Is my boot loader unlocked? And other questions. - Sony Xperia X Compact Questions & Answers

Forgive my lack of knowledge.
Before reading the drawbacks I attempted to unlock the boot loader on my X Compact, I received a few errors and now I am unsure as to whether it is unlocked or not. Is there a way to test this?
I intended to root the phone but I have not root a phone for years, the last one was a Samsung S5 and things seem to have got more complicated since then.
So my questions are, how do I check if the boot loader is unlocked?
If I have lost the DRMs, how do I replace them?
What actual effect does losing them create?
I have read dozens of threads but can't find a straight answer, If you know, I'd appreciate it.
I am still considering the root.

wyzzy said:
Forgive my lack of knowledge.
Before reading the drawbacks I attempted to unlock the boot loader on my X Compact, I received a few errors and now I am unsure as to whether it is unlocked or not. Is there a way to test this?
I intended to root the phone but I have not root a phone for years, the last one was a Samsung S5 and things seem to have got more complicated since then.
So my questions are, how do I check if the boot loader is unlocked?
If I have lost the DRMs, how do I replace them?
What actual effect does losing them create?
I have read dozens of threads but can't find a straight answer, If you know, I'd appreciate it.
I am still considering the root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's been a while, but I think you open the phone app and dial *#*#7378423#*#*, then go to service info>configuration, and in the info there it will tell you.
If you lost drm, they're gone for good. Back them up first, or no hope. The affect is a loss of certain Sony camera functions.

It says
"Bootloader unlock allowed: Yes"
but I read somewhere that sometimes this does not change after it is unlocked, is there a way to be sure?
What camera functions are lost? I read a lot of talk about it but nobody seemed to be able to pin down what the difference is.
Also how do I back up the DRM?
Im running Oreo

wyzzy said:
It says
"Bootloader unlock allowed: Yes"
but I read somewhere that sometimes this does not change after it is unlocked, is there a way to be sure?
What camera functions are lost? I read a lot of talk about it but nobody seemed to be able to pin down what the difference is.
Also how do I back up the DRM?
Im running Oreo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that if it is unlocked, it will say "status unlocked" or something. Your message only indicates that it's possible to unlock it, (sometimes it's not). The difference is subtle, but noticeable. There are certain camera features specific to Sony that make the pictures nicer. I never looked too much into it, since I'm not too much into photography. If you aren't too hung up on the finer aspects of photography, you probably won't miss it. Still a good idea to back up, though, just in case. I'm pretty sure you can't do it without downgrading to MM first. Then you can use dirtydirty-cow tool, then upgrade back to O if you want - http://forum.xda-developers.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/universal-dirtycow-based-ta-backup-t3514236 You might be able to do it manually from O with dd command, or something, but I'm not sure... You will need to find a MM ftf, shouldn't be too hard, might even be one on Xperifirm still... Now that I think about it, I think ta backup is possible on newer versions of twrp, but you still have to make the backup, and extract the img from the backup, so maybe not any quicker...

Related

[Q] Can someone please explain the rooting on this phone to me?

