Database Users

5.1 Update with TWRP / Unlocked Bootloader

Hello,
Is it possible to update from 5.0 to 5.1 if i have unlocked the bootloader? I also have TWRP. I downloaded the 5.1 update, but when i want to install it the phone reboots and i get into TWRP menu. Is there any way to flash the OTA update without losing my current data on the phone?
Thank you!

Dealing with the same problem here.
IIRC TWRP automatically handled OTA updates in the past but it doesn't seem to be working anymore.

What was the procedure you were using before? You just installed as a normal zip from TWRP ?

For the ota to work you have to be 100% stock system, recovery, and kernel. I'd just flash the system and boot images from 5.1 in fastboot to update.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

So sad. I will lose all the stuff I have on the device.

tzeus said:
So sad. I will lose all the stuff I have on the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not if you just flash the System and Boot images and remove -w from the Flashall.bat command to prevent the wipe instead of using the OTA. If you use the OTA, you will have to be stock as the previous posted stated, which since you are rooted with a custom recovery, would require you to flash the stock image, wiping your device, before you could run the OTA. This is the result of a change in the way Android 5.+ authenticates, which is why it worked previously. It now checks the whole partition, and one byte out of place will abort it.
That said, you can always backup your phone (which is a good thing to do anyway before flashing/upgrading) to prevent data loss.
Edit: Actually, thinking about it, I think Wugs added a No Wipe option to his toolkit, just flash System and Boot images from there is likely easiest for you.

Can i flash 5.1 directly ? And then root and unlock bootloader/flash TWRP again ?

tzeus said:
Can i flash 5.1 directly ? And then root and unlock bootloader/flash TWRP again ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be clear, you do not need to relock your bootloader. You can just flash 5.1 and then root and install a custom recovery like TWRP again, yes. If you are not familiar, Wug's NRT make this a breeze. Once you get 5.1 installed, just hit root. It will install the latest TWRP version and root/install SuperSU and Busybox for you.

I need to download the whole 5.1 image from Google. And flash just like any other ROM from TWRP ?

tzeus said:
I need to download the whole 5.1 image from Google. And flash just like any other ROM from TWRP ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, download the image and extract it. See this, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=47156064
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

Can I make use of Nougat's automatic updates and have/keep root? TWRP ver. to use?

Right now I'm on 7.0 DP5, unencrypted with root. I'm willing to enable encryption if it means I won't have to constantly manually flash the security updates and keep root. Is that what the "system-less root" technique is for? (and is it still a thing?)
Should I use the lastest TWRP 3.0.2-2 to flash N factory images? I'm guessing 3.0.2-1 bug is less serious now that there's a vendor.img available, but the last I had read from the dev team was that -2 was still untested and 3.0.2-0 was still the safest bet. I'm just not sure it's compatible with N?

EvanVanVan said:
Right now I'm on 7.0 DP5, unencrypted with root. I'm willing to enable encryption if it means I won't have to constantly manually flash the security updates and keep root. Is that what the "system-less root" technique is for? (and is it still a thing?)
Should I use the lastest TWRP 3.0.2-2 to flash N factory images? I'm guessing 3.0.2-1 bug is less serious now that there's a vendor.img available, but the last I had read from the dev team was that -2 was still untested and 3.0.2-0 was still the safest bet. I'm just not sure it's compatible with N?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't have root or custom recovery and take OTAs, but you can have an unlocked bootloader. Otherwise stock only. I am pretty sure systemless appeared when people were trying to keep using Android Pay. As for TWRP, I have had no problems using the latest, just don't restore / backup between MM and N.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

ultyrunner said:
You can't have root or custom recovery and take OTAs, but you can have an unlocked bootloader. Otherwise stock only. I am pretty sure systemless appeared when people were trying to keep using Android Pay. As for TWRP, I have had no problems using the latest, just don't restore / backup between MM and N.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are rooted and have TWRP installed, you can use FlashFire to install the OTA and keep root and your custom recovery.

+1 Flashfire

Cool thanks for the suggestion, I actually saw something about FlashFire this morning but haven't had a chance to look into it yet. Do I need to be encrypted for it to work? And I'm assuming it's not entirely compatible with N's update system, it still takes some interaction to flash?

