Heimdall: ERROR: Protocol initialisation failed!

Have been trying for 3 hours to flash TWRP to a SMA500FU, and I don’t know if it’s a problem with the fact it’s an A5, or if it’s the build I’m using or what?

Here’s the output of detect, and download-pit.

aliensonneptune@tinfoilhats:/$ sudo heimdall detect
Device detected
aliensonneptune@tinfoilhats:/$ sudo heimdall download-pit --output pit.pit
Heimdall v1.4.1

Copyright (c) 2010-2014 Benjamin Dobell, Glass Echidna
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/

This software is provided free of charge. Copying and redistribution is
encouraged.

If you appreciate this software and you would like to support future
development please consider donating:
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/donate/

Initialising connection...
Detecting device...
Claiming interface...
Setting up interface...

Initialising protocol...
ERROR: Protocol initialisation failed!

Releasing device interface...

aliensonneptune@tinfoilhats:/$

Can anyone help me?

PS, I’m an android noob, only been using it for 4 weeks.

PPS, I’m on a USB3, and the phone is on the 6.0.1 UD.

About this issue

Original URL
State: open
Created 7 years ago
Comments: 28

Most upvoted comments

Same problem here, “Protocol initialisation failed”.

I’ve noticed though that the first heimdall command did execute successfully… so I kept rebooting the phone out of download mode (hold all buttons for ~5 seconds) then back into download mode, then issue the next heimdall command.

TL;DR only the first command after booting into download mode works!

+18

dandv on Oct 14, 2017

You might also want to try a newer build from a fork with a few fixes. It may or may not help…

amo13 on Oct 4, 2021

I have tried everything here, I always get:

Initialising protocol...
ERROR: Protocol initialisation failed!

Releasing device interface...

NacreousDawn596 on Oct 3, 2021

Yes, and in the time since I last commented, I figured out that if TWRP still booted in, I could use ADB sideload to load in a new ROM, which could either solve my problems or make them worse.

I’m an optimist.

SO.

I sideloaded a Lineage OS 14 ROM for the A500xx series, crossed my fingers and booted. Soon enough I was greeted by the amazing sight of a Lineage OS welcome screen. Currently sideloading opengapps for my device.

Somehow flashing TWRP to root, and failing, then trying to fix it gave me face unlock and a stock (finally) theme? Anyway, couldn’t have done it without your help, thanks a lot @JonnyTech

ghost on Aug 24, 2017

Okay, somehow built 1.4.2 from source, and now I’m detecting the device, but now I get this output, so I think it is the same error that I was getting before.

Heimdall v1.4.2

Copyright (c) 2010-2017 Benjamin Dobell, Glass Echidna
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/

This software is provided free of charge. Copying and redistribution is
encouraged.

If you appreciate this software and you would like to support future
development please consider donating:
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/donate/

Initialising connection...
Detecting device...
      Manufacturer: "Sasmsung"
           Product: "MSM8960"

            length: 18
      device class: 2
               S/N: 0
           VID:PID: 04E8:685D
         bcdDevice: 0100
   iMan:iProd:iSer: 1:2:0
          nb confs: 1

interface[0].altsetting[0]: num endpoints = 1
   Class.SubClass.Protocol: 02.02.01
       endpoint[0].address: 82
           max packet size: 0010
          polling interval: 09

interface[1].altsetting[0]: num endpoints = 2
   Class.SubClass.Protocol: 0A.00.00
       endpoint[0].address: 81
           max packet size: 0200
          polling interval: 00
       endpoint[1].address: 01
           max packet size: 0200
          polling interval: 00
Claiming interface...
Setting up interface...

Initialising protocol...
ERROR: Failed to receive handshake response. Result: -7
ERROR: Protocol initialisation failed!

Releasing device interface...

ghost on Aug 24, 2017