downgrade and update via ota - Moto G4 Plus Questions & Answers

Hello everyone,
I personally feel that the stock rom flashed via fastboot after wiping everything in twrp lags alott as compared to updating the device via ota's.
So is there any way round to relock the bootloader after downgrading and then updating the device via ota's.

you what mate? yes on a fresh boot things might be a bit slow because android is busy updating apps getting stuff from the cloud and various other one time initializations.

tywinlannister7 said:
you what mate? yes on a fresh boot things might be a bit slow because android is busy updating apps getting stuff from the cloud and various other one time initializations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks alott for considering my post with your valuable answer. I am well aware that the initial and the first boot is quite slow as per the operations taken by the device over the cloud.
But generally also, even after a week or two the device does show lags which are quite noticeable as compared to the device before the bootloader was unlocked.

Related

5.1 OTA failed

I was offered the 5.1 update on my 2013 Nexus 7. In an attempt to be on the safe side, I uninstalled busybox, titanium, and fully unrooted (I always had the stock recovery, so I didn't have to worry about that). Anyway, even after all those precautions, the attempt to install failed after a couple of minutes with an android keeled over and a red warning triangle. The highly informative message "Error!" was displayed under the keeled over android. Just wondering if other folks are seeing this same problem.
About 5 minutes later while I was poking around in this forum, the tablet rebooted itself and it appears to be running 5.0.2 with no obvious problems.
Any clues about what might be going on? Any way to extract more information than "Error!"?
Claghorn said:
I was offered the 5.1 update on my 2013 Nexus 7. In an attempt to be on the safe side, I uninstalled busybox, titanium, and fully unrooted (I always had the stock recovery, so I didn't have to worry about that). Anyway, even after all those precautions, the attempt to install failed after a couple of minutes with an android keeled over and a red warning triangle. The highly informative message "Error!" was displayed under the keeled over android. Just wondering if other folks are seeing this same problem.
About 5 minutes later while I was poking around in this forum, the tablet rebooted itself and it appears to be running 5.0.2 with no obvious problems.
Any clues about what might be going on? Any way to extract more information than "Error!"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To take ota you must have a clean non rooted system. Not one you attempted to remove traces of root from. If you want ota you have to flash 5.0.2 system.img extracted from the factory image. Any trace of root or a missing file or apk will cause it to fail.
madbat99 said:
To take ota you must have a clean non rooted system. Not one you attempted to remove traces of root from. If you want ota you have to flash 5.0.2 system.img extracted from the factory image. Any trace of root or a missing file or apk will cause it to fail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what would leave a trace. I've always been able to get OTA previously via the fully uninstall everything technique.
Claghorn said:
I'm not sure what would leave a trace. I've always been able to get OTA previously via the fully uninstall everything technique.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since lollipop it is very sensitive to anything different or missing in system. Just flash the 5.1 factory image with the ~w removed from the flash-all.bat file so it doesn't wipe data. Or use wugs to flash stock 5.1 image with "no wipe" enabled. Or like I said in previous you can always flash a clean system image of 5.0.2 then take ota. Either way will update you without wiping data.
Just use fastboot and manually flash system.img and boot.img, then format cache. It works every single time, without wiping data and you can easly root it again with CF Auto Root. I don't get it why people bother with OTA all the time. Always issues with them. I just did this and went from 5.0.2 to 5.1 without losing any data, and tablet now really flies. It keeps a lot more apps in RAM, for better multitasking, and I don't experiance any lag what so ever. I strongly recommend everyone to update to 5.1, because it feels like you just got a new tablet. Good job Google !
