How to Unroot the HTC Desire 816

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In case you aren’t excited to have root-access on your HTC Desire 816 and you want to get your device back to stock, our guide below should help you do exactly that. It’ll help you unroot your device and get it back to the stock firmware. It also opens up an opportunity for you to customize your device from the scratch.

Unrooting is the process of removing root access, a custom recovery (if you have one), and just trying to get the device back to as close to stock as possible.

Some of the reasons for unrooting your HTC Desire 816 are:

  • Sending in the device for warranty (most, but not all unrooting procedures reinstate the manufacturer warranty if you had one before rooting).
  • Starting over (simply undoing everything you did while rooted so you can have a clean slate to start over).
  • Fix any issues (Maybe rooting messed something up? No problem, unrooting will take care of it for you).

Ready to get started? Here’s how to unroot the HTC Desire 816:

I. Before You Begin

1. You should’ve rooted your device using the procedure given here.

2. This flashes the stock firmware on your device.

3. This should only work on Windows based PCs.

4. You should’ve appropriate drivers installed on your PC. If you haven’t, you can download the latest drivers from here.

5. This procedure only works for the International version of the device.

II. Downloading Required Files

1. Download Fastboot and save it to your desktop.

Fastboot

2. Download Stock RUU .zip and save it to your desktop.

Stock RUU (Download link’s available in the first post)

III. Relocking the Bootloader on the HTC Desire 816

1. Extract files from Fastboot to your desktop by right-clicking on it and selecting Extract here.

2. Enable USB debugging on your device by heading to Menu > Settings > Developer options > USB debugging.

3. Plug in your device to your PC via USB cable.

4. Launch a Command Prompt Window on your desktop. To do that, simply hold down Shift and right-click on any blank area on your screen and select Open command window here.

5. Type in following command into the Command Prompt Window:

adb reboot fastboot

6. Your device should reboot into fastboot mode.

7. Next, issue the following command:

fastboot oem lock

8. It should relock the bootloader on your device.

9. You’re done!

Great! Your first step towards unrooting your device is now complete. Your HTC Desire 816’s bootloader is now relocked and you can flash the stock firmware on it.

IV. Unrooting the HTC Desire 816

1. Connect your device to your PC using the USB cable.

2. Enable USB debugging on your device by going to Menu > Settings > Developer options > USB debugging.

3. Open a Command Prompt Window on your desktop. To do so, simply hold down Shift and right-click on any blank area on your screen and select Open command window here.

4. Type in following command into the Command Prompt Window:

adb reboot fastboot

5. Your device should reboot into fastboot mode.

6. Now issue the following command. Make sure to replace filename.zip with the actual name of the Stock RUU .zip file you downloaded earlier.

fastboot flash zip filename.zip

7. It should start flashing the stock firmware on your device.

8. When it’s done, reboot your device.

9. You’re all done!

Brilliant! Your HTC Desire 816 is now unrooted and is running the fully functional stock firmware that the company has officially released for your device.

You can click here to find all of the HTC Desire 816 How To’s.

You can also find all of the HTC Desire 816 ROMs we have here.

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  • How to remove the
    *** TAMPERED ***
    *** RELOCKED*** ??

    • It’ll be there even though you’ve unrooted your device, unfortunately.

      • Ahmed Yasser

        i unlocked my phone and removed the root but didnt flash stock now while updating my phone it enters fastboot without updating

        • Rafa Dealerr

          same problem, did u solved?? It would help me a lot, thanks!!

  • ViSH

    If I am not wrong, the Stock RUU link provided is for single sim variant of HTC Desire 816. Mine is dual sim variant. Will it work?

    • Yes, it’s for the Single SIM variant of the device. It won’t work for your dual SIM variant.

      • ViSH

        Is there a solution for Dual SIM variant? I’ve been searching a lot for one on various forums but no luck!! 🙂

  • unes

    Hey Bro ! i dont know my device’s version. how can i know that ?

    • unes

      Desire 816n 4G One sim.
      is that International one ?

      • Send us the screenshot of your About phone screen. It should be in Menu > Settings > About phone.

        Thanks!

  • unes

    Here

    • Did you buy it from a local carrier or did you buy it unlocked that works for all the carriers?

