Re-written to be more concise and readable:
Long story short: I installed the program "Permissions Denied" from the market and restricted a few games. When I rebooted something was broken and I can't quite figure out what, but it runs deep through the phone.
The phone isn't bootlooping, but when I starts up it will very often become unresponsive immediately after getting to the lockscreen, my theory is that things are trying to load and crashing in the background. The only fix for this is to wait until it appear to reboot itself; the screen will come back on and show me a quick few cycles of the boot animation, then back to the lockscreen. After this, it asks to re-activate on the network. Whether or not everything works after this point has been highly variable. Currently, my phone is on but has no way of signing into a google account (isn't even an option in the list under settings).
If I try to restore a nandroid, at the very end it spits out "Error while restoring /data!". I've done this with a couple nandroids that I've used fine in the past. Fully wiping from CWM and installing a fresh rom yields similar results.
Basically my thinking at this point is to back up anything I want while I have access to the phone and try to do as full a factory reset as possible. Any ideas? Of note is that I've run the "fix permissions" function both in CWM and ROM Manager, and when I run it in ROM Manager the log shows permissions for a bunch of programs that have been wiped. So I'm guessing that permissions settings persist across wipes, but I don't know what to address that with specifically.
Bump? (rewrote OP to make it less of a train wreck of my late-night detective work)
Edit with maybe-progress: I found and installed an older apk for Permissions Denied and even though this is an older nandroid and everything has been wiped time and again, the permissions for the games I changed are still disabled.
Having trouble getting the program to actually undo anything though, and rebooting the phone is a rather tiresome task with all this going on just to find out nothing changed.
Does anyone know
1)Where permissions live, and if I can reflash whatever that is, as it is clearly corrupt here.
2)Where I can get a copy of the v2.9 apk for this app, as maybe it will be better at restoring what it did than the older version I dug up.
Edit2:I eventually just did a factory reset and it fixed everything. I had also emailed the developer of the app and he got back to me with the following advice:
It sounds like the permissions file is locked, packages.xml. Try opening my app, going into the settings, and make sure that the first option is NOT checked.
Then hit the unlock option to unlock the file.
If that doesn't work, try the following in a terminal...
su
chattr -ia /data/system/packages.xml\
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Intuitively this sounds like it may have fixed the problem, so I'm posting it here in case anyone ends up with similar problems and finds this thread searching.
TL.DR; Trying to root new Verizon Android flip-phone with Marshmallow 6.0.1, ARMv7. Firmware version: VN22010B. Seems to to be locked down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm trying to root the LG Exalt LTE, or LG VN220, from Verizon. Initially, I've attempted the common rooting kits, such as KingoRoot as well as the tools described around XDA. However all failed. I suspect the cause to be the restrictive permissions of /data/local/tmp, which prevents execution of binaries. I believe any kit using this location will likely fail to achieve anything.
As such, I've been looking to achieve the same using manual techniques. The first step, as in most rooting activity is to put the device into USB debugging mode. To do this on the VN220, first compose ##7764726220. When asked for a service code, use 000000 to access a special menu. Select the Developer Options > USB Debugging and select On. There is an additional menu below named Select USB configuration, from which you can select Media Transfer Protocol or RNDIS among other options.
With that done, you can verify that you can now communicate with the device via ADB. To do so, download the Minimal ADB and Fastboot bundle. While I was successful in querying the device with ADB with
Code:
adb devices
Trying to use fastboot simply outputs "< waiting for device >" indefinitively. It is also possible to open a shell using ADB, however attempting ADB with root will fail. I don't think this is caused by having wrong drivers, as all the other tools could detect the phone (see below), but rather a permission issue.
From there, I've try to boot in different modes, which are accessible by turning off the phone, and then powering up the device while holding the Volume Down button. This will boot into a white screen with some options, including the "Safe Mode" option which I attempted. The second mode is the "Firmware Upgrade" mode which is accessible by again, powering down the phone and powering it up again, but this time holding the Volume Up for 3 seconds.
