# Update the Qualcomm Linux software
To update the software on your Qualcomm^®^ Dragonwing^TM^ IQ-X7xxx Evaluation Kit (EVK), download and flash the prebuilt images of the latest software.
You can update the software by doing the following:
Caution
During the software update with the prebuilt images, all the data on your device is erased and a new image is installed. Back up important data before you start.
**Figure: Software upgrade workflow of Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ-X7xxx EVK**
## Prerequisites
- Back up any important data on your Dragonwing IQ-X7xxx device.
- Verify that the host computer has enough free storage. The software and its artifacts require at least 21 GB of space.
## Procedure
To update the Qualcomm Linux software, complete the following steps based on the operating system of your host computer.
Tab Ubuntu
Tab Windows
Tab macOS
- *class* tabincludedirective
- ### Download the software
1. [Download the software](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/artifactory/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/iq-x7181-evk/qli-2.0-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip).
2. Unzip the downloaded file on the development host by running the following command:
unzip qli-2.0-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip
Copy to clipboard
#### Force the device into emergency download mode
Typically, the device enters emergency download (EDL) mode under two conditions:
- The device doesn’t have installed software upon initial power-up.
- The currently installed software malfunctions.
To flash the software, you must manually force the device into EDL mode. Follow these steps to do so:
1. Turn on the SW2-4 DIP switch by pushing it up.
The following figure shows the location and position of SW2-4 DIP switch.
**Figure: Location of the SW2-4 DIP switch**
2. [Power up the device.](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80023-261/topic/iqx-ug-set-up-the-device.html#power-up-the-device)
3. Connect the device to the host computer through the USB Type-C connector.
4. Verify whether the device has entered EDL mode by running the following command on the host computer:
lsusb
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**Sample output**
Bus 002 Device 014: ID 05c6:9008 Qualcomm, Inc. Gobi Wireless Modem (QDL mode)
Note
Turn off the SW2-4 DIP switch after flashing the software.
#### Update udev rules
Udev rules ensure consistent device recognition and naming, facilitate seamless hardware changes, and allow dynamic device management. You must configure the `udev` USB rules for the Qualcomm manufacturing vendor ID **05c6** on the Ubuntu host.
To update the udev rules on your Ubuntu host, do the following:
1. Go to the directory of udev rules by running the following command:
cd /etc/udev/rules.d
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2. List the contents of the directory by running the following command:
ls
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3. Verify if the `51-qcom-usb.rules` file is present in the list.
- If the `51-qcom-usb.rules` file is not present, do the following:
>
>
> 1. Create a `51-qcom-usb.rules` file by running the following command:
>
>
> sudo vi 51-qcom-usb.rules
> Copy to clipboard
> 2. Add the following content to the file:
>
>
>
>
> >
> >
> > SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="05c6", ATTRS{idProduct}=="9008", MODE="0664", GROUP="plugdev"
> > Copy to clipboard
- If the `51-qcom-usb.rules` file exists, do the following:
>
>
> 1. View the contents of the file by running the following command:
>
>
> cat 51-qcom-usb.rules
> Copy to clipboard
> 2. Check if the following content is present in the file:
>
>
>
>
> >
> >
> > SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="05c6", ATTRS{idProduct}=="9008", MODE="0664", GROUP="plugdev"
> > Copy to clipboard
4. Restart `udev` by running the following command:
sudo systemctl restart udev
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5. If the USB cable is already connected to the host computer, unplug the cable and then reconnect it for the updated rules to take effect.
#### Flash using the QDL tool
The Qualcomm Download (QDL) tool is a flashing utility that communicates with USB devices identified by ID **05c6:9008**. The tool uploads a flash loader to the device, which then flashes the images to the universal flash storage (UFS) built into the device.
To flash using the QDL tool, do the following:
1. Download the [QDL tool](https://softwarecenter.qualcomm.com/catalog/item/Qualcomm_Device_Loader?osArch=X86&osDist=Debian&osType=Linux&version=2.3.9).
Use the latest QDL version 2.5.0 to flash Qualcomm Linux GA2.0 images.
2. Unzip the contents of the downloaded folder.
3. Provide executable permission by running the following command:
chmod +x ./qdl
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For more information about QDL tool usage, see the **QDL\_User\_Guide** in your unzipped `qdl` directory.
