Unbrick OnePlus Nord 2 5G Using Firmware With MTKClient

Starting with a big thanks to Raygen (Senior Member of XDA Developers) for sharing this user-friendly unbricking (flashing stock ROM) guide to the OnePlus Nord 2 5G (DN2103
A.20) users. Now, before heading over to the actual guide, you’ll need to follow all the requirements properly. So, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into the guide below.

Pre-Requisites:

As mentioned, it’s highly recommended to follow all the requirements one by one before getting into the unbricking guide.

1. You Need a PC or Laptop and a USB cable

First of all, you’ll require a Windows desktop/laptop and a USB cable to easily connect your Realme 6 series handset with the computer. It’s important.

2. Charge Your Phone

Make sure to charge your device battery sufficiently (more than 50%) to avoid any kind of occasional shut down during the unbricking process.

3. Install Android SDK

First of all, you’ll have to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your Windows PC. It’s the official ADB and Fastboot binary, provided by Google which will come in handy while running adb and fastboot commands on the device.

4. Install MTK VCOM Drivers

It’s worth mentioning to download and install the latest MTK VCOM Drivers on your PC. The USB Driver always plays a major role to create a stronger communication bridge between the device and the computer to run commands or transfer files easily.

5. Install Python

If you don’t know, Python is a popular programming language for running automated tasks, developing websites & software, and more. You can download the latest version of Python on your PC.

6. Take a Full Backup

You’ll require to download and install the PartitionBackupper tool on your device to make a full data backup including TWRP backup.

7. Keep Ready MTKClient and UsbDk

You’ll also need to grab the MTKClient tool and UsbDk to proceed to the stock firmware installation on OnePlus Nord 2 5G.

Please Note: Some important things that you should remember.

This ROM will not overwrite your user data or metadata partition.
This ROM won’t overwrite your IMEI, sensors calibration data, or bootloader unlock status.
These partitions are not included: seccfg, nvcfg, nvdata, nvram, persist, proinfo, protect1, protect2. Because they’re present in the super partition: my_*, odm, product, system, vendor.
The vbmeta partition is not stock. A vbmeta_patched partition for root users can be found below.

Steps to Install and Use MTKClient on Windows PC

First of all, make sure that you’ve already downloaded and installed Python, extracted Mtkclient, and installed UsbDk on the PC.
Now, open Command Prompt on the PC inside the extracted MTKClient folder.
Type the following command in the cmd and hit Enter to start Mtkclient GUI.

python mtk_gui

Then you’ll have to reboot your phone in BROM mode by following the steps below:
- Switch off your OnePlus Nord 2 5G smartphone > Connect the USB cable to the PC only. [Don’t connect to the phone right now]
- Once the device is switched off completely, connect the USB cable to the phone and immediately press and hold all 3 buttons (Vol+, Vol-, and Power).
- The device screen should remain completely black and Mtkclient should detect your phone and connect to it.
- Once detected, you can release all the buttons immediately to proceed.

If in case, the phone won’t connect properly with the PC or Mtkclient then make sure to check for the same in Device Manager by following the steps below.

Press the Windows + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu > Click on Device Manager to launch it.
Once the is connected in the BROM mode to the PC, you should search for MediaTek USB Port under the ‘Ports (COM and LPT)’ section.
- If it’s not being detected properly then a yellow warning triangle icon should appear. Simply right-click on it > Choose ‘Update driver’ > Click on ‘Browse my computer for driver software’ > Select ‘Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer’ > Choose ‘USB serial device’.
You can also try connecting the device to the PC to check for the issue again.
If Mtkclient freezes or the phone keeps rebooting itself out of BROM mode, try to reboot the phone into BROM mode again without disconnecting it from the PC, and without closing Mtkclient too. (Try to be fast in Device Manager before it reboots)
You can now use Mtkclient GUI. Now, you can exit BROM mode by pressing and holding the Vol Up + Power buttons together for a few seconds.