Attempting to run the following fails:
Code:
fastboot oem unlock
That being said, I later found out that LG does provides a legitimate way to unlock the bootloader via their LG developer portal. Unfortunately the VN220 is not in the list of supported devices, nor does the procedure given applies to this phone. Additionally, it requires the device ID which fails also since it requires fastboot:
Code:
fastboot oem device-id
The other attempt I've tried is using the LG Mobile Support Too l and while it was useful to obtain the KDZ file from their website, it also failed to apply the update. LGUP didn't recognise the model. (Note that both requires the USB mode to be RNDIS to detect the phone)
Trying to run apps from the internal storage such as su or even using the chmod command only results in "Operation not permitted" messages. So even temporary root seems rather difficult.
At this point, I'd like to know if anyone has any advice on additional things I could try to root the phone, or even have temporary root.
Thanks in advance
@cyberrecce
Why?
First of all thank you, I've been looking for that service code to enable developer settings / adb since I discovered the phone secretly runs Android. But I don't see why we would need root, I've been using adb to side load apps since I can't get to a menu that allows it
jfn0802 said:
First of all thank you, I've been looking for that service code to enable developer settings / adb since I discovered the phone secretly runs Android. But I don't see why we would need root, I've been using adb to side load apps since I can't get to a menu that allows it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Why? To install a custom ROM.
2. Did you get any issue with certificates when side-loading apps? I keep getting INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES. Can't seem to find the "Install from Unknown Sources" option.
Same problem
InfectedPackets said:
1. Why? To install a custom ROM.
2. Did you get any issue with certificates when side-loading apps? I keep getting INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES. Can't seem to find the "Install from Unknown Sources" option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i get the same error. did you find a solution? i would really appreciate it
InfectedPackets said:
1. Why? To install a custom ROM.
2. Did you get any issue with certificates when side-loading apps? I keep getting INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES. Can't seem to find the "Install from Unknown Sources" option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MendilR said:
i get the same error. did you find a solution? i would really appreciate it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
re: the certificate error for side loading apps...
Code:
adb shell settings put secure install_non_market_apps 1
turns off the unknown source block, but I'm still getting INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES
Could the apk itself I'm trying to use have a bad certificate? Or is there another solution?
InfectedPackets said:
I'm trying to root the LG Exalt LTE, or LG VN220, from Verizon. Initially, I've attempted the common rooting kits, such as KingoRoot as well as the tools described around XDA. However all failed. I suspect the cause to be the restrictive permissions of /data/local/tmp, which prevents execution of binaries. I believe any kit using this location will likely fail to achieve anything.
As such, I've been looking to achieve the same using manual techniques. The first step, as in most rooting activity is to put the device into USB debugging mode. To do this on the VN220, first compose ##7764726220. When asked for a service code, use 000000 to access a special menu. Select the Developer Options > USB Debugging and select On. There is an additional menu below named Select USB configuration, from which you can select Media Transfer Protocol or RNDIS among other options.
With that done, you can verify that you can now communicate with the device via ADB. To do so, download the Minimal ADB and Fastboot bundle. While I was successful in querying the device with ADB with
Code:
adb devices
Trying to use fastboot simply outputs "< waiting for device >" indefinitively. It is also possible to open a shell using ADB, however attempting ADB with root will fail. I don't think this is caused by having wrong drivers, as all the other tools could detect the phone (see below), but rather a permission issue.
From there, I've try to boot in different modes, which are accessible by turning off the phone, and then powering up the device while holding the Volume Down button. This will boot into a white screen with some options, including the "Safe Mode" option which I attempted. The second mode is the "Firmware Upgrade" mode which is accessible by again, powering down the phone and powering it up again, but this time holding the Volume Up for 3 seconds.
Attempting to run the following fails:
Code:
fastboot oem unlock
That being said, I later found out that LG does provides a legitimate way to unlock the bootloader via their LG developer portal. Unfortunately the VN220 is not in the list of supported devices, nor does the procedure given applies to this phone. Additionally, it requires the device ID which fails also since it requires fastboot:
Code:
fastboot oem device-id
The other attempt I've tried is using the LG Mobile Support Too l and while it was useful to obtain the KDZ file from their website, it also failed to apply the update. LGUP didn't recognise the model. (Note that both requires the USB mode to be RNDIS to detect the phone)
Trying to run apps from the internal storage such as su or even using the chmod command only results in "Operation not permitted" messages. So even temporary root seems rather difficult.
At this point, I'd like to know if anyone has any advice on additional things I could try to root the phone, or even have temporary root.
