Database Users

Rooting and OTA updates

I am looking into rooting my Nexus S so I can install an ICS ROM. This is my first time rooting so got a question.
How will OTA updates work for me? Will the ICS update just work or will I have to in root to get the official OTA update?
Sry if this has been asked before couldn't find a clear answer.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

Don't do OTAs. Any update released by Google or your manufacturer will be released here, rooted, within hours.
If you take an OTA you will lose root and could even find your phone locked again (as unlikely as that is with the NS, better safe than sorry. Ask the EVO users who took the GB OTA )
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

Rooting requires flashing custom recovery
OTA requires stock recovery to work properly
So if your phone has custom recovery the OTA will not work.

Alright, thanks alot for the quick responses guys.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

Once the ota is downloaded.....
* Put the zip on sdcard
* Reboot into custom recovery
* Manually flash it
* Directly after that, in the same recovery session, flash latest superuser zip
* Wipe cache
* Reboot

I run stock, so i'll add my two cents into this conversations. A few key points:
OTA's will NOT lock the boot loader
OTA's will work with CWM installed (The OTA will however remove CWM and needs to be manually applied)
OTA's will remove root access (the permissions on the binary get changed)
I have never seen an OTA on XDA that was pre-rooted. i have seen ROM packages that incorporate the OTA that are pre-rooted (installing these usually means a wipe of the device is needed)
if you replace the ROM on the phone, you will not get OTA updated. you must remain mostly stock to obtain them.
Custom kernels or custom google apps on stock roms will cause the OTA update to fail, however you will notified that the update is available.
I hope this answers your questions.

Good points.
What i do in order to maintain the full software (removing system apps, any system changes) is change the permissions of whatever i dont want to "000"
This will allow the verifying of OTA to flash.

snandlal said:
Good points.
What i do in order to maintain the full software (removing system apps, any system changes) is change the permissions of whatever i dont want to "000"
This will allow the verifying of OTA to flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This does not always work, such as installing the "Black" version of gmail over top the original, the world-wide version of navigation or using market enabler to change the prop.build file. any of these changes will cause the OTA signature to fail.
Though if you are simply removing a system app, then yes, that would work well.
Also to be noted and this just occurred to me, if the OTA is a full ROM version, then the signature won't matter and it will just install. For ICS, this is what i'm expecting.

I'm on the fence about rooting. I know there are advantages like custom ROMs and added features, but I'm somewhat of a newb at this. While the instructions (for the Mac) seem simple enough, I always feel like something inevitably goes wrong or there's some variable I've either overlooked or don't understand that screws things up.
I definitely don't want to brick my phone.
I don't even know what I'm asking in my post, but I guess... what are some advantages of rooting? And if I root, is it fully reversible?
I'm also confused by some of the terminology. What is clockwork recovery? Is that a sort of ROM? I keep seeing that phrase every time I read instructions. Likewise, what's a bootloader? What's fastboot? Also, what's a kernel?
And after I root (as you can see, I am really tempted to), what happens next? How do I choose which ROM works for me? Is it a matter of flashing them and trying each of them out?
I'm afraid of entering the world of root, but I want to. Advice? Does it matter what baseband, or kernel or build number I have?
I'm on Android 2.3.6

Matridom said:
I run stock, so i'll add my two cents into this conversations. A few key points:
OTA's will NOT lock the boot loader
I hope this answers your questions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1145056
I know it's not likely, particularly with this phone, but it can happen. I maintain that if you're going to go through the process of unlocking your phone and putting a rooted ROM on it that you might as well wait for a modified OTA ROM to get posted by a trusted dev before just installing what the carrier hands out to you.
I guess maybe I should have said "re-lock"?

