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.