"Your device is corrupt"

k8jsiy57

The following error message appeared on my GrapheneOS Pixel phone overnight: "Your device is corrupt. It can't be trusted and may not work properly". When I press the power button to continue, the phone shows the usual "Your device is loading a different operating system" message before briefly flashing the Google logo and returning to the "Your device is corrupt" screen.

I'm able to switch the phone off and press volume down + power buttons to enter fastboot. However, when I select Recovery Mode, the phone returns to the "Your device is corrupt" screen.

The phone was running the latest stable version of GrapheneOS (2025081400) and was not updating. It was charging overnight and is unlikely to have run out of battery.

What can be done to save the device and my data? Thank you.

GrapheneOS

k8jsiy57 Start by doing a backup with the system backup app and backing up any important data it doesn't cover manually such as apps like Signal incompatible with external backup systems.

Fully turn off the device, wait 10 seconds and then turn it on. If it still happens, follow the instructions to sideload the current stable channel OS release to update to the same version you already have:

https://grapheneos.org/usage#updates-sideloading

This may resolve the issue.

k8jsiy57

Thank you. I'm afraid this doesn't help.

I cannot do a backup because GrapheneOS never loads. The farthest I can go in the boot-up sequence is the Google logo (the GrapheneOS logo that normally appears at the next step doesn't) before the phone returns to the "Your device is corrupt" screen. I also cannot sideload a GrapheneOS release because when I select Recovery Mode, the phone also returns to the "Your device is corrupt" screen. The "Apply update from ADB" option (or any other option) never appears in the recovery menu.

I have tried to reflash stock Android (on https://flash.android.com/) but have been unable to do it because I cannot load the current OS and enable OEM unlocking.

If you have any ideas for what else might work, those will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

raccoondad

k8jsiy57 try unlocking the bootloader using fastboot or the GOS web installer. Regardless this usually means a disk failure

de0u

k8jsiy57 The "corrupt" message means that some files in the system partition contain the wrong data. While this could be due to an exploit, it is more likely to be due to a flash storage failure. If neither the main OS nor Recovery can start, the storage failure may be extensive, possibly affecting your data.

It is possible, though not at all certain, that a forensic data recovery company might be able to recover some of your data. However, it will likely be expensive for them to try, even if they can't recover anything.

Unfortunately, flash storage can fail, and when it fails the best remedy is backups.

k8jsiy57

I've tried doing it with the GOS web installer. The installer detects the phone but clicking on "Unlock bootloader" results in an error message: "Error: Bootloader was not unlocked, please try again!"

k8jsiy57

de0u Thank you. Assuming that the data cannot be practicably recovered, based on your knowledge is it possible to restore the phone to a usable state, or is the device likely bricked at this point?

raccoondad

k8jsiy57 or is the device likely bricked at this point?

If the flash is failing, its not possible. I have had it happen with me, contact Google support and see if your warranty is still valid. Mine was (I never paid extra for it) and they shipped me a brand new phone.