Database Develop

[Q] Unlocked bootloader / Custom Recovery

I'm thinking about unlocking the bootloader of my Moto X and I have a few questions. I hope you guys can help me.
1. At the moment I'm using PwnMyMoto, which means I dont have the stock recovery. Will this be a problem to unlock the bootloader using 'Motorola website' method? i.e. is this method stock recovery dependent? Do I have to go back stock using RSDlite first?
2. After unlocking the bootloader I will probably install a custom recovery (maybe TWRP). As far as I know, when using a custom recovery we should not install OTA, right? It will bootloop. Can anyone confirm this?
3. When using TWRP, is it possible to flash a ROM using RSDlite and keep the custom recovery? i.e. only flash system. This way I could backup my actual ROM before I flash the new one, and if anything goes wrong I can restore it.
Thank you all!

xitake said:
I'm thinking about unlocking the bootloader of my Moto X and I have a few questions. I hope you guys can help me.
1. At the moment I'm using PwnMyMoto, which means I dont have the stock recovery. Will this be a problem to unlock the bootloader using 'Motorola website' method? i.e. is this method stock recovery dependent? Do I have to go back stock using RSDlite first?
2. After unlocking the bootloader I will probably install a custom recovery (maybe TWRP). As far as I know, when using a custom recovery we should not install OTA, right? It will bootloop. Can anyone confirm this?
3. When using TWRP, is it possible to flash a ROM using RSDlite and keep the custom recovery? i.e. only flash system. This way I could backup my actual ROM before I flash the new one, and if anything goes wrong I can restore it.
Thank you all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Fastboot the stock recovery. You will likely have problems unlocking as it performs a factory reset.
2. Don't take OTAs with a custom recovery. You will bootloop. Wait for a flashable zip or fastboot back to stock to get the OTA.
3. You flash ROMs in recovery. You shouldn't need to use fastboot (or rsdlite) unless you want to return to stock or you run into serious phone issues.
Sent from my Moto X.

Root Question

I have the Spint version of the X and have already taken the OTA update that contains the camera fix. Is it possible for me to install a custom recovery and root after unlocking the bootloader using the method shown in this video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fzih8xkki0
It is never made clear on what software version you have to be on

Yes you can. I did it that way. Got phone, updated it, unlocked boot loader through Motorola, fastboot flashed TWRP, then auto rooted via TWRP. Normally I manually root/flash superSU zip, but this time I decided to try the TWRP auto root method.

Trying to root Sprint Moto x 4.4

So im 4.4 on my Moto x, and im a bit unsure of the procedure to root my phone and how to back it up. I know how to unlock my bootloader and I've done that already. but how do I backup my /system and stock recovery? I want to have a way to revert back to get OTA's

Kittiesoncrack said:
So im 4.4 on my Moto x, and im a bit unsure of the procedure to root my phone and how to back it up. I know how to unlock my bootloader and I've done that already. but how do I backup my /system and stock recovery? I want to have a way to revert back to get OTA's
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you unlock the bootloader you probably flashed the TWRP .img? At that point you should have made a backup of system, data, and boot. So know you have a backup of stock everything except for recovery. You could have performed a recovery dump via ADB/Fastboot before the TWRP flash.......BUT, under system/ is a file at the bottom called recovery-from-boot.bak. At any time you can remove the .bak and when you reboot to recovery, you should be in stock recovery. If you need TWRP again you have to fastboot flash it again. :good:

