Database Users

Will I loose DRM functionality when the bootloader is unlocked?

Just bought a new Xiaomi mi 6T device. My previous phone was a Sony Xperia m6. To unlock the bootloader and get root access was a bit of a pain on the latter. I remember having to backup a ta-partition to secure my DRM-keys.
Wanting to unlock the bootloader on this device I couldn't find any information about backing up and restoring a certain partition to secure the DRM-keys. What I did find was this post on the mi community forum about how unlocking the bootloader results in the widevine beïng downgraded from L1 to L3 (read the post for further details. The only way to reverse that process is to relock the bootloader again according to the the information I found.
So this is my question: Is there a way to keep the widevine L1 version, with better HDR performances, with an unlocked bootloader by backing up and restoring any data or partition on the phone that is responsible for widevine or other DRM content?

Medeon said:
Just bought a new Xiaomi mi 6T device. My previous phone was a Sony Xperia m6. To unlock the bootloader and get root access was a bit of a pain on the latter. I remember having to backup a ta-partition to secure my DRM-keys.
Wanting to unlock the bootloader on this device I couldn't find any information about backing up and restoring a certain partition to secure the DRM-keys. What I did find was this post on the mi community forum about how unlocking the bootloader results in the widevine beïng downgraded from L1 to L3 (read the post for further details. The only way to reverse that process is to relock the bootloader again according to the the information I found.
So this is my question: Is there a way to keep the widevine L1 version, with better HDR performances, with an unlocked bootloader by backing up and restoring any data or partition on the phone that is responsible for widevine or other DRM content?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you don't loose L1. You don't need to backup anything. You will allways have L1 with the official roms (global/eea) and L3 with all other at the moment including china official, xiaomi.eu and all forks.
e.g:
I have L1 with global rom, unlocked BL and magisk.

fabsen said:
No, you don't loose L1. You don't need to backup anything. You will allways have L1 with the official roms (global/eea) and L3 with all other at the moment including china official, xiaomi.eu and all forks.
e.g:
I have L1 with global rom, unlocked BL and magisk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for confirming this, that's a huge relief! I also just found out about it reading this article.

Medeon said:
Thank you very much for confirming this, that's a huge relief! I also just found out about it reading this article.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm unlock and rooted, on L1, but u can't install Netflix from play store, so no full HD

I kinda anticipated that, since when you root your device with magisk, Android prevents you from installing Netflix. Which is no problem in my case, since I only watch Netflix on my television or Pc. You can watch Netflix though on an unlocked device if don't root your devices, isn't it?

I just installed magisk and remains L1. Just that the app doesn't appear on play store. Sideloeaded and got hdr working just fine.

i think only SONY has this problem with drm keys and widevine l1..if you unlock the bootloader of any SONY mobile said goodbye to this keys.And the hdr of the camera i think..

I only recommend that you back up the persist partition with TWRP if you are going to change the ROM on the Mi 9T. Some ROMs try to damage this partition and if it does you will Widevine L1 forever as I lost it

LeonardoBordin said:
I only recommend that you back up the persist partition with TWRP if you are going to change the ROM on the Mi 9T. Some ROMs try to damage this partition and if it does you will Widevine L1 forever as I lost it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using OrangeFox and there is no checkmark to include Persist to Backup - screenshot attached.
I think it was the same with the official TWRP.
Which TWRP offers to backup Persist?
Btw, I was able to disk-dump Persist:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mi-9t/how-to/to-extract-stock-boot-recovery-images-t4058447
But read somewhere (cannot find now and didn't try) that Persist.img cannot be flashed through Fastboot (?)

