Hi everyone!
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-i9505 running Android 5.0.1 build oj2.
It has a Google Authenticator database on it which I would like to extract, so I can migrate it over to a new phone.
I would rather not have to cancel and renew all my 2fa accounts currently stored withing Google Authenticator.
It seems I need root access to access the database file.
I found some references to things like motochopper, psneuter, providing temporary root, and I tried a couple of those, but it seems my S4 has been properly patched.
I tried compiling and executing a copy of Towelroot I found on GitHub under /geekben/towelroot, but that didn't work either (maybe I did not correctly compile...)
Priority #1 is not losing access to my Google Authenticator database (no bricking, no factory reset, ...)
What are my options? Does a simple root exploit exist for my S4 that would allow me to copy the db file? I was unable to find it.
I read something about a custom recovery, and then using nandroid to backup, which, I think, would allow me to extract the db from the backup?
I'm not sure about the risks involved; if flashing the custom recovery fails for whatever reason, do I still have 'normal' access to my S4?
Is it at all possible to flash a custom recover without first wiping everything on my S4? I'm reading mixed information.
Any other options perhaps?
Also, my S4 just finished downloading an OTA upgrade to 'something' (it's not showing what it has downloaded, about 490Mb in size) and I may have postponed the upgrade by rebooting.
Perhaps an upgrade to Android 6.0? I don't know if that would be better or worse for what I'm trying to do here...
Thanks in advance for any pointers...
CF-Autoroot via Odin is what you use to root the S4. This will trip Knox, but at this point it shouldn't be an issue as the I9505 hasn't been produced for a couple years now. However, if you downloaded Authenticator from the Play Store Google should have backed up the database, unless doing so creates a security hole.
Backing up and restoring the Authenticator data can be done with ES File Explorer, as I routinely do it with my copy of Authenticator when I need to do a clean install of my N6's custom ROM. Other apps like Titanium Backup may also work, but I don't use Titanium Backup so I don't know how well it would work with Authenticator. Go here for a tutorial on how to backup both app and data using ES File Explorer. Ignore the requirement for the Pro version. The copies of ES File Explorer that I offer from the link in my signature have the ability to backup app and data. Just make sure both of your devices are rooted and have ES File Explorer installed.
EDIT: The one thing that tutorial doesn't mention is that you need to enable root in ES File Explorer; the setting for that can be found in the menu, accessed by tapping on the three lines at the upper left. It also doesn't mention that after enabling root you need to go into the settings, tap on App, and make sure everything on the page is checked before backing up. Otherwise, the app data will not be backed up when you back up the apps.
Ok, this is what I'm reading about Odin and CF-Autoroot at android.wonderhowto.com at /how-to/android-basics-root-with-cf-auto-root-0167401/ (sorry not allowed to post links):
CF Auto Root works by unlocking your device's bootloader, which means that if your bootloader is not already unlocked, you will lose all of the data on your device.
And there are many more articles hinting that my phone will get wiped if I unlock the bootloader, for an S4 as well as other models.
So.... I'm a little confused here. I never touched my S4 with anything special, so I'm guessing that it's bootloader will be locked?
So this will wipe my S4? I can't do that - I'm looking to save and copy my Google Authenticator database as priority #1, not looking to root my phone. I may do so later but rooting is not prio #1.
You're in a bit of a catch-22 here. There's no guarantee you won't lose your data if you run CF-Autoroot, but you have no choice BUT to run CF-Autoroot if you want to retrieve the Authenticator database at all. Since the database is in the /data partition, unavailable to a normal user, root is required in order to access that partition to retrieve the database, and in order to root you have to risk having your data wiped. To restore the database to your other phone also requires root, for the same reason.
The only devices that had locked bootloaders were in the US, so you should be ok running CF-Autoroot. But there are no guarantees here.
Thanks for your input.
Indeed there's a catch-22 here, except that I also have the option of, one by one, cancelling and renewing all my 2fa accounts and not root at all. I'm trying to decide what to do here, as obviously, renewing all ma 2fa in case of dataloss (losing access to my accounts in the process) will be much more difficult than simply re-doing all my 2fa accounts while I still have access. Rooting my new phone is less of an issue as it contains no important data at the moment.
I think I also read about installing a custom recovery, and using that to make a nandroid backup, which would then allow me to extract the file I need from the backup. Is that a possibility? And, if yes, would this be less risky than using CF-Autoroot? Would my S4 still be able to boot and function normally if I flash some total garbage file as a recovery partition? So I could try and flash a custom recovery, and if that fails for some reason, my S4 will still boot as usual?