Thanks in advance
@cyberrecce
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just curious - any success or updates. I can't seem to get past " INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES"
For installing apps I'm still not getting past INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES
I even tried pulling an apk from my LG G4 that successfully installed on that device and tried installing it on the Exalt, but same error.
The biggest reason I've seen for the INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES is apks that are signed poorly. When I check the apks I'm using for their signatures with the JDK it says one or more of their signatures lack a timestamp which can cause problems.
Also, downloading the apk from the Exalt's browser and trying to install from either
settings > phone settings > storage > phone > explore > downloads > open > install
or
tools > file manager > internal storage > downloads > open > install
has been coming up with "app not installed" after it tries to install the apk.
I'm not really giving up though, I just don't really know where to go from here.
effulgent.unicorn said:
For installing apps I'm still not getting past INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES
I even tried pulling an apk from my LG G4 that successfully installed on that device and tried installing it on the Exalt, but same error.
The biggest reason I've seen for the INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES is apks that are signed poorly. When I check the apks I'm using for their signatures with the JDK it says one or more of their signatures lack a timestamp which can cause problems.
Also, downloading the apk from the Exalt's browser and trying to install from either
settings > phone settings > storage > phone > explore > downloads > open > install
or
tools > file manager > internal storage > downloads > open > install
has been coming up with "app not installed" after it tries to install the apk.
I'm not really giving up though, I just don't really know where to go from here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any ideas on how to get past - "INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES"?
PAULC91316 said:
Any ideas on how to get past - "INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm still at the same place I was the other day when I posted this.
effulgent.unicorn said:
For installing apps I'm still not getting past INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES
I even tried pulling an apk from my LG G4 that successfully installed on that device and tried installing it on the Exalt, but same error.
The biggest reason I've seen for the INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES is apks that are signed poorly. When I check the apks I'm using for their signatures with the JDK it says one or more of their signatures lack a timestamp which can cause problems.
Also, downloading the apk from the Exalt's browser and trying to install from either
settings > phone settings > storage > phone > explore > downloads > open > install
or
tools > file manager > internal storage > downloads > open > install
has been coming up with "app not installed" after it tries to install the apk.
I'm not really giving up though, I just don't really know where to go from
here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
InfectedPackets said:
The other attempt I've tried is using the LG Mobile Support Too l and while it was useful to obtain the KDZ file from their website, it also failed to apply the update. LGUP didn't recognise the model. (Note that both requires the USB mode to be RNDIS to detect the phone)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please share with us the KDZ file?
Thanks!
anyone?
You will need to:
- unlock it’s Bootloader. If the “fastboot oem unlock” command will not work (and I’m quite sure it will not, since we’re talking about a USA LG device), you can stop here and throw the phone out the window.
- if by some any miracle you will be able to unlock the bootloader, you have two ways of rooting it:
1. Using TWRP and a superuser zip file (magisk or the now Chinese owned supersu). The main problem with this is that you will need to compile TWRP yourself, since I doubt anyone will bother for such an obscure device.
2. Using a prerooted boot image. You will need the stock boot image, install the latest magisk manager, let it root it and then flash it via fastboot. This is particularly difficult because you will need to decrypt the kdz file (if any available) in order to get the boot.img
Even if by a greater miracle you will be able to get 1 or 2 working, there still is a huge chance that the fastboot flash command will be disabled.
Forget about solutions like king/kingoroot. Best case scenario they will fail. Worst case scenario they will softbrick the phone by gaining temporary root and then modifying /system. That will in turn trigger dm-verity which will cause the soft brick.
Forget about the scams like oneclickroot. Their so called techs will try the aforementioned and fail and you will waste your $40.
Sorry To deliver the bad news, but there’s no way out of it.
Thanks for taking your time, to help me.
I will check if I can unlock the bootloader.
Thanks alot
r3w1NNNd said:
You will need to:
- unlock it’s Bootloader. If the “fastboot oem unlock” command will not work (and I’m quite sure it will not, since we’re talking about a USA LG device), you can stop here and throw the phone out the window.
