Did you brick your Huawei P9 Lite, or is it stuck in a boot loop or lagging? This guide walks through flashing the official firmware on the Huawei P9 Lite VNS-L53.
The P9 Lite launched in 2016 on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and runs on the HiSilicon Kirin 650. You can install this firmware with the Huawei Multi-Download Tool, from an SD card, or through the system updater.
Why you might need the flash file
Rooting, modding, or customizing a phone can go wrong and leave it with software problems: a boot loop, poor performance, battery drain, apps force-closing, or stutter. Reflashing the stock firmware is the way to recover from those and put the Huawei P9 Lite back to a clean state.
Why flash stock firmware
- Unbrick a dead Huawei P9 Lite
- Repair the IMEI using the DB files from the stock ROM
- Remove malware or adware
- Fix a boot loop
- Fix “Unfortunately, the app has stopped” errors
- Fix network problems
- Patch the boot image to root with Magisk
- Unroot the phone
- Restore the phone to its factory state
Steps to flash the firmware on the Huawei P9 Lite VNS-L53
Before you start, go through the prerequisites below and download the tools and drivers onto your PC.
Pre-requisites
Disclaimer
GetDroidTips is not responsible for any bricking, hardware, or software problems that happen while you follow this guide. Read the tutorial first, then follow it at your own risk.
- Device: Huawei P9 Lite
- Model: VNS-L53
- Android: 6.0 Marshmallow
- Processor: Kirin 650
- File: Software update
- GApps: Included
Grab the stock firmware for the Huawei P9 Lite from the link below.
Download flash files
Flash File Name: VNS-L53C605B120CUSTC605D103_Android6.0_EMUI4.1.3.zip
Model: VNS-L53 |
Download |
Upgrade using an OTG adapter or OTG cable with USB storage
- Download the dload firmware from the link above, extract it, and copy it to a USB stick formatted as exFAT or NTFS.
- Factory reset the phone from Settings (optional), then power it off.
- Connect the USB stick to the phone with an OTG cable, with all the extracted dload files on it.
- Press the Power button, and as the phone vibrates and shows the Huawei and Android logo, press the Power button three times to reboot into eRecovery mode.
- Select Update Mode, then Memory card/OTG update mode. The update will start.
Those are the steps to flash the dload firmware using a USB stick. Here is how to do the same with an NM card.
Install dload firmware using a Huawei NM card
- Extract the stock firmware and place the three extracted files on the Huawei NM card.
- Factory reset the phone (optional), then power it off.
- Press the Power button, and as it vibrates and shows the Huawei and Android logo, press the Power button three times to enter eRecovery mode.
- Select Update mode, then Memory Card/OTG update mode. The update will start.
If you would rather update from the system itself, follow the next section.
Update from the system
- Extract the dload firmware and move the three extracted files to the Huawei NM card or USB stick.
- Open the dialer and enter *#*#2846579#*#*. From the menu that appears, select Software Update.
- Select Memory Card Upgrade. The system reads the files from the SD card, USB storage, or NM card and flashes them.
- When it finishes, you can safely remove the storage.
If those methods do not work, try one of the next two.
SD card update method
- Create a folder called dload on your microSD card.
- Extract the downloaded firmware ZIP on your PC, then copy the UPDATE.APP file into the dload folder on the microSD card.
- Switch off the phone, then hold Vol Up + Vol Down + Power together for a few seconds until it starts updating.
- You will see Installing system update. Wait for it to finish, and the phone reboots automatically.
- Download and extract the Huawei Multi-Download Tool on your PC.
- Download and install the Huawei Handset Product Line Driver and the Huawei USB drivers on your PC.
- Run QPBLFBML01.exe to open the Huawei Multi-Download Tool.
- You will see the XML firmware upload option.
- Click the Browse button (the three-dot icon). It asks for a password.
- Leave the password blank and click Set.
- Select the .xml firmware file for your device and click Open.
- Click Next.
- On the progress page, connect the phone with a USB cable in Fastboot or Download mode.
- Click Scan & Download to start flashing.
- The tool detects the device and takes some time to install the firmware.
- When it finishes, restart the phone.
Full Instruction Guide
FAQ
Will flashing the firmware erase my data?
Yes, flashing the firmware wipes the phone, so back up anything you want to keep first.
Which model is this firmware for?
Only the Huawei P9 Lite VNS-L53. Do not flash it on another variant.
That covers how to flash the firmware on the Huawei P9 Lite VNS-L53. If you run into any trouble, leave a comment below.