Develop Bugs

[Q] Unanswered things about root

First of all i'm sorry to post more questions about rooting but it seems like no one cares about some problems... i searched so many times on xda and even google advanced search
I have the r800 xperia play...I've been using it for couple of months so i have a lot of apps n stuff. I am running the newest 4.0.A update and i love it but i read i cant flash to 2.3.2,root it with gingerbread then update to 4.0.A cuz its not OTA
so i thought i could do it the unlocking bootloader way but i have a lot of questions so lets start...
-Is there a way to be rooted in 4.0.A,and if there is...do i need a rom or what?
-If I root my phone will i loose all my app data(this is the most important part,i dont want to loose all my perfect games in cut the rope and games like modern combat which have incredibly hard levels)
-When my phone is rooted...will i be able to update it to 2.3.4 and the Ice Cream Sandwich next year,or i would have to load custom roms
-I also noticed that when i uninstall a free app from my phone it disappears from the My Apps tab in The Market so what am i supposed to do if the root wipes all my apps? Write all 60+ of them on a peace of paper?
Contacts and stuff dont worry me

First off i dont have an unlocked bootloader but i will answer what i can.
1. Someone with an unlocked bootloader will have answer this one but im sure you can.
2. If you unlock your bootloader your phone will be wiped. The only way you would have kept root and all your apps is if your are on 2.3.3 (with a locked bootloader) and are waiting for the xloud update over ota (like i am) But since you have already updated to 4.0.A if you reflashed to 2.3.2 > rooted > ota to 2.3.3 (and wait like me) you will still loose all your apps (since you had to reflash). Best you can hope for is backing up your apps data with titanium backup pro or my backup pro. Then once you are rooted on an unlocked bootloader (or if you have reflashed 2.3.2 > rooted > ota to 2.3.3 with root) you can reinstall the app data.
3. If you unlock the bootloader you can still get updates but you cannot get them from OTA, PC Companion or SEUS (it will brick your phone) you will have to go the development section and a user who has got 2.3.4 (when its out) will post an update package you can use.
4. I have used App List Backup from the market. It saves all your market apps in a list so you can just redownload them and you still get updates e.t.c. Only works with market apps no 3rd party ones. Or even MyAppsList just to create a txt of app names.

Mozza2k11 said:
First off i dont have an unlocked bootloader but i will answer what i can.
1. Someone with an unlocked bootloader will have answer this one but im sure you can.
2. If you unlock your bootloader your phone will be wiped. The only way you would have kept root and all your apps is if your are on 2.3.3 (with a locked bootloader) and are waiting for the xloud update over ota (like i am) But since you have already updated to 4.0.A if you reflashed to 2.3.2 > rooted > ota to 2.3.3 (and wait like me) you will still loose all your apps (since you had to reflash). Best you can hope for is backing up your apps data with titanium backup pro or my backup pro. Then once you are rooted on an unlocked bootloader (or if you have reflashed 2.3.2 > rooted > ota to 2.3.3 with root) you can reinstall the app data.
3. If you unlock the bootloader you can still get updates but you cannot get them from OTA, PC Companion or SEUS (it will brick your phone) you will have to go the development section and a user who has got 2.3.4 (when its out) will post an update package you can use.
4. I have used App List Backup from the market. It saves all your market apps in a list so you can just redownload them and you still get updates e.t.c. Only works with market apps no 3rd party ones.
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Thats what I feared...but doesnt titanium backup require root? Maybe i misread it somewhere and its stuck in my head

LOL yeah sorry my bad. Indeed it does. I think mybackup pro works without root but im not sure if it is 100% reliable. Either way you are gonna have to either loose all your data or gamble saving your app data with my backup pro since rooting on anything after 2.3.2 (with a locked bootloader) does not work.

MyBackup requires root to backup app data I mean hasn't anyone figured out how to save their data...seems to me nobody cares about it
Anyways,provided that somehow i magically manage to save it i would still have to wait for OTA. Any ideas where i can check daily when the update will be available?

lol sigh... something is wrong with me today. I stoped reading as soon i a saw
MyBackup and MyBackup Pro will work on all Android mobile devices, regardless if they have root access or not.
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Didnt get to the bottom
NOTE: Backup of Data/setting of applications can only be supported if you have a rooted phone, or if the application integrates with us.
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Sorry bout that bud. Probably got your hopes up for nothing I think the arc got their ota update a few weeks after it appeared on SEUS/Pc Companion but who knows its totally up to SE. I dont even think all the countries have got the ota yet for the arc.

You can root without unlocking the bootloader as far as I remember. I believe I used SuperOneClick for it.

