Develop Bugs

[Q] Recovery-Bootloader Locking and Unlocking

Hi all....
2 quick questions....
My Nexus LTE is rooted
when I try to boot into recovery......either with ROM Manager or fastboot...I get the Android with the red triangle.....is it because I have my bootloader locked???
Even though I unlocked it to root...I locked it just in case I have to bring it back to Verizon...
also......If I do have to unlock it to get to recovery.........after I unlock it...would I lose all my data and apps?

1. If you've not unlocked it yet then unlocking it will delete everything
2. You need to unlock it and then flash ClockworkMod to be able to flash a new ROM

I'm about to do this also.
Unlock, root.
I think what the OP is asking is once you unlock and root... can you relock the bootloader without messing up root?
Also when you unlock and it wipes your phone, does it erase everything I've copied over to the internal SD card? I have like 10gb's of music, files, pics, etc.
I think the answer to the above is YES. But just want to make sure. That would really suck as I normally wipe my phone often when crackflashing. Sometimes I'll flash a rom but find out mid-day that it sucks and it'll require a wipe and reload an older version.
Anyway, rooting seems easy enough. Push some files. I'm just curious about how the internal SD card plays its role in all this... as I've always had an SD Card.

hogowner said:
Hi all....
2 quick questions....
My Nexus LTE is rooted
when I try to boot into recovery......either with ROM Manager or fastboot...I get the Android with the red triangle.....is it because I have my bootloader locked???
Even though I unlocked it to root...I locked it just in case I have to bring it back to Verizon...
also......If I do have to unlock it to get to recovery.........after I unlock it...would I lose all my data and apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am no expert - but I am pretty sure you are correct.
1. You re-locked your bootloader. So - no custom recovery.
2. Unlocking your bootloader is going to wipe everything. Including your "sd card partition" (whatever you want to call it). So if you have pictures or other important files you need - transfer them before you unlock your bootloader.
3. I would just leave it unlocked. If you need to lock it for warranty issues it is very easy to re-lock. Right? Isn't it something like...
Code:
reboot into bootloader
enter the fastboot command
fastboot oem lock
done
hope that helps. maybe someone will chime in.

So unlocking the bootloader will Kill your sd card files. What about normal wipes from CWM?

I rooted...(no custom rom...leaving it stock)...then relocked my bootloader.....
I then installed all the apps I wanted........
I also was able to get into CWR and make a backup...
now if I try to go into CWR I get the android with the red triangle
why? Is it because I locked the bootloaded? Is that why I get the red trianlge? because bootloader is locked? I can't even get into stock recovery and if it is...if I unlock the bootloader...It will wipe data..and I dont feel like doing that right now.....unless there is another way to get the red triangle fixed
EDIT::::::::::::::::::::: I went to my Rom Manger app...and I reinstalled CWR...and lo and behold.....I was able to boot into Recovery with no problem.....even with my bootloader locked.......

About to unlock my bootloader - concerns

Hey everyone,
Here's my current specs:
LT15i
4.0.4
2.6.32.9–perf
[email protected] #1
Mooded ICS 90.2
Bootloader unlock allowed: no (so I purchased a code)
Rooted and running CWM
So as the title says, I am about to unlock my bootloader but had some questions first. Ultimately my goal is to unlock my bootloader so I can flash the ArcKnight kernel and run the updated Mooded ROM.
1) After unlocking the bootloader, will it still be rooted and have CWM?
2) Do I have to keep the SD card in when I unlock the bootloader or can I remove it to prevent it from being wiped?
3) What are the exact steps I should take from a to z? (I have read tons of guides but most don't start off with my above settings/situation)
So far I have backed up via CWM, Titanium backup (for apps), MyBackup (system settings) and have also saved all my SD card contents on my PC.
This is how I thought this would go, and I could be very wrong lol so please correct me if I am.
Make backups with everything above, unlock bootloader, restore all backups (first the one from CWM, then Titanium, then MyBackup), flash kernel, update ROM, done?
Thank you!

