Shiftphone 8 doesn't boot android anymore

S

smartphone-user

Member
Original poster
17 Mai 2026
5
Hi everyone,

thanks at lot for your investment in fair phones and foss!

I successfully installed pmos to the superpartition in slot a. My aim was to have a dual boot setup with android in slot b. Although the phone didn't boot to shiftos in slot b. (Is slot b empty per default?) After that I flashed shiftos, e os in slot a and also b, which didn't lead to bootable android. pmos I didn't flash again for now. Symptoms in my case seem similar to https://forum.shiftphones.com/threads/shift6mq-bricked-stuck-in-boot-fastboot-mode-screen.6198/ .

I realized that shiftos but also eg e os fastboot packages don't contain init_boot image file, despite the partition should be erased for pmos install according to https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/...er)#Manual_installation_on_userdata_partition . Is it possible the boot problem is connected to that? If so could you please publish this image file (Without having looked into it more deeply it could be created from boot img file? See reddit.)? For now I havent really looked at how to get boot logs (Edit: Seems UART would allow that...).

Best wishes :)
 
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So you can enter fastboot? Could you try fastboot getvar all
(Please delete you serial numbers before sharing)
 
Yes I can still enter fastboot. Also I tried to flash pmos again this time using userdata for rootfs, which didn't lead to a booting pmos. I now tried to flash shiftos 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5. This will change output of fastboot getvar all for at least version-bootloader and variant. After flashing shiftos 6.4 to slot a I get:

