Database Users

Need Beginner's Guide, so Custom Rom can be installed

***UPDATE***
Thanks to reply, I have now successfully done everything I set out to do, and created follow-up guide!
You can find it HERE
Original Post below:
Hello Everyone!
I'd like to start off saying I used to have a Nexus 4, with TWRP and Lollipop-based CyanogenMod. I was able to install this all by myself, and keep both TWRP and the ROM updated. I also flashed custom radio to unlock the LTE capability on that phone. My tool of choice to help customize the phone was Nexus Root toolkit.
I was able to follow guides posted long ago on these forums, to do what I wanted with the Nexus 4 back in 2013/2014, but it seems I'm not so capable these days. I've hit such a roadblock with lack of root and constant stutters/slowdowns with everyday use on my current device, the Axon 7, that I must get away from the stock software. I heard it was not so easy with other devices, and while a few devs have posted wonderful guides for users, it's just not enough for a true beginner like me. From skimming guides posted, it seems like devs already expect you to have installed custom recovery, or unlocked bootloader. Then when I try to do these things, so I can move onto custom ROM, it seems the guides are out of date or just not step-by-step enough for me to use, and I don't want to take a risk and brick my device trying things that I'm not sure about. I'm a power user through and through, but not so up-to-date or knowledgeable enough to be able to follow the guides already on the forums. Consider me 1 out of 5 on tech level for Android software.
Here's the model/software already on my device: Stock everything, from bootloader and recovery, to ROM.
Model: A2017U, Nougat 7.0 on B15 ROM
What I still need clarification on:
with my device already running on nougat, do I need to install the nougat universal bootloader/radio I saw in earlier guides?
will LineageOS have any downgrades in regard to audio quality, on either the headphone output or speakers?
will my ROM of choice have Daydream VR support? if not what would be needed?
this is not a big deal, but do I need a special app or entire custom ROM if I'm interested in a temporary unroot to use apps like Android Pay?
Here's what I want on my device: TWRP, LineageOS with root.
If anyone, expert users and devs alike, could reply with current known-good info about the following, I and a lot of other users would be eternally grateful:
unlocking the bootloader, installing TWRP, and LineageOS, in a stupidly long but simple step-by-step process.
Quick follow-up info:
What I can do so far: download current LineageOS nightly, correct version of root .zip, and TWRP from official websites
NO, I'm not good with using ADB on Windows to get things done. I had to ask a friend to help me install it on windows, the guide he sent was much easier than the one i was using, and he still had to walk me through how to use it once installed to help me unlock bootloader/root on another device, Zenphone Zoom if anyone is interested.
PLEASE, don't link me to other guides for any part of this process, if the steps are thorough and relevant, please copy here, of course with all due credit given to original poster.
Feel free to let me know if more info about my knowledge level or device is needed to help you work on my request.
Thanks for reading, here's to several years more of everyone enjoying this wonderful device!

ok there is three real steps, but it can be aheadache, mainly because you didn't unlock before going to nougat.
Step 1. Downgrade to B29 Marshmallow - go here https://www.zteusa.com/axon-7/ and on the support tab in software updates is a full B29 software package. Download it, unzip it once, then put the update.zip file on your SD card.
- on the phone, in developers options, turn on OEM unlocking (it is needed to flash from sd card)
- boot phone to recovery, choose update from sd card, pick the update.zip from the sdcard, the phone will flash the B29 software. It is a bit slow, let it do what it needs to do.
Step 2. Unlock phone and install TWRP - go here https://forum.xda-developers.com/axon-7/development/edl-emergency-dl-mode-twrp-unlock-t3553514 download the miflash program, fastboot unlock program, and twrp for B29.
- instructions are all there, just do what it says.
Step 3, Install LineageOS - https://forum.xda-developers.com/axon-7/development/unofficial-lineageos-14-1-zte-axon-7-t3545679 very straight forward. Don't forget to install first the bootloader, then the rom, then gapps.
What makes this so hard is not being easily able to unlock in nougat. Most of us here unlocked way before marshmallow

No need to downgrade to b29.

lafester said:
No need to downgrade to b29.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking this too. Should be as simple as the steps below
1) Flash signed twrp using axonroot tool - this pry's open the door
2) Using twrp, flash fastboot (b20_fbop or something?) - opens door wider
3) Enable usb debugging and oem unlocking in developer options
4) reboot to fastboot/bootloader mode
5) fastboot oem unlock - door is now wide open
Done.

gpz1100 said:
I was thinking this too. Should be as simple as the steps below
1) Flash signed twrp using axonroot tool - this pry's open the door
2) Using twrp, flash fastboot (b20_fbop or something?) - opens door wider
3) Enable usb debugging and oem unlocking in developer options
4) reboot to fastboot/bootloader mode
5) fastboot oem unlock - door is now wide open
Done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that a "should work" or "does work" because I'm trying to root and install LOS also on stock non rooted nougat Axon 7 and so far I've gotten nowhere and no one seems to be able to give me a list that says Yes this works

