Develop Bugs

Questions about rooting / recoveries ...

Hello
Since this will be my first nexus device , I have some questions regarding rooting and recoveries and what they affect on nexus devices specifically this nexus.
What affects the ability to receive official google updates?
If you are rooted do you always loose root if a new update comes? Does root affect the ability to receive updates?
If you have a custom recovery is it possible to receive official updates from google?
Thanks
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk

I also have one quick question about rooting. I am totally new to this, I used android on my HD2 but it was always SD card version.
Does rooting affect warranty? I don't think it matters, but I'm with O2.

Official Updates
I think you can, however if you do you can lose root
Custom Recovery
Yes its possible. I believe koush is working on a stable CWM
Warranty
Yes, you will lose it and the Nexus will tell you before it lets you confirm you want to do it.
Im currently trying to get my Nexus back to unrooted status so I can send it back and get it on PAYG. I'll write up a tutorial once I've figured it out

TulpiX said:
Hello
Since this will be my first nexus device , I have some questions regarding rooting and recoveries and what they affect on nexus devices specifically this nexus.
What affects the ability to receive official google updates?
If you are rooted do you always loose root if a new update comes? Does root affect the ability to receive updates?
If you have a custom recovery is it possible to receive official updates from google?
Thanks
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Rooting your device wont affect your ability to receive updates, Custom ROMs do.
2. when you receive a new OTA you WILL lose root, this is the reason custom ROMs dont accept OTA updates.
3 As far as custom recoveries, I dont think that affects your ability to receive updates, Even then you can still flash an official update.zip via a custom recovery.
rokfor2000 said:
I also have one quick question about rooting. I am totally new to this, I used android on my HD2 but it was always SD card version.
Does rooting affect warranty? I don't think it matters, but I'm with O2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Eh grey area. Rooting doesnt void your warranty, but unlocking the bootloader does. As of yet there is no way to re-lock the bootloader.

slowz3r said:
1. Rooting your device wont affect your ability to receive updates, Custom ROMs do.
2. when you receive a new OTA you WILL lose root, this is the reason custom ROMs dont accept OTA updates.
3 As far as custom recoveries, I dont think that affects your ability to receive updates, Even then you can still flash an official update.zip via a custom recovery.
1. Eh grey area. Rooting doesnt void your warranty, but unlocking the bootloader does. As of yet there is no way to re-lock the bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fastboot oem lock does

Evostance said:
fastboot oem lock does
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does it actually re lock your bootloader..... its been a while since I last used my NS, Since i switched to VZW
If thats the case then dont worry about warranty

Apparently it's works. But I think I've bricked my phone flashing a system.img...
Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk

Ok thanks
I thought ota updates would also sometimes update stock recovery which would fail with custom recoveries and therefore no ota updates then.
So i was mistaken there?
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk

So to be clear. I could do the following:
Get my phone
Unlock bootloader
Root it
Install cwm recovery
And this would NOT affect my ability to get ota updates?

TulpiX said:
So to be clear. I could do the following:
Get my phone
Unlock bootloader
Root it
Install cwm recovery
And this would NOT affect my ability to get ota updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pretty much, but remember an OTA will remove root/recovery

TulpiX said:
So to be clear. I could do the following:
Get my phone
Unlock bootloader
Root it
Install cwm recovery
And this would NOT affect my ability to get ota updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will get ota updates but it will not install it coz the cmw recovery, then you will need to update your rom that incloded the update via cmw recovery

Hmm ok
So you loose recovery too? I thought you would only loose root?
But arent the last two posts exact opposites? One says you would get ota and it would install but you would loose root and recovery and the other says you would get ota but cannot install it. Or am i missing some point here?

liorra3 said:
You will get ota updates but it will not install it coz the cmw recovery, then you will need to update your rom that incloded the update via cmw recovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OTA updates install fine with CWM and have for some time. The only reason it would fail is if it is trying to patch recovery and does an assert.
TulpiX said:
Hmm ok
So you loose recovery too? I thought you would only loose root?
But arent the last two posts exact opposites? One says you would get ota and it would install but you would loose root and recovery and the other says you would get ota but cannot install it. Or am i missing some point here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will lose root on incremental updates only because it does a recursive chmod on /system - so it just changes the permissions on the su binary.
You will lose your custom recovery because it will restore /etc/install-recovery.sh which restores the stock recovery on boot.

