Hi guys, I have a HTC M8 AT&T (Actually version. Android: 5.0.2 | Software: 4.28.502.1) bought in the United States but use in Brazil, but it is not possible to automatically update and I always down by the site the latest version. I always wanted to modify the phone but was always afraid of not liking too. But now I'm trying to change and unlock it.
I have some doubts about the ROM.
- Everything works the same as the original?
- It will take some bug during use?
- Can I have the visual theme of the original?
- If I want to go back to the original, it is possible?
I apologize for the questions, but it is something I want to solve.
I read a lot here, see topics ROMS but always have some doubts, I see a lot of people talking about problems, etc.
Thank you all.
My responses below in red font:
diigodr said:
I have some doubts about the ROM. What ROM(s) are you considering? If you don't specify, it makes all your following questions too vague to possibly answer!
- Everything works the same as the original? Too vague to know what you are asking about. What specific features are you concerned about? The basic functionality (what you can do with the phone) will be the similar or same; but obviously there will be some differences, otherwise why install the ROM at all? In fact, many custom ROMs will be "better" than stock in many ways (which is the main point). For instance, performance tweaks, removed bloatware, and most will remove AT&T's limitation on being able to use WiFi hotspot (tethering).
- It will take some bug during use? Its possible to have bugs. But the official stock ROMs have bugs, too. ROMs based on HTC baseline ROMs (Sense or GPE) are typically very stable, and with very few bugs (are if any, they are very minor). More on "bugs" below.
- Can I have the visual theme of the original? It depend on what ROM you are talking about. It will typically state in the ROM threads if it has been themed, if it has tools built-in to change the theme, etc.
- If I want to go back to the original, it is possible? Of course. In fact, you can and should make a TWRP (custom recovery) backup of the stock ROM before you flash any custom ROMs, in case you want to revert to stock(as doing a TWRP backup makes it much easier to revert).
I read a lot here, see topics ROMS but always have some doubts, I see a lot of people talking about problems, etc. Again, too vague to know what you are referring to. Sometimes "bugs" are due to user error, such as having outdated firmware, not doing proper wipes before flashing, etc.
Whether to flash a custom ROM is a good idea for you as an individual, is a very personal choice. It depends on what you hope to obtain, which you really haven't mentioned at all. But custom ROMs are obviously worthwhile to a large number of folks. Otherwise, XDA wouldn't exist in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm thinking of buying a Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, and I want to install a quality open-source ROM on it since I don't want the Chinese or Google spying on me.
I've never installed a ROM before, and I don't think I really need any fancy features (except for basic smartphone things, like support for camera, flashlight, WiFi, Bluetooth, phone calls, audio/video recording and playback, GPS, etc.). I guess my only other requirement is that it can support something like aptX/aptX HD so I can use it with Bluetooth headphones and it won't sound like ass.
I've got some questions:
Do most ROMs generally tend to work with most phones? Can I just download some random ROM and have it work most of the time?
Are the 2 pages of ROM threads listed on this forum the only ones this phone can support? Or are these just the ROMs that forum users have tested it with? A lot of these ROMs I've never even heard of, and many are listed as [UNOFFICIAL].
Cyanogenmod has been discontinued, but could it still work on newer devices? There's projects like freecyngn which can remove propriety Google Analytics stuff from it, and I don't know if any similar tweaks exist for Cyanogenmod's successors.
What's a good resource for de-googled ROMs with no proprietary software? And which can support aptX/aptX HD or an alternative. And would hopefully actually work with the phone.
Sorry, someone is always out there listening, watching, monitoring and data mining - regardless of the OS eco-system. Learn to built your own and have fun. Good luck !
P.S. Stay away from smartphone, go back to a "dumb" phone. Find yourself a good old Motorola Startac classic or Sony-Ericson ... maybe. That is, if backdoors were not integrated at the chipset level.
Letitride said:
Sorry, someone is always out there listening, watching, monitoring and data mining - regardless of the OS eco-system. Learn to built your own and have fun. Good luck !
P.S. Stay away from smartphone, go back to a "dumb" phone. Find yourself a good old Motorola Startac classic or Sony-Ericson ... maybe. That is, if backdoors were not integrated at the chipset level.
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Click to collapse
I'm not asking for a phone to go off the grid and hide in the amazon jungle with, but there's an obvious difference between an OS bloated with proprietary spyware garbage and an OS that's as barebones and open-source as possible. I want to make the best choice when it comes to what's installed on my smartphone, or as close as to the best choice as I can get.