Thanks
You can install a custom recovery, make a nandroid backup, and retrieve the database that way. You would then have to transfer the nandroid to the other phone, install a custom recovery to the other phone, and then restore just the data. To me that's a lot of work for little gain. Rooting and using ES File Explorer or Titanium Backup to retrieve the data is far simpler to do and causes less headaches.
As to flashing a custom recovery being less risky than CF-Autoroot, no. It's the same level of risk as both the custom recovery and CF-Autoroot are installed in the same fashion. The only difference is that CF-Autoroot runs a temp environment, roots the device, and then commits seppuku.
Thanks again for your input; much appreciated. I'm trying to learn and understand what is happening, and with all the slightly different combinations out there, it is sometimes difficult to know what applies to my S4 and what is not applicable.
So there is at least the boot loader, the recovery image, and the main android image (file system?). Perhaps a kernel partition also?
These will probably be separate flash partitions within the same flash chip.
The boot loader will always be started when I power up the device. When no special key combination is pressed at power-up, the boot loader will simply load the Linux kernel which will eventually load the main operating system which will end up launching android.
With some special key combination is pressed, the boot loader will launch the recovery image in stead.
I wonder, what would happen if, using Odin, I write a completely invalid data file to the recovery image (I pick the wrong image, or the image is corrupt, or by accident I pick a jpg file of my cat in Odin, or the process is interrupted due to a sudden power loss on my phone or even my computer running Odin), and suppose Odin will just go ahead thus destroying the recovery image. My recovery partition is now corrupt, unusable and will crash the system when launched.
Does this brick my phone? Will I still be able to boot normally? Will I still be able to use Odin and try flashing the recovery image a 2nd tine?
2kman said:
Does this brick my phone?
Will I still be able to boot normally?
Will I still be able to use Odin and try flashing the recovery image a 2nd time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
Yes.
Yes.
Hi,
I received my dual-sim Huawei Mate 9 Europe version a few weeks back. I selected this as the natural choice after running Samsung Note 3 for several years. There was no other phone that quite fit the bill as this one -
Big screen
Excellent battery
Excellent performance
I am a reasonably advanced user of my android phones - keeping them rooted, unlocked, flashing different roms are just by my alley
However after tinkering around with this new baby, I realized that this is quite different than what I was used to with Note 3.
Never before had I to read so many different forum threads to gain a full understanding of how to do things that I could do very easily with my Note 3 earlier without the need to have an indepth knowledge - just copy the steps and execute was good enough to get what I wanted. i.e.
The bureacratic boot loader unlocking process (never had to deal with this before from Samsung)
Rooting
Flashing custom recovery
Flashing custom rom
Backing up and restoring the different partitions through custom recovery
Flashing stock rom in case things don't work out as expected with the new rom
etc. etc.
I have spent several days reading practically all the forum threads on Mate 9, in order to get a good overview of how to manage this awesome device.
I am usually prone to forgetting things. So I knew after a few weeks, there will be something else that will catch my fancy and whatever I have learnt about Huawei Mate 9 after investing so many days will have gone to waste and I would have to scour the threads again if I need to do something with my Mate 9.
So I started to write down a basic guide in a text file to act as a refresher capsule whenever I decide to open the hood again after a few months
I also wanted to share my summarized learning capsule back to the community, since I have learnt so many from the various threads and the experiences from so many people.
This prompted me to actually create an XDA account (even though I have been a voracious consumer of XDA for several years, but never created an account).
Just one last tip - if you are a new user of Mate 9 trying to understand all the concepts from scratch, then try to read this guide in its entirety. Some concepts are introduced in the beginning, which might be confusing at the start, but you will understand it well after it is covered again towards the later part of the guide. Once you have a good hang of the different concepts involved, then you can jump directly to the specific section for reference.
So enough background to this thread and now out with the content.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Model number of my phone is MHA-L29. It is a dual sim phone hence L29 at the end.
Single sim version has model number MHA-L09 i.e. L09 at the end.
The firmware version that I am running is : MHA-L29C432B156
Here is the breakup of how to read this number or the naming convention
Naming convention
L29 = Dual sim
C432 = Europe region (there are other regions as well e.g. C636 for Asian and so on)
B156 = version (this is the actual version number of the firmware)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to best use the phone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For best results in order to get the full power from the hood, you will use the phone with
bootloader is unlocked
phone is rooted
either Custom recovery of TWRP or Stock recovery will be on the phone depending on the situation.