After unlocking the bootloader, will it still be rooted and have CWM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeh
Do I have to keep the SD card in when I unlock the bootloader or can I remove it to prevent it from being wiped?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SD card has nothing to do with the actual phone itself, so yeh you can remove it (i think data wont be wiped)
What are the exact steps I should take from a to z? (I have read tons of guides but most don't start off with my above settings/situation)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9COw6Yxmv4&feature=plcp problem solved

MrModMan said:
yeh
SD card has nothing to do with the actual phone itself, so yeh you can remove it (i think data wont be wiped)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9COw6Yxmv4&feature=plcp problem solved
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply.
Can anyone else confirm what he has said (about retaining root, not needing the SD card plugged in when unlocking bootloader, etc)
I have seen that video before and wanted to ask a question. I have been told all I need to do is insert a "non accepted" SIM card in the phone, restart it and it will prompt me for a code, I enter my unlock code and that's it. Is the method in the video just another way of doing this? Any advantages/disadvantages?

Jay_42 said:
1) After unlocking the bootloader, will it still be rooted and have CWM?
2) Do I have to keep the SD card in when I unlock the bootloader or can I remove it to prevent it from being wiped?
3) What are the exact steps I should take from a to z? (I have read tons of guides but most don't start off with my above settings/situation)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yes.
2. It's irrelevant.
3. Reread the guides.
Restore everything after you've updated/installed a ROM.

The process of unlocking the BL does not affect kernel, Rom, sd card, data.
After you change Roms and kernel you will have to restore.
Sent from my LT15i using xda app-developers app

Hey guys,
So I have run into a bit of a snag, sort of at a stand still. Bare with me as I am still pretty noobie to this whole thing.
My phones status is Bootloader unlock allowed: No. So I thought doing the method of inputting another SIM card into the phone and entering an unlock code would unlock my bootloader I appear to be wrong, did I only just unlock my SIM? When I go and check the status of it again the phone still says Bootloader unlock allowed: No.
So I figured I would attempt to move forward anyways. I am following all the steps in the guides but I cannot get the phone to boot into fastboot mode. When I plug the USB in I am holding the menu button. After a few seconds the LED does go blue for a few seconds but then it turns off and goes orange and takes me to the charging screen (as if you were charging your phone while it was powered off)
I have tried booting into fastboot mode via X-Parts as well as Flashtool with no luck. I am assuming I have failed to unlock the bootloader but am sort of stumped.
I am still searching/learning as we speak, but feel free to point me in the right direction! What am I doing wrong here guys?
Thanks again

If you changed the SIM, the code you bought was for SIM unlock, not unlock bootloader.
To unlock bootloader you need a dongle (I think it's called SETool) or something of that sort. There are people who have them and unlock BLs for a certain amount of money. Try contacting them.

RamEsRock said:
If you changed the SIM, the code you bought was for SIM unlock, not unlock bootloader.
To unlock bootloader you need a dongle (I think it's called SETool) or something of that sort. There are people who have them and unlock BLs for a certain amount of money. Try contacting them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And the plot continues to thicken haha. I did stumble across this method earlier, seemed sort of complex so I was hoping to avoid it. I guess ill do a bit of digging into the SETool method now, assuming that's my only option at this point?

[Q] Does rooting void warranty? Can Nexus Root Toolkit bring warranty back?

Hi all,
I received my Nexus with 4.0.4 and after OTA update (4.1 JB) I had the following problem;
1) settings->mobile networks says (no sim)
2) *#60* says IMEI null/null
3) broadband version says 'unknown'.(device was not rooted at that time).
I tried several things to fix it by no luck at all. Could you please help me with the below questions? I searched a lot but no clear answer.
1) Does rooting void warranty? (I used Nexus Root Toolkit for rooting)
2) I used Nexus Root Toolkit to flash stock + lock the Galaxy Nexus. Can Samsung detect whether the device is rooted or not in the service? Does Nexus Root Toolkit's flash stock function wipes the data&cache and everything totally? (By the way it installed 4.1.1 as stock not 4.0.4 that I had when I received the device)
I will apreciate if you have any clear answers as I could not even use my phone for 1 day because of that official OTA update. Rooting is less risky than OTA I guess.
Thanks,

unroot, relock if you havent already, return the device.
sent from my i9250

Yea I would definitely just return the device.