I don't think programming is something I'll ever learn to do, let alone build my own OS. The best I can do is make a table with fancy text in HTML.
Let's start with your Google account if you want to stay under the radar - it's a given with Play Store, unless you feel comfortable going without it and sideload Gapps or manually install/update from APK mirror. A2 Lite is a good but entry level smartphone, don't expect nor realistic to count on extensive custom rom development.
You will need to learn and experiment to find out for yourself, start with rooting the A/B partition and installing TWRP, then select a ROM ... you will be flashing at least several of these to decide what work best for you. Read - there is plenty of comments, feedbacks and caution.
I run the stock Global rom, Android One - which is as close to "pure" without bloatware as it can be (having owned, used & played with probably 2 dozens+ smartphone in this decade) - and have no problems - unlike others and not eveyone is having issues with WiFi & bluetooth.
I run Lineage OS on the Huawei Honor 5X ... and there are custom roms that are barebone and/or need only minimal Gapps to be flashed (nano or pico) - it comes down to the question for you, what is your definition of spyware, proprietary or stock/OEM and preloaded. If you are paranoid, don't use it, disabled it, block it and change permission - IMHO, with Oreo & Pie roms - it will probably crippled your device badly.
Trust me, "they" all know where you've been and just left, approximate time spend and what you clicked. Give it a rest unless you have reasons to worry.
I don't know what I should download because I have no idea what would work with this phone. Online it says that Android One "only runs on certain smartphones", so probably not that. If Oreo/Pie stop working if you disable certain bloat, then I'm fine with using something older or even ancient, as long as it can function. And I'm probably going to be installing Play apps from APK mirror instead of the Play Store. What actually is the difference between that and sideloading? I thought when you installed an .apk from APK mirror it meant you were sideloading.
Again, my expectations for an OS are quite modest - basic smartphone features, along with the ability to use aptX/aptX HD or some other variants.
Can you link some de-googled and de-bloated ROMs I can choose from? I can't find any ROMs named "nano" or "pico" on the ROM section for this phone, or on Google.
dooshbagel said:
I'm thinking of buying a Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, and I want to install a quality open-source ROM on it since I don't want the Chinese or Google spying on me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Roms listed here are the ones you need, they are the ones for this phone. Successor of CM is LineageOS and people are happy with it. Being such a noob do your reading before you get into flashing, that prevents pulling too much hair. Mi A2 lite is a good phone.
Ah, avoid stock, it's a mess according to people who used it. I erased it as soon as I got the phone. I run AOSiP and am content with it.
On this phone you can also flash GSI systems (more reading), ArrowOS 9 worked just fine for me, others may be good too.
dooshbagel said:
I'm thinking of buying a Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, and I want to install a quality open-source ROM on it since I don't want the Chinese or Google spying on me.
I've never installed a ROM before, and I don't think I really need any fancy features (except for basic smartphone things, like support for camera, flashlight, WiFi, Bluetooth, phone calls, audio/video recording and playback, GPS, etc.). I guess my only other requirement is that it can support something like aptX/aptX HD so I can use it with Bluetooth headphones and it won't sound like ass.
I've got some questions:
Do most ROMs generally tend to work with most phones? Can I just download some random ROM and have it work most of the time?
Are the 2 pages of ROM threads listed on this forum the only ones this phone can support? Or are these just the ROMs that forum users have tested it with? A lot of these ROMs I've never even heard of, and many are listed as [UNOFFICIAL].
Cyanogenmod has been discontinued, but could it still work on newer devices? There's projects like freecyngn which can remove propriety Google Analytics stuff from it, and I don't know if any similar tweaks exist for Cyanogenmod's successors.
What's a good resource for de-googled ROMs with no proprietary software? And which can support aptX/aptX HD or an alternative. And would hopefully actually work with the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just try this https://forum.xda-developers.com/mi-a2-lite/development/rom-barebones-lineageos-16-0-t3931121
celrau said:
On this phone you can also flash GSI systems (more reading), ArrowOS 9 worked just fine for me, others may be good too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is GSI? And I don't see ArrowOS 9 listed anywhere in this phone's forum section. Can I just download it anywhere from the internet and have it work with the A2 Lite?
dooshbagel said:
What is GSI? And I don't see ArrowOS 9 listed anywhere in this phone's forum section. Can I just download it anywhere from the internet and have it work with the A2 Lite?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GSI stands for generic system images but as I said, do your own reading on all these. ArrowOS is here and you will need AB. And no, you can't just download it from anywhere on the internet and have it work. Search for what treble and GSI are, how to flash them and so on. Theoretically GSIs are easier to deal with since you don't need to change slots (don't ask me what slots are, you have the internet) but they are generic and some features may not work. If this is too much for you there is a thread here about debloating the stock rom, maybe that's more in tone with your current level of experience.
dooshbagel said:
I'm thinking of buying a Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, and I want to install a quality open-source ROM on it since I don't want the Chinese or Google spying on me.
