[Q] OTA Updates on rooted, unlocked, TWRP Phone? - Nexus 9 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi All
I have a nexus 9 with an unlocked bootloader, root (from CF auto-root), and TWRP installed, currently on 5.0.1 LRX22C. I have read this means that I will not be able to complete an OTA due to lack of stock recovery and changes within the system files that the OTA will check.
So my question is how much of stock do I have to return to be able to do the OTA to 5.0.2 and 5.1 later today. I am hoping that I won't have to do a factory reset and wipe all the files and apps, but if so nevermind.
Do I have to relock the bootloader?
Do I have to flash back to stock completely or can I just flash a stock recovery?
If I wait will a flashable zip be created by someone, that would allow me to keep unlocked and rooted?
If this has been asked before, I am sorry, I have searched but couldn't find any clear answers that were related to lollypop.
I am used to samsung phones and the nexus ADB sideloading ect. is taking me a while to get used to, so any link to a guide would be very appreciated.
Thanks for any help,

OTA appears to checksum the entire partitions, so even remount RW could have an effect (with no intentional accesses, depending how the filesystem works). However, this doesn't make a lot of sense since any update is going to struggle to replicate the same raw filesystem data reliable - maybe this is why we are seeing 5.0.2 OTAs fail on 'stock' devices.

fallen2004 said:
Hi All
I have a nexus 9 with an unlocked bootloader, root (from CF auto-root), and TWRP installed, currently on 5.0.1 LRX22C. I have read this means that I will not be able to complete an OTA due to lack of stock recovery and changes within the system files that the OTA will check.
So my question is how much of stock do I have to return to be able to do the OTA to 5.0.2 and 5.1 later today. I am hoping that I won't have to do a factory reset and wipe all the files and apps, but if so nevermind.
Do I have to relock the bootloader?
Do I have to flash back to stock completely or can I just flash a stock recovery?
If I wait will a flashable zip be created by someone, that would allow me to keep unlocked and rooted?
If this has been asked before, I am sorry, I have searched but couldn't find any clear answers that were related to lollypop.
I am used to samsung phones and the nexus ADB sideloading ect. is taking me a while to get used to, so any link to a guide would be very appreciated.
Thanks for any help,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do not relock your bootloader. It is not necessary.
Since you are rooted with a custom recovery, if you want to take the OTA, you will have to fastboot flash the stock 5.0.1 system.img, recovery.img, boot.img, and vendor.img.
IMHO, it's just as easy to fastboot flash the 5.0.2 factory images and forget about the OTA.

cam30era said:
Do not relock your bootloader. It is not necessary.
Since you are rooted with a custom recovery, if you want to take the OTA, you will have to fastboot flash the stock 5.0.1 system.img, recovery.img, boot.img, and vendor.img.
IMHO, it's just as easy to fastboot flash the 5.0.2 factory images and forget about the OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay well I think I will wait until the 5.1 factory image is released, backup my phone, then fastboot flash it.
I guess I will then have to reroot and add TWRP again?

fallen2004 said:
Okay well I think I will wait until the 5.1 factory image is released, backup my phone, then fastboot flash it.
I guess I will then have to reroot and add TWRP again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do it in the other order. Fastboot flash TWRP, then flash SuperSU from inside TWRP. Very easy.