neo5468 said:
... I don't get it why people bother with OTA all the time ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not really bothering with it - it just showed up and started bothering me .
1.Backup everything.
2.Flash 5.1 with nexus root toolkit.
3.Restore all the data.
4.Change your build in NRT to android 5.1
5.Root it and flash TWRP/CWM if you want.
6.?????
7.Profit! duh
neo5468 said:
Just use fastboot and manually flash system.img and boot.img, then format cache. It works every single time, without wiping data and you can easly root it again with CF Auto Root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... or wait for a week until someone will release a rooted 5.1 update
sensboston said:
... or wait for a week until someone will release a rooted 5.1 update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would you wait a week, we already waited too long for offical 5.1 to come out for our tablet. It is 5minutes of work, works 100% and also fasboot is the safest way to flash. Also you download the image straight from developers.google.com so there is no bs. I much rather flash that. But to each his own.
There is already a recovery flashable "stock rooted 5.1" thanks to scrosler (cleanrom Dev).
5.1 rooted ROM
neo5468 said:
Why would you wait a week
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree, week is too long. A few days - better words And "one click" solution is much better in case of possible mistakes during flashing separate partitions, rooting etc...
neo5468 said:
Just use fastboot and manually flash system.img and boot.img, then format cache. It works every single time, without wiping data and you can easly root it again with CF Auto Root. I don't get it why people bother with OTA all the time. Always issues with them. I just did this and went from 5.0.2 to 5.1 without losing any data, and tablet now really flies. It keeps a lot more apps in RAM, for better multitasking, and I don't experiance any lag what so ever. I strongly recommend everyone to update to 5.1, because it feels like you just got a new tablet. Good job Google !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't done this in forever, is it just adb reboot bootloader, then the fastboot commands for flash system.img/boot.img. I have a custom recovery, does that matter?
beall49 said:
I haven't done this in forever, is it just adb reboot bootloader, then the fastboot commands for flash system.img/boot.img. I have a custom recovery, does that matter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom recovery is fine. There is also a new boot loader to flash as well I think. You can also run the flash all batch file in the factory image and just remove the -w from it so it doesn't wipe data. But what you posted is also correct, but flash the boot loader too. If your rusty at it just use wugs toolkit, it will run the commands for you.
Solid, removing the -w was what I was forgetting. I knew there was something else.
Thanks!
Well this popped up for me yesterday and I, in a total blonde moment, clicked OK and it promptly crashed my tablet. Which is what is expected to happen being that it was running rooted and non stock recovery.
So yes it was bricked. But is it a Nexus. It was a soft brick and easily fixed with the Nexus Root Toolkit. Which is what I would have done to update it anyway. I don't normally take OTAs. Yes I sinned before the Gods of RomFlashing and paid for it with wasted time. LOL
nlinecomputers said:
Well this popped up for me yesterday and I, in a total blonde moment, clicked OK and it promptly crashed my tablet. Which is what is expected to happen being that it was running rooted and non stock recovery.
So yes it was bricked. But is it a Nexus. It was a soft brick and easily fixed with the Nexus Root Toolkit. Which is what I would have done to update it anyway. I don't normally take OTAs. Yes I sinned before the Gods of RomFlashing and paid for it with wasted time. LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a little odd, usually (since lollipop) it will just fail. Bummer it actually flashed and soft bricked.
madbat99 said:
That's a little odd, usually (since lollipop) it will just fail. Bummer it actually flashed and soft bricked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No big deal really. I don't keep important data on it. It's mostly used for Kindle and games. Easy to fix.

