I understand that bootloaders are a set of codes that run on the boot of a device. It is specific to the hardware in the phone. I also understand that in order to flash custom ROMs,an unlocked bootloader is neccesary.
Now for my questions. I've already unlocked my bootloader, installed TWRP, S-Off'd, and installed the custom ROM I'm more than happy with (ViperOne). I'm considering relocking my bootloader to (maybe) redeem my Google Drive storage. Questions:
If I relock, can I:
1. Stay rooted
2. Keep S-Off (for Xposed, etc)
3. Keep TWRP
4. Redeem Google Drive storage
Thanks for the answers!
That's yes times 4.
Since you're S-Off, you should able to issue fastboot commands to lock and unlock, all without losing any data.
I'm sure that's what I did with my M7.
Keep a nandroid backup off your phone storage just in case.
Related
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.......
Hi!
I have a Nexus 7, unlocked and with custom rom (Omni). The process I did was the standard:
-Unlock the bootloader (so I can change the recovery)
-Flash TWRP
-Flash room
So, I was wondering if it is possible to lock it again without breaking everything. It is just curiosity: Since when you are unlocking it, you are forces to format all internal data, it seems that locking it (while preserving TWRP, root and custom ROM) would slightly increase the security. Would that work? Or I would get a dead Nexus 7?
Thanks!
dayr said:
Hi!
I have a Nexus 7, unlocked and with custom rom (Omni). The process I did was the standard:
-Unlock the bootloader (so I can change the recovery)
-Flash TWRP
-Flash room
So, I was wondering if it is possible to lock it again without breaking everything. It is just curiosity: Since when you are unlocking it, you are forces to format all internal data, it seems that locking it (while preserving TWRP, root and custom ROM) would slightly increase the security. Would that work? Or I would get a dead Nexus 7?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you lock it using fastboot oem lock, it won't break it, but if you wanted to flash something (kernel, su, xposed, a new rom, etc) again, you would have to fastboot oem unlock (and wipe everything again which will wipe all your work), what you'd probably prefer, is use something like bootunlocker which can lock and unlock the bootloader from within the OS.
I just leave my device unlocked, much more convenient that way. I've had no issues with it being unlocked.
mdamaged said:
If you lock it using fastboot oem lock, it won't break it, but if you wanted to flash something (kernel, su, xposed, a new rom, etc) again, you would have to fastboot oem unlock (and wipe everything again which will wipe all your work), what you'd probably prefer, is use something like bootunlocker which can lock and unlock the bootloader from within the OS.
I just leave my device unlocked, much more convenient that way. I've had no issues with it being unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a number of solutions.
The risk is that somehow when you were flashing something, the battery died, so you can't unroot now (for sending back to Asus. And I have a bad usb charging port right now, so i am having a lot of problems).
BootUnlocker works but I don't know if CWM works with BootUnlocker locking the
What I do know is that I rooted my nexus with Towelroot, which does not unlock the bootloader (The unlock sign does not appear.). I had succssfully installed TWRP, Xposed, Su, Game Killer, etc... and had later discovered BootUnlocker.
Thanks for your answers.
Not that I was planing to do it, but it is always good to know!!
I had a Nexus 5X with stock Android 6 software. Android Pay was working fine.
I was having a few lag issues and noticed the final Nexus factory image was available for Android 7 so I decided to unlock my bootloader and install the factory image. After I installed it, Android Pay was still working fine.
Then I received an OTA update for the monthly security hotfixes which I installed. Since doing this, Android Pay doesn't work. It says something about my phone being rooted/unlocked and that Android Pay does not support this.
Can anyone tell me why this is happening? I don't need to keep my bootloader unlocked so if locking will allow me to resolve the issue without losing data then I can do this. Can anyone guide me please?
Try flashing a kernel from The Flash or Franco.
Both have a line of code that should stop the bootloader error in safetynet
Thank you but I don't want to put on any custom stuff. I just want to go back to a stock Android 7.0 ROM that works with Android Pay. I don't need root, or an unlocked bootloader. How can I go back to stock?
You can use something like wugs nexus tool.
Although some have mentioned you can brick your device trying to lock the bootloader.
Personally I have never done it. Others might have more experience.
It may or may not be easier to lock than to use a custom kernel. YMMV.
One benefit of the kernel is increased performance on your phone.
Oh and if you lock your bootloader it will completely wipe your phone. E.g. You will lose your data.
Edit.. Root isn't needed for a kernel either
Start the device in fastboot mode again, as described above.
Execute:
fastboot flashing lock
or, for older devices, run:
fastboot oem lock
Locking bootloader will wipe the data on some devices. After locking the bootloader, if you want to flash the device again, you must run fastboot oem unlock again, which will wipe the data.
Source: https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
Ah okay, thanks for the info. What I should have done originally was re-lock the bootloader straight after I flashed the ROM. Unfortunately, I setup the device after flashing the ROM and kept the bootloader unlocked which is why I'm stuck right now. Okay, time to backup my stuff up and re-lock the bootloader. Thanks everyone.
Yeah, it's locked with a TWRP on it.
Now the data partition is unencrypted. I want to upgrade the bootloader, but it says it should be first unlocked.
Will unlocking cause destruction to all my data? If so, can I upgrade the bootloader?
