Mt8163 Scatter File -
The MediaTek MT8163 is a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 SoC commonly found in tablets, POS devices, and industrial Android boards. When working with low-level firmware flashing, the scatter file (.txt) is the essential map that tells the flash tool how to write raw data to the eMMC/NAND partitions.
The primary tool for MT8163 flashing is SP Flash Tool (Smart Phone Flash Tool) v5.x or v6.x.
PMT: 0x0000000001000000
PRELOADER: 0x0000000000000000 0x0000000000040000
PGPT: 0x0000000000040000 0x0000000000010000
MBR: 0x0000000000050000 0x0000000000008000
EBR1: 0x0000000000058000 0x0000000000008000
PROINFO: 0x0000000000060000 0x0000000000300000
NVRAM: 0x0000000000360000 0x0000000000500000
PROTECT1: 0x0000000000860000 0x0000000000a00000
PROTECT2: 0x0000000001260000 0x0000000000a00000
SECCFG: 0x0000000001c60000 0x0000000000020000
UBOOT: 0x0000000001c80000 0x0000000000060000
BOOTIMG: 0x0000000001ce0000 0x0000000001000000
RECOVERY: 0x0000000002ce0000 0x0000000001000000
SEC_RO: 0x0000000003ce0000 0x0000000000600000
LOGO: 0x00000000042e0000 0x0000000000b00000
ANDROID: 0x0000000004de0000 0x000000000a000000
CACHE: 0x000000000ede0000 0x000000000a000000
USRDATA: 0x0000000018de0000 0x0000000014220000
The MT8163 boot sequence relies on a specific chain of partitions. Incorrect definitions in the scatter file for these partitions will result in a "hard brick" (device unable to power on).
Below is a minimal, generic MediaTek scatter file template for the MT8163 (Helio A22/A32 family) to serve as a starting point. Replace partition addresses, sizes, and file names with values specific to your device firmware.
- general:
platform: MT8163
project: Android_scatter
storage_type: emmc
- partition_index: 0
partition_name: PRELOADER
file_name: preloader_mt8163.bin
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x00000000
physical_start_addr: 0x00000000
partition_size: 0x00080000
region: EMMC_BOOT_1
- partition_index: 1
partition_name: MBR
file_name: mbr.bin
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x00080000
physical_start_addr: 0x00080000
partition_size: 0x00020000
region: EMMC_RESERVED
- partition_index: 2
partition_name: EBR1
file_name: ebr1.bin
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x000A0000
physical_start_addr: 0x000A0000
partition_size: 0x00020000
region: EMMC_RESERVED
- partition_index: 3
partition_name: PRO_INFO
file_name: pro_info.bin
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x000C0000
physical_start_addr: 0x000C0000
partition_size: 0x00100000
region: EMMC_USER
- partition_index: 4
partition_name: NVRAM
file_name: nvram.bin
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x001C0000
physical_start_addr: 0x001C0000
partition_size: 0x00400000
region: EMMC_USER
- partition_index: 5
partition_name: SEC_RO
file_name: secro.img
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x005C0000
physical_start_addr: 0x005C0000
partition_size: 0x00100000
region: EMMC_USER
- partition_index: 6
partition_name: UBOOT
file_name: u-boot.bin
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x006C0000
physical_start_addr: 0x006C0000
partition_size: 0x00100000
region: EMMC_USER
- partition_index: 7
partition_name: BOOTIMG
file_name: boot.img
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x007C0000
physical_start_addr: 0x007C0000
partition_size: 0x00800000
region: EMMC_USER
- partition_index: 8
partition_name: RECOVERY
file_name: recovery.img
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x00FC0000
physical_start_addr: 0x00FC0000
partition_size: 0x00800000
region: EMMC_USER
- partition_index: 9
partition_name: LOGO
file_name: logo.bin
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x014C0000
physical_start_addr: 0x014C0000
partition_size: 0x00200000
region: EMMC_USER
- partition_index: 10
partition_name: ANDROID
file_name: system.img
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x016C0000
physical_start_addr: 0x016C0000
partition_size: 0x1E000000
region: EMMC_USER
- partition_index: 11
partition_name: CACHE
file_name: cache.img
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x1FAC0000
physical_start_addr: 0x1FAC0000
partition_size: 0x04000000
region: EMMC_USER
- partition_index: 12
partition_name: USRDATA
file_name: userdata.img
is_download: true
type: NONE
linear_start_addr: 0x23AC0000
physical_start_addr: 0x23AC0000
partition_size: 0xD5000000
region: EMMC_USER
Notes:
To generate a full feature analysis of an MT8163 scatter file
, you must understand its role as the partition map for MediaTek-based devices like Amazon Fire tablets and various Android car head units. The scatter file (typically named MT8163_Android_scatter.txt mt8163 scatter file
) defines the physical and linear memory addresses for every partition on the EMMC storage. 1. Key Configuration Settings
The header of a standard MT8163 scatter file identifies the hardware environment and storage protocols: (64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A53). (typically using as the boot channel). Block Size: Often set to 2. Core Partition Map Analysis
A full MT8163 firmware dump contains approximately 25–27 partitions. Below are the critical features defined in the scatter file: Partition Name Address Offset (Example) Description The first boot stage; resides in EMMC_BOOT_1
Contains device-specific data like IMEI and Wi-Fi MAC addresses. The "Little Kernel" or bootloader. Contains the Android kernel and ramdisk. Secondary boot system for factory resets and updates. Stores the splash screen image seen at startup. 0x8C800000 The main Android OS partition (EXT4 image). 0xF3800000 Storage for user apps and personal data. 3. Operational Flags for Flashing Each entry in the scatter file includes flags that tell the SP Flash Tool how to handle the data: is_download: , the partition is included in standard flashing processes. operation_type: Defines the role, such as BOOTLOADERS Specifies which part of the EMMC chip to target (e.g., EMMC_BOOT_1 How to Use the Scatter File
To generate a scatter file for an chipset, you typically need to extract the partition map directly from your specific device to ensure the memory addresses match your hardware. How to Generate an MT8163 Scatter File
Since the MT8163 is a MediaTek (MTK) processor, you can use specialized tools to "read back" the partition information from the device: WWR MTK Tool The MediaTek MT8163 is a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53
: This is the most modern method for newer MTK chips. You can use SP Flash Tool
to perform a "Readback" of the first few megabytes of your device's memory, then load that data into to automatically generate a valid scatter file. MTK Droid Tools
: A classic utility for older devices. If your MT8163 device has USB debugging enabled and is recognized, you can click on "Blocks Map" "Create scatter file" Miracle Box / CM2
: Professional GSM service tools (often available in "cracked" or loader versions) have one-click options to "Read Scatter" from a connected device in BROM or Preloader mode. Sample MT8163 Scatter File Reference
If you cannot generate one and need a reference for the structure, you can find community-uploaded versions on GitHub or specialized forums: MT8163 Android Scatter (GitHub)
: A scatter file for MT8163-based handhelds like the PowKiddy X18. MT8163 Configuration Guide (Scribd) The MT8163 boot sequence relies on a specific
: A detailed document defining the 25+ partition layouts for this platform. Important Warning Never flash a scatter file from a different device
, even if it uses the same MT8163 chip (e.g., don't use an Amazon Fire tablet scatter on an Acer tablet). Doing so can result in a hard brick
because partition sizes and start addresses often differ between manufacturers.
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White Paper: Technical Analysis and Structure of the MT8163 Scatter File
Date: October 26, 2023 Subject: Firmware Architecture and Partition Management for MediaTek MT8163 SoC