[Q] Another Rooting Question

The majority of my phones have been HTC so not really sure if unlocking the bootloader is normal procedure for a Motorola phone to obtain root. So i have a couple of questions on rooting this device, I'm happy to stay on a rooted stock so don't really see the point/need of unlocking the bootloader at this time.
1) Do you have to unlock the bootloader to root? or is there a method to root without unlocking the bootloader.
2) If the bootloader does get unlocked can it be relocked at a later date and would it show it had been unlocked?
Thanks in advance.
rnscotch said:
1) Do you have to unlock the bootloader to root? or is there a method to root without unlocking the bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, at this time there's no way to obtain root without unlocking the bootloader.
rnscotch said:
2) If the bootloader does get unlocked can it be relocked at a later date and would it show it had been unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can be relocked but then it'll be just "re-locked" not "locked", that means it'll have a different status.
Also note that you void the warranty just by obtaining the unlock code from Motorola; it doesn't matter if you've actually applied it to your device
If I unlock the bootloader and root, will I lose OTA updates, right? So, if I do this, how will I update to Marshmallow, when it's available?
LuizHenrique91 said:
If I unlock the bootloader and root, will I lose OTA updates, right? So, if I do this, how will I update to Marshmallow, when it's available?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With root you'll lose ota updates if I'm not wrong, but you can always flash the updated full firmware through fastboot or rsd.
If you're rooted, you're free to install any ROM you like. The Devs here at XDA got your back when it comes to updates. Every time the latest Android version came out for my past 2 devices I got it through ROMs from here way quicker than the carriers delivered it. That's not certain for every device, especially older ones, but it's up to you.
I will say since Motorola has kept the Android OS "pure," there may be a chance that this device gets Android M fairly quickly. However in my experience, developers on XDA seem to be able to squash the bugs so much quicker than the carriers.
Good luck in whatever you decide. Myself, I haven't unlocked or rooted since I just got this phone a few days ago. I'm keeping an eye on the forums to see some more ROMs come into play and the tweaking to be more common place with solid procedures. Though, I am itching to root just to get a working LED light. I'm not crazy about this Moto Display that blinks once with a notification and if I missed the blink, I never know something is waiting for me.
eskamhl said:
With root you'll lose ota updates if I'm not wrong, but you can always flash the updated full firmware through fastboot or rsd.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But if I flash the full firmware with the new version, I'll need to install the recovery and root again or will the phone stay rooted?
---------- Post added at 04:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:28 PM ----------
ooklathemok said:
If you're rooted, you're free to install any ROM you like. The Devs here at XDA got your back when it comes to updates. Every time the latest Android version came out for my past 2 devices I got it through ROMs from here way quicker than the carriers delivered it. That's not certain for every device, especially older ones, but it's up to you.
I will say since Motorola has kept the Android OS "pure," there may be a chance that this device gets Android M fairly quickly. However in my experience, developers on XDA seem to be able to squash the bugs so much quicker than the carriers.
Good luck in whatever you decide. Myself, I haven't unlocked or rooted since I just got this phone a few days ago. I'm keeping an eye on the forums to see some more ROMs come into play and the tweaking to be more common place with solid procedures. Though, I am itching to root just to get a working LED light. I'm not crazy about this Moto Display that blinks once with a notification and if I missed the blink, I never know something is waiting for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.. I'm considering to root mine X Play for be able to change the kernel and get the LED working (and maybe some optimizations). It's not prioritary, but I want. I won't install a custom ROM, because I like Moto Voice to much and I know we lost it.
LuizHenrique91 said:
But if I flash the full firmware with the new version, I'll need to install the recovery and root again or will the phone stay rooted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course in that case you'll need to install the recovery and root, but as ooklathemok said you'll be able to update through a stock rooted rom simply from recovery
How do I fix this problem
So I fastboot stock firmware for my xt1563 from a rooted rim 6.0 to 5.1
And it all went good until I seen I lost root and recovery
So I re booted to bootloader and flashed
Fastboot flash recovery recovery img
Said okay and installed
I rebooted os
Then rebooted bootloader
Tried to go to recovery mode and the little android dude was there and below him says no command
What am I going wrong
deaksfrost said:
How do I fix this problem
So I fastboot stock firmware for my xt1563 from a rooted rim 6.0 to 5.1
And it all went good until I seen I lost root and recovery
So I re booted to bootloader and flashed
Fastboot flash recovery recovery img
Said okay and installed
I rebooted os
Then rebooted bootloader
Tried to go to recovery mode and the little android dude was there and below him says no command
What am I going wrong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do not reboot to OS after flashing recovery, just reboot to recovery. If you reboot to OS after flashing twrp the stock Rom will over write recovery
Do Custom OS support Active/Moto Display and Moto voice?
yekollu said:
Do Custom OS support Active/Moto Display and Moto voice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, custom Roms do not support moto voice nor will they ever. Active display is all custom Roms provide.
This is my second moto x, I had the original moto x from 2013 and hated moto display.

Can I update with Dec 2016 security patch if my phone is rooted?