What is this guy at post #7 talking about? http://forums.androidcentral.com/general-help-how/63387-backup-application-data.html

Nope
zerojay said:
You can root without unlocking the bootloader as far as I remember. I believe I used SuperOneClick for it.
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That was patched up in 2.3.2 so it doesnt work

Fokezy said:
What is this guy at post #7 talking about? http://forums.androidcentral.com/general-help-how/63387-backup-application-data.html
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I believe that basic Android - unthemed, untouched - does regular backups to Google. Basically, it will backup your app data and your list of apps. When you wipe a phone and log back in, it'll restore the apps and data automatically.
I noticed this myself when I was on my Samsung Galaxy S Captivate. The first time I installed Cyanogenmod 7 on it, it restored a ton of apps on my phone. The touchwiz framework for the Captivate doesn't allow it by default, I believe.
I have not seen this work on the Xperia Play.

Well...if it works on other phones it can work on any other phone running it...right?
I guess someone would have to extract the feature and somehow make an apk

I don't think it's quite that simple. It's most likely completely removed from the framework, so there's no readding an APK.
More info: http://code.google.com/android/backup/index.html

zerojay said:
I don't think it's quite that simple. It's most likely completely removed from the framework, so there's no readding an APK.
More info: http://code.google.com/android/backup/index.html
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I dont really know...but why would SE do that...i mean its just extra work limiting something?

Fokezy said:
I dont really know...but why would SE do that...i mean its just extra work limiting something?
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What your talking about was a feature of froyo, google removed it with gingerbread.
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk

My hopes are being buried deeper and deeper... Ok how about this,that data must exist somewhere on the phones memory right? So if the apps themselves can access and change it,why can't another app or say a computer? Tell me why that won't work...

Fokezy said:
My hopes are being buried deeper and deeper... Ok how about this,that data must exist somewhere on the phones memory right? So if the apps themselves can access and change it,why can't another app or say a computer? Tell me why that won't work...
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because the app has the permission to do it, an unrooted user, does not have access to /data/data

Ok this is the last thing i had in mind...SE had some sort of backup app for the arc and it was ported to other xperia phones but whenever i would try to download it from their official page it would show me random html all over the page and now i lost the link..
But when i think about it... SE couldn't do it without root so...it probably just saves something else. Anyway can i root it with unlocked bootloader without loosing data?

Fokezy said:
Ok this is the last thing i had in mind...SE had some sort of backup app for the arc and it was ported to other xperia phones but whenever i would try to download it from their official page it would show me random html all over the page and now i lost the link..
But when i think about it... SE couldn't do it without root so...it probably just saves something else. Anyway can i root it with unlocked bootloader without loosing data?
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Your phone gets wiped when you unlock your bootloader but you can downgrade to a rootable version of android using flashtool without loosing data you can then make a backup, unlock bootloader, flash latest firmware, restore backup

Oh yea...That recovery thing?

AndroHero said:
Your phone gets wiped when you unlock your bootloader but you can downgrade to a rootable version of android using flashtool without loosing data you can then make a backup, unlock bootloader, flash latest firmware, restore backup
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Well my original plan was to downgrade do 2.3.2,Gingerbreak and wait for 4.0.A to hit OTA but Mozza2k11 said it would wipe my data

Any reason NOT to root brand new GNEX?

I'm receiving a new Galaxy Nexus in the mail today. I'm new to the Android world but this site has been extremely helpful in explaining the capabilitys of this OS. Since I've never used Android I don't completely understand the pros/cons to rooting my device. A lot of posts say "you have to do it to understand the benefits" or something of that nature. I understand that once you root you can change your ROM, kernel, navigate all file folders, use certain apps that require superuser access, etc. As of now, I'm not sure I'd want to do any of that. I may want to in the future when I see some limitations that could be bypassed by rooting, but for now I would like to keep the stock ROM, kernel, etc.
It's possible to keep everything stock when rooted, correct? So it would function the same as a stock device but would have the potential to be modified later. If an updated Android OS version is released, can I download and install it the same as anyone with an unrooted stock device?
Is there any disadvantage to rooting? Why would anyone NOT root their device? I'm just thinking that if I'd do it eventually, I might as well do it right now when there are no valuable files/apps/etc. that I'd have to worry about backing up.