For daily usage, keep stock recovery on your phone since in case of tough situations requiring unbricking etc. stock recovery is the best to have around.
You will also remove the crapware/bloatware. It is difficult to list all the bloatwares, since they differ based on the region.
Factory resets
Reset due to minor issues
In such situations, typically your data partition is messed up but other partition (system) is fine.
If you have software issues due to software which has been additionally installed or phone has become slow etc. then boot to recovery (stock recovery) and do a factory reset. If you are running custom recovery (TWRP), then first you will need to flash the stock recovery. Then do a factory reset through the stock recovery. This action will format the data partition and copy the necessary stuff from the system partition over.
Restart the system.
Reset due to major issues
In such situations, typically your data as well as system partition is messed up. This will typically happen in case you have software issues due to un-installation of core system applications (as a root user) which have resulted in them being removed from the system partition and now you cannot restore them by an ordinary factory reset (since factory reset does not modify/reset the system partition, it only resets the data partition).
This step also requires you to have initially backed-up the system partition using TWRP. If you haven't backed-up the system partition, then you can also extract the system partition by using Huawei Update Extractor tool on the stock firmware of your region and version, which will give you the image file of the system partition that can be used further below.
Steps -
If you are running stock recovery, then first you will need to flash custom recovery (TWRP).
Using TWRP wipe the system partition.
Reboot to recovery.
Format (not wipe) the data partition.
Reboot to recovery.
Wipe the dalvik cache and cache.
Now from the already backed up TWRP partition backups
(a) restore the system partition (or the system partition image file extracted using Huawei Update Extractor)
(b) restore the data partition.
Reboot to recovery.
Wipe the dalvik cache and cache.
Restart the system.
The above should be enough for full reset. An alternative to 7.(b) above is to flash the 2 zip files containing region specific and other related system applications (you might get "error 7", but that is normal).
Upgrades
You can continue to receive over the air (full or incremental) upgrades from huawei even in a rooted and bootloader unlocked phone.
However in order to apply the received updates, you will need stock recovery, as only stock recovery has the capabilities to install the received updates. Thus before applying any update, if you are running custom recovery (TWRP), then first you will need to flash the stock recovery.
Make sure you backup all your private data and do a full installation (instead of incremental). You can select to install the full package by clicking on the 3 dots on top right corner of update screen and selecting to download the full installation package.
After this process, do a full factory reset, so your system is fully reset and updated based on the latest version.
It might happen that after the update, bootloader is locked again and you have lost your root privileges. In that case follow the steps below for unlocking the bootloader and rooting the phone again.
Also after this step, do the below.
Download the new stock firmware from hwmt.ru (as below) and the related 2 zip files zip files containing region specific and other related system applications for the new version and back them up
Make a TWRP backup of all the partitions and and back them up.
This is necessary as you might need them for other activities e.g. flashing stock recovery of the new version, doing full factory resets etc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General information on Rooting / Bootloader unlocking / Firmware
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The device that you get from the factory is bootloader locked with a region specific firmware.
Partitions
The phone has several different partitions (e.g. boot, data, system etc.)
The "BOOT" partition contains the boot image which boots the system and reads from other partitions
The "DATA" partition contains the user private data (e.g. contacts etc.) and is encrypted by the boot partition (Android Nougat feature). When the Android operating system starts, the boot partition decrypts the data partition and then reads it. This is the reason why other "parallel" softwares like TWRP will not be able to read from data partition, since when they read it, then it is already encrypted. Due to this TWRP will be able to backup(clone) all the other partitions except for data partition, as data partition is encrypted on the first boot of a new system. The other way to backup the data partition is to make the backup before you have booted the system (which results in encryption of the partition).
You can do this by the following steps -> "format (not wipe)" the data partition through TWRP + reboot again to TWRP + flashing the 2 zip files containing region specific and other related system applications (you might get "error 7", but that is normal). After this immediately backup the data partition.
The "RECOVERY" partition contains the stock recovery which you can replace with custom recovery TWRP
The "RECOVERY2" partition contains the "Huawei eRecovery mode" and "Huawei updater mode"
Unlocking bootloader
You can unlock the bootloader with the help of unlocking code. You get this from Huawei. Read further below on how to go about it.
Rooting phone
In order to root the phone there are 2 ways
Old method
This requires you to patch your boot partition and replace the stock boot image (which encrypts the data partition), with a custom boot image which does not encrypt the data partition.
After this you format (not wipe) the data partition, so that it is replaced by an unencrypted data partition and then you root the system in which the root exploit is directly injected in the unencrypted data partition.
