Are you struggling with a “Fastboot partition (init_boot) not found” error on your Android device? This issue can be quite frustrating, especially when you’re trying to flash firmware or make system-level changes using the Fastboot tool. Fastboot is an essential protocol for Android developers and advanced users, providing a means to interact with the bootloader, flash custom ROMs, and perform other advanced tasks. However, when faced with the “init_boot” error, these operations become impossible, and you’re left seeking a solution.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of fixing the “Fastboot partition (init_boot) not found” error. By following our step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to resolve the issue and get back to using your Android device without any limitations. We’ll cover the common causes of this error, potential solutions, and some precautionary measures to prevent future occurrences. Let’s dive right in and tackle this problem head-on!
Also Read
Before we directly jump on to the troubleshooting steps, it’s important to understand why the error keeps showing on your phone. So, if you keep reading for new updates in the Android custom development space, you’d know that the latest version of the operating system – Android 13 – has brought some major changes to the rooting process we used to follow earlier. The phones that come with Android 13 out of the box should have their init_boot patched via Magisk instead of boot.img file. In a similar way, instead of the usual boot partition, the patched init file should be flashed in its own init_boot partition.
These changes to Android 13 could be triggering the partition (init_boot) not found error. In the next section, we’ll walk you through a number of ways to get rid of this error so that you can easily obtain root access on your Android phone.
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Fastboot Partition (init_boot) Not Found – Here’s How to Fix It
Here we have curated a list of effective solutions to fix this error. Try them on your phone in the same order as they are present and the issue should get resolved. Without further ado, let’s begin our troubleshooting.
1. Make Sure You Are Following These Prerequisites
Rooting a phone is not complex as long as you are following the right steps. However, a wrong step can put you in big trouble. So, before you try to root your phone again, make sure you have these prerequisites before.
First and forest, you should have the official ADB and Fastboot binaries provided by Google on your computer. Next, make sure that the init_boot.img file is placed inside the platform-tools folder. Also, make sure the USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking options are enabled from within the Developer settings. Next, the device should be booted to Fastboot Mode and is recognizable by the PC in this mode.
2. Verify init_boot.img File and init_boot Version Number
People often make this mistake by choosing the stock boot.img file. While this may sound pretty obvious, you have to make sure that you are using init_boot.img file from the stock firmware, not the stock boot.img file.
You might end up doing something wrong to your device if you extract the init_boot file from an older or newer firmware. Ideally, you should download the same firmware that is installed on your device to extract the init_boot.img file out of it. Open the “Settings” app on your phone and tap on “About Phone” to get the build number. Now, download the firmware with the same build number from the official site.
3. Flash init_boot to init_boot Partition
You should verify the init_boot.img file to the init_boot partition instead of the boot partition. Don’t know how to do this? No worries, just use the below command to get it done.
fastboot flash init_boot init_boot.img
So, that’s how you can fix the Fastboot partition (init_boot) not found error on your Android phone. We hope this guide was useful to you. If you have a Pixel phone, check out our detailed guide on how to root any Google Pixel device running Android 13 via Magisk.