MediaTek complete phone backup using SP Flash Tool

Introduction: Why Backup Your MediaTek Device?

Modifying your Android device can unlock powerful features — from custom ROMs and root access to GSI installs and kernel tweaks. But before diving into any of that, the most important step is to take a complete backup of your device's critical partitions.

Why? Because one wrong flash or corrupted partition can leave you with a soft-brick, permanent data loss, or even a dead device.

Watch me taking a full device backup of a MT6768 chipset mobile:

✅ Benefits of using your own phone's backup:

1. Device-Specific Compatibility:

The preloader is tightly coupled with your device's hardware variant, including things like display drivers, touchscreen ICs, and memory configuration. Using the exact one from your own device avoids mismatches.

2. Avoids Hard Brick Risks: 

Flashing a wrong preloader (even from a similar model) can hard brick your phone

3. Matches NVRAM and Calibration Data

MTK devices often store IMEI, WiFi MAC, and other calibration info in nvram, proinfo, nvdata, etc. Dumping your own ensures you preserve unique identifiers that flashing online firmware may wipe.

4. Avoids Firmware Downgrade Traps

Some stock firmware packages online are older or don't match your security patch level, causing boot loops or dm-verity issues. Backing up ensures you're working with exactly what's already working.

5. Preserves Region-Specific Features

Your ROM might have features tied to a specific country/carrier — flashing a global or different regional ROM might remove VoLTE, NFC support, etc.

6. Offline Recovery Option

Having your own full backup + scatter allows you to restore your device even without internet or in case official files are taken down.

Understanding the Basics

MediaTek devices use a storage system called eMMC or UFS, divided into multiple partitions. Below is a table of key partitions and their purposes:

Partition	Purpose
preloader	First-stage bootloader (critical for booting)
boot	Kernel + ramdisk (used for booting OS)
system, vendor, product	Core Android OS
userdata	Your installed apps, settings, and files
recovery	Recovery environment (can be TWRP/custom)
vbmeta	Verifies system integrity (AVB, DM-Verity)
nvram, nvdata	Stores IMEI, WiFi MAC, baseband settings
frp	Factory reset protection (Google account lock)

Losing or corrupting these partitions can break core functionality like signal, boot, or recovery.

What You Need

Before starting, ensure you have the following tools and files:

• SP Flash Tool (for flashing and readback)
• Bypass Tool to disable authentication
• USB drivers installed (MediaTek VCOM drivers)

• Scatter file for your device (comes with stock ROM)
• Preloader for your device (comes with stock ROM)

• Patched or custom DA file for your chipset (e.g., MT6768) if possible

Step-by-Step: Full Backup of Your MediaTek Device

Step 1: Set Up Tools

1. Create a ROM_BACKUP folder and place the MTxxxx_Android_scatter.txt file and preloader.bin file from stock firmware.
2. Launch SP Flash Tool.
3. Go to the Download tab and load the scatter file.
4. Uncheck everything here.

Step 2: Readback current preloader

1. Go to the Readback tab in SP Flash Tool.
2. Click Add to create a new entry.
3. Double-click the entry and set:
   • Region: EMMC_BOOT1
   • Start Address: Refer to the partition's linear_start_addr in the scatter file
   • Length: Refer to partition_size in the scatter file
   • Save the file with a meaningful name like latest_preloader.bin.
4. Press green Read Back button.
5. Run MTK_Bypass
6. Connect your phone in BROM Mode to extract current working latest_preloader.bin
7. Wait for the readback to complete, then close everything.

Step 3: Update scatter file

1. Change the preloader file_name to extracted preloader file, and save

Step 4: Configure Readback in SP Flash Tool

1. Go to the Readback tab in SP Flash Tool.
2. Click Add to create a new entry.
3. Double-click the entry and set:
   • Region: EMMC_USER
   • Start Address: Refer to the partition's linear_start_addr in the scatter file
   • Length: Refer to partition_size in the scatter file
   • Save the file with a meaningful name like boot_backup.bin.
4. Repeat step 2-3 for all important partitions. refer to the stock rom you found online to take a look at what images you must have or use Google Colab Code to automatically list partition details.

Step 5: Start the Backup

1. Click Read Back in SP Flash Tool.
2. Run MTK_Bypass script & Connect your device.
3. The tool will read the partition and save it to the selected location.

Final Tips & Safety Notes

• ⚠️Warning: Do not attempt For a full dump of ROM.

  Be cautious — this can take a long time and may fail if secure regions are protected. Only attempt with a proper DA and bypass tool.

• NEVER flash an unmatched preloader — it can permanently brick your phone.
• Always store your backups safely (external drive, cloud, etc.).
• Rename each .bin file clearly (e.g., nvram_backup.bin).
• Keep a copy of your scatter file with the backups.

Conclusion

Before flashing a custom recovery or installing a GSI ROM, it's crucial to have full backups of all sensitive partitions. With SP Flash Tool, a scatter file, and a proper bypass method, you can save yourself from potential disasters. Take the extra 15 minutes — it might save you hours of troubleshooting and a trip to the service center.