onthecouchagain said:
I'm on the fence about rooting. I know there are advantages like custom ROMs and added features, but I'm somewhat of a newb at this. While the instructions (for the Mac) seem simple enough, I always feel like something inevitably goes wrong or there's some variable I've either overlooked or don't understand that screws things up.
I definitely don't want to brick my phone.
I don't even know what I'm asking in my post, but I guess... what are some advantages of rooting? And if I root, is it fully reversible?
I'm also confused by some of the terminology. What is clockwork recovery? Is that a sort of ROM? I keep seeing that phrase every time I read instructions. Likewise, what's a bootloader? What's fastboot? Also, what's a kernel?
And after I root (as you can see, I am really tempted to), what happens next? How do I choose which ROM works for me? Is it a matter of flashing them and trying each of them out?
I'm afraid of entering the world of root, but I want to. Advice? Does it matter what baseband, or kernel or build number I have?
I'm on Android 2.3.6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, let's clear a few things up here.
CWM or ClockWorkMod is a custom recover that can be installed on the phones. This step is needed because the default recovery on the nexus does not allow for updates to be installed that are unsigned. CWM does, so it's a necessary step to installing the SU binary (aka root your phone) or installing custom ROMs
The bootloader is the basic system on your phone that reacts to the power on and hands over operations to Android. The equivalent in the PC world would be a BIOS.
fastboot is a utility that is provided by google that allows you to send commands to the bootloader and direct it's operations. It's needed to unlock the bootloader (so you can replace parts of it.. like recovery with CWM)
Interestingly enough, you can boot your phone to a custom recovery WITHOUT replacing your existing stock recovery by using fastboot.
Rooting your phone is simply installing and providing the proper rights to the SU binary to allow you to have full administrative rights to the phone, the superuser application is almost always bundled with it as it allows for a form of control as to what applications can use root access. Rooting your phone allows you to install some very interesting application, most popular are titanium backup (let's you back up app data and restore them after a reset) and removing advertising (adfree/adaway or it's like) Root can also be used by some applications that allow you to "cheat" at games.
rooting your phone is reversable, though not always the easiest to do. With the stock ROMS, it's fairly easy, you just re-apply the latest OTA and it will kill Root access on your device.
When it comes to custom ROMs the vast majority come pre-rooted to save you the hassel of doing it yourself.
On other phones where the bootloader remains locked, you have to use an exploit to gain root access, this then allows you to modify the OS and install custom roms and CWM while keeping the bootloader locked. Since the Nexus line can be unlocked, it's not needed.
Please note, root access is NOT required to install a custom ROM.
---------- Post added at 02:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:56 PM ----------
MaxCarnage said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1145056
I know it's not likely, particularly with this phone, but it can happen. I maintain that if you're going to go through the process of unlocking your phone and putting a rooted ROM on it that you might as well wait for a modified OTA ROM to get posted by a trusted dev before just installing what the carrier hands out to you.
I guess maybe I should have said "re-lock"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a link to a non-nexus phone. The question here is in regards to the nexus device and i believe my statement stands 100% true. Since it's a self proclaimed "newby" asking questions, i don't want to confuse the post with un-needed and non-relevant information.

Matridom, wow thanks. That clarifies a few things.
So, you say root access isn't required to flash custom ROMs? Let's say for example, I want to flash an ICS ROM, or even a ROM that allows me to have Backlight Notifications?
I don't need root? If I don't need root, how do I flash those ROMs?

Matridom said:
That's a link to a non-nexus phone. The question here is in regards to the nexus device and i believe my statement stands 100% true. Since it's a self proclaimed "newby" asking questions, i don't want to confuse the post with un-needed and non-relevant information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure why it's so invalid to advise that he wait for someone to post an OTA that has been vetted for those of us who have unlocked our phones; I respect your opinion (even if you clearly don't mine), but your statement that I am providing "un-needed" and "non-relevant" information is a bit harsh.
The fact of the matter is that Sprint has had at least one OTA released (for the EVO 4G) that re-locked bootloaders and caused a lot of consternation for people who took the OTA on their unlocked phones and found themselves waiting months for a new exploit to be found. Those who waited had a rooted version of the OTA available on the forums very quickly, so if those who took the OTA had just waited they wouldn't have been stuck.
tl;dr: If you went to the trouble of unlocking your phone in the first place I don't see why you would rush to take an un-vetted update OTA.

