Database Users

Is there any method to root the Nexus 7 without unlock the bl?

is there any method to root the nexus 7 without unlock the bootloader?
i read several posts about rooting n7, but every posts needs to unlock the bl first.
and "Flash Clockwork Mod Recovery" .
but i really don't know what the "cwm" is ! i want to use the stock nexus7 rom with rooted. is the cwm recovery will ruin something original?
could anyone solve my anxiety? thx!

You need to unlock the bootloader in order to root.
WugFresh's toolkit has a friendly interface making this extremely simple:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1766475
Follow the instructions within the toolkit to ensure drivers are correct, backup apps, unlock bootloader, root device.
After doing this your Nexus will still be identical to stock.

mythomasy said:
is there any method to root the nexus 7 without unlock the bootloader?
i read several posts about rooting n7, but every posts needs to unlock the bl first.
and "Flash Clockwork Mod Recovery" .
but i really don't know what the "cwm" is ! i want to use the stock nexus7 rom with rooted. is the cwm recovery will ruin something original?
could anyone solve my anxiety? thx!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep you need to unlock your bootloader to root.
You don't actually need Clock Work Mod recovery in order to be rooted.
In fact, I believe that the Wug Fresh toolkit posted by retrobeans above allows you to root and not install CWM.
Having said that, all CWM does is replace the stock Recovery on your device. This allows you to make backups, flash new ROMs and mods etc. If you never go into it, you will not notice a difference - you will still be running your stock rooted ROM. So i wouldnt be afraid of installing it . Or you can always do it at a later date if you want.

Bootloader can always be relocked with "fastboot oem lock" anyway...
why are you concerned about unlocking, or do you just not understand fastboot?

mythomasy said:
is there any method to root the nexus 7 without unlock the bootloader?
i read several posts about rooting n7, but every posts needs to unlock the bl first.
and "Flash Clockwork Mod Recovery" .
but i really don't know what the "cwm" is ! i want to use the stock nexus7 rom with rooted. is the cwm recovery will ruin something original?
could anyone solve my anxiety? thx!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can use a great toolkit by wugfresh which applies root without cwm. You still need to be unlocked though
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

Harry GT-S5830 said:
you can use a great toolkit by wugfresh which applies root without cwm. You still need to be unlocked though
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is there any harm of being "cwm"ed? if not , i will try the easier way of one click root.(btw, i tried the wugfresh's toolkit ,but failed to install the driver...)

CWM (clockwork mod) is just a custom recovery image, from here you can flash files to your phone, wipe data, take full system backups (or restore).
Its a handy way to do key things people require when changing or modifying roms.
If in the future you will want to do any of the above then you will require a custom recovery.
Its not (in my opinion) the best recovery for the nexus 7 though, I use the Team WIN (TWRP) recovery.

You failed to install drivers? Or maybe when you installed Wug's tool it didn't download correctly? If you go and manually install the drivers which come with the tool I don't understand how they would have failed. Not trying to sound condescending or anything so sorry if I do. But Wug's toolkit (I know it's not the only one out there) is extremely easy and efficient. I would try re-downloading and on the driver install part go to
Right Click on computer
Manage
Device Manager, Here you should see a device either not detected or says that it's incorrectly installed blah blah
Right click the device and uninstall
at the top click on "Scan for Hardware Changes" (or something along those lines)
and right click your device when it comes up and the drivers are located wherever you installed his toolkit
I hope this helped and if not then just ignore. :laugh:

mythomasy said:
is there any harm of being "cwm"ed? if not , i will try the easier way of one click root.(btw, i tried the wugfresh's toolkit ,but failed to install the driver...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get the pdanet drivers, cwm is just a custom recovery, for wiping data and caches. Just has a few nice options like backing up full system data and boot.img . No real disadvantage and you can always flash back stock
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

Im In Same Situation
is it possible to lock bootloader after and still have root?
Also do you still recive ota updates?

jxer4567 said:
is it possible to lock bootloader after and still have root?
Also do you still recive ota updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can lock bootloader after.
You can get OTA but you would lose root and also lose your custom recovery, and with a locked bootloader you would be unable to root again
Sent from my Jelly Nexus S

