How to Fix WiFi Problems After MSM Flashing on OnePlus Devices?

Why Does Your OnePlus WiFi Stop Working After Using MSM Download Tool?

When you flash your OnePlus phone using MSM Download Tool, sometimes WiFi stops working. This happens because the persist.img file gets damaged. This file helps your phone talk to its WiFi chip. When it breaks, your phone shows a fake MAC address like 02:00:00:00:00:00.

What Is MSM Download Tool?

MSM Download Tool helps fix broken OnePlus phones. It puts fresh firmware on your device. Most times, it fixes all problems. But sometimes, it creates new ones.

The tool works in EDL mode. This mode lets you write directly to your phone’s storage. Usually, this fixes everything. But the persist partition can get corrupted during this process.

Signs Your WiFi Is Broken

You will know your WiFi has problems when:

• WiFi won’t turn on
• Settings show MAC address as 02:00:00:00:00:00
• Phone can’t find any networks
• Mobile data also stops working

This MAC address means your persist.img file is damaged. The persist partition stores important calibration data for WiFi, sensors, and other hardware parts.

Simple Fix First

Before doing complex steps, try this easy solution:

1. Go to Settings
2. Find Backup and Reset
3. Tap Reset Network Settings
4. Tap Reset

This works sometimes for minor WiFi problems. If this doesn’t help, you need the advanced fix below.

Complete Fix for WiFi Problems

Important Warning: Back up your phone first. These steps can break your device if done wrong.

Step 1: Get the Right Files

• Download Fastboot ROM for your exact OnePlus model
• Make sure the ROM version matches your phone’s build number
• Get Android SDK Platform Tools for your computer

The ROM version must match exactly. Check your phone’s build number in Settings > About Phone.

Step 2: Update Your Phone

If your ROM version doesn’t match:

• Install OTA updates until versions match
• Check build number after each update
• Stop when numbers are the same

Step 3: Prepare Your Phone

Your bootloader needs to be unlocked:

• MSM Download Tool locks bootloaders automatically
• You must unlock it again to flash persist.img
• Enable USB debugging in Developer Options

Step 4: Extract Files

• Extract the Fastboot ROM you downloaded
• Find the persist.img file inside
• Copy persist.img to platform-tools folder
• Open Command Prompt in platform-tools folder

Step 5: Flash the Fix

Run these commands one by one:

adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flash persist persist.img 
fastboot reboot

The first command boots your phone to fastboot mode. The second flashes the persist file. The third restarts your phone normally.

Why This Fix Works

The persist.img file contains calibration data for your WiFi chip. When MSM flashing corrupts this file, WiFi stops working. By flashing a clean persist.img from the Fastboot ROM, you restore the proper calibration data.

This partition is factory-calibrated for each device. Using the wrong persist.img can break other features like fingerprint or sensors. Always use the persist.img from your exact device model and region.

Alternative Solutions

If the main fix doesn’t work, try these:

Method 1: Edit MAC Address Manually

• Use ADB to extract misc.img file
• Edit MAC address with hex editor
• Flash the modified file back

Method 2: Check Hardware

• WiFi antenna might be loose
• Hardware damage from disassembly
• Service center repair might be needed

When to Seek Professional Help

Visit a service center if:

• All software fixes fail
• Phone was dropped or damaged
• WiFi worked before flashing but hardware seems faulty

Sometimes the WiFi chip itself gets damaged. Software fixes won’t help hardware problems.

Prevention Tips

• Always backup persist partition before flashing
• Use official MSM tools only
• Match firmware versions exactly
• Don’t flash different region ROMs

Taking a persist backup before any major flashing protects you from this problem. You can restore your original calibration data if something goes wrong.

This WiFi fix has helped many OnePlus users get their internet working again. The persist.img method works because it restores the proper hardware calibration data your phone needs to use WiFi correctly.