# Flash RB5 software

Source: [https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-88500-5/topic/prepare_rb5_kit_for_flashing.html](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-88500-5/topic/prepare_rb5_kit_for_flashing.html)

**Prerequisites:**

- Ensure that PCAT is installed on the host system.
- Ensure that a complete build is created on the host system by following the steps in the
          Release Notes from Qualcomm.

You can adopt one of the following methods to flash the latest software release to the RB5
      development board:

- To flash using the Qualcomm PCAT tool (when the device is in the QDL mode), see [Flash system with PCAT](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-88500-5/topic/using_pcat_tool.html#Ref130471992).
- To flash using the Qualcomm fastboot script (HLOS and non-HLOS), see [Flash system with fastboot](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-88500-5/topic/flash_with_fastboot_hlos_and_non-hlos.html#Toc130424224).
- To flash only the HLOS image, see [Flash Linux with fastboot](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-88500-5/topic/flash_only_hlos_image.html#task_dhm_sh2_1xb).

To know whether a device is flashed with Linux Ubuntu or Linux Embedded software, do the
      following:

1. Connect the board to `adb`, and power-on the device.
2. Once the device is detected as an `adb` device, run the following
        command:

        adb rootCopy to clipboard

        adb shell cat /firmware/verinfo/ver_info.txt | grep "Meta_Build_ID"Copy to clipboard

Note: If the build is flashed with Ubuntu, then
      the build ID displays `UBUN`, otherwise it is understood that the device
      contains Linux Embedded software.

- **[Flash system with PCAT](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-88500-5/topic/using_pcat_tool.html)**
- **[Flash system with fastboot](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-88500-5/topic/flash_with_fastboot_hlos_and_non-hlos.html)**
- **[Flash Linux with fastboot](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-88500-5/topic/flash_only_hlos_image.html)**

**Parent Topic:** [Update software](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-88500-5/topic/update_platform_software.html)

Last Published: Nov 25, 2025

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