How do I write an android .img file to an external usb disk?

Title. I've tried using dd but it doesn't work -- the .img file is written but it does not boot. Thanks in advance.

10 comments

The write process with dd most likely worked just fine. However, the system you're inserting it into probably doesn't know what to do with it.
is the architecture the same? Most Android devices are ARM-based, which is not compatible with, for example i386 or x86_64 (a.k.a. amd64)
Is the boot method compatible? I don't know the boot process of android devices, but it's probably not UEFI.
- The write process with dd most likely worked just fine.
  Not on my end. For some reason it (only) works when I write said image on a sketchy/suspicious chinese third party windows software.
Your gonna need to provide a lot more information, because what your saying sounds very wrong.
Is the img file an android OS? What are you hoping to boot it on?
AFAIK, no phone can boot from external USB, so what exactly are you trying to do?
Is the Android you copied to the external drive compiled for, i.e. compatible with, your hardware architecture, e.g. x86, x86_64, arm64, ...?
- Yep. It's an official image, not from third parties.
  
  Nevertheless, the information which exact image you dd'ed and what the actual hardware you want to run it on is would be helpful (also to others).
  Based on your other comment: Did you try to dd on Linux or just on Windows? (Idk if Windows has a native version of dd instead of the suspicious Chinese Windows exe you've used)
No

10 comments