I apologize if there is already a thread like this, but the search wasnt working.. I know what i can do with my phone once it is rooted, I am just interested in what happens tot he actual phone. I could be wrong, but once i root it isnt it always possible to tell that i rooted it even if i unroot it so therefor all warantees are voided? sorry if im being unclear, i cant think of another way to explain it haha.
The K-Zoo Kid said:
I apologize if there is already a thread like this, but the search wasnt working.. I know what i can do with my phone once it is rooted, I am just interested in what happens tot he actual phone. I could be wrong, but once i root it isnt it always possible to tell that i rooted it even if i unroot it so therefor all warantees are voided? sorry if im being unclear, i cant think of another way to explain it haha.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The language on the "warranty void" screen says that unlocking the bootloader "may" void your warranty. On the Nexus One, HTC usually honored the warranty if the issue was with anything hardware related and could not have been the result of software tampering. Granted, that's them and this is Samsung.
Further, unless there is something hidden in the system files that counts the number of times you unlock the bootloader, you can always relock it prior to sending it in for repair with fastboot oem lock.
unremarked said:
The language on the "warranty void" screen says that unlocking the bootloader "may" void your warranty. On the Nexus One, HTC usually honored the warranty if the issue was with anything hardware related and could not have been the result of software tampering. Granted, that's them and this is Samsung.
Further, unless there is something hidden in the system files that counts the number of times you unlock the bootloader, you can always relock it prior to sending it in for repair with fastboot oem lock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So there is a way to kind of undo the root without them knowing? THanks a lot btw. I figured it was something like this.
The K-Zoo Kid said:
So there is a way to kind of undo the root without them knowing? THanks a lot btw. I figured it was something like this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unlocking the bootloader and rooting are two different things
jblade1000 said:
unlocking the bootloader and rooting are two different things
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh i have no idea what unlocking the bootloader does then.
The K-Zoo Kid said:
Ahh i have no idea what unlocking the bootloader does then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In a nutshell, unlocking the bootloader means you will be allowed to flash non-Google/custom files to the system partition and more or less enables superuser access(aka root). Once thats done, then you "root" the device, push the Superuser.apk which will enable the rooted apps. Please check out the rooted section of my stickied FAQ for more detail on how to do this if you decide to. There are two great threads I link to.
Once you lock the bootloader, you lose access to the system partition and superuser I believe which effectively unroots it.
unremarked said:
In a nutshell, unlocking the bootloader means you will be allowed to flash non-Google/custom files to the system partition and more or less enables superuser access(aka root). Once thats done, then you "root" the device, push the Superuser.apk which will enable the rooted apps. Please check out the rooted section of my stickied FAQ for more detail on how to do this if you decide to. There are two great threads I link to.
Once you lock the bootloader, you lose access to the system partition and superuser I believe which effectively unroots it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So basically if you want to do any sort of mods, flash roms, etc. you need to unlock the bootload and root. Thanks a lot for explaining that. I think i understand it now, but just to clarify, if i unlock the bootloader and root will i be able to get the phone back to stock without samsung knowing that i rooted/unlock the bootloader?
The K-Zoo Kid said:
So basically if you want to do any sort of mods, flash roms, etc. you need to unlock the bootload and root. Thanks a lot for explaining that. I think i understand it now, but just to clarify, if i unlock the bootloader and root will i be able to get the phone back to stock without samsung knowing that i rooted/unlock the bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, to mod/flash roms you need to unlock the bootloader. It's possible that sometime down the road someone may develop a method of gaining root access on the phone without touching it, but it's unlikely given the fact that we can both unlock and lock the bootloader very easily.
Right now, the answer is... more or less. If you make a NAND backup in Clockwork Recovery/Rom manager of your stock ROM, you can restore back to that, fastboot flash the closest thing we have currently to the stock recovery(check development section for this), then relock the bootloader. This will give the phone all appearances of being stock. Unless Samsung has something deep in the system files tracking the number of times you've unlocked/locked(which I doubt, since I'm sure such a system would have been found by now), you should be good to go.
Most people who have returned the phone to Best Buy have noted that they don't even power on the device or check to see if the bootloader is unlocked or if there's a custom recovery on there. But your mileage may vary.
Interesting stuff. I was under the impression that once clockworkmod is flashed there is no way to remove it at this time.
Reading this thread I'm guessing and hoping this is not the case?
I had clockworkmod installed but used rom manager to flash the 2.3.1 update and i've now got the stock bootloader back. I guess the ota update does the same? It would seem that getting back to stock is pretty easy.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
xspyda said:
Interesting stuff. I was under the impression that once clockworkmod is flashed there is no way to remove it at this time.
Reading this thread I'm guessing and hoping this is not the case?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My apologies, I posted that before I came to the same understanding regarding the stock recovery.
Like the poster above me mentioned there is a NAND backup of stock 2.3.1 you could restore to which has the stock recovery.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Thanks for the clarification. I'll do some more reading in the dev section
Thanks a lot, this really helped me out a lot. I will proceed to rooting
So, just want to make sure I have this straight... You unlock the bootloader, load custom recovery, SU, and now phone is rooted. If you lock the bootloader, you lose root?
For me, I'm not big on custom roms since I just don't have time to keep things up to date or participate in the bug process, but I do like to maintain backups with Titanium (my primary reason for rooting). So by locking the bootloader down I will not be able to use Titanium. Furthermore, unlocking the bootloader wipes the device. So is there a reason one would not want to keep the bootloader unlocked? Have I completely misunderstood the system?