- if by some any miracle you will be able to unlock the bootloader, you have two ways of rooting it:
1. Using TWRP and a superuser zip file (magisk or the now Chinese owned supersu). The main problem with this is that you will need to compile TWRP yourself, since I doubt anyone will bother for such an obscure device.
2. Using a prerooted boot image. You will need the stock boot image, install the latest magisk manager, let it root it and then flash it via fastboot. This is particularly difficult because you will need to decrypt the kdz file (if any available) in order to get the boot.img
Even if by a greater miracle you will be able to get 1 or 2 working, there still is a huge chance that the fastboot flash command will be disabled.
Forget about solutions like king/kingoroot. Best case scenario they will fail. Worst case scenario they will softbrick the phone by gaining temporary root and then modifying /system. That will in turn trigger dm-verity which will cause the soft brick.
Forget about the scams like oneclickroot. Their so called techs will try the aforementioned and fail and you will waste your $40.
Sorry To deliver the bad news, but there’s no way out of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any sage advice on the [INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES] issue when sideloading apps?
@jfn0802 said they had success with sideloading, but haven't been online in ages, and none of the rest of us seem to have had the same success. Minimum, that's what I would like to accomplish.
[side note, has anyone switched from Verizon with this phone? I'm looking to, but I'm wondering a couple of things like, does verizon have the mobile hotspot function restricted from use on other carriers? & etc & just wondering how it's doing off-verizon for anyone.]
effulgent.unicorn said:
Any sage advice on the [INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES] issue when sideloading apps?
@jfn0802 said they had success with sideloading, but haven't been online in ages, and none of the rest of us seem to have had the same success. Minimum, that's what I would like to accomplish.
[side note, has anyone switched from Verizon with this phone? I'm looking to, but I'm wondering a couple of things like, does verizon have the mobile hotspot function restricted from use on other carriers? & etc & just wondering how it's doing off-verizon for anyone.]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my freinds are using it in Canada with videotron and everything works, without unlocking
Just to add a clue what to look at, I think these devices are from Verizon and they are blocking anonymous apps from being installed
GenTech Solution said:
Just to add a clue what to look at, I think these devices are from Verizon and they are blocking anonymous apps from being installed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes right, but how can I go around it?
Ps. I was able to uninstall apps (I removed my Verizon)
With adb shell, as the user 0, but with adb normal uninstall didn't work, but when I try to install with adb shell, it gave the same certificate erorr
GenTech Solution said:
Just to add a clue what to look at, I think these devices are from Verizon and they are blocking anonymous apps from being installed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't that what turning on the "install from unknown sources" option should do? I still get the Install Parse Failed after switching it on with ADB.
@98jbsz I've tried to uninstall without success. What way did you do it? And does it just leave a blank space in the menu screen?
[Less on topic, sorry again, but has anyone seen the LG Wine LTE? http://www.lg.com/us/cell-phones/lg-UN220-lg-wine
It's strikingly similar to our friend the Exalt LTE here, but it seems less carrier branded/available at US Cellular, so I'm wondering if that would make a difference?
Major differences Wine LTE has more 4G bands (2/4/5/12/25) versus Exalt (4/5/13), which kind of has me kicking myself, because travel and 4G was one of the reasons I bought the Exalt. Both have quadband GSM and WCDMA, but interestingly the Wine also has CDMA.
Beyond that, there are some more smaller differences I scavenged from their LG pages, Exalt has more bluetooth profiles, supports more music formats, has more GPS capabilities, wifi calling, and 1 more ringtone. Wine has more supported video formats, and an FM radio.
I'm curious about what/if the Wine would have for sms messaging (I doubt it'd have Verizon's message+) and instead of my Verizon app...]
98jbsz said:
Yes right, but how can I go around it?
Ps. I was able to uninstall apps (I removed my Verizon)
With adb shell, as the user 0, but with adb normal uninstall didn't work, but when I try to install with adb shell, it gave the same certificate erorr
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, I also managed to uninstall my verizon and verizon's cloud app using
Code:
adb shell and the pm uninstall -k --user 0
But the Verizon apps folder on the menu screen remains, although it's empty. Any ideas on how to remove it?
Then I tried to install an apk using
Code:
pm install
and it came back with [INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_URI] which...is a different than [INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES], but not better.
right, but when you first copy the APK to the phone, and then you install it, you will see the [INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES] error. still not a solution
Alright, this is a weird one! Only of few instances of the mystical "pixel is starting..." screen show up online and I'm mostly out of ideas at this point.