Thank you bummed a little do i still recive ota with unlocked bootloader so i can have it rooted im wanting to keep original recovery no custom recovery but unlocked bootloader will i get ota?

jxer4567 said:
Thank you bummed a little do i still recive ota with unlocked bootloader so i can have it rooted im wanting to keep original recovery no custom recovery but unlocked bootloader will i get ota?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, unlocked bootloader does not affect OTA
Sent from my Jelly Nexus S

So only if i install custom recovery i lose ota just im wary with nexus 7 alot more important than v845
Sent from my Vodafone 845 using xda app-developers app

Sorry fellows, but you are wrong There IS a method to root the Nexus 7 without unlocking the bootloader.
Then you can have root without wipping your data, for instance, as happens when you unlock your BL. And with root you can unlock the BL without wipping your data too. All thanks to efrant with his awesome tutorials! It is in the Galaxy Nexus Forum, but me and some others have reported to be working on the Nexus 7 too.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1894717 -- Root without unlocking
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1731993 -- Unlock BL without wipping

Let me sum it up.
Can i root without unlocking bl? yes.
Can i unlock bl without full wipe , when i do it the first time? no.
So u install pdanet drivers(i know, i had driver problems on my old win xp company laptop), then unlock bl, root. Thats it. u dont need to install CWM(btw, I prefer TWRP).
OTA updates n recovery: As far as i know, u will receive OTA updates whether u have CWM or not, but when u click install for the update, if u have CWM/TWRP, it wont install. It will install properly only if u have stock recovery.
OTA updates n root: U will get n will be able to install updates whether or not u have root. But u will lose root if u install the update. Re rooting is esy if u already have an unlocked BL, but theres an app "voodoo ota rootkeeper", that makes a backup of your root status b4 update n then restores it after update. N its free!! Nice, huh?
Unlocking BL shindig: So u would have 2 reasons for not wanting to keep ur BL unlocked. First, if anything goes wrong(very very very unlikely, believe me I have done a lot of crap on this phone, its extremely hard to brick), u need to return it in BL locked state. Second: Security. If your phone gets stolen n ur BL is unlocked, some guy could easily flash CWM n flash a custom rom n access all your data. For both cases, I suggest a very useful technique.
1.Unlock BL.
2.Root
3.Relock BL.
4. Install app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.segv11.bootunlocker. This app will let u unlock BL from within a rooted phone without having to wipe your whole phone. If you are confused at this point, let me explain further, in case something happens to your phone n u need 2 return, u can just return it, if BL is locked, there wont b any issues. Also, if your phone is stolen, the theif wont b able to access it without completely wiping ur phone(unless he is a xda member n knows about that app!!! lol).
Got it?

Lennyuk said:
CWM (clockwork mod) is just a custom recovery image, from here you can flash files to your phone, wipe data, take full system backups (or restore).
Its a handy way to do key things people require when changing or modifying roms.
If in the future you will want to do any of the above then you will require a custom recovery.
Its not (in my opinion) the best recovery for the nexus 7 though, I use the Team WIN (TWRP) recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think The peeps who also agree twrp is much better than CWM is grown to the point where is the preimanant force for custom backup now. This Dev is 100% correct in my opinion also

New method to downgrade and root 183.46.15version of kitkat4.4.2 (for XT926 UNLOCKED)

