Develop Bugs

Root without Bootloader Unlock/Clear all data

So, I have been searching a bit on how to root the Nexus 7 2013. The process I have found seems pretty simple, even for me, as someone who never worked with a Nexus device before.
Unlock bootloader, flash recovery and flash the root.
But the first step, unlock bootloader, has a problem: it wipes all the user data (including SD Card data!!). As the tablet isn't mine (but I was asked to root it), I can't simply just clear all of its data and do the whole process. Thinking of that, I googled a bit on how to root without unlocking bootloader, but I have found nothing (all recent Sony phones, with a few tricks and the right tool, can do that) regarding the 2013 model.
I'm not sure if there is actually no way to do that or my search skills suddenly got horribe... So, the thing is: Is there a way to do that? Root without having to unlock bootloader (and, thus, wiping all data)? Or I have to unlock it?
EDIT: I found this Toolkit, but did a search and nothing regarding that in the 22 pages of the thread...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2389107
Another few questions that I'm lost: I still haven't quite understood why I have to flash the stock ROM back after I do the whole process... So, why?
And, also, what do I lose unlocking bootloader? I mean, the tablet isn't mine (it's from my younger brother), so the easiest, the best, so keeping OTA updates for example are essential. Do I lose it? What else?
It sounds, for me, some silly questions, but I'm still confused... Seems like doing that kind of stuff is easier with my Sony phone. I don't know if it is due me being used to it, but Nexus is sounding to be WAY more hard than everyone keeps saying it is...
Thanks in advance...

Tell them what is going to happen if they want root. Backup as much of their data as you can, then unlock it. You should be able to get most data backed up one way or another.
At the moment you cannot unlock without wiping because the bootloader enforces that. There might be a way to get around that in the future, but not right now.
When you root, use SuperSU v1.55
http://download.chainfire.eu/346/SuperSU/UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.55.zip
Versions prior to that had an issue with preventing OTAs from completing.
1.60 may have some other issues with changes to OTA survival mode.
Not sure where you read you had to flash the stock rom, but it isn't necessary.
You don't really "lose" anything by unlocking it. Someone might bypass your lockscreen to get at your data, but there is a big inconvenience factor leaving it locked (because eventually you'll want it unlocked, at which point it become more painful to backup/restore your data), so you'll have to decide if it is worth the tradeoff.
The issues with stuff not working after unlocking don't have to do with the unlock itself. They have to do with folks rooting and then using their root power to install changes, which then start breaking things.
If you just install SuperSU 1.55 and don't install themes, APM mods, etc. etc. then everything should still work (except apps which specifically won't work, for security reasons, if they detect root)

@sfhub
Thanks for the answers. As I said, I have some Android knowledge, but still got confused with a new "kind" of device. Once again, thanks

H815 rooting questions

Hello,
I have had my G4 H815 locked to UKEE for a good few months now and I have been holding off on rooting as the official way of unlocking the bootloader I believe breaks the DRM keys and it was hinted that there was a small possibility than a nicer way may come about. It's not looking like that at the moment and I am now clucking to get my root apps and freedom back.
I have had and HTC Desire, Samsung S2 and Xperia Z1 all rooted many times and flashing multiple different things etc so I am by no means new to rooting but I am not a technological whizz kid and looking at the root methods for this, as with every new phone it seems, rooting methods are getting more difficult. My questions are;
1. Can anyone tell me what they have experienced not working when the bootloader gets unlocked? I understand it may just be video streaming? Can anyone confirm the likes of Netflix etc won't work? Any other apps / ill effects? I assume YouTube still works? I currently use Barclays banking app, that didn't work on old phone while that was rooted, I'm assuming with the bootloader unlocked it will never work again on G4?
2. Is Root ANY LG G4 Variant 100% Success Directives | Root Injection | Less Bricks the best root method to use? Or is it, as I guess [ROOT] TMO/VZW/ATT/SPRINT/INTL Root your LG G4 with Low Effort Root! the best to use? Or is there another you suggest that is easier / better / harder to destroy my phone?
3. Slightly O/T but being on EE they are extremely stingy with updates so I am still running 10C, I have seen about FW up to 10H or more. Is there somewhere that has the change logs of these different firmwares?