Code: 
$ fastboot getvar all
(bootloader) parallel-download-flash:yes
(bootloader) hw-revision:10000
(bootloader) unlocked:yes
(bootloader) off-mode-charge:1
(bootloader) charger-screen-enabled:1
(bootloader) battery-soc-ok:yes
(bootloader) battery-voltage:4359
(bootloader) version-baseband:
(bootloader) version-bootloader:6.3
(bootloader) erase-block-size: 0x1000
(bootloader) logical-block-size: 0x1000
(bootloader) variant:QCM6490 UFS
(bootloader) partition-type:fsc:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:fsc: 0x20000
(bootloader) partition-type:fsg:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:fsg: 0x300000
(bootloader) partition-type:modemst2:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:modemst2: 0x300000
(bootloader) partition-type:modemst1:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:modemst1: 0x300000
(bootloader) partition-type:ALIGN_TO_128K_2:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:ALIGN_TO_128K_2: 0x1A000
(bootloader) partition-type:rtice:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:rtice: 0x80000
(bootloader) partition-type:tzsc:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:tzsc: 0x20000
(bootloader) partition-type:connsec:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:connsec: 0x20000
(bootloader) partition-type:mdcompress:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:mdcompress: 0x1400000
(bootloader) partition-type:vm-data:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:vm-data: 0x20A4000
(bootloader) partition-type:catecontentfv:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:catecontentfv: 0x100000
(bootloader) partition-type:catefv:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:catefv: 0x80000
(bootloader) partition-type:secdata:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:secdata: 0x7000
(bootloader) partition-type:uefivarstore:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:uefivarstore: 0x80000
(bootloader) partition-type:storsec:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:storsec: 0x20000
(bootloader) partition-type:pstore:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:pstore: 0x4000000
(bootloader) partition-type:logdump:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:logdump: 0x20000000
(bootloader) partition-type:quantumsdk:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:quantumsdk: 0x2800000
(bootloader) partition-type:logfs:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:logfs: 0x800000
(bootloader) partition-type:toolsfv:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:toolsfv: 0x100000
(bootloader) partition-type:limits-cdsp:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:limits-cdsp: 0x1000
(bootloader) partition-type:limits:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:limits: 0x1000
(bootloader) partition-type:splash:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:splash: 0x20A4000
(bootloader) partition-type:apdp:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:apdp: 0x40000
(bootloader) partition-type:dip:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:dip: 0x100000
(bootloader) partition-type:devinfo:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:devinfo: 0x1000
(bootloader) partition-type:qweslicstore_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:qweslicstore_b: 0x40000
(bootloader) partition-type:vendor_boot_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:vendor_boot_b: 0x6000000
(bootloader) partition-type:featenabler_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:featenabler_b: 0x20000
(bootloader) partition-type:cpucp_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:cpucp_b: 0x100000
(bootloader) partition-type:multiimgoem_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:multiimgoem_b: 0x8000
(bootloader) partition-type:shrm_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:shrm_b: 0x20000
(bootloader) partition-type:imagefv_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:imagefv_b: 0x200000
(bootloader) partition-type:uefisecapp_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:uefisecapp_b: 0x200000
(bootloader) partition-type:dtbo_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:dtbo_b: 0x1800000
(bootloader) partition-type:vbmeta_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:vbmeta_b: 0x10000
(bootloader) partition-type:qupfw_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:qupfw_b: 0x14000
(bootloader) partition-type:devcfg_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:devcfg_b: 0x20000
(bootloader) partition-type:boot_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:boot_b: 0x6000000
(bootloader) partition-type:keymaster_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:keymaster_b: 0x80000
(bootloader) partition-type:dsp_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:dsp_b: 0x4000000
(bootloader) partition-type:abl_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:abl_b: 0x100000
(bootloader) partition-type:mdtp_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:mdtp_b: 0x2000000
(bootloader) partition-type:mdtpsecapp_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:mdtpsecapp_b: 0x400000
(bootloader) partition-type:bluetooth_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:bluetooth_b: 0x400000
(bootloader) partition-type:modem_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:modem_b: 0xDC00000
(bootloader) partition-type:hyp_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:hyp_b: 0x800000
(bootloader) partition-type:tz_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:tz_b: 0x400000
(bootloader) partition-type:aop_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:aop_b: 0x80000
(bootloader) partition-type:qweslicstore_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:qweslicstore_a: 0x40000
(bootloader) partition-type:qmcs:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:qmcs: 0x1E00000
(bootloader) partition-type:vendor_boot_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:vendor_boot_a: 0x6000000
(bootloader) partition-type:featenabler_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:featenabler_a: 0x20000
(bootloader) partition-type:cpucp_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:cpucp_a: 0x100000
(bootloader) partition-type:multiimgoem_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:multiimgoem_a: 0x8000
(bootloader) partition-type:shrm_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:shrm_a: 0x20000
(bootloader) partition-type:imagefv_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:imagefv_a: 0x200000
(bootloader) partition-type:uefisecapp_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:uefisecapp_a: 0x200000
(bootloader) partition-type:dtbo_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:dtbo_a: 0x1800000
(bootloader) partition-type:vbmeta_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:vbmeta_a: 0x10000
(bootloader) partition-type:qupfw_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:qupfw_a: 0x14000
(bootloader) partition-type:devcfg_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:devcfg_a: 0x20000
(bootloader) partition-type:boot_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:boot_a: 0x6000000
(bootloader) partition-type:keymaster_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:keymaster_a: 0x80000
(bootloader) partition-type:dsp_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:dsp_a: 0x4000000
(bootloader) partition-type:abl_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:abl_a: 0x100000
(bootloader) partition-type:mdtp_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:mdtp_a: 0x2000000
(bootloader) partition-type:mdtpsecapp_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:mdtpsecapp_a: 0x400000
(bootloader) partition-type:bluetooth_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:bluetooth_a: 0x400000
(bootloader) partition-type:modem_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:modem_a: 0xDC00000
(bootloader) partition-type:hyp_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:hyp_a: 0x800000
(bootloader) partition-type:tz_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:tz_a: 0x400000
(bootloader) partition-type:aop_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:aop_a: 0x80000
(bootloader) partition-type:ddr:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:ddr: 0x100000
(bootloader) partition-type:cdt:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:cdt: 0x20000
(bootloader) partition-type:ALIGN_TO_128K_1:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:ALIGN_TO_128K_1: 0x1A000
(bootloader) partition-type:xbl_config_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:xbl_config_b: 0x3A000
(bootloader) partition-type:xbl_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:xbl_b: 0x385000
(bootloader) partition-type:xbl_config_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:xbl_config_a: 0x3A000
(bootloader) partition-type:xbl_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:xbl_a: 0x385000
(bootloader) partition-type:userdata:f2fs
(bootloader) partition-size:userdata: 0x6EC6D53000
(bootloader) partition-type:efi:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:efi: 0x40000000
(bootloader) partition-type:rawdump:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:rawdump: 0x30C800000
(bootloader) partition-type:metadata:ext4
(bootloader) partition-size:metadata: 0x1000000
(bootloader) partition-type:vbmeta_system_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:vbmeta_system_b: 0x10000
(bootloader) partition-type:vbmeta_system_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:vbmeta_system_a: 0x10000
(bootloader) partition-type:recovery_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:recovery_b: 0x7800000
(bootloader) partition-type:recovery_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:recovery_a: 0x7800000
(bootloader) partition-type:super:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:super: 0x180000000
(bootloader) partition-type:frp:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:frp: 0x80000
(bootloader) partition-type:oem:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:oem: 0x80000
(bootloader) partition-type:keystore:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:keystore: 0x80000
(bootloader) partition-type:misc:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:misc: 0x100000
(bootloader) partition-type:persist:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:persist: 0x2000000
(bootloader) partition-type:ssd:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:ssd: 0x2000
(bootloader) partition-type:init_boot_b:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:init_boot_b: 0x800000
(bootloader) partition-type:init_boot_a:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:init_boot_a: 0x800000
(bootloader) has-slot:modem:yes
(bootloader) has-slot:system:no
(bootloader) current-slot:a
(bootloader) has-slot:boot:yes
(bootloader) slot-retry-count:b:7
(bootloader) slot-unbootable:b:no
(bootloader) slot-successful:b:no
(bootloader) slot-retry-count:a:7
(bootloader) slot-unbootable:a:no
(bootloader) slot-successful:a:no
(bootloader) slot-count:2
(bootloader) secure:yes
(bootloader) serialno:
(bootloader) product:otter
(bootloader) snapshot-update-status:none
(bootloader) is-userspace:no
(bootloader) max-download-size:805306368
(bootloader) kernel:uefi
 