      • unes

        unlocked one

      • rafae

        does this procedure work for dual sim desirt 816 and flash the same soft ware from the link you’ve given??

  • Harris Ali

    how to remove custom ROM ??and install original software ? please help

  • Harris Ali

    i have desire 816 dual sim and it is showing sense version 5.5 🙁 🙁 and there is no option for sotware update 🙁 plz help how can i change this custom ROM

    • Just flash back the stock ROM and you should be good to go. Thanks!

      • Harris Ali

        How ? Please guide me

  • ox

    Hey can u unlock with out pc?

    • If you meant unroot, then NO. You have to have a PC to do the unrooting procedure. Thanks!

      • ox

        Oh ok thanks mate first HTC I’ve owned everything else I’ve had I’ve installed the root program on my sd card an done it that’s way lol

        • Did you flash a whole stock ROM without using a PC?

          • ox

            Yea mate installed the new software on sd card went into saver mode/ reboot and installed straight off that

  • vipul gupta

    Mahesh will this work for this??

    • vipul gupta

      and can we update the software or not??

      • vipul gupta

        Please reply as quickly as possible.

        • Should do.

          • vipul gupta

            could u pls send the screen shot of the software information

          • vipul gupta

            can a clockword recovery backup remove root??

  • Guest

    Mahesh will this work for this?

    • Guest

      here

  • Rohit Kardam

    plz help me i think i ve rooted it improperly the screen is showing nothing n i m nt able to do anything its just showing a red ! mark within a triangle
    plzzz help me out

  • saugat

    just for everyone’s info, it will be quite easier if bootloader locking is done at last

  • Kanudo

    ROM links are dead, please update on it, kind regards

    • The links work just fine. What link are you having issues with?

      • Kanudo

        When I press this link to download stock rom, [You can also find all of the “HTC Desire 816 ROMs” we have here.], comes up with a page with this error: Uh-oh, something went wrong! Error Code: 404

        • The stock ROM link works fine. If you’re still having issues, here’s the direct download link for you – https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B61ZyKMeUj0PQWJBOUhWRG83Tkk/edit

          Thanks!

          • Kanudo

            Thanks Mahesh, the other link worked fine. Should have used the first XDA one in the first instance.

            Also came into this trouble while flashing RUU on command prompt, please advise:

            sending ‘zip’ (1033121 KB)… OKAY [ 53.016s]

            writing ‘zip’… INFOsignature checking…

            FAILED (remote: 12 signature verify fail)

            finished. total time: 128.338s

          • Did the ROM download successfully or did it get corrupted while downloading? Seems like the file issue.

          • Kanudo

            did it twice with different machines. same issue. Third time, different one,

            sending ‘zip’ (1033121 KB)… OKAY [ 55.706s]

            writing ‘zip’… INFOzip header checking…

            FAILED (remote: 32 header error)

            finished. total time: 55.831s

          • Kanudo

            when i said three times, three different pcs and three times download mate

          • Weird.

            What I suggest you to do is download another stock firmware, maybe an older firmware, for your device and then try flashing it on your device. Let us know how it goes for you.

          • Kanudo

            Very weird and annoying. May be google doc is playing up, not letting me download in full. Any other place you could upload for me, Mega Download??

            And old firmware, yes, will definitely try it, please send me a link.

            My reason to unroot is, When i do factory reset, it reboots in recovery mode, and unless i do factory reset in recovery, it does not do factory reset from android/htc settings option.

          • Hey Kanudo,

            Well, that’s the only link we have for the HTC Desire 816 Stock ROM.

            Maybe you can check this out – http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2772771

            Make sure it’s the same device as yours. It should work I guess.

            Let us know how it works for you. Thanks!

          • Kanudo

            Already went through that post, it is dual sim and few issues here and there. damn, it is going to be tough 🙁

  • Arun Ramakrishnan

    i cant unlock my relocked Hboot its says :

    D:>fastboot flash unlocktocken unlock_code.bin

    sending ‘unlocktocken’ (0 KB)…

    OKAY [ 0.109s]

    writing ‘unlocktocken’…

    (bootloader) signature checking…

    FAILED (remote: signature verify fail)

    finished. total time: 0.113s

    please help

    • Did you get your token file from HTC?