[Q] Quick question about unlocking bootloader

I searched the forums, and didn't really find an answer I'm looking for. I'm hoping that someone can quickly help me without too much bashing :laugh:
Is there a way I can test to see if my BL is unlocked without bricking anything if it's actually locked? I bought a phone off of ebay, and the person stated that nothing was ever done to it. However, after rooting / VooDoo, and not doing anything else to it, it wouldn't take the .94 update... kept getting the EMMC:boot error. Had to use matt's utility to RSD to stock (even though it was already stock) and root / VooDoo again.... after which it took update.
So, since the person may have lied about it not being rooted before, maybe they unlocked the BL, and just covered it up...
I DO show Bootloader Locked: Status 0 though in AP mode. I'm just wondering if I can run Motocopylis (or whatever it's called) without fear of bricking anything if it's still locked, and what kind of message or error I'd get if it's already unlocked.
dreamersipaq said:
I searched the forums, and didn't really find an answer I'm looking for. I'm hoping that someone can quickly help me without too much bashing :laugh:
Is there a way I can test to see if my BL is unlocked without bricking anything if it's actually locked? I bought a phone off of ebay, and the person stated that nothing was ever done to it. However, after rooting / VooDoo, and not doing anything else to it, it wouldn't take the .94 update... kept getting the EMMC:boot error. Had to use matt's utility to RSD to stock (even though it was already stock) and root / VooDoo again.... after which it took update.
So, since the person may have lied about it not being rooted before, maybe they unlocked the BL, and just covered it up...
I DO show Bootloader Locked: Status 0 though in AP mode. I'm just wondering if I can run Motocopylis (or whatever it's called) without fear of bricking anything if it's still locked, and what kind of message or error I'd get if it's already unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your build is prior to may 24 '13 there is the apk in my goodies. If its equal or later there is no point.
Go to the 1st link below.
dreamersipaq said:
I searched the forums, and didn't really find an answer I'm looking for. I'm hoping that someone can quickly help me without too much bashing :laugh:
Is there a way I can test to see if my BL is unlocked without bricking anything if it's actually locked? I bought a phone off of ebay, and the person stated that nothing was ever done to it. However, after rooting / VooDoo, and not doing anything else to it, it wouldn't take the .94 update... kept getting the EMMC:boot error. Had to use matt's utility to RSD to stock (even though it was already stock) and root / VooDoo again.... after which it took update.
So, since the person may have lied about it not being rooted before, maybe they unlocked the BL, and just covered it up...
I DO show Bootloader Locked: Status 0 though in AP mode. I'm just wondering if I can run Motocopylis (or whatever it's called) without fear of bricking anything if it's still locked, and what kind of message or error I'd get if it's already unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm no expert at all but I ran motoapocolyps and if didn't do anything. It will either fail and your phone will be fine or, depending on what update you last took, unlock it. My phone is past due for unlocking the bootloader unless there is a way to downgrade it.
Hi
aviwdoowks said:
If your build is prior to may 24 '13 there is the apk in my goodies. If its equal or later there is no point.
Go to the 1st link below.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, Thanks for the reply! I don't think my question came across right. I know I can't unlock on my build. I guess I'm asking what i can do to test if it's already been unlocked and covered up by someone before...
Thanks!
Follow up question:
What would be the difference in the output on the screen that you get of
1) if you run Motocopylis and you're already unlocked
vs.
2) if you run Motocopylis and failing since you're locked and on the May build
Thanks!
dreamersipaq said:
Hi, Thanks for the reply! I don't think my question came across right. I know I can't unlock on my build. I guess I'm asking what i can do to test if it's already been unlocked and covered up by someone before...
Thanks!
Follow up question:
What would be the difference in the output on the screen that you get of
1) if you run Motocopylis and you're already unlocked
vs.
2) if you run Motocopylis and failing since you're locked and on the May build
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You said it already:
""I DO show Bootloader Locked: Status 0 though in AP mode.""
With the knowledge that the build is may 24 or later means no unlock.
Build before May, 24 and running the UL apk results in an UL'ed boot.
status 0: never rooted
1: rooted previously but not now.
3 : rooted
dreamersipaq said:
Hi, Thanks for the reply! I don't think my question came across right. I know I can't unlock on my build. I guess I'm asking what i can do to test if it's already been unlocked and covered up by someone before...
Thanks!
Follow up question:
What would be the difference in the output on the screen that you get of
1) if you run Motocopylis and you're already unlocked
vs.
2) if you run Motocopylis and failing since you're locked and on the May build
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't cover up a BL unlock. Like Avi said, it shows locked on you AP Fastboot screen, so that means you're locked.
aviwdoowks said:
You said it already:
""I DO show Bootloader Locked: Status 0 though in AP mode.""
With the knowledge that the build is may 24 or later means no unlock.
Build before May, 24 and running the UL apk results in an UL'ed boot.
status 0: never rooted
1: rooted previously but not now.
3 : rooted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you mean unlocked or rooted?
I'm rooted, but I show status 0
Thanks for your reply!
RikRong said:
You can't cover up a BL unlock. Like Avi said, it shows locked on you AP Fastboot screen, so that means you're locked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"You can't cover up a BL unlock." <- THANK YOU! That is what I was trying to confirm....
I was thinking that since you can do this to cover up the unlocked bl warning: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1901444
that you can also do something to cover up the AP screen as well.
Since I'm rooted, and this phone is supposed to get 4.4, I'm not too upset that I can't unlock (Though with 4.4 I'll probably lose root ).. The stock rom is pretty nice on these, and root gives me pretty much anything I want for customization.
Thanks!
dreamersipaq said:
do you mean unlocked or rooted?
I'm rooted, but I show status 0
Thanks for your reply!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am the one confused! I need to learn my codes.

