List Of SP Flash Tool Errors, Their Meanings And How To Resolve Them

Even if you follow everything step by step, you might make mistake at some time & you would never even know about it. As we are humans! SP Flash Tool has many error codes which it gives under different circumstances. If you are reading this guide, than it means you have tried installing ROM through SP Flash tool & you failed or got stuck at any step. Don't worry we got your back, we have analysed each and every SP Flash Tool error & have found solutions for almost all the problems. 


Phone still not working after flashing 

Message: Phone still stuck at Bootlogo or Bootloop

Solution: 
* Ensure there's a formatted SD card in the phone before flashing
* Give up to 5 minutes because first boot takes time
* Boot the phone into recovery mode then wipe data / factory reset
* Remove the battery for 30 seconds then slot back in
* Try a firmware upgrade . use MTK droid tools version 2.3.0 to backup usrdata & cache or copy then from the clockworkmod backup
* Try a firmware / ROM from another source

Phone shows white screen, strange colors or divided screen after flashing

Message: You can see the phone responding to buttons and making sound but all is blurred by white screen

* Solution: The ROM / Firmware you flashed is incompatible, get from another source (especially boot.img , logo.bin and uboot.bin / lk.bin )

Phone automatically disconnecting during flashing

Message: The phone makes the disconnecting sound just as flashing begins, interrupting the process

Solution: 
* Try a different USB cord, USB port & PC
* Try holding down the Volume decrease (you could try volume increase or both) while connecting the phone to PC for flashing

* Launch Device manager (Right-click My Computer > Select Manage) 
* Connect the phone to the PC via a USB cord, Device manager should refresh 
* Take note of what the phone is detected as (often as Unknown or Mediatek under Other devices) 
* Right-click whatever the phone is detect as and select Update Driver Software... 
* Select Browse my computer for driver software 
* Select Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer 
* Click Next 
* Click Have Disk 
* Proceed with the Mediatek (VCOM) driver installation steps described atSP Flash Tool and click Yes if you get an Update Driver warning

Sp Flash tool remains at 0% 

Message: Phone only shows charging sign

Meaning: Necessary drivers have not been successfully installed on the PC

Solution: 
* Follow this guide @ VCOM Drivers to manually install vcom drivers

Error 5054 

Message: BROM ERROR S_DL_GET_DRAM_SETTINGS_FAIL (5054) 

Meaning: The files you're trying to flash do not belong to or are not compatible with the phone you're trying to flash them to

Solution: 
* Ensure you're using the correct files. If you're sure they are, then try formatting before flashing again

Initialize scatter failed

Message: Error: Initialize scatter file failed. Please check the scatter file name you load is legal

Meaning: SP Flash tool doesn't accept the name format of your scatter file

Solution: 
* Ensure the scatter file wasn't renamed. If you're certain it wasn't, try a higher version of SP Flash tool

Error 8038 

Message: Error 8038! Android download pmt is ready and layout has been changed

Meaning: SP Flash tool is having trouble writing to certain partitions due to some incompatibility 

Solution: 
* Format the phone in SP flash tool (Do not format Bootloader) then try flashing the files again using Download
* If Download doesnt work then do a firmware upgrade
* If the MTK backup contains more than one scatter file, retry flashing with the other scatter file.
* If that isn't feasible, try formatting first or use firmware upgrade
* If that doesn't work, open the scatter file using Notepad++ and change __NODL_FAT to FAT by removing "__NODL_" . 


Error 4032 

Message: BROM ERROR : S_FT_ENABLE_DRAM_FAIL (4032) [EMI] Enable DRAM fail 

Meaning: SP Flash tool is unable to enable DRAM / communicate effectively with the device

Solution: 
* Ensure that the file(s) you're trying to flash are actually for your exact phone model
* Ensure you tick the boxes for only the files present in the ROM you're about to flash
* Probably have the wrong driver installed. Uninstall vcom, preloader and MTK drivers using usb deview then manually re-install using SP Flash Tool VCOM Driver
* Delete the sp flash tool folder then re-extract 
* Ensure the phone is switched off (with battery still inside) before connecting to PC for flashing. 
* If that doesn't work, keep holding down the volume decrease button just before connecting the phone to PC for flashing (you could try volume increase , power + volume decrease or power + volume increase).
* Consider using the latest version of Sp Flash tool
* Format the phone before trying to flash the file(s) again


Error 5056 

Message: BROM ERROR : S_DL_PMT_ERR_NO_SPACE (5069) 

Meaning: The size of a file is larger than the available / possible partition size

Solution: 
* Ensure that the file(s) you're trying to flash are actually for your exact phone model
* Try another stock ROM

Error 4001


Message: S_FT_DA_NO_RESPONSE or 

Meaning: SP flash tool is having difficulty communicating with the device

Solution: 
* Change the USB-port 
* Run SP flash tool as Admin
* Ensure to install the correct drivers (see SP Flash Tool VCOM Drivers )
* Try another PC and USB cord
* Ensure the phone is switched off with a charged battery inside when connecting to the PC for flashing

Sp flash tool was successful but phone's calibration doesn't work

Message: Soft keys and touch screen don't work / respond

Solution:
* Edit the scatter file using Notepad++ and remove NODL__ (or set is_download: false to is_download: true ) in front of the items you have in the backup folder but aren't listed when you load the scatter file in SP flash tool. This way, these items will become listed when next you load the scatter file (after saving of course) and therefore flashable

