Database Develop

New Moto X. can I put a rom on it?

I had a Moto X that I unlocked via the China seller, and it's being replaced because it's bricked. is there a way to put roms on a locked device? or can I unlock the bootloader again for cheap? I paid roughly 40 dollars for it last time.

jcase has a thread for using an exploit to root your phone without unlocking the bootloader. It can be found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/orig-development/root-write-protection-bypass-motox-t2444957
NOTE: Please read the entire jcase link so you understand the risk/process!
Is there a reason why you want a custom ROM? It's certainly your choice, and respectable but if you're looking for minor tweaks to make it look different you may just want to try the GravityBox module with the Xposed Framework. That way you can just worry about rooting your phone, and then tweaking everything else to your liking after that.

I enjoy PA pie along with halo, PA has the best pie controls in my opinion. So it seems they sent me a moto x on 4.4.2, is my only option pie root than using safestrap? Or what is the best way to go about putting a ROM on this?

ovismos said:
jcase has a thread for using an exploit to root your phone without unlocking the bootloader. It can be found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/orig-development/root-write-protection-bypass-motox-t2444957
NOTE: Please read the entire jcase link so you understand the risk/process!
Is there a reason why you want a custom ROM? It's certainly your choice, and respectable but if you're looking for minor tweaks to make it look different you may just want to try the GravityBox module with the Xposed Framework. That way you can just worry about rooting your phone, and then tweaking everything else to your liking after that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^

scottshebs said:
^^^
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll need a way to get a custom recovery running to install the ROM. TBH, I have a Dev Edition VZW Moto X, so all I do is unlock my bootloader.
Having that being said it looks (from what I read!) like Safestrap allows you to use a custom recovery, in addition of making nandroids and such. From what you're telling me, it pretty much looks like the way to go.

ovismos said:
You'll need a way to get a custom recovery running to install the ROM. TBH, I have a Dev Edition VZW Moto X, so all I do is unlock my bootloader.
Having that being said it looks (from what I read!) like Safestrap allows you to use a custom recovery, in addition of making nandroids and such. From what you're telling me, it pretty much looks like the way to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would the 4.4.2 pie root work? It says it does not disable write protection and it is a tethered root.

Right. And safestrap won't work on 4.4.2.
So no, unless you unlock the bootloader again, you won't be able to flash a custom rom or recovery unfortunately.

scottshebs said:
Would the 4.4.2 pie root work? It says it does not disable write protection and it is a tethered root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't look like it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/moto-x-qa/att-moto-x-rooting-long-term-effects-t2854742
From KidJoe in that post:
"As for safestrap, I don't use it since I have a Dev Edition and unlocked my bootloader. There are some threads and discussions over on Rootzwiki.com BUT you will need to be rooted with write protection disabled to use SafeStrap... Since you are now on 4.4.2, you can't disable write protection, so safestrap is out. "
So I think customer recovery is out unless you get a bootloader unlocked. And without custom recovery, you wouldn't be able to do a custom ROM.
You can still root the stock ROM though! That's what the PIE method will do. Don't think that will give you custom recovery.

Also, you want TowelPieRoot. Not either individually. That will give you root, but not disabled write protection. So mostly it's only useful for certain apps to be used.

KJ said:
Right. And safestrap won't work on 4.4.2.
So no, unless you unlock the bootloader again, you won't be able to flash a custom rom or recovery unfortunately.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Beat me to it.

ovismos said:
Beat me to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I'm basically ****ed. Any possible way to downgrade to 4.4?
KJ said:
Also, you want TowelPieRoot. Not either individually. That will give you root, but not disabled write protection. So mostly it's only useful for certain apps to be used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

scottshebs said:
So I'm basically ****ed. Any possible way to downgrade to 4.4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Downgrading is a dangerous thing on the X... It can easily end up in a brick, or other issues... Or a brick later.
No one who knows how this phone works ever recommends downgrading.
So no.... You are out of luck right now.
You can try the Middleman again... Or wait for a Possible exploit maybe being released, sometime.
But most advise not to upgrade either until this exploit that maybe will come out comes out. In vase 4.4.4 is incompatible with it.
It will also cost you money though.
---------- Post added at 03:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------
BTW, mixing the dangerous on its own downgrading with slapmymoto and safestrap is a definite recipe for disaster.