Or do I need FlashFire?
I believe that this is the same update as the one in this post
https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x-style/general/maintenance-release-dec-2016-security-t3557903
You need full unroot, stock kernel, stock recovery and no system partition modification
lukas77 said:
You need full unroot, stock kernel, stock recovery and no system partition modification
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
could you tell me how I can do this? Is there a general guide?
Wow... how many times are we going to answer this question every single time an update comes out?!?!
A phone must be 100% stock to take an OTA... stock recovery, stock system partition, stock boot partition... or the update will fail.
You need to either restore your pre-root backup (you did one with TWRP, right?) or flash a factory image that is the same version or newer than you have installed. Period, those are the proper answers to how to go back to stock so you can get an OTA.
acejavelin said:
Wow... how many times are we going to answer this question every single time an update comes out?!?!
A phone must be 100% stock to take an OTA... stock recovery, stock system partition, stock boot partition... or the update will fail.
You need to either restore your pre-root backup (you did one with TWRP, right?) or flash a factory image that is the same version or newer than you have installed. Period, those are the proper answers to how to go back to stock so you can get an OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I apologize, this was my first time rooting my phone so I don't know a lot. I was able to root my phone, thanks to your thread on rooting.
I plan on using this thread by you to go back to stock.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...de-return-to-stock-relock-bootloader-t3489110
ThanuTK said:
I apologize, this was my first time rooting my phone so I don't know a lot. I was able to root my phone, thanks to your thread on rooting.
I plan on using this thread by you to go back to stock.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...de-return-to-stock-relock-bootloader-t3489110
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope it helps... Just remember to search around the forums or Google a bit before asking a question. I apologise if I sounded a little snappy, I had just answered some very dumb PM's that frustrated me and then this was the first open thread I saw, sorry if I was a bit abrupt.
This question has been answered a whole lot so it gets a little frustrating sometimes to see a new thread pop up for this issue. That being said and you being new to rooting, I can't stress this enough: please search and read through the threads (and know the XDA rules of course). This device has been out for a while and by now, a large majority of the questions, issues, and whatever else you may have is addressed in these forums. If you do run across anything that there is no answer for, by all means ask away.
Guys there is any chance of volte update because jio expanding their services to next one year
Can it is possible that after nought update it is possible
Suri149 said:
Guys there is any chance of volte update because jio expanding their services to next one year
Can it is possible that after nought update it is possible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possible? Yes, but it isn't likely and I certainly don't expect it to happen. Lenovo has shown no interest in updating the Pure/Style to support Jio, or even fixing the current VoLTE issues on supported carriers for that matter.
Hey could you also tell me how important the android security updates are? are they critical ? without it would my phone be vulnerable?
ThanuTK said:
Hey could you also tell me how important the android security updates are? are they critical ? without it would my phone be vulnerable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well on this I have a pretty strong opinion, and it isn't always well liked... I work in the IT industry with networks, so security is kind of a big deal to me... but Android security updates are essentially worthless, and are only a marketing ploy to make the company look better.
For example, lets look at some major vulnerabilities that have supposedly affected MILLIONS of Android devices... Dirty Cow is a good one, I am in a group here on XDA that is trying to use this vulnerability for something, anything really, but mainly for rooting difficult devices, and in a modern device it is almost impossible because of all the other parts of Android that help keep it secure like DM-verity and SELinux, end result is no usable exploit in almost all cases, although we have some results in cases where we are in complete control of the device with hands on adb access, but even then it is very rare and device specific, not something that you could just download a random malware app and have it affect you, I would need the device in hand. Then there are the terrible ones like Quadrooter, Stagefright, and Towelroot that affected millions, no tens of millions of devices, but have you ever heard of anyone being actually effected by a real exploit of that vulnerability? Nope, me neither, because for the most part these have only been exploited in a lab and not in real life... Because in a modern (I am talking Marshmallow or maybe even Lollipop) there are other things that protect the device, application sandboxing, DM-verity, SE Linux, and IntentFirewall, are all things that would likely protect the device even IF (and that's a big IF) one of these vulnerabilities did happen to be exploited on a device.