Alright, this is my first full day with my new contract-free Moto X on Sprint. It runs Android 4.4, and the system 143.44.8.ghost_sprint.Sprint.en.US. I already have the necessary drivers and adb installed on my Windows computer.
I am trying to root my phone. Having come from the original Epic 4G, I am used to doing my research quite thoroughly. From what I have seen, while Sprint CLAIMS that the bootloader is unlocked, you actually have to get the unlock code from Sprint. Fine, the phone has now been unlocked, but still not rooted. The two prevailing lines of research are to either run SlapMyMoto (this the phone is already on 4.4), but that only seems to serve Verizon and AT&T devices, and line 2 is to flash a recovery like TWRP (official, but I've never used) or CWM (unofficial, but used on Epic 4G). I've tried two different .img files for TWRP: twrp-2.6.3.1-ghost-4.4.img and openrecovery-TWRP-TEST#3-ghost.img, but attempting to enter Recovery from Fastboot simply displays a persistent black screen. Still no root.
What am I still missing in regards to installing a recovery software? I already have SuperSU v1.93 copied over to the phone, but I can't get anywhere without the recovery software to install it. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

Dante of the Inferno said:
Alright, this is my first full day with my new contract-free Moto X on Sprint. It runs Android 4.4, and the system 143.44.8.ghost_sprint.Sprint.en.US. I already have the necessary drivers and adb installed on my Windows computer.
I am trying to root my phone. Having come from the original Epic 4G, I am used to doing my research quite thoroughly. From what I have seen, while Sprint CLAIMS that the bootloader is unlocked, you actually have to get the unlock code from Sprint. Fine, the phone has now been unlocked, but still not rooted. The two prevailing lines of research are to either run SlapMyMoto (this the phone is already on 4.4), but that only seems to serve Verizon and AT&T devices, and line 2 is to flash a recovery like TWRP (official, but I've never used) or CWM (unofficial, but used on Epic 4G). I've tried two different .img files for TWRP: twrp-2.6.3.1-ghost-4.4.img and openrecovery-TWRP-TEST#3-ghost.img, but attempting to enter Recovery from Fastboot simply displays a persistent black screen. Still no root.
What am I still missing in regards to installing a recovery software? I already have SuperSU v1.93 copied over to the phone, but I can't get anywhere without the recovery software to install it. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are you even bothering with SlapMyMoto when your bootloader is unlocked? I don't understand why people continually ask about how to root when they've already unlocked their bootloader...SlapMyMoto works for all Moto X variants, not sure where you got the impression that it only works for VZW and ATT.
Flash a recovery (CWMR or TWRP) using "mfastboot flash recovery recovery.img", use VOL- to scroll down to recovery then VOL+ to select. Once in recovery, "adb push su.zip /sdcard/" then flash it from within the recovery. From there, you can select reboot from within the recovery or type "adb reboot".

okay...so if i'm running the 4.4 update on my Sprint Moto X, and have unlocked the bootloader, I just need to flash a recovery image and flash the SU zip through the custom recovery, correct? No mucking around with downgrading to 4.2.2 post-cam update etc?

mrao said:
okay...so if i'm running the 4.4 update on my Sprint Moto X, and have unlocked the bootloader, I just need to flash a recovery image and flash the SU zip through the custom recovery, correct? No mucking around with downgrading to 4.2.2 post-cam update etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct
Sent from my Moto X using Tapatalk

Any luck on this? I have a Sprint one and have unlocked my bootloader as well. However, after pushing TWRP recovery and trying to boot into it, I'm unable to flash SU.zip. After a normal reboot, TWRP recovery no longer exists (seems like a persistency issue?).
Anyway, after unlocking my bootloader, what are the next steps?
Out of all the Android phones I've had, rooting this one has been the most difficult by far...call me a noob.

CartlandSmith said:
[STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS] Unlocking and Rooting a Dev Ed Moto X Running Kit Kat
Works for any unlocked bootloader Moto X running kit kat, not just dev eds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worked - thank you!

Is Root access without recovery possible?

I found that my moto xt1052 has bootloader unlocking available and im very excited. I like to know if its compulsory to flash recovery to make device rooted. I don't want to install new roms or firmware. Im rooting to control running apps and use some root apps.
I like my phn to be receptive for ota, which isn't possible if i flash custom recovery.
So i want to know if recovery is compulsory to have root status and manage permissions or if i can enjoy root privileged with just unlocking the bootloader.
Thankyou.
Sent from my moto XT1052 using XDA Free mobile app

After unlocking the bootloader, flash TWRP, root, then flash stock recovery back on the phone and run that way.