scottshebs said:
So I'm basically ****ed. Any possible way to downgrade to 4.4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not the parts that matter when it comes to disabling write protection on a locked boot loader phone, and certainly not safely for the rest of the Roms.
Rather than retype...
KidJoe said:
No.
For ALL Developer Editions Moto X, and some carrier editions (Like T-Mobile, Sprint, Rogers and others), Motorola freely gives away the BootLoader Unlock codes when requested On Motorola's Web SIte. In the case of the Non-Developer Editions, it voids their warranty to request the code. However, for some carriers (like ATT, Verizon and republic Wireless in the USA) motorola does not give out the unlock code.
So when you get your X, try to get the unlock code from Moto's web site. Then....
If you can get the code, and unlock the bootloader, you can root and disable write protection no matter what ROM is on your phone.
If you can NOT unlock your bootloader, and you are on 4.4.2 you can use TowelPieRoot to root (but write protection is still enabled).
If you can NOT unlock your bootloader, and your are on 4.4.4 you can not root.
If you can NOT unlock your bootloader, and by some miracle your phone is still on 4.4 (aka 4.4.0) or below, you can look at SlapMyMoto and MotoWpNoMo to root and disable write protection. HOWEVER, once you upgrade you will lose write protection, and be subject to the above conditions on rooting depending on your ROM version
And no, if you are on 4.4.4 you can NOT fully downgrade to 4.4.2 or lower. If you are on 4.4.2 you can NOT fully downgrade to 4.4 (aka 4.4.0) or lower! If you try, you will likely brick your phone or set it up to brick with future OTA's.
EDIT: And if Moto's web site doesn't give out your bootloader unlock code, you MIGHT have a chance using the China Middleman (see the thread in the general section). If its available and you can purchase that way, you can then unlock your bootloader exactly as if you got the code from Moto's own web site and follow any instructions as if you got the code from moto. The only difference is where you got the code, and how much it cost.
If you decide to go the China Middleman route, see -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/china-middleman-t2751177/post52648309
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh and about safestrap, it needs write protection disabled to install. Something that can only be done on 4.4.0 and 4.2.2 with camera fix Roms if you have a locked boot loader

KidJoe said:
Not the parts that matter when it comes to disabling write protection on a locked boot loader phone, and certainly not safely for the rest of the Roms.
Rather than retype...
oh and about safestrap, it needs write protection disabled to install. Something that can only be done on 4.4.0 and 4.2.2 with camera fix Roms if you have a locked boot loader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
****
So if I towelpieroot I could use xposed for the time being?

scottshebs said:
****
So if I towelpieroot I could use xposed for the time being?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems people have trouble getting Xposed to work. Read through that thread about it.

[Q] 5.0 and rooting on locked device

Hey,
So as mentioned in the large "How to root" thread, any update after 4.4.3 will essentially make your device unrootable (or unwritable).
I have the xt1058, which is one of the devices with a locked bootloader. This device is also compatible with Android 5.0, so I was wondering if I flash a captured OTA of 5.0 for the xt1058, will that lock out my bootloader and ensure that I can never root again?
Thanks!

5.0 > 4.4.3 so logic would lead me to say yes, you're stuck running stock.

If you are locked, you will not be able to Root on 5.0 for now, or for awhile.... If ever.
---------- Post added at 10:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:26 AM ----------
Once it comes out of course.
---------- Post added at 10:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:26 AM ----------
if you really want to Root.... Best to not update, as they may figure out how to Root kit Kat and not Lollipop. Usually how it goes.

