Android recovery mode

A Samsung Galaxy A02s booted into 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

A Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite, booted into ClockWorkMod 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