"I believe breaks the DRM keys"
This is true for the Sony Xperia devices, but not really for others that I know (Samsung S6 and HTC M9 included). I have unlocked the device on day 2, and everything works: YouTube, My own banking apps (they give me a warning tough that I am rooted, but working without issues), all camera functionality, video streaming (no Netflix here to check tough), IRDA, BT etc.
The banking checks for root (if you have SU access and not if the bootloader is unlocked), this can be hidden with the RootCloak app, but depends on the banking app itself. As I said, mine warns me that I am rooted, but everything works.
As for which is the easiest method, I prefer flashing SuperSU package with TWRP recovery, since the bootloader is unlocked. It's safe and failproof.
The other methods you listed are mainly for devices, which can't have their bootloaders unlocked.

Thanks. I know the Xperia devices broke drm keys so that the bravia engine etc didn't work. But at least with them you could backup drm keys and relock the boot loader. I read somewhere that the g4 breaks the keys but it was only really streaming type service's that may be effected.
Yea Barclays just straight up won't work and there rootcloak doesn't have an exploit to hide root from that as far as I could find.
I read somewhere on this earlier too that there is an unofficial unoficial bootloader unlock being worked on sounds like not far off. May just wait and see if that way comes to light soon and if it's a safer way and revertible for warranty purposes etc as it can't be done after accepting an update looks like.
Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

New to rooting, trying to root Huewai Mate SE for Magisk/Fake GPS spoofing

Never rooted, don't want to brick my phone but I am interested, I heard the honor 7x guide won't work with the MATE SE, I was going to do a hard reset as I am having phone problems anyways and I might as well root. Any foolproof guides? I would like to use magisk.
Will gmail, maps and everything else still work correctly? I am ONLY rooting to make the fake gps app a system app so I can use without mock locations on.

Everymanalion said:
Never rooted, don't want to brick my phone but I am interested, I heard the honor 7x guide won't work with the MATE SE, I was going to do a hard reset as I am having phone problems anyways and I might as well root. Any foolproof guides? I would like to use magisk.
Will gmail, maps and everything else still work correctly? I am ONLY rooting to make the fake gps app a system app so I can use without mock locations on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting is pretty straight forward.
For most phones the sequence goes like this.
1. Unlock the boot loader, Some phones come with unlocked boot loaders, not these ones though. You should visit The emui.huawei site and get the unlock code. They are about to remove this feature from their web page, but as of 7-23-2018 10:54 AM the page is still up. I believe it goes down tomorrow.
2. After unlocking the boot loader, you can flash a custom recovery(TWRP). The custom recovery is what allows you to gain root access.
3. From TWRP you will flash the magisk.zip file to gain root access.
You should make note of your EMUI version, 5.1 and 8 use different files. so If you're on EMUI 5.1 and try to flash EMUI8 files, you'll end up with a brick, same goes for vice versa.
Feel free to PM me if you want some more info, such as links.

Question on DRM Keys and Unlocking bootloader

So I heard that unlocking the bootloader would remove DRM keys. So my question is what are the limitations of a device without DRM keys?
The reason I am asking this is that Sony pretty much abandoned Australian Z5P and never updated it to 7.1.1 or any update apart from the first 7.0 update. So because of this I'm thinking of flashing this ROM. Also, this is the right TWRP for Z5P right? My Z5P is the E6853 version. I haven't root/flash any rom on android in a long time so decided to get back to it now that my Z5P warranty has expired!

you can always backup your ta partition first before unlocking bootloader or it will be gone forever. i want to try that rom too. searching for best ways to backup drm keys. I heard that if you lost your drm keys, phone will be much likely to have bugs and errors.

Ron.ryan said:
you can always backup your ta partition first before unlocking bootloader or it will be gone forever. i want to try that rom too. searching for best ways to backup drm keys. I heard that if you lost your drm keys, phone will be much likely to have bugs and errors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmm I heard loss functionality on camera and sony apps but apparently there's drm emulation or something like that in that ROM. I was thinking of backing up DRM keys too but it seem that it would have to downgrade to android 6.0 first, quite a hassle I guess it would be worth it. Still not sure where to find older firmware though.