KidJoe said:
After unlocking the bootloader, flash TWRP, root, then flash stock recovery back on the phone and run that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi KidJoe,
how back to stock recovery ?
is it enough to flashing file "recovery.img" by RSD Lite ?

I know rsd lite is made to be more user friendly but I still prefer flashing via fastboot.
Fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

Moto-x said:
hi KidJoe,
how back to stock recovery ?
is it enough to flashing file "recovery.img" by RSD Lite ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RSDLite is overkill to flash just recovery.
Do as @cntryby429 said... use mfastboot to flash recovery. You can use it to flash either TWRP (when rooting) and/or Stock recovery.

Couple questions after unlocking bootloader (XT1096)

Ok, here's the rundown - I have a VZW Moto X (XT1096). I previously ran mofo on it had flashed the 5.1 img files to it and so had 5.1 rooted, but with a locked bootloader. After learning that JCase had gotten sunshine to work on it I unlocked my boot loader. I then decided that because I was worried about having the a kind of mish-mash of systems on it, i.e., 5.0 bootloader (unlocked) with hacked and modded 5.1 system files flashed from mofo, that I wanted to start fresh. I then used the XT1096 flash to stock script and flashed back to 5.0 (there were a bunch of problems and bootloops and force closes, but I am happy to report I am now on a fully stock 5.0 with unlocked BL). Following being stock I have tried to take the OTA but have been unable to do so. When I try it OTA on my device it just sits at 0%. When I tried using MDM it gave me an error message that it failed to install the update - on the device it said getjar: unlocked.
So, now that I am on 5.0 with an unlocked bootloader I am not sure how to proceed with my priorities, Root, WiFi tethering and upgrading to 5.1. My questions are this:
(1) How can I upgrade to 5.1 or does my bootloader unlock preclude that?
(2) How best can I achieve root?
(3) Once I am rooted what do I need to do in order to enable wifi tethering?
Thank you so much!

Okay I can't help with all your issues since I didn't get that problem. It seems like whatever you did to install your phone back to 5.0 it wasn't a clean install or you didn't do a clean data wipe to remove errors, which caused it to not able to receive OTA. I do not believe unlocking bootloader preclude you from receiving OTAs because it worked for me.
1. What you should try to do is download this stock 5.0 firmware package, run the bat file with the latest adb/fastboot, then boot into recovery after that and do a data/cache wipe just to make sure. Then boot in the phone and try to do the OTA again.
2. To get root, I use TWRP recovery to flash SuperSU. This is the standard way in fact.
Download SuperSU.zip and put it in the phone: http://download.chainfire.eu/supersu
Get the latest TWRP image here for the Moto X 2014: https://dl.twrp.me/victara/
Flash the recovery using the command: fastboot flash recovery twrp-2.x.x.x-victara.img
Boot into recovery and flash the SuperSu.zip.
Note that now you have made changes to the recovery and system partition, so in order to receive future OTA updates, you need to use fastboot and flash the stock system.img and recovery.img before doing the update.
3. I don't have experience with Verizon network. I use T-Mobile on this Verizon device and I just enable WiFi Hotspot. In the APN settings, in the "APN type" field, I add the value "dun". And set everything to IPv4.

Okay I can't help with all your issues since I didn't get that problem. It seems like whatever you did to install your phone back to 5.0 it wasn't a clean install or you didn't do a clean data wipe to remove errors, which caused it to not able to receive OTA. I do not believe unlocking bootloader preclude you from receiving OTAs because it worked for me.
1. What you should try to do is download this stock 5.0 firmware package, run the bat file with the latest adb/fastboot, then boot into recovery after that and do a data/cache wipe just to make sure. Then boot in the phone and try to do the OTA again.
2. To get root, I use TWRP recovery to flash SuperSU. This is the standard way in fact.
Download SuperSU.zip and put it in the phone: http://download.chainfire.eu/supersu
Get the latest TWRP image here for the Moto X 2014: https://dl.twrp.me/victara/
Flash the recovery using the command: fastboot flash recovery twrp-2.x.x.x-victara.img
Boot into recovery and flash the SuperSu.zip.
Note that now you have made changes to the recovery and system partition, so in order to receive future OTA updates, you need to use fastboot to flash the stock system.img and recovery.img before doing the update.
Can't help you with tethering since I don't have experience with Verizon network.