MaxCarnage said:
I'm not sure why it's so invalid to advise that he wait for someone to post an OTA that has been vetted for those of us who have unlocked our phones; I respect your opinion (even if you clearly don't mine), but your statement that I am providing "un-needed" and "non-relevant" information is a bit harsh.
The fact of the matter is that Sprint has had at least one OTA released (for the EVO 4G) that re-locked bootloaders and caused a lot of consternation for people who took the OTA on their unlocked phones and found themselves waiting months for a new exploit to be found. Those who waited had a rooted version of the OTA available on the forums very quickly, so if those who took the OTA had just waited they wouldn't have been stuck.
tl;dr: If you went to the trouble of unlocking your phone in the first place I don't see why you would rush to take an un-vetted update OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The key here is that SPRINT released an OTA for a SPRINT branded device. This has zero relevance to updates provided by Google for Nexus devices.

MaxCarnage said:
I'm not sure why it's so invalid to advise that he wait for someone to post an OTA that has been vetted for those of us who have unlocked our phones; I respect your opinion (even if you clearly don't mine), but your statement that I am providing "un-needed" and "non-relevant" information is a bit harsh.
The fact of the matter is that Sprint has had at least OTA released (for the EVO 4G) that re-locked bootloaders and caused a lot of consternation for people who took the OTA on their unlocked phones and found themselves waiting months for a new exploit to be found. Those who waited had a rooted version of the OTA available on the forums very quickly, so if those who took the OTA had just waited they wouldn't have been stuck.
tl;dr: If you went to the trouble of unlocking your phone in the first place I don't see why you would rush to take an un-vetted update OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue at heart here is that fact that the OTA for the nexus line of phones comes straight from google and are not "tweaked" in any way by the carriers. (exception nexus 4g has additional applications required for CDMA support)
One of the selling features of the nexus phones is the fact that unlocking the bootloader is officially supported.
In regards to other phones getting their bootloader locked, I've experienced first hand the pains of that, having a galaxy S and the 2.3 installing a new bootloader and really screwing things up for me. In those cases, i agree with you whole heartily and to wait for pre-cracked roms that can be installed.
My question to you would be to please show an example of a nexus S getting it's booloader locked due to an OTA update as that is the phone we are discussing.
---------- Post added at 02:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:47 PM ----------
onthecouchagain said:
Matridom, wow thanks. That clarifies a few things.
So, you say root access isn't required to flash custom ROMs? Let's say for example, I want to flash an ICS ROM, or even a ROM that allows me to have Backlight Notifications?
I don't need root? If I don't need root, how do I flash those ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you would need to do is to unlock the bootloader, install CWM, then apply the .zip associated with the ROM you wish to install. I would however carefully read the installation instructions for the rom as in some cases, it might be a multi-step process (such as going from a 2.2 rom to a 2.3).
Many ROMS also do not come with the google apps and secondary zip file needs to be applied to get those running (cyanogenMod does this)
I wanted to add, that the process of unlocking your bootloader will erase EVERYTHING on the phone, including the SDcard partition. So make sure you back up anything of importance.

Matridom said:
My question to you would be to please show an example of a nexus S getting it's booloader locked due to an OTA update as that is the phone we are discussing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't provide an example because, as I have already stated, this was a precautionary suggestion only.
I'm not going to get into a debate with you over this; I've made my point and you've made yours. Thanks.

Matridom said:
This does not always work, such as installing the "Black" version of gmail over top the original, the world-wide version of navigation or using market enabler to change the prop.build file. any of these changes will cause the OTA signature to fail.
Though if you are simply removing a system app, then yes, that would work well.
Also to be noted and this just occurred to me, if the OTA is a full ROM version, then the signature won't matter and it will just install. For ICS, this is what i'm expecting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point again but the trick is to put your apps in /system/framework
Along with framework-res.apk.
This will add a dex file to /data/dalvik-cache, which is needed for saving upon reboot

Does flashing another radio that's different from your original radio impact the ability to apply an OTA?

suksit said:
Rooting requires flashing custom recovery
OTA requires stock recovery to work properly
So if your phone has custom recovery the OTA will not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting doesn't require flashing custom recovery.

iboj007 said:
Does flashing another radio that's different from your original radio impact the ability to apply an OTA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. It doesnt

Anybody else got the OTA 22.21.28?