How can I unbrick nexus 6p if I didn't unlock bootloader or OEM?

I'm new to Android. Recently I got a new nexus 6p. I was so confused that whether I have to unlock bootloader or not. Currently I just want to experience the pure Android simply without rooting or changing anything. But I heard a lot about bricked nexus 6 that the device would not be manually fixed if it was not bootloader unlocked before. As I am in China where I have no warranty for my nexus 6p, I have to keep my device safe as possible as I can.
So my question is under the circumstance that I haven't unlocked bootloader or OEM:
How much probability could it be I do nothing but unexpectedly brick the device?
If it is bricked, is it possible to recover it?
Do common nexus 6p users have to unlock bootloader?
Another important thing should be mentioned. Generally I can't access to any service by google in China, so I utilize a proxy tool to get over the great firewall to use google. Is there any experience about the situation like me? I also heard a saying that upgrading nexus 6 firmware by OTA through a proxy tool in China may brick the device, because google can not save the upgrading information of the device for the reason that the proxy IP is not static, then google will push update again, and once you click it, brick.
Puzzled enough...Thanks in advance.
I am not 100% certain what you are asking... If you do not unlock the bootloader, you should not be able to brick your device. The only reason to unlock it is to flash a custom ROM (not official from Google) or to flash Google factory images, which it sounds like might be necessary for you being that you are in China and may not receive OTAs properly. This is a process of downloading a file from Google and flashing to your device after unlocking the bootloader.
Your post was not exactly clear partially, but is your phone already bricked and you are trying to recover, or simply asking for your own reference?
fury683 said:
I am not 100% certain what you are asking... If you do not unlock the bootloader, you should not be able to brick your device. The only reason to unlock it is to flash a custom ROM (not official from Google) or to flash Google factory images, which it sounds like might be necessary for you being that you are in China and may not receive OTAs properly. This is a process of downloading a file from Google and flashing to your device after unlocking the bootloader.
Your post was not exactly clear partially, but is your phone already bricked and you are trying to recover, or simply asking for your own reference?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying. Could you please point out the unclear expressions? And I could edit them.
I have only unlocked nexus 6p bootloader, and the device is running well. I do not understand exactly why I have to do this, I just do it in case the situation described by other nexus 6 users happen to my nexus 6p. So I want to figure out the logic.
If you have no reason to unlock it, then you can relock it. Unlocking will always cause a full wipe (factory reset) of the device. Some users have stated that relocking the bootloader will also induce a wipe. If you want to leave it unlocked, this will allow you to flash factory images (such as updates from Google) as often as you'd like. It is possible to flash a factory image without losing any data by modifying the batch file used to flash the firmware.
Simply having the bootloader unlocked should not pose any threat to your device. You have to try very intentionally to flash firmware and risk bricking the device, it's not really something you can do by accident. The one thing I will mention is that with the bootloader unlocked, someone with the correct knowledge could flash a new image on your phone without needing your password or other security information. They would only need to power off the device, enter bootloader mode and plug into a PC to begin flashing. This would remove every trace of you and your data from the device and make it like it was brand new from the factory.
By keeping the bootloader locked and the "Allow OEM unlocking" option turned OFF, a person would need to have your password (or fingerprint) to gain access to this option in the settings, thus not allowing them to flash over the device as it is today.
Hope this helps.
fury683 said:
If you have no reason to unlock it, then you can relock it. Unlocking will always cause a full wipe (factory reset) of the device. Some users have stated that relocking the bootloader will also induce a wipe. If you want to leave it unlocked, this will allow you to flash factory images (such as updates from Google) as often as you'd like. It is possible to flash a factory image without losing any data by modifying the batch file used to flash the firmware.
Simply having the bootloader unlocked should not pose any threat to your device. You have to try very intentionally to flash firmware and risk bricking the device, it's not really something you can do by accident. The one thing I will mention is that with the bootloader unlocked, someone with the correct knowledge could flash a new image on your phone without needing your password or other security information. They would only need to power off the device, enter bootloader mode and plug into a PC to begin flashing. This would remove every trace of you and your data from the device and make it like it was brand new from the factory.
By keeping the bootloader locked and the "Allow OEM unlocking" option turned OFF, a person would need to have your password (or fingerprint) to gain access to this option in the settings, thus not allowing them to flash over the device as it is today.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to you, I should not be able to brick my device if I did not unlock the device. I can understand this. But the problem is I am in China...By using proxy, I could receive OTAs correctly. But some nexus 6 users in China still encountered with device bricked after upgrading firmware by OTAs even they didn't unlock bootloader. One possible reason is like what I mentioned in last paragraph #1.
I don't like the prompt each time when I reboot the device after unlocking bootloader. Let's make the problem simpler. Can I unbrick the device if it is bricked and bootloader locked?
I can't really speak to your concern regarding bricking from OTA. This should nearly never happen, but I would suspect that the proxy is the issue. If you are concerned about that particular instance being an issue, I would simply not accept the OTA and don't install it. The file will download to your device and you will see a notification very similar to this: http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/12/1c244e92c6a0cd69ca6e1a3037a05d62.jpg If you do not click Install, it will not install itself. You can click Later but usually cannot dismiss the notification. I have had the update pending on my Nexus 7 tablet that I don't often for months, but simply have not upgraded because I don't use it often enough to justify it.
If you want to be on the latest firmware for security reasons (Android 6/M will have monthly security patch releases from Google), you can download the factory images and flash yourself. However, if you believe there may be an issue because of the proxy you are using, the factory image could face the same issue as the OTA as you described. As I said, because I am not in China and do not use a proxy as you do, I cannot comment on how or why other users may have faced a hard brick scenario.