First, some background:
I was still on the December 5th update (QQ1A.191205.008). Stock, unlocked, rooted with Magisk. I hadn't yet flashed the patched Magisk boot image, it was running only by fastboot boot pachted.img. The only root-related App I had installed was Battery Charge Limiter.
What happened:
I created a custom theme & changed my wallpaper. I then used Activity Launcher to launch the "hidden" System UI Tuner. While in there I disabled the clock in the system tray. I also went into the "Plugins" menu and toggled the "enable" toggle on, then off (I thought more plugin options, whatever they may be, were hidden since they were not enabled...). I fiddled with a few more settings hiding/showing icons and hit the home button.
When I returned back to the homescreen, my wallpaper had changed back to the default Pink/purple Pixel 3 wallpaper. "Huh? System UI Tuner must have reset this." I changed the wallpaper again but it didn't even change. After a few more attempts (tried changing just lockscreen wallpaper, just homescreen, both; nothing would actually change), I rebooted the phone.
Upon booting back up, I was greeted with a "Pixel is starting..." screen that won't go away. This occurs before the lock screen, prior to letting me enter my PIN.
Attempted recovery steps already taken
Rebooted many times. (Which which would have booted the factory boot.img; see above background)
Tried booting into "safe mode." (Same "Pixel is starting..." screen comes up with the words "Safe mode" in the bottom left)
sideloaded the most recent OTA for my device (QQ1A.200105.002)
Booted corresponding Magisk patched boot.img
Has this happened to anyone before? Can anyone think of a way recover anything at this point? Luckily I had adb enabled before this happened and it still functions; logcat doesn't show anything that seems helpful, though. Since I cannot unlock the device, I can't use adb to recover any data. I really wish adb had a means of unlocking via PIN!
My next step is likely going to be to flash a factory image (probably QQ1A.191205.008 as that was what I was using prior to this happening) with "-w" removed and praying I can at least unlock the phone.
Data recovered!
Edit: Wow! I wasn't able to fix the "Pixel is starting..." issue, but I was able to use adb to recovery all my data. I will follow up with what I did shortly! Dodged a bullet... unbelievable!
I couldn't fix the "Pixel is starting..." issue. Factory Flashing (after removing -w) QQ1A.191205.008 resulted resulted in being stuck at the "G" screen. I flashed the QQ1A.200105.002 factory image (again with -w removed) and was left in the same "Pixel is starting..." state.
Here is where things get interesting:
Over adb I launched the Settings app:
Code:
adb shell am start -a android.settings.SETTINGS
Next, I went into "Security," which prompted for my PIN, and then removed the screen lock. After doing this, I was able to get into /sdcard in the ADB shell, something that was not possible before.
Back in the settings app, I enabled USB File Transfer and copied all my files & photos off. I was also able to launch apps from within the apps list in Settings. This let me export settings/data from other apps that allowed it. :good:
So it seems that entering your PIN in the Settings app also unlocks the phone!
Thanks for describing this and how you ended up resolving it. I am seeing the same "Pixel is starting". Flashing the (March 2020) factory image didn't fix mine either.
I was able to get into Settings by pulling down the notification shade while the "Pixel is starting" message shows. I removed my fingerprints and PIN.
I don't seem to be able to launch apps from within the apps list in Settings. Can you describe how you did that?
I've tried this:
Settings-->Apps & notifications-->App info--> {select any app and tried clicking on icon at top of screen} Nothing. Poked around a bit and tried various things but couldn't figure out how to launch an app from here. Thanks in advance.
docdl said:
I don't seem to be able to launch apps from within the apps list in Settings. Can you describe how you did that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There should be a "Open" shortcut just below the app icon to the left of "Uninstall" (or "Disable" if it is a built-in app).
_Ra1n_ said:
Alright, this is a weird one! Only of few instances of the mystical "pixel is starting..." screen show up online and I'm mostly out of ideas at this point.
First, some background:
I was still on the December 5th update (QQ1A.191205.008). Stock, unlocked, rooted with Magisk. I hadn't yet flashed the patched Magisk boot image, it was running only by fastboot boot pachted.img. The only root-related App I had installed was Battery Charge Limiter.