EvanVanVan said:
Cool thanks for the suggestion, I actually saw something about FlashFire this morning but haven't had a chance to look into it yet. Do I need to be encrypted for it to work? And I'm assuming it's not entirely compatible with N's update system, it still takes some interaction to flash?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The other issue with TWRP was backing up and restoring the EFS partition, it seemed that 3.0.2-1 corrupted it on restore which would be a problem. They did have a work around. They suggested using -0 would be fine. I have -2 and did a N to N restore with no issue, but I did not restore EFS. I'm always extra careful with new versions, I tend to backup my data and backups off-phone just in case.

dratsablive said:
If you are rooted and have TWRP installed, you can use FlashFire to install the OTA and keep root and your custom recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My situation is that my 6p is rooted , TWRP installed and with custom kernel. I have searched quite a bit and cannot make sure which is the best way to update from MM to N. My thought is that:
1. FlashFire wipe system data n cache;
2. FlashFire MM stock boot image;
3. FlashFire N ota;
4. FlashFire custome kernel; and
5. Reboot.
The above steps to be done in one sequency. Please comment n million thanks.
CK

smallvan said:
My situation is that my 6p is rooted , TWRP installed and with custom kernel. I have searched quite a bit and cannot make sure which is the best way to update from MM to N. My thought is that:
1. FlashFire wipe system data n cache;
2. FlashFire MM stock boot image;
3. FlashFire N ota;
4. FlashFire custome kernel; and
5. Reboot.
The above steps to be done in one sequency. Please comment n million thanks.
CK
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Put this in wrong thread and want to delete it.
That's a bit too complicated. Connect your phone to a Mac. Open a terminal and
adb devices (To see if your phone is recognized. If so continue, if not fix and then continue)
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot flash system.img
fastboot flash recovery stockrecovery.img
fastboot reboot
That should unroot your device.

dratsablive said:
Put this in wrong thread and want to delete it.
That's a bit too complicated. Connect your phone to a Mac. Open a terminal and
adb devices (To see if your phone is recognized. If so continue, if not fix and then continue)
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot flash system.img
fastboot flash recovery stockrecovery.img
fastboot reboot
That should unroot your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. And I will have a total experience of returning my 6p back to stock boot, stock recovery n no root. What about vendor.img?

smallvan said:
Thanks. And I will have a total experience of returning my 6p back to stock boot, stock recovery n no root. What about vendor.img?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need vendor image unless you are flashing a different boot/system from what you currently have. But it also can't hurt as long as it's the correct version.

dratsablive said:
You don't need vendor image unless you are flashing a different boot/system from what you currently have. But it also can't hurt as long as it's the correct version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe I am looking for a suitable way to upgrade my 6p from MM to N that I have explicitly stated at my wrong thread post. This is absolutely not my intention to return my 6p back to stock of MM. And there is every reason to upgrade to N, thus, vendor.img is no doubt a must for an amateur like me.
Nevertheless, thanks for dratsablive kind suggestions.

[GUIDE] Sideload NOF27B/C on Stock, TWRP, Custom Kernel, Mods, Root - Updated 3/6/17

Follow at your own risk, I take no responsibility. This guide is for any stock(seems to work with mods) rom. I used TWRP RC1, but could possibly work with alpha 2(for adb sideload only). Not sure if this method is "better" than using flash-all.bat without -w, but the file download was smaller.
Required Files and Locations they should be placed:
TWRP RC1 Image placed in the same folder as your FASTBOOT executable
TWRP RC1 zip installer placed on phones internal storage
SuperSU 2.79 SR3 zip installer placed on phones internal storage
NOF27B or NOF27C - Rogers OTA placed in the same folder as your ADB executable
Ensure the TWRP and SuperSU zip installers are loaded onto the phones internal storage and the OTA zip and TWRP image are in the ADB/FASTBOOT executables folder.
Boot into current TWRP recovery
Make a full backup in TWRP
Connect the phone to the computer
In TWRP select the Advanced menu, click ADB sideload option
On the computer open a command window and navigate to the location of your ADB executable/OTA zip
Only execute one adb sideload command for your specific device
Execute the following command(Non-Rogers): adb sideload sailfish-ota-nof27b-8130b5a8.zip
Execute the following command(Rogers): adb sideload sailfish-ota-nof27c-fb487658.zip
Only execute one adb sideload command for your specific device
The command window should be displaying a percentage and the TWRP should be displaying the standard OTA step 1 and 2 - Let this complete
Click Reboot System and let the OTA finish installing
At this point TWRP and Root are gone, but can be restored
With the device powered off, hold volume down and turn on the device. Your device should now be in the bootloader.
With the device connected to the computer run the following command from the previous step's command window: fastboot boot twrp-3.0.2-0-RC1-fastboot-sailfish.img
Install twrp-pixel-installer-sailfish-3.0.2-0-RC1.zip in TWRP
Install SR3-SuperSU-v2.79-SR3-20170114223742.zip in TWRP
Click Reboot System
Install Kernel/Mods
Remember to restore any /system specific edits such as the tether build.prop edit, host file edits, or custom boot animations.