Ultimately, having the bootloader unlocked will allow you to flash the factory image over a bricked firmware caused by a corrupt (or otherwise unusable) OTA. If the phone can enter bootloader mode, you can flash the firmware and restore it to like new state. The warning message you see when booting is not able to be disabled without locking the bootloader again, but it only appears for a few moments. It was previously hidden on the Nexus 6 (not the 6p) so it might be possible in the future, but that is just a guess.
fury683 said:
I can't really speak to your concern regarding bricking from OTA. This should nearly never happen, but I would suspect that the proxy is the issue. If you are concerned about that particular instance being an issue, I would simply not accept the OTA and don't install it. The file will download to your device and you will see a notification very similar to this: If you do not click Install, it will not install itself. You can click Later but usually cannot dismiss the notification. I have had the update pending on my Nexus 7 tablet that I don't often for months, but simply have not upgraded because I don't use it often enough to justify it.
If you want to be on the latest firmware for security reasons (Android 6/M will have monthly security patch releases from Google), you can download the factory images and flash yourself. However, if you believe there may be an issue because of the proxy you are using, the factory image could face the same issue as the OTA as you described. As I said, because I am not in China and do not use a proxy as you do, I cannot comment on how or why other users may have faced a hard brick scenario.
Ultimately, having the bootloader unlocked will allow you to flash the factory image over a bricked firmware caused by a corrupt (or otherwise unusable) OTA. If the phone can enter bootloader mode, you can flash the firmware and restore it to like new state. The warning message you see when booting is not able to be disabled without locking the bootloader again, but it only appears for a few moments. It was previously hidden on the Nexus 6 (not the 6p) so it might be possible in the future, but that is just a guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK I choose to give in...leave it unlocked there.
Thank you very much!
gnange said:
OK I choose to give in...leave it unlocked there.
Thank you very much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The decision to leave it unlocked is the right decision. The other person replying in this thread is completely wrong when he says you can't brick a phone if you don't unlock it, that's completely and utterly incorrect. Sometimes things happen, unforeseen spontaneous problems happen all the time with smartphones. If this happens to you and your bootloader is locked there's absolutely nothing you can do to fix it. So yes, leave your bootloader unlocked as an insurance policy against the unforeseen.
@fury683, I'd think twice before telling someone that nothing bad can happen to their phone as long as it's locked, this is false information, and could potentially lead to someone being unable to repair a soft-bricked device due to following your advice.
Heisenberg said:
The decision to leave it unlocked is the right decision. The other person replying in this thread is completely wrong when he says you can't brick a phone if you don't unlock it, that's completely and utterly incorrect. Sometimes things happen, unforeseen spontaneous problems happen all the time with smartphones. If this happens to you and your bootloader is locked there's absolutely nothing you can do to fix it. So yes, leave your bootloader unlocked as an insurance policy against the unforeseen.
@fury683, I'd think twice before telling someone that nothing bad can happen to their phone as long as it's locked, this is false information, and could potentially lead to someone being unable to repair a soft-bricked device due to following your advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be fair, I said should not. I've never bricked a device from normal use.
I offered my opinion, and the reasons why. I've been burned by comments and advice from people plenty of times and try my best to help out where I can. I don't think my post was misleading, and I appreciate your comments on the matter as well.
Heisenberg said:
The decision to leave it unlocked is the right decision. The other person replying in this thread is completely wrong when he says you can't brick a phone if you don't unlock it, that's completely and utterly incorrect. Sometimes things happen, unforeseen spontaneous problems happen all the time with smartphones. If this happens to you and your bootloader is locked there's absolutely nothing you can do to fix it. So yes, leave your bootloader unlocked as an insurance policy against the unforeseen.
@fury683, I'd think twice before telling someone that nothing bad can happen to their phone as long as it's locked, this is false information, and could potentially lead to someone being unable to repair a soft-bricked device due to following your advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your advice. So, I can make the conclusion that we should unlock nexus bootloader no matter where we are, when it is and whether we will root or not, right ?
gnange said:
Thanks for your advice. So, I can make the conclusion that we should unlock nexus bootloader no matter where we are, when it is and whether we will root or not, right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The choice is ultimately yours, but my advice is always to have it unlocked, that way you're able to access and use fastboot in the event that something goes wrong.
fury683 said:
To be fair, I said should not. I've never bricked a device from normal use.
I offered my opinion, and the reasons why. I've been burned by comments and advice from people plenty of times and try my best to help out where I can. I don't think my post was misleading, and I appreciate your comments on the matter as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I am new to android, your reply benefits me a lot. I notice you replied me before dawn while it was afternoon in China, thanks for your kindness but you should pay more attention to getting enough sleep, don't burn yourself out. : )
Heisenberg said:
The choice is ultimately yours, but my advice is always to have it unlocked, that way you're able to access and use fastboot in the event that something goes wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I used to suppose one has to unlock bootloader only if in China. Now I get it. Thank you !
Heisenberg said:
The choice is ultimately yours, but my advice is always to have it unlocked, that way you're able to access and use fastboot in the event that something goes wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep what Heisenberg said is 100% true. My phone got bricked after the OTA update resulted in an error. I hadn't enabled the OEM Unlock setting, so couldn't unlock the phone. Have to wait for a replacement now

