Though undocumented, advanced users can launch the autoloader with switches:
BlackBerry9900_7.1.0.1098.exe /noformat # Writes OS without wiping user data
BlackBerry9900_7.1.0.1098.exe /verbose # Enables debug output to console.log
Warning: This will wipe all user data, contacts, and messages. Back up using BlackBerry Link (if functional) first. Blackberry 9900 Autoloader Flash File
[Model]_[OS Version]_[Radio Version]_[Carrier].exe
Example: 9900_7.1.0.1098_5.1.0.232_Generic.exe Warning: This will wipe all user data, contacts,
Document ID: BB-TP-9900-AUTO-2024
Last Updated: October 2024
Classification: Public – Legacy System Documentation Because these files are .exe executables
The 9900 was released in 2011. Over-the-air updates were slow and prone to corruption. RIM (Research In Motion) created autoloaders for carriers and repair centers. These files bypass the device’s operating system entirely—they write directly to the NAND flash memory via a low-level USB boot protocol. Essentially, you are taking the device back to the moment it left the factory.
The BlackBerry 9900 shares a motherboard layout with the 9930 (CDMA/Verizon/Sprint). A 9900 autoloader will work on a 9930, and vice versa, but with one caveat: If you flash a GSM 9900 autoloader onto a 9930, you will lose CDMA support (the phone becomes a Wi-Fi only device). Always ensure your autoloader matches your exact model number found under the battery:
Because these files are .exe executables, malicious actors embed keyloggers into fake "BlackBerry Autoloaders." Never run an autoloader downloaded from a YouTube description or a phone-reset blog site. Always scan the executable with VirusTotal before running it. A safe autoloader should trigger no more than 2-3 heuristic detections (generic "packer" warnings). If you see "Trojan.Generic," delete immediately.