Help needed
I followed the instructions and is apparently in a boot loop. Initially it was working but now it is not. I can't even wipe the device to start from scratch. Is there another ROM available to try?

kingoftheafro said:
Is that a "should work" or "does work" because I'm trying to root and install LOS also on stock non rooted nougat Axon 7 and so far I've gotten nowhere and no one seems to be able to give me a list that says Yes this works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly the reason I made my post, I need concrete answers not guesses. Glad to see someone else needs the same answers

kaiso said:
I followed the instructions and is apparently in a boot loop. Initially it was working but now it is not. I can't even wipe the device to start from scratch. Is there another ROM available to try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you downgrade to Marshmallow B29 first or skip this step?

[email protected] said:
This is exactly the reason I made my post, I need concrete answers not guesses. Glad to see someone else needs the same answers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm praying that someone will compile the information spread about into 3 guides that are model specific so people like us won't rack our heads trying to figure out what on earth to do.

[email protected] said:
Hello Everyone!
Model: A2017U, Nougat 7.0 on B15 ROM
What I still need clarification on:
1with my device already running on nougat, do I need to install the nougat universal bootloader/radio I saw in earlier guides?
2will LineageOS have any downgrades in regard to audio quality, on either the headphone output or speakers?
3will my ROM of choice have Daydream VR support? if not what would be needed?
4this is not a big deal, but do I need a special app or entire custom ROM if I'm interested in a temporary unroot to use apps like Android Pay?
Here's what I want on my device: TWRP, LineageOS with root.
If anyone, expert users and devs alike, could reply with current known-good info about the following, I and a lot of other users would be eternally grateful:
unlocking the bootloader, installing TWRP, and LineageOS, in a stupidly long but simple step-by-step process.
Quick follow-up info:
What I can do so far: download current LineageOS nightly, correct version of root .zip, and TWRP from official websites
5NO, I'm not good with using ADB on Windows to get things done. I had to ask a friend to help me install it on windows, the guide he sent was much easier than the one i was using, and he still had to walk me through
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I've edited your post to clear some of the clutter and numbered everything so I can answer everything.
1. No, bootloader updates are only for users who haven't updated to B15 (through official means)
2. Only audio issues are with the front facing speakers. The way they sound is if you turn them up to 100% and then push it even higher to like 140%. So if you keep it at about 71% they sound normal. Check this guide here to get even better quality on overall sound (headphones, speakers)
3.B15 and LOS both work with Daydream. I currently use LOS with my Daydream headset currently.
4.Magisk with this kernel here. Currently have fully functioning Android Pay with LOS.
5. This is a big problem. If you're not comfortable with ADB you should maybe rethink messing with this phone. EDL mode (which is how I flash TWRP and subsequently the B20 bootloader to unlock) is very similar to ADB and the tools needed to flash in EDL can brick your device. Learning how to use ADB isn't bad but it's good as a fallback so you're not relying on strangers to help you out in a pinch (which most will, I just like having the ability to do things mostly myself).
---------- Post added at 10:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 AM ----------
nolimit78 said:
I'll keep on saying this as much as I need to, I get where you're coming from. There's a lot of data about the correct way of doing things. Best thing to do is read and search. When I got my phone B29 was the new hotness and there was a bunch of older data floating around that I had to sift through. But I did it, I sifted and found my own way and combined two different methods to get my phone rooted and flashed with LOS. Honestly, the trial and error, the searching, the sifting is totally worthwhile because while this device is /DIFFERENT/ compared to methods for HTC and Samsung products, it's not harder. It's better to get yourself properly antiquated to the device you plan on flashing/hacking/rooting because there is /always/ a chance for bricking. Then another thread will be created asking for help to unbrick. Take the time, read now, read everything, understand your device, then push forward.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I quoted this because this thread is like the third I've seen in the last couple days. But to offer some help, this is the guide that I've followed with two phones one running B29 stock and one running B15 Stock. It remains the same because of the use of EDL. It's also good in case you want to go back to complete stock (which at the time was speculated would brick your device) but I read between the lines and discovered that it's just not a big deal. Once you get TWRP installed, make sure your Data partition is EXT4, flash LOS, flash GApps and you're good to go.
The hardest part of the process, is getting your drivers to be recognized properly for the EDL flashing tool to work. Anti-Virus softwares tend to throw false positives with tools like the EDL Flashing tool. I installed a fresh copy of Windows 7 JUST to have a flashing station ready JIC. Once I did that, smooth sailing.