I was pleasantly surprised to see an update being offered this morning. I am on 22.21.25 (the latest OTA so far for XT1064).
Did anybody else see this?
No idea what it fixes though.

XT1063 with unlocked boot loader got the same update. 39.1mb will post screenshots soon

Android The Greek said:
XT1063 with unlocked boot loader got the same update. 39.1mb will post screenshots soon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Screen below

5.0.2!

Yup, 5.0.2

Received the 5.02 OTA today on my XT1063 (US). installed fine. I was rooted, but unrooted using SuperSU (strangely, "full unroot" hung, but "unroot for installing a different SU app" worked just fine). I was using stock recovery, and the OTA installed perfectly fine.
Bonus: forgot to revert to original hosts from adaway before installing the OTA. Still worked! So now, I don't have root, but am ad-free!!
So looks like (for now) "Lolipop OTAs require an untouched /system" is a bit of an exaggeration. Hooray!
(haven't re-rooted yet).

I am really impressed with Motorola. I know there have been some hiccups with different variants of the same phone but wow already on 5.0.2

Downloading now

Seriously said:
Received the 5.02 OTA today on my XT1063 (US). installed fine. I was rooted, but unrooted using SuperSU (strangely, "full unroot" hung, but "unroot for installing a different SU app" worked just fine). I was using stock recovery, and the OTA installed perfectly fine.
Bonus: forgot to revert to original hosts from adaway before installing the OTA. Still worked! So now, I don't have root, but am ad-free!!
So looks like (for now) "Lolipop OTAs require an untouched /system" is a bit of an exaggeration. Hooray!
(haven't re-rooted yet).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They haven't moved to the block level deltas for the /system partition as yet. They are still patching file to file. So, as long as the files being patched are not touched by you, you are ok.

From here:
Today's Lollipop 5.0.2 rollout for Moto G (1st Gen & 2nd Gen): this is a soak test for India, Brazil & the U.S. If the performance data looks good after several days, then we'll roll out more widely. This is why some may see 'up to date' when checking - it is not yet exposed to the whole user population.
Note: Moto G (1st Gen) users need to ensure that they have the latest Motorola Updates Services from the Play Store. If you see an update available, please install it - otherwise you will not see the future Lollipop upgrade notification. This is not necessary for Moto G (2nd Gen).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This could potentially mean Moto G users as a whole may be getting Lollipop by the end of the month, if all goes well.

Traediras said:
From here:
This could potentially mean Moto G users as a whole may be getting Lollipop by the end of the month, if all goes well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In EU we didn't received even 5.0 for our dual-sim models, not even a soak test.

devsk said:
They haven't moved to the block level deltas for the /system partition as yet. They are still patching file to file. So, as long as the files being patched are not touched by you, you are ok.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have Google given any indication when they'll be moving to the new patching system?

Seriously said:
Have Google given any indication when they'll be moving to the new patching system?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They probably already have. Some people claimed they got OTA in the partition block diff format for Nexus series phones. May be motorola is keeping the current method alive on its own. After all, its just packaging and OEMs choose the packaging.

devsk said:
They probably already have. Some people claimed they got OTA in the partition block diff format for Nexus series phones. May be motorola is keeping the current method alive on its own. After all, its just packaging and OEMs choose the packaging.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully Moto keeps using the old patching system as they haven't been particularly forthcoming with providing factory images for the Moto G 2014.