not to smash your topic to bits but SINCE WHEN has an ota update been available before aosp code? Welcome to nexus device people running stock is for chumps you won't need ota updates because you will already be on a custom rom that has it
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

Goat_For_Sale said:
not to smash your topic to bits but SINCE WHEN has an ota update been available before aosp code?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Froyo source did not push to AOSP until after the OTA to the Nexus One.
Slightly different but also held from AOSP until out on a device:
Eclair (2.1) was not in AOSP in a form that would build for a device until post Nexus One being available.
Gingerbread did not push to AOSP until after the Nexus S was available.
The other hold up is when new binaries are needed for the build. The early AOSP Gingerbread builds for the Nexus One were BUGGY.
The ICS builds for the Nexus S needed some "shady, leaked" binaries to get things up and running well (wifi, bluetooth, GPS, etc).
Typically the new binaries are not posted until it OTA's.
Goat_For_Sale said:
Welcome to nexus device people running stock is for chumps you won't need ota updates because you will already be on a custom from that has it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can say this all you want - I've run stock rooted roms on both the Nexus One and the Nexus S without any issues. The Nexus S forums are filled with people with issues with spontaneous reboots, poor battery life, FC's and 95% of the time it tracks back to a custom kernel that has been "tweaked" or the ROM they are running.
If you are looking for the added features of some custom roms then go for it. But thus far pure AOSP builds have been anything but "for chumps" with the Nexus One and Nexus S.

krohnjw said:
If you are looking for the added features of some custom roms then go for it. But thus far pure AOSP builds have been anything but "for chumps" with the Nexus One and Nexus S.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure but "custom roms" he also included builds made from AOSP. The point is that AOSP is often newer between bigger releases and the times an OTA build is newer you could always just flash that if you really want.

Ok thank you guys
I learnt much from this
So in fact if i go cwm and root my best option is to forget ota and go custom rom. Even if its a stock + root custom rom.
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk

TulpiX said:
Hello
Since this will be my first nexus device , I have some questions regarding rooting and recoveries and what they affect on nexus devices specifically this nexus.
What affects the ability to receive official google updates?
If you are rooted do you always loose root if a new update comes? Does root affect the ability to receive updates?
If you have a custom recovery is it possible to receive official updates from google?
Thanks
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't receive OTA when your device is rooted. Why? Every OTA checks system consistence. If some different files or the same files with different checksums will be detected, OTA will be canceled.

[Q] Help about rooting and other stuff

Sorry if this question has been asked before, but i could not find any.
So i got the Nexus beast yesterday, and it's already blazing me off with it's greatness. But i got a few problems though:
1. I got the jakjuxw, not the jakju, will i get the same updates as the jakju OTA, but only a week later or so?
2. I did not root the phone before starting using it, but i regret that now. Is there any way i can root it and NOT lose all of my apps and data? I have spent so many hours to customize this device and i dont want to start all over (yes i know about app backup's, but they are slow)
3. If i root but stay with the stock rom, will i still be getting the original OTA updates or does i have to flash the roms manually and wipe the phone every time?
I'd appreciate it if anyone could answer all the questions =)