Pros/Cons of Rooting Moto G5 Plus!?

I wish to root my phone(XT1686) but intend to keep the stock ROM(no bootloader unlock).
Is there any advantage in doing so? And will OTA updates be affected?
yourSAS said:
I wish to root my phone(XT1686) but intend to keep the stock ROM(no bootloader unlock).
Is there any advantage in doing so? And will OTA updates be affected?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not possible to root without unlocking the bootloader on this device...
If you don't have a specific reason to root, don't do it.
And once rooted, you cannot accept any OTA... most likely case if you do it will just fail, worst possible case it bricks (which can happen but is extremely rare).
To answer the question in your title, about the advantages of rooting...
Rooting gives you near full access to your device, and thus the ability to customize it beyond the options provided to you via the default interface. Also, some apps provide additional features on rooted phones. For example, some security programs recommend rooting your device so that it can more forcefully integrate itself with the device to protect against malware, hacking, etc. I tend to install a security package that works better on a rooted device, as well as make use of features that tend to only work on a rooted device, such as folder mounting from the internal SD card to the external one. Also, allows me to access system files that are unavailable otherwise, allowing me to customize certain sounds (or copy them at least).
If you decide you want to root your device, make sure you understand the steps to take BEFORE trying it. That means when you come across a guide on how to do it, make sure you get all the files that will be required and reading through the instructions step by step. If any of the steps sound like it will leave you lost on what to do, then DO NOT do any of it. Also, make sure you read the comments for the guide as well, looking for any mention of issues encountered and consider if you might encounter those issues as well. For example, if it causes issues for devices that use a particular carrier and you use that same carrier, you might want to leave well enough alone. Compare your phone version numbers with what others report having issues with (kernel, baseband, build, etc). Anything that someone has an issue with where their phone somehow matches up with yours in some way, take that as a sign to investigate deeper, so as to avoid having any issues yourself.
For the most part, unless you have a need or desire for a feature/function that requires rooting your device, don't mess with it. I'm not kidding, as one mistake can leave you without a working phone and without any options for returning/replacing it.
Thanks for the replies & warnings.
I'm not a noob so I know the risks of rooting. So maybe I should have rephrased it-
What are the advantages of rooting Moto G5 plus specifically?
Say like in terms of mods and other stuff? Also, is it possible to unroot once rooted- I mean to ask if it's possible to revert the state to factory mode with bootloader locked and stock ROM so that device will be eligible for OTA updates again?
yourSAS said:
Thanks for the replies & warnings.
I'm not a noob so I know the risks of rooting. So maybe I should have rephrased it-
What are the advantages of rooting Moto G5 plus specifically?
Say like in terms of mods and other stuff? Also, is it possible to unroot once rooted- I mean to ask if it's possible to revert the state to factory mode with bootloader locked and stock ROM so that device will be eligible for OTA updates again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootloader lock is not relevant to OTA's. You might be able to relock, but the fact it was once unlocked cannot be hidden, it will always be very clear that it was unlocked.
Unrooting is easy, the issue arises undoing what you did with root, undoing them all depends what you changed.
I don't know of any reasons specific to this device to root.
acejavelin said:
Bootloader lock is not relevant to OTA's. You might be able to relock, but the fact it was once unlocked cannot be hidden, it will always be very clear that it was unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the OEM knows I've unlocked bootloader, why will it push OTAs to my phone even though I've locked bootloader on my end? So isn't bootloader lock status relevant for OTA?
yourSAS said:
If the OEM knows I've unlocked bootloader, why will it push OTAs to my phone even though I've locked bootloader on my end? So isn't bootloader lock status relevant for OTA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the status of your bootloader is not relevant... Moto will notify you of an available update and happily attempt to apply it regardless if your bootloader is locked or not.
What matters is if the boot or system partitions is changed, if there is ANY change to those, among other things like if the radio version or recovery versions don't match or the partition table is changed, the update will fail. If you flash any custom recovery it will fail as well.
On this subject I mention a slight con which is that some banking or financial apps might complain to you if they detect root. I have maybe 10 different bank and credit apps installed and all work flawlessly except 1. The Huntington Bank app wont allow me to use fingerprint login but otherwise the app is fully functional like mobile deposits. Just wanted to mention to be aware.