bk201doesntexist said:
unroot, relock if you havent already, return the device.
sent from my i9250
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I press power + volume up&down bootloader menu appears. I can select to restart boot loader or recovery mode or shut dwon via that menu.
is it normal to have that on an unrooted phone? I already performed flash stock + lock operations.

chilavertlo said:
When I press power + volume up&down bootloader menu appears. I can select to restart boot loader or recovery mode or shut dwon via that menu.
is it normal to have that on an unrooted phone? I already performed flash stock + lock operations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is normal as every Android phone has a recovery and a bootloader; a lot of people prefer an alternative to the stock recovery and usually will unlock a bootloader to do so and we need these things in the first place to get more creative with our devices .

@OP: Have you verified that your SIM card is seated properly?

efrant said:
@OP: Have you verified that your SIM card is seated properly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I have the same problem even I do not have a SIM Card installed on the phone.
I checked the status without a SIM Card and IMEI/Baseband still seem as UNKNOWN.

[Q] Lock Bootloader on LG Optimus G

Hello to all. I have found that my LG E975 have some dead pixels, and I wanna send it back to warranty.
My phone was routed and bootloader was unlocked. I have already installed stock rom and factory reset it. If i turn it off and press volume up key and power button, no longer appear bootloader menu. Just a message from LG which tell me to hold power button for 8 seconds to restart the phone normally. I presume the bootloader is locked.
BUT!!! Is there any chance from those from warranty to check if i had bootloader unlocked? Can I found somehow if my bootloader is locked or not?

raiken said:
Hello to all. I have found that my LG E975 have some dead pixels, and I wanna send it back to warranty.
My phone was routed and bootloader was unlocked. I have already installed stock rom and factory reset it. If i turn it off and press volume up key and power button, no longer appear bootloader menu. Just a message from LG which tell me to hold power button for 8 seconds to restart the phone normally. I presume the bootloader is locked.
BUT!!! Is there any chance from those from warranty to check if i had bootloader unlocked? Can I found somehow if my bootloader is locked or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think if you flashed kdz it wiped everything and overwrote. There shouldnt be any information about unlocking or rooting. I saw some threads about giving phone to service after rooting etc... So, i think they shouldnt see that if phone was unlocked and rooted. Its my opinion, after some threads i read..
Sent from my LG-E975 using xda app-developers app

Yes, I have flashed with KDZ. And this is my opinion too, but I want to be 100% sure it's safe for me to send it to warranty.
Thanks for your answer

I think you shouldnt worry if you flashed kdz than you are safe. When it flash, program overwrite partitions, including these with root and unlocked bootloader.
Sent from my LG E975 via xda-developers app

How to Lock Bootloader

Hello, I purchased a Pixel 3 XL off craigslist and it is working fine, but the bootloader is unlocked therefore I am receiving a warning when restarting the phone and Google Pay does not work. How can I re-lock the bootloader? Do I need to flash the latest standard google image? The build number is: "crosshatch-userdebug 9 PQ1A.181105.013 5027108 dev-keys". When in bootloader the bootloader version is: b1c1-0.1-5004167. Obviously a n00b here, please be gentle. Thank you for any help.

Do you have a computer? If so what OS do you use?
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

superchilpil said:
Do you have a computer? If so what OS do you use?
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do have a computer, a Windows 10 Pro

Are you planning on rooting? If so, you can use Magisk Hide (after using Magisk to root of course) to get Google Pay to work. I would be hesitant to re-lock the BL unless you are certain that it is completely stock otherwise. Re-locking a modified phone can brick the device. Better to just learn how to root, etc and keep it unlocked. You have come to the right place to learn.

sliding_billy said:
Are you planning on rooting? If so, you can use Magisk Hide (after using Magisk to root of course) to get Google Pay to work. I would be hesitant to re-lock the BL unless you are certain that it is completely stock otherwise. Re-locking a modified phone can brick the device. Better to just learn how to root, etc and keep it unlocked. You have come to the right place to learn.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I don't plan on rooting. But I am afraid of bricking the phone since I don't know what has been done to it. Is there a way to determine what was done to unlock the bootloader? Otherwise I will follow your recommendation of using Magisk Hide. I would prefer to keep the phone stock. Thanks.

