Database Users

New to rooting - What is easiest?

Hi everyone,
I'm new to "rooting" android devices, although I have jailbroken all my iPhones and "rooted" my palm pre.
As a newbie, it seems the "root toolkit" is the best way to do this? Is this Windows only, or is there a Mac version?
anything else I should read up on / know before rooting? I basically want to root, initially at least, to get sixaxis support and stickmount working.
Thank you all for your help in advance.

First of all, this is the wrong section. You should post inquiries in the q/a section.
In terms of rooting, I personally find the easiest way is to unlock the bootloader, flash a custom recovery such as cwm/twrp, and then install the supersu zip via recovery. You should be able to unlock the bootloader and install recovery via fastboot. After that the rest is just copying a file to the device, booting into recovery and installing a zip file.
Sent from my Nexus 7

Take a peek at the nexus root toolkit thread in this forum...quick and easy.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

The tool kit is windows only, correct?

Any reason to NOT use the tool kit and go with other more manual methods?
An iphone is virtually impossible to "brick" - Is the same true for the N7?

Foxman2k said:
Any reason to NOT use the tool kit and go with other more manual methods?
An iphone is virtually impossible to "brick" - Is the same true for the N7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would agree with:
evonc said:
In terms of rooting, I personally find the easiest way is to unlock the bootloader, flash a custom recovery such as cwm/twrp, and then install the supersu zip via recovery. You should be able to unlock the bootloader and install recovery via fastboot. After that the rest is just copying a file to the device, booting into recovery and installing a zip file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you know what is happening, and how it works... so if you run into troubles later, you know what to do.
Hard to brick this device.

Foxman2k said:
Any reason to NOT use the tool kit and go with other more manual methods?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For practice, and maybe the one-click solution is not flexible enough for your means. It's usually dependent on the developer to update it, so do check if it has any limitations.
Also, the ones I've seen are Windows only.
Foxman2k said:
An iphone is virtually impossible to "brick" - Is the same true for the N7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as you don't mess up the bootloader, it should be possible to reflash stuff via recovery or fastboot. Bear in mind there have been exceptions (though that came about because of a serious kernel bug, rather than due to user error) so this can't be a guarantee.

I was new to rooting too, using the nexus toolkit helped me learn a lot about rooting and all the android stuff I wasn't used too!
I really recommend it

spdecoste said:
I was new to rooting too, using the nexus toolkit helped me learn a lot about rooting and all the android stuff I wasn't used too!
I really recommend it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another recommendation for WUGS rootkit - literally very easy foolproof step by step menus/instructions - only prob I had were the drivers - just manually pointing to driver directory sorted this out.

I made a guide that could help you. http://exzacklyright.blogspot.com/2012/07/nexus-7-guide-for-adbunlocking-rooting.html There's really only 3 commands. I don't recommend toolkits.

exzacklyright said:
I made a guide that could help you. http://exzacklyright.blogspot.com/2012/07/nexus-7-guide-for-adbunlocking-rooting.html There's really only 3 commands. I don't recommend toolkits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great, will check that out!
Can someone explain to me, in layman's terms, what "unlocking the bootloader" does?
I'm familiar with what "root" technically means as I've been using Linux since back when it had to be loaded on floppys and manualy configuring X LOL. So basically "root" means you have access to super user privileges.
Why is the bootloader locked in the first place? Once it's unlocked can it be locked again?

exzacklyright said:
I made a guide that could help you. http://exzacklyright.blogspot.com/2012/07/nexus-7-guide-for-adbunlocking-rooting.html There's really only 3 commands. I don't recommend toolkits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This seems to rely on Windows. Any Mac tools available?

Foxman2k said:
Great, will check that out!
Can someone explain to me, in layman's terms, what "unlocking the bootloader" does?
I'm familiar with what "root" technically means as I've been using Linux since back when it had to be loaded on floppys and manualy configuring X LOL. So basically "root" means you have access to super user privileges.
Why is the bootloader locked in the first place? Once it's unlocked can it be locked again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocking the bootloader allows you to mess with the bootloaders progression at startup, which gives you the ability to install a custom recovery and gives us the method to gain root access. The bootloader can be unlocked by many different methods - some manual and some "one-click". I'd suggest doing it the manual way first, so you understand the process, and are able to fix it manually if anything goes wrong.
To my understanding, it's locked so that people who don't know what they're doing can't mess the device up. It's a safety procedure basically.
To relock the bootloader, you just type (I only know how to do this in windows - Linux and Mac work as well al beit differently)
Code:
fastboot oem lock
and you're all set.