Medeon said:
Just bought a new Xiaomi mi 6T device. My previous phone was a Sony Xperia m6. To unlock the bootloader and get root access was a bit of a pain on the latter. I remember having to backup a ta-partition to secure my DRM-keys.
Wanting to unlock the bootloader on this device I couldn't find any information about backing up and restoring a certain partition to secure the DRM-keys. What I did find was this post on the mi community forum about how unlocking the bootloader results in the widevine beïng downgraded from L1 to L3 (read the post for further details. The only way to reverse that process is to relock the bootloader again according to the the information I found.
So this is my question: Is there a way to keep the widevine L1 version, with better HDR performances, with an unlocked bootloader by backing up and restoring any data or partition on the phone that is responsible for widevine or other DRM content?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, but you will lose the safeties that could lead in to a persist partition corrupted.
Backup your persist partition and store this backup OUT of the phone, on a cloud or a PC.

Pupet_Master said:
No, but you will lose the safeties that could lead in to a persist partition corrupted.
Backup your persist partition and store this backup OUT of the phone, on a cloud or a PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same question that was in the preceeding post:
Using OrangeFox and there is no checkmark to include Persist to Backup .
I think it was the same with the official TWRP
Which TWRP offers to backup Persist?
Btw, I was able to disk-dump Persist:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mi-9t/how-to/to-extract-stock-boot-recovery-images-t4058447
But read somewhere (cannot find now and didn't try) that Persist.img cannot be flashed through Fastboot (?)

zgfg said:
The same question that was in the preceeding post:
Using OrangeFox and there is no checkmark to include Persist to Backup .
I think it was the same with the official TWRP
Which TWRP offers to backup Persist?
Btw, I was able to disk-dump Persist:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mi-9t/how-to/to-extract-stock-boot-recovery-images-t4058447
But read somewhere (cannot find now and didn't try) that Persist.img cannot be flashed through Fastboot (?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The chinese team TWRP

Pupet_Master said:
The chinese team TWRP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pls link for that TWRP
Andd a question, official TWRP and OtangeFox properly support encryption - it is not needed to format Data, jus each time on booting to TWRPt to enter the current Android screen unlock pin/pass and they rrad/write to Internal storage
Is it also the case with the Chineer TWRP?

zgfg said:
Pls link for that TWRP
Andd a question, official TWRP and OtangeFox properly support encryption - it is not needed to format Data, jus each time on booting to TWRPt to enter the current Android screen unlock pin/pass and they rrad/write to Internal storage
Is it also the case with the Chineer TWRP?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you will flash ANY different ROM, you NEED to format. since the ROM wont be able to access a encrypted data partition from another ROM/Encryption key.
Also, you can do a forum search for the chinese TWRP, i don't have the link
Good luck.

Pupet_Master said:
If you will flash ANY different ROM, you NEED to format. since the ROM wont be able to access a encrypted data partition from another ROM/Encryption key.
Also, you can do a forum search for the chinese TWRP, i don't have the link
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im absolutely not interested in custom ROMs (I only do rooting of the stock, and for that, as well as for official TWRP ahd OrangeFox, no kind of forkatting any partition is needed)
However, I have asked about Persist partitions just in case
Good luck

zgfg said:
Im absolutely not interested in custom ROMs (I only do rooting of the stock, and for that, as well as for official TWRP ahd OrangeFox, no kind of forkatting any partition is needed)
However, I have asked about Persist partitions just in case
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you install stock MIUI but from a zip, such as xiaomi.eu is is a custom rom..
Stock is just what come with the phone.

Pupet_Master said:
If you install stock MIUI but from a zip, such as xiaomi.eu is is a custom rom..
Stock is just what come with the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tthank for teaching but I know what the stockk means
My Mi 9T came with v10.3.12 PFJEUXM, updated by OTA to v11.0.3 PFJEUXM and then again by OTA to v11.0.4 QFJEUXM.
Alll syock firmwares, no eu weekly ROMs and no AOSP ROMs (only debloating by ADB, twrp.me davincii TWRP, OranfeFox, Canary Magisk root and modules)
Instead of this OT discussion, I still did not get answers for sone originally asked questions but please nwm(for example about flashing from Fastboot the disk-dumped Persist.img)
Good luck and goodbye