New method
This does not require you change your boot image. You basically just install the custom recovery TWRP and then root using the PHH super user zip file. Read further below on how to go about it.
Recovery
If you are rooting using the new method, then you will replace the stock recovery with TWRP.
The disadvantage of TWRP recovery is that it is only the Stock Recovery that has the capability to do a proper "Factory Reset" the phone. Basically when you do a factory reset, then you "format (not wipe)" the data partition. But Huawei firmwares, also have some region specific and other related system applications (e.g. themes, camera, system updates etc.), which are also installed on the data partition. The stock recovery recognizes this and does the factory reset carefully (either by removing everything except for necessary system applications OR by doing a complete format (not wipe) of data partition but then re-applying the necessary system applications). TWRP also can do a "factory reset", but TWRP will simply format the data partition dumbly and not take care of re-installing the necessary system applications on the data partition. If you happen to do a "factory reset" or format "data" partition through TWRP, then you will need to manually flash the zip files containing region specific and other related system applications. You can get those zip files (e.g. update_data_public.zip & update_hw_eu.zip) through the same routine for downloading stock firmware detailed below. When installing these zip files through TWRP, you might get "error 7", but that is normal and you can ignore it.
Stock recovery is also useful for managing OTA updates. Typically when you download firmware updates, then they boot to stock recovery for further processing.
Hence even if you have installed TWRP, you will need to flash stock recovery for factory resets or handling new firmware updates.
Thus as mentioned before, for regular daily usage, keep stock recovery on your phone.
In order to get the stock recovery image, you can extract the stock recovery image file by downloading the "update.zip" of the target firmware and extract the "UPDATE.APP" file and then running the "Huawei Update Extractor" tool on it. Commands to flash the obtained stock recovery image file are similar to the command to flash TWRP recovery below.
Note, when you run the "Huawei Update Extractor" on UPDATE.APP file, then you will see RECOVERY.img, as well RECOVERY2.img
RECOVERY refers to the stock recovery and RECOVERY2 refers to huawei eRecovery mode & huawei updater mode.
Stock firmware
Huawei has region based firmwares e.g. in my case, the region is europe (C432)
There are stock firmwares of each region. However except for 2 regions (C636 and AL00), all other stock firmwares cannot be directly flashed. This is by design from Huawei. Even though the stock firmwares are easily available for all regions, but it is only for these 2 regions that firmwares have the PACKAGE_TYPE token set to OFFLINE_UPDATE. The PACKAGE_TYPE tokens for other region's stock firmwares are set to ONLINE_UPDATE, which makes it not possible to flash those through Huawei Updater.
Thus if you are majorly messed up or bricked, then the only way out is to rebrand your phone to a C636 (i.e. changing the OEMINFO partition from C432 (europe) to C636) and then flash that stock firmware for C636.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/how-to/guide-rebrand-chinese-al00-mate9-to-t3554656
https://funkyhuawei.club/rebranding
In order to flash the C636 stock firmware, download the "update.zip" of the target firmware and extract the "UPDATE.APP" file into the "dload" folder created at the root of an external SD card and then starting the phone in a "Huawei Updater mode".
In order to get back to your region (C432), you will then have to use tools like "Firmware Finder" (FF), which spoof Huawei servers through DNS and network and make it possible for the updater to download and flash their stock firmwares thinking it is downloading it online from the huawei servers. You might not be able to update to the latest firmware using FF (since Huawei doesn't authenticate for latest versions sometimes), but you can try to update to an older version first and once that is sorted out, then you can update directly within system update settings to move to the latest update.
As a short-cut and if situation permits, you can also use FF, to directly flash your own region's firmware, without needing to go through the C636 route first.
However if that doesn't work, then flashing the C636 as described above is the only way out.
Also the eRecovery mode or recovery through hisuite only works if you are on a C636 region firmware.
Some useful links -
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/how-to/guide-rebrand-chinese-al00-mate9-to-t3554656
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/development/oeminfo-library-t3555353
https://funkyhuawei.club/rebranding
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/how-to/guide-rebrand-chinese-al00-mate9-to-t3554656/page5
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ma...urb175v1-0-t3575146/post71812906#post71812906
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=71804525&postcount=393
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ma...lost-ideas-t3561569/post71208272#post71208272
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/how-to/guide-installing-b138-using-firmware-t3557089
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRP Lock (Factory Reset Protection)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes during normal usage of the phone, if the phone detects some security anomaly, it would engage the FRP lock .
It has also been found that the phone enters FRP lock mode also when you do a "Reset to default" in the developer mode. So try to avoid doing that.