This METHOD was developed ONLY for an UNLOCKED Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD XT926m phone that is already updated to the last version of KitKat 4.4.2 (System version "183.46.15.XT926.Verizon.en.US").
IF YOU HAVE AN LOCKED BOOTLOADER AND TRY THIS METHOD IT WILL BE ONLY YOUR RESPONSABILITY IF YOU DAMAGE YOUR PHONE !!!
My Motorola XT926m had an UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER (ICS 4.0.4) and I flashed via RSD Lite the last stock firmware, "183.46.15"... After that, I was, of course, unhappy, because I read on different forums that this firmware version didn't support root... I tried to download the Hydrogen Peroxide xt926 application that others users recommended here on XDA forum, without success.
But now, after I applied this method, my phone is again rooted... Enjoy the steps, but be carefull, it was developed for XT926 phones with UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER!
1. Download the files "VZW_XT926_4.4.2-KDA20.62-10.1_CFC_1FF.xml" and "VZW_XT926_4.4.2-KDA20.62-15.1_CFC_1FF.xml" from the Motorola firmware site: "motofirmware.com/files/file/"...
2. Unpack the files...
3. Substitute/replace the "gpt", "tz" files (FROM the folder with "15.1" version TO the folder with "10.1" version)... You should replace all the files that "RSD Lite" will tell you that don't fit when you try to flash the new stock firmware. You will obtain a MODIFIED version of "183.46.10" stock KitKAt 4.4.2 firmware!!!
4. Flash this MODIFIED "10.1" firmware with "RSD Lite v6.1.5 Multi-Flash" (without using Rsd Script Generator.jar), but don't forget to remove the first two 'getvar' lines in the xml file.
5. Download and install the "Towel Root.apk" and root the phone...
6. Now your phone should be ROOTED.
What to do NEXT:
7.Download from the Play Store and install "Superuser.apk" made by ClockWordMode and after reboot the application will ask you to update SU binary. In my case, the SU binary didn't support an online update and I installed the "Superuser.zip" file downloaded from the ClockWorkMode site, via recovery method, in order to gain this update (you can do this as well, if you already have a TWRP or CWM recovery installed on your phone). With the other version of superuser, like "SuperSU.apk" or "Superuser.apk" ("eu.chainfire.supersu-2.apk", the last version, 5.6mb, for example) you will need to follow the same steps...
8. Using "Total Commander.apk", you can go to "File System root"/"Etc"/"installrecovery.sh", and finally rename this last file... Or you can use "ES3 File Explorer.apk" in order to rename the same "installrecovery.sh" file in "Device"/"Etc" folder (choose, for example, the name "installrecovery.shbak")...
9. Flash with "Flashify.apk" (downloaded form PLay Store) a new "recovery img.": "TWRP.img" (2.8.3.0) or "CWM.img" (6.0.4.8) for KitKat... You can find them on "rootjunkysdl.com/?device=Droid%20Razr%20HD&folder=Firmware"...
10. If you flashed "TWPR recovery.img" you will need to install "Stericson.busybox-1.apk" (from Play Store...), because TWRP works with this busy box... (You could install "TWRP.apk" as well, but you must be careful, because you will need to be able to boot into Recovery mode directly from your phone (with the combination key), not from this app... Many times, the phone is able to boot into recovery mode from TWRP application, but not from the bootloader... That's why it is better to uninstall TWRP application if you have this problem). If you flashed a "CWM.img" you can install "RomManager.apk".
11.Now it is the time to backup your system to SD card!
That's it. My phone was unlocked, and I didn't have any issue following all this steps... If you're locked don't try it.
But.. If you're locked you could instead use an application named 'Safestrap' for some purposes (read more here on XDA forum please), because is destinated for the phones with locked bootloader...

Hi ,
Since this is a guide it does not belong to XDA Assist
Please Read The Purpose of XDA Assist
Please Standby when Moderators Move the Thread To Your Device Specific Forum
RAZR HD General

jackeagle said:
Hi ,
Since this is a guide it does not belong to XDA Assist
Please Read The Purpose of XDA Assist
Please Standby when Moderators Move the Thread To Your Device Specific Forum
RAZR HD General
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANKS!

I know you took a lot of time to write this up, but there is a downgrade method posted on here already. Also, there is no need to rename recovery.sh. All you need to do after flashing recovery is power off the phone and immediately boot straight back into recovery so the install script completes.
To answer your question, no, you can't unlock .15.

RikRong said:
I know you took a lot of time to write this up, but there is a downgrade method posted on here already. Also, there is no need to rename recovery.sh. All you need to do after flashing recovery is power off the phone and immediately boot straight back into recovery so the install script completes.
To answer your question, no, you can't unlock .15.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, I wasn't able to find another downgrade method, could you give me the link, please?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2789743

But... to flash CWM or TWRP for update the binaries, you need to be bootloader unlocked... to flash a custom recovery...

joel_sinbad said:
But... to flash CWM or TWRP for update the binaries, you need to be bootloader unlocked... to flash a custom recovery...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. That's why this method is flawed and probably should be pulled before someone bricks their phone.