So are security updates important... no, not from a technical perspective in real life for the average user, but I certainly wouldn't reject them if they are easy to apply. I accept and apply every single one, even though I know the chances of something happening if I don't are probably less than that of me winning the Powerball Lottery Jackpot twice in two consecutive weeks, or about the same as being stuck by lightning while being bitten by a shark.
Now, none of what I am saying applies to other updates which are often bundled with security updates, or upgrades.
My thoughts exactly on the security updates. The only "evidence" I have heard about has been a couple of individuals who do not appear to understand why an app from some unknown source or dodgy websites along with crazy permission requirements might infect their phone. I acknowledge this as a human exploit though and not on the part of Android.
If I make current twrp backup, wipe, restore original Stock unrooted twrp backup, flash Stock recovery, take ota, reflash twrp and restore only data from the backup in first step would that essentially preserve user apps/data? Otherwise I will just freeze Moto update apk and wait for 7.0 to full wipe.
Update: Nm, I guess at that point without restoring system to preserve settings I may as well just use Titanium Backup :silly:
I'm rooted and using Xposed, but got the Dec update using a completely stock TWRP backup of system and boot posted here. Afterwards I simply had to reroot and reinstall my Xposed framework in TWRP, but all my modules which were still installed worked and maintained their settings. Couple of other minor cosmetic things I had to redo, but for me this worked very well without having to fully return to stock and reinstall everything from scratch. YMMV, and also do your own TWRP backup first just in case.
roaming4gnome said:
If I make current twrp backup, wipe, restore original Stock unrooted twrp backup, flash Stock recovery, take ota, reflash twrp and restore only data from the backup in first step would that essentially preserve user apps/data? Otherwise I will just freeze Moto update apk and wait for 7.0 to full wipe.
Update: Nm, I guess at that point without restoring system to preserve settings I may as well just use Titanium Backup :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dahenjo said:
I'm rooted and using Xposed, but got the Dec update using a completely stock TWRP backup of system and boot posted here. Afterwards I simply had to reroot and reinstall my Xposed framework in TWRP, but all my modules which were still installed worked and maintained their settings. Couple of other minor cosmetic things I had to redo, but for me this worked very well without having to fully return to stock and reinstall everything from scratch. YMMV, and also do your own TWRP backup first just in case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is actually a valid way of doing it, but with so many variables to the state of your device prior to doing this the possible outcomes vary a lot.
But @Dahenjo has pretty much the proper procedure... if I was going to try it I'd do it that way... backup, restore stock, take OTA, reroot, reflash Xposed, restore user data... 99% of everything should be intact.
acejavelin said:
Well on this I have a pretty strong opinion, and it isn't always well liked... I work in the IT industry with networks, so security is kind of a big deal to me... but Android security updates are essentially worthless, and are only a marketing ploy to make the company look better.
For example, lets look at some major vulnerabilities that have supposedly affected MILLIONS of Android devices... Dirty Cow is a good one, I am in a group here on XDA that is trying to use this vulnerability for something, anything really, but mainly for rooting difficult devices, and in a modern device it is almost impossible because of all the other parts of Android that help keep it secure like DM-verity and SELinux, end result is no usable exploit in almost all cases, although we have some results in cases where we are in complete control of the device with hands on adb access, but even then it is very rare and device specific, not something that you could just download a random malware app and have it affect you, I would need the device in hand. Then there are the terrible ones like Quadrooter, Stagefright, and Towelroot that affected millions, no tens of millions of devices, but have you ever heard of anyone being actually effected by a real exploit of that vulnerability? Nope, me neither, because for the most part these have only been exploited in a lab and not in real life... Because in a modern (I am talking Marshmallow or maybe even Lollipop) there are other things that protect the device, application sandboxing, DM-verity, SE Linux, and IntentFirewall, are all things that would likely protect the device even IF (and that's a big IF) one of these vulnerabilities did happen to be exploited on a device.
So are security updates important... no, not from a technical perspective in real life for the average user, but I certainly wouldn't reject them if they are easy to apply. I accept and apply every single one, even though I know the chances of something happening if I don't are probably less than that of me winning the Powerball Lottery Jackpot twice in two consecutive weeks, or about the same as being stuck by lightning while being bitten by a shark.