4. Flash the images as follows:
Important
If you are flashing or updating the Qualcomm Linux software for the first time, you must perform a one-time [UFS provisioning](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80023-261/topic/iqx-ug-faqs.html#provision-ufs) and [CDT flashing](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80023-261/topic/iqx-ug-faqs.html#flash-cdt).
1. Flash the spinor firmware by running the following commands:
cd /images/iq-x7181-evk/qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-iq-x7181-evk/spinor
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/qdl --storage spinor xbl_s_devprg_ns.melf rawprogram0.xml patch0.xml
Copy to clipboard
**Sample output**
waiting for programmer…
flashed “recoveryinfo” successfully
flashed “XBL\_SC” successfully at 193kB/s
flashed “XBL\_RAMDUMP” successfully
flashed “XBL\_CONFIG” successfully
flashed “UEFI” successfully at 292kB/s
flashed “AOP” successfully
flashed “AOP\_CONFIG” successfully
flashed “TZ” successfully at 138kB/s
flashed “DEVCFG” successfully
flashed “HYP” successfully at 219kB/s
flashed “QUP” successfully
flashed “MULTIIMGOEM” successfully
flashed “CPUCP” successfully
flashed “CPUCP\_DTB” successfully
flashed “SHRM” successfully
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI” successfully at 149kB/s
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI\_DTB” successfully
flashed “ImageFv” successfully
flashed “XBL\_SC\_BACKUP” successfully at 193kB/s
flashed “XBL\_RAMDUMP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “XBL\_CONFIG\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “UEFI\_BACKUP” successfully at 292kB/s
flashed “AOP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “AOP\_CONFIG\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “TZ\_BACKUP” successfully at 138kB/s
flashed “DEVCFG\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “HYP\_BACKUP” successfully at 219kB/s
flashed “QUP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “MULTIIMGOEM\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “CPUCP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “CPUCP\_DTB\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “SHRM\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI\_BACKUP” successfully at 132kB/s
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI\_DTB\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “ImageFv\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “dtb” successfully at 163kB/s
flashed “dtb\_BACKUP” successfully at 163kB/s
flashed “uefi\_dtb” successfully
flashed “uefi\_dtb\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “uefisecapp” successfully
flashed “uefisecapp\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “PrimaryGPT” successfully
flashed “BackupGPT” successfully
11 patches applied
The `` is the directory of QDL tool.
2. Flash the Qualcomm Linux software by running the following commands:
cd images/iq-x7181-evk/qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-iq-x7181-evk
Copy to clipboard
/qdl --storage ufs xbl_s_devprg_ns.melf rawprogram0.xml rawprogram1.xml patch0.xml patch1.xml
Copy to clipboard
**Sample output**
waiting for programmer…
flashed “efi” successfully at 262144kB/s
flashed “rootfs” successfully at 254876kB/s
flashed “PrimaryGPT” successfully
flashed “BackupGPT” successfully
flashed “PrimaryGPT” successfully
flashed “BackupGPT” successfully
26 patches applied
The `` is the directory of QDL tool.
Note
Turn off the SW2-4 DIP switch after flashing the software.
- *class* tabincludedirective
- ### Download the software
1. [Download the software](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/artifactory/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/iq-x7181-evk/qli-2.0-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip).
2. Unzip the downloaded file on the development host by running the following command:
unzip qli-2.0-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip
Copy to clipboard
#### Force the device into emergency download mode
Typically, the device enters emergency download (EDL) mode under two conditions:
- The device doesn’t have installed software upon initial power-up.
- The currently installed software malfunctions.
To flash the software, you must manually force the device into EDL mode.
To force a device into EDL mode, turn on the SW2-4 DIP switch by pushing it up. The following figure shows the location and position of SW2-4 DIP switch.
>
>
> 
>
> **Figure: Location of the SW2-4 DIP switch**
Note
Turn off the SW2-4 DIP switch after flashing the software.
#### Flash using the QDL tool
The Qualcomm Download (QDL) tool is a flashing utility that communicates with USB devices identified by ID **05c6:9008**. The tool uploads a flash loader to the device, which then flashes the images to the universal flash storage (UFS) built into the device.
To flash using the QDL tool, do the following:
1. Uninstall any other drivers for the device. Ensure that drivers such as Qualcomm USB driver aren’t installed. The device shouldn’t appear under **COM Ports** in **Device Manager**.