This is amazing!. I have downloaded the full factory image already. followed by your guide, Can I just use an OTA package to upgrade NMF26O to latest build? I have rooted and twrp installed

bush911 said:
This is amazing!. I have downloaded the full factory image already. followed by your guide, Can I just use an OTA package to upgrade NMF26O to latest build? I have rooted and twrp installed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just remove the -w argument from the flash-all.bat and flash the factory image...

Thank you dude, so what's the difference between full factory image and full ota zip, and ota automatically downloaded to phone.
the factory image is around 1.8 G and full ota zip is around 800 M, but the ota automatically downloaded to phone is only 47 M
Juli112 said:
Just remove the -w argument from the flash-all.bat and flash the factory image...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I had good luck with this method getting to NMF26O. Just a couple of things to note. Make sure you have the latest ADB files, and while it probably is assumed that you are using TWRP RC1 I'm pretty sure this did not work in Alpha2. Also, when the OP mentions losing TWRP it actually completely removes recovery so don't freak out if you try to boot into it expecting stock recovery and get a no data (or something like that if I remember correctly) error. There is no reason to check, but last time I was curious to see if it would leave TWRP in place. All is fine as long as you can get to bootloader. One other thing is the fact that this is an OTA. I would not do this unless coming from NMF26O but that is just me.
I am in no hurry to do this update since by all accounts it adds no functionality, but I was going to try it this way again. I wonder if anyone has any reason other than habit to continue to use the flash all method.

Juli112 said:
Just remove the -w argument from the flash-all.bat and flash the factory image...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so should we sideload the OTA over Q or download the factory image and remove the -w flag and run flash all.bat?

can this process be done if we are running stock rooted but with weta 2.2.1 installed? or does it need to be totallly stock? thanks

quinejh said:
can this process be done if we are running stock rooted but with weta 2.2.1 installed? or does it need to be totallly stock? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is only for updating stock. If you want of weta then use the full image and remove the -w from the flashall bat file.

thank you! worked great!

quinejh said:
can this process be done if we are running stock rooted but with weta 2.2.1 installed? or does it need to be totallly stock? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because I'm groovy like that... (And had a nandroid backup) I went ahead and took the jump of sideloading the OTA update over weta 2.2.1. Personally, I wasn't too concerned about botching up the system, as the weta ROM is going away. Instead the author is now compiling his mod(s) to layer over this stock build. I'm assuming that the OTA sideload went without a hitch because weta is designed around the stock image. Of course, I had to install some of my mod's again that were lost in the "update"
**DISCLAIMER**
I'm not claiming or declaring the OTA update is safe to install over weta 2.2.1. I'm only giving my experience so others can weigh out the risks for themselves, if they decide to roll the dice. :silly:

I followed this method and everything went smoothly. I have the new update, supersu and elemental kernel but now I can not use android pay

rohitece06 said:
I followed this method and everything went smoothly. I have the new update, supersu and elemental kernel but now I can not use android pay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't use Pay, but did you update to the latest Elemental kernel 1.03?

spiller37 said:
I don't use Pay, but did you update to the latest Elemental kernel 1.03?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did.

rohitece06 said:
Yes I did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try Franco's, his is patched for pay. Just to try and narrow it down here.

rohitece06 said:
Yes I did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might also try the patched stock kernel that was just updated.

spiller37 said:
You might also try the patched stock kernel that was just updated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks it worked with patched stock kernel although I lost root and when I installed SuperSu 2.79 SR2 android pay stopped working.

Is something up with the OP or is it just my XDA app causing it to show like this..

aholeinthewor1d said:
Is something up with the OP or is it just my XDA app causing it to show like this..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure why it displays this way in the two XDA apps. If anyone knows how to fix the formatting I would be grateful for the solution.

rohitece06 said:
Thanks it worked with patched stock kernel although I lost root and when I installed SuperSu 2.79 SR2 android pay stopped working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I didn't realize root and pay could work simultaneously on the pixel yet. Not sure which thread, but there was discussion on using the dual slots to run one slot stock with pay and one slot stock with root. Then dual booting between them.

spiller37 said:
Oh I didn't realize root and pay could work simultaneously on the pixel yet. Not sure which thread, but there was discussion on using the dual slots to run one slot stock with pay and one slot stock with root. Then dual booting between them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it was working before this January pixel update

Do I have to flash no verity?

I really just want to root stock. I have the Boost Mobile Perry.

guitardoc64 said:
I really just want to root stock. I have the Boost Mobile Perry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Install twrp, flash no verity, format data (to remove encryption) flash magisk. Some people have said if you took the last security update, you may have to patch the boot.img with magisk manager then flash the patched boot.img in fastboot or twrp to root. And will likely need the latest magisk beta (16.4).