P.S. My data is 20GB. I don't want to make a backup at the moment, if not necessary.
First of all: Yes, unlocking your bootloader will erase your data. Make a backup before you do.
Second of all: Is there a reason you want to do this? Your phone should continue to work fine if you're not on the newest bootloader or radio. Over the course of a year, I had updated mine from 6.0.1 to 7.0 to 7.1 without ever updating the bootloader and radio. It will work fine with an older version.
Third of all: As a curiosity, you have TWRP installed to the /recovery, but will it actually boot TWRP with the locked bootloader? I didn't think it would...
It's booting. I don't know why. I'll post a video if you want. BTW, if I bricked my device with the bootloader locked, is there any chance to re-flash it to stock?
I believe so. Instead of Pwr+VolDown to get into the bootloader, you can do Pwr+VolUp to get into recovery, and I think you can sideload the stock firmware. Don't quote me on that, tho, as I could be mistaken. Never had to do it myself, as I've always been unlocked and used Fastboot.
You may run into problems if you need to flash the factory images as you'd have to unlock the bootloader first so if there were any problems and you were unable to unlock it, you would not be able to flash them. My advice would be to unlock it and leave it that way as long as your device is modified.
Week ago I flashed the android 14 dev, don't liked it and yesterday flashed A13 (TQ1A.230205.002) with Android Flash Tool. Today I saw that I can't add my credit card to the Google Pay. I checked in settings and found out that my bootloader unlocked but the button is unavailable.
What can I do?
If your phone was rooted, then do a factory reset. Download and install the Google Platform tools, or if adb and fastboot drivers are installed system-wide, that's fine.
Connect phone to PC in fastboot mode
Enter the first command "fastboot devices"
Then type, "fastboot flashing unlock"
Confirm on your device to lock the bootloader
That's it. If you want a detailed guide, here are the instructions on how to unlock/relock the bootloader on a Pixel phone.
wrkadung said:
If your phone was rooted, then do a factory reset. Download and install the Google Platform tools, or if adb and fastboot drivers are installed system-wide, that's fine.
Connect phone to PC in fastboot mode
Enter the first command "fastboot devices"
Then type, "fastboot flashing unlock"
Confirm on your device to lock the bootloader
That's it. If you want a detailed guide, here are the instructions on how to unlock/relock the bootloader on a Pixel phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Locking with adb will erase all my data?
max_134 said:
Locking with adb will erase all my data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, of course! Unlocking and relocking will erase and factory reset your phone, I use Google One to take backups.
Alternatively, you can also use the Android flash tool, and it will automatically do it for you. You just have to follow the on-screen instructions, and it will ask for your confirmation to lock the bootloader, and you also get the option to wipe data (never tried unchecking the wipe data option).
Here is the video tutorial, if you need it.
EDIT: apologies for covering much of what has already been discussed by @wrkadung, got ninja'd a bit there...
I wouldn't risk locking the bootloader via platform-tools....so many instances from all the way back from the original Pixel has had countless members hard-brick their Pixel's relocking the bootloader.
The safest way to go about it is to use the Android Flash Tool to flash both slots and relock bootloader; most hard bricks happen when it's not flashed to both slots and/or the improper factory image is used...
But the OEM unlocking being greyed out is sometimes SOP after unlocking the bootloader. It's not really anything to be concerned about. If Wallet isn't working properly, it is doubtful it is simply having the unlocked bootloader; Wallet usually doesn't work when rooted than it is the fact of an unlocked bootloader. You should try Force Stop-ing and Clear Data Wallet first. Then even "uninstall updates" and/or revert to an older version before locking the bootloader. ESPECIALLY if you don't wish to wipe the device by relocking the bootloader...
max_134 said:
Week ago I flashed the android 14 dev, don't liked it and yesterday flashed A13 (TQ1A.230205.002) with Android Flash Tool. Today I saw that I can't add my credit card to the Google Pay. I checked in settings and found out that my bootloader unlocked but the button is unavailable.
What can I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google pay will work with an unlocked bootloader.
simplepinoi177 said:
EDIT: apologies for covering much of what has already been discussed by @wrkadung, got ninja'd a bit there...
I wouldn't risk locking the bootloader via platform-tools....so many instances from all the way back from the original Pixel has had countless members hard-brick their Pixel's relocking the bootloader.
The safest way to go about it is to use the Android Flash Tool to flash both slots and relock bootloader; most hard bricks happen when it's not flashed to both slots and/or the improper factory image is used...
But the OEM unlocking being greyed out is sometimes SOP after unlocking the bootloader. It's not really anything to be concerned about. If Wallet isn't working properly, it is doubtful it is simply having the unlocked bootloader; Wallet usually doesn't work when rooted than it is the fact of an unlocked bootloader. You should try Force Stop-ing and Clear Data Wallet first. Then even "uninstall updates" and/or revert to an older version before locking the bootloader. ESPECIALLY if you don't wish to wipe the device by relocking the bootloader...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, definitely, a stock factory image is required. Most people directly lock the bootloader on a rooted phone using adb & fastboot commands, which results in bricking the phone.
On stock firmware, it is working perfectly. Right now I am working on a video tutorial for Pixel 7 and it worked fine without any issues, it was just bootloader unlocked device (not rooted).