Nexus 6P won’t load operating system, can’t boot to Recovery Mode, other boot/power issues

Hello #Nexus6P users! Welcome to another post that addresses Nexus problems sent our way by some readers. We hope you’ll find this article helpful.

If you are looking for solutions to your own #Android issue, you can contact us by using the link provided at the bottom of this page.

When describing your issue, please be as detailed as possible so we can easily pinpoint a relevant solution. If you can, kindly include the exact error messages you are getting to give us an idea where to start. If you have already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, make sure to mention them so we can skip them in our answers.

Below are specific topics we’re bringing for you today:

Problem 1: Nexus 6P won’t load operating system, can’t boot to Recovery Mode

Hello. My phone is not getting start at all. There is just flash of Google going on the screen continuously. I tried pressing the volume down key button and reached to the options of recovery mode and other options too but it isn’t working too. I can’t enter the recovery mode as well. Yesterday night I was using the phone and suddenly in the morning it started showing this flash of Google on the phone and just not getting turn on no matter whatever I do. Please help me what I can do and will my all data get vanished, if I have to take it to service center. Will my data get lost? — Nidhi desai

Solution: Hi Nidhi. Since the phone appears to boot up, the first thing that you should try is to see if you can restart it, also known as soft reset. This procedure si similar to restart of a desktop computer. To soft reset your Nexus 6P, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the Power button for approximately 7-10 seconds.
2. Release the Power button when the display turns off.
3. If required, press the Power button again to restart the device.
4. Wait until the phone restarts.

For some Nexus users who encountered a problem like yours before, they were able to successfully fix the problem by returning everything to stock. This means that all software settings are returned to their known working defaults. This is especially helpful if the problem started after you modified the phone’s firmware with a rooting  software or if you run a custom ROM. There are a number of guides that you can follow by searching Google.

If the phone is still unresponsive and won’t do a soft reset at all, there’s really not much that you can do about it. Since booting to Recovery  Mode or Bootloader menu won’t work, you’re out of luck. You’ll have to send the phone in so its hardware can be checked. And yes, there’s a chance that the service may wipe your phone clean as part of the diagnostic process. Since you’ll be unable to create a backup of your files at this time, you’ll most likely lose them should you proceed with repair.

Problem 2: Nexus 6P restarts on its own, won’t boot normally

My Nexus 6p keep restarting, only restarting by showing ‘Google’ every 3 seconds. I can go into Bootloader but after I chose any of the options, it ain’t working and go back to restarting. I am currently traveling in Northern Europe and want this fix soon because I have to work with my mobile. Please help 🙁 — Vincent

Solution: Hi Vincent. Smartphones can restart endlessly for a variety of reasons. In fixing this type of problem, you must know that the causes can either be software- or hardware-related.  The easiest to fix are of course the software ones so let’s see if that’s what you have.

Clear the cache partition

Android devices like your Nexus can encounter problems if the system cache is corrupted so the first troubleshooting step in almost every issue is to wipe the cache partition. The system cache resides in the cache partition so wiping it will delete the existing system cache. Once you’ve done that, your phone will then start building a new cache over time.

Problems due to a corrupted system cache are usually performance related such as apps slow downs, apps crashing, other app malfunctions, and sometimes unexplained Android crash. It is therefore important that you clear the cache partition. Here’s how to do that:

1. Turn off your phone.
2. Press and hold Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Do this until the boot screen shows up.
3. To navigate to Recovery Mode, use Volume Down key.
4. Press Power key to confirm.
5. Once the Android robot is displayed, hold the Power button down, then press and release Volume Up key.
6. Go to wipe cache partition option using the Volume Down key.
7. Press Power to confirm your selection.
8. Use Volume Down to highlight Yes option.
9. Press Power key to select.
10. Press Power to restart the phone.

Install Android and app updates

Once you’ve wiped the cache partition, make sure that you follow it up with installation of Android and app updates (if they are available). This will help ensure that the system starts building up the cache in a pristine state.