Related

How to flash stock recovery over TWRP without flashing RUU

I looked for this all over XDA and google and couldn't find an answer,
I have an unlocked and rooted HOX+ international that had CM 10.2, I flashed a backup of my stock sense 4 using TWRP to try the official sense 5 update.
Now I need to re-lock bootloader and reinstall stock recovery for the HTC update to install, I can't find a stock recovery image anywhere and I'm not sure if it is even possible to do it this way without flashing an RUU?
Any help? any one can point me to a stock recovery image?
RECAP:
What I have: HOX+ International, stock sense 4, unlocked, rooted, TWRP recovery, HTC software update downloaded and ready to install
What I need: Relock, Revert to stock recovery (stock recovery img)
Thanks in Advance!
Haerviu said:
I looked for this all over XDA and google and couldn't find an answer,
I have an unlocked and rooted HOX+ international that had CM 10.2, I flashed a backup of my stock sense 4 using TWRP to try the official sense 5 update.
Now I need to re-lock bootloader and reinstall stock recovery for the HTC update to install, I can't find a stock recovery image anywhere and I'm not sure if it is even possible to do it this way without flashing an RUU?
Any help? any one can point me to a stock recovery image?
RECAP:
What I have: HOX+ International, stock sense 4, unlocked, rooted, TWRP recovery, HTC software update downloaded and ready to install
What I need: Relock, Revert to stock recovery (stock recovery img)
Thanks in Advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stock recovery is here
[email protected] said:
The stock recovery is here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks alot!
is it possible to do it the way I'm attempting? flash this stock recovery, relock bootloader and let the software update install?
Haerviu said:
Thanks alot!
is it possible to do it the way I'm attempting? flash this stock recovery, relock bootloader and let the software update install?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U have to unroot first........must be ok if u still get the notification for the Update installation...
Use SuperSu from Playstore.....and in the setting do full unroot......
then flash the Stock recovery and relock the bootloader.....
The main thing is u have to still get that notification to install the update.......
[email protected] said:
U have to unroot first........must be ok if u still get the notification for the Update installation...
Use SuperSu from Playstore.....and in the setting do full unroot......
then flash the Stock recovery and relock the bootloader.....
The main thing is u have to still get that notification to install the update.......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Life savior! Updated successfully.
Full unroot with SuperSu
Flash stock recovery
Relock bootloader
Update wasn't in notification but worked from settings menu.
Now I'm on sense 5!

[Q] Unlock Bootloader, Custom Recovery and Root

Hey guys,
I am trying to prepare my Nexus 9 to receive root (when that happens) and I was wondering if unlocking the bootloader will suffice for the time being? That means it will wipe it once, and I can start using my Nexus 9 without worrying of wiping it in the future.
Then it means as soon as TWRP comes out with a version that supports Nexus 9 I just need to flash that (no need to wipe device) and then flash SuperSU (no wiping either)
Am I missing something here?
You're right but...
Hey ombadboy
I think this will work. Don't forget to enable the oem unlock in the developer settings before. Otherwise your try to unlock will fail. Maybe you shouldn't flash the first versions of twrp, because this will be the first one for Lollipop und encrypted storage. Just boot the image once and flash superSU. So you will still get OTA updates.
After unlocking you should be able to root without losing your data twice.
After a few time and if there are no more OTAs in the near future you can flash a stable TWRP image.
funatkill said:
Hey ombadboy
I think this will work. Don't forget to enable the oem unlock in the developer settings before. Otherwise your try to unlock will fail. Maybe you shouldn't flash the first versions of twrp, because this will be the first one for Lollipop und encrypted storage. Just boot the image once and flash superSU. So you will still get OTA updates.
After unlocking you should be able to root without losing your data twice.
After a few time and if there are no more OTAs in the near future you can flash a stable TWRP image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See the guide here. http://www.theandroidsoul.com/unlock-bootloader-nexus-9/
Thanks for the replied guys. Yes, that's exactly what I did; now I have an unlocked bootloader.
So if I understood this well, can I get root without flashing a custom recovery? If so, what's the purpose of flashing one?
ombadboy said:
Thanks for the replied guys. Yes, that's exactly what I did; now I have an unlocked bootloader.
So if I understood this well, can I get root without flashing a custom recovery? If so, what's the purpose of flashing one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The purpose of having a custom recovery is to flash custom roms.
Here's some info for root
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-9/orig-development/root-t2929118/post56516599
Hogyoku said:
The purpose of having a custom recovery is to flash custom roms.
Here's some info for root
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-9/orig-development/root-t2929118/post56516599
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Recovery allows you to flash anything to device without doing manually with root explorer, adb or fastboot. Can do most anything you can do with recovery with these 3 tools.

[Q] How to root HTC One M8 without losing OTA update ability?