Baguett said:
Sorry if this question has been asked before, but i could not find any.
So i got the Nexus beast yesterday, and it's already blazing me off with it's greatness. But i got a few problems though:
1. I got the jakjuxw, not the jakju, will i get the same updates as the jakju OTA, but only a week later or so?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure about this, it probably depends on what they want to release. I don't think there's any kind of guarantee they'll get the same updates, but there's also probably no reason why they wouldn't.
2. I did not root the phone before starting using it, but i regret that now. Is there any way i can root it and NOT lose all of my apps and data? I have spent so many hours to customize this device and i dont want to start all over (yes i know about app backup's, but they are slow)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to unlock the bootloader to root, and unlocking the bootloader wipes the device. Sorry. Someday an exploit might be found for ICS that allows you to root without unlocking.
3. If i root but stay with the stock rom, will i still be getting the original OTA updates or does i have to flash the roms manually and wipe the phone every time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you keep stock recovery, you'll still get OTA updates when rooted. If you use custom recovery like ClockworkMod, you'll have to do them manually (but you won't need to wipe). In both cases, applying the update will probably cause you to lose root and you'll have to re-root. This is easy if you've unlocked the bootloader.
If you root by using some future exploit, you might find that the update you just installed removed root and closed the hole that allowed you to gain it without unlocking the bootloader, and now you're left stuck without root. I'd say just unlock the bootloader now and be done with it. It'll be a pain, but then you don't need to worry about it again.

phazerorg said:
If you keep stock recovery, you'll still get OTA updates when rooted. If you use custom recovery like ClockworkMod, you'll have to do them manually (but you won't need to wipe). In both cases, applying the update will probably cause you to lose root and you'll have to re-root. This is easy if you've unlocked the bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok thanks
Just unlocked it and rooted it, but i think im gonna install the official google 4.0.2 rom, i wil get the OTA updates then too right?
edit: how am i able to flash a rom without CWM? Also do i really not need to wipe my phone if i use CWM? i had to do it on my Desire.

Baguett said:
ok thanks
Just unlocked it and rooted it, but i think im gonna install the official google 4.0.2 rom, i wil get the OTA updates then too right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but the updates will probably unroot you. You should be able to just re-root after. If using CWM you can probably flash superuser right after flashing the update and not lose root at all. This is what I always did with my Nexus One when I still had the rooted stock ROM.
edit: how am i able to flash a rom without CWM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the ROM comes as images (like the Google factory images) you can flash with fastboot. The Google ones come with a script that uses fastboot to do it for you.
Also do i really not need to wipe my phone if i use CWM? i had to do it on my Desire.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I meant installing updates here... you don't usually need to wipe if you are installing updates to your current ROM, such as OTA updates to the stock ROM. You need to wipe if you're changing ROMs. It's probably no different than your Desire.

[Q] Doubts in rooting

So far I've had only Samsung phones, which were rooted by flashing a zip file through the built-in recovery (containing signed SuperSU).
Now I have a 2013 Nexus 7 and I'm looking at the rooting guides and I see bootloader unlocking, flashing custom recoveries and a lot of other things which personally confuse the hell out of me as to why are they needed.
So I wanted to ask if there is a way to just flash a zip file with the SuperSU (and buzybox) app like how it's done on the Samsung phones? Or if there is a method that doesn't require replacing the stock recovery / flashing ROM components?

If anything its easier than any Samsung device but the thing is don't Root if it confuses you at least until you understand how to do it there is tons of guides online

spinninbsod said:
If anything its easier than any Samsung device but the thing is don't Root if it confuses you at least until you understand how to do it there is tons of guides online
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's kind'a my question, it's not that I don't know how, I just don't get if all the side-stuff in 90% of the guides is actually needed, so I asked if there is a way to just get SuperSU working without any custom-recoveries or other side-things.

To my knowledge, you need to have a custom recovery to root it. Unlocking the bootloader helps with this, as it ensures recovery and root sticks.

Or, just use the Wugfresh Nexus Root Toolkit to unlock and root.

CrisR82 said:
That's kind'a my question, it's not that I don't know how, I just don't get if all the side-stuff in 90% of the guides is actually needed, so I asked if there is a way to just get SuperSU working without any custom-recoveries or other side-things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was in the exact same position as you four days ago, up until then the only android devices I had owned were the Samsung Galaxy S2 and S4. It is quite different to the rooting process on the samsung devices but just as you did with the Samsung devices you will learn as you go along. My bootloader is unlocked, rooted with a custom rom and it was pretty easy to do

CrisR82 said:
That's kind'a my question, it's not that I don't know how, I just don't get if all the side-stuff in 90% of the guides is actually needed, so I asked if there is a way to just get SuperSU working without any custom-recoveries or other side-things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A sideload would only be needed if you didn't dump SuperSU on the phone first.
Unlock bootloader
Flash TWRP
Flash SuperSU
Done

Get wugfresh's nexus root toolkit. It's made for the novice in all of us.... Works great, self updates, awesome help section.. Look into it.. It's made specifically for the nexus line of products

Thanks for the replies guys, but noone seems to say what is the minimum that neds to be done for rooting.
I'll re-ask my question in a different way:
When rooting, does the bootloader always have to be unlocked and a custom recovery always needed to be installed?