nolimit78 said:
Ok, I've edited your post to clear some of the clutter and numbered everything so I can answer everything.
1. No, bootloader updates are only for users who haven't updated to B15 (through official means)
2. Only audio issues are with the front facing speakers. The way they sound is if you turn them up to 100% and then push it even higher to like 140%. So if you keep it at about 71% they sound normal. Check this guide here to get even better quality on overall sound (headphones, speakers)
3.B15 and LOS both work with Daydream. I currently use LOS with my Daydream headset currently.
4.Magisk with this kernel here. Currently have fully functioning Android Pay with LOS.
5. This is a big problem. If you're not comfortable with ADB you should maybe rethink messing with this phone. EDL mode (which is how I flash TWRP and subsequently the B20 bootloader to unlock) is very similar to ADB and the tools needed to flash in EDL can brick your device. Learning how to use ADB isn't bad but it's good as a fallback so you're not relying on strangers to help you out in a pinch (which most will, I just like having the ability to do things mostly myself).
---------- Post added at 10:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 AM ----------
I quoted this because this thread is like the third I've seen in the last couple days. But to offer some help, this is the guide that I've followed with two phones one running B29 stock and one running B15 Stock. It remains the same because of the use of EDL. It's also good in case you want to go back to complete stock (which at the time was speculated would brick your device) but I read between the lines and discovered that it's just not a big deal. Once you get TWRP installed, make sure your Data partition is EXT4, flash LOS, flash GApps and you're good to go.
The hardest part of the process, is getting your drivers to be recognized properly for the EDL flashing tool to work. Anti-Virus softwares tend to throw false positives with tools like the EDL Flashing tool. I installed a fresh copy of Windows 7 JUST to have a flashing station ready JIC. Once I did that, smooth sailing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've already used EDL mode from that page to put a fresh copy of stock nougat to, among other things, reduce the potential issues upgrading causes. So all I should have to do is flash B15-NEW_TWRP (Nougat) from that page and then fastboot unlock?
from there reset data/cache, flash custom ROM.
flash gapps
reboot, install apps.
?????

KyJelly69 said:
I've already used EDL mode from that page to put a fresh copy of stock nougat to, among other things, reduce the potential issues upgrading causes. So all I should have to do is flash B15-NEW_TWRP (Nougat) from that page and then fastboot unlock?
from there reset data/cache, flash custom ROM.
flash gapps
reboot, install apps.
?????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup.

kingoftheafro said:
Is that a "should work" or "does work" because I'm trying to root and install LOS also on stock non rooted nougat Axon 7 and so far I've gotten nowhere and no one seems to be able to give me a list that says Yes this works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In case you still need all this, I made a new guide after successfully doing everything:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/axon-7/how-to/complete-guide-to-unlocking-installing-t3561128

[email protected] said:
In case you still need all this, I made a new guide after successfully doing everything:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/axon-7/how-to/complete-guide-to-unlocking-installing-t3561128
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the guide, but I managed to get everything done without having to downagrade from Nougat. I was having issues with my Windows variant recognizing my phone after drivers were installed so I used Linux Mint 18.1 and everything went smooth as a whistle. I think the mods should pin your thread post.

I followed the rootjunkie YouTube videos, worked perfectly and the files were all available.
Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk

How to unlock the bootloader of the SM-N910F (Samsung Galaxy Note 4)?

Hey guys!
At first, this is my first post here so please be lenient if I posted this in the wrong section or whatever. I still need to get used to this forum.
Second, English is not my native language so it could become some gibberish from time to time. I also have to mention that my Android skills are somewhere between newbie and advanced, so please keep that in mind.
But let's get ahead to my problem:
Some days ago, I decided to install Linage OS 14 on my SM-N910F because I don't like the Stock Android 6.0.1 of it.
As you know, a custom ROM requires an unlocked bootloader an that's where my struggle starts.
I simply can't find any tutorial or similar for my phone. The only one I found didn't work (It was with adb fastboot, the process got stuck at "<wating for device>" after the command "fastboot unlock oem" which was described in the tutorial).
I retried it about three or four times before I gave up. It feels like I searched the entire internet, including this forum, but I couldn't find anything useful.
Maybe it's my fault because I didn't look properly, but yeah, know I'm here to ask directly:
Do you guys have any tricks, tipps, ideas or tutorials for me to try?
If it helps you, my phone is already rooted. (chainfire's CF Autoroot)
It'd make me really, really happy and already thank you for your (hopefully) incoming answers.