themsftcpu said:
Hey,
So as mentioned in the large "How to root" thread, any update after 4.4.3 will essentially make your device unrootable (or unwritable).
I have the xt1058, which is one of the devices with a locked bootloader. This device is also compatible with Android 5.0, so I was wondering if I flash a captured OTA of 5.0 for the xt1058, will that lock out my bootloader and ensure that I can never root again?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what you mean by "flash a captured OTA" but with a locked bootloader all you can flash is a ROM or OTA which is digitally signed by Moto and meant for your phone and its CID value. In other words, you can't capture an OTA zip file, modify, repack it and flash it to include Root, if you have a locked bootloader.
If you want usable root on the X you need two parts 1. Root Exploit, and 2. An Exploit that allows for disabling Write Protection.
If you have a locked bootloader you need someone to find these exploits and create a repeatable process to use them to gain root and disabling write protection. You basically need to find and exploit a flaw or vulnerability in the phone, or its software. i.e. Hack It.
When Write Protection is enabled (the phone's default state with locked bootloader, or the state you are in after you install 4.4.2), any changes made to /system, or the like, (including, but not limited to, App installs, file modifications, deletions, renames, etc) are not permanent and are lost at power off/on.
On a locked bootloader you are relying on someone finding vulnerabilities in the phone or its software to both root and disable write protection. Period. No way around that.
As it stands right now, no one has released info on any vulnerabilities which could gain root on a locked bootloader 2013 X which have been upgraded to 4.4.4. So there is no process for rooting those locked bootloader phones.
While JCASE's Sunshine tool can exploit a vulnerability to unlock the bootloader (disabling write protection), it needs to be able to ROOT, or Temp Root, the phone first, which leaves out phones on 4.4.4 (unless I've missed a change recently). (and before you ask, no, you can NOT safely downgrade from 4.4.4 to 4.4.2 or lower, nor can you get to a state where Sunshine will work once you have 4.4.4 on your phone.)
With further security enhancements as android evolves, its only going to get more difficult finding vulnerabilities to exploit and creating repeatable processes for those with locked bootloaders. In other words while there might be a chance someone comes up with something for locked bootloader 2013 X's on Lollipop, I wouldn't count on it happening, nor would I "bet the farm" that it will ever happen.

KidJoe said:
Not sure what you mean by "flash a captured OTA" but with a locked bootloader all you can flash is a ROM or OTA which is digitally signed by Moto and meant for your phone and its CID value. In other words, you can't capture an OTA zip file, modify, repack it and flash it to include Root, if you have a locked bootloader.
If you want usable root on the X you need two parts 1. Root Exploit, and 2. An Exploit that allows for disabling Write Protection.
If you have a locked bootloader you need someone to find these exploits and create a repeatable process to use them to gain root and disabling write protection. You basically need to find and exploit a flaw or vulnerability in the phone, or its software. i.e. Hack It.
When Write Protection is enabled (the phone's default state with locked bootloader, or the state you are in after you install 4.4.2), any changes made to /system, or the like, (including, but not limited to, App installs, file modifications, deletions, renames, etc) are not permanent and are lost at power off/on.
On a locked bootloader you are relying on someone finding vulnerabilities in the phone or its software to both root and disable write protection. Period. No way around that.
As it stands right now, no one has released info on any vulnerabilities which could gain root on a locked bootloader 2013 X which have been upgraded to 4.4.4. So there is no process for rooting those locked bootloader phones.
While JCASE's Sunshine tool can exploit a vulnerability to unlock the bootloader (disabling write protection), it needs to be able to ROOT, or Temp Root, the phone first, which leaves out phones on 4.4.4 (unless I've missed a change recently). (and before you ask, no, you can NOT safely downgrade from 4.4.4 to 4.4.2 or lower, nor can you get to a state where Sunshine will work once you have 4.4.4 on your phone.)
With further security enhancements as android evolves, its only going to get more difficult finding vulnerabilities to exploit and creating repeatable processes for those with locked bootloaders. In other words while there might be a chance someone comes up with something for locked bootloader 2013 X's on Lollipop, I wouldn't count on it happening, nor would I "bet the farm" that it will ever happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about using safestrap? I also own a locked moto x and am currently running a rooted 4.4.4 ROM via safestrap.
Would this be possible to do with lollipop while retaining root?

frenchie007 said:
What about using safestrap? I also own a locked moto x and am currently running a rooted 4.4.4 ROM via safestrap.
Would this be possible to do with lollipop while retaining root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll likely still need to find a software vulnerability to exploit to gain root. And if Lillipop uses a new Kernel (which is does) it may not be compatible with the current Safestrap. And Hash stopped developing Safestrap.
That being said.. Safe strap requires the host phone/os be rooted with write protection disabled. So if you are running Safestrap on a 2013 X, you likely have Android 4.4 or lower as your host OS and have used something like SlapMyMoto/RockMyMoto along with MotoWpNoMo to root and disable write protection on your host OS. If this is the case, use Sunshine to unlock your bootloader. It will be much easier.

