EDL, BROM, Fastboot or Download mode? How to tell which mode your phone is in
A black screen does not always mean a dead phone. Here is how each low-level mode shows up on screen and in Windows Device Manager.
When a phone will not start, the first question is which mode it can still reach. Plug it into a Windows PC and open Device Manager.
Fastboot (bootloader)
The screen shows a FASTBOOT or bootloader menu. Device Manager lists Android Bootloader Interface. Used with the fastboot tool.
Qualcomm EDL (Emergency Download)
The screen stays black. Device Manager shows Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 under Ports. EDL can rewrite the whole flash memory, but on recent Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo and Realme phones the manufacturer requires authorised access.
MediaTek BROM and Preloader
The screen stays black. The phone appears for a moment as MediaTek USB Port (BROM) or MediaTek PreLoader USB VCOM. Used with SP Flash Tool; newer chipsets need authentication.
Samsung Download mode
A blue screen says Downloading… Do not turn off target. Device Manager shows a Samsung mobile USB device. Used with Odin.
Recovery
A text or touch menu with options such as Reboot and Wipe data.
What it means for a repair
A phone that shows nothing on screen but still appears as a 9008 or MediaTek port is often recoverable with software. A phone that never appears on any port, does not charge and gets hot points to a hardware fault.