Hello,
I am not new to the process of rooting, unlock bootloader or flashing ROM. But, this is the first time that I need to root a HTC phone, the HTC One M8. I don't usually care much for stock ROM, but this is my girlfriend's phone and I think stock ROM works best for her. It is more stable, even though it will be a bit slow and has a lot of bloatware. I plan to root it then manually go in and disable most of the bloated apps. Then, I will install Xposed Module and add some useful modules. However, the release of Lollipop is around the corner. I want to know if rooting it will affect the ability of doing OTA upgrade.
Base on what I have read, in order to root, you have to unlock the bootloader, then replace the stock recovery with custom recovery like CWM/TWRP, then you flash the supersu.zip file to grant root permission. I am familiar with the process, but I am a bit confused at this part. Since we use a custom recovery to flash the supersu.zip file, it is more likely that OTA upgrade will fail since most OTA upgrade rely on stock recovery.
1/ Then, how do I upgrade to Lollipop 5.0 once I have rooted the phone?
The current ROM is Kitkat I think.
2/ I mean, is there a stock recovery file that I can flash back to replace the custom recovery once the phone has been rooted? or the OTA process will work with the custom recovery, which is very unlikely in my opinion.
3/ Also, once I have upgraded to Lollipop, I can do the same process to gain root again, (flash custom recovery, then flash supersu.zip to gain root). Is that correct?
4/ Is there any other method of gaining root without losing OTA update? As long as I don't have to wipe everything and restore it for every OTA update. I am fine with it.
Please let me know. Thank you all for your help.
After you root, flash back your stock recovery. As long as you are running stock the ota will attempt to download. Even when running non-stock recovery - what will happen is the ota will download and when you accept the update the phone will reboot into your custom recovery and the update won't be applied because the ota relies on the stock recovery being there.
So anyway, you can root, replace custom recovery back with stock and allow the update. You will most likely loose root once the update is applied, but then as long as there are custom recoveries available for the new android version you can flash back to custom recovery, reroot and you should be set.
I did this for a while, but the downside is that if SuperSU updates (or whichever root method you use) and requires a bin update, you won't be able to apply the root bin update unless you are running the custom recovery.
Hope that makes sense, typing from my phone while on a train.
What I do is this
Unlock Bootloader via HTC DEV website.
Dl a custom recovery I prefer TWRP Recovery flash that via Fastboot.
Then boot into custom recovery on your phone and create a New backup of the stock rom b4 you install SuperSU for root, name it something like (Stock untouched) .
Then flash superSU update zip in recovery.
Once superuser is working do what you want.
Note: I'd go ahead and find and Dl the stock recovery and keep it on hand for when you ready to go back Stock for the OTA update.
Go back to stock
Boot into custom recovery wipe system /data/cache. Then restore the Stock (untouched) backup you made.
Fastboot flash the stock recovery back.
Then relock Bootloader and now you back to Stock and ready to do the OTA update.
Note : this is what I do, everybody got their own way of doing things
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
tommy_riley said:
After you root, flash back your stock recovery. As long as you are running stock the ota will attempt to download. Even when running non-stock recovery - what will happen is the ota will download and when you accept the update the phone will reboot into your custom recovery and the update won't be applied because the ota relies on the stock recovery being there.
So anyway, you can root, replace custom recovery back with stock and allow the update. You will most likely loose root once the update is applied, but then as long as there are custom recoveries available for the new android version you can flash back to custom recovery, reroot and you should be set.
I did this for a while, but the downside is that if SuperSU updates (or whichever root method you use) and requires a bin update, you won't be able to apply the root bin update unless you are running the custom recovery.
Hope that makes sense, typing from my phone while on a train.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thank you for the reply. That clears up a little. I can just flash stock recovery every time I want to update. I was able to find a thread that has all the stock recovery file. I have a quick question. Does any version of stock recovery will work? or you want the one that match your current stock recovery. Also, what is Non-WWE-Recoveries?