2. Download the [QDL tool](https://softwarecenter.qualcomm.com/#/catalog/item/Qualcomm_Device_Loader).
Use the latest QDL version 2.5.0 to flash Qualcomm Linux GA2.0 images.
3. Unzip the contents of the downloaded folder.
4. Run the `install_driver.bat` script from the unzipped QDL directory.
5. Flash the images as follows:
Important
If you are flashing or updating the Qualcomm Linux software for the first time, you must perform a one-time [UFS provisioning](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80023-261/topic/iqx-ug-faqs.html#provision-ufs) and [CDT flashing](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80023-261/topic/iqx-ug-faqs.html#flash-cdt).
1. Flash the spinor firmware by running the following commands:
cd \images\iq-x7181-evk\qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-iq-x7181-evk\spinor
Copy to clipboard
\qdl.exe --storage spinor xbl_s_devprg_ns.melf rawprogram0.xml patch0.xml
Copy to clipboard
**Sample output**
waiting for programmer…
flashed “recoveryinfo” successfully
flashed “XBL\_SC” successfully at 193kB/s
flashed “XBL\_RAMDUMP” successfully
flashed “XBL\_CONFIG” successfully
flashed “UEFI” successfully at 292kB/s
flashed “AOP” successfully
flashed “AOP\_CONFIG” successfully
flashed “TZ” successfully at 138kB/s
flashed “DEVCFG” successfully
flashed “HYP” successfully at 219kB/s
flashed “QUP” successfully
flashed “MULTIIMGOEM” successfully
flashed “CPUCP” successfully
flashed “CPUCP\_DTB” successfully
flashed “SHRM” successfully
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI” successfully at 149kB/s
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI\_DTB” successfully
flashed “ImageFv” successfully
flashed “XBL\_SC\_BACKUP” successfully at 193kB/s
flashed “XBL\_RAMDUMP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “XBL\_CONFIG\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “UEFI\_BACKUP” successfully at 292kB/s
flashed “AOP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “AOP\_CONFIG\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “TZ\_BACKUP” successfully at 138kB/s
flashed “DEVCFG\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “HYP\_BACKUP” successfully at 219kB/s
flashed “QUP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “MULTIIMGOEM\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “CPUCP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “CPUCP\_DTB\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “SHRM\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI\_BACKUP” successfully at 132kB/s
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI\_DTB\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “ImageFv\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “dtb” successfully at 163kB/s
flashed “dtb\_BACKUP” successfully at 163kB/s
flashed “uefi\_dtb” successfully
flashed “uefi\_dtb\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “uefisecapp” successfully
flashed “uefisecapp\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “PrimaryGPT” successfully
flashed “BackupGPT” successfully
11 patches applied
The `` is the directory of QDL tool.
2. Flash the Qualcomm Linux software by running the following commands:
cd images\iq-x7181-evk\qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-iq-x7181-evk
Copy to clipboard
\qdl.exe --storage ufs xbl_s_devprg_ns.melf rawprogram0.xml rawprogram1.xml patch0.xml patch1.xml
Copy to clipboard
**Sample output**
waiting for programmer…
flashed “efi” successfully at 262144kB/s
flashed “rootfs” successfully at 254876kB/s
flashed “PrimaryGPT” successfully
flashed “BackupGPT” successfully
flashed “PrimaryGPT” successfully
flashed “BackupGPT” successfully
26 patches applied
The `` is the directory of QDL tool.
Note
Turn off the SW2-4 DIP switch after flashing the software.
- *class* tabincludedirective
- ### Download the software
1. [Download the software](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/artifactory/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/iq-x7181-evk/qli-2.0-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip).
2. Unzip the downloaded file on the development host by running the following command:
unzip qli-2.0-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip
Copy to clipboard
#### Force the device into emergency download mode
Typically, the device enters emergency download (EDL) mode under two conditions:
- The device doesn’t have installed software upon initial power-up.
- The currently installed software malfunctions.
To flash the software, you must manually force the device into EDL mode. Follow these steps to do so:
1. Turn on the SW2-4 DIP switch by pushing it up.
The following figure shows the location and position of SW2-4 DIP switch.
