Fix: Slot Unbootable Load Error on Pixel Devices

Google Pixel devices are one of the flagship-grade and value for money Android smartphones that offer better hardware, the latest Stock Android experience for...

Subodh Gupta

Last updated on October 6, 2021

Subodh Gupta

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Subodh loves to write content whether it may be tech-related or other. After writing on tech blog for a year, he becomes passionate about it. He loves playing games and listening to music. Apart from blogging, he is addictive to the gaming PC builds and smartphone leaks.

Fix: Slot Unbootable Load Error on Pixel Devices

It’s also worth mentioning that the Pixel devices are unable to boot into the system once they are stuck in the fastboot screen. Luckily, a couple of users have booted into the TWRP recovery menu and then flash firmware after changing the slots to fix such an issue. If you’re also facing the same problem then check out this troubleshooting guide completely to get rid of this issue.

Here we’ve shared three different methods for you. So, follow one of them, and if the first method doesn’t fix the issue, then make sure to follow other methods. Now, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into the guide below.

1. Boot Pixel to TWRP and Flash it

These days most Android devices don’t come with a recovery partition so Pixel devices. That means you won’t be able to directly flash the TWRP custom recovery to the recovery slot. To flash the TWRP recovery on your Pixel device, you’ll need to do the following steps:

First of all, press and hold the Power + Volume Down buttons together for a few seconds to boot your device into the Fastboot mode.
Now, make sure to download and install ADB & Fastboot Tools (Platform Tools) on your Windows computer.
Once the Platform Tool is installed, connect your Pixel device to the PC via a USB cable.
Next, open the installed ADB & Fastboot tools (Platform Tools) folder on the PC.

Then type cmd on the address bar inside the folder and hit Enter to open Command Prompt. [If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to run it as administrator]

Now, run the following command line on the Command Prompt window to check whether the device is properly detected in fastboot or not:

fastboot devices

If connected then you’ll see a random device ID on the command prompt window.
Then go to the official TWRP Recovery website and download the latest version of the TWRP file for your specific Pixel model. [If not available then search it on XDA Developers to get one]
Once the TWRP file is downloaded on your PC, make sure to rename it to twrp. [So, the file name should look like twrp.img for your ease]
Now, it’s important to move the renamed twrp.img file inside the installed Platform Tools folder.
Type the following command line inside the command prompt window and hit Enter to boot your Pixel device into the TWRP recovery menu: [Here twrp.img will indicate the file name]

fastboot boot twrp.img

It’ll finish flashing the TWRP recovery file on your connected Pixel handset easily.
Now, you can flash the TWRP ZIP or TWRP IMG file on your device permanently by following the link.
Once TWRP is permanently flashed, make sure to go to Reboot > Recovery.
Finally, select Reboot > Select System from the TWRP Recovery menu.

This method should fix the Slot Unbootable Load Error on any of your Pixel devices completely.

If the problem still persists then check out the rest of the methods one by one until the slot unbootable load error fixes.

2. Change Slots

Sometimes the issue may occur due to your inactive slot that doesn’t have Android OS installed. Therefore, you should consider switching slots that you can do by using Fastboot commands or using TWRP Recovery. To do so:

For Fastboot Process:

You’ll need to follow the same above steps to install Platform Tools on the computer.

Then type cmd on the address bar inside the folder and hit Enter to open Command Prompt. [If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to run it as administrator]

Now, run the following command line on the Command Prompt window to switch to inactive slot:

fastboot set_active other

You’re good to go.

For TWRP Process:

Make sure to boot your Pixel handset to the TWRP recovery menu by following the first method.
Once done, go to Reboot > Check your current active slot.
Next, select the other slot and reboot your device again into TWRP.
You’ve now successfully changed the slot on your device.
Now, boot your Pixel device to the system via Reboot > System.

Check whether the slot unbootable load error has been fixed or not. If not, follow the next method too.

3. Force Boot to Fastboot Mode and Flash Firmware

Connect your Pixel device to the PC using a USB cable.
Next, press & hold the Power button for around 1-2 minutes and it’ll restart multiple times.
Make sure to keep holding the Power button further until it gets detected by your computer.
Now, you’ll have to run fastboot commands on your device via command prompt.
- Just download the stock firmware file for your specific Pixel model directly from the official website.
Then double-click on the flash-all.bat file to start flashing firmware on your Pixel device. [Don’t disconnect your Pixel device]

Note: It’ll delete all the user data from your device to the default factory state.

Wait for the complete firmware flashing as it may take some time.
Finally, your Pixel device will automatically boot into the system. It should also take some time to boot for the first time.
Enjoy! It should fix the problem completely.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.

Fix: Slot Unbootable Load Error on Pixel Devices