DIY EDL Cable - so easy!
DIY EDL Cable is a very useful thing to have for anyone interested in modern smartphones &, probably the new generation of Snapdragon AI laptops too. Qualcomm-powered devices are rapidly taking over the smartphone market, with Samsung have accepted the shortcomings of Exynos, sending it back to R&D for a complete redesign & the US ban on Huawei’s superior Kirin processors having ruined the free competitive market. You’ll find Qualcomm Snapdragon CPUs powering Samsung’s top of the range S-series handsets – S22, S23, S24, Asus Zenphone & ROG, Xiaomi (Mi) 14 Ultra & OnePlus 12 amongst many others.
Qualcomm-powered devices, no matter which final brand they’re sold in – Xiaomi, Samsung, OnePlus, Honor or an emerging brand you haven’t yet heard of – all have an Emergency Download Mode (EDL), the low-level technician’s access for repair of admin-level system settings like IMEI repair, FRP lock & MDM lock.
Akin to the DFU mode that Apple products ha
ve, EDL is a black screen mode – you won’t know you’ve achieved EDL mode from the phone, it’s only when Windows Device Manager shows the Qualcomm QDLoader 9008 in your COM ports as seen in the screenshot – or maybe in the app you’re using that requires EDL (or BROM – BootROM) mode.
Accessing EDL Mode
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- Touchpoint EDL – Dismantling the phone & shorting two touchpoints as the phone reboots brings about EDL mode. This whole pull the phone to pieces & rebuild afterwards Touchpoint thing is obviously a bit of a hassle. Touchpoint EDL involves around an hour of dis- & re-assembly on top of the actual Emergency Download Mode operation. In a tight spot with no EDL cable & a short deadline, this is the fallback method.
- EDL Cable – Connecting via a special modified USB cable with a switch to slide between booting in EDL mode & regular connection. EDL cables have been around as long as Qualcomm (Snapdragon) chipsets but aren’t readily available in any retail stores. If you need one, it’s always been an online purchase – AliExpress or Amazon are the usual suspects.
EDL Cables are typically supplied with micro-USB connection tips & a micro-USB to USB-C adapter, as seen in the image here.
Due to the delicate nature of the task at hand & the associated risk of loss, EDL cables have been regarded as magician’s tools, a mysterious cable rarely seen by the public & jealously guarded by owners. -
EDL Cables are typically supplied with micro-USB connection tips & a micro-USB to USB-C adapter, as seen in the image here.
Due to the delicate nature of the task at hand & the associated risk of loss, EDL cables have been regarded as magician’s tools, a mysterious cable rarely seen by the public & jealously guarded by owners.Easy DIY EDL Cable (USB Type-C)
Grab a good quality USB-C cable. The originating end is agnostic either of the traditional rectangular USB A or the faster USB-C, both are good. Strip about 3cm of the insulating cover from somewhere – anywhere – along the cable. You’ll see 6 wires with various colours & coverings – select the black & the green wires, the others are of no relevance to this project.
Carefully strip a length of the coloured covering from the green & black wires. Cut one of them – either or, doesn’t matter. Now twist both ends of the cut wire around the other naked wire, creating a 2-into-1 connection, then wrap with insulation tape. Continue with the insulation tape, wrapping all the exposed wires so your USB cable is looking tidy & protected again.
Ok, that’s it – job done. I told you making this DIY EDL Cable was easy. You now have a functioning USB Type-C EDL cable that is a necessary pre-requisite for low-level manipulation of Qualcomm-powered smartphones, tablets & – yet to be confirmed – the latest AI laptops powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors. Find out the particular key press combination for your handset (Galaxy S24 Ultra is 15 presses of Vol Down then hold both Vol keys & connect EDL Cable) & connect to your computer – check the Device Manager under COM ports where you’ll see the 9008 device listed.
Actually completing the tasks that EDL mode enables requires the Qualcomm 9008 driver, an app capable of doing your desired task & often the Firehose, or loader file for your specific phone & firmware update version.
Qualcomm provide QPST – Qualcomm Product Support Tool – & QFIL – Qualcomm Flash Image Loader – both effective softwares although a little confusing with their oddball UI. Let Google, Duck Duck Go or your search engine of choice help you find a good solution for whichever task you need to complete. Personally, I use Unlock Tool or Chimera – both paid subscription apps that deliver a wide range of solutions across most brands and devices.
*On some devices booting into EDL mode with your new DIY EDL Cable (S23 Ultra) the Qualcomm 9008 driver will display immediately & you can work on your phone straight away. Other phones (Z Flip 3) will not appear to have booted into EDL – don’t worry, your cable is not faulty & your phone is in EDL mode. For Windows to recognise the device in EDL mode, connect a regular, unmodified USB cable to the next USB port on your computer. Now quickly remove the phone in EDL mode from the modified cable & reconnect to the stock USB-C cable. The Qualcomm 9008 driver will appear & you can commence the low-level repairs that EDL mode allows.
You’re welcome.