Basically what happens when you reset the developer mode is that the "OEM Unlock" setting goes back to disabled, and typically when OEM Unlock is disabled, then FRP lock is enabled. However if the bootloader is unlocked, then you will find that it is not possible to change the "OEM Unlock" setting in developer mode, because if bootloader is unlocked then this setting is greyed out and not possible to change.
In short ->
Bootloader is Locked -> "OEM Unlock" setting is greyed out
"OEM Unlock" is enabled -> FRP Lock is Unlocked
"OEM Unlock" is disabled -> FRP Lock is Locked
FRP lock is to prevent mis-use of the phone in case of theft. Since it requires you to enter your google sign-on information again after doing a factory reset before you can use the phone..
FRP lock disables entering any fastboot command, which is a big issue since it means you cannot do anything in bootloader mode i.e. no flashing another recovery, no lock/unlock OEM etc.
In order to check if your phone is FRP locked or not, enter the bootloader mode. Over there it will be mentioned "FRP Lock" or "FRP Unlock", the former indicating that the phone is FRP locked.
In such scenarios, the only way out of the FRP lock mode is to flash the stock firmware again (which means your phone will be restored to totally factory condition i.e. bootloader will be locked, phone will be unrooted).
At the point when the phone enters FRP Lock, if you happen to have stock recovery, then you have a better situation as compared to if you have custom recovery (TWRP).
This is because if you have stock recovery, then you can simply use FF to flash your region's stock firmware. However if you have TWRP, then you have to flash the C636 version (asian) using Huawei Updater mode and then move on to your region's stock firmware.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using Firmware Finder (FF)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Firmware Finder basically spoofs the Huawei servers by using a local proxy server leading the phone to thinking that there is a firmware update available, and thus allowing you to flash the firmware you wish (with some restrictions of course).
Using Firmware Finder requires you to have stock recovery.
If you are trying to install European regional firmware from scratch, then start by installing version B138 through FF and then move to higher versions using normal system update (or if you are not getting prompted for a normal system update automatically, then of course update through FF.)
For getting the full version of B156 (2.2 GB) through FF, at the time of writing this it was not yet authenticated by Huawei, so if you try to download it you will get authentication error after the download is completed and being verified. Thus, you will instead need to download a partial update of 409 MB through FF (if you are moving from B138 to B156). If you are moving from B126 to B156 then you will need to download the partial update of 473 MB through FF. This will allow you to have B156 on your phone.
The limitation of FF is that it only allows you to install firmwares which are authenticated(approved) by Huawei. Thus in order to install the latest and greatest, you might not be able to use FF. In such cases you can use paid services such as FunkyHuawei which allows you to install even non authenticated(approved) latest and greatest Huawei firmwares.
Though personally, I feel that it is for a good reason that Huawei does not authenticate the latest and greatest since they are beta versions and it is not that big an issue to not have them on the phone.
FF has 2 APKs for the phone - one is the actual application and the second one is a proxy server. The usage is simple - you find the firmware to install using the main application and then send the selected firmware over to download through the proxy server application on the phone. You will also need to change your Wifi settings to add a local proxy server (localhost:8080) before trying to check through system update on availability of new firmware.
FF firmware download on the phone has 3 phases.
Phase 1
The first phase requires you to modify the wifi network config to have localhost and 8080 as proxy to go through the FF Proxy application, which will spoof the Huawei servers and allow the handshake to happen to download the right firmware.
Phase 2
Once the download has started, then move on to the second phase, in which you pause the download, and then once again modify the wifi network config to remove the proxy configuration and then resume the download. This will allow you to download the update at full speed without any proxy intervention
Phase 3
The third phase starts at the last phase of the download in which you pause the download at last remaining 1%. After that you turn off wifi and start mobile data and resume the download from there. This is good because after the download is complete, the firmware will be verified and a last authentication handshake will be done to huawei server, and this doesn't need to be spoofed or be through wifi. Instead it is better that it should be originating through your mobile network.
i.e. a spoofed connection is only required in the first phase of the download
After updating from FF, you will need to do a factory reset of the phone. Then proceed with normal installation, bootloader unlocking, custom recovery installation, rooting. If necessary also flash the 2 zip files containing region specific and other related system applications. After this revert back to stock recovery and do a factory reset again. After this the phone is fully clean and ready to use.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to download stock firmware
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Go to this site (replace the MHA-L29C432 part of the string at the end with the model number of your own Mate 9 device)
http://hwmt.ru/oth/HWFF/info/view.php?find_model=MHA-L29C432
In the "Тип" column, you should only filter by FULL (no OTA, as that update is only eligible for usage by a paid service called funkyhuawei)
Check that the link in the "Список изменений" column is almost the same as "Файл обновления" column. Only difference should be the last part which should be changelog.xml in former and update.zip in the latter.
