Develop Bugs

Backup before root?

I want to try some custom ROMs on my M8. Before I do this I want to do a full back up. From everything I've read Titanium is by a long shot the most popular so I see no reason not to go that route. However, from what I've read rooting the M8 will wipe my phone, but I can't use Titanium until I'm rooted. So it seems I'm stuck, and wondering what the best way is to proceed.
Thanks,
Ryan

Ryan_Mc said:
I want to try some custom ROMs on my M8. Before I do this I want to do a full back up. From everything I've read Titanium is by a long shot the most popular so I see no reason not to go that route. However, from what I've read rooting the M8 will wipe my phone, but I can't use Titanium until I'm rooted. So it seems I'm stuck, and wondering what the best way is to proceed.
Thanks,
Ryan
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Rooting by itself won't reset your phone, using the HTC unlock token to unlock the bootloader will. However, if you can S-off, you can also unlock your bootloader without tripping the factory reset. Once your bootloader is unlocked, you can install a custom recovery and backup your (unrooted) OS image - then use that recovery to install su.
Unfortunately, the prerequisite to all of that is getting S-off. If you can't, or won't, do that, then yeah - as soon as you unlock the bootloader your /data partition will get nuked. It's a safety measure to prevent someone from stealing your phone, unlocking the bootloader, and bypassing the OS protections to get the data on it. Fortunately, it only happens when you unlock. If you subsequently leave the bootloader unlocked, it won't happen again.

Relock the bootloader or not?

I've successfully flashed my first ROM. My purpose in doing so was to get the monthly Android security updates, and more broadly have my phone as secure as practical. In that vein, can I safely relock the bootloader? Should I? I am aware that many (most?) people here choose to keep the bootloader unlocked, and I respect that choice, but I'm seeking maximum security.
Searching here at XDA I see conflicting guidance. Some folks say that re-locking the bootloader with a custom ROM installed is begging to be bricked, while others say they have re-locked with no trouble. So what is your advice, why is that your opinion, and do you speak from experience?
I have not rooted the phone, nor do I plan to. I'm running AICP 8.1 on Nextbit Robin and don't plan to make any changes other than receive OTA updates. Should I make future changes beyond that I would not be bothered by the very minor inconvenience of having to unlock then relock it.

I too want to simply flash the stock recovery and lock my bootloader, but from what I've read to update the ROMs we need an unlocked bootloader. So that needs to be unlocked again does that mean everytime I lock-unlock I will be wiping my data all over? Thats would be a pain.
So this is an experiment I want to run from quite long and might do it sometime next month maybe. I will be wiping-unlocking-flashing-locking and see again if I can unlock without wiping my data and lock again, this way I can know for sure if this is doable because most online answers are weirdly confusing.

javelinanddart found that locking the bootloader on the Robin results in similar behavior as on the Nexus devices. The phone will check and make sure that the key used to sign the recovery partition remains the same as it was when your device got relocked, so as a result, TWRP should still work, and updating to a new version of TWRP would work too since it's (presumably) signed with the same key. System partition checking is handled by the kernel itself (dm-verity), but all the custom roms for the Robin have that disabled, so that wouldn't be a problem.
I've also been running custom roms with my bootloader locked and haven't run into any issues with flashing roms with TWRP.
I will be honest though, since TWRP lets you do so much to your phone, relocking your bootloader wouldn't really help security wise. You can pull up a damn root shell right in TWRP, for crying out loud.

@jabashque
Wait so are you saying despite locking the bootloader I can still go in custom recovery? Whats the point then?
I mean for me why I a considering locking the bootloader is so that if I lose my phone no one can access my data. As of now with custom ROM anyone has free access to my data via TWRP/custom recovery.

/root said:
@jabashque
Wait so are you saying despite locking the bootloader I can still go in custom recovery? Whats the point then?
I mean for me why I a considering locking the bootloader is so that if I lose my phone no one can access my data. As of now with custom ROM anyone has free access to my data via TWRP/custom recovery.
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I suppose you could flash Lineage recovery instead, which was designed to be an OEM-grade recovery and doesn't include the ability to pull up a root shell or use adb.
Grab that here: http://downloads.codefi.re/jdcteam/javelinanddart/ether/ether-lineage-recovery-20180310_170949.img
Personally, I locked my bootloader so that I could actually see my custom splash screen without having to press the power button to dismiss the warning message.
EDIT: the build of Lineage recovery I linked still has adb shell access enabled it seems; I was wrong on that. Also, I haven't tried flashing another rom's system partition that's been signed with different keys.

jabashque said:
I suppose you could flash Lineage recovery instead, which was designed to be an OEM-grade recovery and doesn't include the ability to pull up a root shell or use adb.
Grab that here: http://downloads.codefi.re/jdcteam/javelinanddart/ether/ether-lineage-recovery-20180310_170949.img
Personally, I locked my bootloader so that I could actually see my custom splash screen without having to press the power button to dismiss the warning message.
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So for an OTA update do I have to wipe all data to unlock again? I am on Omni btw.

I only unlock my bootloader to flash a cool splash screen then relock it. Even if the bootloader is locked I can still flash custom ROMs using ADB sideload. Works like a charm every time. I'm running the AEX custom ROM with Android 8.1.0

akeemk said:
I only unlock my bootloader to flash a cool splash screen then relock it. Even if the bootloader is locked I can still flash custom ROMs using ADB sideload. Works like a charm every time. I'm running the AEX custom ROM with Android 8.1.0
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But you still locking it while on TWRP isn't it? Which means anyone has access to shell via TWRP defeats the purpose of security provided by a locked bootloader, isn't it?