KidJoe said:
You'll likely still need to find a software vulnerability to exploit to gain root. And if Lillipop uses a new Kernel (which is does) it may not be compatible with the current Safestrap. And Hash stopped developing Safestrap.
That being said.. Safe strap requires the host phone/os be rooted with write protection disabled. So if you are running Safestrap on a 2013 X, you likely have Android 4.4 or lower as your host OS and have used something like SlapMyMoto/RockMyMoto along with MotoWpNoMo to root and disable write protection on your host OS. If this is the case, use Sunshine to unlock your bootloader. It will be much easier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I was holding out on unlocking with sunshine but seems like its necessary to keep root for lollipop. Thanks!

frenchie007 said:
Yep, I was holding out on unlocking with sunshine but seems like its necessary to keep root for lollipop. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would you ever wait to unlock your bootloader if you're able to? You wouldn't have to worry about any of this with an unlocked bootloader.

nhizzat said:
Why would you ever wait to unlock your bootloader if you're able to? You wouldn't have to worry about any of this with an unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My only guess would be.... he is still under warranty and isn't in a hurry to void it?

nhizzat said:
Why would you ever wait to unlock your bootloader if you're able to? You wouldn't have to worry about any of this with an unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
KidJoe said:
My only guess would be.... he is still under warranty and isn't in a hurry to void it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because sunshine costs money and yes, I'm in no hurry to unlock it (until lollipop comes along that is)

frenchie007 said:
Because sunshine costs money and yes, I'm in no hurry to unlock it (until lollipop comes along that is)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just keep in mind.... As soon as you update to 4.4.4 or Lollipop, There's no guarantee you'll ever be able to unlock with Sunshine.
You likely know this... But just checking. ?

Darth said:
Just keep in mind.... As soon as you update to 4.4.4 or Lollipop, There's no guarantee you'll ever be able to unlock with Sunshine.
You likely know this... But just checking. ��
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
using safestrap to flash only parts of 4.4.4 (excluding bootloader if I'm not mistaken) allows me to retain full root even on 4.4.4 even with a locked bootloader. however from what I understand you're right this won't be possible for lollipop :/

frenchie007 said:
using safestrap to flash only parts of 4.4.4 (excluding bootloader if I'm not mistaken) allows me to retain full root even on 4.4.4. however from what I understand you're right this won't be possible for lollipop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe it could..... But based on the issues I've seen in the N5 section, likely not. Lollipop probably won't play well with anything kit Kat or earlier.
Pretty hard to test too... Who knows what would happen if you tried. Also, who knows when or if SBF files will turn up.
---------- Post added at 05:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:13 PM ----------
Off topic.... But I will feel bad for anyone who has Lollipop complaints and tries downgrading. Could be the end of their device.
Unless moto changes that quirk with their bootloader.

AT&T Moto X - 4.4.4 - Root & Unlock Boot loader?

Is there any root method that will work for an at&t moto x running on 4.4.4 and unlock bootloader? Or am i stuck running stock?

Enjoy stock, you're stuck. Unless you find a bootloader unlock code.
Next time search, this question has been answered too many times already.

Always read the stickies... Like this one from the general section,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2826159
?

What the hell.. c'mon man it's been like 10 years... still not a method.

You may have found some threads on here that recommend Sunshine, a $25 app that you can download (link below). The developers say that it may work for some users that are on 4.4.4. Try it. It will confirm for you whether it will unlock before you pay. It successfully worked for me when I was on 4.2.2. Good luck.
Sunshine app: http://theroot.ninja/
marcviado said:
Is there any root method that will work for an at&t moto x running on 4.4.4 and unlock bootloader? Or am i stuck running stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

marcviado said:
Is there any root method that will work for an at&t moto x running on 4.4.4 and unlock bootloader? Or am i stuck running stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
{bold in quote added by me}
Your bootloader is UNlocked? If so, just flash TWRP recovery, reboot-bootloader, go into TWRP and it should prompt you to root. If not, install SuperSU zip from TWRP.
Now, if your bootloader is still LOCKED, then you are stuck. Sunshine has not worked on ATT XT1058 that has 4.4.4 on it. (and before you ask... no, you can't safely/successfully downgrade all parts of the X in order to use Sunshine).
As for how long its been... As android matures, there are less and less bugs and vulnerabilities to exploit/hack to gain root access if you can't unlock the bootloader. The number of people capable of finding them dwindles too.

