Introduction to QDL and Image Flashing

2025-05-22

Use QDL Flash Tool

Ensure ModemManager is Not Running

  • Prerequisite: if you are using Linux distribution systemd, note that some distributions include ModemManager, a tool for configuring mobile broadband. When a device is connected in USB mode, it may be recognized as a Qualcomm modem, and ModemManager will attempt to configure the device. This will interfere with QDL flashing, so disable ModemManager before connecting the device by executing:
sudo systemctl stop ModemManager

Download QDL Tool

Download link: https://developer.quectel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/qdl.zip

Flashing the Image

Enable EMG_DOWNLOAD and power on the module to make the module enter the QDL emergency download mode.

Linux x64

  1. Open a terminal window in the directory containing programs, rawprogram.xml, patch.xml and the QDL binary files.

  2. Run the QDL executable in the QDL_Linux_x64 directory with the following command:

./qdl --storage ufs prog_firehose_Qcm6490_ddr.elf  rawprogram*.xml patch*.xml

A successful flash is indicated by the message "partition 1 is now bootable" in the terminal window, as shown below:

After flashing, view the device information in the terminal window by executing Isusb. See the example below:

Notes

If flashing fails, follow the following steps and try aiagn:

  1. Power off the device.
  2. Disconnect QuecPi Alpha.
  3. Restart QuecPi Alpha and retry the flashing process.