RikRong said:
Correct. That's why this method is flawed and probably should be pulled before someone bricks their phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, unfortunately this post makes no sense, I mean, if you accidently flash the gpt.bin, you're screwed... and so many risks, plus, you can't flash custom recovery, and you can maybe downgrade the system and boot, but you still can't downgrade the bootloader...

joel_sinbad said:
Yeah, unfortunately this post makes no sense, I mean, if you accidently flash the gpt.bin, you're screwed... and so many risks, plus, you can't flash custom recovery, and you can maybe downgrade the system and boot, but you still can't downgrade the bootloader...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This method is for an XT926 with UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER, with the last 183.46.15 update and the root access lost. I only described the steps that I already done with my phone. My Maxx HD is working and has root access again... I flashed custom recovery too (TWRP 2.8.3.0), I haven't any other problem.

RikRong said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2789743
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, unfortunately is not working for the xt 926 phone that already took the last 183.46.15 update:
"..........************WARNING*************
this guide only works completely if you did NOT take the 183.46.15 update rolling out around 9/9/14 .............".
Until now I don't have any other option, I'm forced to preserve the method that I mentioned in my thread.

ciprianv. said:
Thank you, unfortunately is not working for the xt 926 phone that already took the last 183.46.15 update:
"..........************WARNING*************
this guide only works completely if you did NOT take the 183.46.15 update rolling out around 9/9/14 .............".
Until now I don't have any other option, I'm forced to preserve the method that I mentioned in my thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The piece you are referring to that doesn't work on .15 is the unlock and root. The downgrade should work on an unlocked phone.
That aside, your steps are very confusing and could easily cause a locked user to brick their phone. Please clarify or I will continue reporting this thread until it gets removed.

RikRong said:
The piece you are referring to that doesn't work on .15 is the unlock and root. The downgrade should work on an unlocked phone.
That aside, your steps are very confusing and could easily cause a locked user to brick their phone. Please clarify or I will continue reporting this thread until it gets removed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just edited the post. I clearly specified that this methid is ONLY FOR UNLOCKED BOOTLOADERS (XT926M).

ciprianv. said:
I just edited the post. I clearly specified that this methid is ONLY FOR UNLOCKED BOOTLOADERS (XT926M).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for doing that, I just want to make sure no one messes up their phone.

Updates through custom recovery with a locked bootloader possible?

If I locked my bootloader, can I update SuperSU (zip) or TWRP (img) using TWRP --> Install?
I'm already aware that it won't allow me to flash custom ROMs, custom recoveries or use fastboot commands.
What does having a locked bootloader prevent me from doing?
Thank you

AndrewDam said:
If I locked my bootloader, can I update SuperSU (zip) or TWRP (img) using TWRP --> Install?
I'm already aware that it won't allow me to flash custom ROMs, custom recoveries or use fastboot commands.
What does having a locked bootloader prevent me from doing?
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The better question is why would you have a locked bootloader? If you have any kind of boot loop or error you will end up with a paper weight that will have to be sent off for repairs when its easily fixed with an unlocked bootloader.

murphyjasonc said:
The better question is why would you have a locked bootloader? If you have any kind of boot loop or error you will end up with a paper weight that will have to be sent off for repairs when its easily fixed with an unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right about having a boot loop problem but isn't the phone more secure with a locked bootloader though? I read that it's recommended that you relock the bootloader if you're done making modifications so that no one can do anything malicious with your phone (to some extent).

