Database Users

Stock update with unlocked bootloader

I have an unlocked bootloader. (Because I will probably want to root the phone in the future and want to be able to keep user data. However I don't want to root it right now because then my children will not be able to catch pokemons.) What I was not aware of is that unlocking has disqualified me from any official updates. So the question is: how can I get the latest stock version into my phone? Preferably with intact user data.

Sony seems to have pretty good support for unlocked devices. You'll just have to use an alternate route to update stock. This might help: https://forum.xda-developers.com/cr...xperifirm-xperia-firmware-downloader-t2834142
Edit: You could also try flashing the latest Magisk, 10.2, which provides systemless root. Delete your system su binaries and you can probably have root + PoGo. But there's another thread for that.

I was able to update with xperifirm + flashtool with intact user data.
Although the first attempt resulted in a soft brick. But I had better luck with the Linux version. Might be a driver issue I guess.

Bigfoot987 said:
I was able to update with xperifirm + flashtool with intact user data.
Although the first attempt resulted in a soft brick. But I had better luck with the Linux version. Might be a driver issue I guess.
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Glad to hear it worked. If you look into the newest Magisk for your root solution, you should have no problems running Pokemon Go.

OK, I'm a newbie to Sony devices, so here is my question:
Let's say XC phone is on Nougat, BL unlocked, TWRP + custom Kernel installed, rooted as well. Now Sony releases a new February security update. Of course I can't install the OTA. So if I head to Xperifirm and Flashtool for a firmware upgrade, how do i proceed to preserve the custom recovery, custom kernel? I know how to keep the userdata, but i suppose root will be gone. I would like to upgrade the firmware with the least hassle, am I on the right track or is there a better/faster way?

On my z5c i flashed new firmware without any wipes, than flashed custom kernel. That's all.

Most Simple Way to Upgrade to Nougat? + Other Questions

I'm currently sitting on the stock 6.0.1 B29 ROM for my 2017U A7, which is BL unlocked, rooted (SU 2.79-SR2), Xposed, with RootSwitch working, and TWRP.
What's the most simply way for me to upgrade to Nougat while maintaining those things listed above (aside from Xposed which I know doesn't support Nougat yet)?
Would I be forced to wipe my phone after installing Nougat in order to get everything working optimally?
Are there any issues or potential problems when upgrading that I should be aware of?

Read the nougat thread in general.

lafester said:
Read the nougat thread in general.
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I have seen this thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/axon-7/development/edl-emergency-dl-mode-twrp-unlock-t3553514
But I was wondering there was a more simple or directly method which doesn't involve EDL mode?
Edit: Nevermind, I don't know why I was expecting a more simple method, nothing on the A7 is more straightforward than that. I'd still like to know if I should be expecting any issues and if a full wipe is needed. For that matter will my phone be wiped anyway if I install that ROM?

Cyrus D. said:
I'm currently sitting on the stock 6.0.1 B29 ROM for my 2017U A7, which is BL unlocked, rooted (SU 2.79-SR2), Xposed, with RootSwitch working, and TWRP.
What's the most simply way for me to upgrade to Nougat while maintaining those things listed above (aside from Xposed which I know doesn't support Nougat yet)?
Would I be forced to wipe my phone after installing Nougat in order to get everything working optimally?
Are there any issues or potential problems when upgrading that I should be aware of?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see any reason that you couldn't flash the universal bootstack and modem for the U variant from the Lineage thread, and then flash the stock Nougat ROM that's posted in the BadBoyz Magisk thread. Or just flash the bootstack and modem, then flash that ROM, being that it's stock and should still allow you to pass SafetyNet.

bluestudy said:
I don't see any reason that you couldn't flash the universal bootstack and modem for the U variant from the Lineage thread, and then flash the stock Nougat ROM that's posted in the BadBoyz Magisk thread. Or just flash the bootstack and modem, then flash that ROM, being that it's stock and should still allow you to pass SafetyNet.
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I would assume that it'd overwrite TWRP and I'd have to reinstall that again, and considering all the steps overall, that's not really any faster than jcadduono's EDL mode method.
Basically I was hoping there was a method that could just allow one package to be directly flashed and get it all done in one simple go to prevent any possible mistakes.
I said screw and installed the necessary program and drivers to flash the package with the Nougat bootloader + ROM + TWRP in EDL mode, it appears to detect properly, but I don't know if I want to go through with it until Xposed arrives. Between YouTube ads or grinding my face with a belt sander, I think the latter is less painful and horrific.
On the topic of SafetyNet, I currently pass it if I switch root off, yet Nintendo games won't install on my phone. They show as "incompatible with your device" the same as if they detect I have root. I have SUHide installed as well, but I have no idea how to check on that (where it is or how it functions for that matter). Installing the APKs from an alternate source just results in them crashing on start-up. Nintendo REALLY don't want root users playing any of their games.

Cyrus D. said:
I would assume that it'd overwrite TWRP and I'd have to reinstall that again, and considering all the steps overall, that's not really any faster than jcadduono's EDL mode method which installs the bootstack + ROM + TWRP from one package and can recover a brick.
Basically I was hoping there was a method that could just allow one package to be directly flashed and get it all done in one simple go so I don't have to do a song and dance every time I want to change my ROM. But I don't know if I can just do that with jcadduono's package because IIRC TWRP doesn't automatically install things to where they should be, you have to manually select it (recovery, etc) and that package needs to be installed to multiple locations. Or maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about it.
I said screw and installed the necessary program and drivers to flash the package with the Nougat bootloader + ROM + TWRP in EDL mode, it appears to detect properly, but I don't know if I want to go through with it until Xposed arrives. Between YouTube ads or grinding my face with a belt sander, I think the latter is less painful and horrific.
On the topic of SafetyNet, I currently pass it if I switch root off, yet Nintendo games won't install on my phone. They show as "incompatible with your device" the same as if they detect I have root. I have SUHide installed as well, but I have no idea how to check on that (where it is or how it functions for that matter). Installing the APKs from an alternate source just results in them crashing on start-up. Nintendo REALLY don't want root users playing any of their games.
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Click to collapse
Have been able to play Pokemon Go (my son, lol) and Fire Emblem on several Lineage based ROMs using Magisk. Can also get Android Pay to work (except for my bank currently not supporting it, but it doesn't show that I'm running any third party ROM or have my bootloader unlocked.) So, that might be the way for you to go, if you decide to try it out. As far as the EDL method, I've never tried it, but it does seem like an extremely useful tool.