free XZP Pie rooting on Mac, is it possible without CS degree?

At the risk of being barked at by the spirited young hackers on this forum:
After days of searching the interwebs, I am close to resetting to factory settings and returning this thing, even though I really like the phone itself.
Admittedly, I'm a total Android virgin and know only what many hours of googl'ing have left behind (it's all a blur, at this point), but after all of my attempts to use the common rooting suspects (KingoRoot, King Root, iRoot, etc.), I sit here more confused than I can handle.
First attempts at figuring out adb and fastboot made me realise I am in way over my head.
Anyone know of a way to root my XZP running Pie, from my Mac, for free (if at all possible), without first having to get a degree in computer science. I can stumble my way around Terminal, if given clear instructions, but that's where it ends.
hope someone can help.
I really want to get the EU firmware flashed onto this thing, with the modem working as designed for the US market, and hopefully use this thing as a router and many other things that require root access.
But I also read the thread about people like me, who don't know much about Android, ruining their bootloaders and then coming here for help/support...so the question for me arises is: reset to factory settings and return it, before I get myself into quicksand territory, or do whatever it takes to figure it out (with the help of the esteemed community).
It's just such a nice phone, and I miss the iOS jailbreaking days so much, that this would be the perfect antidote.
Anyone care to help?
About the reason, that you are post in this forum thread, I guess you've make your choice of phone. Isn't ir?
In this case, there is a very good manual how to save your TA partition, root the phone and so on...
If you are unsure, which phone you will buy...... Make first of all your choices... Look in xda if the device is supported and following the thread
mad0701 said:
About the reason, that you are post in this forum thread, I guess you've make your choice of phone. Isn't ir?
In this case, there is a very good manual how to save your TA partition, root the phone and so on...
If you are unsure, which phone you will buy...... Make first of all your choices... Look in xda if the device is supported and following the thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for that first heads-up, mad0701.
yeah, I am set on the XZP, as my first Android phone. It serves my primary purpose of being a little presentation device for my 4K video and photography work perfectly, I already enjoy it as a very good Hi-Res music player, it will hopefully serve me as a little portable router/VPN, etc. once I figure out how to root it, and it was a great deal, for a used one, for so much power. But I also want to be able to use its fingerprint sensor, here in the USA, and for that...
So when you say that "a very good manual" is out there, would you be so kind as to share a link? I tried to follow so many methods, at this point, that I am at the end of my wits.
Check this thread... There is a manual available... Step by step... Only give attention, that you flash the TWRP version for your device...
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...share_tid=3795510&share_fid=3793&share_type=t
[XZ1c/XZ1/XZp] temp root exploit to backup drm keys implemented
mad0701 said:
Check this thread... There is a manual available... Step by step... Only give attention, that you flash the TWRP version for your device...
[XZ1c/XZ1/XZp] temp root exploit to backup drm keys implemented
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks again, mad0701...I was out riding all day and just skimmed over that link...first reaction: this is more advanced than I feel confident tackling...I fear that a one wrong action on my part might leave me in a situation where I can't even get the phone back to factory settings, and won't be able to return it anymore (for which I have one week left).
I'll read through the manual in more detail, maybe tomorrow, and if it seems that I can actually do all that, successfully, then maybe I will give it a try. But since I don't even know what the TA is, or the TWRP version, it may be something I may not wanna get into at this time...only so many hours in the day.
but thanks for showing me the manual!
tillkrueger said:
but thanks for showing me the manual!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mad0701 said:
[XZ1c/XZ1/XZp] temp root exploit to backup drm keys implemented
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lots of people keep pointing at this thread without actually reading it. There still isn't a way to relock your bootloader with your saved TA partition. Yes you can save your individualy encrypted key, but then what?
You still need to unlock your phone to get permanent root, with no way of putting the key back in place, so you still need a 'fixed' kernel
If you want an easy way to root your phone, as you admit yourself your android experience is limited., then I would recomend Xperifix
@sToRm// wrote a one stop shop program that did everything, but then took his work to a private website as he wanted to charge for all the hours that he put into it.