**Figure: Location of the SW2-4 DIP switch**
2. [Power up the device.](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80023-261/topic/iqx-ug-set-up-the-device.html#power-up-the-device)
3. Connect the device to the host computer through the USB Type-C connector.
4. Verify whether the device has entered EDL mode by running the following command on the host computer:
ioreg -p IOUSB
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or
system_profiler SPUSBDataType
Copy to clipboard
**Sample output**
Bus 002 Device 014: ID 05c6:9008 Qualcomm, Inc. Gobi Wireless Modem (QDL mode)
Note
Turn off the SW2-4 DIP switch after flashing the software.
#### Flash using QDL tool
The Qualcomm Download (QDL) tool is a flashing utility that communicates with USB devices identified by ID **05c6:9008**. The tool uploads a flash loader to the device, which then flashes the images to the universal flash storage (UFS) built into the device.
To flash using the QDL tool, do the following:
1. Download the [QDL tool](https://softwarecenter.qualcomm.com/catalog/item/Qualcomm_Device_Loader?osArch=ARM64&osType=macOS&version=2.3.6).
Qualcomm Linux 1.5 and later releases require QDL version 2.3.6 or later.
2. Unzip the contents of the downloaded folder.
For more information about QDL tool usage, see the **QDL\_User\_Guide** in your unzipped `qdl` directory.
3. Flash the images as follows:
Important
If you are flashing or updating the Qualcomm Linux software for the first time, you must perform a one-time [UFS provisioning](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80023-261/topic/iqx-ug-faqs.html#provision-ufs) and [CDT flashing](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80023-261/topic/iqx-ug-faqs.html#flash-cdt).
1. Flash the spinor firmware by running the following commands:
cd /images/iq-x7181-evk/qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-iq-x7181-evk/spinor
Copy to clipboard
/qdl --storage spinor xbl_s_devprg_ns.melf rawprogram0.xml patch0.xml
Copy to clipboard
**Sample output**
waiting for programmer…
flashed “recoveryinfo” successfully
flashed “XBL\_SC” successfully at 193kB/s
flashed “XBL\_RAMDUMP” successfully
flashed “XBL\_CONFIG” successfully
flashed “UEFI” successfully at 292kB/s
flashed “AOP” successfully
flashed “AOP\_CONFIG” successfully
flashed “TZ” successfully at 138kB/s
flashed “DEVCFG” successfully
flashed “HYP” successfully at 219kB/s
flashed “QUP” successfully
flashed “MULTIIMGOEM” successfully
flashed “CPUCP” successfully
flashed “CPUCP\_DTB” successfully
flashed “SHRM” successfully
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI” successfully at 149kB/s
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI\_DTB” successfully
flashed “ImageFv” successfully
flashed “XBL\_SC\_BACKUP” successfully at 193kB/s
flashed “XBL\_RAMDUMP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “XBL\_CONFIG\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “UEFI\_BACKUP” successfully at 292kB/s
flashed “AOP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “AOP\_CONFIG\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “TZ\_BACKUP” successfully at 138kB/s
flashed “DEVCFG\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “HYP\_BACKUP” successfully at 219kB/s
flashed “QUP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “MULTIIMGOEM\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “CPUCP\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “CPUCP\_DTB\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “SHRM\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI\_BACKUP” successfully at 132kB/s
flashed “ADSP\_UEFI\_DTB\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “ImageFv\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “dtb” successfully at 163kB/s
flashed “dtb\_BACKUP” successfully at 163kB/s
flashed “uefi\_dtb” successfully
flashed “uefi\_dtb\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “uefisecapp” successfully
flashed “uefisecapp\_BACKUP” successfully
flashed “PrimaryGPT” successfully
flashed “BackupGPT” successfully
11 patches applied
The `` is the directory of QDL tool.
2. Flash the Qualcomm Linux software by running the following commands:
cd images/iq-x7181-evk/qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-iq-x7181-evk
Copy to clipboard
/qdl --storage ufs xbl_s_devprg_ns.melf rawprogram0.xml rawprogram1.xml patch0.xml patch1.xml
Copy to clipboard
**Sample output**
waiting for programmer…
flashed “efi” successfully at 262144kB/s
flashed “rootfs” successfully at 254876kB/s
flashed “PrimaryGPT” successfully
flashed “BackupGPT” successfully
flashed “PrimaryGPT” successfully
flashed “BackupGPT” successfully
26 patches applied
The `` is the directory of QDL tool.
Note
Turn off the SW2-4 DIP switch after flashing the software.
Last Published: Jul 01, 2026
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