How to Flash a Phone

Author Info
Updated: June 2, 2019 | References

If you want to use your old cell phone with a new carrier, you will need to know how to
flash a phone. Flashing is also referred to as reprogramming. You can also take your
phone to various authorized cell phone dealers to get it flashed for you, but you can learn
how to flash your phone yourself.

Part
1 Working with the Right Equipment

Make sure you are trying to flash a CDMA phone. CDMA stands for Code
1 Division Multiple Access. If you are uncertain whether your phone is CDMA or
not, remove the battery and look for a removable subscriber identity module (SIM)
card under the battery. If there isn't a SIM card, you indeed have a CDMA phone that
can be flashed.
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) phones can't be flashed (like
AT&T and T-Mobile). Metro, Sprint, Cricket, Boost, Verizon and many others are
CDMA and thus can be flashed because they're not controlled by the SIM card.
(Since Metro has merged with T-Mobile they have introduced phones with SIM
cards so flashing may vary from phone to phone.)
Your phone must also have a clean ESN (electronic serial number) -- that is, it
must never have been reported lost or stolen.

Get out your USB cord. The same one you use to connect to your computer to
2 download music and whatnot will be used with this process.

Search for compatible flashing software. There are several easy-to-use

3 flashing programs that make flashing easy, and some are even free to download.
Make sure the one you choose will work with your particular phone before attempting
to flash.
Examples include Easyflasher.com[1], CDMA-ware.com[2], and Your cellular[3].
Search around before you risk damaging your phone with an inadequate or
incompatible program.
 Know what you want to flash your phone to. You are changing your phone
4 from your current carrier to something else. The only stipulation is that it also
must be a CDMA network. Cricket, Page Plus, and Metro PCS are three popular
options.
You can check the reception in your area for various carriers at
Cellreception.com.[4] Might as well before you make the leap! Certain programs
are affiliated with larger networks, like Page Plus is with Verizon.[5]
You can get an hour's trial of Page Plus from their website.

Part
2 Proceeding with the Flashing Process

Download the flashing program of your choice onto your computer, and
1 unzip the files. Carefully read the instructions and follow them carefully. After
reading the instructions, you will be able to flash your phone within 15 or 20 minutes.
Because each phone's set up is a bit different, it's impossible to outline step-by-
step guidelines here. However, there are generally a few things you need to know
that we'll try to cover.

Check for drivers. If you're unsure whether your phone is up-to-date or not, it's
2 fairly simple to get the latest online. As long as you know your phone's model
number or name, you'll be good to go. If you don't, you can find that online, too.
Make sure you have all the drivers you need before you flash! Otherwise the
process may not work. Visit your phone company's website (e.g., Samsung) to do
so.

Know the basics. The software will ask you what your original carrier was, what
3 you're flashing to, and your phone's make and model. It will also prompt you to
choose between a "half flash" and a "full flash." A "half flash" is just talk and text,
nothing else.

Know your MEID and ESN. If you get into the program you're using to flash, you
4 can "read" the phone, which will then give you all the information you need to
continue with the process. Or you can get into it beforehand. The MEID and ESN can
be found underneath your phone's battery.
 The MEID will be 18 digits (starting with 2) if it's MEID Dec or 15 numbers and
letters if its MEID Hex.
The ESN will be 8 numbers long and possibly labeled PESN.

Detect your phone. Your software should have an option to detect your phone,
5 allowing it to be read. If you do this, you don't have to worry about determining the
COM port yourself -- it should be able to figure that out for you.
If it is asking you your unlock code, for Verizon phones this is always six zeroes.
The lesser common, but still possible, options are six ones or six threes.
Certain phones may require you to mess with the PRL. In the US, the code is
*228 (for Verizon/MetroPCS/US Cellular) and ##873283# ("update," in case you
didn't notice) for Sprint. In Canada, it's *22803 for Telus Mobility.
If for some reason the COM Port is giving you guff, you can manually find what
port it is in through your Device Manager.

Choose "write." Most software will have you select "write" and then ask you to
6 confirm. Once you select "yes," the phone will proceed to get flashed and
automatically reboot when successful. That's it! You're done. Almost too easy, huh?

Part
3 Recognizing the Risks

Know that "bricking" your phone is an option. This is the term used for a
1 "sudden death" of your phone. It becomes virtually useless...unless you want to
use it as a brick.
This risk still exists even when done by a professional. The odds are lower than if
you ask your geeky roommate to do it, sure, but it's still there.

Understand that any warranty you had will be voided.[6] Makes logical sense -
2 - you abandon your carrier, they abandon you. However, if you go to a retailer and
they do it for you (which is an option), your warranty may stay intact (depending on
your circumstances, of course).
 Make sure your flashed-to carrier accepts foreign ESNs. If you're flashing to
3 Boost or Cricket, you shouldn't have a problem. But flashing to a behemoth like
Verizon could pose some issues -- they approve of fewer "at-home" remedies such as
this.

Know that you're still using the same technology. When you're working with a
4 CDMA phone, whether it's flashed or not, you'll still be relying on CDMA
technology. If you live in the US and travel a lot, most phones in other countries are of
the GSM variety (i.e., have a sim card). The main benefits of flashing your phone are
in saving money and supporting the littler guys.
All carriers within the US with the exception of AT&T and T-Mobile use CDMA
technology. Their numbers (ESN) are hard-wired and cannot be changed, unlike
their GSM peers.[6]

Flashing your phone to Straight Talk is illegal. You need to replicate your
5 phone's ESN to do this, thus cloning it. Having two phones with the same number
is obviously fishy and is a crime that could lead to some hefty fines or more.[7] If you
are contemplating Straight Talk, see their website and talk to a professional
beforehand.

Community Q&A

Question

Is it possible to flash my phone without a computer?

Community Answer

Depends on the phone. Some phones can be rooted, bootloader unlocked, and
reflashed without a PC, but most phones require a PC for at least one of those
three steps.

Question

How do I use flash on an iPhone 6?

Community Answer
 Go to the camera and hit the icon in the top right corner that looks like a lighting
bolt; take pictures as usual.

Question

How do I unlock my mobile?

Community Answer

If it's a recent iPhone, it should have a finger recognition, and there's always a
passcode for every phone.

Question

What flashing software do I need to flash a phone from one provider to

another?

Community Answer

It depends on your phone brand and model; there is no one magic solution for
all.

Tips

Flashing can save you money because you eliminate the need to purchase a new
phone once you switch over to your new carrier. You may also be able to take
advantage of a cheaper plan offered by other carriers when you have the ability to
flash your phone.
Warnings

CDMA phones can used only with CDMA carriers such as Metro, Sprint, Cricket,
Boost, and Verizon.

Only CDMA phones can be flashed. GSM (Global System for Mobile
Communications) phones that contain a SIM card, used by carriers such as AT&T
and T-Mobile, cannot be flashed. If you have a GSM phone, you are locked into
using your phone with whatever carrier you originally signed up with.

Flashing a phone yourself will void its manufacturer warranty. If you take the
phone to an authorized dealer or service shop, it can be flashed without voiding
the warranty.

There are always risks involved when flashing a phone. Data could be
permanently erased or the phone could stop working completely. Flash at your
own risk, and be sure that you follow the software directions if you do decide to
attempt flashing yourself.

A CDMA cell phone can be used on a compatible CDMA network only if your new
carrier is willing to activate the phone on its network. Budget carriers such as
Cricket or Boost will typically allow flashing, while larger mainstream carriers like
Sprint or Verizon will not. It is a good idea to call the new carrier and confirm that
they accept foreign electronic serial numbers (ESNs) before attempting to flash.