      • Arun Ramakrishnan

        yes

        • Can you try flashing the stock firmware without relocking your bootloader? Check if it works for you and let us know. Thanks!

          • Arun Ramakrishnan

            i searched the whole web for stock frmware but i dint get one. if u know please give a link ….
            thanx…
            my mob is indian verson with dual sim

          • Arun Ramakrishnan

            yes I have it is single sim European version. mine is “dual sim Indian version” …….. 🙁

          • Well, that’s the only stock firmware we could fine for this device. Maybe you should try searching after some time to check if one becomes available.

            Thanks!

  • anwarmanaf

    I rooted the device, but using stock OS, is there any way to unroot and lock boot loader without flashing the ROM?

    • Arun Ramakrishnan

      Once again Lock your device and Unlock your device. It may remove root permissions .then again lock your Hboot…

      • anwarmanaf

        After relocking the bootloader is this possible to unlock the bootloader again? coz I,m still having the root permissions.

        thanks for your fast reply…

        • Arun Ramakrishnan

          yes

          • anwarmanaf

            I relocked and when trying to unlock I am getting an error “cannot load Unlockcode.bin”.
            please help…

  • mohd khayes

    when i type the command fastboot oem lock it says waiting for the device for a long time and i can’t find anything on my cmd what will i do reply fast thnx dude…

  • Dragan Grozdanić

    please help me, i have root with stock ruu single sim EU…..i cant unroot my device

  • Bitto

    I Had CM12 installed, now when I followed the steps its not working

  • Ivaylo Stoyanov

    i install everything but now im still rooted -_- HELP ASAP PLS ;/

    • You can’t be rooted when you flash the stock ROM. Did the unrooting procedure go well?

  • Jamie

    Will this method work with the UK unlock variant of the HTC Desire 816?

    • Hi Jamie,

      You just need to choose the appropriate stock ROM for your device and the procedure should just work fine for your variant. Thanks!

  • Yuvraj

    anybody know how to remove tampered flag from boot-loader screen. n S-off

  • Yuvraj

    Plz tell me how to install latest kernel downloaded from htcdev site. plz help me
    I have a HTC Desire 816d

  • a rahman a raouf

    it says : fast boot is not recognized as internal or external operable programe or batch file ??

  • arjun

    signed verifcation failed is coming how to disable it

    • Hi Arjun,

      Make sure to turn off the “toggle signature verification” option at “install zip from sdcard” in the recovery menu.

      Thanks!

  • Jose Ferre

    Hi Mahesh Makvana!

    I need your help please.

    I can not install a recovery because when i installed the recovery, reboot the phone on HBOOT mode and go to Recovery option but the phone does nothing and start at Fastboot mode.

    I am without Recovery and without a stable rom because when i restore to default settings the phone start at Fastboot mode and the rom no change.

    On my Fastboot appears the messages:
    *** TAMPERED ***
    *** RELOCKED ***
    *** Security Warning ***

    When I tried to flash Recovery on Fastboot comand “fastboot flash recovery recovery.img” does nothing and start at Fastboot mode.

    What I have to do?

    Best regards and thanks you!

    • Hi Jose,

      What custom recovery did you try to flash on your device? Was it an official one?

  • Jeremi

    Can’t do anything.. HTC is pluged, debugging, after “adb reboot fastboot” – it says: “device is offline”. But in the same time, i got access to my HTC desire 816 in “My Computer”.. any help ?

  • Ahmed Noman

    I locked as per your instructions. In the heading IV. Unlocking HTC Desire 816, you said to enter adb reboot fastboot, i entered this command, it reads
    C:adb>adb reboot fastboot
    error: device not found

    NOw tell me what to do??? I am stuck in the middle

  • kaustubh

    hey how to remove tampered flag from htc desire 816 because my warranty is void due to this flag.

  • Nikunz Khanal

    Hey Mahesh..i luv ur work so far. right now to unroot as said, after giving “adb reboot fastboot” command, it displays as” device not found”. it seems to be problem faced by most of us. And i did it manually..going to the fastboot mode from the phone.. i hav relocked my bootloader. But while copying the file it says some kind of error. So can u plz upload a video on this? how to UNROOT htc desire and guide us thru step by step process? That would be appriciated alot.. thank you..