Now using the link, change the last part of the link to filelist.xml
This will give the xml path with the details of the files as part of that version.
Example
Code:
<vendorInfo logfile="changelog.xml" name="common" package="update.zip" subpath=""/>
<vendorInfo logfile="" name="public" package="update_data_public.zip" subpath="public"/>
<vendorInfo logfile="" name="hw/eu" package="update_hw_eu.zip" subpath="hw/eu"/>
Now change the url to download the above 3 zip files using the subpath i.e
Code:
$URL/update.zip
$URL/public/update_data_public.zip
$URL/hw/eu/update_hw_eu.zip
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information on entering the various modes on the phone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Engineer mode
In a powered ON phone
enter the following on the dialler
*#*#2846579#*#*
Huawei Updater mode
In a powered OFF phone
hold volume up + volume down + power for a long time (around 10 seconds)
Recovery mode
In a powered OFF phone
hold volume up + power
In a powered ON phone
enter the following through the command line on computer
adb reboot recovery
Huawei eRecovery mode
In a powered OFF phone
power on the phone through the power button
at the prompt that "Your device has been unlocked and cannot be trusted", it will tell you to press the power up button for 3 seconds to enter the eRecovery mode
Download mode / Fastboot mode / Bootloader mode
In a powered OFF phone
keep the volume button pressed down
connect the USB cable to the computer and the phone
In a powered ON phone
enter the following through the command line on computer
adb reboot bootloader
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information on using adb or fastboot commands on your phone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make sure that "Minimal ADB and Fastboot" program is installed on your computer
Make sure USB debugging is enabled in phone settings
Make sure all reasonable permissions have been allowed as per the developer options
Make sure that hisuite is installed (which will ensure that USB drivers are installed)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information on unlocking the bootloader
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steps to obtain unlock code
Entry page for unlocking bootloader is
http://emui.huawei.com/en/
Then click on Download. And then click on "Unlock bootloader"
OR
Visit this page
https://emui.huawei.com/en/plugin/unlock/detail
Enter the required details on the form
Steps to unlock the bootloader
Make sure that USB Debugging is enabled on the phone and the phone has been verified to connect to the computer and phone has permanently accepted the RSA id and connected in debug mode.
Also make sure that "Enable OEM Unlock" has been enabled in the developer options.
Put the phone in "Download mode / Fastboot mode / Bootloader mode"
Enter the following commands
fastboot oem unlock $CODE
fastboot reboot
In the above command, replace $CODE with the actual code received from Huawei
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information on installing custom recovery (TWRP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copy the "twrp-3.0.2-2-hi3660.img" file to the "Minimal ADB and Fastboot" directory
Put the phone in "Download mode / Fastboot mode / Bootloader mode"
Enter the following commands
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.0.2-2-hi3660.img
fastboot reboot
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information on rooting the phone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make sure that the version of TWRP installed is twrp-3.0.2-2-hi3660
Copy superuser-r275.zip into an external SD card
Boot into TWRP recovery mode and install the above zip file
Restart the phone in normal mode and install the "Superuser_2.0_Beta_9.apk" application
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attachments referred in the guide
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B4pklpmVwGHqOWs3SlpWOEdUcUk
Top work ???
Good job...:good::good::good::good::good::good::good:
Nice. Thanks.
Good summary.
Add the supersu SuperSU-v2.79-MATE9-init.d_support.zip.
This is the method to get busybox and viper4android installed, for they use fix paths of supersu.
My device: Mate 9 supersu b156 Mediapad X2 GEM 701->703 B212 KangVIP (AJ mod)
Hi saurabhg9, I just starting reading you incredible Mate 9 summary guide and had to stop only to say that I simple love the way you explain everything, so simple, so clear, so useful... Thanks a lot for you to share your refreshing capsules, they are just the medicine my Mate 9 and I needed! :good::good::good:
Going back to continue the treatment!
Edit to ask for a little help... Recently I installed the L09C432B181 using Funky services and used it rooted by THIS method and all was going fine. Then I decided to give a try to RomAur but went back to stock restoring system and data. All well apart from root, so I rerooted flashing the 3 zips again but no way to get proper root back. It works but doesn't ask permission any more, the log is empty and it ask for binaries update in each boot. My main reason for root is to control the phone with gestures but only one of the commands of GMD app works.