Foxman2k said:
This seems to rely on Windows. Any Mac tools available?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Android SDK and ADB tools are equally available on Linux and Mac. You won't have to do the "Adding to Path" thing. All of the ADB commands will be the same, though.

I didn't know anything about rooting at all too, despite having an android phone for more than 2 years.
I went with the one-click root process.
Download this file, plug your Nexus 7, follow the instructions- which means typing Y, N, Y etc
Done in 5 minutes. There's a youtube video on it too. Go check it out.
I still dont know much about the process.. except I'm unlocked and rooted =)

I have a few naive questions
Do I have to do the OEM unlock to root the device? I would prefer not to wipe it.
Assuming I don't hard brick the device, can I go back to stock for warranty work?
Does rooting the device mean I can't get OTA updates from Google? For now I just want to run the stock kernel/rom and get updates. I just want root to run titanium and certain other apps that require root.
I've seen a thread that suggest that the play store (market) doesn't work on rooted devices. Is that true?

Titanium Backup, Recovery apps, and the noob

Noob for tablets. Got the nexus 10 for the family for christmas. Want to get it all setup before I turn it over to the wolves.
I love using TBpro on my Droid Bionic. I thought it would be good to have a solid backup program on the tablet, and since I have it on my smartphone I thought I would hang with what I've sorta know already.
Dont really understand what unlocked/locked means for a bootloader, and why the N10 needs that why many smartphone can be rooted without being unlocked.
I would love to hear some views on the purposes of apps like ClockWorkMod and TWRP and what they do and provide. Seems like they do perform backups and more. Why TBpro is likely just a backup app. What functions do these recovery apps have the make them "must have".
thanks for the time answering the tablet noob

TBPro requires Root access and to acquire root access you have to be able to modify the operating system. You can't do that until the bootloader is unlocked. Once unlocked, you then need to flash Custom Recovery (either CMW or TWRP) in order to to flash/install the the files required to install the root binaries. Other uses of recovery include making NAND/System Backups and installing custom roms. They are essential if you are into modding your device. I have an LG G2x that is rooted and has a custom rom (CM7.2) and a Custom Kernel (Faux123 v54), as well as Beats Audio for Gingerbread. I installed all of those via ClockworkMod. I followed ZedoMax's instructions to root my Nexus 10 and had only the initial bootloop issue after unlocking the bootloader. That was easy to fix but I couldn't get ClockWorkMod to stay installed so I flashed TWRP instead. Works great. Just follow this thread and watch the vids. Hope I helped some.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1997227

bg1906 said:
TBPro requires Root access and to acquire root access you have to be able to modify the operating system. You can't do that until the bootloader is unlocked. Once unlocked, you then need to flash Custom Recovery (either CMW or TWRP) in order to to flash/install the the files required to install the root binaries. Other uses of recovery include making NAND/System Backups and installing custom roms. They are essential if you are into modding your device. I have an LG G2x that is rooted and has a custom rom (CM7.2) and a Custom Kernel (Faux123 v54), as well as Beats Audio for Gingerbread. I installed all of those via ClockworkMod. I followed ZedoMax's instructions to root my Nexus 10 and had only the initial bootloop issue after unlocking the bootloader. That was easy to fix but I couldn't get ClockWorkMod to stay installed so I flashed TWRP instead. Works great. Just follow this thread and watch the vids. Hope I helped some.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1997227
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
After unlocking, and using CMW or TWRP. I can then "root" my device. ok. After rooting, I can use TBpro.
At this point, do I need to remain "unlocked" Does it matter? For the N10 will I receive OTA after being unlocked/rooted,
or do I need to be in another state?