KidJoe said:
{bold in quote added by me}
Your bootloader is UNlocked? If so, just flash TWRP recovery, reboot-bootloader, go into TWRP and it should prompt you to root. If not, install SuperSU zip from TWRP.
Now, if your bootloader is still LOCKED, then you are stuck. Sunshine has not worked on ATT XT1058 that has 4.4.4 on it. (and before you ask... no, you can't safely/successfully downgrade all parts of the X in order to use Sunshine).
As for how long its been... As android matures, there are less and less bugs and vulnerabilities to exploit/hack to gain root access if you can't unlock the bootloader. The number of people capable of finding them dwindles too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is sad. I tried to use sunshine just now on xt1058. Says I have no root (after attempting temproot).

[Q] XT1058 (AT&T) lollipop root

I haven't seen any root methods listed here for 5.0.
I'm still on 4.4 because I didn't want to lose system write or root. Has anyone been able to successfully root 5.0 with system write ability? What method did you use?
I've seen mentions of using Chain Fire but the articles are usually poorly written, so I don't trust them.

d3athsd00r said:
I haven't seen any root methods listed here for 5.0.
I'm still on 4.4 because I didn't want to lose system write or root. Has anyone been able to successfully root 5.0 with system write ability? What method did you use?
I've seen mentions of using Chain Fire but the articles are usually poorly written, so I don't trust them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Twrp has the option to root.
When you reboot from it.
That's how I rooted twrp

I'm on AT&T, so my bootloader is still locked. Unless someone has figured out how to unlock without paying $25.

d3athsd00r said:
I'm on AT&T, so my bootloader is still locked. Unless someone has figured out how to unlock without paying $25.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a locked bootloader you need someone to find a in the phone, or its software. Then a repeatable process must be created to use the exploit to gain root. i.e. Hack It.
Root is only part. There is also Write Protection to worry about.. When Write Protection is enabled (the phone's default state with locked bootloader, any changes made to /system, or the like, (including, but not limited to, App installs, file modifications, deletions, renames, etc) are not permanent and are lost at power off/on. Starting with 4.4.2, on a locked bootloader we can't disable write protection. No Vulnerabilities have been found/posted. However, Unlocking the bootloader disables write protection.
So if you have a locked bootloader, and want to root 5.02, you first need 5.02 to come out, then vulnerability found, tested, and a process created. When 5.1 comes out, it needs to be tested to see if the vulnerability was patched. if it was, the work starts all over again.. Its like playing "whack a mole." And even then you likely will have write protection enabled... so any power off/on or "hard boot" will mean lost changes to your phone.
Since the 2013 X is getting old, and only ATT, Verizon, and Republic wireless can't unlock their bootloader through Motorola's site, Paying $25 to use Sunshine if your phone is still on 4.4.2 or lower, is not a bad deal if you want to be sure you can root and disable write protection no matter what Android version comes to your phone.
NOTE: I am not affiliated with Sunshine... just trying to help you understand... Coming up with a root process for a LOCKED Bootloader isn't "quick and easy"

d3athsd00r said:
I'm on AT&T, so my bootloader is still locked. Unless someone has figured out how to unlock without paying $25.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's literally the only way you are going to have root on lollipop. At least for a while anyways. I don't think many people would be interested in finding and creating exploits after this phone has already be exploited to the point where almost everyone can unlock their bootloader. I started at 4.4, went down to 4.2.2, used RockMyMoto and MotoWPnomo, then used SlapMyMoto when upgrading back to 4.4. After that I installed Safestrap and was able to use the stock (and rooted) ROMs by @Ctrl-Freak all the way up to 4.4.4. But after I heard about Sunshine... That was the holy grail. Unlocked my bootloader, flashed a clean install of stock 4.4 and just upgraded till 4.4.4 again, flashed TWRP, rooted, and that was it.