Imaging and rooting

Hi XDA
I have a son with Asperger syndrome and that give parents sometimes unusual task to solve.
He got a Sony xz2 compact, but he refuses to use a phone until the camera and google services are disabled, do to security lags. He wants to remove the system camera software to make sure no one can exploit the camera.
In other words, he wants to be so anonymous and hacker free as possible - and the camera is a big issue for him.
And yes, I know is possible to disable the camera in Sony configuration (and it's done) but that is not enough.
I hope getting some help to find a solution this two tasks:
1) How to get or make an image of the phone to store/save in my pc so it can be restored if needed.
2) How to root the xz2 compact and uninstall the camera
I will really appreciate some help in this issue.
(sorry my English)
Regards.

1. There is not much you can do, backup related on a Sony phone with locked bootloader. You can use google backup, if you want, but even Sony's solution won't work on a phone with Android Pie, after bootloader is unlocked (it would, if you are on Oreo and you would apply drm-fix after unlocking). Almost all other solutions need root, which you don't have on a locked phone.
2. In this thread you will find a step-by-step guide to install twrp recovery and root (by flashing Magisk) and the download for twrp recovery, made by @MartinX3
I won't link the recovery file itself, because it depends on the way you want to proceed. You can use Sonys stock rom or you can install aosp/omnirom.
In your case i would use aosp or omnirom, because it comes without google crap and it is pure Android. You only need to delete/rename the camera with a root explorer and you are good to go.
But i'm sure, @MartinX3 can tell you more about aosp or omnirom and how to flash it, because i have not used it yet. Anyway, camera is not finished on aosp/omni, so you won't loose very much.

old.splatterhand said:
1. There is not much you can do, backup related on a Sony phone with locked bootloader. You can use google backup, if you want, but even Sony's solution won't work on a phone with Android Pie, after bootloader is unlocked (it would, if you are on Oreo and you would apply drm-fix after unlocking). Almost all other solutions need root, which you don't have on a locked phone.
2. In this thread you will find a step-by-step guide to install twrp recovery and root (by flashing Magisk) and the download for twrp recovery, made by @MartinX3
I won't link the recovery file itself, because it depends on the way you want to proceed. You can use Sonys stock rom or you can install aosp/omnirom.
In your case i would use aosp or omnirom, because it comes without google crap and it is pure Android. You only need to delete/rename the camera with a root explorer and you are good to go.
But i'm sure, @MartinX3 can tell you more about aosp or omnirom and how to flash it, because i have not used it yet. Anyway, camera is not finished on aosp/omni, so you won't loose very much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the useful information. I'm not very firm at the Android version (oreo or pie) - but the phone is a Sony Experia xz2 model H8324 and Android ver. 8.0.0 (patch level april 1, 2018). Hope this make sense

This is my first sony, so i'm not the "most helpful hand", i think.
Backup related, if you use sony backup before unlock on oreo, you can flash drmfix after unlock and then you should be able to use sony backup to restore your data.
If this is successful, you are rooted and you should be able to use Titanium Backup.
But as sony newbie i don't know how far sonys backup solution goes.
Anyway, i'll recommend in your case a rom like aosp or omni, because there are no Google things in it.

Why not cover the cameras with stickers if that's the biggest issue? You'll have to root the phone to completely disable all the G Apps, some of the firmware versions allow you to completely disable the G services - if you trust it.

You can use pm uninstall command thru adb shell. This way the app gets removed for the user, and thus seems totally removed. The apk itself do still remain in the system folder, and can be reinstalled if wanted, but can't be launched. This method do not need rooting either.
You can't make and image of the phone, at least not without rooting it first. But that will break some stuff, like camera, and that can NOT be restored in ANY way (drm keys are lost forever). For most (all?) Xperia devices there are images available for flashing with FlashTool/Xperifirm, but note that this will not recover the lost drm keys if you unlocked the bootloader in the first place.