jetguat said:
Thanks!
After unlocking, and using CMW or TWRP. I can then "root" my device. ok. After rooting, I can use TBpro.
At this point, do I need to remain "unlocked" Does it matter? For the N10 will I receive OTA after being unlocked/rooted,
or do I need to be in another state?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes to all. Another option for you if you are not comfortable typing in the various commands is to use the Wufresh method. Watch the video by qbking777 here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2015467

bg1906 said:
Yes to all. Another option for you if you are not comfortable typing in the various commands is to use the Wufresh method. Watch the video by qbking777 here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2015467
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again. I did stumble across that site and was trying to compare that to the mskip Nexus root tool kit. That was had so many options and I didnt (yet) find the cliff note's version on what they all do and why you'd need to.
The GUI for Wufresh is simple. Do you use it? I read a little about the root and the root+custom recovery choices. Not entirely clear which is preferred, at least for me needs. And I've not got a warm fuzzy feeling about what state the N10 should be in, such that OTA updates still happen. Can they happen when unlocked+rooted+custom recovery but still stock ROM (without system mods)

The wugfresh version automates what the zedomax version does by hand. I did mine via the zedomax way.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda app-developers app

jetguat said:
Thanks again. I did stumble across that site and was trying to compare that to the mskip Nexus root tool kit. That was had so many options and I didnt (yet) find the cliff note's version on what they all do and why you'd need to.
The GUI for Wufresh is simple. Do you use it? I read a little about the root and the root+custom recovery choices. Not entirely clear which is preferred, at least for me needs. And I've not got a warm fuzzy feeling about what state the N10 should be in, such that OTA updates still happen. Can they happen when unlocked+rooted+custom recovery but still stock ROM (without system mods)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would suggest using the Wugfresh method, definitely the simplest to use. And a great recovery is TWRP, it is very clear and easy to understand what it is that each menu contains.
Also with the OTA updates, it really depends on the size and type of update. If it is a fairly major one, like JB 4.1 to JB 4.2 then you will have to use the option in Wugfresh toolkit to 'unroot', then update. After the update you can simply reuse the toolkit to root again. Sometimes if the OTA is small it will simply install over the rooted device, but I wouldn't count on it. It definitely shouldn't discourage you from rooting though, its relatively simple to fix

buying a new razr m to root?

I'm entirely new to anything phone/development related so I apologize for my ignorance (I also apologize if this is in the wrong section). I've had a razr M for about 2 years now and I'm entirely content with it except after the last update I can no longer use my foxfi for wifi access. From what I understand I can't root my phone and downgrade from this operating system so my question is this: Can I buy a new one off ebay for ~$100, root it and use foxfi (or some other free wifi tether) while keeping my unlimited data and not "bricking" it? The battery on my current phone has gone to crap anyways and I was considering buying a replacement phone considering they're only ~$100 anyways.
It's a pain in the but trying to figure all of this out with only limited time to browse the internet at work and trying to sort the 100's of pages of info from my phone.
Is this feasible? Are there certain things I need to verify about a phone before I buy it to make sure I can complete this process?
Thanks in advance,
Rory

If you're on the latest firmware, you CAN root with Towel Root and unlock with Motopocalypse. Then you can downgrade back to JB. There's a method posted by @bweN diorD somewhere in this forum.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

RikRong said:
If you're on the latest firmware, you CAN root with Towel Root and unlock with Motopocalypse. Then you can downgrade back to JB. There's a method posted by @bweN diorD somewhere in this forum.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks RikRong! How do I know if I'm on the latest firmware (does that just mean the latest operating system? My phone says 4.4.2 so I'm assuming that's a yes)? Sorry, there's a thousand new terms and I'm struggling to take in what this all means.
When it comes to trying to root my phone, since I have no more foxfi I also don't have a way to have internet access on my computer/tablet to walk me through the rooting process/assist me if something goes wrong with the... would you think it's intuitive enough/fullproof that if I print out the thread I can just follow it through and shouldn't have issues? Also, I looked through the first 4 or 5 pages in this forum and didn't find any threads started by "bweN dior" but I'm probably just overlooking what I'm looking for. Do you know what the thread was titled?
Thanks,
Rory