People often root to flash aosp roms otherwise not available on htc or galaxy s phones
Aosp also in many cases gave better battery life than their skinned cousins
But on nexus phones and jelly bean I don't see much of one other than to experiment or to use addons like roms such as codename android and baked bean give
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Sent from my Jelly Bean powered Nexus Snarf 4G

The main reason I root is for Titanium Backup. That is probably the only way to migrate apps (with data) from one device to another.
Also nandroid (Clockworkmod Recovery) backup is useful if you want to experiment with different ROMs and can restore stock and apps easily.
On a side note: Don't like CWM 6 when backup creates a huge BLOB directory structure. Not convenient to backup your backup to PC.

Backups
Free Tethering
Block ads
etc

Tethering is enabled already. Ah u probably must be talking about the us version. I have the international one.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

I root for Paranoid Android and Titanium Backup. Two things I can't be without once getting used to them.
But really. Installing Titanium Backup almost feels like a necessity on Any phone to freeze/backup apps detach them from market etc.

I appreciate the responses but you guys aren't really answering my questions...
It's possible to keep everything stock when rooted, correct?
If an updated Android OS version is released, can I download and install it the same as anyone with an unrooted stock device?
Is there any disadvantage to rooting? Why would anyone NOT root their device?

bchaney16 said:
I appreciate the responses but you guys aren't really answering my questions...
It's possible to keep everything stock when rooted, correct?
If an updated Android OS version is released, can I download and install it the same as anyone with an unrooted stock device?
Is there any disadvantage to rooting? Why would anyone NOT root their device?
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Click to collapse
Yes you can be stock & rooted. Root by itself will not affect an OTA. The only reason to root is if YOU gain something. If your phone dose everything you want without root then there is no reason to root.

bchaney16 said:
I appreciate the responses but you guys aren't really answering my questions...
It's possible to keep everything stock when rooted, correct?
If an updated Android OS version is released, can I download and install it the same as anyone with an unrooted stock device?
Is there any disadvantage to rooting? Why would anyone NOT root their device?
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Click to collapse
Yes u can stay stock and rooted.
If u root and take an update you will most likely loose root or you will have to unroot before u can take the update. One of the 2.
Biggest disadvantage is that it voids warranty. But no big deal if u no how to go back to stock.
People that don't root probably don't because they don't how, are scared to and/or they don't want to void that precious warranty.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

bchaney16 said:
I appreciate the responses but you guys aren't really answering my questions...
1. It's possible to keep everything stock when rooted, correct?
2. If an updated Android OS version is released, can I download and install it the same as anyone with an unrooted stock device?
3. Is there any disadvantage to rooting? Why would anyone NOT root their device?
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Click to collapse
1. Yes
2. Yes. Though root disappears if you update officially OTA. So then you need to re-root. If you would also unlock bootloader and install CWM you can not update OTA.
3. Umm. I guess some manufacturers claims that warranty is void when rooting. That's pretty much the only not-to reason I can think of. If rooted only and don't "use it" you won't even notice you're rooted.

bchaney16 said:
I'm just thinking that if I'd do it eventually, I might as well do it right now when there are no valuable files/apps/etc. that I'd have to worry about backing up.
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It's unlocking the bootlaoder (fastbbot oem unlock) that will (not Play Store devices) wipe the device, not rooting (though the easiest way to root is to unlock the bootloader).

Ok I think its becoming more clear now.
I ordered mine unlocked from the Play Store. Does that mean the bootloader is already unlocked?
How often does an OTA come out anyway?

bchaney16 said:
Ok I think its becoming more clear now.
I ordered mine unlocked from the Play Store. Does that mean the bootloader is already unlocked?
How often does an OTA come out anyway?
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No, that refers to SIM unlocked, not tied to a specific carrier.
[REF] efrant's "Android for Galaxy Nexus" 101 & FAQs
If your new to Android this is a good place to start getting acquainted with the terminoligy & procedures

Right, I know it is carrier unlocked. So a Play Store GNEX still has a locked bootloader but unlocking it does not erase your files...
If that's the case I guess there's no downside to waiting until I see a good reason to unlock and root. I was thinking that I should do this on my brand new phone so that it wouldn't have any files on it that I'd need to backup. It sounds like I wouldn't have to worry about backing up regardless.

The only reason I can think of to unlock the bootloader straight away (& it's arguably a good one) ...
If for some reason your phone won't boot into android you could fastboot boot a custom recovery & have adb access to pull files from the virtual sdcard.