Seriously said:
Hopefully Moto keeps using the old patching system as they haven't been particularly forthcoming with providing factory images for the Moto G 2014.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It honestly doesn't make much of a difference. Keep a bare stock backup always handy, with pretty much empty /data partition. So, basically the update procedure is (and would continue to be):
0. Capture the OTA zip from /cache.
1. Take a full TWRP back up of the current ROM, with your changes etc.
2. Restore to previous bare stock ROM including the stock recovery.
3. Sideload the OTA zip and make sure to boot at least once (and skip account setup if this is the first OTA ever).
4. Flash TWRP recovery partition
5. Take a TWRP backup of new bare stock ROM for use for the next OTA.
6. Restore your /data.
7. Install SuperSU.zip, and optionally busybox.
8. Profit!
This means all your changes to the /system partition are lost. But you should not be making changes to /system partition anyway (apart from the SuperSU and busybox).
Note that you can not afford to miss an OTA... The above procedure breaks. So, keep up with OTAs.

devsk said:
Note that you can not afford to miss an OTA... The above procedure breaks. So, keep up with OTAs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got a bad bootloop after rooting. I've read that eventually it will boot up. Are you having any issues? Do you have an XT1064?

LoneStarPhD said:
I got a bad bootloop after rooting. I've read that eventually it will boot up. Are you having any issues? Do you have an XT1064?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SuperSU 2.44 should work fine on XT1064. It should not lead to any bootloops.

devsk said:
SuperSU 2.44 should work fine on XT1064. It should not lead to any bootloops.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Latest version of TWRP okay?

must unlocked boot loader used to get an OTA update lolliop ?
my device XT1063

qudsbeat said:
must unlocked boot loader used to get an OTA update lolliop ?
my device XT1063
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No not if you had you phone on 21.11.17. If you are on 21.11.23 there is no update that I know of for XT1063.

Monthly OTA updates from Google

This is new: http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/08/05/google-announces-new-update-policy-for-nexus-devices-including-monthly-security-patches-for-3-years-and-major-otas-for-2-years-from-release/
That would be a real pain for us rooted users....but I guess the security patches are a good thing

A real pain...
Sent from another Nexus..
6...

No pain, it literally takes minutes to flash stock, update, root using the toolkit. [emoji1]

I wonder if there are again going to be separate builds for each carrier.

meldroc said:
I wonder if there are again going to be separate builds for each carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a good point...maybe?

I wish there was an app for rooted users to get notifications about these updates (and maybe offer a way to download a flashable zip as well?)
I got a Nexus 6 because I wanted to be able to always have access to a stable, current version of Android. I didn't realize that OTA updates wouldn't work out of the box with rooted devices though.
Would be nice to have some method to get back that functionality!

ArmoredCavalry said:
I wish there was an app for rooted users to get notifications about these updates (and maybe offer a way to download a flashable zip as well?)
I got a Nexus 6 because I wanted to be able to always have access to a stable, current version of Android. I didn't realize that OTA updates wouldn't work out of the box with rooted devices though.
Would be nice to have some method to get back that functionality!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is, stay stock or learn how to manually update to new versions. It's quick to do.

Xplicit84 said:
There is, stay stock or learn how to manually update to new versions. It's quick to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both those things ignore the whole point of what I brought up.
I'm saying it would be nice if there was an equivalent automatic notification/update process for rooted users.

ArmoredCavalry said:
Both those things ignore the whole point of what I brought up.
I'm saying it would be nice if there was an equivalent automatic notification/update process for rooted users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is the equivalent. Stay stock or manually update. Rooted users don't worry about such a thing, since changing ROMs and adding various features are a common occurrence.

Xplicit84 said:
That is the equivalent. Stay stock or manually update. Rooted users don't worry about such a thing, since changing ROMs and adding various features are a common occurrence.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooted users don't care about convenience? I dunno about you, but I'm rooted, and I still would prefer to do repetitive/manual processes as little as possible...
You can be a rooted user just to use rooted apps, and not care about trying a different ROM every week. In which case, it would be nice to have the same benefits of automatic updates as stock users. Not sure why you seem to be against the idea?
I get that you think it is unnecessary, but I'm saying I would prefer it as an option. So, maybe we can just leave it at that?