What happened:
I created a custom theme & changed my wallpaper. I then used Activity Launcher to launch the "hidden" System UI Tuner. While in there I disabled the clock in the system tray. I also went into the "Plugins" menu and toggled the "enable" toggle on, then off (I thought more plugin options, whatever they may be, were hidden since they were not enabled...). I fiddled with a few more settings hiding/showing icons and hit the home button.
When I returned back to the homescreen, my wallpaper had changed back to the default Pink/purple Pixel 3 wallpaper. "Huh? System UI Tuner must have reset this." I changed the wallpaper again but it didn't even change. After a few more attempts (tried changing just lockscreen wallpaper, just homescreen, both; nothing would actually change), I rebooted the phone.
Upon booting back up, I was greeted with a "Pixel is starting..." screen that won't go away. This occurs before the lock screen, prior to letting me enter my PIN.
Attempted recovery steps already taken
Rebooted many times. (Which which would have booted the factory boot.img; see above background)
Tried booting into "safe mode." (Same "Pixel is starting..." screen comes up with the words "Safe mode" in the bottom left)
sideloaded the most recent OTA for my device (QQ1A.200105.002)
Booted corresponding Magisk patched boot.img
Has this happened to anyone before? Can anyone think of a way recover anything at this point? Luckily I had adb enabled before this happened and it still functions; logcat doesn't show anything that seems helpful, though. Since I cannot unlock the device, I can't use adb to recover any data. I really wish adb had a means of unlocking via PIN!
My next step is likely going to be to flash a factory image (probably QQ1A.191205.008 as that was what I was using prior to this happening) with "-w" removed and praying I can at least unlock the phone.
Data recovered!
Edit: Wow! I wasn't able to fix the "Pixel is starting..." issue, but I was able to use adb to recovery all my data. I will follow up with what I did shortly! Dodged a bullet... unbelievable!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey! I just ran into the same dilemma. I toggled the "plugins" setting in System UI tuner (by mistake), and my wallpaper went black. Then I decided to just reboot. I'm in the same "Pixel is starting" loop you described. I'm also stock, rooted with Magisk, on the January update. I just found that I can get into adb, but I'm a loss of what do to from here. I can't believe toggling a system UI tuner setting could cause a catastrophic crash. How did you end up solving this? Were you able to flash the full factory image while preserving your data? I honestly have no idea what do to at the moment. I'm gonna have to use an older device and research this more after work.
Edit: I was able to remove my security PIN via launching Settings through ADB, and therefore getting into some apps. I guess I'm more bothered by having to set up the device from scratch then I am losing any data. So time consuming. I'm assuming you ended up wiping the phone entirely and flashing a full factory image in the end? Geez. I miss my Moto devices and TWRP...
Ditamae said:
Hey! I just ran into the same dilemma. I toggled the "plugins" setting in System UI tuner (by mistake), and my wallpaper went black. Then I decided to just reboot. I'm in the same "Pixel is starting" loop you described.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting! Exact same order of events.
Ditamae said:
Edit: I was able to remove my security PIN via launching Settings through ADB, and therefore getting into some apps. I guess I'm more bothered by having to set up the device from scratch then I am losing any data. So time consuming. I'm assuming you ended up wiping the phone entirely and flashing a full factory image in the end? Geez. I miss my Moto devices and TWRP...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I wiped completely. Used it as an excuse to flash LineageOS, something I had been planing on doing for a while anyway. I load very little on my devices to begin with so really its just typing in a few passwords.
Since you have root, if you want to mess around with trying to fix it without resetting, does the following directory exist on your device: /data/data/com.android.systemui.tuner
If so, take a look at the files within; that should be where SystemUI Tuner saves the settings you have selected. Maybe rename the directory & reboot so the settings can't be loaded?
Edit: Don't try messing around with anything until you're sure you got all of the data off the device though!
_Ra1n_ said:
Interesting! Exact same order of events.
Yes, I wiped completely. Used it as an excuse to flash LineageOS, something I had been planing on doing for a while anyway. I load very little on my devices to begin with so really its just typing in a few passwords.