Vygravlil said:
Hey guys!
At first, this is my first post here so please be lenient if I posted this in the wrong section or whatever. I still need to get used to this forum.
Second, English is not my native language so it could become some gibberish from time to time. I also have to mention that my Android skills are somewhere between newbie and advanced, so please keep that in mind.
But let's get ahead to my problem:
Some days ago, I decided to install Linage OS 14 on my SM-N910F because I don't like the Stock Android 6.0.1 of it.
As you know, a custom ROM requires an unlocked bootloader an that's where my struggle starts.
I simply can't find any tutorial or similar for my phone. The only one I found didn't work (It was with adb fastboot, the process got stuck at "<wating for device>" after the command "fastboot unlock oem" which was described in the tutorial).
I retried it about three or four times before I gave up. It feels like I searched the entire internet, including this forum, but I couldn't find anything useful.
Maybe it's my fault because I didn't look properly, but yeah, know I'm here to ask directly:
Do you guys have any tricks, tipps, ideas or tutorials for me to try?
If it helps you, my phone is already rooted. (chainfire's CF Autoroot)
It'd make me really, really happy and already thank you for your (hopefully) incoming answers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty certain your bootloader isn't locked, you just need to install twrp with odin and then you are good to flash lineage

sawdoctor said:
Pretty certain your bootloader isn't locked, you just need to install twrp with odin and then you are good to flash lineage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your fast reply. I'll try it once again, moreover I'll let you know if it worked.

It's me again. Flashing the ROM worked, my phone now runs under Linage OS 14.1. But now I've got another problem: Gapps. Somehow I can't flash the Gapps package, TWRP always tells me that the file is corrupted. I downloaded both the Pico and the Nano package for ARM Android 7.1* devices. Both don't work. I also tried the Android 7.0.* version, but that didn't work ofcourse. (Error 20: Wrong Android version installed on the device.) Is it my fault because I downloaded the wrong packages or what's the issue?
It'd be awesome if you could help me again.
Vygravlil
EDIT:
Okay, now it works. TWRP was right, the file was corrupted. I figured out that my PC kinda messed up the download of the package. I downloaded it with another computer and now everything works fine.

[SM-T585] Unable to root, multiple methods

Hi guys,
So, this is a last resort. I've followed a number of different guides and methods, but nothing has worked. The closest "success" I've had is with a Chainfire auto root; it flashes, it breaks Knox, but I still don't have SU. Could it be because I don't have an SD card? I saw it as a prerequisite in some guide but didn't really put much stock in it as that was a single mention which also involved loading it with verity, which I'm more interested in removing.
I've also tried twrp, which that looked like it had bricked my device, though I managed to recover it by flashing the auto root again. I'm speculating that it's something to do with the latest updates, but really I'm just clueless and frazzled after 4+ hours of wracking my brains. I'm not sure what other info you'd find helpful anymore without going full splurge, so I'll keep it sweet and let you question me or berate me for my vile, witholding ways as you see fit. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Edit:
My SU checker says that I've not got the binaries or root user account. The .tar from firmware.mobi is only 54mb. I tried turning off suhide, but changed no other options. Trying to use fastboot straight up fails, the device isn't recognised after adb booting (despite having tried the correct drivers and some random others multiple times over.) I've been unable to locate a release for the T585 on twrp site, though a version is out there on these forums from a year or so back.

Smellfungus said:
Hi guys,
So, this is a last resort. I've followed a number of different guides and methods, but nothing has worked. The closest "success" I've had is with a Chainfire auto root; it flashes, it breaks Knox, but I still don't have SU. Could it be because I don't have an SD card? I saw it as a prerequisite in some guide but didn't really put much stock in it as that was a single mention which also involved loading it with verity, which I'm more interested in removing.
I've also tried twrp, which that looked like it had bricked my device, though I managed to recover it by flashing the auto root again. I'm speculating that it's something to do with the latest updates, but really I'm just clueless and frazzled after 4+ hours of wracking my brains. I'm not sure what other info you'd find helpful anymore without going full splurge, so I'll keep it sweet and let you question me or berate me for my vile, witholding ways as you see fit. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Edit:
My SU checker says that I've not got the binaries or root user account. The .tar from firmware.mobi is only 54mb. I tried turning off suhide, but changed no other options. Trying to use fastboot straight up fails, the device isn't recognised after adb booting (despite having tried the correct drivers and some random others multiple times over.) I've been unable to locate a release for the T585 on twrp site, though a version is out there on these forums from a year or so back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way I know of to successfully root a Tab A is by flashing TWRP and then using it to flash SU or Magisk. What version of TWRP are you using and what version of Odin? Using the correct ones won't brick a T585.

When I got my Tab A a couple of weeks ago I did a LOT of reading first ... but then it took less than 24 hrs from receiving it to having it rooted + running RR Oreo
Following the guide HERE I enabled OEM Unlocking and installed Odin.
Using Odin I flashed twrp-3.2.3-4-gtaxllte-OMNI6.tar from HERE.
Using the freshly installed TWRP I flashed RR-O-v6.2.1-20181210-gtaxllte-Unofficial.zip from HERE, Gapps from HERE and the latest Magisk from HERE.
That was it - rooted and ready to go :victory:
The first guide pretty much covers all the steps you need, I simply used a different TWRP version. You can't brick your device flashing TWRP unless you flash something that's not for your device. Make SURE to enable OEM Unlock first - and don't use SuperSU but Magisk.
Good luck :fingers-crossed:

Nimueh said:
When I got my Tab A a couple of weeks ago I did a LOT of reading first ... but then it took less than 24 hrs from receiving it to having it rooted + running RR Oreo
Following the guide HERE I enabled OEM Unlocking and installed Odin.
Using Odin I flashed twrp-3.2.3-4-gtaxllte-OMNI6.tar from HERE.
Using the freshly installed TWRP I flashed RR-O-v6.2.1-20181210-gtaxllte-Unofficial.zip from HERE, Gapps from HERE and the latest Magisk from HERE.
That was it - rooted and ready to go :victory:
The first guide pretty much covers all the steps you need, I simply used a different TWRP version. You can't brick your device flashing TWRP unless you flash something that's not for your device. Make SURE to enable OEM Unlock first - and don't use SuperSU but Magisk.
Good luck :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am about to try this.... was you device on Android 7 (nougat) or Android 8 (Oreo) when you did this?
Thanks for your time.

webzo said:
I am about to try this.... was you device on Android 7 (nougat) or Android 8 (Oreo) when you did this?
Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I honestly don't remember
But it should work on either one - only difference now is that we have an official recovery that can be downloaded from twrp.me directly :highfive:

Nimueh said:
When I got my Tab A a couple of weeks ago I did a LOT of reading first ... but then it took less than 24 hrs from receiving it to having it rooted + running RR Oreo
Following the guide HERE I enabled OEM Unlocking and installed Odin.
Using Odin I flashed twrp-3.2.3-4-gtaxllte-OMNI6.tar from HERE.
Using the freshly installed TWRP I flashed RR-O-v6.2.1-20181210-gtaxllte-Unofficial.zip from HERE, Gapps from HERE and the latest Magisk from HERE.
That was it - rooted and ready to go :victory:
The first guide pretty much covers all the steps you need, I simply used a different TWRP version. You can't brick your device flashing TWRP unless you flash something that's not for your device. Make SURE to enable OEM Unlock first - and don't use SuperSU but Magisk.
Good luck :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does this need twrp-3.2.3-4-gtaxllte-OMNI6.tar to go from Oreo to Pie?
I am not finding -OMNI.tar anywhere. All links are dead.
Can I use a newer version of TWRP?
Thanks.

webzo said:
Does this need twrp-3.2.3-4-gtaxllte-OMNI6.tar to go from Oreo to Pie?
I am not finding -OMNI.tar anywhere. All links are dead.
Can I use a newer version of TWRP?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so I went ahead and tried with the latest TWRP (3.3.1.1), RR (v7.0.2).
Everything seemed to go well..... except, tablet is now stuck in boot animation. It won't startup.
I double checked and I don't think I missed any steps.... Any ideas on what I can try?
Thanks.

webzo said:
Ok, so I went ahead and tried with the latest TWRP (3.3.1.1), RR (v7.0.2).
Everything seemed to go well..... except, tablet is now stuck in boot animation. It won't startup.
I double checked and I don't think I missed any steps.... Any ideas on what I can try?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update:
I tried to restore the backup via TWRP and ended up with a "unable to mount /system" error.
My /system partition was showing zero size.
Many wipes and restores didn't help.
Eventually, what seemed to help was to choose repair the system partition, change file system to FAT, change file system back to ext4. Saw it in a youtube video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-7neHzSIvc
After /system error was fixed, I did an install of RR again and it went smooth.
All is well now.
Hope this helps someone.

webzo said:
Does this need twrp-3.2.3-4-gtaxllte-OMNI6.tar to go from Oreo to Pie?
I am not finding -OMNI.tar anywhere. All links are dead.
Can I use a newer version of TWRP?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Back then we had no working official version and the Omni6 one was the only one without issues. Now we have the official and it should work just fine.
No idea why you had those problems, but I'm glad you got it all sorted

HELP: Rooting Essential PH-1 on android 9

Guys, I'm at my wits end here. I don't know what to do. And it's driving me crazy.
After saving for 3 months, I got a used Essential Ph-1 from craigslist (for sprint). It came with Android 9, and a February 5, 2019 security patch.
All I want to do is to root the phone. And I have tried everything in my power to get it to work. It just does not. I have unlocked the bootloader, I'm seeing the device in adb and fastboot, but unable to sideload, or flash anything. I've been following different threads on here and youtube looking for directions, but my phone will just not do it.
Can someone please help me? I will send my phone over to you and pay you to have it done. I've tried almost everything to do it, and nothing works. I've even tried to flash android 8 and 7, it still doesn't do it. Someone please help me. I don't know what more i can do. Any guidance is appreciated.

Can someone please help me? I don't know what more to do. Please.

