Mt8163 Scatter File < EXTENDED >

The MT8163 scatter file is a critical text-based configuration document used by MediaTek's Smart Phone Flash Tool (SP Flash Tool) to manage the flashing and partitioning of devices powered by the MT8163 chipset. Found in devices ranging from Amazon Echo Dots to Android car stereos and budget tablets, this file serves as a blueprint for the device's eMMC storage layout. Core Function and Structure

How addresses/sizes work

• Addresses often given as byte offsets in hex. Partition_size is the length to write.
• Some scatter files use sector units (e.g., 512-byte sectors) — respect the unit in the file.
• Tools like SP Flash Tool interpret these fields and map file bytes to the device storage.

Key Parameters Explained:

• linear_start_addr: The absolute block address in the eMMC where the partition begins (in hex).
• partition_size: The allocated space for that partition. For the MT8163, the system partition is typically 1.5GB–2GB (0x60000000 hex).
• region: For MT8163, this is almost always EMMC_USER. (Note: Some MTK chips use EMMC_BOOT1 for preloader, but MT8163 standard is USER region).
• operation_type: UPDATE (flash), PROTECTED (security regions), or BINREGION (binary data).

[Revised] How to use SP Flash tool to flash Mediatek firmware mt8163 scatter file

because partition sizes and start addresses often differ between manufacturers. The MT8163 scatter file is a critical text-based

Safety Best Practices:

• CRC Verification: Use SP Flash Tool’s “Checksum” tab to validate scatter-linked images.
• Check File Paths: Ensure all file_name entries point to legitimate images, not malware.
• Backup First: Before flashing, use:

  mtk rl preloader preloader.bin
  mtk rl nvram nvram.bin
  mtk rl proinfo proinfo.bin