Now, none of what I am saying applies to other updates which are often bundled with security updates, or upgrades.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Real good explanation. Good balance of technological and practical
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
acejavelin said:
Well on this I have a pretty strong opinion, and it isn't always well liked... I work in the IT industry with networks, so security is kind of a big deal to me... but Android security updates are essentially worthless, and are only a marketing ploy to make the company look better.
For example, lets look at some major vulnerabilities that have supposedly affected MILLIONS of Android devices... Dirty Cow is a good one, I am in a group here on XDA that is trying to use this vulnerability for something, anything really, but mainly for rooting difficult devices, and in a modern device it is almost impossible because of all the other parts of Android that help keep it secure like DM-verity and SELinux, end result is no usable exploit in almost all cases, although we have some results in cases where we are in complete control of the device with hands on adb access, but even then it is very rare and device specific, not something that you could just download a random malware app and have it affect you, I would need the device in hand. Then there are the terrible ones like Quadrooter, Stagefright, and Towelroot that affected millions, no tens of millions of devices, but have you ever heard of anyone being actually effected by a real exploit of that vulnerability? Nope, me neither, because for the most part these have only been exploited in a lab and not in real life... Because in a modern (I am talking Marshmallow or maybe even Lollipop) there are other things that protect the device, application sandboxing, DM-verity, SE Linux, and IntentFirewall, are all things that would likely protect the device even IF (and that's a big IF) one of these vulnerabilities did happen to be exploited on a device.
So are security updates important... no, not from a technical perspective in real life for the average user, but I certainly wouldn't reject them if they are easy to apply. I accept and apply every single one, even though I know the chances of something happening if I don't are probably less than that of me winning the Powerball Lottery Jackpot twice in two consecutive weeks, or about the same as being stuck by lightning while being bitten by a shark.
Now, none of what I am saying applies to other updates which are often bundled with security updates, or upgrades.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So i recovered and now wifi is not working. From the other thread i see that others have this issue as well. What are my options now?
ThanuTK said:
So i recovered and now wifi is not working. From the other thread i see that others have this issue as well. What are my options now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its a radio version issue... your radio firmware doesn't a match what the kernel wants. You need to flash the right ones. You will have tell me more details of how you recovered.
acejavelin said:
Its a radio version issue... your radio firmware doesn't a match what the kernel wants. You need to flash the right ones. You will have tell me more details of how you recovered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used XT1575 to update and then just followed the directions. Does that answer your question? if not could you please clarify your question ?
https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=745425885120703327
In the other thread i see people using MPH24.49-18-4 FIRMWARE to fix this issue, but you stated that this might cause issues in the future, so i dont know what to do. Thanks again for helping me and understanding my lack of knowledge with all of this.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...bootloader-t3489110/post69432451#post69432451
ThanuTK said:
I used XT1575 to update and then just followed the directions. Does that answer your question? if not could you please clarify your question ?
https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=745425885120703327
In the other thread i see people using MPH24.49-18-4 FIRMWARE to fix this issue, but you stated that this might cause issues in the future, so i dont know what to do. Thanks again for helping me and understanding my lack of knowledge with all of this.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...bootloader-t3489110/post69432451#post69432451
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only difference in your links is one is a later build than the other one. Either one should work fine but if I had my choice, I might pick the first update and then use OTA to get to present. NOTE: I had to restore my September 1 backup with TWRP as the December 1 security patch broke my Bluetooth and I use Bluetooth all the time, it is too important to me to lose over a stupid security patch. I have since frozen the updater to avoid being nagged to death install the December 1 update again. When the next "real" OTA comes along, I will thaw the updater so I can take it and *hope* that the Bluetooth issue is solved. I will of course *always* make a TWRP backup prior to doing *any* update so I always have a way to back out of it in the event something is broken over the latest security patch OTA. HTH