eec007 said:
No, I don't plan on rooting. But I am afraid of bricking the phone since I don't know what has been done to it. Is there a way to determine what was done to unlock the bootloader? Otherwise I will follow your recommendation of using Magisk Hide. I would prefer to keep the phone stock. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you live in Denver I'll trade you my Verizon one for yours. It has a locked bootloader.

eec007 said:
No, I don't plan on rooting. But I am afraid of bricking the phone since I don't know what has been done to it. Is there a way to determine what was done to unlock the bootloader? Otherwise I will follow your recommendation of using Magisk Hide. I would prefer to keep the phone stock. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The two obvious things you can check are that you have stock recovery and that the phone is not rooted. Manually power on to bootloader (hold volume down and press power then use the volume keys to select recovery and press power. you should get a no command android screen if in stock recovery. assuming you don't have a Magisk icon, you are probably not rooted but you can confirm by installing and running a root app like root checker. likely, the previous owner did nothing but unlock the BL given how recently it came out, but if someone where really creative they could have done work in the other partition. there are no exploites, so doing it normally (running fastboot flashing unlock from a prompt) is pretty much all that would have been done other than enabling developer options and OEM unlocking in settings.
Personally, I think you have a good chance to learn your device, root (you need to be rooted for Magisk hide) and keep the bootloader unlocked. Besides rooting, being able to install a full factory image instead of an OTA is so much better in my opinion. The amount of work it would take to be 100% confident that the only thing done was the BL unlock would take as much work as at least getting a working knowledge of rooting and reinstalling the OS.
P.S. Keeping a phone "stock and rooted" has advantages. That is how I run my 3 XL and how I ran my OG XL. No custom OS. Not even a kernel.

coolhandz said:
If you live in Denver I'll trade you my Verizon one for yours. It has a locked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol, what I don't get is that I thought the google edition could have the bootloader unlocked in the developer options. So why go to this hassle of unlocking the bootloader from fastboot? FYI, in the Developer options the OEM unlocking is greyed out and says "Bootloader is already unlocked".

sliding_billy said:
The two obvious things you can check are that you have stock recovery and that the phone is not rooted. Manually power on to bootloader (hold volume down and press power then use the volume keys to select recovery and press power. you should get a no command android screen if in stock recovery. assuming you don't have a Magisk icon, you are probably not rooted but you can confirm by installing and running a root app like root checker. likely, the previous owner did nothing but unlock the BL given how recently it came out, but if someone where really creative they could have done work in the other partition. there are no exploites, so doing it normally (running fastboot flashing unlock from a prompt) is pretty much all that would have been done other than enabling developer options and OEM unlocking in settings.
Personally, I think you have a good chance to learn your device, root (you need to be rooted for Magisk hide) and keep the bootloader unlocked. Besides rooting, being able to install a full factory image instead of an OTA is so much better in my opinion. The amount of work it would take to be 100% confident that the only thing done was the BL unlock would take as much work as at least getting a working knowledge of rooting and reinstalling the OS.
P.S. Keeping a phone "stock and rooted" has advantages. That is how I run my 3 XL and how I ran my OG XL. No custom OS. Not even a kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! Root Checker says that "root access is not properly installed on this device". The recovery mode screen just has a warning about the bootloader is unlocked and a link to a google help page. I figure that I can always unlock the bootloader again if I need to later, but for now I just want everything to work (bank and pay app) and not worry about updating anything myself. I think I may try fastboot to lock the bootloader for now. Thanks for all the help.