Can you temporarily boot to twrp?
Are you using fastboot.exe from the essential ph1 driver folder?

goofball2k said:
Can you temporarily boot to twrp?
Are you using fastboot.exe from the essential ph1 driver folder?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. I can't sideload or boot into anything other than the android 9

I also bought my PH-1 on CL, but it was an open market version. I can only outline what I found on this forum, and what worked successfully for me... I assume you are on Windows. First off, make sure you install the drivers provided by Essential, and use adb/fastboot that comes with it (it gets installed and put into the system path when you install the drivers).
I didn't care about TWRP, so the only thing I needed was root. So, after unlocking bootloader (and also unlocking critical, as recommended), I simply followed the steps to install Magisk, which are really straightforward:
https://topjohnwu.github.io/Magisk/install.html
Just use the "Boot Image Patching" section.
That's it. Works perfectly, and I just need to repeat the patching after OTA updates (there is a thread about this procedure specifically).
If fastboot flashing doesn't work for you for some weird reason, I don't have any good ideas about that, sorry! Sounds like you are able to get into the fastboot mode (since you are saying you can see your phone in the device list), so why it wouldn't let you flash is kinda baffling...

kt-Froggy said:
I also bought my PH-1 on CL, but it was an open market version. I can only outline what I found on this forum, and what worked successfully for me... I assume you are on Windows. First off, make sure you install the drivers provided by Essential, and use adb/fastboot that comes with it (it gets installed and put into the system path when you install the drivers).
I didn't care about TWRP, so the only thing I needed was root. So, after unlocking bootloader (and also unlocking critical, as recommended), I simply followed the steps to install Magisk, which are really straightforward:
https://topjohnwu.github.io/Magisk/install.html
Just use the "Boot Image Patching" section.
That's it. Works perfectly, and I just need to repeat the patching after OTA updates (there is a thread about this procedure specifically).
If fastboot flashing doesn't work for you for some weird reason, I don't have any good ideas about that, sorry! Sounds like you are able to get into the fastboot mode (since you are saying you can see your phone in the device list), so why it wouldn't let you flash is kinda baffling...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that too. But it kept saying unable to unpack boot image | installation failed.
I tried it with the stock images from the Essential website, both the OTA and fastboot versions. I'm getting the error for both files.

I would suggest checking out the PH1 Dev telegram group https://t.me/EssentialPH1DEV . not only will you find pre rooted stock boot images along with ones with TWRP as well you will also find help flashing them if you need it. Hope this helps you out.

Thank you everyone for all your help. Special thanks to kt-Froggy. I got it to work. I had to change my usb port from 3 to 2 and i was able to get it to work!

Seeking advice on rooting Smart Tab M10 FHD Plus 2nd Gen

Dear and knowledgeable readers!
Being a longtime lurker, your tireless work and dedication to the community have enabled me to unlock and root many different android devices over the years and I am deeply grateful this place exists.
Right now, I plan on adding the recently released
Lenovo Smart Tab M10 FHD Plus 2nd Gen [ZA5T0302SE / TB-X606F, I believe]
in the WLAN/4GB/64GB variant to my collection. Having grown accustomed to the luxury of root access, I was wondering if anyone already had some experience with rooting the device and would be willing to share his / her knowledge with me.
Especially, I was wondering if this guide for the TB-X605F, which I have successfully used in the past for my older model, would (in principle) be applicable, as long as I could obtain the corresponding firmware for the newer one, which might be available here (as soon as GD wills it).
Any advice / support would be highly appreciated!
[Sidenote]: To my best ability, I wasn’t able to find an existing thread on the topic of rooting the device in question and I hope to have chosen the right forum to post it in (or if the general Q&A would have been the better fit?). If not, dear mods, please be lenient with me and simply move the thread to the proper subforum.

Brotinger said:
Dear and knowledgeable readers!
Being a longtime lurker, your tireless work and dedication to the community have enabled me to unlock and root many different android devices over the years and I am deeply grateful this place exists.
Right now, I plan on adding the recently released
Lenovo Smart Tab M10 FHD Plus 2nd Gen [ZA5T0302SE / TB-X606F, I believe]
in the WLAN/4GB/64GB variant to my collection. Having grown accustomed to the luxury of root access, I was wondering if anyone already had some experience with rooting the device and would be willing to share his / her knowledge with me.
Especially, I was wondering if this guide for the TB-X605F, which I have successfully used in the past for my older model, would (in principle) be applicable, as long as I could obtain the corresponding firmware for the newer one, which might be available here (as soon as GD wills it).
Any advice / support would be highly appreciated!
[Sidenote]: To my best ability, I wasn’t able to find an existing thread on the topic of rooting the device in question and I hope to have chosen the right forum to post it in (or if the general Q&A would have been the better fit?). If not, dear mods, please be lenient with me and simply move the thread to the proper subforum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you download the lmsa tool, plug in the tablet and go to recovery it will download the full stock firmware. Then you can find it c/program data/LMSA/downloads.
I did that then downloads magisk manager. Extract the boot.img from firmware and put in storage of tablet. Then used magisk manager and patch the boot.img it will tell where it is stored. Extract from tablet and put it in same folder as adb/fast boot. Then put tablet in fastboot and fastboot flash boot magisk-patched.img. then fastboot reboot. The will be rooted with magisk
I forgot. You must unlock bootloader to do this.