Security implications of rooting Nexus 6P

I have a 6p, and I've had many issues with it. I joined the Android beta program hoping the beta might help, and it did somewhat, then broke it again.
I'm considering rooting the phone so I can adjust noise cancellation and switch to a power optimized kernel, to fix the two major problems with the device.
Can anyone suggest the best way to do this while minimizing security risks, and what are the risks compared to just keeping stock unrooted? FYI I have rooted and flashed ROMs on phones before, so not a total noob.
Thanks!
sashby said:
I have a 6p, and I've had many issues with it. I joined the Android beta program hoping the beta might help, and it did somewhat, then broke it again.
I'm considering rooting the phone so I can adjust noise cancellation and switch to a power optimized kernel, to fix the two major problems with the device.
Can anyone suggest the best way to do this while minimizing security risks, and what are the risks compared to just keeping stock unrooted? FYI I have rooted and flashed ROMs on phones before, so not a total noob.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello...
Working method:
Unlock bootloader
Flash TWRP.img : https://dl.twrp.me/angler/twrp-3.1.0-0-angler.img
Boot into TWRP
Install SuperSU: https://download.chainfire.eu/1021/SuperSU/SR3-SuperSU-v2.79-SR3-20170114223742.zip
Reboot. Done.
From here you can install the kernel of your choice. Recommended kernels: ElementalX or Franco's Kernel.
Well, rooting a phone always.involve risks. Depending what you do with your phone. As long as you don't install apps from bad sources and don't allow root access before you know what it does.
Also, you don't need Root to install a custom kernel if you want.
Just fastboot boot TWRP.img and install kernel zip from TWRP. It may lack some features that need Root to work though...
Good luck...
sashby said:
I have a 6p, and I've had many issues with it. I joined the Android beta program hoping the beta might help, and it did somewhat, then broke it again.
I'm considering rooting the phone so I can adjust noise cancellation and switch to a power optimized kernel, to fix the two major problems with the device.
Can anyone suggest the best way to do this while minimizing security risks, and what are the risks compared to just keeping stock unrooted? FYI I have rooted and flashed ROMs on phones before, so not a total noob.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you unlock your bootloader and root you will get a nag screen saying Android can't ensure that your device is safe. It isn't really dangerous as long as you only download apps from trusted sources and are careful about what apps you give root access to. However, Android Pay and some banking apps won't work on a rooted phone unless you use Magisk and PhilsSu which are currently able to pass Androids Safety Net security measures by hiding root from those apps.
I should add that a handful of games like Pokemon Go require the device to pass safety net to work so again you would need to use the Magisk and PhilsSu combo to play them. If you are going to go to the trouble of rooting I would consider trying a custom rom (other than Pure Nexus) as well as flashing a custom kernel like ElementalEx or The Flash's kernel. It's easy enough to go back to stock of you want to. Cortex is a very good stock based Rom with Pixel features, a responsive developer and very few bugs. I'm currently on Dirty Unicorns (which is not on XDA) because I wanted OMS support for Substratum theming. The Rom is fast and smooth and all my apps work perfectly on it--unlike PN where I encountered some problem or another every time I tried it.
Hello,
No issues at all with Pure Nexus here... :good:
Cheers...
5.1 said:
Hello,
No issues at all with Pure Nexus here... :good:
Cheers...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ran Pure Nexus 5 separate times, always a completely clean install and never once did I not have issues with it. I think the people who use that Rom have been brainwashed.
jhs39 said:
I ran Pure Nexus 5 separate times, always a completely clean install and never once did I not have issues with it. I think the people who use that Rom have been brainwashed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
Thank you very much, have a nice day to you too... :good:
Cheers...
Thank you everyone for your input. I think I'm going to need to do this soon, as the phone is almost unusable sometimes - and battery life is downright awful on stock with this phone. It's now dozing correctly again, but when I'm actually using it I can literally watch the battery gauge drop, even with screen brightness turned way down.
It used to be that when flashing a ROM you were wiping the entire phone - i.e. even personal data has to be reloaded on the phone. Is that still true, or are they on separate partitions?
sashby said:
It used to be that when flashing a ROM you were wiping the entire phone - i.e. even personal data has to be reloaded on the phone. Is that still true, or are they on separate partitions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
To install a custom ROM you need to unlock the bootloader. When unlock it, the userdata partition is entirely wiped. The internal storage (personal data's: photos,, videos, etc...) is part of it.
So be sure to backup your photos, videos, etc... Before you do it...
Good luck...
sashby said:
I have a 6p, and I've had many issues with it. I joined the Android beta program hoping the beta might help, and it did somewhat, then broke it again.
I'm considering rooting the phone so I can adjust noise cancellation and switch to a power optimized kernel, to fix the two major problems with the device.
Can anyone suggest the best way to do this while minimizing security risks, and what are the risks compared to just keeping stock unrooted? FYI I have rooted and flashed ROMs on phones before, so not a total noob.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The full risk is this.
If I can boot your phone into TWRP and you don't have encryption enabled, I can unlock your phone by deleting the correct files.
Once the correct files are deleted I own the phone and your data.
So I've come to the conclusion in the last day while restoring my phone that encryption is a must with an unlocked bootloader.