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I am not able to help you with the problem I guess, but if there is someone coming by (like @amartinz or Caleb), the output of fastboot oem device-info might be helpful to them too
 
Thank you anyhow!

Code: 
$ fastboot oem device-info
(bootloader) Verity mode: true
(bootloader) Device unlocked: true
(bootloader) Device critical unlocked: true
(bootloader) Charger screen enabled: true
(bootloader) User public key set: false
(bootloader) Mainline optimization enabled: true
(bootloader) Developer mode enabled: true
(bootloader) Rollback index (0): 0
(bootloader) Rollback index (1): 0
(bootloader) Rollback index (2): 0
 
Yes I tried the shiftos 6.5 fastboot package, that you link and it didn't work.

I just flashed it again and just noticed bootloader version stays at 6.3. That is expected?
 
Zuletzt bearbeitet:
Yes, because there were no bootloader updates since then.

I currently really do not know, what could be the issue that way.
Soooo, you could try some brute-force.

Code: 
# Set slot to A, which resets a few counters.
fastboot --set-active=a

# Reset the SPL level, even though it shows 0 for you.
fastboot oem reset-spl

# Disable mainline optimizations, just in case.
fastboot oem disable-mainline-optimization

# Wipe a few things, which should have usually happened
# already when using the fastboot packages.
fastboot -w
 
Okay. I ran those commands, but booting shiftos afterwards still does not work. fastboot -w output had two lines which probably are not a problem, but here they are anyhow to be sure:

Code: 
[...]
Warning: skip copying userdata image avb footer due to sparse image.
[...]
wipe task partition not found: cache
[...]
 
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