SP Flash Tool v6 is the branch of MediaTek’s SmartPhone Flash Tool made for firmware that ships with a flash.xml file instead of the classic MTxxxx_Android_scatter.txt. If your firmware folder has flash.xml, you load it in the Download-XML field of v6; if it has a scatter file, you stay on v5. This guide shows how to tell which one you need, how to flash with v6 step by step, and how to fix the errors people hit most often.

What SP Flash Tool v6 Is

SP Flash Tool works with a small program called the Download Agent (DA). The tool sends the DA to the phone first, and the DA then reads and writes the partitions. MediaTek’s DA has used three protocols over the years: Legacy (V3), XFlash (V5) and XML (V6). The XML protocol is found mainly on Dimensity chips and some newer Helio chips, and SP Flash Tool v6 is the tool built to use it.

v6 is not a simple upgrade of v5. A UMIDIGI community administrator called v6 “just a different tool, not newer” and said both branches keep getting updates. In practice, you pick the branch that matches your firmware package, not the one with the higher number.

SP Flash Tool v5 vs v6

Item SP Flash Tool v5 SP Flash Tool v6
File you load MTxxxx_Android_scatter.txt flash.xml
Field in the tool Scatter-loading File (Choose) Download-XML
Download Agent protocol XFlash (V5) XML (V6)
Typical phones Older MediaTek phones and any phone whose firmware still uses a scatter file Mainly Dimensity and some newer Helio phones with XML firmware
Platforms Windows, Linux Windows, Linux

Which Version Does Your Phone Need?

Open the extracted firmware folder and look at the files:

  • If you see flash.xml (in some packages it sits inside a download_agent folder), use SP Flash Tool v6.
  • If you see a file named like MT6765_Android_scatter.txt, use SP Flash Tool v5.

You cannot convert one format into the other. When a user asked on the Hovatek forum in 2021 whether scatter firmware could be made v6-compatible, the administrator said no and advised staying on v5. Loading a scatter file into v6, or flash.xml into v5, only gives a wrong-format error.

The phone’s age is not a reliable guide either. Hovatek’s May 2026 firmware post for the Infinix Note 40 Pro 5G (X6851) is in scatter format, and UMIDIGI told a BISON GT2 PRO 5G owner that no Download-XML exists for that model and to use v5. Always check the firmware itself.

Which Build Is the Latest?

MediaTek does not run a public download page or changelog for SP Flash Tool. It supplies the tool to partners; for example, its Genio IoT documentation says SP Flash Tool is available from the Genio Developer Center, which may need partner access. Download sites also disagree: one lists v6.2228 (July 2022) as the newest Windows build, while another lists v6.2404. Use the build that came with your firmware or that your phone maker recommends. You can get the tool from our SP Flash Tools for all MTK devices page. Avoid “patched” or “auth bypass” builds; they are not official releases.

Requirements

  • A Windows PC. v6 also has a Linux build. There is no mainstream macOS version.
  • The MediaTek USB VCOM (preloader) driver. Get it from our MTK USB Driver 32bit & 64bit post or from the MediaTek link on Google’s OEM USB drivers page. Remove older, conflicting MediaTek drivers first.
  • Official firmware for your exact model, variant and region that includes flash.xml.
  • A good USB data cable plugged straight into the PC (a rear port on a desktop). If the phone is not detected, try a USB 2.0 port.
  • At least 50% battery on the phone.
  • A backup of your data. Flashing official firmware usually erases everything on the phone.

About Authentication Files

Many newer MediaTek phones use secure boot with SLA and DAA checks. On these phones, the tool asks for an authentication (.auth) file signed for that model. Some official firmware packages include one, often named auth_sv5.auth. Otherwise, phone makers give auth files only to their authorized service centres, and there is no universal public auth file. If your phone asks for one and your firmware has none, take the phone to an authorized service centre.