zgfg said:
Tthank for teaching but I know what the stockk means
My Mi 9T came with v10.3.12 PFJEUXM, updated by OTA to v11.0.3 PFJEUXM and then again by OTA to v11.0.4 QFJEUXM.
Alll syock firmwares, no eu weekly ROMs and no AOSP ROMs (only debloating by ADB, twrp.me davincii TWRP, OranfeFox, Canary Magisk root and modules)
Instead of this OT discussion, I still did not get answers for sone originally asked questions but please nwm(for example about flashing from Fastboot the disk-dumped Persist.img)
Good luck and goodbye
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fastboot a disk dump persist.img will cause you to lose DRM, i did it my self and i lost.

Pupet_Master said:
fastboot a disk dump persist.img will cause you to lose DRM, i did it my self and i lost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about
Code:
dd if=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/persist of=/sdcard/persist.img
to backup and
Code:
dd if=/sdcard/persist.img of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/persist
to restore?
That's how I did it with my Moto G5+. Later the official TWRP recovery for that device had checkmarks for persist and efs too.
Edit: Sorry,I've seen that @zgfg posted that method so follow his steps:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mi...ck-boot-recovery-images-t4058447/post81871363
Sent from my Moto G5 Plus using XDA Labs

You will lose DRM even with "dd" to restore (tested on Mi Mix 3 5G)

[HELP] I lost WIDEVINE L1 and safetynet checks in the custom ROMs

Hi guys,
I have a problem with my device. I recently had a problem with the sensors and I flash the persist.img of fastboot rom with twrp.
I lost WIDEVINE L1 and safetynet checks (only with ROM customs and without ROOT). I would like to know if there is a way to go back and "uncorrupt" the internal storage?

isman77 said:
Hi guys,
I have a problem with my device. I recently had a problem with the sensors and I flash the persist.img of fastboot rom with twrp.
I lost WIDEVINE L1 and safetynet checks (only with ROM customs and without ROOT). I would like to know if there is a way to go back and "uncorrupt" the internal storage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No l1 is gone forever, sorry mate

Doesn't it bring the Global Rom "davinci_global_images_V10.3.11.0.PFJMIXM_20190802.0000.00_9.0_global_ea6683ef55.tgz" 3.3GB with MI PC Suite to flash?
And bring the phone back to its original state?

spedyy said:
Doesn't it bring the Global Rom "davinci_global_images_V10.3.11.0.PFJMIXM_20190802.0000.00_9.0_global_ea6683ef55.tgz" 3.3GB with MI PC Suite to flash?
And bring the phone back to its original state?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not tried with the MI PC suite, by cons I tried several times with Mi flash, without success ...
In your opinion, should I try with MI PC SUITE?

Benfatica said:
No l1 is gone forever, sorry mate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tell myself that maybe with luck someone has a solution ...

Did you try the FASTBOOT file .tgz or the RECOVERY .zip?

There is no hope for us. Sorry
Wysłane z mojego Mi 9T przy użyciu Tapatalka

I'm sorry, I can't help but as someone who is looking at flashing a rom tomorrow, how do I avoid this from happening?
I would still like to use Netflix

spedyy said:
Doesn't it bring the Global Rom "davinci_global_images_V10.3.11.0.PFJMIXM_20190802.0000.00_9.0_global_ea6683ef55.tgz" 3.3GB with MI PC Suite to flash?
And bring the phone back to its original state?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will flash back to factory settings and reset everything, I would backup and restore after doing so, with widevine though that will stay at level 3 and no chance of getting L1 back ever.
---------- Post added at 12:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:01 AM ----------
BJozi said:
I'm sorry, I can't help but as someone who is looking at flashing a rom tomorrow, how do I avoid this from happening?
I would still like to use Netflix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't flash persist.img unless it's from your phone, backup with twrp, you could even connect the phone to your PC and copy the persist.img file to your PC and use that if anything happened, the problem is people are extracting the persist.img file from the ROM and it's not the original file for the phone and flashing to correct faulty sensors, this breaks widevine and doesn't restore regardless if a ROM supports it, the phone doesn't anymore because it's now basically corrupt and can't be restored unless using the original persist.img.