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2783157
Install .apk and run
Profit
Don't forget to thank geohot

rypkr937 said:
Thanks RikRong! How do I know if I'm on the latest firmware (does that just mean the latest operating system? My phone says 4.4.2 so I'm assuming that's a yes)? Sorry, there's a thousand new terms and I'm struggling to take in what this all means.
When it comes to trying to root my phone, since I have no more foxfi I also don't have a way to have internet access on my computer/tablet to walk me through the rooting process/assist me if something goes wrong with the... would you think it's intuitive enough/fullproof that if I print out the thread I can just follow it through and shouldn't have issues? Also, I looked through the first 4 or 5 pages in this forum and didn't find any threads started by "bweN dior" but I'm probably just overlooking what I'm looking for. Do you know what the thread was titled?
Thanks,
Rory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually, i didnt make a guide for this model. i made it for the hd/maxx hd. the root and bootloader unlock is the same and you can use those files, but you can NOT use any of the phone specific software in the guide or you will likely brick your phone.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2789743

bweN diorD said:
actually, i didnt make a guide for this model. i made it for the hd/maxx hd. the root and bootloader unlock is the same and you can use those files, but you can NOT use any of the phone specific software in the guide or you will likely brick your phone.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2789743
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I saw that it was someone else that made the guide for the M, but I like how yours is set-up. I was going to point him to your thread in the HD forum for rooting and unlocking, then refer him to guide in the M forum for downgrading. Use Bwen's guide to use Towel Root and Motopocalypse. Get TWRP from here: http://androidhosting.org/Devs/Dhacker29/msm8960/TWRP2710-RAZR_M-KITKAT.img and flash a SU zip to gain permanent root. Then use this guide to downgrade: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2786016 .

RikRong said:
Yeah, I saw that it was someone else that made the guide for the M, but I like how yours is set-up. I was going to point him to your thread in the HD forum for rooting and unlocking, then refer him to guide in the M forum for downgrading. Use Bwen's guide to use Towel Root and Motopocalypse. Get TWRP from here: http://androidhosting.org/Devs/Dhacker29/msm8960/TWRP2710-RAZR_M-KITKAT.img and flash a SU zip to gain permanent root. Then use this guide to downgrade: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2786016 .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, I'm trying to start this process. From my droid, I downloaded http://androidhosting.org/Devs/Dhacker29/msm8960/TWRP2710-RAZR_M-KITKAT.img but immediately I'm encountering problems. My phone says it cannot open this file. I'm already dreading this is going to be difficult/dangerous...
Why can't I open this file? Also, what is flashing a SU zip?

There is far too much about this I don't understand.
I am willing to pay someone to root a razr m for me. Do I have any takers?

Towel Root and Motopocalypse are both apps that you can download to the phone and then run. They're just apps, so they are as easy as opening the app then running. You need to use Towel Root, then Motopocalypse to unlock, and then you can install TWRP. If you don't want to use fastboot to install recovery, then you can flash it with Rashr or Flashify. Just download TWRP and place on your external SD, no need to open or extract it. Flash it with one of those apps. Once you're rooted and unlocked, you should be able to use that guide to downgrade.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

rypkr937 said:
Okay, I'm trying to start this process. From my droid, I downloaded http://androidhosting.org/Devs/Dhacker29/msm8960/TWRP2710-RAZR_M-KITKAT.img but immediately I'm encountering problems. My phone says it cannot open this file. I'm already dreading this is going to be difficult/dangerous...
Why can't I open this file? Also, what is flashing a SU zip?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just use the tutorial i posted before as a guide, substituting the files @RikRong gave you for the recoveries.
i just updated the guide to include a complete step by step for flashing the recoveries and su zip.
the only thing you will need is fastboot and adb in the same folder with your recovery file.
the guide instructs to use adb and fastboot from my script, but you wont have my script. thats why you need to grab adb and fastboot from google.
its not difficult, you just dont understand what needs to be done. you dont open the recovery with the phone booted up. just read the guide and subsequent link to the step by step and you will quickly see where you are going wrong.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2789743
just a quick disclaimer for those not following along, ^^^^^ the firmware and recoveries in this guide are for the 926 only!!! use it for reference only!! any other files in the guide and the guide itself, is universal.

rypkr937 said:
There is far too much about this I don't understand.
I am willing to pay someone to root a razr m for me. Do I have any takers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please refer to this thread > http://forum.xda-developers.com/droid-razr-m/general/guide-faq-how-to-root-boot-unlock-t2869432

Now I think I got problems. I thought I had it all figured out with all of the walkthroughs. I have the phone in fastboot mode and I was flashing it with RSD for the previous firmware. It was going through the steps and on 7/20 it said failed flash. I tried again and now it says failed flash after 1/20. I'm afraid to try and boot the phone. What should I do?