eksasol said:
Okay I can't help with all your issues since I didn't get that problem. It seems like whatever you did to install your phone back to 5.0 it wasn't a clean install or you didn't do a clean data wipe to remove errors, which caused it to not able to receive OTA. I do not believe unlocking bootloader preclude you from receiving OTAs because it worked for me.
1. What you should try to do is download this stock 5.0 firmware package, run the bat file with the latest adb/fastboot, then boot into recovery after that and do a data/cache wipe just to make sure. Then boot in the phone and try to do the OTA again.
2. To get root, I use TWRP recovery to flash SuperSU. This is the standard way in fact.
Download SuperSU.zip and put it in the phone: http://download.chainfire.eu/supersu
Get the latest TWRP image here for the Moto X 2014: https://dl.twrp.me/victara/
Flash the recovery using the command: fastboot flash recovery twrp-2.x.x.x-victara.img
Boot into recovery and flash the SuperSu.zip.
Note that now you have made changes to the recovery and system partition, so in order to receive future OTA updates, you need to use fastboot to flash the stock system.img and recovery.img before doing the update.
Can't help you with tethering since I don't have experience with Verizon network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the reply - got the update to take and have gotten the device rooted properly.
Now I just need to enable wifi tether - anyone know what is done in the Mofo images that allows it - can i do the same here?

I am interested in this question as well. I am in the exact same boat as the OP, except I am still on a Mofo 5.1 img that is giving me issues. I'd like to flash back to stock and take the OTA. But wifi tether will be a must.

Thanks to mikeoswego we have the tethering answer.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=62379151

eksasol said:
Okay I can't help with all your issues since I didn't get that problem. It seems like whatever you did to install your phone back to 5.0 it wasn't a clean install or you didn't do a clean data wipe to remove errors, which caused it to not able to receive OTA. I do not believe unlocking bootloader preclude you from receiving OTAs because it worked for me.
1. What you should try to do is download this stock 5.0 firmware package, run the bat file with the latest adb/fastboot, then boot into recovery after that and do a data/cache wipe just to make sure. Then boot in the phone and try to do the OTA again.
2. To get root, I use TWRP recovery to flash SuperSU. This is the standard way in fact.
Download SuperSU.zip and put it in the phone: http://download.chainfire.eu/supersu
Get the latest TWRP image here for the Moto X 2014: https://dl.twrp.me/victara/
Flash the recovery using the command: fastboot flash recovery twrp-2.x.x.x-victara.img
Boot into recovery and flash the SuperSu.zip.
Note that now you have made changes to the recovery and system partition, so in order to receive future OTA updates, you need to use fastboot to flash the stock system.img and recovery.img before doing the update.
Can't help you with tethering since I don't have experience with Verizon network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this but after I flash TWRP I can't boot to recovery. If I choose recovery from the bootloader it just turns off the phone (charging icon). If I send it adb reboot recovery I get error android "No Command."
Flashed it multiple times, tried mfastboot, no luck. Any ideas?
Edit: I feel dumb. I was using power button to try to select, it's volume up. Good to go.

GatorsUF said:
Thanks to mikeoswego we have the tethering answer.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=62379151
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The other method (the one I used) was to install the Xtether xposed module for the 2013 Moto X - worked perfectly for me.

I feel like a complete noob for asking this in regards to my XT1096, but, how would I get rid of the unlocked bootloader warning message?

SargeStryker said:
I feel like a complete noob for asking this in regards to my XT1096, but, how would I get rid of the unlocked bootloader warning message?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2871478

juliospinoza said:
Flashing this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2871478
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!