The Acer Iconia Tab 10 (model A3-A40) is a media-focused Android tablet from 2016. It was designed for an immersive entertainment experience, featuring a large 10.1-inch Full HD display and a unique quad front-facing speaker setup with DTS-HD Premium Sound, which Acer branded as “Quadio”. The tablet is powered by a MediaTek MT8163 quad-core processor. This guide provides the official stock ROM, which is essential for unbricking the device, fixing software bugs, or performing a complete factory restore.
Important: This firmware is specifically for the Acer Iconia Tab 10 (A3-A40). As a MediaTek device, it requires the SP Flash Tool for flashing. Flashing this on a different model will cause a hard brick. This process will erase all data on your device.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: Acer Iconia Tab 10 (A3-A40)
- Release year: 2016
- Chipset: MediaTek MT8163
- Display: 10.1″ IPS LCD, Full HD (1920×1200)
- Battery: 6100 mAh
- Original OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
- Key Features: Quad Front-Facing Speakers, Media-focused display
Required Downloads
To flash a MediaTek device, you will need the specific drivers and flashing tool. You can find the downloads for these in our main guide linked below.
- SP Flash Tool
- MediaTek VCOM USB Drivers
Stock ROM (Firmware)
| Region | Build | Android | Type | Download | Chipset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WorldWide Generic | 0.013.00 | 6.0 | SP Flash Tool Firmware | Download | MediaTek |
How to Flash the Stock Firmware
Flashing the stock ROM onto your Acer Iconia Tab 10 requires a Windows PC and the SP Flash Tool. The process involves installing the MediaTek VCOM drivers, loading the MT8163_Android_scatter.txt file from the firmware into the tool, and then connecting your powered-off tablet to start the flash. This will completely restore your device to its original factory software.
For detailed, step-by-step instructions with screenshots and tool download links, please follow our comprehensive pillar guide: How to Flash Firmware with SP Flash Tool.
Device-Specific Troubleshooting for Acer Iconia Tab 10
- Correct Driver Installation: The most common failure point is incorrect drivers. If the tool doesn’t see your tablet, you must install the MediaTek VCOM drivers, which often requires you to disable ‘Driver Signature Enforcement’ in Windows first.
- Using the “Boot Key”: To initiate the flash, ensure the tablet is completely powered off. Press and hold the Volume Down button, and while holding it, connect the tablet to your PC. The tool should then detect it and begin the process. If Volume Down doesn’t work, try holding Volume Up.
- Fixing Google FRP Lock: If you’re locked out of your tablet by Google’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP), flashing this stock ROM will perform a complete wipe and remove the locked account.
- Audio or Display Issues: The key features of this tablet are its ‘Quadio’ speakers and FHD display. If you are experiencing distorted audio, no sound, or display corruption that seems software-related, flashing the official stock ROM is the best way to restore the original drivers and potentially fix the problem.
FAQs
Q1. My tablet is stuck on the Acer logo. Will this fix it?
Yes. Being stuck in a “bootloop” is a classic software problem. Flashing the stock ROM is the most reliable way to fix this issue as it completely reinstalls the device’s operating system.
Q2. What were the “Quadio” speakers?
“Quadio” was Acer’s brand name for the four front-facing speakers on the Iconia Tab 10. Combined with DTS-HD Premium Sound technology, they were designed to provide a more immersive and high-quality surround sound experience for watching movies and videos.
Q3. Can I upgrade this tablet to a newer Android version?
No. The A3-A40’s official support ended with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Due to its MediaTek chipset and lower popularity, the custom ROM community for this specific model is very limited, making unofficial upgrades unlikely.
Q4. What is a “scatter file”?
The scatter file (e.g., MT8163_Android_scatter.txt) is a crucial map for MediaTek firmware. It tells SP Flash Tool the name, size, and location of every partition on the device’s storage, ensuring each part of the software is flashed to the correct place.