rypkr937 said:
Now I think I got problems. I thought I had it all figured out with all of the walkthroughs. I have the phone in fastboot mode and I was flashing it with RSD for the previous firmware. It was going through the steps and on 7/20 it said failed flash. I tried again and now it says failed flash after 1/20. I'm afraid to try and boot the phone. What should I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your boot loader isn't unlocked, you can't flash older FW. Did you unlock already?
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

rypkr937 said:
Now I think I got problems. I thought I had it all figured out with all of the walkthroughs. I have the phone in fastboot mode and I was flashing it with RSD for the previous firmware. It was going through the steps and on 7/20 it said failed flash. I tried again and now it says failed flash after 1/20. I'm afraid to try and boot the phone. What should I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It says USB error. I unplugged it from the computer and tried it again. It's step 7/20 "flash modem "non-hlos.bin" where it is getting screwed up.

RikRong said:
If your boot loader isn't unlocked, you can't flash older FW. Did you unlock already?
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I think? I did these steps successfully
-----------------------------------------
2. BOOTLOADER UNLOCKING
-----------------------------------------•Download Towel Root [XDA] [WEBSITE] - Disregard if you have previously rooted using Towel Root
•Download Motopocalypse [WEBSITE] [DOWNLOAD]
•Place both on external SDcard
•Install and run Towel Root
•Follow any in-app prompts
•Reboot
•Install and run Motopocalypse
•Follow any in-app prompts
•Reboot
•PROFIT!
My error specifically says this:
Failed flashing process. 7/20 flash modem "non-hlos.bin" -> USB error occurred while reading/writing.

I unplugged it and tried another USB port and it went through all the steps 20/20. Then it rebooted my phone and the phone says "please wait, this may take a few minutes". After several minutes RSD told me to "manually power on the phone". Since the phone was never shut off I couldn't do this so I unplugged the USB and replugged it in thinking maybe there was another USB error. RSD has now finished and says result is "PASS". However my phone still says "please wait, this may take a few minutes". Should I let me phone be or should I restart it?

rypkr937 said:
I unplugged it and tried another USB port and it went through all the steps 20/20. Then it rebooted my phone and the phone says "please wait, this may take a few minutes". After several minutes RSD told me to "manually power on the phone". Since the phone was never shut off I couldn't do this so I unplugged the USB and replugged it in thinking maybe there was another USB error. RSD has now finished and says result is "PASS". However my phone still says "please wait, this may take a few minutes". Should I let me phone be or should I restart it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do the 3 button trick to get into flash mode and tell us what the status code is please.

bweN diorD said:
do the 3 button trick to get into flash mode and tell us what the status code is please.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
power + volume up + down rebooted me to a screen that asked me to select my language (just as before). After selecting English it goes back to the "please wait this make take a few minutes" screen.

It's working!!!! I just ran RSD again (and this from the start on a usb 2.0 port as I read 3.0 can screw it up). This time it worked like a charm! I'm back on jellybean and posting from my laptop through a foxfi connection from my phone! SO thankful for this and those who did the write ups/walk throughs and posted in here! I got a lot of apps and setting to update ahead of me ugh. I'm going to do some donating here for the help! Thanks to those who posted in this thread and the ones who made those write ups and the app developers!

How do I keep my phone from automatically updating back to KK?? I didn't let it update when KK originally came out (I just kept clicking postpone) until about a month or two later it just updated on it's own. Well my phone just started automatically downloading a system update again. I put it in airplane mode but how do I keep this update from happening again and getting screwed by KK again?