I've never installed a ROM before, and I don't think I really need any fancy features (except for basic smartphone things, like support for camera, flashlight, WiFi, Bluetooth, phone calls, audio/video recording and playback, GPS, etc.). I guess my only other requirement is that it can support something like aptX/aptX HD so I can use it with Bluetooth headphones and it won't sound like ass.
I've got some questions:
Do most ROMs generally tend to work with most phones? Can I just download some random ROM and have it work most of the time?
Are the 2 pages of ROM threads listed on this forum the only ones this phone can support? Or are these just the ROMs that forum users have tested it with? A lot of these ROMs I've never even heard of, and many are listed as [UNOFFICIAL].
Cyanogenmod has been discontinued, but could it still work on newer devices? There's projects like freecyngn which can remove propriety Google Analytics stuff from it, and I don't know if any similar tweaks exist for Cyanogenmod's successors.
What's a good resource for de-googled ROMs with no proprietary software? And which can support aptX/aptX HD or an alternative. And would hopefully actually work with the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trying to reply in a simplier manner than previous comments:
I come from the similar direction to yours. I am not a whistleblower, but I'm sick of all the data collection, all my moves logged on Google servers, all the synchronization and all the targeted ads.
For downloading apps you don't need to sideload, just use F-Droid + Aurora Store for Play Store.
LineageOS is the continuation of Cyanogenmod project.
The best you can find right now is this build of Lineage: https://forum.xda-developers.com/mi-a2-lite/development/lineageos-16-0-xiaomi-mi-a2-lite-t3919060
Be aware that it has unofficial status by now and it's unclear if it's gonna change anytime soon. It means you have to put all your trust in the maintainer, plus it doesn't use official Lineage infrastracture for delivering updates etc. Also SELinux is not active, at least yet.
The phone itself I definitely recommend - cheap, 10+ hours of SOT, fast enough, camera is ok for random pic taking.
celrau said:
GSI stands for generic system images but as I said, do your own reading on all these. ArrowOS is here and you will need AB. And no, you can't just download it from anywhere on the internet and have it work. Search for what treble and GSI are, how to flash them and so on. Theoretically GSIs are easier to deal with since you don't need to change slots (don't ask me what slots are, you have the internet) but they are generic and some features may not work. If this is too much for you there is a thread here about debloating the stock rom, maybe that's more in tone with your current level of experience.
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Click to collapse
Alright, cheers. What are the basic procedures if I lightly or horribly screw up something while I'm doing this? Resetting, etc.
Might I respectfully suggest that you brew a cup of coffee or tea or whatever beverage, sit back and do some serious reading. Maybe, buy this device first and/or play with something you currently owned to get a better feel of how flashing & other basics like ADB and installing of ADB works.
You will probably need to be comfortable using (Xiao)MiFlash to fix any possible soft/hard brick to recover it back to OEM stock condition. All of the above plus other suggested files, roms and tools on your PC, ready to do its part. I also agreed, perhaps, once you decide to buy this device - start with debloating the stock rom as a beginner, to see what all this is about - before freaking out in a panic about all those warnings & errors on the device's screen as it boot up.
dooshbagel said:
Alright, cheers. What are the basic procedures if I lightly or horribly screw up something while I'm doing this? Resetting, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As the other guy is saying, best do some basic reading and install adb and fastboot on your computer, you will need them. If you stay with stock and just get rid of Google and friends (highly recommended for worm up) but **** up at some point and you can't boot or it bootloops, restart in recovery and reset. Or if you boot and something is not working but you have access to settings app, reset from there. Here, I'm doing your homework. DuckDuckGo is your friend.
dooshbagel said:
1-Do most ROMs generally tend to work with most phones? Can I just download some random ROM and have it work most of the time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the past years, unlike PC systems, a ROM was device specific and each supported device (of Cyanogenmod, let's say) was maintained by a dedicated developer. We still call it the same version of the said ROM, but each one has specific drivers files for its compatible device. It's still the case nowadays, and that's what you'll see in the ROM section of this device.