Dear 11mackey11,
thank you so very much for caring enough to share your knowledge with me!
So the guide I mentioned earlier is pretty much applicable for the newer model as well? What a relief!
I am also grateful for the hint on how to obtain the stock firmware. For all the dirty things I did to my devices in the past, it never became necessary to put the LMS-Assistant to use, but I will gladly change that now.
As soon as my device arrives, I will try to root it as you suggested and will report back how I fared.
Again, many thanks!

It took me some time to finally get to it … delivery problems with the device … busy work schedule …
… anyhow, I now took the leap and am happy to report that, thanks to your advice, I was able to add another rooted device to my ever-growing collection. “Worked like a charm”, as they use to say.
To repeat myself, I am very grateful for you taking the time to respond to my question and reassuring me that this was the path to follow.
Honestly, thanks!

Brotinger said:
It took me some time to finally get to it … delivery problems with the device … busy work schedule …
… anyhow, I now took the leap and am happy to report that, thanks to your advice, I was able to add another rooted device to my ever-growing collection. “Worked like a charm”, as they use to say.
To repeat myself, I am very grateful for you taking the time to respond to my question and reassuring me that this was the path to follow.
Honestly, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi. I just purchased the same tablet. I would appreciate it if you could write up a guide on this forum. It would be a help for everyone.
I'm not even sure how you unlock the bootloader on this thing!

Hi and congratulations on your purchase! The TB-606F is a solid device in my book.
Although I have by now rooted more than a dozen android devices and guess I have at least somewhat of an idea of what I am doing, I am by far no pro on the issue. Basically, I consider myself more a “guide user” than a “guide creator”, still.
But as I have benefited from the kind- and helpfulness of this community many times before, I can’t leave this call for help unanswered.
The thing is, nonetheless, I would really like to refer anyone poised to root their TB-606F to the guide for the TB-605F which I linked to in my initial post. Rooting the TB-606F, in principle, demands the user to undertake the same steps as for rooting the TB-605F.
There are, from the top of my head, only two noticeable differences or variations from that guide which I discovered:
1) firmware
As I still haven’t found a reliable source to obtain the necessary stock firmware by download from the web, the advice of fellow user 11mackey11 comes in very handy who, in response to my initial post, pointed me to the LSMA to download the firmware from your very own device.
2) unlocking bootloader
At least with my device, the fastboot commands known to me to usually unlock the bootloader (as are “fastboot oem unlock-go”, “fastboot oem unlock” or “fastboot flashing unlock”) did not do the trick. I had to resort to the command line of “fastboot flashing unlock” to finally make some progress. This might be an outlier with me device, though, as 11mackey11 did not mention the issue.
Again, I will gladly provide any assistance I can offer, but as for writing up a guide, I would mostly carbon copy turboperson123’s guide for the TB-605F mentioned above anyhow and it does not seem right to take credit for his contributions.
But if you had any specific question, please don’t hesitate to ask and I will answer it to my best knowledge (which might not be much).

Tutorial
I found this tutorial specific to the X606F https://forum.frandroid.com/topic/2...u-lenovo-tab-m10-fhd-plus-tb-x606f-sans-twrp/ alas in French but Google translate makes a decent job out of it

b4nd0ler0 said:
I found this tutorial specific to the X606F https://forum.frandroid.com/topic/2...u-lenovo-tab-m10-fhd-plus-tb-x606f-sans-twrp/ alas in French but Google translate makes a decent job out of it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want to apply it to my device, have you tried this method?

Yes, tried and failed miserably. The tablet is not correctly rooted as reported by Root Checker. The su binary is there and shows it's Magisk but no root proper.
Will try again and report back when done.

b4nd0ler0 said:
Yes, tried and failed miserably. The tablet is not correctly rooted as reported by Root Checker. The su binary is there and shows it's Magisk but no root proper.
Will try again and report back when done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, I'm waiting for news from you. The tablet is sold very much in our country. like this in the world. I'm sure the developers will do something about this device.

b4nd0ler0 said:
I found this tutorial specific to the X606F https://forum.frandroid.com/topic/2...u-lenovo-tab-m10-fhd-plus-tb-x606f-sans-twrp/ alas in French but Google translate makes a decent job out of it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rooted my device with this method

this method doesn't work
Hello dear Android users...
I've got the 3/64GB version of this device (ZA5T0300US) and this method of rooting did not work for me. When I check root in Magisk Manager, it says ctsProfile:false & basicIntegrity:true, so root doesn't work. I tried multiple times and every time had this same result. My ROM version is TB_X606F_USR_S100055_2001030016_V5.196_BMP_ROW (extracted ROM folder name). Are you sure your root actually 100% worked? What is your ROM version?