I tried your 2.-Reset due to major issues using the twrp backup system and data without any result. Tried also the root superuser-r275.zip from the last section with no success either.
Tried as a last option spend another Funky credit in the B182 but always get the same "getting package info failed" error, what should be happening?
Any idea? Maybe extract a clean system and flashing it by adb (edit: tried but get "target reported max download size 471859200 bytes" error)?
Thanks again!
Thanks Peppus!
Sounds like you might need a clean start for your phone and do a "full reset".
In order to do that, I suggest doing a clean stock install of C432B138 using FF and then update to B156.
After that you could unlock the bootloader and root. This will atleast give you a clean base to start with for further experimenting depending on where you would like to go from there.
Epic work, but there are too many things which are absent and can cause mess up knowledge.
No info about MHA-AL00
No info how hard to unlock bootloader on MHA-AL00
No info what is difference between simple root and root with additional functional like dm-verity...
And more, and more....
P.s. I don't want to blame, cause I know that it is too hard to gather information from thousands threads.
5[Strogino] said:
Epic work, but there are too many things which are absent and can cause mess up knowledge.
No info about MHA-AL00
No info how hard to unlock bootloader on MHA-AL00
No info what is difference between simple root and root with additional functional like dm-verity...
And more, and more....
P.s. I don't want to blame, cause I know that it is too hard to gather information from thousands threads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the feedback!
I really wish there was a "wiki" functionality at XDA, so guides such as these could be developed with the joint knowledge of its members.
Unfortunately, that is also reflecting above, where most of the content is based on my own personal experience and what I have learnt in past few days based from various threads. and what works for me.
If you could provide me the specific text to be updated above (in regards to the things that you mentioned above), I would gladly add it
I am sure lot of others, including me would benefit from such.
Cheers!
Saurabh
saurabhg9 said:
Thanks Peppus!
Sounds like you might need a clean start for your phone and do a "full reset".
In order to do that, I suggest doing a clean stock install of C432B138 using FF and then update to B156.
After that you could unlock the bootloader and root. This will atleast give you a clean base to start with for further experimenting depending on where you would like to go from there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, that is what Audioralf recommended me and I was trying to avoid but I think it is the only option I have now. Thanks for your interest :good:
Peppus said:
Hi, that is what Audioralf recommended me and I was trying to avoid but I think it is the only option I have now. Thanks for your interest :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes - clean scratch install is good!
I do mine at far lesser problems than yours
saurabhg9 said:
Yes - clean scratch install is good!
I do mine at far lesser problems than yours
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By the way, does anybody know which is the latest build installed in a L09C432? by Firmware Finder? Thanks!
My good guess would be for b138, since the version numbers for L29 and L09 are quite similar at least for the c432 region.
Try doing a FF install for L09C432B138. Then partial update using FF to 156, if you are not prompted by system update automatically
Hi,
Just updated the guide with some new information relating to -
* FRP Lock
* Using Firmware Finder
Also updated various miscellaneous parts of the guide with additional information and clarification.
hi
this guide is just awesome
top work
for the mate 9 beginners now all is crystal clear
thx for the guide and explenation
greetz benji
Benji1983 said:
hi
this guide is just awesome
top work
for the mate 9 beginners now all is crystal clear
thx for the guide and explenation
greetz benji
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
Glad you found it useful.
Hi,
Thx for your awesome collection of how-to's and how everything works!!!!
Tried to start with all the stuff like you did, but some things were/are too strange for me, so i decided to wait until i found an "encyclopedia" like this :good:
Saved a lot of time i guess
So again thx for your great work. Appreciate that
saurabhg9 said:
...In order to get back to your region (C432), you will then have to use tools like "Firmware Finder" (FF), which spoof Huawei servers through DNS and network and make it possible for the updater to download and flash their stock firmwares thinking it is downloading it online from the huawei servers. You might not be able to update to the latest firmware using FF (since Huawei doesn't authenticate for latest versions sometimes), but you can try to update to an older version first and once that is sorted out, then you can update directly within system update settings to move to the latest update...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi saurabhg9, do you mean that you can rebrand to another region using Firmware Finder? I thought that you only can install the same region roms by it.
Thanks for the update!
Cheers!
Yes.
There are 2 steps to rebranding.
First step is to ensure that your oeminfo files match that of the targeted region. This can be easily done through twrp.
Second step is to flash that regions firmware using FF.