CrisR82 said:
Thanks for the replies guys, but noone seems to say what is the minimum that neds to be done for rooting.
I'll re-ask my question in a different way:
When rooting, does the bootloader always have to be unlocked and a custom recovery always needed to be installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootloader needs to be be unlocked, but can be relocked after rooting
AFAIK, you can use stock recovery, but custom offers better options/control over the situation. Most roms/kernels are flashed via twrp or cwm..... You can flash through rom toolbox if you choose to stay stock recovery

You can use Towel root to root your tablet in about 30 seconds. It'll also unlock your bootloader for you.
Cousin recovery is only needed of you intend to flash kernels and Roms and the like. If, like me, you only want root for installing things like xposed then you don't need to bother with one.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Free mobile app

CrisR82 said:
Thanks for the replies guys, but noone seems to say what is the minimum that neds to be done for rooting.
I'll re-ask my question in a different way:
When rooting, does the bootloader always have to be unlocked and a custom recovery always needed to be installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, all the steps that are listed are required for rooting your Nexus. I understand what you are asking and I was also hesitant at first, but it was super easy to root and I didnt use the WugFresh took kit I manually rooted mine, following Zedomaxs Video tutorial, that way I could stop and Pause it at every step to make sure things were happening as they should here is the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1cD-JXRGX8

I confirm towelroot works on the 2013 nexus 7. After rooting unlock bootloader with app from google play. This method does not wipe user data or need a computer at all. And if root is lost and the towelroot exploit is patched with the next os update you can reroot the old way.
Sent from my Le Pan TC1020 using Tapatalk

To root the nexus 5x or to not root

Hey, I opened my new nexus 5x a couple days ago and it's been running great. However, I came from an htc one m7 that was rooted and had greenify auto hibernation thing. So, I sorta feel like rooting just for the greenify auto hibernation feature.
The reason why I don't feel like rooting this is because I spend too much time on upgrading (to new versions of a rom, and having to redownload everything over). Do you guys think it's worth rooting? How do you deal with updates of a rom?
If I root, I would just stick to one rom (the most stable one and wait for updates on that I guess, since updates to a rom don't require clean install of rom)

Like you I came from rooted M7 (running ARHD) . I did not even unlock the bootloader on my 5X.. and am quite satisfied.

Either way, you should unlock your bootloader. It is far easier to resolve any issues with your bootloader unlocked.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

SlimSnoopOS said:
Either way, you should unlock your bootloader. It is far easier to resolve any issues with your bootloader unlocked.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to mention, unlocking requires a complete wipe... Might as well get that out of the way
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

so wait, unlock bootloader, as in I should root my phone?

Unlocking bootloader just unlocks it, it doesn't do anything other.
You can decide then if you want to root or not, but it would be wise to unlock it anyway if you ever change your mind because your phone is completely wiped when you unlock it, so it better be the first thing you do with your phone...
You can use the guide here to unlock it
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images?hl=en
If you do decide to root, to upgrade to a new version you just flash it manually without wiping your data, so you don't need to reinstall anything. And after that just re-root, and that's it...

