[Realme 5 Questions & Answers] IsaacCodesStuff:
Hi. I would like to ask for help regarding my Realme 5i device stuck on the error message "The current image(boot/recovery) have been destroyed and can not boot. Please flash the correct image or contact customer service to fix it."

The specs of my device are the following:

Model: RMX2030

RAM and Storage: 3 GB, 64 GB

Android version running prior to issue: Android 10

How I got stuck in this problem:

Initially, I wanted to root my phone using Magisk, then I followed the instructions in this website: https://magiskapp.com/root-realme-5i-using-magisk/

HOWEVER, I have used the wrong image file (my phone model is RMX2030 and I used the Android 10 ROM link the site provided, as I've bought this phone with Android 10 installed.) and I have not noticed the difference in models the ROMs support (I presumed RMX1911 was the Indian variant of Realme 5i) and as you might've guessed it, I flashed the incorrect image (I flashed the patched RMX1911 boot.img instead of the proper RMX2030 boot.img.).

At first, I haven't noticed any difference, not even in preinstalled applications. However, I noticed I cannot connect to any WiFi network, and clicking on Android Setup for the WiFi settings displays my IP and MAC addresses as unknown. I also couldn't play any music, let alone ringtones.

Due to my dissatisfaction with my device's state at that time, I decided to unroot the phone by uninstalling Magisk and applying the boot.img that came with the Android 10 RMX1911 OZIP package that I've downloaded. I also confirmed that root access was removed using root checker, therefore I considered unrooting the phone a success.

Unfortunately, things went downhill shortly after that. Shortly after I've unrooted my phone, I decided to relock the bootloader to keep the device as is, without being aware of the incompatible firmware.

I reinstalled the in-depth test app from my laptop's recycle bin (pushed it to my phone using ADB) and then proceeded to apply for exit in-depth testing. However, a warning popped up, informing me to lock the bootloader first in fastboot mode.

After booting to fastboot mode using `.\adb reboot bootloader` I ran the command `.\fastboot flashing lock` (note: I still didn't notice I flashed the incorrect firmware version) and then proceeded to lock the bootloader. After locking it was a success, I ran `.\fastboot reboot`, and that's when things went south.

Solutions I've tried:

I tried going back to fastboot mode using `.\adb reboot bootloader` but it didn't detect the phone (it happened almost all of a sudden, thus made me panic.) and doing `.\fastboot reboot` did nothing as well.

After quite a bit of brainstorming of potential solutions, I soon found out that I flashed the incorrect version of firmware. (I noticed that after I soft-bricked the device, but I also had a shadow of doubt while trying to flash the .ozip file from the SD card in recovery mode before the actual bricking (recovery mode says that the installed version is lower than the current one, which got me confused.)).

After realizing that my phone originally came out with Android 9, I went back to the website I mentioned above to download the correct firmware (this time, for real.) and then went to sleep. (all of this happened a few nights ago.)

After I woke up, I transferred the .ozip file from my backup phone to my laptop, then followed the following websites to obtain the files `boot.img`, `vbmeta.img`, `system.img`, and `vendor.img`:

Fix The current image (boot/recovery) have been destroyed

In this guide, we will show you the steps to fix The current image (boot/recovery) have been destroyed issue on Realme and Oppo devices.

droidwin.com

How to Extract OZIP Realme Stock ROM (Firmware)

In this guide, we will show you how to extract OZIP Realme Stock ROM or Firmware which will give you stock boot.img file for rooting purpose.

droidwin.com

How to Extract Fastboot Images from Realme/Oppo OZIP Firmware

In this comprehensive tutorial, we will show you the steps to extract Fastboot Images (IMG files) from Realme and Oppo OZIP firmware file.

droidwin.com

At this point, all I needed was the cooperation of my phone to be able to fix it normally.