ArmoredCavalry said:
Rooted users don't care about convenience? I dunno about you, but I'm rooted, and I still would prefer to do repetitive/manual processes as little as possible...
You can be a rooted user just to use rooted apps, and not care about trying a different ROM every week. In which case, it would be nice to have the same benefits of automatic updates as stock users. Not sure why you seem to be against the idea?
I get that you think it is unnecessary, but I'm saying I would prefer it as an option. So, maybe we can just leave it at that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would also like that if it was possible...

It is possible. Get notification from XDA users down load ota file someone has probably posted someplace plug in to computer and side load. It usually 1 week faster than waiting your turn to receive ota from carrier's

hdtechk said:
It is possible. Get notification from XDA users down load ota file someone has probably posted someplace plug in to computer and side load. It usually 1 week faster than waiting your turn to receive ota from carrier's
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and that's exactly what I am going to do...

hdtechk said:
It is possible. Get notification from XDA users down load ota file someone has probably posted someplace plug in to computer and side load. It usually 1 week faster than waiting your turn to receive ota from carrier's
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think this will work. If your N6 is rooted, you can't sideload the OTA file. Your phone will need to be stock (unrooted) to apply the OTA.
You could wait for somebody to publish a flashable zip, or just download the new factory images and use fastboot to flash the new system.img over your existing phone, and reroot.

jj14 said:
You could wait for somebody to publish a flashable zip, or just download the new factory images and use fastboot to flash the new system.img over your existing phone, and reroot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't there a chance of losing the ability to reroot with this method though? I've been waiting for users to publish flashable zips for this reason, but maybe that is not necessary?

ArmoredCavalry said:
Isn't there a chance of losing the ability to reroot with this method though? I've been waiting for users to publish flashable zips for this reason, but maybe that is not necessary?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a chance that google will publish a new Nexus factory image that can't be rooted? Sure - in theory, that is possible. But unlikely.
Till date, all nexus devices have been rooted (thanks @Chainfire)

jj14 said:
. . . Your phone will need to be stock (unrooted) to apply the OTA.
. . . use fastboot to flash the new system.img over your existing phone, and reroot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Recently I used both methods just to see if there were differences.
Both had the same results. That means among others that my settings were gone.
- LCD_density defaults (384)
- WiFi interval defaults (was 200)
- Needed to flash Black Google Now Launcher and uninstall Google.app updates to get my black background back.
When this happens every month . . . [email protected]#$%&

jj14 said:
I don't think this will work. If your N6 is rooted, you can't sideload the OTA file. Your phone will need to be stock (unrooted) to apply the OTA.
You could wait for somebody to publish a flashable zip, or just download the new factory images and use fastboot to flash the new system.img over your existing phone, and reroot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you flash a new factory image I'm assuming you flash each partition and avoid flashing the data partition (dirty flash) ?
Does google always post a whole new image for each ota? What about the carrier variants like tmobile? Is there a new image for each ota?
Thanks. I'm not a N6 owner yet but I plan to be stock rooted and am trying to determine the ota update process in advance.

@NCguy
"When you flash a new factory image I'm assuming you flash each partition and avoid flashing the data partition (dirty flash) ?" Correct
Does google always post a whole new image for each ota?" Yes
"What about the carrier variants like tmobile? Is there a new image for each ota?" There has been a T-Mobile specific factory image for each OTA.
Here are the factory images > https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

cam30era said:
@NCguy
"When you flash a new factory image I'm assuming you flash each partition and avoid flashing the data partition (dirty flash) ?" Correct
Does google always post a whole new image for each ota?" Yes
"What about the carrier variants like tmobile? Is there a new image for each ota?" There has been a T-Mobile specific factory image for each OTA.
Here are the factory images > https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks cam30era. I was a bit concerned that being a stock rooted device might be too much trouble, especially with the security updates. But this looks manageable to me.