Which root method works for Moto X Pure 6.0

On the other threads, I saw people who used the method lost wifi, etc.
Are there any working methods to root without losing anything?

jdugery said:
On the other threads, I saw people who used the method lost wifi, etc.
Are there any working methods to root without losing anything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes... Use the latest TWRP and SuperSU 2.62-3 or latest and the manual systemless method. I have rooted at least 6 or 7 Moto devices on MM with ZERO issues. I don't know how people are losing WiFi or other connectivity when they do this.
There are a few rooting threads for Moto devices in my sig, rooting the MXPE is identical except the TWRP needs to be for this device... TWRP is available directly from https://twrp.me look for device "clark"

Download TWRP v3.0.2-0 and SuperSU v2.78 SR3, flash twrp recovery into device via fastboot, reboot into recovery, in twrp go to advanced and open terminal, input this command (without the quotes) into terminal and press enter:
"echo SYSTEMLESS=true»/data/.supersu"
flash supersu, it will flash systemless supersu, otherwise the device would bootloop, reboot, the device may reoboot once or twice, its normal, profit!

kadopt said:
Download TWRP v3.0.2-0 and SuperSU v2.78 SR3, flash twrp recovery into device via fastboot, Start TWRP and allow changes to system, reboot into recovery, in twrp go to advanced and open terminal, input this command (without the quotes) into terminal and press enter:
"echo SYSTEMLESS=true>>/data/.supersu"
flash supersu, it will flash systemless supersu, otherwise the device would bootloop, reboot, the device may reoboot once or twice, its normal, profit!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This... exactly this... if done properly will work without messing with WiFi, mobile data, or anything else, and TWRP will stick.

acejavelin said:
This... exactly this... if done properly will work without messing with WiFi, mobile data, or anything else, and TWRP will stick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea how to flash stuff. Any noob guide with step by step instructions?

jdugery said:
I have no idea how to flash stuff. Any noob guide with step by step instructions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you look at the tutorials in my sig?

acejavelin said:
Did you look at the tutorials in my sig?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That seems to be for Moto G.
Any guide for the Moto X running 6.1.

jdugery said:
That seems to be for Moto G.
Any guide for the Moto X running 6.1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hinted at it in an earlier post in this thread, but I will get more blunt... Every 3rd and 4th Generation Moto device on Marshmallow is identical from a rooting perspective, the only difference is you must use the proper TWRP for your device, every thing else is the same, the commands, the unlocking, the SuperSU, etc. It doesn't matter if it's a Moto E, G, Z, or X, the process is identical.

acejavelin said:
I don't know how people are losing WiFi or other connectivity when they do this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the folks who are losing wifi are flashing patched boot images instead of just plain old systemless supersu and letting the installer automation do the boot image patching. They get an XT1572 boot image on an XT1575, or even on an XT1572 running a different system version and radios break.
That level of hackery hasn't been necessary since M and systemless root were in their infancy, but there are still how-to threads on here than push people in that direction.
The number of people who lose wifi or get stuck booting system after botching rooting this phone is surprising. At least this phone is pretty forgiving and you can fastboot your way out of trouble. I have another phone where mismatched firmware has been known to require jtag or even motherboard replacement to recover from.

jason2678 said:
I think the folks who are losing wifi are flashing patched boot images instead of just plain old systemless supersu and letting the installer automation do the boot image patching. They get an XT1572 boot image on an XT1575, or even on an XT1572 running a different system version and radios break.
That level of hackery hasn't been necessary since M and systemless root were in their infancy, but there are still how-to threads on here than push people in that direction.
The number of people who lose wifi or get stuck booting system after botching rooting this phone is surprising. At least this phone is pretty forgiving and you can fastboot your way out of trouble. I have another phone where mismatched firmware has been known to require jtag or even motherboard replacement to recover from.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm... that makes sense. I half-jokingly said in another thread I should write a "new" how to root guide for this device similar to my existing ones for the Moto G 3/4 devices, maybe I should actually do that, but getting ANOTHER guide might just add to the confusion of users.

acejavelin said:
Hmm... that makes sense. I half-jokingly said in another thread I should write a "new" how to root guide for this device similar to my existing ones for the Moto G 3/4 devices, maybe I should actually do that, but getting ANOTHER guide might just add to the confusion of users.
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Click to collapse
Might help if you could get it stickied.
If the OP of the Heisenberg thread were updated, and the ivcarlos thread got pulled down I think we'd see a lot less soft bricks. The users who started all the guide and resource threads seem to have all moved on.
The Q&A is full of "help I borked my MXP rooting it" threads. Can't be good for the confidence of a new user. At least they're easy to fix.

jason2678 said:
Might help if you could get it stickied.
If the OP of the Heisenberg thread were updated, and the ivcarlos thread got pulled down I think we'd see a lot less soft bricks. The users who started all the guide and resource threads seem to have all moved on.
The Q&A is full of "help I borked my MXP rooting it" threads. Can't be good for the confidence of a new user. At least they're easy to fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah... I'll work on it over the next day or so. It's frustrating, I think I've helped recover and root at least a dozen devices in the last week alone.