OK3: any modifications at all possible?

Hello,
A few months ago, I was able to successfully root my AT&T S4 (SGH-I337, builld LRX22C.I337UCSGOK3) using KingRoot. The KNOX warranty bit was not set at the conclusion of the root process.
After wrestling with storage problems, including the "system memory" taking up 6.29 GB out of the meager 16 GB that is on this phone (preventing practically any Google Play updates from occurring, as the available space would always dip below 500 MB periodically), as well as performance problems (very long delays for some touch events and a general resentment of TouchWiz), I decided that enough was enough, and I decided to change my ROM/OS out for LineageOS.
LineageOS offers builds for jfltexx, which is reported to work for jflteatt since they are similar enough. I am not really willing to try "older" builds, as one of my goals is also to bring the security of the operating system up to date, so I am not exactly inclined to go for old CyanogenMod builds. The LineageOS install guide stipulates that I install TWRP to successfully install the OS via a supported recovery; however, the message SECURE MAGICCODE FAIL: recovery appears, as the upgrade process seems to be expecting something signed by Samsung (right?). Other guides warn that the stock recovery only allows stock OS installation and not custom operating systems, so I decided not to try that route. This effectively prevents me from installing LineageOS due to a problem that is inherent in OK3.
Why did I make the mistake to install OK3? More than a year ago, I decided to do the final update that AT&T pushed out for this phone. Thinking that it would be something significant, I went for it, only to find out months later that it was a minor update whose purpose was also to add an additional lock to the bootloader. As this phone is "fairly old" (is 2013 already considered ancient times?), I have not found many guides that cover OK3, and those that do pertain to either rooting the S4 (already done) or something about downgrading (but I can't really do that, seemingly due to the OK3 lock-in). Oops.
That said, is there any hope to bring more life out of my phone, or is it time to throw the phone out and buy a Pixel or related product like any typical consumerist would do? My goal is to move to another OS to end the storage problems and other quirks of this phone that I have grown to deplore; that is all I wish to attain.
The phone is relatively reliable: it had ~1200 hours of uptime before I had to reboot it a few days ago to fix a data connectivity problem. The battery is also very manageable and can last a day and a half in regular use, but it can last 2-3 days under maximum power-saving mode.
I have read the rules and done some research on this forum, among some others. Thank you for your assistance.
Upgrading the phone to 4.3 locked the boot loader which prevents the installation of TWRP.
audit13 said:
Upgrading the phone to 4.3 locked the boot loader which prevents the installation of TWRP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see; so I was already screwed when I had OK2?
oldmud0 said:
I see; so I was already screwed when I had OK2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, anything past MDL has the bootloader flaw patched. MDL firmware and below have a flaw in the bootloader that allows loki doki to be installed bypassing the bootloader lock so you can install TWRP recovery and custom AOSP ROMs.
Since you're on OK3, you're forced to use safe strap recovery and can only install custom touchwiz ROMs like golden eye and albe95.
If you want to read up on the MDL bootloader, I have written a guide here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/how-to-one-guide-to-mdl-bootloader-t3584122
My wish is to escape TouchWiz, so I suppose I have hit a dead end.
Thank you for your help anyway.
oldmud0 said:
My wish is to escape TouchWiz, so I suppose I have hit a dead end.
Thank you for your help anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want away from touch wiz, I think there's a Google play edition ROM for the galaxy s4 that you can use with OK3, but I am not too sure. I would just check the galaxy s4 ROM section for it. I'm on the MDL bootloader which allows me to use TWRP, so I don't know too much about safe strap recovery.
Even if one wanted to do a TouchWiz-based ROM, I don't think we on OK2/OK3 even have the option to install SafeStrap, so far as I can gather
Hold the phone, I think I've found something. Evidently we can Odin back down to NB1 and go from there! Experiments, here we come.
Yes, NB1 is as far back you can go I believe without bricking your phone.

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