As mentioned in my guide, you might not be able to flash the bleeding edge versions (you need paid services i..e. funky for that). But if you keep things simple and reasonable then you can get the huawei approved ones of most of the regions (e.g. B156 through FF has been verified personally by me for Europe. I haven't tried higher versions since even this version is fairly new and good)
Also I have read that to flash C636, you do not even need to flash the oeminfo of that region (asia).
Haven't verified this personally but have read some guys do it successfully while they were trying to revive their messed up Europe (C432) phones and they had just placed the C636 UPDATE.APP in dload folder and installed it using the Huawei Updater Mode (3 button method)
I'm hoping someone can help out or point me in the right direction. I'm new to the Huawei environment.
My Rogers P10 Plus is currently on firmware VKY-L09C654B195. My bootloader is unlocked, I have TWRP installed, and I'm rooted (using this method - https://forum.xda-developers.com/p10-plus/development/root-huawei-p10-plus-vky-y-dm-verity-t3605061)
1) I've been getting notifications that there's a new system update, VKY-L09C654B198. I tried updating once and it obviously failed as it just rebooted into TWRP and nothing happened. Apparently I've read that I can't just update this way. I've searched the forum and seen various methods of updating (dload, HWOTA,...) but I can't seem to find this VKY-L09C654B198 file anywhere to manually download. How do I update my phone? Or better question, is it even worth my trouble to do this update?
2) I understand that DATA backup with TWRP is currently not working. Am I safe in assuming that doing a SYSTEM backup with TWRP, and backing up my apps and DATA with TitaniumBackup is sufficient if I end up messing up a firmware update?
if you want latest firmware from Huawei you would need it's original boot loader and non-root device :/ So so far you won't be able to get B198 atm since of no one has shared a copy of it. If you did it would require a re-root since updating the device would revoke the rooted changes. Which I mean root access will be lost.
ritchi3 said:
I'm hoping someone can help out or point me in the right direction. I'm new to the Huawei environment.
My Rogers P10 Plus is currently on firmware VKY-L09C654B195. My bootloader is unlocked, I have TWRP installed, and I'm rooted (using this method - https://forum.xda-developers.com/p10-plus/development/root-huawei-p10-plus-vky-y-dm-verity-t3605061)
1) I've been getting notifications that there's a new system update, VKY-L09C654B198. I tried updating once and it obviously failed as it just rebooted into TWRP and nothing happened. Apparently I've read that I can't just update this way. I've searched the forum and seen various methods of updating (dload, HWOTA,...) but I can't seem to find this VKY-L09C654B198 file anywhere to manually download. How do I update my phone? Or better question, is it even worth my trouble to do this update?
2) I understand that DATA backup with TWRP is currently not working. Am I safe in assuming that doing a SYSTEM backup with TWRP, and backing up my apps and DATA with TitaniumBackup is sufficient if I end up messing up a firmware update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any Luck. I need a twrp backup of VKY-L09C654B198. I wanted to install the Magisck custom rom and it failed. No my twrp says no OS installed and I rebooted into bootloader. I tried to restore with DC Phoenix, now my Serial number is 0123456789ABCDEF and I can't boot into twrp as the unlock code generated earlier no Longer works. If I use dc HCU tool to restore the serial number, I will need the twrp backup to restore my p10 Plus.
aiadegbite said:
Any Luck. I need a twrp backup of VKY-L09C654B198. I wanted to install the Magisck custom rom and it failed. No my twrp says no OS installed and I rebooted into bootloader. I tried to restore with DC Phoenix, now my Serial number is 0123456789ABCDEF and I can't boot into twrp as the unlock code generated earlier no Longer works. If I use dc HCU tool to restore the serial number, I will need the twrp backup to restore my p10 Plus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I haven't been able to find anything to help with my issues. But it isn't really a big deal for me as it wasn't really a high priority. Sorry to hear about the trouble you've run into.
ritchi3 said:
Sorry, I haven't been able to find anything to help with my issues. But it isn't really a big deal for me as it wasn't really a high priority. Sorry to hear about the trouble you've run into.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mehn it's been a week and I am unable to boot the phone so sad:crying:
I found the update files for VKY-L09C654B198 on hicloud site, will I be able to get back to stock if I mess up something (like flashing custom ROMs...). I read up on guides for using HWOTA, is this all I need to be sure I can return to stock if I need to?
andrissriel said:
I found the update files for VKY-L09C654B198 on hicloud site, will I be able to get back to stock if I mess up something (like flashing custom ROMs...). I read up on guides for using HWOTA, is this all I need to be sure I can return to stock if I need to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Care to share the update file? I might want to try going back to stock.