Unbricking the UV-K5 V1
Restoring a UV-K5 V1 accidentally flashed with the F4HWN Fusion 🔥 Edition firmware, using OpenOCD and a ST-LINK programmer.
Introduction
Some users have accidentally flashed a UV-K5 V1 with the F4HWN Fusion 🔥 Edition firmware. This edition is only compatible with:
- UV-K5 V3
- UV-K1
When flashed onto a UV-K5 V1, it causes a complete brick, such as:
- The radio does not power on anymore
- DFU mode is unavailable
- No LED activity
- Flashing tools cannot detect the device
Fortunately, the UV-K5 V1 can be fully restored by using OpenOCD and a ST-LINK programmer.
Requirements
You will need:
- A ST-LINK V2 programmer (original or clone)
- Four Dupont jumper wires
- A small screwdriver to open the radio
- A computer with OpenOCD installed (Windows / macOS / Linux).
SWD connection points on the UV-K5 V1
The radio must be opened to access the front side of the PCB. The UV-K5 V1 exposes a 4-pin SWD (Serial Wire Debug) interface:
| Signal | UV-K5 V1 Pad | ST-LINK Pin |
|---|---|---|
| GND | GND pad | GND |
| SWCLK | SWCLK pad | SWCLK |
| SWDIO | SWDIO pad | SWDIO |
| 3.3V | VCC pad | 3.3V |
Warning
Do not connect the battery while using the ST-LINK. The ST-LINK provides 3.3V to the board.
Installing OpenOCD
macOS (Homebrew)
brew install openocd
Windows
Download the official build from:
Linux (Ubuntu / Debian)
sudo apt install openocd
Verify installation
openocd --version
Download unbrick toolkit
Download the unbrick toolkit archive and extract it on your PC.
Note
For Windows users, Diogo @dguimaraes88 has prepared a dedicated version of the unbrick toolkit to make it easier to use. Many thanks to him for the initiative and for the time he invested in it.
Unbrick procedure
Connect the ST-LINK
-
Connect the ST-LINK pins to the SWD pads:
- 3.3V → 3.3V
- SWDIO → SWDIO
- SWCLK → SWCLK
- GND → GND
-
Plug the ST-LINK into your computer.
-
Power on your UV-K5 V1 (normal mode).
Flash the bootloader
From the unbrick_k5_v1 directory:
Option A — Use the helper script
./unbrick_k5_v1.sh
Option B — Run the OpenOCD command manually
openocd -f ./interface/stlink.cfg -f ./target/dp32g030.cfg -c "init; reset halt; uv_flash_bl bootloader.bin; shutdown"
Note
For Windows users, you must either run this command with administrator privileges or launch OpenOCD.exe as an Administrator.
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a511fdb3-a3a3-4fe1-91cc-31e765221b22
If no errors appear, the bootloader has been successfully restored.
- Disconnect and remove the ST-LINK from your UV-K5 V1 SWD port
- Reinstall the battery
- Power on the radio on DFU mode
The device should now start correctly on DFU mode again. You can then flash stock firmware, or the F4HWN firmware for UV-K5 V1 (not the Fusion 🔥 Edition).
Helpful Videos
Here are two videos that can assist you during the unbricking process. If you’re new to ST-LINK, OpenOCD, or SWD debugging, these will give you a clear visual overview:
- Your UV-K5 V1 is bricked? 🫣 Here’s how to fix it 😌 by F4HWN
- UNBRICK - Process Windows Quansheng UV-K5 , K6 by M0FXB
These resources are not mandatory, but they can make the procedure much easier to follow.
Disclaimer
This procedure requires opening the device and directly manipulating its microcontroller over SWD. Incorrect use may permanently damage the radio. Proceed at your own risk.