As mentioned above as long as you stick with one rom you dont need to wipe internal storage with each update (usually data, system and cache) if that and reinstall su as current versions of superuser dont modify the the system partition.
Root gives more freedom with your phone easy backups with titanium and potentially better battery life or a rom more suited to your needs.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

The_Automator said:
As mentioned above as long as you stick with one rom you dont need to wipe internal storage with each update (usually data, system and cache) if that and reinstall su as current versions of superuser dont modify the the system partition.
Root gives more freedom with your phone easy backups with titanium and potentially better battery life or a rom more suited to your needs.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh ok. I went to check out the Nexus 5x Android development thread and saw the stock rom of the new 6.0.1 update. But then, i saw someone on the comments asking if they had to flash the radios or something on post #5: http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-5x/development/rom-nexus-5x-stock-rom-t3267096
and the guy said, "Yeah, you need the bootloader, radio, vendor images. It's probably easier to just flash 6.0.1 from here https://developers.google.com/androi...mages#bullhead"
so everytime a new version comes out of stock, i need to flash the bootloader, radio, and vendor images?
What if I'm not on stock rom and on a custom rom, then everything will be included in the rom zip file i assume (i just flash the rom, and that's it)?

theBhav007 said:
Oh ok. I went to check out the Nexus 5x Android development thread and saw the stock rom of the new 6.0.1 update. But then, i saw someone on the comments asking if they had to flash the radios or something on post #5: http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-5x/development/rom-nexus-5x-stock-rom-t3267096
and the guy said, "Yeah, you need the bootloader, radio, vendor images. It's probably easier to just flash 6.0.1 from here https://developers.google.com/androi...mages#bullhead"
so everytime a new version comes out of stock, i need to flash the bootloader, radio, and vendor images?
What if I'm not on stock rom and on a custom rom, then everything will be included in the rom zip file i assume (i just flash the rom, and that's it)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom roms usually dont include radio vendor or bootloader these are flashed from fastboot as opposed to recovery. Custom roms from what I understand mostly modify the system partition. Each thread for the roma tends to have great support. Im currently on uber rom
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

The_Automator said:
Custom roms usually dont include radio vendor or bootloader these are flashed from fastboot as opposed to recovery. Custom roms from what I understand mostly modify the system partition. Each thread for the roma tends to have great support. Im currently on uber rom
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can use Nexus root toolkit. all with one click, only what I don't like is the message that appears "we can't control if your device is corrupt".
Is there anybody who know how to prevent that message?
Rooting with this is a piece of cake.
I unroot my new nexus 5 because of the message.

Rooting questions (kinda newb again)

I have unlocked my bootloader, I have gone through the process of installing TWRP RC1, I have also installed SU 2.79 as guides have shown to do. I have also installed adaway after rooting, as well as titanium backup.
What is left to do now? I have read that if I stay on stock but rooted, when a security update comes out next month and I take it, my device turns into brickmode. I don't intend to stay on stock, I am taking the time to learn all the ins and outs of each rom that exists currently and trying to make a decision which one I like best, and especially what kind of challenging process exists for flashing the rom as well as putting TWRP back on then SU, and the confusing part about doing the vendor image. So yea, still learning. The last time I rooted and flashed anything was LGG3 days, so it's a learning curve again.
Am I supposed to be using a flash drive for anything? Or is that not needed if following the installation process for whatever rom is out there.
Thanks in advance, everyone has been very helpful so far.

There is no need for a flash drive. You can easily disable OTA on stock, and there is no need for a custom rom. In fact, I am rooted on stock. Also, the OTA should not be able to go through while rooted but I have seen myself that it does work surprisingly. My guess is this is because of the dual partitions, but no, you will not get bricked if you accept an OTA. The worst that would happen is that you would lose root. I'm guessing this is due to the dual slots. The OTA overwrites the other slot and swaps it on reboot. You should be able to just get in again but without root.

And if it does fail you can download the full OTA from google and install it with TWRP or adb install it.
Turn off updates in dev options. A couple of people have gotten hit with big data bills from it downloading over and over.

I'm unlocked but not rooted. I installed Franko kernel but need to be rooted to use his app. I'm trying to figure out root yet stay stock for now.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

b4u2 said:
I'm unlocked but not rooted. I installed Franko kernel but need to be rooted to use his app. I'm trying to figure out root yet stay stock for now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you want to root it now so you can use his app? Second to the last post in the thread below.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel/help/stupidly-bootloop-help-t3554242/page2

TonikJDK said:
So you want to root it now so you can use his app? Second to the last post in the thread below.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel/help/stupidly-bootloop-help-t3554242/page2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and thank you very much!