Database Users

OTA Update while rooted but still STOCK

Hey Guys,
I've done reading about this issue but I did not find an answer specifically to the Nexus 7 device.
I bought my mother-in-law the Nexus 7 and she loves it. However, she will be going back home (which is far) and I was wondering if an OTA update comes, will she be able to update? Will it mess with the system itself if updated over?
Do I have to unroot first, then OTA update, then reroot?
I will not install any custom rom. I will just have it rooted that is it.
Thank you

I unlocked my bootloader and manually rooted [superuser zip in CWM], then I installed the system update that updated it to 4.1.1 [JRO03D], and I still had root, so I'm pretty sure the updates on the N7 will keep the root.
However, you can always try "OTA root keeper" in the play store, it's supposed to restore root, in the event that an OTA update unroots it.
I downloaded it before updating because I thought I'd lose root with the update, but I didn't have to use it at all.
But I'm no longer on the stock rom, I switched to the ParanoidAndroid rom, it's excellent.

I see. Do I need to unlock the bootloader in order to root? Is it true that unlocking the bootloader is only needed if I want to install custom ROMs right? Can I just have root?
Thanks again!

You have to unlock the bootloader in order to root.

keplenk said:
I see. Do I need to unlock the bootloader in order to root? Is it true that unlocking the bootloader is only needed if I want to install custom ROMs right? Can I just have root?
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately no, because there is no known exploit for loading an insecure boot image, in which case you could use 'adb' to push Superuser to /system/.. But unlocking the bootloader isn't a big deal, except for the fact it erases all the data. There are ways to back it up via adb, and I think the N7 Toolkit has backup & restore options.

[Q] Is root persistent through OTA update?

I'm looking to root my phone but I don't want to flash any new bootloader or custom roms. I'm under the impression that I'll still be able to get OTA updates if I do this. My question is if I download and install an OTA update will I still have root on the phone or will it remove root? Thanks!

psyphris said:
I'm looking to root my phone but I don't want to flash any new bootloader or custom roms. I'm under the impression that I'll still be able to get OTA updates if I do this. My question is if I download and install an OTA update will I still have root on the phone or will it remove root? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was still able to receive and apply the OTA after rooting, but the OTA did cause me to lose root. But re-rooting was pretty painless.

Its sure than rooting phone you receive OTA and can install it?? If yes, I want to root my phone, only root, i dont want to change anything more for receiving OTAs.
How can I do? just only root, any link to the safest way?
Is the same way when I receive an OTA and i have to root again?
many thanks.

1. You can use an app called OTA Rootkeeper. Use it to hide root before you accept an OTA, then use it to restore root after.
2. Yes, you can use adb commands (possibly the Nexus 4 toolkit as well) to temporarily flash clockwork recovery and obtain root. You will need to unlock the bootloader though, and that will factory reset your device.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1993331

Nospin said:
1. You can use an app called OTA Rootkeeper. Use it to hide root before you accept an OTA, then use it to restore root after.
2. Yes, you can use adb commands (possibly the Nexus 4 toolkit as well) to temporarily flash clockwork recovery and obtain root. You will need to unlock the bootloader though, and that will factory reset your device.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1993331
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good advice for OTA Rootkeeper! If I head down this path I'll make sure to use that. I'm still looking around for the best way to root without unlocking the bootloader or factory reseting.

Superuser contains a built in 'try and preserve root' function which worked well when I updated to 4.2.1

[Q] Lost root access after 4.2.2 update

My N4 was on 4.2.1 and I managed to root it using the video guide here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV355YEDzc8&list=FLym1yJ2TTTjBZbty0DrqsKQ&index=3). It worked fine and I was using Titanium Backup with root access.
Then my phone notified me of the 4.2.2 update so I installed it OTA. I thought I still had root because SuperSU was still there. However, when I load Titanium Backup it says:
"Sorry, I could not acquire root privileges. This application will *not* work! Please verify that your ROM is rooted, and try again. This attempt was made using the /system/xbin/su" command"
I then installed a Root Checker (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joeykrim.rootcheck&feature=nav_result) which indicates "This device does not have proper root access".
My questions are
How do I regain root access in a way that doesn't cause a full wipe of my data?
Will I have to do this every time I apply an official Nexus update?
What is the best way to apply an official Nexus update maintaining root without having data wiped?
TIA

I personally use the toolkit and option four. Every time I install an update, I lose root, but the toolkit easily restores it each time.
Sent from my Nexus 4

I too lost my root when i got 4.2.2 OTA. I used WugFresh's toolkit and rerooted with it. I also flashed the CWM custom recovery, which I've read prompts you to keep your root after rebooting with an OTA update.
Source:
heat361 said:
If you have cwm and you install any update that breaks root it will ask of you want to keep root when you choose to reboot the nexus 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

This must be about the 100th time someone posts this question.
Some of you clearly are too lazy to search or read
Read this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2145848.