/root said:
But you still locking it while on TWRP isn't it? Which means anyone has access to shell via TWRP defeats the purpose of security provided by a locked bootloader, isn't it?
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I guess that's why Nextbit never had a problem with us unlocking the phone's bootloader.

Root Without Unlocking Bootloader

Hi. I am about to purchase a Huawei Mate SE and wanted to know if there is a way to root without unlocking the bootloader. It looks like Kingroot and/or Kingoroot might be an option. I'm not new to rooting phones so I understand most of the basics. From what I read, I won't be able to install a custom recovery and therefore can't install custom ROMs which is fine. I mainly want root for apps like Titanium Backup and Greenify. I don't want to lose the ability to OTA. Is this possible? Thanks in advance for the help.

Kingroot and kingoroot are hot piles of garbage on oreo, and nougat. Pretty sure it only works up to lollipop.
Only way to root is to flash Magisk, and that requires an unlocked bootloader.

Dang. That sucks. Thanks for the response though

no need to install a custom recovery to get root. unlockbootloder densest effect ota. after u unlock ur bootloader you can flash a patch kernel that has Magisk

ReppinTheSouth said:
Dang. That sucks. Thanks for the response though
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I just ordered this phone also. You should be able to get your bootloader unlocked with a service. See threads.
I sure hope so. Cause i plan on doing some stuff with this device.

Unlocking the bootloader is not difficult, but then there is a stupid bootloader unlocked warning that comes every time the phone restarts. And supposedly there is no way to turn it off for Huawei phones

Need to Backup Current HTC one M8 - Before unlock bootloader

my device is locked & not rooted before
all i'm looking for Is way to root without unlocking the bootloader? I just want root apps, no custom ROMs.
I need to take backup for HTC one M8 before proceed in unlock boot loader , to describe the problem more
the problem is that to take a backup for the whole device , as far as i know i should install custom recovery APP "CWM Recovery , TWRP Recovery ,.........."
which need unlock bootloader in which all data on mobile will be formatted due to unlock bootloader
so is there a solution to backup the current device status to restore them back after unlock the bootloader .

First of all, you posted to the forum section for the M8s variant, not the M8. This is an easy mistake to make, and pretty common. In any case, see my responses below in red font:
Wael-HTC said:
all i'm looking for Is way to root without unlocking the bootloader? I just want root apps, no custom ROMs.
Simple answer, you need to unlock the bootloader to root.
Long answer, some folks have rooted with an app called kingroot. But results are very inconsistent. I've seen a good number of folks who ended up with kingroot unsuccessful, having no root, and also no way to unlock the bootloader! So not a good place to be.
And in any case, in my opinion, any root attempt should be preceded by backing up your data anyway, in case anything goes wrong. So if your intent (in not unlocking the bootloader) is to bypass the data wipe (and skip backing up your data), then we are basically defeating the purpose.
Moral of the story, I would strongly recommend to just bite the bullet, and stick with the "standard" process to unlock the bootloader in order to root.
I need to take backup for HTC one M8 before proceed in unlock boot loader , to describe the problem more
the problem is that to take a backup for the whole device , as far as i know i should install custom recovery APP "CWM Recovery , TWRP Recovery ,.........."
which need unlock bootloader in which all data on mobile will be formatted due to unlock bootloader You are correct, in that you have a "chicken and egg" problem. You can't install custom recovery (TWRP) until you unlock the bootloader. And you can't make a TWRP backup, until you install TWRP.
Side note, CMW never officially supported the M8. There are some unofficial CMW ports for the M8, all very old. Which will almost certainly cause problems. I strongly recommend sticking with latest TWRP for the M8.
so is there a solution to backup the current device status to restore them back after unlock the bootloader .
"Current device status" is a little vague. It depends on what you want to backup:
- For things like contacts, I would suggest just backing up to Google (may already be the case)
- Things like photos, music: use a cloud solution, or simply backup (copy and paste) to your computer
- Stock ROM: You can back this up once you have TWRP installed. There are also stock backup collections, as well as official HTC RUUs for some M8 versions.
- App data: This one is a little tougher. One option is the app "Helium" from the Google Play Store. This is supposed to be able to backup app data, settings, etc. without root. I personally haven't used it (one of the first things I do with a new phone is root, lol). But other folks on XDA seem to have some success with Helium. It is developed by the CWM team.
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Valid Operating System not found

I wasn't fully stock and relocked the bootloader (stupid thing to do, i know) and now it seems like it's bricked as I can't boot to recovery or anything.
Is there ANY way I can fix this without replacing the phone? Or is it destroyed?

You can try using these Lineage OS installation instructions to see if you can get the bootloader unlocked again before you can attempt to start over getting the phone working again.
Install LineageOS on taimen | LineageOS Wiki
wiki.lineageos.org

Trixelit said:
I wasn't fully stock and relocked the bootloader (stupid thing to do, i know) and now it seems like it's bricked as I can't boot to recovery or anything.
Is there ANY way I can fix this without replacing the phone? Or is it destroyed?
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Click to collapse
Without a working recovery there is no way to restore the unit short of paying Google for the privilege. The LineageOS instructions provided will not work as they require the bootloader to be unlocked. Flashing an OTA image from Google also will not work as it requires the stock recovery be present.

Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Without a working recovery there is no way to restore the unit short of paying Google for the privilege. The LineageOS instructions provided will not work as they require the bootloader to be unlocked. Flashing an OTA image from Google also will not work as it requires the stock recovery be present.
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That sucks, at least I know not to do that again. (I'm glad that I only did that on my backup phone, not my main phone)