Shortcut to being rooted on N910VVRU2CQI2

Here's my Cheat Sheet ! This is the same procedure I used a while back with N910VVRU2CPD1 . I just updated the thread to work with the newer package.
1. Odin SamMobile N910VVRU2BPA1
reboot and factory reset a few times if needed to remove custom icon
2. Odin hsbadr's N910VVRU2BPA1_N910VVRU2CPD1_FullFirmware.tar HERE
3. Unlock with the samsung_unlock_n4-fix PROCESS use SIM card for data. Wi-Fi will not work at this point.
4. Odin twrp-3.0.2-0-trltevzw.tar Uncheck Auto Reboot, Manually boot into TWRP
5. Odin hsbadr's N910VVRU2CPD1_StockRestore.tar HERE
6. TWRP BETA-SuperSU-v2.71-20160331103524, Factory Reset, boot system
7. Use FlashFire to Flash firmware package SamMobile N910VVRU2CQI2
( ! System and Cache only ! )
Your mileage may vary.
Before I install my personal apps I remove as much Verizon, Samsung and Google spyware as possible.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT: I was able to skip the recommended rooting and unlocking of 5.1.1 and make the jump I described.
I did not do the unlock using Kingroot until step 3 and I did not permanent root with Super Su until step 6.
No matter how you get there the phone has to be on [Firmware] [MM] [6.0.1] [RetEd/DevEd] Safe Upgrade to Marshmallow [N910VVRU2CPD1] then you can use FlashFire.
Hyperlinks are in the text to most of what's needed.
Credit AstonsAndroid I found it HERE

I keep seeing people saying there is a way to just flash TWRP and Magisk and you're done. I'd like to avoid SuperSU and the other root methods if possible. How would that work with your updated guide? Thanks

My main concern is the spyware the guys on Reddit bring up. Not to use kingroot and the like. Was there any resolution to this thread you posted Dr cool? Want to unlock my bootloader and flash the MODest ROM but I want to be able to avoid spyware too. Thanks for your work.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/no...spyware-fix-fixed-lag-wi-fi-problems-t3433839

RootMyNote4Please said:
My main concern is the spyware the guys on Reddit bring up. Not to use kingroot and the like. Was there any resolution to this thread you posted Dr cool? Want to unlock my bootloader and flash the MODest ROM but I want to be able to avoid spyware too. Thanks for your work.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/no...spyware-fix-fixed-lag-wi-fi-problems-t3433839
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Click to collapse
I'm not sure if it was spyware or what. but my phone performance better after cleaning out that folder.

Thanks doc. Is that a folder that gets overwritten when you flash a new room?

This says "Continue with sim card data because wifi wont work at this point."
What if we don't have any data right now? Will it still work?

lodilovesmuffins said:
This says "Continue with sim card data because wifi wont work at this point."
What if we don't have any data right now? Will it still work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kingroot needs to connected to root. I never seen it work without a connection. N910VVRU2BPA1_N910VVRU2CPD1_FullFirmware.tar brakes wifi but you get it back with N910VVRU2CPD1_StockRestore.tar, I dont know why. It just works

RootMyNote4Please said:
Thanks doc. Is that a folder that gets overwritten when you flash a new room?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My best guess now is it's some kind of provisioning issue that is cleaned up. Some of the files deleted you may actually need some day.

does this require the developer version? btw how do i backup

I seem to lose root after I flash CPD1. Still have TWRP though and says developer mode. What could be causing this?
Edit - When I flash stock restore I mean. I get rooted on BPA/CPD and then when I go to the next step I'm losing root and Kingroot says it has no solutions. I must be doing something wrong.

