Since the Amazon Echo Show runs a modified version of Android, it comes with several things common to Android devices, like hidden developer options. Something else it has is Fastboot and Recovery mode, which are used to manipulate the operating system. It’s still unknown what use these modes have for modding purposes, or how locked down they are, but here’s how to boot into Fastboot and Recovery, as well as the available options.
To enter Fastboot mode, you first need to power off the Echo Show. To do this, press and hold the mute button for 3 seconds until the power off message is displayed, and then select “OK.” While it’s off, enter Fastboot mode by holding down both the mute and volume down buttons simultaneously. You can let go of the mute button once you see the screen light up, if you want, but you must keep the volume down button pressed until you see the Fastboot screen.
Once in Fastboot mode, you can cycle through the available options using the volume up and down buttons, and you select an option by pressing the mute button. The options are NORMAL BOOT, RESTART BOOTLOADER, RECOVERY MODE, REBOOT, and POWER OFF. The NORMAL BOOT, REBOOT, and POWER OFF options are self-explanatory. Selecting RESTART BOOTLOADER will reboot the Echo Show but automatically but you back in Fastboot mode without needing to hold down any buttons. Selecting RECOVERY MODE will boot into Amazon’s system recovery mode, which looks a lot like a typical Android recovery mode.
Recovery mode uses the same buttons as before to navigate. The volume buttons move the highlighter and the mute button selects what is highlighted. Selecting to “reboot system now” will boot the Echo Show normally, while the “reboot to bootloader” option will boot back into Fastboot mode. The “power down” option shuts down the device and the “view recovery logs” option takes you to a screen with a list of log files that can be viewed directly on the device, where the volume buttons are used to scroll the file and the mute button returns you to the list of log files.
The “apply update from ADB” option, much like the rest of the options, is typical of an Android recovery mode. It’s meant to allow you to manually apply OS updates. That’s typically done by connecting the device to a PC via a USB cable, but the Echo SHow does not have a USB port, so this doesn’t seem possible. Even if there were a hidden USB connection, or the Echo Show supported ADB over WiFi while in Recovery mode, which it does not seem like it does, it’s almost guaranteed that the device will only accept updates signed by Amazon. That means you won’t be able to load a custom OS update file.
The “wipe data/factory reset” option is very likely identical to the “Reset to Factory Defaults” option found in the Echo Show’s regular settings menu. This option will remove all of your user data and is probably the first thing you should try if you find that the Echo Show is not booting up correctly. The “wipe cache partition” can also be used to fix issues. It’s also done when you select wipe data, but on its own, it will not remove your account information and settings, so it can be used as a less severe troubleshooting option.
As it is right now, less than 24 hours after the Amazon Echo Show has been released, there isn’t much you can do with Fastboot or Recovery mode, but it’s good to see so much of Android’s core components easily accessible.
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it looks like my echo show has this disabled as it shows everything on the menu except for recovery mode. Is there any way to get this access back?
Call Amazon tech support
When i try this on a Show 8 it just enters factory reset. Its a Show 8 2nd Gen.
Same thing for me on my echo show 5! What did Amazon do???
FYI: I posted this comment using my echo show 5! :)
mi dispositivo empezó con problemas wifi, lo reinicie y no encendió mas, y solo se queda en la pantalla azul de preparando dispositivos …, que puedo hacer?
I did multiple hard factory resets on Echo Show 8 L2338 and each time it goes to “Select Language”, but touchscreen not responding. Hard top buttons works, accessed boot options tried every option.
One reboot followed by a long “optimizing” screen still results in unresponsive screen.
Is touchscreen done or is there a way to recover functionality?
Try unplugging the device and holding volume up while reinserting the power cable. If it goes to an echo logo with a red caution symbol, hold mute and press volume up once, then let go of both buttons.
Should get you to recovery mode and you can get to bootloader from there
It Worked on my echo show 5 or 6
Bootloader doesn’t seem to work on my Echo Show 8. When I select this one in the menu, reboots, shows a very small text at the bottom left saying: =FASTBOOT mode…
And hangs on there forever…
Did you figure out how to fix this? Mine just stays at bootloader too.
No, I have my Echo Show 8 G1 as a paperweight on my desk. If we can’t get the Amazon software, appears what whole device is trash now… So Sad.
I thought mine was just stuck on fastboot also but I pressed/held the power + minus vol buttons again and it took me to recovery mode. I used the + button then to advance through that. I have an echo show 5. I assume you would have to power + minus vol to get to bootloader?
No, because if I go to the Booloader, when asked to reboot, get that f…ing message saying that can’t find a file to run and well….Amazon Echo 8 is now a brick on the bed table…
Also,if your touchscreen isn’t working, it’s worth trying a USB otg mouse via the micro USB port and seeing if you can get to a firmware update menu using that
Setting show 10 up for a pensioner friend. Could not get it to register with Amazon despite multiple resets etc. Amazon support said it may be a return that had been blocked , and asked for the serial# – but the expected sticker is not there. Is there a way to get the serial# from a boot screed? It’s impossible to get past initial registration and into Settings to find it that way.
Very helpful thanks
Omg. This saved me big time. My 2nd gen show would not factory reset with the top buttons or through the device settings menu.It would not let me register the device without doing a factory reset. Amazon techs were stumped. This got me to the recovery mode just like my android phones. I was able to do a full reset from here and now my show is up and running and was able to be registered. Thank you!
echo show 5 gen1. Stuck with Amazon logo. Tried power cycle. Factory reset using volume low and mute. Again back to Amazon logo. Tried volume up and mute to get red triangle and then with mute and up to get to boot menu. Cleaned all data and caches and tried reboot, again stuck with amazon logo. tried with fastboot mode, and stuck with black screen with fastboot mode in lower left corner.
Me too! Any solution?
Same happening to me on the Show 8 Gen 1!! No resolution. Support offered me %15 discount on my new device…But I want this one to be working!
Hi Guys
My echo show 8 is stuck in the FASTBOOT mode …. any combination with buttons did not help …. only the same screen …. can you please help to find solution ?
Thank you
My Amazon Show is stuck in Fast Boot mode and I’ve tried all the tricks on this site. I cannot power down the device or reset it. Any suggestions?
I thought mine was just stuck on fastboot also but I pressed/held the power + minus vol buttons again and it took me to recovery mode. I used the + button then to advance through that. I have an echo show 5. I assume you would have to power + minus vol to get to bootloader?
I was able to reset my kid’s echo 5 gen2. It had been stuck updating and unable to connect to wifi.