Wanting to unlock and root but also want Marshmallow asap

Should I wait to unlock and root if I want to get Marshmallow or is there a way to get it unlocked and rooted?

I would think as long as you do not stray from the stock software you would still get the OTA update. I do not think unlocking the bootloader and simply rooting the phone would prevent the OTA but I could be wrong.

campbellc1052 said:
I would think as long as you do not stray from the stock software you would still get the OTA update. I do not think unlocking the bootloader and simply rooting the phone would prevent the OTA but I could be wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would rooting and then updating break something though? I thought I may have read that somewhere on here.

I just looked into it a little bit more and I think as long as you do not flash a non-stock recovery image you should just be able to disable any system modifications such as xposed and unroot and the update would come through. You can probably find more information on this on google or the moto forums.

Im sure the devs will capture the OTA and make a flashable version, that's usually what happens. It usually doesnt take more than a day after the OTA to do it.

My plan is to wait until after Marshmallow is out before unlocking the bootloader if rooting. Since we have a unlock available we don't have to worry about updates breaking exploits so I am in no rush. The phone is pretty amazing even without root. Once Marsh is out I will test drive a bit and go from there. It could take a week before a dev drops the update or it could take hours... you never know.

Hmmmmm well I'm unlocked and rooted with TWRP..
But there is a Back to Stock zip..
So once Marshmallow comes out ,I'll just go back to Stock and take the OTA...

ttkyles said:
Hmmmmm well I'm unlocked and rooted with TWRP..
But there is a Back to Stock zip..
So once Marshmallow comes out ,I'll just go back to Stock and take the OTA...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, if you have already done it I'm sure someone can assist in getting you the files needed. Even if a dev can walk me through I don't mind pulling it for you. Maybe there will be a back to stock using the marshmallow image then just reroot after installing twrp and you are good to go

campbellc1052 said:
I just looked into it a little bit more and I think as long as you do not flash a non-stock recovery image you should just be able to disable any system modifications such as xposed and unroot and the update would come through. You can probably find more information on this on google or the moto forums.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root breaks the ability to take an OTA, even using the supersu unroot feature the OTA will fail. The only way to take an OTA is to flash a fully stock system and recovery.

BladeRunner said:
Root breaks the ability to take an OTA, even using the supersu unroot feature the OTA will fail. The only way to take an OTA is to flash a fully stock system and recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I understand it's not so much root that affects the ability to take an OTA it is the bootloader flag and recovery image. Also I think that while a new OTA would completely overwrite the system directory, since we can unlock bootloader, you can just re-flash SuperSU without issue.

I have to say that I'm a bit confused because Motorola have stated that unlocking the bootloader won't affect OTA updates here - https://motorola-global-portal.cust...tail/a_id/91999/p/1449,8620/kw/bootloader OTA
Can anyone clear this up for sure? I'd say a custom recovery would definitely affect them but not just unlocking the bootloader.

skttrbrain said:
I have to say that I'm a bit confused because Motorola have stated that unlocking the bootloader won't affect OTA updates here - https://motorola-global-portal.cust...tail/a_id/91999/p/1449,8620/kw/bootloader OTA
Can anyone clear this up for sure? I'd say a custom recovery would definitely affect them but not just unlocking the bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's right...unlocking the bootloader alone won't stop an OTA. The custom recovery will be the issue. Basically if you're rooted and running TWRP all you have to do is follow the instructions in the Return To Stock thread and you're good to go for an OTA. Its a pretty simple process.

Can't take OEM updates after unlocking bootloader and installing TWRP

I've unlocked the bootloader and installed TWRP on my girlfriend's Moto G5 Plus, but now whenever she tries to take OEM updates, the device reboots into the updating stage and then fails at an image of a dead Android. I'm at work currently without access to the device, but before I get home I was wondering if anyone else has had similar issues or has a resolution to this issue?
Thank you!

