How to Install HTC Firmware (RUU and ZIP)

By installing a firmware on your HTC Android device, or any other device for that matter, you can easily reset your device back to stock, and with that, fixing any issues with the device. This also helps you to unroot (removes root access) and uninstall any custom recovery like TWRP, CWM, Cyanogen, etc. Whatever be the issue, installing the firmware — whether using RUU or ZIP — fixes the device, and thus firmware is pretty much a must-have tool and download for you. To find a firmware for your device, do search our site as we have covered firmwares for most of the HTC Android devices.

Let’s now discuss how one can install an HTC firmware, which basically comes in two formats: EXE and ZIP. HTC firmware is also called RUU — short for ROM Update Utility — and it comes it both EXE and ZIP formats. We’ve covered installation guide below for each of EXE and ZIP firmware RUU file.

How to Install RUU EXE File

Step 1: Download the firmware in EXE format for your HTC device on your PC.

Step 2: Connect your device to your PC using a USB cable. Make sure before this step tat the device has more than 50% battery.

Step 3: If the device is not recognized by the PC, ensure you have HTC Drivers installed and then disconnect and reconnect the device from the USB cable.

Step 4: Once the device is properly recognized on the PC, browse to the HTC ROM that you downloaded. Double-click on the file to launch the installation wizard.

Step 5: Follow all of the on-screen instructions shown on your PC.

Step 6: Once the installation is complete, click Finish in the Wizard and the device will reboot.

That’s it. Let your HTC device reboot fully, and then your device will all back to factory state, all issues fixed, in back to stock condition.

Note: If you run into any issue under the above method, like HTC’s update wizard failing to recognize your device, then close the wizard window, and try the same thing after booting your device into fastboot mode (could be download mode for newer HTC devices).

  • From a powered off state, hold Volume Down while powering on the device.
  • Use the volume buttons to scroll to Fastboot option (Download Mode, if you see this option) and then press the Power button to select it.
  • Connect the device to the PC while in Fastboot mode (Download mode, where available) and run the ROM installation wizard again on your PC.

To exit Download mode manually, use the volume keys to navigate to REBOOT and press the Power button to select it.

How to Install RUU ZIP File

Step 1: Download the firmware file in ZIP format for your HTC device and save it on PC. For ease, rename this file to rom.zip (or, if you don’t wish to rename it, be sure to use its full name in the commands below in place of rom.zip that we have used).

Step 2: Download ADB and Fastboot drivers. Extract this zip file into a new folder. Let’s call it adb folder for the purpose of this guide. You must have htc_fastboot file in this folder.

Step 3: Boot your HTC device into Fastboot mode (or Download mode, for newer HTC devices).

Step 4: Connect your device to the PC using a USB cable. Make sure you have installed HTC drivers. In case your PC fails to recognize or detect your HTC device, then you need to install or re-install HTC drivers. Connect using USB cable again thereafter. Doing a PC restart is a good thing too after installing drivers.

Step 5: Once the device is properly recognized on the PC, open a command window inside the folder where your RUU .zip is saved. For this, simply double click on the command prompt file in your adb folder.

Step 6: Now bring the device into RUU mode. Issue the following command in the command window:

htc_fastboot oem rebootRUU

Step 7: Now flash the RUU ZIP file with the command given below (you can copy paste):

htc_fastboot flash zip rom.zip

→ If your RUU ZIP file is not rom.zip, then use the name it got in the command above in place of rom.zip.

Step 8: Let the ROM install now. Most likely, you will get an error at the end of the installation. It’s normal to get such error. It could be: “pre-hboot update: please flush immediately”.

Do this. You have to be in RUU mode (see step 6 above), and then re-flash the ROM ZIP file again (see step 7 above).

Step 9: This time installation will complete and your device will have the firmware installed. Once it’s done your HTC will automatically reboot.

Done.

If you need any help with this, feel free to ask us using the comments section below.

Posted by
Kapil Malani

A die-hard Liverpool FC fan, Kapil is a big fan of Batman, Android and street Cricket. In that order, probably. Email: [email protected]

22 Comments

  1. i have hongkong version.what is my cid ?

  2. Hi there
    I need run for HTC m9 plus????

  3. Hi i have a hTC J-15 op6b100 m8 that got into a loop with htc sense and then it failed to boot at all so i installed twrp and unlocked and flashed a cyanogen 12.1 and now after updating to latest cyanogen 12.2 it does not recognize my simcard at all. im all desperate as this problem used to go away with a simple reset but now it doesnt. what should i do ?! As i live in iran and my phone is shipped from europe , idont know which carrier i have (not officially registered for htc)

  4. in step 2 you mentioned htc fastboot file. what is it? never heard of it. can u give link to download it

    1. It’s there already. The file linked in step 2 itself, contains htc_fastboot file, which is what you need.
      Here’s the link again – https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=24052804347780554

      Download the above zip file, and extract it, and you will get HTC fastboot file.

  5. Hi, i have htc j butterfly stl21, and stuck on ruu mode!! My device is S-OFF and SuperCID (111111), cant instal any ruu for my device, it say “hboot preinstaled11” what should i do?? Please help

    Nb: i cannot boot into fastboot menu in my htc device, it just open to single menu call ruu, no fastboot,hboot,recovery!!
    Please guide me, how to unbrick my phone

  6. I have the same problem with this http://blog.francescocrema.it/telefonia/unbrick-htc-one-htc-black-screen-with-warning-signs-on-edges/ but can’t solve on last step “instal the ruu”

    1. please use the appropriate baseband and software version

  7. FAILED (remote: cannot flash this partition in s-on state) help please

  8. can you share some screenshot of the process step by step

  9. thanks for not provding the exe links lol

  10. hey there thanks for your work
    but Istill fail with the second command
    it gives me this : Faild99 remote not allowed

  11. Kapil, tonight i go try flash latest Oreo RUU zip file into my HTC U11, see if your method works 🙂

  12. where can i get a ruu for htc desire 12+ . i need to flash rom and update firmware.

  13. Dimitris Dafalias™

    Please,post links for those(ruu exe files,site with RUU files etc.).Thank you

  14. Pls give me stock firmware for htc one e9.

  15. It sas file too large

  16. When I ran the .exe file it does nothing after telling me to press next

  17. data length too large error

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