Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P bootloop fix

Introduction

Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P smartphones have a hardware issue that causes the infamous “bootloop of death” (aka BLOD). The device continuously shows the Google boot-up animation until the battery dies.

If your device is still under warranty, follow the official Google Bootloop solution.

The issue originates from faulty A57 cores in the SoC—two in the 5X and four in the 6P. This workaround disables the A57 cores so your phone runs only on the A53 cores. It’s a performance compromise, but it keeps your phone usable.

Disclaimer

This guide reflects the procedure as of July 2018. The author disclaims liability for any damage or issues caused by following this tutorial.

Prerequisite: OEM Unlock

Enable “Developer mode” by tapping 7 times on Settings > About Phone > Build
Enable “OEM Unlock” under “Developer mode”

Requirements

Phone charged and connected via USB-C to a PC
ADB and Fastboot tools installed
USB drivers installed for Windows

Downloads

Google Factory Image for Nexus 5X or Nexus 6P
TWRP Recovery Image (4-core patched):
- Nexus 5X
- Nexus 6P
Workaround Injector ZIP

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 0: Verify Device Connection

Boot the phone into Bootloader Mode (Power + Volume Down)
On PC, verify connection:

$ fastboot devices
00d1473289b99283        fastboot

Step 1: Restore Factory Image

Extract the Factory Image and run flash-all.sh
Reboot back into Bootloader Mode
Unlock bootloader (if not already unlocked):

$ fastboot flashing unlock

Confirm on device using volume and power buttons. The device will be wiped.

Step 2: Flash Patched TWRP

For Nexus 5X:

$ fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.2.1-0-fbe-4core-bullhead.img

For Nexus 6P:

$ fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.2.1-0-fbe-4core-angler.img

Boot into Recovery Mode
In TWRP: go to Advanced > ADB Sideload and swipe to start

Step 3: Install Workaround Injector

From your PC:

$ adb sideload N5X-6P_BLOD_Workaround_Injector_Addon-AK2-signed.zip

This patch disables the faulty A57 cores, keeping only the A53 cores active.

Done!

Reboot your phone and enjoy a BLOD-free experience!

Optionally, re-lock the bootloader once everything works.