Automatically boot into fastboot mode on the TCL Flip 2, for unlocking phones with KEKA firmware

autobooter.py

# original by neutronscott: https://github.com/neutronscott/flip2/blob/main/autobooter.py
# 2026-01-21 tombarr rewrote to use pyserial for macOS

import serial
import serial.tools.list_ports
import time
import sys

# MTK Preloader constants
VID = 0x0E8D
PID = 0x2000

def get_ports():
    """Finds ports matching the MTK Preloader VID/PID on macOS."""
    ports = []
    all_ports = serial.tools.list_ports.comports()
    for p in all_ports:
        # Check if the hardware IDs match
        if p.vid == VID and p.pid == PID:
            ports.append(p.device)
    return ports

def try_port(port, bootseq):
    confirm = b"READY" + bytes(bootseq[:-4:-1], "ascii")
    try:
        # Prefer 'cu.' devices over 'tty.' for calls
        s = serial.Serial(port, 115200, timeout=1)
        print(f"\nConnected to {port}. Sending {bootseq}")
        s.write(bytes(bootseq, "ascii"))
        resp = s.read(8)
        
        if resp == confirm:
            print(f"Success! Entered fastboot mode on {port}")
            sys.exit(0)
        else:
            if resp:
                print(f"Unknown response: {resp.hex()} on {port}")
        s.close()
    except (OSError, serial.SerialException):
        # Port might be busy or disappearing (common during boot)
        print(".", end="", flush=True)

def main():
    print("Instructions: Have USB attached, then insert battery/reset device.")
    bootseq = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else "FASTBOOT"

    print("Scanning for MTK Preloader (VID:0E8D PID:2000)...", end="")
    
    while True:
        ports = get_ports()
        for port in ports:
            try_port(port, bootseq)
        
        time.sleep(0.1)
        print(".", end="", flush=True)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    try:
        main()
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        print("\nUser Canceled!")
        sys.exit(101)