Huntereb said:
I've unlocked the bootloader and installed TWRP on my girlfriend's Moto G5 Plus, but now whenever she tries to take OEM updates, the device reboots into the updating stage and then fails at an image of a dead Android. I'm at work currently without access to the device, but before I get home I was wondering if anyone else has had similar issues or has a resolution to this issue?
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't get those automatic updates if you have modified the phone system (e.g. unlock bootloader)... if this is what you mean.
I'm still not very used to moto devices but, from what I've read so far, you have to install updates via fastboot.

luizlee86 said:
You can't get those automatic updates if you have modified the phone system (e.g. unlock bootloader)... if this is what you mean.
I'm still not very used to moto devices but, from what I've read so far, you have to install updates via fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's true stuff! Also, you'll keep getting the update notifications. To end that nightmare, you need to purchase the paid version of Titanium Backup and 'freeze' the Motorola Update Service

luizlee86 said:
You can't get those automatic updates if you have modified the phone system (e.g. unlock bootloader)... if this is what you mean.
I'm still not very used to moto devices but, from what I've read so far, you have to install updates via fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
djroese33 said:
Yes, that's true stuff! Also, you'll keep getting the update notifications. To end that nightmare, you need to purchase the paid version of Titanium Backup and 'freeze' the Motorola Update Service
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dang! That's unfortunate! I might just install a custom rom for her or something, then. Thanks for the information!

Huntereb said:
Dang! That's unfortunate! I might just install a custom rom for her or something, then. Thanks for the information!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may be wrong.. but AFAIK custom roms don't have the one button navigation feature.

I haven't tested on modern phone but i know that if you want to install successfully an OTA update you need: 1) stock recovery (with TWRP it will fail) 2) an untouched system partition (you must install supersu in systemless mode).
Another way is via flashfire from the play store.
Hope this could help you

luizlee86 said:
I may be wrong.. but AFAIK custom roms don't have the one button navigation feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, you're wrong
Enviado desde mi XT1681 mediante Tapatalk

Huntereb said:
I've unlocked the bootloader and installed TWRP on my girlfriend's Moto G5 Plus, but now whenever she tries to take OEM updates, the device reboots into the updating stage and then fails at an image of a dead Android. I'm at work currently without access to the device, but before I get home I was wondering if anyone else has had similar issues or has a resolution to this issue?
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can still take OEM updates even if you have unlocked your bootloader. Your phone needs to have stock rom and stock recovery. Since you installed TWRP, its failing to update. Flash stock recovery image and you'll be able to update just fine.

luizlee86 said:
I may be wrong.. but AFAIK custom roms don't have the one button navigation feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it has but that feature no name like onekey navigation....you can set in fingerprint gesture menu whatever you want

I have a general question about updates. On my G5 plus I'm still on the January 1st Android security level. I unlocked my bootloader but kept the recovery and rom stock.
Will I get OTA updates normally and just be able to install them through the OS? Or do I have to find the update online and install via fastboot?

welp11 said:
I have a general question about updates. On my G5 plus I'm still on the January 1st Android security level. I unlocked my bootloader but kept the recovery and rom stock.
Will I get OTA updates normally and just be able to install them through the OS? Or do I have to find the update online and install via fastboot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will get all updates via OTA:highfive:, the unlock of bootloader won't prevent you to get updates:laugh:
In extrema ratio flash via fastboot but you won't need that:good:

luizlee86 said:
You can't get those automatic updates if you have modified the phone system (e.g. unlock bootloader)... if this is what you mean.
I'm still not very used to moto devices but, from what I've read so far, you have to install updates via fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
djroese33 said:
Yes, that's true stuff! Also, you'll keep getting the update notifications. To end that nightmare, you need to purchase the paid version of Titanium Backup and 'freeze' the Motorola Update Service
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, so if an ota rolls out, it'll fail. But you can manually flash with fastboot. But even after fastboot flashing, it'll still notify you that an update is waiting?? Even if you manually applied that update?
I'd rather not freeze the service as I do want to know when the next ota comes along that I'll want to flash.