I'm not sure I fully understand.
So I've unlocked my bootloader, I'm about to flash Twrp and a custom rom such as Pixel Experience or Havoc.
Am I right in saying this will have broken it already?
Before flashing I should backup everything in Twrp, I can then reviver only the persist part after flashing a room and things will be as normal but with a different rom?

I made a backup of ALL partitions (including the partition persist) 3 months ago that I transferred to my PC and that I later deleted, if I manage to find it with software like Recuva and restoring with TWRP, would it work?

isman77 said:
I made a backup of ALL partitions (including the partition persist) 3 months ago that I transferred to my PC and that I later deleted, if I manage to find it with software like Recuva and restoring with TWRP, would it work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say yes if you have the original files, you can try with those, if flashing from stock ROM that didn't belong to your phone then it won't work.

isman77 said:
Hi guys,
I have a problem with my device. I recently had a problem with the sensors and I flash the persist.img of fastboot rom with twrp.
I lost WIDEVINE L1 and safetynet checks (only with ROM customs and without ROOT). I would like to know if there is a way to go back and "uncorrupt" the internal storage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how did you flash persist.img? i dont use netflix anyways and same thing happened to me that happened to you, i just want to get persist.img back, help?

I also lost it for the same sensors fix reason.
Has anyone tried restoring a twrp backup from a working L1 device?
Can someone with untouched persist that still has L1 upload a twrp backup of their persist partition, please?
It probably won't work as the l1 keys are linked to each device individually but we lose nothing for trying.

bihariel said:
I also lost it for the same sensors fix reason.
Has anyone tried restoring a twrp backup from a working L1 device?
Can someone with untouched persist that still has L1 upload a twrp backup of their persist partition, please?
It probably won't work as the l1 keys are linked to each device individually but we lose nothing for trying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have flash any persist image from the fastboot ROM?

Yep, that's what I did. I didn't know that would break L1 but I wasn't using it anyway.

bihariel said:
Yep, that's what I did. I didn't know that would break L1 but I wasn't using it anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then it's gone, you can't fix it

I know, but has anyone tried what I suggested?

bihariel said:
I know, but has anyone tried what I suggested?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.

Hello,
In your opinion does the xiaomi warranty take care of this problem?

Downgrade from 10 to 9

Will the Msm tool work? I only ask because sometimes if you try to install older bootloader it will brick your phone

MSMTool will work yes, but it does wipe the device completely and relock the bootloader.
You might wanna try using rollback package first: (https://oxygenos.oneplus.net/Fulldowngrade_wipe_18801_181024_2027_user_MP2_release.zip)
If you used magisk I'd suggest deleting all modules and rebooting first, then you perform a local update from system settings with this package.
It will install OOS 9.0.5 or 9.0.4 (don't remember now), and from that place you can install 9.0.17 with full zip package that are available on the forums.

Going back to 9 is a dead end, as security support will end (or already is).
At each major version of Android some people want to hold back. Interesting.

Striatum_bdr said:
Going back to 9 is a dead end, as security support will end (or already is).
At each major version of Android some people want to hold back. Interesting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, I don't want to hold back, but until 10 ROM support is truly stable, as in flashing, I'm staying on 9

I just reverted today without the MSM tool. Flashed via twrp but obviously had to wipe clean.