AndrewDam said:
You're right about having a boot loop problem but isn't the phone more secure with a locked bootloader though? I read that it's recommended that you relock the bootloader if you're done making modifications so that no one can do anything malicious with your phone (to some extent).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say it's much more likely you brick your phone due to having a locked bootloader than someone else getting their hands on your phone and actually having the knowledge to cause trouble for you.

to relock your bootloader you must have FULLY STOCK firmware back on your device, relocking with anything in the phone being custom can result in a paperweight

Having a rooted phone is more vulnerable than a unlocked bl phone. Dont lock bl back unless you are full stock (I would still say dont though)

AndrewDam said:
You're right about having a boot loop problem but isn't the phone more secure with a locked bootloader though? I read that it's recommended that you relock the bootloader if you're done making modifications so that no one can do anything malicious with your phone (to some extent).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's more secure, sure. But if you take care of your phone it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Plus, if you have TWRP installed still a tech savvy thief (one who understands what a locked bootloader means) can easily flash a ROM and boot into the phone. As sometime else pointed out, the chances of you ending up with a brick are higher than the chances of someone getting your phone.
Sent from my Nexus 6P

Ok that makes sense to not lock the bootloader. Thanks for the information everyone!

Can you get ROOT without UNLOCKING BOOTLOADER

I have searched everywhere for a way to get root without unlocking the bootloader. I want to enable double tap to wake on my wife's 6P, but I don't want to wipe her data during the bootloader unlock process. Thanks everyone for any help.

cagmuer said:
I have searched everywhere for a way to get root without unlocking the bootloader. I want to enable double tap to wake on my wife's 6P, but I don't want to wipe her data during the bootloader unlock process. Thanks everyone for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

If you don't unlock the bootloader, you can't flash a custom recovery. If you can't flash a custom recovery, you can't install a custom rom or possibly the su binary. Unlocking essentially bypasses the verify process on boot; it verifies the rom, recovery, etc. is the signed official version. I've understood some tools may be able to allow root on an locked bootloader, but I'm not sure for the 6P.
Unless you care about Pay, just backup the phone and unlock it.

was hoping a dev could figure this out. i just want root for root apps and flashfire to flash things. kind of sucks having a nexus that requires an unlocked bootloader for root but i been on stock rom with locked bootloader after going two weeks with custom roms and no android pay. still hoping it will happen eventually.

rob219 said:
was hoping a dev could figure this out. i just want root for root apps and flashfire to flash things. kind of sucks having a nexus that requires an unlocked bootloader for root but i been on stock rom with locked bootloader after going two weeks with custom roms and no android pay. still hoping it will happen eventually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People have had success using Android Pay on a rooted 6P. I think people use magisk and Phil's SU and they are able to hide root from Android Pay and other apps. You should do a search through the forums. A lot of people talk about doing it successfully.

Locked bootloader, using twrp, xposed, magisk ect

So I've been looking into this, it seems it's possible to use flashify which allows you to flash .img files if your bootloader is locked and you have root you can flash twrp this way. Flashify can also make backup of stock recovery and install it, the reason i'm interested in this is security, as unlocked bootloaders have lots of risks.
Another post i was reading a person suggested, different manufacturers have different ways they implement locked bootloaders so some phones recovery might be protected and can't flash twrp while locked others may differ, I'm not sure. I currently have a Samsung S7 Edge Exynos, some people suggested issues around possible hard bricks, suggesting it's more likely to happen with a locked bootloader, then others saying fastboot wouldn't be able to recovery the device if installing a rom failed.
Someone pointed this out about my OEM unlock not been able to enable it to recover, tho odin doesn't require that to be turned on to flash back the stock firmware from download mode so that should fix that. I want to know the risks involved if flashify flashing twrp, kernels and roms while bootloader is locked is likely to work fine, i have seen posts of people who have done it most the comments seem like they could be assumptions best guesses around this type of thing. I can't find much on it.
What i'm thinking is find an exploit to get root, while locked flash twrp with flashify use twrp to flash xposed maybe? then restore stock recovery after flashing all the things i need, so if i loose the phone bootloader is locked and they don't have clear access to twrp, i think magisk is impossible as that modifys the boot which is the locked bootloader i believe so don't know which things magisk or others will or won't work.
I don't believe it's possible to unlock bootloader and install twrp flash everything i need restore stock recovery and relock the bootloader? pretty sure most phones delete all data during both lock, and unlock even so if it didn't delete everything dm-verity would likely prevent any of this working due to it been tied to the locked bootloader.
Appreciate all reply's.
Thanks.