However, beginning from Oreo, google introduced a project called "Treble" that intended to separate the common Android System from the device specific files and driver's, by separating the classic system partition to a "vendor" partition, which contains all the hardware specific stuff, and a "system" partition containing a only generic universal Android system.
With this "Treble" project, a new type of ROMs emerged, called GSIs. These ROMs work on all Treble compatible devices (the Mi A2 lite included), and don't need to be maintained for each one. The Treble forum is here ; you'll find a more large selection with GSI ROMs, but I advice you to stay with the device specific ROMs on the Mi A2 Lite forum, which are more optimised for their specific device.
dooshbagel said:
2- Are the 2 pages of ROM threads listed on this forum the only ones this phone can support? Or are these just the ROMs that forum users have tested it with? A lot of these ROMs I've never even heard of, and many are listed as [UNOFFICIAL].
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As answered above, these are the specific ROMs especially developed for this device, they'll be the more adapted to the Mi A2 Lite.
UNNOFICIAL just means that the developer that buildt the ROM for this device isn't working directly with the team responsible of the ROM. (For example the CrDroid ROM being official, it's A2Lite version will be hosted in the CrDroid site, an unofficial one won't).
It can be an indicator of stability, but you may find a very stable and clean UNNOFICIAL rom.
Now almost all the ROM that you've seen in the list are based on LineageOS, itself the son of CyanogenMod. We'll come to this point now.
dooshbagel said:
3- Cyanogenmod has been discontinued, but could it still work on newer devices? There's projects like freecyngn which can remove propriety Google Analytics stuff from it, and I don't know if any similar tweaks exist for Cyanogenmod's successors
4- What's a good resource for de-googled ROMs with no proprietary software? And which can support aptX/aptX HD or an alternative. And would hopefully actually work with the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The CyanogenMod project was going on like one week after it was discontinued, under the name of "LineageOS". Its 100% the same source and base, and the LineageOS team is the part of CM team that wanted to continue the CM rom developpement after their team split.
If you want a clean ROM with the basic features and independent from Google software, LOS is the more advisable. They provide their own version of all the basic feature apps (dialer, camera, music player etc) so that you don't need using Google software, and are in general VERY privacy axed, and have a centralised interface called Trust from which you can control what informations each app have access to.
Like I said above, almost all the ROMs (in the A2 Lite section) you'll see are based on LineageOS, adding customization features mostly. So if you just need the vanilla Android feature, with no obscure ROM additional software, and axed on privacy and security, I think LineageOS is your best shot.
The LineageOS 16build for this device is unnoficial but is fully buggless and regularly updated and maintained by a xda recognized developer.
Lastly, unrelated to you questions but you may need to read some "A/B devices - seamless updates" documentation, and carefully read the guides, or you risk bricking your device. (And possibly provide yourself with all the necessary stuff to unbrick your device, just in case)
Thanks GDFI, great post.
Alright bois, time for me to do some research then.
I built a custom version of LineageOS for personal use, with some built-in apps removed, patches for signature spoofing and some (mostly FOSS) apps included (microG, F-Droid, Lawnchair, etc.)
https://rarepepes.faith/lineage-16.0-20190606-UNOFFICIAL-daisy.zip
You can't really go full FOSS with any of the Android phones (Samsung S3 + Replicant ROM is as good as it gets), but you can minimize Google stuff on your device and filter network connections using apps like AFWall
Have fun!
You kids can try to Port "mokee os" ?
Hi, I recommend you to stay with AndroidOne OS.
I don't know why you want to change OS because Xiaomi still releasing security patch which is very important to protect your phone.
Custom ROM rarely update and maintain.
Not to mention in order to flash it, you need patient and time to learn the knowledge.
It is only suitable to go for custom ROM when Xiaomi not longer support Mi A2 Lite.
coolwei1 said:
Hi, I recommend you to stay with AndroidOne OS.
I don't know why you want to change OS because Xiaomi still releasing security patch which is very important to protect your phone.
Custom ROM rarely update and maintain.
Not to mention in order to flash it, you need patient and time to learn the knowledge.
It is only suitable to go for custom ROM when Xiaomi not longer support Mi A2 Lite.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obscurantism at its best :good:
When nobody use a custom rom, nobody will develope on this device. Ergo no stable custom rom in the end of service for mi a2 Lite
Hey guys,
it's been 3,5 years since I've had a Oneplus 5 and couldn't root the other phone that I had during that time.
I'm happy to be back but feel like this device isn't nearly as popular as what the previous models (at least till the 5) have been.
I feel like here's much less root related stuff (like custom Roms) to be found.