[Q] Lost root access?

I've been rooted and running Sacs ROM for a while now, but somehow I've lost root access. When I try Supersu it tells me "There is not SU binary installed, and SuperSU cannot install it..."
I have been trying different ROMS and restored from a nandroid backup using TWRP. What do I need to do to get back root access?

Can you not just reroot with CF Auto Root?

Yes, I can, but I wasn't sure if that was advisable or not given that I had root access before and somehow lost it. In any event, I re-rooted using CF auto root and all is well. What I don't understand is how I lost root access in the first place.

joelshort said:
Yes, I can, but I wasn't sure if that was advisable or not given that I had root access before and somehow lost it. In any event, I re-rooted using CF auto root and all is well. What I don't understand is how I lost root access in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No telling why you lost it. Did you take an update?
I know I updated to NC6, lost root, but re-rooting was not an issue.

EngineerMode unroot?

back when engineermode exploit backdoor 'thing' whatever you want to call it, was still a thing i seized to opportunity to gain root access, however since then magisk hide has begun failing me and i would like to either find a way to update magisk from v14.0 safely, or to unroot completely (preferably without wiping) as this has started being problematic. I am on the latest oxygenOS update and i used this guide to root (i originaly linked it here but apparently i cant do that, it was on github, called OneplusRoot by a fella named aldur.)
If anyone can help id really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance

Since One Plus removed engineering mode I'm surprised you were able to update OOS and maintain the exploit. Why don't you just unlock your bootloader and root the proper way? Your phone won't melt if you do.

I would like to avoid wiping if possible. I too am surprised at the persistence of root after at least 3 OTAs. At this point I no longer really need root and would rather my phone run smoothly without some applications crashing or not running due to root.

bump?

gbesh said:
bump?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as your system boots, and you have root, install the latest magisk manager from the magisk thread, and it will prompt you to update. As long as you give magisk manager root access you should be able to do a "direct install" and reboot and should be up to date. Back up your data first though, I'm not responsible for your data loss (but this worked for me)
Same to unroot. Magisk has an uninstall option that should fully unroot you

manor7777 said:
As long as your system boots, and you have root, install the latest magisk manager from the magisk thread, and it will prompt you to update. As long as you give magisk manager root access you should be able to do a "direct install" and reboot and should be up to date. Back up your data first though, I'm not responsible for your data loss (but this worked for me)
Same to unroot. Magisk has an uninstall option that should fully unroot you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well my system doesn't boot with root. I have to manually mount something and start the magisk service.
Which is why I'm not sure how to update as I've been told the updated version has a different file structure that the one I'm on.

were you able to unroot? i think i am in the same boot right now, on 4.5.13 with magisk root by engineermode, if you were successful please tell me how

yohouse2 said:
were you able to unroot? i think i am in the same boot right now, on 4.5.13 with magisk root by engineermode, if you were successful please tell me how
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no unfortunately i am still waiting for a solution.

gbesh said:
no unfortunately i am still waiting for a solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I ran out of options,I unlocked the bootloader (wiped the device), and the new system was unrooted, i then installed Nolimits rom based on OOS 5.1.2
I asked on another thread and another user told me that if you accepted the complete zip update of the OTA prompt the updated system would lose the root, but you wouldn't lose your data or apps, which is nice, but keep in mind you are more probable to have worse performance or battery than clean install

yohouse2 said:
When I ran out of options,I unlocked the bootloader (wiped the device), and the new system was unrooted, i then installed Nolimits rom based on OOS 5.1.2
I asked on another thread and another user told me that if you accepted the complete zip update of the OTA prompt the updated system would lose the root, but you wouldn't lose your data or apps, which is nice, but keep in mind you are more probable to have worse performance or battery than clean install
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm this is not the case, i have been updating as the updates roll out and i am now on 5.1.2 and still able to get root access through adb with a locked bootloader.

gbesh said:
I can confirm this is not the case, i have been updating as the updates roll out and i am now on 5.1.2 and still able to get root access through adb with a locked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the alternative is another thing i read but can't find, and honestly can't recommend unless you find in too, is that you can delete the apk and the magisk image(don't know which one, this is how bad i remember this), then rebooting would remove the root.

yohouse2 said:
Well the alternative is another thing i read but can't find, and honestly can't recommend unless you find in too, is that you can delete the apk and the magisk image(don't know which one, this is how bad i remember this), then rebooting would remove the root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After one of the recent updates, magisk hide started working again and my apps are no longer crashing. It is strange but i guess this situation has turned out favourably after all.