How to Flash Firmware with SP Flash Tool v6

  1. Extract SP Flash Tool v6 to a short folder path with no spaces, for example C:\SPFlashTool. Extract the firmware to a separate folder.
  2. Open the firmware folder and confirm that it contains flash.xml.
  3. Install the MediaTek USB VCOM driver.
  4. Run flash_tool.exe from the extracted folder, not from inside the ZIP.
  5. On the download screen, click Choose next to Download-XML and select flash.xml. The partition list should fill in. If it stays empty or shows errors, stop: the firmware is incomplete or not made for v6.
  6. Leave the Authentication File field empty unless your firmware package includes an auth file for your model.
  7. Select Download Only from the drop-down list. It is the safest mode for a normal reinstall. The other modes are Firmware Upgrade and Format All + Download.
  8. If you are not completely sure the firmware is for your exact model, untick preloader. A wrong preloader can leave the phone dead with a blank screen.
  9. Click Download. Then switch the phone off fully and connect it with the USB cable. Some phones only connect while you hold Volume Up or Volume Down as you plug in the cable.
  10. Wait for the progress bar to finish. Do not touch the cable or the phone until the tool shows a success message, such as a green tick or Download OK.
  11. Disconnect the phone and switch it on. The first boot can take several minutes.

Avoid Format All + Download unless a technician tells you to use it. Formatting can damage the NVRAM/NVDATA partitions that hold the phone’s radio settings, and the phone may lose its mobile network afterwards.

Common SP Flash Tool v6 Errors and Fixes

The scatter file will not load (wrong format)

v6 does not read scatter files. If your firmware only has MTxxxx_Android_scatter.txt, flash it with v5 instead, for example SP Flash Tool v5.1820.

The phone is not detected

  • Reinstall the VCOM driver with the phone disconnected. On Windows 11, driver signature enforcement can block the VCOM driver install.
  • Try another cable and a USB 2.0 port directly on the PC, not a hub or front-panel port.
  • Make sure the phone is fully off, then try holding Volume Up or Volume Down while you connect it.
  • Charge the phone for a while if the battery is low.

The tool asks for an authentication file

Your phone uses secure boot. Load an auth file only if it came with the official firmware for your model. If you do not have one, an authorized service centre can flash the phone for you.

Download Agent errors

Some DA files only work with one specific tool, and a mismatch gives errors such as “lib DA not match”. Use the DA and tool build that came with your firmware, download the firmware again if a file may be damaged, and check the driver. The error guides under Related Guides below cover the older v5 error codes.

The phone is stuck on the logo after flashing

Give the first boot at least 10 minutes. If it still does not start, flash again with Download Only and check that the firmware matches your model and build number. A factory reset from recovery mode can also help, but it erases all data.

Related Guides

FAQ

Is SP Flash Tool v6 newer than v5?

Not really. It is a separate branch for flash.xml firmware and the XML Download Agent. Both branches get updates, so v5 is still the right tool for scatter-based firmware.

Can I convert a scatter file to flash.xml?

No. There is no supported way to convert between the two formats. Use the tool version that matches the firmware you have.

Does SP Flash Tool v6 work on a Mac?

No. SP Flash Tool v6 builds are available for Windows and Linux only.

Will SP Flash Tool v6 erase my data?

Flashing official firmware usually erases user data, so back up first. Format All + Download erases even more, including partitions you cannot restore from the firmware, so avoid it.

Does SP Flash Tool v6 work with Samsung or Qualcomm phones?

No. SP Flash Tool only works with MediaTek phones. Samsung phones use Odin, and Qualcomm phones use their maker’s own tools.

https://droid-developers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/sp-flash-tool-v6-how-to-use-featured-1024x538.jpghttps://droid-developers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/sp-flash-tool-v6-how-to-use-featured-150x150.jpgFahim MahmudFirmwareFlash ToolsHow ToSP Flash Tool v6 is the branch of MediaTek's SmartPhone Flash Tool made for firmware that ships with a flash.xml file instead of the classic MTxxxx_Android_scatter.txt. If your firmware folder has flash.xml, you load it in the Download-XML field of v6; if it has a scatter file, you stay...Android Help,Troubleshooting & Stock Rom