Hope it all works out for you. I assume you did a factory reset on the device since you got it used. Re-locking will do another factory reset.

sliding_billy said:
Hope it all works out for you. I assume you did a factory reset on the device since you got it used. Re-locking will do another factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, so I locked using "fastboot flashing lock" but then it doesn't start, saying that there is no operating system or something like that. I freaked out and was able to unlock again using "fastboot flashing unlock". Now all is wiped. I guess I need to flash the oem rom first, then lock. I'll have to do this all later tonight. Just glad that I didn't brick it yet.

eec007 said:
Thank you! Root Checker says that "root access is not properly installed on this device". The recovery mode screen just has a warning about the bootloader is unlocked and a link to a google help page. I figure that I can always unlock the bootloader again if I need to later, but for now I just want everything to work (bank and pay app) and not worry about updating anything myself. I think I may try fastboot to lock the bootloader for now. Thanks for all the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't rooted or bl unlocked in some time now so if I make a mistake someone please correct me. After buying it from a 3rd party I'd wipe the device entirely. Download the correct image and install the latest platform tools for Windows (here) https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools and make sure you can connect with adb devices and fastboot devices commands. Then extract the latest full image from here https://developers.google.com/android/images to your platform-tools directory and run the flashall.bat command if you wish to wipe the entire device and get rid of anything the previous owner might have "inadvertently" installed. (this is what I would do but not necessarily what you should do if you want to keep the current apps and system intact) This will reset your device and then you can lock the bootloader with no worry and you'll have a stock system.
I agree that since you can unlock it at any time and you don't need it now then relock it. But there are those here that disagree with me and fight with Magisk and OTAs constantly. But they are not noobs and know what they're doing. If you want to learn there is a wealth of information here so it's your call. Just my 2 cents. But please check my steps before you do anything that might cause issues.
edit: darn, sorry I just saw above that you already tried to lock it. I hope what I said to do will get you out of the predicament.

bobby janow said:
I haven't rooted or bl unlocked in some time now so if I make a mistake someone please correct me. After buying it from a 3rd party I'd wipe the device entirely. Download the correct image and install the latest platform tools for Windows (here) https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools and make sure you can connect with adb devices and fastboot devices commands. Then extract the latest full image from here https://developers.google.com/android/images to your platform-tools directory and run the flashall.bat command if you wish to wipe the entire device and get rid of anything the previous owner might have "inadvertently" installed. (this is what I would do but not necessarily what you should do if you want to keep the current apps and system intact) This will reset your device and then you can lock the bootloader with no worry and you'll have a stock system.
I agree that since you can unlock it at any time and you don't need it now then relock it. But there are those here that disagree with me and fight with Magisk and OTAs constantly. But they are not noobs and know what they're doing. If you want to learn there is a wealth of information here so it's your call. Just my 2 cents. But please check my steps before you do anything that might cause issues.
edit: darn, sorry I just saw above that you already tried to lock it. I hope what I said to do will get you out of the predicament.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your steps are basically what I will try tonight. Currently the phone is working again, so there was no harm done yet (just the restore of all apps and such). But I'm going to flash the oem image tonight and start all over again.

eec007 said:
Your steps are basically what I will try tonight. Currently the phone is working again, so there was no harm done yet (just the restore of all apps and such). But I'm going to flash the oem image tonight and start all over again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One thing I would do before I relocked the bl would be to do the full login procedure, email everything other than apps. Then make sure you're on the Nov update in about phone, I'm sure you will be, and then fastboot relock the bl with the proper command. It will wipe the device again but it's a small price to pay for about 10 minutes of work. Then once it reboots and there is no more error message you'll be fully stock. Enable dev options again and make sure the oem switch is active allowing bl unlock. Then you're done. I've gotten to the point on my 5X where I even flip the oem switch so it can't be bl unlocked until I go in and flip it back. Dangerous if you're flashing stuff but not so much if you're just taking OTAs. That's of course your call entirely. Good luck.

eec007 said:
lol, what I don't get is that I thought the google edition could have the bootloader unlocked in the developer options. So why go to this hassle of unlocking the bootloader from fastboot? FYI, in the Developer options the OEM unlocking is greyed out and says "Bootloader is already unlocked".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That will stay grayed out until you relock the bootloader. That slider "allows" unlocking. Then you boot into fastboot and unlock it.
So you would reverse the process, hit fastboot and relock the bootloader. Then you can toggle the slider back to not allow unlocking.
Relocking the bootloader will wipe your phone.
You should not do this until you first flash the full factory image to make sure the phone is 100 percent stock. And if it were my phone I would wait for the next OTA update after flashing it back to stock to make sure it goes ok. Then lock it.
And then I would wait awhile before hitting the slider.
You are playing with fire here, if you mess it up and lock it and hit the slider you will not be able to fix it. And no offense, but since you have not done this all before on this phone chances are good you will mess it up.
So, flash to stock and leave it unlocked.
Then wait for the next OTA.
Then lock it.
Then wait a bit more before you hit the slider.
And remember, since you are not the original buyer you will not be able to warranty it.

