# Image Flashing

***Copyright © Quectel Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.***

---

Before flashing the **Quectel Pi** image, make sure the **Qualcomm_USB_Driver_v1.0.10065.1** driver has been installed. If it is not installed, [click here to download and install the driver](<https://developer.quectel.com/doc/files/Qualcomm_USB_Driver_v1.0.10065.1.zip>).

# QFIL Image Flashing (Recommended)

If **QFIL** flashing software has been installed on your PC, you can use it to flash the image.

## Configure QFIL

Click **Tools** → **Configuration** in the menu bar, and configure the following settings in the pop-up configuration window:

1. Set **Device Type** to `ufs`.

2. Set **Validation Mode** to `0 - No Validation`.

3. Click **OK** to save the configuration.

```{image} images/image_EiOubKabqog9NbxzznqcXTwenPc.webp
:width: 800px
:height: 599px
```

## Flashing Steps

1. **Select the port**

- Press and hold the **EMG_DOWNLOAD** button on **Quectel Pi**, and power on **Quectel Pi** at the same time.

- Click **SelectPort**, select the **9008** port, and click **OK**.

1. **Select the build type**

- Select `Flat Build` in **Select Build Type**.

1. **Select the Programmer file**

- Click **Browse**.

- Select the `prog_firehose_Qcm6490_ddr.elf` file.

1. **Load XML configuration files**

- Click **Load XML**.

- Select all `rawprogram*.xml` and `patch*.xml` files.

1. **Start flashing**

- Click **Download** to start flashing.

- When **Download Succeed** is displayed in the **Status** area, flashing has succeeded.

- The system will reboot automatically.

```{image} images/image_JkhrbjodkogSqTxF55FcqUkenRc.webp
:width: 800px
:height: 599px
```

# Flash Software Using QDL

### Make Sure ModemManager Is Not Running

- Prerequisite: If the current host uses a **Linux** distribution with **systemd**, some **Linux** distributions include the **ModemManager** tool, which is used to configure mobile broadband. When the device is connected in **USB** mode, it is recognized as a **Qualcomm** modem, and **ModemManager** may try to configure the device. This interferes with **QDL** flashing, so **ModemManager** must be disabled before connecting the device. Use the following command to disable **ModemManager**:

```bash
sudo systemctl stop ModemManager
```

## Flash the Image

Enable **EMG_DOWNLOAD** and power on the module. The module enters **QDL** emergency download mode.

- **Linux x64**

**Download QDL tool:**[Linux x64 download](<https://developer.quectel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/QDL_Linux_x64.zip>)

1. Extract the QDL_Linux_x64 archive, and open a terminal window in the directory containing the firmware, **rawprogram.xml**, **patch.xml**, and the **QDL** binary.

2. Run the **QDL** executable in the **QDL_Linux_x64** directory with the following command to flash the software.

```bash
./qdl --storage ufs prog_firehose_Qcm6490_ddr.elf rawprogram*.xml patch*.xml
```

If **"partition 1 is now bootable"** is displayed in the terminal window, flashing has succeeded, as shown in the following message:

```{image} images/image_Z5XzbQueBoYYcZxE4Ehcs5APnQh.webp
:width: 1064px
:height: 558px
```

After flashing succeeds, run **lsusb** in the terminal window to view device information, as shown below:

```{image} images/image_SIU2bVwQgooOHwx3kcRcbrUFn3g.webp
:width: 808px
:height: 151px
```

- **Windows x64**

**Download QDL tool:**[Windows x64 download](<https://developer.quectel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/QDL_Win_x64.zip>)

**Install Microsoft WinUSB driver**

**Step 1: Uninstall the existing driver**

- Open Device Manager.

- If the device appears under Ports (COM & LPT), uninstall the Qualcomm USB driver.

- **Important:** Select **Delete the driver software for this device**.

**Step 2: Install the WinUSB driver**

- Find the device (qcm6490-idp) in Device Manager.

- Right-click it and select **Update driver**.

- Select **Browse my computer for drivers**.

- Select **Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer**.

- Select **Microsoft** as the manufacturer and **WinUSB Device** as the model.

- When the warning prompt appears, click **Yes** to continue installation.

```{image} images/image_TWoeb0wF9o7hVRxBA1AcfER2ntc.webp
:width: 854px
:height: 751px
```

1. Extract the QDL_Win_x64 archive, and place the firmware program, **rawprogram.xml**, **patch.xml**, and other files together with the QDL executable.

2. Open a Cmd window and run the QDL executable in the QDL_Win_x64 directory with the following command.

```
QDL_Win_x64>QDL.exe prog_firehose_Qcm6490_ddr.elf rawprogram0.xml rawprogram1.xml rawprogram2.xml rawprogram3.xml rawprogram4.xml rawprogram5.xml patch0.xml patch1.xml patch2.xml patch3.xml patch4.xml patch5.xml
```

```{image} images/image_QBHkbNXKEoIXcOxrQWtcljNqnMb.webp
:width: 964px
:height: 161px
```

The following figure shows successful flashing:

```{image} images/image_Va9PbqaOhoUMHnxT56Vc1UkanPi.webp
:width: 964px
:height: 360px
```

### Notes

If flashing fails, perform the following steps and retry the flashing process:

1. Power off the device.

2. Disconnect **Quectel Pi**.

3. Restart **Quectel Pi**.