I really don't care about encryption.

guitardoc64 said:
I really don't care about encryption.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to remove encryption.

Ah okay. Thanks for letting me know. I guess I will have to wait till I get the time on a day off to get everything set up again.

guitardoc64 said:
Ah okay. Thanks for letting me know. I guess I will have to wait till I get the time on a day off to get everything set up again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't neglect to backup EVERYTHING in TWRP before doing ANYTHING (and store those images off-device!). Strongly suggest booting a TWRP image to perform this task vs. installing/flashing to the recovery partition, especially if interested in preserving/restoring OTA capability at a future time.

Of course I will back up everything. Honestly this is the first device I have not rooted since I started with Android. Everything else I rooted as soon as I got it.

guitardoc64 said:
Of course I will back up everything. Honestly this is the first device I have not rooted since I started with Android. Everything else I rooted as soon as I got it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can backup your data in twrp and restore after you format (after first boot). Restore only data though.

guitardoc64 said:
Of course I will back up everything. Honestly this is the first device I have not rooted since I started with Android. Everything else I rooted as soon as I got it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome to the 5% club which is probably generous based on the number of noobs (and veterans) who neglect to image their device before messing with core components. Of course that figure may be skewed as those that do take proper precautions rarely write posts that begin with "help!" and have no path back to the prior working state.
Also, resist the temptation to flash a custom recovery (twrp) vs booting from fastboot if you want to accept accept future OTA updates or roll back to pure stock. While restoring stock recovery is possible it certainly complicates the process. Can always revisit the decision at later time.

guitardoc64 said:
I really just want to root stock. I have the Boost Mobile Perry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got a few of these phones and looking to root them. I installed all the latest updates. Did you to have to patch the boot.img with magisk manager then flash the patched boot.img in twrp to root?
Or I follow these steps only?
1. unlock bootloader
2. Boot into twrp located here https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-e4/development/twrp-twrp-moto-g4-qualcomm-t3655160
3. delete the data folder
4. flash magisk
5. flash no-verify
6. done?

davejames500 said:
I just got a few of these phones and looking to root them. I installed all the latest updates. Did you to have to patch the boot.img with magisk manager then flash the patched boot.img in twrp to root?
Or I follow these steps only?
1. unlock bootloader
2. Boot into twrp located here https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-e4/development/twrp-twrp-moto-g4-qualcomm-t3655160
3. delete the data folder
4. flash magisk
5. flash no-verify
6. done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't have a definitive answer on the latest firmware. Suggest going through the above steps first. If no joy it's a simple matter to patch/flash boot.img .
You are wise to boot a twrp image vs flashing over stock recovery. Simplifies fallback should the need arise. Don't neglect to backup stock and store off device (or at least on a SD card).

davejames500 said:
I just got a few of these phones and looking to root them. I installed all the latest updates. Did you to have to patch the boot.img with magisk manager then flash the patched boot.img in twrp to root?
Or I follow these steps only?
1. unlock bootloader
2. Boot into twrp located here https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-e4/development/twrp-twrp-moto-g4-qualcomm-t3655160
3. delete the data folder
4. flash magisk
5. flash no-verify
6. done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For .3, format data to remove encryption.
But the rest should work. If not, you have to download the current firmware ( the version you're on) if you can find it. Extract the boot.img from it. Then use magisk manager to patch it. And use fastboot to flash the patched boot.img

i have the moto e4 mkt which no verity version do i have to flash ?

Rafasama said:
i have the moto e4 mkt which no verity version do i have to flash ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You shouldn't need a no-verity any longer. Newer versions of magisk should take care of it. Just TWRP, and magisk.

madbat99 said:
You can backup your data in twrp and restore after you format (after first boot). Restore only data though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, I am running a Samsung Galaxy J5 Prime at the moment, a friend told me I must flash no verity.zip after flashing TWRP because of the verification and I tried making a backup if the entire rom but it failed so I need to confirm, do I factory reset my device then flash the no verity file or I flash the no verity file and then factory reset the device??
I know it's an old thread but a quick reply would be awesome

Problem flashing stock image

I have UB and rooted with magisk 20.1. I rooted the October build by patching the boot image using magisk. I try to flash the new November stock image and it fails. It says
Writing boot
Failed (failed to write to partition Not found)
I think it may be connected to booting into slot a or b. Maybe?
Can anybody help?