eec007 said:
Hello, I purchased a Pixel 3 XL off craigslist and it is working fine, but the bootloader is unlocked therefore I am receiving a warning when restarting the phone and Google Pay does not work. How can I re-lock the bootloader? Do I need to flash the latest standard google image? The build number is: "crosshatch-userdebug 9 PQ1A.181105.013 5027108 dev-keys". When in bootloader the bootloader version is: b1c1-0.1-5004167. Obviously a n00b here, please be gentle. Thank you for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They're right to mention that relocking a modified device can result in a brick.
Your best bet is to go to https://developers.google.com/android/images#taimen
Follow the directions to the "T", then relock it if you are really really sure that the unlock screen bothers you.
Would suggest to do this anyway, no matter future unlock status.

TonikJDK said:
That will stay grayed out until you relock the bootloader. That slider "allows" unlocking. Then you boot into fastboot and unlock it.
So you would reverse the process, hit fastboot and relock the bootloader. Then you can toggle the slider back to not allow unlocking.
Relocking the bootloader will wipe your phone.
You should not do this until you first flash the full factory image to make sure the phone is 100 percent stock. And if it were my phone I would wait for the next OTA update after flashing it back to stock to make sure it goes ok. Then lock it.
And then I would wait awhile before hitting the slider.
You are playing with fire here, if you mess it up and lock it and hit the slider you will not be able to fix it. And no offense, but since you have not done this all before on this phone chances are good you will mess it up.
So, flash to stock and leave it unlocked.
Then wait for the next OTA.
Then lock it.
Then wait a bit more before you hit the slider.
And remember, since you are not the original buyer you will not be able to warranty it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with most of your post other than waiting for the next OTA before you lock the bootloader. Why would he need to do that? If he's stock, and he'll see that immediately, then relock it. He doesn't want root or Magisk but only wants banking and Pay. With the slider allowing bl unlock he's in no danger whatsoever. Lock and relock whenever he wants. OTA will not disallow the slider once it's set.

TonikJDK said:
That will stay grayed out until you relock the bootloader. That slider "allows" unlocking. Then you boot into fastboot and unlock it.
So you would reverse the process, hit fastboot and relock the bootloader. Then you can toggle the slider back to not allow unlocking.
Relocking the bootloader will wipe your phone.
You should not do this until you first flash the full factory image to make sure the phone is 100 percent stock. And if it were my phone I would wait for the next OTA update after flashing it back to stock to make sure it goes ok. Then lock it.
And then I would wait awhile before hitting the slider.
You are playing with fire here, if you mess it up and lock it and hit the slider you will not be able to fix it. And no offense, but since you have not done this all before on this phone chances are good you will mess it up.
So, flash to stock and leave it unlocked.
Then wait for the next OTA.
Then lock it.
Then wait a bit more before you hit the slider.
And remember, since you are not the original buyer you will not be able to warranty it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for explaining this. I had thought that the Developer Option slider was to unlock the bootloader, but your explanation clarifies it, the slider is to allow the bootloader to be unlocked...

Ok, so I tried to flash the factory image using adb flash-all and it keeps getting the error:
Sending sparse 'vendor_a' 2/2 (193888 KB) FAILED (Error reading sparse file)
Now the phone is not working at all and says that "device is corrupt" and will not boot past the white google screen. I can try again using adb, but it is the same error each time. I tried to download the image again and same sparse error. I can also fastboot in TWRP, but not sure what to do in there. What am I doing wrong? I guess I should've rooted and used Magisk like others have said.

turns out changing to a different cable resolved my sparse error and I was then successfully able to apply the factory image and lock the device. Thanks everyone for the help.