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How to Install Pitch Black Recovery on Nothing Phone 1 [Android 14]

Avatar image of Sadique Hassan Sadique Hassan•Updated Nov 7, 2023

In this guide, we will show you the steps to install the Pitch Black Recovery onto your Nothing Phone 1. The first iteration of the Nothing device, while not as active as one would have anticipated, is still performing quite decently in custom development. While we already had the option to gain administrative privilege right since day 1 and slow some custom ROMs also started making their way, however, the major issue lay with the custom recovery.

While OrangeFox was released, however, its support was limited to Android 12. As a result of which, many users were left stranded in the dark, unable to flash their desired custom binaries and modules after updating their devices to Android 13. Well, we are glad to inform you that the waiting time is finally over as you can now install the Pitch Black Recovery onto your Nothing Phone 1, not only on Android 13 but even on 14! So without further ado, let’s get started.

How to Install Pitch Black Recovery on Nothing Phone 1

Pitch Black Recovery on Nothing Phone 1

The below instructions are listed under separate sections for ease of understanding. Make sure to follow the same sequence as mentioned. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.

STEP 1: Install Android SDK

install adb platform tools windowsFirst and foremost, you will have to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform-tools folder, which will be used throughout this guide.

STEP 2: Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking

Next up, you will have to enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking on your device. The former will make your device recognizable by the PC in ADB mode. This will then allow you to boot your device to Fastboot Mode. On the other hand, OEM Unlocking is required to carry out the bootloader unlocking process.

Pitch Black Recovery on Nothing Phone 1

So head over to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number 7 times > Go back to Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking.

STEP 3: Unlock Bootloader on Nothing Phone 1

After this, you will have to unlock the bootloader on your Nothing Phone 1. Do keep in mind that this process will wipe off all the data and might nullify the device’s warranty as well. So if that’s all well and good, then refer to our comprehensive guide on Unlock Bootloader on Nothing Phone 1 [and its Critical Partition]

Pitch Black Recovery on Nothing Phone 1

STEP 4: Download Pitch Black Recovery for Nothing Phone 1

  1. To begin with, download the Pitch Black Recovery IMG from below

    DOWNLOAD LINK
  2. Now rename the IMG file to pb, so that the complete name becomes pb.img.
  3. Then transfer this pb.img file to the platform-tools folder on your PC.

STEP 5: Boot Nothing Phone 1 to Fastboot Mode

  1. Connect your device to the PC via a USB cable. Make sure USB Debugging is enabled.
  2. Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
    command-prompt-inside-adb
  3. Type in the following command in the CMD window to boot your device to Fastboot Mode
    adb reboot bootloader

    OrangeFox Recovery Nothing Phone 1

  4. Now type in the below command to verify the Fastboot Connection
    fastboot devices
  5. If you get a device ID followed by the fastboot keyword, then the connection stands successful.
Now, there exist two different methods to flash Pitch Black Recovery on your Nothing Phone 1. First off, try the STEP 6A, if that doesn't work, then try out the STEP 6B.

STEP 6A: Install Pitch Black via Flash Current

  1. To begin with, launch CMD inside the platform-tools folder.
  2. Then execute the below command to temporarily boot your device to Pitch Black:
    fastboot boot pb.img
  3. Now from Pitch Black, go to Advanced and select Flash Current PBRP.
  4. It will now be flashed. Once done, go to Reboot and select Recovery.
  5. Your device will reboot to Pitch Black and you may now carry out the desired flashing.
  6. Once done, you could then Reboot your device to the System.

STEP 6B: Install Pitch Black via Install Ramdisk

  1. To begin with, launch CMD inside the platform-tools folder.
  2. Then execute the below command to temporarily boot your device to Pitch Black:
    fastboot boot pb.img
  3. Now from Pitch Black, go to Advanced > Install Recovery Ramdisk.
  4. Then Select Select PBRP_Spacewar.img > Flash Ramdisk.
  5. Once done, go to Reboot and select Recovery.
  6. Your device will reboot to Pitch Black and you may now carry out the desired flashing.
  7. Once done, you could then Reboot your device to the System.

So these were the steps to install the Pitch Black Recovery on your Nothing Phone 1. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.

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