Magic Stick said:
MSMTool will work yes, but it does wipe the device completely and relock the bootloader.
You might wanna try using rollback package first: (https://oxygenos.oneplus.net/Fulldowngrade_wipe_18801_181024_2027_user_MP2_release.zip)
If you used magisk I'd suggest deleting all modules and rebooting first, then you perform a local update from system settings with this package.
It will install OOS 9.0.5 or 9.0.4 (don't remember now), and from that place you can install 9.0.17 with full zip package that are available on the forums.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried this? I'm just sceptical about this since I read that even this will wipe data

Anwar Syed said:
Have you tried this? I'm just sceptical about this since I read that even this will wipe data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is how I reverted back to 9. And yes, it does wipe the device (along with sdcard, so back up that as well).
The difference is that it does not relock the bootloader. But to be honest, MSMDowload is better in the means that it restores the phone from scratch. I used the rollback package, and my phone claims that the system partition has 0 bytes left. After deleting apps from system folder they somehow reappear, as if it was still Android 10 without R/W permission. If I were you, if you decided that you can bear the necessary wipe of the phone, I'd go with MSMDowload.

Want to upgrade my OP5 from Oxygen 4.5.10 , Android 7.1.1 to the newest..

Hello
As the titel says..
Its been a few years since ive done anything like this, so dont really know what i need to do now..
Ive flashes newest twrp-3.2.3-0-20180822 and tryed to install OnePlus5Oxygen_23_OTA_052_all_1910082005_adf7221fba833a0.zip but witout any luck
Log in twrp says:
Installing zip file '/sdcard/OnePlus5Oxygen_23_OTA_052_all_1910082005_adf7221fba833a0.zip'
Checking for digest files
Skipping digest check: no digest file found
vendor partition is not existed, exit ota!!
Updater process ended with Error: 7
Error installing zip file
I have no idea if its even possible to do this if i need other updates first ect.
Kinda rookies now haha..
Iv'e searched forum for help dunno if ive searched wrong or not, but couldnt find any help.

You have to install version 5.1.4 based on Oreo 8.1.0 and boot up the phone to enable vendor partition. Then you will be able to flash the latest Pie OS. If you want a faster way, you can use the 9.0.9 EDL package, but you will lose all data

Well i had a friend that said i could just install 9.0.9 firmware, well now ive ended up witj a phone which i cant enter.. Can still open fastmode and twrp but i cant add files on phone.. Any ideas on how to fix this mess?

mummilana said:
Well i had a friend that said i could just install 9.0.9 firmware, well now ive ended up witj a phone which i cant enter.. Can still open fastmode and twrp but i cant add files on phone.. Any ideas on how to fix this mess?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use this EDL guide https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-5/how-to/guide-unbrick-guide-hard-bricked-t3761706

PierreVicquery02 said:
Use this EDL guide https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-5/how-to/guide-unbrick-guide-hard-bricked-t3761706
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks i will try

PierreVicquery02 said:
You have to install version 5.1.4 based on Oreo 8.1.0 and boot up the phone to enable vendor partition. Then you will be able to flash the latest Pie OS. If you want a faster way, you can use the 9.0.9 EDL package, but you will lose all data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So they changed the partition layout with Oreo? I am asking because I currently have the exact same problem.
Currently stucking on 7.1.1 with the same errormessage. I will try to upgrade to Oreo first and then move over to Pie. Thanks.

GoodSoul said:
So they changed the partition layout with Oreo? I am asking because I currently have the exact same problem.
Currently stucking on 7.1.1 with the same errormessage. I will try to upgrade to Oreo first and then move over to Pie. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, with the version 5.1.5 Project Treble was adopted and it requires a new vendor partition. That partition was created with 5.1.4, so if you are on a version lower than 5.1.4 you will need to install that version, boot once (the repartitioning is made during Android boot, not during the install) and then you will be able to upgrade to latest Pie version.
If you want to upgrade in one step, you can use EDL tool, but you lose all your data. Anyway, I advice you to do so because a format is a good operation when upgrading the Android version

PierreVicquery02 said:
[...]That partition was created with 5.1.4, so if you are on a version lower than 5.1.4 you will need to install that version, boot once (the repartitioning is made during Android boot, not during the install) and then you will be able to upgrade to latest Pie version.[...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume I can then also move directly to 9.0.xx, right? Sorry, I forgot that the OP5 got Android 10!