Can someone give me an update or correct me if I'm wrong?
Thanks in advance.
Twrp has been out since 20th June...
Not only is TWRP a factor, but the evolution of android as a hole. Rooting isn't necessary these days to achieve desired results. My only intention on rooting my op9 pro is to remove the annoying bloatware from T-Mobile.
I feel like rooting/custom roms really are not worth it anymore.
The custom roms are designed to make the device better but in my experience you end up with more issues than you initially had when stock.
you dont have to flash custom rom when you root your phone. I use root acces for these: block ads, debloating unwanted system apps, some deep theming with swift installer and custom kernels. for example omega kernel is better than oneplus kernel now. especially while we all know that Oneplus heavily throttling well known apps.
you dont have to flash custom rom when you root your phone.
regards
sultan.of.swing said:
I feel like rooting/custom roms really are not worth it anymore.
The custom roms are designed to make the device better but in my experience you end up with more issues than you initially had when stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, that is your opinion. From my perspective, I'm not happy with basic Android or provided extension and want to flash whatever suits me better and customize as much as I can. And rooting is must have for some specific apps I need, but generally usefull for proper ad-blocking.
Unbreakeable said:
I'm happy to be back but feel like this device isn't nearly as popular as what the previous models (at least till the 5) have been.
I feel like here's much less root related stuff (like custom Roms) to be found.
Can someone give me an update or correct me if I'm wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I felt that way at first, coming from a OP7P where my phone had been heavily modded the whole 2 years I used it and I tried about every custom ROM and kernel available. Then I bought the OP9P on release day and there wasn't anything posted in the Dev section for about 2 months. But there were some challenges early on with a brand new device, Android 11, no TWRP until last month, etc., so development is just now really picking up. I expect to see more and more in the coming months.
And like others have said, a lot of us who used to always use custom ROMs have found other ways to mod without having to rely on ROMs, which can sometimes be a hassle. With root, custom kernels, and a whole slew of magisk modules to choose from, I personally don't have a reason to switch to a custom ROM right now, other than boredom.
I updated to OOS12 a while back, knowing full well that sources weren't released yet and there would be a wait for custom kernels, etc. However, with the direction OOS is going I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever have the ability to create custom kernels for OOS12, flash ROMs without downgrading first, etc. Looking for input from anyone who typically follows OP development topics:
1) Do we have any expectation they'll ever release sources for OOS12, or is OP not doing that anymore?
2) Where would those sources be posted, if they release them?
3) What about theming, is there any chance we'll have a root method for changing things that are now part of the theme (like fonts, emojis, boot animation, etc.)? Is there a method for Oppo?
I've considered trying a custom A12 ROM, but I really hate wiping a device I rely on nearly 24/7 so I've always preferred to customize the stock ROM instead. But even if I did, I have no idea which ROM I'd like and don't want to go through that process of wiping, downgrading, flashing a dozen times to try them all out. Do we expect that is going to be the only path to modding OnePlus devices from here on out?
I'm watching to see what happens with the OP10 Pro also, wondering if this new trend is going to continue or if it's going to be worth it for someone like me to upgrade.
terlynn4 said:
I updated to OOS12 a while back, knowing full well that sources weren't released yet and there would be a wait for custom kernels, etc. However, with the direction OOS is going I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever have the ability to create custom kernels for OOS12, flash ROMs without downgrading first, etc. Looking for input from anyone who typically follows OP development topics:
1) Do we have any expectation they'll ever release sources for OOS12, or is OP not doing that anymore?
2) Where would those sources be posted, if they release them?
3) What about theming, is there any chance we'll have a root method for changing things that are now part of the theme (like fonts, emojis, boot animation, etc.)? Is there a method for Oppo?
I've considered trying a custom A12 ROM, but I really hate wiping a device I rely on nearly 24/7 so I've always preferred to customize the stock ROM instead. But even if I did, I have no idea which ROM I'd like and don't want to go through that process of wiping, downgrading, flashing a dozen times to try them all out. Do we expect that is going to be the only path to modding OnePlus devices from here on out?
I'm watching to see what happens with the OP10 Pro also, wondering if this new trend is going to continue or if it's going to be worth it for someone like me to upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Arter kernel has a beta a12 kernel on tg
Don't know if it entails oos or a12 custom. Skimmed by it.
{Mod edit: Quoted post has been deleted}
It's been plenty stable for awhile now. My questions are related to the future of modding on OxygenOS, or if they're becoming a cookie cutter closed platform like everyone else.