Here is the thread with all the stock recoveries:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2701376
Let me know. Thank you
scoot0073 said:
What I do is this
Unlock Bootloader via HTC DEV website.
Dl a custom recovery I prefer TWRP Recovery flash that via Fastboot.
Then boot into custom recovery on your phone and create a New backup of the stock rom b4 you install SuperSU for root, name it something like (Stock untouched) .
Then flash superSU update zip in recovery.
Once superuser is working do what you want.
Note: I'd go ahead and find and Dl the stock recovery and keep it on hand for when you ready to go back Stock for the OTA update.
Go back to stock
Boot into custom recovery wipe system /data/cache. Then restore the Stock (untouched) backup you made.
Fastboot flash the stock recovery back.
Then relock Bootloader and now you back to Stock and ready to do the OTA update.
Note : this is what I do, everybody got their own way of doing things
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
I understand your concept for going back to stock. But, I don't get why I have to relock the bootloader. What I mean is, is that necessary for the OTA to work? I thought you only need the stock recovery for the OTA to work. Also, once you have done OTA update, and you want to root the phone again. The downsize is you have to unlock the bootloader again, which will wipe the phone completely and you will have to restore everything, which wastes times.
I like the idea of just restoring the stock recovery, do the OTA upgrade, then flash custom recovery to gain root again. I don't mind repeating that process for each update. But to relock/unlock the bootloader, having to wipe everything is a hassle. Please clarify. Thank you for your help.
I don't believe you need to relock boot loader for OTA. You do need locked bootloader for RUU full install, but only if S-ON (s-off you can do RUU w/boot loader locked or unlocked) - but that's not what were talking about here - OTA w/ unlocked boot loader = All good.
I believe WWE recovery refers to Europe versions of the recovery, so if in US go for the non-WWE.
I'd stick with trying to lineup stick recovery versions with version of OS software you have installed - so if you are running stock 4.4.2 or 4.4.3 grab the latest stocl recovery available.
vi6s said:
Hello,
I understand your concept for going back to stock. But, I don't get why I have to relock the bootloader. What I mean is, is that necessary for the OTA to work? I thought you only need the stock recovery for the OTA to work. Also, once you have done OTA update, and you want to root the phone again. The downsize is you have to unlock the bootloader again, which will wipe the phone completely and you will have to restore everything, which wastes times.
I like the idea of just restoring the stock recovery, do the OTA upgrade, then flash custom recovery to gain root again. I don't mind repeating that process for each update. But to relock/unlock the bootloader, having to wipe everything is a hassle. Please clarify. Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol.. Yea if S-On relock Bootloader for RUU.
But no you don't need to relock the Bootloader for OTA updates S-On or s-off Sorry for the confusion I was going back n forth with another user and got you mixed up.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
vi6s said:
Ok, thank you for the reply. That clears up a little. I can just flash stock recovery every time I want to update. I was able to find a thread that has all the stock recovery file. I have a quick question. Does any version of stock recovery will work? or you want the one that match your current stock recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need the stock recovery that correspond to your stock software. AT&T software is x.xx.502, and I don't see any corresponding recoveries in exocet's stock nandroid collection, but 1.12.502 and 1.58.502 stock recoveries are posted here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/att-htc-one-m8/development/att-stock-backups-recoveries-otas-t2855966
Also, while eluded to above, it should be clearly stated, no /system files may be modified, in order for OTA to install. So depending on what you intend to change with root, you will either need to put it back to stock (if you modded any system files), restore the stock ROM with a nandroid you made, or a stock ROM posted on XDA.
Alternately, you can quickly return to stock by RUU. Although you either need to relock the bootloader or have s-off to run the RUU. And RUU will also wipe the phone.
So to sum it up, in order to OTA you need:
/system to be returned to stock (stock ROM)
stock recovery
Unlocked bootloader is OK
Root is okay (you will lose root after the OTA)