GoodSoul said:
I assume I can then also move directly to 9.0.xx, right? Sorry, I forgot that the OP5 got Android 10!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can install the latest ROM ONLY if you are on a version that is 5.1.4 or newer. If you are on an older version, you have to first upgrade to 5.1.4 and then the newer version (Android 10 will be out in the next months)

Feedback: Works great. Moved to that version, rebooted once, upgraded directly to latest OOS (9.xx whatev) with success. Thanks for all your support & comments!

GoodSoul said:
Feedback: Works great. Moved to that version, rebooted once, upgraded directly to latest OOS (9.xx whatev) with success. Thanks for all your support & comments!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome!

WideVine L1 lost after installing custom ROM on Q firmware

HELP!!!!! I installed the latest Android 10 build (Developer V2). Then unlocked bootloader and installed TWRP and then Evolution X.
Now Widevine L1 is lost!!! Please help me with any damn method to get it back. Will do ANYTHING to get it back....

keshavjain235 said:
HELP!!!!! I installed the latest Android 10 build (Developer V2). Then unlocked bootloader and installed TWRP and then Evolution X.
Now Widevine L1 is lost!!! Please help me with any damn method to get it back. Will do ANYTHING to get it back....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have the backup of persist partition when your phone was L1 ? If yes, then try restoring it.

Tianhe said:
Do you have the backup of persist partition when your phone was L1 ? If yes, then try restoring it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I don't have. I have searched in various telegram groups to take persist backup on someone else (same device) and change serial number in it? Should I try that? There were people complaining that they were not able to install/update stock rom after doing this process. Please GUIDE, I am a beginner in these things....

keshavjain235 said:
No I don't have. I have searched in various telegram groups to take persist backup on someone else (same device) and change serial number in it? Should I try that? There were people complaining that they were not able to install/update stock rom after doing this process. Please GUIDE, I am a beginner in these things....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try that but I am not sure if that would restore the wiped DRM keys. In some phones (Moto G5 Plus?), backup of persist from other phones would do no good.
Also you can try flashing stock ROM through AFT and see if it helps you.
An please REMEMBER TO TAKE BACKUP before attempting any of the above methods.

Tianhe said:
You could try that but I am not sure if that would restore the wiped DRM keys. In some phones (Moto G5 Plus?), backup of persist from other phones would do no good.
Also you can try flashing stock ROM through AFT and see if it helps you.
An please REMEMBER TO TAKE BACKUP before attempting any of the above methods.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already tried flashing stock rom via AFT, but Widevine stays at L3. I am not risking to flash persist of other device as it may lead to further issues. Please let me know if there is some more efficient way out of this issue. Thanks.

I heard flashing q firmware permanently causes issues with widevine l1. The only way to bring it back is to restore a previous persist backup or flash a qfil rom (not sure about the latter). If you don't have a backup, too bad chief.

farhanshaikh671 said:
I heard flashing q firmware permanently causes issues with widevine l1. The only way to bring it back is to restore a previous persist backup or flash a qfil rom (not sure about the latter). If you don't have a backup, too bad chief.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Partially correct. QB1 update caused widevine downgrade to L3 but QB2 restored it to L1. Of course, you have to be bootloader locked all the time. Too many theories going around to restore L1 on UBL but none proven, even persist backup method isn't 100%

how to install qb2 bro please help need widevine
Tianhe said:
Partially correct. QB1 update caused widevine downgrade to L3 but QB2 restored it to L1. Of course, you have to be bootloader locked all the time. Too many theories going around to restore L1 on UBL but none proven, even persist backup method isn't 100%
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how to install qb2 and iam trying qfil

parvez1119eee said:
how to install qb2 and iam trying qfil
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mine too lost L1 certification after flashing Havoc os latest build 3.5, also charging issue, charges very slow, apprx. 5-6 hrs for fullcharge my asus.

parvez1119eee said:
how to install qb2 bro please help need widevine
how to install qb2 and iam trying qfil
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After installing QFIL rom did L1 comes back.