery will have adb by default.

Step-4: Open a command prompt and type the following code:

• cd directory-with-adb.exe-and-fastboot.exe-etc

Step-5: Type in another command.

• adb devices

Step-6: You should see the Moto G serial number in the attached devices list. If not then download the driver installer.

Step-7: Ensure that you are able to mount the sdcard in recovery. To check that, perform data/media wipe.

Step-8: You can now move the downloaded zip files to the SD card of the phone using the following command:

• adb push yourrom.zip /sdcard/yourrom.zip

This will take some time, so wait for the process to complete.

Step-9: You can now install the downloaded zip file. You might face SIM card or Wi-Fi issues. You should download a .xml.zip firmware corresponding to the just flashed firmware version. Navigate to the firmware folder using CMD command. Type the following codes

• fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
• fastboot erase modemst1
• fastboot erase modemst2
• fastboot flash fsg fsg.mbn

Step-10: Your Moto G should work now. You will get the screen rumble. But it will be fixed when you install the stock recovery and the Lollipop OTA zip.

If you find the aforementioned method difficult, then check the following method.

Alternative method

Step-1: Try downloading Android 4.4.4 firmware with .xml.zip extension.

Step-2: Extract the file and navigate to where you have saved the file.

Step-3: Connect the phone into fastboot into the PC.

Step-4: Ensure that you have fastboot files inside the firmware folder.

Step-5: Create a .bat file using the following codes:

• fastboot flash boot boot.img
• fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
• fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.0
• fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.1
• fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.2
• fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
• fastboot erase modemst1
• fastboot erase modemst2
• fastboot flash fsg fsg.mbn
• fastboot erase cache
• fastboot erase userdata
• mfastboot reboot

This process should work now.

Note: Some users have bricked their bootloader by flashing Lollipop OTA and then downgrading to Android 4.4.2 and tried to update to Android 4.4.4 via OTA update.

[Source: XDA]