unbricking

Fixing dead electronics

Unbricking is restoring a device that has become a "brick"—an electronic gadget rendered useless, typically by a failed software update, corrupted firmware, or botched modification.

A bricked phone or game console won't boot or function; unbricking brings it back to life: I spent three hours unbricking my router after the firmware update crashed.

The term comes from the idea that the dead device has all the functionality of a brick.

device

firmware

Hardware's permanent programming

jailbreak · unlocking · Odin · Heimdall · kernel · sideloading

recovery

restoration

Returning something to condition

reclaiming · rescue · retrieval · redemption · turnaround · comeback · fix · troubleshooting · diagnostic · unblocker

masonry

repointing

Renewing mortar between bricks

pointing · jointer · grout · cement · renovation

Opposites
device functionality

unbrickingbricking

Laying rectangular blocks

destroying · ruining · killing · frying · corrupting

technical intervention outcome

unbrickingbricking

Laying rectangular blocks

nuking · hosing · toasting · wiping · botching

technical action direction

unbrickingbricking

Laying rectangular blocks

hosing · trashing · wrecking · sabotaging · damaging

Family

brick, bricks, brickwork, bricklayer, brickbat, bricked, bricking, unbrick, unbricked

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