RootMyNote4Please said:
I seem to lose root after I flash CPD1. Still have TWRP though and says developer mode. What could be causing this?
Edit - When I flash stock restore I mean. I get rooted on BPA/CPD and then when I go to the next step I'm losing root and Kingroot says it has no solutions. I must be doing something wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as you have TWRP installed still you are in good shape. At that point, you could either flash (through TWRP) SuperSu or magisk (on certain kernels magisk install errors out in twrp). The main objective is to get the custom recovery (twrp) installed on the 6.0.1 bootloader and once that's done it's just a matter of flashing your preferred rooting method or flashing a rom that has root included.
You can use an app like this to check your bootloader to make sure it's the right one.

kevintm78 said:
As long as you have TWRP installed still you are in good shape. At that point, you could either flash (through TWRP) SuperSu or magisk (on certain kernels magisk install errors out in twrp). The main objective is to get the custom recovery (twrp) installed on the 6.0.1 bootloader and once that's done it's just a matter of flashing your preferred rooting method or flashing a rom that has root included.
You can use an app like this to check your bootloader to make sure it's the right one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's weird. I flashed SuperSU but it didn't show up in the apps and when I tried to use Flashfire it said I didn't have root.

Got there. SuperSU had an error message when I tried to install it the 1st time after flashing full system. So I rebooted and installed again. Now Flashfire crashes and won't open. Switched to Flashify and it seems to work ok.
Edit - Stuck here for now. Flashify can't seem to find the CQI2 file and I still haven't been able to get Flashfire to work. Tried an older version and still crashes when it checks to see if I have the pro version or not.

In case someone else has the same problem with Flashfire, it's because the program expired April 1st, 2018. Turn the date back on your phone and it will load.

Finally completed it!!!
Ok, so the things I learned from my trials and errors.
1) DON'T flash the kernal and SU after you root with the N4 fix. I did this the 1st 15 times and could never get Flashfire to work later on. So skip all of the stuff in that post after you flash TWRP. Then flash the next firmware step.
2) Uncheck auto time and date on your phone and roll it back to before 4/1/18 to get Flashfire to work.
I'm sure there are some more things and I'll add whatever else I think can help the next guy along. Good luck! And thanks for the guide doc!
Note: Did the phone icon on your lock screen disappear as well when you were done? The camera is there on the bottom right like normal, but the phone is gone on the bottom left and it displays the charging info there now.

Thanks for this - it was helpful to make clear that in my mind that despite what other guides say, there is no need to unlock a Lollipop bootloader with a Lollipop kernel + ROM first, and that we can boot a Lollipop kernel + ROM with a Marshmallow bootchain and unlock the Marshmallow bootloader from the get-go.
I tracked down the CQI2 full Odin and I made hybrid Odins that get you "rooted on N910VVRU2CQI2" in fewer steps, following hsbadr's file naming scheme:
N910VVRU2BPA1_N910VVRU2CQI2_FullFirmware.tar.md5: MM CQI2 bootchain/firmware/modem, LL BPA1 ROM/kernel/recovery
N910VVRU2CQI2_StockRestore.tar: MM CQI2 ROM/kernel (no recovery - TWRP isn't overwritten)
These should be fine as drop-in replacements for the files mentioned in steps 2 and 5 of your guide.
Using these obviously means that you are unlocking the CQI2 aboot instead of the CPD1 aboot in step 3 while temprooted, and - importantly - step 7 is unnecessary to get to a CQI2 ROM, which is good because Flashfire is now expired :3
I doubt there's much of a real benefit to being on the newer aboot, but hey, why not.

Hey, no one answered my question from a while ago. So I'll ask again, does this require the developer version of the Note 4?

lodilovesmuffins said:
Hey, no one answered my question from a while ago. So I'll ask again, does this require the developer version of the Note 4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, this will work with both versions of the verizon note 4.

kevintm78 said:
No, this will work with both versions of the verizon note 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thank you very much. I'll try and root my phone with this tutorial now.

Please help!!!!
I followed this link because its supposed to be a way to downgrade from 6.1.0 to 5.1.1 so I can unlock boot loader. However, these instructions make no sense to me. Can someone PLEASE help me. I've been searching and searching for a way to root my note 4 (N910VVRS2CQA1) and can't seem to find a way. I've never done this before so I'm pretty clueless. When I read these instructions, I just don't understand what I'm supposed to be doing. A lot of this tech lingo means nothing to me unfortunately. I'm starting to thing I should just give up the idea of rooting this Note 4 that's getting slower and slower and just get a new one. I don't really want to though bc I love the fact that you can replace the battery. It'd be much easier to just root and upgrade.....well, easier if I actually knew how.