PotatoNV v2.2.1 (Updated bootloaders – 2022.03)
Latest- Added bootloader: Kirin 925
- Added bootloader: Kirin 935 (thanks to Busya)
https://youtu.be/H0k8mx0Ze5A
Download
👉 Click here to download the latest version.
Get binaries for Windows in the releases section. For Linux or macOS consider using the PotatoNV-crossplatform.
User manual
Follow the video guide or read the manual below.
Make sure your device is compatible
- Are you sure you're actually using a Huawei/Honor device?
- Open the Settings → About phone. Check the CPU: it should be HiSilicon Kirin ***. If it is not your case (MediaTek, Qualcomm), then alas, your device is not supported. :(
- Okay, now you know CPU model. It should be one of these modification:
- Kirin 620
- Kirin 650
- Kirin 655
- Kirin 658
- Kirin 659
- Kirin 925
- Kirin 935
- Kirin 950
- Kirin 960
- Don't worry if CPU is not listed above – ask for a special bootloader for your device in the support chat if it's older than 4 years (date of manufacture is 2018 or earlier).
- 100% incompatible CPUs: Kirin 710, 710A, 710F, 810, 970, 980, 985, 990 & newer.
Getting inside
The first step is the most difficult thing to do. You need to disassemble your device: this is necessary in order to access the contacts on the motherboard.
If you're not sure that you have enough experience to disassemble the device, then consider using paid software, that supports "software testpoint".
⚠️ I strongly recommend watching video manuals for disassembling your device.
⚠️ Be extremely careful with planar cables! These cables are used in tablets, as well as in phones with a fingerprint scanner on the back cover.
You will need: a hair dryer, a guitar pick or a plastic card, conductive tweezers and maybe a screwdriver.
- Turn off the device.
- Heat the back cover evenly with a hair dryer.
- After a couple of minutes, try to stick the plastic card into the corner between case and lid, try to lift the edge and then deepen the card.
- Move around the perimeter of the back cover, peeling off glue.
- Now you can remove the back cover.
Entering download mode
It's time to Google. You need to find the location of a special point on the motherboard – testpoint.
💡 If you are wondering why you need to do something with the unfortunate testpoint, then read the contents of the spoiler below.
To search, use the model name before the hyphen + "testpoint". For example for Honor 9 Lite (LLD-L31) you should Google "lld testpoint".
An example how a typical testpoint photo looks like.
The marks may vary:
- Only one point is marked in the photo.
- In the photo, a line is drawn between the point and the metal shield.
- In the photo, a line is drawn between two points.
Here you will need sleight of hand: try to short-circuit the point and the metal shield (in option 1 and 2), or short-circuit both points (option 3) with tweezers. Without removing the tweezers, connect the USB cable to the computer.
After 3 seconds, the tweezers can be removed.
Open the "Device Manager" – you should see an unknown device named USB SER
, or Serial Port HUAWEI USB COM 1.0
.
If the device has not been detected, make sure you are using a good cable, the tweezers are not a dielectric, and you are shorting the desired point.
Unlocking the bootloader
- Install HiSuite.
- Install Huawei Testpoint Drivers.
- Download the latest release of PotatoNV.
- Start PotatoNV.
💡 All bootloaders are flashing to RAM, so an incorrect bootloader cannot harm the device.
💡 Disable FBLOCK
checkbox disables a special securtiy check. That modification allows you to flash/erase secure partitions or execute oem commands, that are not available with normal unlocking by unlock code [USERLOCK
].
⚠️ FBLOCK
unlocking works correctly only on devices with Kirin 960 or Kirin 65x. Disabling this option can cause serious problems on legacy devices.
Okay, now refer to this table and select the appropriate bootloader.
Press the Start button.
The procedure will take no more than a minute. The program should write a new unlock code, keep it in a safe place.
Reboot your device to fastboot mode and execute following command on the host machine:
fastboot oem unlock YOUR_CODE_HERE
have fun.
How it works
Tested devices
Device | Model | Bootloader |
---|---|---|
Huawei P8 Lite (2015) | ALE | Kirin 620 |
Huawei Y6II | CAM | Kirin 620 |
Honor 5C / 7 Lite | NEM | Kirin 65x (A) |
Honor 6X | BLN | Kirin 65x (A) |
Honor 7X | BND | Kirin 65x (A) |
Honor 9 Lite | LLD | Kirin 65x (A) |
Huawei MediaPad T5 | AGS2 | Kirin 65x (A) |
Huawei Nova 2 | PIC | Kirin 65x (A) |
Huawei P10 Lite | WAS | Kirin 65x (A) |
Huawei P20 Lite / Nova 3e | ANE | Kirin 65x (A) |
Huawei P8 Lite (2017) | PRA | Kirin 65x (A) |
Huawei P9 Lite | VNS | Kirin 65x (A) |
Huawei Y9 (2018) | FLA | Kirin 65x (A) |
Huawei MediaPad M5 Lite | BAH2 | Kirin 65x (B) |
Huawei Nova 2i / Mate 10 Lite | RNE | Kirin 65x (B) |
Huawei P Smart 2018 | FIG | Kirin 65x (B) |
Honor 6 Plus | PE | Kirin 925 |
Huawei P8 | GRA | Kirin 935 |
Honor 8 Pro / V9 | DUK | Kirin 950 |
Honor 8 | FRD | Kirin 950 |
Huawei P9 Standart | EVA | Kirin 950 |
Honor 9 | STF | Kirin 960 |
Huawei Mate 9 Pro | LON | Kirin 960 |
Huawei Mate 9 | MHA | Kirin 960 |
Huawei MediaPad M5 | CMR | Kirin 960 |
Huawei Nova 2s | HWI | Kirin 960 |
Huawei P10 | VTR | Kirin 960 |
Donate
It would be much appreciated if you want to make a small donation to support my work!
All my accounts are blocked due to the political situation. So nvm! :)
Thank you, Martin, Moisés, Tibor, Emanuele & all those I've forgotten (sorry!).
Sponsored by JetBrains
License
Logo by Icons8.
All bootloaders are Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. property.
This project is not affiliated with Huawei.
Unlock tool for Huawei devices on Kirin SoC. Copyright (C) 2020 mashed-potatoes
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/.