At first, I tried doing volume down + power button, to no avail. (iirc, it boots to recovery with that key combination)

Then, I tried doing volume up + power button, to no avail as well. (I don't know if it's true that it only works if the bootloader is unlocked)

Then I tried another solution that I found online. I was supposed to use drivers to be able to boot into fastboot mode (my aim is to boot into fastboot mode to unlock the bootloader then flash the stock ROM), and I downloaded all the necessary drivers provided in the websites below:

Realme 5i RMX2030 USB Driver for Windows (Official Mobile Driver)

Download the official Realme 5i RMX2030 USB Driver for your Oppo Mobile. We also provide all other Oppo Mobile drivers for free.

gsmusbdriver.com

Download Android Qualcomm USB Driver [Official] - GSM USB Drivers

Looking for Qualcomm USB Drivers? You can Download here Official Android Qualcomm USB Driver for your Android Smartphone and Tablet.

gsmusbdrivers.com

Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 Driver 64-bit [Windows] [Download] - GSM USB Drivers

This package (Qualcomm_QDLoader_HS-USB_Driver_64bit_Setup.zip) contains Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 Drivers for Windows 11/10/7/8/8.1 64-Bit OS. This

gsmusbdrivers.com

Download ADB and Fastboot Drivers [15 Seconds ADB Installer] - GSM USB Drivers

Looking for ADB and Fastboot Drivers? Download here 15 Seconds ADB and Fastboot installer, which installs ADB and Fastboot drivers system-wide.

gsmusbdrivers.com

Realme 5i USB Drivers (DOWNLOAD) - Android USB Drivers

Trouble connecting Realme 5i to Computer? Download and Install Official Realme 5i USB Driver for Windows 7, 10, 8, 8.1 or XP PC. Also, download Realme 5i ADB Driver & Fastboot Driver which helps in installing the Firmware, ROM's and other files.

www.androidusbdrivers.com

I do have a concern though. Will it do something bad if I decide to downgrade the Android version from 10 to 9? Because it seems like I can only get a hold of the Android 9 ROM instead of the Android 10 ROM.

At the moment of writing this post, I have stalled my attempts at trying to fix my soft-bricked Realme 5i.

I would like to receive your help.

For anyone who thinks this might be a duplicate post:

I have not seen anyone with a similar issue to mine, the closest one would likely be their recovery mode got destroyed, thus initiating the same error, or incorrectly installing custom recovery. I have not seen a single post regarding flashing an incorrect firmware version, and then locking the bootloader after doing so.

For a TL;DR of my problems:

After installing an incorrect Magisk-patched image I bricked my phone after locking the bootloader. I cannot enter fastboot mode after holding down the volume up and power buttons.

Some queries I would like to ask:

Will it completely break my phone if I flash the Android 9 stock ROM instead of the updated Android 10 ROM?

How am I supposed to enter fastboot after locking the bootloader?

Will I be able to unlock the bootloader again (from fastboot) even without the OEM unlocking option enabled?

For now, I am completely convinced that I can still recover this phone 100%, because all I did was flash an incorrect version of the firmware.

Once again, I would like to receive support for my issue. That's all, thank you.

P.S.

I would like to ask if it's possible to recover the device using MSM download tool. If so, please send the appropriate link to the .zip file containing the tool and the .ofp file, because I can't trust the websites from Google search that offer such files. I don't want my phone completely dying due to a potential malware infected ROM.

Edit:

I have thought of an idea that might or might not make things worse. I don't know if it'll make a difference if I flash the EU version of RMX2030's firmware into my device. (the device that I have is surely the global version because it's from an electronics store in the Philippines)

I have a question though: will I be able to do it right (for once) if I flash the EU version instead of the global version? And won't it cause any issues?

My plan is:

Download the EU version of RMX2030's firmware

Boot into EDL mode

Use MSM download tool to force flash the firmware (bootloader being locked is my only concern though)

I don't know if I should do it or not, because according to other devices' forums, if I were to use a different firmware from a different region I should keep the bootloader unlocked. But since my case is relatively odd, I have a shadow of doubt that it won't work.