adroid_user said:
Hello dear Android users...
I've got the 3/64GB version of this device (ZA5T0300US) and this method of rooting did not work for me. When I check root in Magisk Manager, it says ctsProfile:false & basicIntegrity:true, so root doesn't work. I tried multiple times and every time had this same result. My ROM version is TB_X606F_USR_S100055_2001030016_V5.196_BMP_ROW (extracted ROM folder name). Are you sure your root actually 100% worked? What is your ROM version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This method is working!
Use the Official Lenovo website to access your original "rom" file and get the "boot.img" file.
Program: Lenovo Rescue And Smart Assistant https://lnv.gy/3d8FHLi
For an article on how to download the Rom file via the program, see here. (Step 3)
https://bit.ly/2yE1nQf
Good Luck!

adroid_user said:
Hello dear Android users...
I've got the 3/64GB version of this device (ZA5T0300US) and this method of rooting did not work for me. When I check root in Magisk Manager, it says ctsProfile:false & basicIntegrity:true, so root doesn't work. I tried multiple times and every time had this same result. My ROM version is TB_X606F_USR_S100055_2001030016_V5.196_BMP_ROW (extracted ROM folder name). Are you sure your root actually 100% worked? What is your ROM version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You did not enable Magisk Hide

mingkee said:
You did not enable Magisk Hide
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was it! Thanks! You're smarter & more helpful than Google!!! ))

Hi.
After i root the tablet, i tried to delete youtube and gdrive. Then i restart the tablet but it stuck in fastboot mode. Not booting.
i couldn't install stock rom. What i must do

I did this..
i patched the boot img from the lenovo program. and i like to shut down my devices when i dont use them and now i cant make it boot. im stuck in a bootloop and its says orange alert when i boot the device. i can only get into the fastboot menu. when i try to boot with vol + and power nothing happens and when i release it starts up again in a bootloop. i cant shut it down either. it just loops and loops. cant do the rescue thing with the program either.. anybody that knows how i can fix this?

I have an out of topic question regarding this tablet.
Can The Lenovo M10 Plus (2nd Gen) 10.3" TB-X606F Output Display via HDMI to TV ???
I tried using a powered USB-C to HDMI adapter to output/mirror the tablet to a TV, but it didn't work.

Brotinger said:
Hi and congratulations on your purchase! The TB-606F is a solid device in my book.
Although I have by now rooted more than a dozen android devices and guess I have at least somewhat of an idea of what I am doing, I am by far no pro on the issue. Basically, I consider myself more a “guide user” than a “guide creator”, still.
But as I have benefited from the kind- and helpfulness of this community many times before, I can’t leave this call for help unanswered.
The thing is, nonetheless, I would really like to refer anyone poised to root their TB-606F to the guide for the TB-605F which I linked to in my initial post. Rooting the TB-606F, in principle, demands the user to undertake the same steps as for rooting the TB-605F.
There are, from the top of my head, only two noticeable differences or variations from that guide which I discovered:
1) firmware
As I still haven’t found a reliable source to obtain the necessary stock firmware by download from the web, the advice of fellow user 11mackey11 comes in very handy who, in response to my initial post, pointed me to the LSMA to download the firmware from your very own device.
2) unlocking bootloader
At least with my device, the fastboot commands known to me to usually unlock the bootloader (as are “fastboot oem unlock-go”, “fastboot oem unlock” or “fastboot flashing unlock”) did not do the trick. I had to resort to the command line of “fastboot flashing unlock” to finally make some progress. This might be an outlier with me device, though, as 11mackey11 did not mention the issue.
Again, I will gladly provide any assistance I can offer, but as for writing up a guide, I would mostly carbon copy turboperson123’s guide for the TB-605F mentioned above anyhow and it does not seem right to take credit for his contributions.
But if you had any specific question, please don’t hesitate to ask and I will answer it to my best knowledge (which might not be much).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, thanks for all this useful info. I'm a noob when it comes to rooting. I have hit an issue, that you guys could probably easily advice me. I have got up to where you enter "fastboot flashing unlock" it comes back with something like "waiting for any device". How do I get past this point? I have tried pressing volum up as I saw on a guide however no luck.

unlock not possible
CMX939 said:
Hey, thanks for all this useful info. I'm a noob when it comes to rooting. I have hit an issue, that you guys could probably easily advice me. I have got up to where you enter "fastboot flashing unlock" it comes back with something like "waiting for any device". How do I get past this point? I have tried pressing volum up as I saw on a guide however no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same issue, "waiting for device" and adb dies.
I assume, the latest lenovo updates (Android 9) block unlocking.
The current! LMSA tool does not allow to restore an old separately downloaded firmware