You already took the November OTA or are you still on October?

ctfrommn said:
You already took the November OTA or are you still on October?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on October trying to flash November

Pretty sure you cant flash the boot image alone. I always flash the stock boot for the build Im currently on then take the OTA. I think there is a new bootloader for November. Not 100% on that though.

I'm just trying to flash the full factory November stock image. I downloaded it, unzip it, plug in the phone in fastboot and double click the run me bat file.
This has always been fine before but I am new to pixel 3a and have only done this once before, on October build. But I came from an original pixel so I've spent 2 years updating that in this way.
I can't work out why the flash is failing.

Try flashing the stock October boot.img then try updating. Ive never been successful flashing an OTA or factory image over a patched boot.

ctfrommn said:
Try flashing the stock October boot.img then try updating. Ive never been successful flashing an OTA or factory image over a patched boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried flashing October factory image and get the exact same result. Not sure what else to try.

ctfrommn said:
Try flashing the stock October boot.img then try updating. Ive never been successful flashing an OTA or factory image over a patched boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry just reread your post. Will try and reflash boot IMG. I do that with fastboot flash boot.img?
Thanks

Yes.... fastboot flash boot boot.img

ctfrommn said:
Yes.... fastboot flash boot boot.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have tried reflashing boot.img and still won't update ota and same result trying to flash factory image. Any other ideas? And thanks very much for your help

ctfrommn said:
Try flashing the stock October boot.img then try updating. Ive never been successful flashing an OTA or factory image over a patched boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do I need to flash boot.img to both slots a and b? If so how do I do that?

I only ever flash the one in use.
Just fastboot flash boot boot.img is all you need.
Your can also always just clean flash the OTA. Just download it, factory reset, adb sideload the OTA in recovery.
I've done that a few times now.

ctfrommn said:
I only ever flash the one in use.
Just fastboot flash boot boot.img is all you need.
Your can also always just clean flash the OTA. Just download it, factory reset, adb sideload the OTA in recovery.
I've done that a few times now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Will try things tomorrow. It's late here in London. But I can't get a twrp.img to work. It doesn't seem to mount the system and I can't flash anything. Have you got twrp to work? I'll come back to you in about 18hrs if that's ok?

TWRP doesn't work with Q. Just use stock recovery to sideload.

ctfrommn said:
TWRP doesn't work with Q. Just use stock recovery to sideload.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, will try when I get home from work. Does the OTA update contain a boot.img? Is that what I need to patch to root again?
Thanks very much

Horgar said:
Ok, will try when I get home from work. Does the OTA update contain a boot.img? Is that what I need to patch to root again?
Thanks very much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, OTA and factory images are essentially the same thing just packaged differently.
And the easiest way to reroot is to just download and repatch the new stock image, or flash a custom pre patched kernel.

Horgar said:
Ok, will try when I get home from work. Does the OTA update contain a boot.img? Is that what I need to patch to root again?
Thanks very much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OTA zip is packaged differently and does not include a boot.img file that we can use. (I'm sure it must be in there somewhere, but not in a usable form). Therefore you must download the "Factory Image" from Google. Unzip it, open it where you will find another zip file inside. Open that second zip file and you will find the boot.img file there. Move that boot.img file to your phone so that Magisk can access it and to modify it.
https://developers.google.com/android/images

Horgar said:
Ok, will try when I get home from work. Does the OTA update contain a boot.img? Is that what I need to patch to root again?
Thanks very much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI here are the steps I took to update my rooted 3a this morning:
1. in Magisk Manager select Uninstall and select restore images (I did this because I kept getting a 'installation error' on the OTA page)
2. Like an idiot I rebooted my phone, do not reboot! So I had to reinstall magisk
2a. copy the boot.img of Oct to my phone to have it patched by magisk
2b. fastboot flash boot boot_patched.img
3. the OTA downloaded while I was on the stock boot.img so I just followed the magisk instructions to install the OTA in the other partition
Next month I'll just jump from step 1 to 3 and carry on being rooted.

The simplest way to update when youre rooted is to......
Reflash the stock boot from the current build youre on
Take the OTA directly on the phone
Download stock image from new build and move it to phone
Patch with Magisk and move to your PC
Fastboot flash boot boot.img
Ive done this for the last 3 updates and it works perfectly every time......I obviously substitute my kernel for the patched boot but the process is the same. I find this far simpler than messing with Magisk

Thanks for all the suggestions but I still cannot update.
I have tried restoring boot.img
data reset from recovery
relocking bl - ota fails
Unlocking bl again - won't flash using ADB
There is no problem with the phone being recognised on ADB, the flash Just fails as the screen shot in my opening post. I'm thinking it may be connected to needing to flash to the inactive slot.
Anyone got any ideas?