Since you have root, if you want to mess around with trying to fix it without resetting, does the following directory exist on your device: /data/data/com.android.systemui.tuner
If so, take a look at the files within; that should be where SystemUI Tuner saves the settings you have selected. Maybe rename the directory & reboot so the settings can't be loaded?
Edit: Don't try messing around with anything until you're sure you got all of the data off the device though!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a great idea about renaming the directory. When I'm home from work I will try to figure out how to copy internal user data to my PC and then I'll look into that directory. Do you know how to enable file transfer via adb or thru the Settings app (launched via adb)?
I did utilize the system UI tuner to disable my alarm icon from showing in the status bar, so I'm hoping I can perhaps find the file associated with the plugin specifically and rename that. Hmm. Only this is systemless... Might not be possible. This is my first rooted device without full read/write capabilities. Not sure how I feel about systemless.
Otherwise, other than time, the only bummer to all this is that I think I'm going to lose the Magisk module YouTube Vanced, as it's not longer supported.
Anyway, thanks very much for your help so far.
Ditamae said:
That's a great idea about renaming the directory. When I'm home from work I will try to figure out how to copy internal user data to my PC and then I'll look into that directory. Do you know how to enable file transfer via adb or thru the Settings app (launched via adb)?
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If your luck is as good as mine, you should be able to just plug in the device and enable file transfer (Settings > Connected Devices > USB > "Use USB For ... File Transfer."
Note that, as explained above, I had to remove my security PIN in settings before that worked, though.
_Ra1n_ said:
Since you have root, if you want to mess around with trying to fix it without resetting, does the following directory exist on your device: /data/data/com.android.systemui.tuner
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I was able to backup my data, and use Solid Explorer with root to search through system files. But, I don't see that directory. I see: data/data/com.android.systemui but no systemui.tuner. Any other idea where those systemui tuner files might be lurking? I'm an RN with a kindergartener home from school, and as much as I love tinkering with Android, now is not a good time.
_Ra1n_ said:
Interesting! Exact same order of events.
Since you have root, if you want to mess around with trying to fix it without resetting, does the following directory exist on your device: /data/data/com.android.systemui.tuner
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Just wondering if you have any other troubleshooting ideas before I install a full factory image...
My device boots now, partially. It seems that after I disabled lockscreen security, my phone boots, but without all gesture navigation, status bar, notification overlay. Essentially all SystemUI elements appear missing. The devices behaves as it did immediately after I accidentally toggled the UI tuner "plugins" setting, before I rebooted. It's unusable as a daily, but I did get my data. As I said previously, I could not find the directory: /data/data/com.android.systemui.tuner. Seems odd. I wonder where those setting preferences are hiding. Any help/ideas would be much appreciated.
Ditamae said:
Just wondering if you have any other troubleshooting ideas before I install a full factory image...
My device boots now, partially. It seems that after I disabled lockscreen security, my phone boots, but without all gesture navigation, status bar, notification overlay. Essentially all SystemUI elements appear missing. The devices behaves as it did immediately after I accidentally toggled the UI tuner "plugins" setting, before I rebooted. It's unusable as a daily, but I did get my data. As I said previously, I could not find the directory: /data/data/com.android.systemui.tuner. Seems odd. I wonder where those setting preferences are hiding. Any help/ideas would be much appreciated.
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Sorry for the slow reply. Unfortunately I'm mostly out of ideas.
I'd ask in the general Android Help subforum: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/help
You'll likely get more eyes on the question (where does SystemUI Tuner store it's settings & how to reset them) and hopefully someone with better knowledge on Android settings/preferences can provide some incite.
Homeboy76 said:
Guide
Do #4 'keep data', then #9 to root.
Make sure you have the latest SDK platform-tools, there is a link in the guide.
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Flashing the factory image with -w removed to keep the data won't help. The issue is that SystemUI Tuner saved some setting (related to enabling the mysterious "Enable Plugins" option) that prevents the phone from completely booting up. A factory flash retaining data will retain the setting that SystemUI Tuner screwed up.
_Ra1n_ said:
Flashing the factory image with -w removed to keep the data won't help. The issue is that SystemUI Tuner saved some setting (related to enabling the mysterious "Enable Plugins" option) that prevents the phone from completely booting up. A factory flash retaining data will retain the setting that SystemUI Tuner screwed up.
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@Ditamae Rain is correct. I have edited my post.