The original thread is here, this would tell you what to do and the drivers you need to install (important). Then the go to the Xperiafix website and pay your $20.
I used it to root my XZ1 compact and it really was as easy as plug it in and follow instructions.
The only probelm with this is that there still isn't a root available for Pie firmware, so his fix is based on Oreo builds.
Lots of people speak badly of Xperiafix 'why pay for a fix when you can get it for free?'
Yea, but free is complicated and I'm happy to pay for easy.
Edit: To answer your original question, I'm not sure there is a Pie root kenel for a stock rom available yet, I know @janjan posted a Pie kernel on the XZ1compact thread, so it's just a matter of time before he updates the XZ premium
You could go with a custom rom to get rooted Pie, read the instructions and decide if you're up for it.
Didgesteve said:
Lots of people keep pointing at this thread without actually reading it. There still isn't a way to relock your bootloader with your saved TA partition. Yes you can save your individualy encrypted key, but then what?
You still need to unlock your phone to get permanent root, with no way of putting the key back in place, so you still need a 'fixed' kernel
If you want an easy way to root your phone, as you admit yourself your android experience is limited., then I would recomend Xperifix
@sToRm// wrote a one stop shop program that did everything, but then took his work to a private website as he wanted to charge for all the hours that he put into it.
The original thread is here, this would tell you what to do and the drivers you need to install (important). Then the go to the Xperiafix website and pay your $20.
I used it to root my XZ1 compact and it really was as easy as plug it in and follow instructions.
The only probelm with this is that there still isn't a root available for Pie firmware, so his fix is based on Oreo builds.
Lots of people speak badly of Xperiafix 'why pay for a fix when you can get it for free?'
Yea, but free is complicated and I'm happy to pay for easy.
Edit: To answer your original question, I'm not sure there is a Pie root kenel available yet, I know @janjan posted a Pie kernel on the XZ1compact thread, so it's just a matter of time before he updates the XZ premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Theres no need for a kernel for pie, flash pie, flash twrp flash magisk. That's it.
Beetle84 said:
Theres no need for a kernel for pie, flash pie, flash twrp flash magisk. That's it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just realised that Xperiafix is a windows program anyway Doh
Didgesteve said:
I just realised that Xperiafix is a windows program anyway Doh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally missed the Mac part....
Alright, u need adb and fastboot for mac.
If you will find newer instructions use it, here is the first thing I found.
Unlock ur device here using fastboot, it clearly written there how to do it.
Find latest twrp recovery in this forum.
Use fastboot again.
"fastboot flash recovery your.recovery.img"
Then, using this recovery u need to flash latest magisc.
I've gave u enough information, with minimum efforts u will be able to find everything u need to do it. Plus u will learn something useful.
Goodluck
tillkrueger said:
thanks again, mad0701...I was out riding all day and just skimmed over that link...first reaction: this is more advanced than I feel confident tackling...I fear that a one wrong action on my part might leave me in a situation where I can't even get the phone back to factory settings, and won't be able to return it anymore (for which I have one week left).
I'll read through the manual in more detail, maybe tomorrow, and if it seems that I can actually do all that, successfully, then maybe I will give it a try. But since I don't even know what the TA is, or the TWRP version, it may be something I may not wanna get into at this time...only so many hours in the day.
but thanks for showing me the manual!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the manual looking complicated but it only took 2 hours for me, and if u backup and restore your TA partition, u dont need any drm fix for all firmwares, and dont pay for any useless programs like xperifix(the guy on upper comments always advertise this useless windows program)
for rooting, its very easy on pie
I really appreciate all of y'all's input...but, to be honest, I understand too little of it, at the moment, to feel inclined to dive into executing some of those instructions.
I mean, it looks like I was given enough info to have a chance to root and flash my XZP successfully, but I may just hold off for a bit, maybe return this one and wait until I can either score an XZP that's already been rooted and flashed with the mixed EU/US firmware, or wait until I can afford to get a newer device, which has all of the features I am looking for already working: 4K screen, fingerprint sensor, and preferably being a Sony...if such a device exists now.
But truly, thank you all, for now!

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