    • Nikunz Khanal

      and i had downloaded the ADB drivers and had installed them too. but no use

    • Hi Nikunj,

      I’m glad that you liked my work 🙂

      If it says “device not found”, it probably means you haven’t installed the required HTC drivers on your PC.

      Use the following link to download and install the latest HTC drivers on your PC – http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2211791

      Let us know if it works for you. Thanks!

  • Jacob Sabu

    hey mahesh… i got lolipop update , but i cannot intall it coz my phone is rootted . is there any way i could install the updates…
    help me plz………
    when i try to unroot it, abd is outdated and device offline msg pops up

    • Hi Jacob,

      If it says ADB is outdated, please head to the ADB website and download and install the fresh version of the tool on your PC.

      Device offline message usually appears when you don’t have the device drivers installed on your PC. Install the HTC Sync tool on your PC and it’ll do the needful.

      Thanks!

  • Rishikesh Bajpai

    plz tel me the procedure or file to get back my htc 816 desire from cyanogenmod to original stock rom or original htc license software.. my mobile show only boot mode

  • Gaurav Garg

    Charge your Battery 100%.

    Download the Correct RUU from

    http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/f485/htc-desire-816-official-stock-roms-always-updated-1948682/

    After download the correct RUU, Rename the Zip file as per your Model such as, mine is 0P9CIMG.

    Place this Zip file into your memory card.

    Then boot your HTC 816 in HBoot.

    It will start the process automatically. It will take about 10-15 Minutes.

    Finally you will get the phone on Factory version.

  • Satish Soni

    How to install lillipop in htc_a5dug please describe?

    • Hi Satish,

      In order to update to Lollipop, either you should wait for the official update or you should just install a ROM that’s based on Lollipop on your device.

      Thanks!

  • Satish Soni

    Please suggest which ROM I can install that is based on lollipop of my device htc_a5dug

  • Satish Soni

    Hi Mahesh,

    Recently I installed CM 12 lollipop on my HTC desire 816 but much of the features are not working as expected so I want to have the previous official kitkat of HTC I too dont have the backup & I lost everything even the OS now My phone has become a simple useless box. So its a request to please help me getting back my OS if possible. My device is htc_a5dug china made.

    • Hi Satish,

      The above procedure should help you get your HTC Desire 816 back to the stock. It’ll unroot and remove the custom ROM from your device and will bring your device back to stock ROM.

      Let us know if you have any questions!

      Thanks!

  • Satish Soni

    But I cant find the stock RUU for htc_a5dug please guide how to?

  • Satish Soni

    The below link doesnt have the link to download the file. Then how to download?

  • MC LS7

    Hello,
    I really need a help over here, i’m trying to unroot (because my Phone keeps restarting after root and i can’t update SU binary) using your tutorial but everytime i get the same msg which is
    (bootloader) signature checking…
    FAILED (remote: signature verify fail)
    i turned off signature verification in recovery mode but i still get the same error.
    I really appreciate your help in this.
    Thanks.

  • Shrek

    Error 404 not found for the Fastboot file.

    Fix your links!

  • Biplab Ghosh

    My HTC is stuck at boot screen.

    I didnot root it .. I guess it has some software problem.

    so wanted to reinstall stock rom.

    tried this method, but it failed saying

    bootloader checking…

    remote signature verify fail.

    so i downloaded anther RUU .. and this time it failed saying

    data length is too large.

    i dunno what to do anymore.

    the HBOOT code os the device is

    HBOOT 3.19.0 OS 2.34.720.1

    Radio_1.31.50.0215

    please help .. i am totally stuck here

  • swamy game

    guys mine iss showing locked and i tried htc dev method but doesnot work and i cant install custom roms also phone storage and sd card not opening and restarts autometically pls anyone tell me de solution

  • khaled

    i have htc desire 816 daul sims .when i want make root to this phone i choice wrong app .and now my phone locked give me tampared unlocked……security warning ….what i do now for get my phone come back work