Error 4008 

Message: BROM ERROR : S_FT_DOWNLOAD_FAIL (4008) 

Meaning: SP Flash tool encountered an error while attempting to flash files

Solution: 

* Ensure the battery is in the phone and the phone is switched off before connecting for flashing
* Try using a higher version of SP flash tool
* Change the USB cord and port or PC
* Use the format option then download in SP flash tool

Error 3149 

Message: BROM ERROR : S_DA_SDMMC_WRITE_FAILED (3149)

Meaning: SP Flash tool was unable to flash files to the phone

Solution:

* Ensure to run the latest version of SP flash tool as Administrator
* Format first then Download
* Don't tick a box with an unspecified / empty file path
* Ensure the phone is switched off (with a well charged battery in it ) before connecting to PC for flashing
* Try a different PC
* Try a different ROM
* Try a different USB cord
* Try formatting the phone first before flashing files to it

Error 3168 

Message: BROM ERROR: S_CHIP_TYRE_NOT_MATCH(3168)

Meaning: Sp flash tool believes there's a mismatch between the information provided in the scatter file and the phone's info.

Solution:

* Ensure you're using the ROM for the exact phone model
* Try a higher version of SP flash tool
* Ensure to install the correct drivers for the phone on the PC

Error 2004 

Message: BROM ERROR : S_FT_DOWNLOAD_FAIL (2004)

Meaning: There was an interruption in the communication between SP flash tool and the device

Solution:

* Right-click flash_tool.exe > Select Properties > Select Compatibility > Set to Windows XP Service Pack 3 > Click Apply > Click OK > Run SP flash tool as Administrator
* Try a different USB cord
* Try a different port on the PC or another PC
* Ensure the battery is well changed and inside the switched off phone before connecting to PC for flashing

USB device not recognized

Message: USB device not recognized prompt at system tray after connecting the phone to PC

Meaning: The PC is having problems communicating with the phone (often due to interruption, hardware or driver problems)

Solution:
* Follow the guide @ SP Flash Tool VCOM Drivers
* Try a different USB cord, PC port or PC

Error 1013 

Message: BROM ERROR:S_COM_PORT_OPEN Fail(1013)

Meaning: SP flash tool encountered an error while attempting to communicate with the phone via the target port

Solution:
* Try using a different port on the PC
* Install VCOM drivers using SP Flash Tool VCOM Drivers
* Ensure the phone is switched off with battery inside before connecting to the PC for flashing
* Try using a different PC
* Try changing the USB cord
* Ensure the phone's USB port isn't damaged


Error 2020 

Message: BROM ERROR : S_BROM_CHKSUM16_MEM_RESULT_DIFF (2020)

Meaning: SP flash tool encountered a problem moving the files to be flashed into the phone's internal SRAM

Solution:

* Use the latest version of SP flash tool
* In SP flash tool, navigate to Options > Option > Connection > Battery. Set it to "with battery". 
* Use the Format all + Download option
* Hold both volume buttons before connecting to the PC for flashing and release once flashing begins


Error 5007 

Message: BROM ERROR : S_FTHND_FILE_IS_NOT_LOADED_YET (5007)

Meaning: You're trying to flash an item with an unspecified path (no file selected for the ticked item/box)

Solution:
* Ensure the scatter file is in the same directory as the other file(s) to be flashed
* Untick any item whose file you do not have or whose path is not specified; yet, is ticked / selected for flashing

Error 4010

Message: BROM ERROR : S_FT_FORMAT_FAIL

Meaning: The blocks map in the scatter file doesn't match the phone's partition sizes

Solution:
* Try using the latest version of Sp flash tool
* Try using another firmware for the exact phone model

Error 3182

Message: BROM ERROR: S_STORAGE_NOT_MATCH (3182)

Meaning: The ROM your're trying to flash is not compatible with the target device

Solution:
* Download the ROM for the exact phone model you're trying to flash
* Ensure to install VCOM drivers on the PC
* Don't tick any box (after loading the scatter file) without a file path / whose corresponding file has not been automatically or manually loaded.

Error 6012

Message: BROM ERROR: S_SECURITY_SF_CODE_COMMAND_FORBIDDEN (6012), MSP ERROR CODE: 0X00

Meaning: The Download-Agent being used is incompatible with the phone

Solution:
* Set Download-Agent to MTK_AllInOne_DA.bin

Error 1042

Message: BROM ERROR: S_TIMEOUT (1042)

Meaning: The flashing process took too long so SP flash tool encountered a timeout

Solution:
* Try flashing one file at a time
* Use the latest version of SP flash tool
* Try using a different PC and USB cord

Error 2

Message: BROM ERROR: ?? (2)

Meaning: SP Flash tool was unable to communicate with the phone

Solution: 
* Try using a different PC (preferably Windows 7 or lower)
* Install the correct VCOM drivers for your PC's OS and architecture (32 or 64 bit)
* Try another USB cord

Error 2005

Message: BROM ERROR: S_BROM_CMD_STARTCMD_FAIL (2005)

Meaning: The device attempted to power on before SP flash tool could flash files to it

Solution:
* Hold the volume increase button while connecting to PC for flashing

Error 4058

Message: BROM ERROR: S_FT_GET_MEMORY_FAIL (4058)

Meaning: SP flash tool was unable to locate the partition you're trying to flash to

Solution: 
* Untick any item (box) with a blank or empty Location