January Security Update incremental .zip - Directly from Google's servers

I got the update for the January Security Update today. I grabbed the .zip's location and the link on Google's servers is:
https://android.googleapis.com/pack...51c56752.signed-angler-MMB29P-from-MMB29M.zip
Hope it helps others!
PSA: this is not flashable over custom ROMs, and cannot be used to install the factory OS from nothing. That's what the factory images are for . This .zip is solely to incrementally update from the December security update to the January one.
Is there an easy way to flash this update.zip without the need of a computer?
tinker_tf said:
Is there an easy way to flash this update.zip without the need of a computer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you have a custom recovery, no. Sorry about that
Updated. Thanks for the link!
I have a rooted, stock ROM and TWRP and with several Xposed Modules, can I flash this?
Also, I don't have the December update, where do I find that?
And lastly, I'm on MDB08L Build, will that work?
For those wanting to use this update and have completely stock system based on MMB29M. Boot into recovery and do an ADB sideload update.zip (rename zip first). Mine updated with no issues.
CipherSec said:
I have a rooted, stock ROM and TWRP and with several Xposed Modules, can I flash this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you've got all that set up, why not just update using the full factory image (without the wipe)
LeoRex said:
If you've got all that set up, why not just update using the full factory image (without the wipe)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assumed I'll lose all my system modifications (i.e. Xposed Modules and their settings) as well as losing root and TWRP and having to reroot again.
pmedwards25 said:
Unless you have a custom recovery, no. Sorry about that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly the file you need if you don't have custom recovery, don't have root, and have not unlocked bootloader. It is the same file that would eventually come to you OTA. You do however need access to adb and a computer. I don't think this is flashable with a custom recovery.
Thanks..
Thanks for this file bro. dont need to wait.
Alright, feeling like a complete noob, here. I'm on systemless root 2.61 with TWRP. I fastboot flashed the stock boot.img and stock recovery, then tried to sideload the OTA zip. I got a "system contains unexpected contents" error, then installation aborted. Now, with systemless root, I had the understanding that flashing the stock system.img would not be necessary. I was not using systemless root before when I flashed the previous OTA zip. Can anyone spot where I might have gone wrong?
Casyis said:
Alright, feeling like a complete noob, here. I'm on systemless root 2.61 with TWRP. I fastboot flashed the stock boot.img and stock recovery, then tried to sideload the OTA zip. I got a "system contains unexpected contents" error, then installation aborted. Now, with systemless root, I had the understanding that flashing the stock system.img would not be necessary. I was not using systemless root before when I flashed the previous OTA zip. Can anyone spot where I might have gone wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try flash stock system image
Does this update fix the LTE issue?
HRodMusic said:
Does this update fix the LTE issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it does not
I got it:
For systemless root, fastboot flash: 1) boot.img; 2) recovery.img; 3) vendor.img; 4) system.img
Boot to recovery and enter sideloade mode. adb sideload [update].zip
Reboot to bootloader. Re-flash TWRP, then in TWRP re-flash kernel (if custom) & superSU.
I used a toolkit to root my 6P. I'm using rooted stock rom. I got an OTA update but it seems I can't update it that way as per all others. So how do I go about installing this on my mobile? Do I need to unroot, flash stock recovery & then flash the new image? Then again I have to root?
fyi: i'm rooted with systemless root and twrp
I tried to take this update per usual as i would if i were unrooted, of course that didn't work totally. i assumed i would just find the update.zip file (i did: /data/data/com.google.android.gms/app.download/update.zip, icywtk) but when i tried to flash that it said the zip was corrupted. i deleted the zip and now it still says my december build is up to date. can't we just flash the update.zip with twrp? i did allow for the system to be modified this time when i booted twrp.
asj0422 said:
fyi: i'm rooted with systemless root and twrp
I tried to take this update per usual as i would if i were unrooted, of course that didn't work totally. i assumed i would just find the update.zip file (i did: /data/data/com.google.android.gms/app.download/update.zip, icywtk) but when i tried to flash that it said the zip was corrupted. i deleted the zip and now it still says my december build is up to date. can't we just flash the update.zip with twrp? i did allow for the system to be modified this time when i booted twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am rooted with twrp. Same deal, twrp reports and error 7 when trying to flash the Jan security update.
kmp14 said:
I am rooted with twrp. Same deal, twrp reports and error 7 when trying to flash the Jan security update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i just tried this again with the same results. it says that the installer is expecting a different build (the one that my settings app shows i'm on) but that i have a build called huawei/mmasomething/ dee_stroyer somethingsomething. (i would post exactly what it says but i've already rebooted into system). I do remember something with "dee_stroyer" when i was rooting but it's not the system...
anyone else have any ideas? i'd like to just update normally and keep my data... and the stock android with root.
EDIT: also, the update won't update my recovery will it? i don't want to have to reflash that. i should be able to update even when i'm away from a computer haha.
Rooted with TWRP. I just tried an ADB sideload and get the same error.

Best way to update to new factory image with root and twrp?

Hey out there,
can someone guide me to a way to update my rooted and twrp'd n9wifi to mob30d without loosing data? I was searching for a zip that can be flashed from twrp but no success until now. Normally i use custom roms so im familiar with this but not with stock roms.
Thx in advance
Just Flash boot, system and vendor images (+Radio on LTE devices).
Also checkout FlashFire app, which can apply an ota (once your system is unmodified/untouched) and also flash factory images.

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