Sorry went back and edited my post. It seems I was mistaken and I'd have to at least flash 2 packages by the EDL method, the TWRP package isn't the full ROM, just the bootloader and recovery. The only thing I can get working is Pokemon Go if I switch off root. Is Magisk working on the stock Nougat ROM as well?

Is there a unrooted B170 or B180 flash update?

I can't have my phone rooted and I'm starting to have issues so I figured I would update. I'm one B160 right now hoping to update to B170 or B180 but stay unrooted. My Banking App and Pokémon Go will not work with a rooted system.

What kind of issues is the phone having? How much internal storage is free?
I'm still on B160 which I rooted and Xposed.

There's stock roms for at least b160 through b180 posted right here. Madvane had unrooted versions of his roms posted up to at least b160, and there's a few others (which I would mostly avoid).
You can 'unroot' pretty much any rom, though. Just uninstall the supersu app, run osm0sis's unSu script, and then flash a stock boot image (which you should have backed up.. but can steal from the corresponding b160/b170/b180 stock image zip files).
I really hope rom developers would just stop posting rooted roms.. if you've gotten that far you can certainly manage to flash magisk/supersu yourself, and no good can come from starting your users off with outdated root software by default

first time root - stuck on last step of youtube guide :/

Followed this youtube guide --> How to Root Moto G4 Plus, Unlock Bootloader and Install Recovery!
(his youtube is gizmoddict, xda is restricting the link)
On last step I had to install the zip, and it would reboot into the phone, except it didn't.
xt1625 moto g4 is now stuck in a twrp bootloop and I have no idea what to do, help is appreciated.

If this is the guide in question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK2uacpjGwc then are you running stock Nougat 7.0 on your device?
If so, that guide is too old to be useful - the stock Nougat kernel appears to be much stricter with being rooted on and so you must use a custom kernel (e.g. ElementalX or vegito) to root successfully on stock Nougat. If you were running Marshmallow as in the guide, then it should have worked (though depending on the version of SuperSU you flashed).
I would try to copy a custom kernel to your device and attempt to flash that via TWRP, see if you can get your device to boot.

echo92 said:
If this is the guide in question: then are you running stock Nougat 7.0 on your device?
If so, that guide is too old to be useful - the stock Nougat kernel appears to be much stricter with being rooted on and so you must use a custom kernel (e.g. ElementalX or vegito) to root successfully on stock Nougat. If you were running Marshmallow as in the guide, then it should have worked (though depending on the version of SuperSU you flashed).
I would try to copy a custom kernel to your device and attempt to flash that via TWRP, see if you can get your device to boot.
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Yes that would be the link to the video, and I believe it came stock as 7.0 nougat? (not 100% on that)
Currently searching XDA for the custom kernel you mentioned, sounds like it should be easy to get working thank you.

echo92 said:
If this is the guide in question: then are you running stock Nougat 7.0 on your device?
If so, that guide is too old to be useful - the stock Nougat kernel appears to be much stricter with being rooted on and so you must use a custom kernel (e.g. ElementalX or vegito) to root successfully on stock Nougat. If you were running Marshmallow as in the guide, then it should have worked (though depending on the version of SuperSU you flashed).
I would try to copy a custom kernel to your device and attempt to flash that via TWRP, see if you can get your device to boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In twrp and checked on pc to see that there is only twrp on internal storage, attempting to install ElementalX-G4-2.00.zip right now.
It worked thank you (atleast I think it is), currently selecting the MHz for the cpu frequency (obvious choice of stock). Appreciate the help.
NVM not working, now it won't boot into twrp. Not sure what in the world is going on anymore with this phone :/
NVM to that as well, 3rd time is the charm in twrp is back again.
Figured it out I think, it says "No OS Installed! Are you sure you wish to reboot?" after installing that zip file. Why does it say that?
Ok lineage OS is installed, super happy about it, thanks for suggesting that kernel thing otherwise I'd not have found this. Super easy to get rolling.

Flashing Security ota w/ TWRP on Pie

Hello,
So I got the PH1 and I must say I'm head over heels for the phone!!! I had a few custom roms downloaded and ready to go for when I picked it up...but decided to run stock Pie (bl unlock, TWRP, magisk installed) my question is this, as Pie is fairly new and I imagine it will receive Alot of updates, is it possible to flash these OTAs via TWRP? I understand most if the time I need to flash stick recovery back to take OTAs and I don't mind making a /data backup to preserve my settings, but I'm hoping this is not the case? Is there a more simplified way of taking pie OTAs on this phone? I'm asking cuz it's telling me there is a new OTA available( 9.0.0 build ppr1.180905.036) as of 9/18/18 and I obvs want to install it!!! Any guides available that someone can point me to would be swell!!!
Thanks

Ok so I'm dumb, I should have searched a bit first, and I also should have clarified....I really don't need TWRP for anything, I didn't know you could have magisk without TWRP, but can you restore a /data backup without it?