Steps to Install Stock ROM with Unlocked Bootloader

Now, take a full data backup of your OnePlus Nord 2 5G handset with the PartitionsBackupper tool first + a TWRP backup + Internal storage backup.
You’ll need to download the stock firmware (zip) file for your specific Nord 2 variant.
Make sure to download the latest version of PartitionsBackupper too using the link above.
Extract both the files one by one in the same directory or place where you’ve extracted/installed the ADB & Fastboot Platform-Tools folder.
Then run the PartitionsBackupper tool on the PC > Select the Restore option to flash all partitions with fastboot.
Next, reboot into the stock recovery mode > Do a full data format before jumping Mtkclient method.

Steps to Install Stock Firmware with a Locked Bootloader (fastboot flashing unlock not working)

Note: Follow this guide only if the command fastboot flashing unlock does not work.

Download and extract the seccfg.img unlocked partition on the PC.
Download and extract the boot.img, recovery.img, and vbmeta.img from the stock firmware (zip) file that you’ve grabbed earlier for your device variant.
Now, copy-paste all four image (.img) files inside a new empty folder on the PC. [No need to rename the files]
Open Mtkclient > In the first tab ‘Read partition(s)’, you’ll have to select the seccfg, boot, recovery, and vbmeta partitions.
Click on ‘Read’ to back them up > Save them in another folder from the previous one.
Next, in the second tab ‘Write partition(s)’, you’ll need to choose ‘Select from directory’ and choose the new folder created earlier.
- It should automatically place all four image (.img) files in the correct corresponding partitions.
Click on ‘Write’ to flash them > If you’re stuck in a bootloop after this, you can try flashing vbmeta for a second time to fix this issue.
Voila! Your device has an unlocked bootloader now.

Fix Corrupted Fastboot or Preloader Partition

Note: If your OnePlus Nord 2 5G device is not getting recognized via fastboot mode then you can follow this specific method.

Download and extract the attached preloaderdump_stock.bin image on the PC.
Download and extract the boot, recovery, vbmeta, and super images from the stock firmware (.zip) file on the PC.
Make sure to copy-paste all the four images (.img) files extracted from the stock firmware inside a new empty folder. You don’t need to rename the files and do not put the preloader image inside this folder.
Now, launch Mtkclient > In the first tab ‘Read partition(s)’, you’ll have to select the boot, recovery, vbmeta, and super partitions.
Click on ‘Read’ to back them up > Save them in a different folder from the one you’ve created before.
Next, in the fourth tab ‘Flash Tools’, you’ll need to choose ‘Read preloader’ to back it up.
Save it in another folder from the one you’ve created before.
Again click on the fourth tab ‘Flash Tools’, choose ‘Write preloader’, and flash the downloaded preloaderdump_stock.bin image file.
Go to the second tab ‘Write partition(s)’ and choose ‘Select from directory’ > Choose the new folder that you’ve created before.
It should automatically place all four images (.img) in the correct corresponding partitions.
Click on ‘Write’ to flash them > If you’re stuck in a bootloop after this, you can try flashing vbmeta for a second time to fix it.
You’re done. You should have a working fastboot connection now.

Guide to Flash Stock Firmware via Mtkclient

Note: If you’re not able to restore or unbrick the stock ROM on your OnePlus Nord 2 5G device then you can follow this method as a last resort.

Download the stock firmware and extract the folder inside the zip file.
Open Mtkclient > In the first tab ‘Read partition(s)’, choose ‘Select all partitions’ > Click on ‘Read’ to back them up.
Save them in another folder from the one with the stock firmware before.
Now, in the second tab ‘Write partition(s)’, choose ‘Select from directory’.
Choose the folder with the stock firmware > It should automatically place all the images (.img) in the correct corresponding partitions.
Click on ‘Write’ to flash them > If you’re stuck in a bootloop after this, try flashing the preloader, and seccfg partitions. You can also try repeating this process for the second time if failed the first time.
Your device should boot to OxygenOS now.
Wait for the device to boot into the system as it may take some time for the first time. Once done, go through the initial setup process.
Enjoy!

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

Credit: XDA

Unbrick OnePlus Nord 2 5G Using Firmware With MTKClient