Rooting is the best thing to happen to Android phones. Do it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

bchaney16 said:
Right, I know it is carrier unlocked. So a Play Store GNEX still has a locked bootloader but unlocking it does not erase your files...
If that's the case I guess there's no downside to waiting until I see a good reason to unlock and root. I was thinking that I should do this on my brand new phone so that it wouldn't have any files on it that I'd need to backup. It sounds like I wouldn't have to worry about backing up regardless.
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Click to collapse
Yes it will. Unlocking the bootloader via fastboot oem unlock will erase /sdcard. Does not matter if you get if from the play store or not. But like you said, if the device is brand new it doesn't matter anyway.
Side note: recently an exploit is discovered that allows to gain root without unlocking the bootloader. And if you have root, you can unlock/lock the bootloader at will without losing data. Follow the link in my signature for more info.

Petrovski80 said:
Yes it will. Unlocking the bootloader via fastboot oem unlock will erase /sdcard. Does not matter if you get if from the play store or not. But like you said, if the device is brand new it doesn't matter anyway.
Side note: recently an exploit is discovered that allows to gain root without unlocking the bootloader. And if you have root, you can unlock/lock the bootloader at will without losing data. Follow the link in my signature for more info.
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There were numerous reports that Play Store phones did NOT wipe all data when the bootloader was unlocked, I know mine didn't

3rdstring said:
There were numerous reports that Play Store phones did NOT wipe all data when the bootloader was unlocked, I know mine didn't
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Was your /sdcard partition untouched after oem unlock?

Petrovski80 said:
Was your /sdcard partition untouched after oem unlock?
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Yes, the data partition was untouched. All my apps & sdcard data was still there.
[DISCUSSION] Google Play Nexus not wiping after Bootloader Unlock

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.

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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Click to collapse
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

Root access for the Moto Z Play without bootloader unlock

Hello,
Is it possible to get root access on the Moto Z Play without needing TWRP? I tried to use this guide but my phone doesn't want to flash TWRP. It may require a unlocked bootloader. My question is that is it possible to get root on this phone without TWRP or unlocked bootloader?
PS. I only want root access to get Viper4Android/ Dolby. If there are any other alternatives, please let me know below.
Thanks,
mPreet

mPreet said:
Hello,
Is it possible to get root access on the Moto Z Play without needing TWRP? I tried to use this guide but my phone doesn't want to flash TWRP. It may require a unlocked bootloader. My question is that is it possible to get root on this phone without TWRP or unlocked bootloader?
PS. I only want root access to get Viper4Android/ Dolby. If there are any other alternatives, please let me know below.
Thanks,
mPreet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your title says without unlock bootloader - no
Your text says without twrp - you can fastboot boot twrp.img - that will boot to it but not flash it permanently. But, again, not if the bl is not unlocked - gotta have that.

KrisM22 said:
Your title says without unlock bootloader - no
Your text says without twrp - you can fastboot boot twrp.img - that will boot to it but not flash it permanently. But, again, not if the bl is not unlocked - gotta have that.
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Click to collapse
So just to make sure that I understand, I have to get the unlock key from Motorola in order to unlock the bootloader. There is no other way around it, right.

mPreet said:
So just to make sure that I understand, I have to get the unlock key from Motorola in order to unlock the bootloader. There is no other way around it, right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much - the process of obtaining your key will void your remaining Motorola warranty (though you may still have some protection depending on your local consumer laws), and the process of actually using the unlock key on your device will wipe your device in a factory reset. Ensure you back up your device (and adopted SD card as well) beforehand.
After that, you should be able to flash or boot TWRP, then root and flash Viper4Android (or ARISE Soundsystems) or Dolby. If you get OTA updates, you will not be able to flash them unless you can revert back to full stock, so ensure you have a TWRP backup without modifications or access to a stock ROM of the same build that you have now.

mPreet said:
So just to make sure that I understand, I have to get the unlock key from Motorola in order to unlock the bootloader. There is no other way around it, right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct. afaik.

echo92 said:
Pretty much - the process of obtaining your key will void your remaining Motorola warranty (though you may still have some protection depending on your local consumer laws), and the process of actually using the unlock key on your device will wipe your device in a factory reset. Ensure you back up your device (and adopted SD card as well) beforehand.
After that, you should be able to flash or boot TWRP, then root and flash Viper4Android (or ARISE Soundsystems) or Dolby. If you get OTA updates, you will not be able to flash them unless you can revert back to full stock, so ensure you have a TWRP backup without modifications or access to a stock ROM of the same build that you have now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I just boot off the TWRP instead of flashing, would that backup constitute as stock? So boot the TWRP instead of flashing then make a backup before rooting.
Thanks,
mPreet

mPreet said:
If I just boot off the TWRP instead of flashing, would that backup constitute as stock? So boot the TWRP instead of flashing then make a backup before rooting.
Thanks,
mPreet
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Click to collapse
be aware you will be walking on shaky ground. Be sure you have a spare phone that works in case you brick this one.