Boot to safe mode

A bad third party app can sometimes cause other apps or Android to crash. If you tend to install apps from all over, without really checking whether they’re from a reputable source, you’ll most likely encounter some form of app-related issue. To see if this is the cause of your random restart problem, try to boot your Nexus 6P to safe mode.

Safe Mode blocks third party apps and services so if the issue won’t occur, that’s a sign that one of the apps is the culprit. Here are the steps on how to boot to safe mode:

1. Make sure that you are at the Home screen.
2. Press and hold the Power key.
3. Once the Power Off dialog screen shows up, release the Power button.
4. Tap and hold the Power off option.
5. After a few moments, the phone will ask if you want to reboot to safe mode.
6. Tap OK option.
7. Wait for your Nexus to finish the reboot process.

Wipe the phone via factory reset

If the issue persists despite having completed all the steps above, you should not hesitate to do a factory reset. We know this is a drastic solution but it might just be the fix. We suggest that you boot to Recovery Mode and do a factory reset.

To boot in recovery mode, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the Volume Down button first and then press and hold the Power key.
2. Once you see some information on the screen, release the buttons.
3. The Phone will boot into Bootloader Mode.
4. Using the Volume buttons, highlight Recovery Mode.
5. Press the Power key to confirm you want to boot into recovery mode.
6. An Android with exclamation mark will be displayed on the screen.
7. Press and hold the Power key and then press and hold Volume Up.
8. The recovery options will soon appear on the screen.

Send the phone in

Keep in mind that there’s only so much that you can do. If nothing works after doing all the procedures above, bad hardware must be to blame.

Problem 3: Nexus 6P original charger stopped working

My charger that came with the Nexus 6p recently stopped charging. I plugged in my phone and went to sleep. The battery was at about 50% when I plugged it in. I woke up a couple hours later and the battery was down to 5% and the charging icon on the phone was blinking on and off. Now it doesn’t recognize it’s plugged in at all on that charger. I can still charge the phone with other USB chargers, either plugged into the wall, or computer, or my car. Only the original charger stopped working. — Cameron Stark

Solution: Hi Cameron. The issue is really simple — the original charger is broken. Like any electronic device, a charger can malfunction as well. We don’t know what exactly happened but simply replace it and save yourself from any trouble.

Problem 4: Nexus 6P won’t start, stuck in  Google logo screen

My Nexus 6P does not start. I have tried to re-start the phone but I only get a black screen and the word Google comes and goes. Tried to reboot the phone and nothing happens, took out the sim card and again nothing. It keeps going back to the black screen with off and on Google word. I also checked the charger and the outlets and everything seems to be working fine. Don’t know what the problem is. Checked several websites and YouTube channels and can’t find a solution to my problem. — Patricia

Solution: Hi Patricia. Please see our suggestions for other users above. Any of the software solutions should fix your issue. If nothing works, have the phone repaired or replaced.

Problem 5: Nexus 6P won’t boot to Recovery Mode

Hi. I’ve been reading your advice but i can’t get to the recovery mode screen anymore. I could do it yesterday. I selected each option for recovery, boot loader but it never did anything. All I have now is the white Google logo and sometimes a little flashing red light in the top left hand corner. The phone does charge. I am in the Netherlands. Do you perhaps know where I could send my phone, and do you think it’s possible to save? I’ve had it just one year. Have tons of precious memories (not backed up of course), but i really do love this phone. Any advice welcome. Thank you. — Jenniferdeegan1987

Solution: Hi Jenniferdeegan1987. Your issue is similar to others above as well so be sure to try all our suggestions. If you won’t be able go into Recovery Mode at this time, you should attempt to revert the software to stock. Factory reset or reverting to stock firmware will delete the phone of course so recovery of your photos and videos can only be done if the phone can boot to safe mode or normal mode. Outside these two situations, you’ll most likely never get your files bck.

 

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