How to access Recovery mode on Android

All Android devices have different partitions where a specific type of files is housed. To understand it better, we can look at the data partition, which is where the user’s personal information is stored. Another example is system, a space that houses the files that give life to the operating system. But, the partition that we are going to talk to you about in this article is recovery. What exactly is it and how can you access it?

The recovery partition is the place where all the data necessary to phone recovery in the event that the rest of the partitions get corrupted. From there, you can run a set of tools that allow you to reset the phone to a previous state, usually by restoring all factory settings. This function is popularly known as the recovery mode, or recovery mode.

It is important to note that the recovery mode functions run independently of the operating system. All the actions available in the recovery menu directly influence the rest of the partitions. Therefore, it is essential to have an isolated execution environment that is capable of handling the system, cache or data partitions.

How to access recovery mode without root

The easiest way to access the recovery mode of your device is by using a combination of buttons defined by the manufacturer. After turning off the device, you must use the power button and, additionally, press the volume up or down buttons.

For example, the Google Pixel use the combination of the power button next to the volume down button. For their part, other brands, such as HTC or Motorola, require that you hold down the power button next to the two volume buttons simultaneously. These combinations can also vary between the different models of the same brand. We recommend that you look for the necessary combination according to the brand and model of your device.

How to access recovery mode with root

If you have root, you can use Quick Reboot, a simple tool that allows you to access the recovery mode without using a specific combination of buttons. First, download and install Quick Reboot on your device using the link you have on this page.

Download

Then, access this tool and click on Recovery.

Restart in recovery mode

Confirm that you want to access the recovery partition by tapping on And it is.

Confirm reboot

When the device restarts, all the recovery mode options will be displayed on the screen.

How to access the recovery mode with the PC

The last way to access the recovery mode is using your computer. What do you need?

• A connection cable to link the phone with your computer.
• Download and install Minimal ADB and Fastboot on your PC.

Download

So, go to the Android settings and click on About phone.

About of the phone

Repeatedly tap on the build number until developer options are activated.

Activate mobile developer options

Go to the section System settings.

Enter the system settings

Open the developer options.

Enter the developer options

Activate the slider that you will see next to Android debugging.

Enable debugging on Android

So, connect your device to the computer and run Minimal ADB and Fastboot. On the command line, type the following to detect your device.

adb devices

If a message appears on your mobile screen, tap Allow to authorize the connection.

Detect device

To finish, type the following command:

adb reboot recovery

Execute it with the Enter key and look at the information visible in the window.

Reboot in recovery mode

Without further ado, your device will reboot into recovery mode.

Options available within the recovery mode

The recovery mode has many options. However, the most popular and useful are:

• Install. This option is used to install applications on the system partition. It is the necessary tool to install Google applications when a ROM change has been made. You can only install, or flash, files this way if you have root access.
• Wipe data / Factory reset. This option fulfills the main objective of the recovery mode. Return your device to its original state, that is, with the factory settings. It is important that you know that this option removes all data from the device.
• Wipe cache partition. Delete the data from the cache partition. It is useful to improve the performance of the terminal and to solve errors produced by temporary files that have been corrupted.