Thanks guys. I was always wary about Sunshine. Just never sat well with me, but I think I'm going to do it after I move into my new house since I have no plans to upgrade anytime soon.

d3athsd00r said:
Thanks guys. I was always wary about Sunshine. Just never sat well with me, but I think I'm going to do it after I move into my new house since I have no plans to upgrade anytime soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its true, Sunshine is kind of risky... BUT because of those involved with it, I would consider it as safe as any "hack" can get.
If I didn't have a Dev Edition X, and needed to unlock my bootloader, I would not hesitate to use Sunshine.

Root without paying anything?

Is there a way to root this device without paying anything?
I've an unlocked verizon droid turbo(supports all sim cards )
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

No.

Nope.

If you're unlocked you should be able to flash supersu on twrp. Unlocking carries the fee not rooting. Correct me if I'm wrong I just got this phone. However I never paid to root it. I paid to unlock it and felt awkward for it afterwards. I never had to pay to unlock a phone. It's like one of those things I get told not to do because it's a scam. Lol.

xrock8 said:
Is there a way to root this device without paying anything?
I've an unlocked verizon droid turbo(supports all sim cards )
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you used Sunshine, your phone is not unlocked. Your phone is SIM unlocked, not bootloader unlocked.

iiWoodstocK said:
Unless you used Sunshine, your phone is not unlocked. Your phone is SIM unlocked, not bootloader unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah my bad
Thanks for correcting me !
I actually meant SIM unlocked.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

xrock8 said:
Yeah my bad
Thanks for correcting me !
I actually meant SIM unlocked.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no way of getting free permanent root. You could use Sunshine to get temp root, but that might not be too useful since the bootloader is still locked.
The only way to get permanent root is to unlock the bootloader by paying for Sunshine.

Temp root doesn't really allow permanent changes. The write protection is really really annoying. Twrp disables this write protection.

That is incorrect. You can root without sunshine, or TWRP. There is a debate as to the permanence. You can run Kingroot, then some scripts to swap Kingroot for SU, this will result in permanent persistent root without installing TWRP. The question is if Sunshine disabled the write protection or not. If you have not unlocked with Sunshine then by all means git it a try and let us know if it worked. I posted a thread about it a while back.
I'm not sure why people repeat that TWRP is needed for perm root but rest assured, it is absolutely 100% not.

HT123 said:
That is incorrect. You can root without sunshine, or TWRP. There is a debate as to the permanence. You can run Kingroot, then some scripts to swap Kingroot for SU, this will result in permanent persistent root without installing TWRP. The question is if Sunshine disabled the write protection or not. If you have not unlocked with Sunshine then by all means git it a try and let us know if it worked. I posted a thread about it a while back.
I'm not sure why people repeat that TWRP is needed for perm root but rest assured, it is absolutely 100% not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're half right. An unlocked bootloader is required for persistent root on the Droid Turbo. There's not really any debate about that. Technically, TWRP is not required. There are ways to get SuperSU on there without TWRP after the bootloader is unlocked (sunshine or kingroot temp root + flashify), but most people prefer to use TWRP since it's incredibly useful for the things that people with unlocked bootloaders usually want to do. Unlocking a bootloader without installing TWRP is like buying a Swiss army knife that doesn't have any knives in it. And yes, if you're determined enough, you can get SuperSU on there via Kingroot with a locked bootloader. But with a locked bootloader, doing so achieves nothing more than a super unstable system. Root's great and all, but it's not better than a phone that will actually turn on for more than 5 seconds before every app starts force closing.
EDIT: Nevermind. I think I misread what you were trying to say. Your post was assuming an unlocked bootloader. I missed that.
---------- Post added at 12:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 PM ----------
s4shield said:
If you're unlocked you should be able to flash supersu on twrp. Unlocking carries the fee not rooting. Correct me if I'm wrong I just got this phone. However I never paid to root it. I paid to unlock it and felt awkward for it afterwards. I never had to pay to unlock a phone. It's like one of those things I get told not to do because it's a scam. Lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sunshine is 100% not a scam. It is primarily maintained by two guys known as jcase and beaups. If you google either of their names, you'll find that they're associated with many, if not the majority, of the root/unlock exploits that have been released for just about every Android phone that has ever received one. The fee, which is incredibly fair, is necessary to partially recoup the thousands of dollars of their own money that they spend on test devices. Jcase is also a professional security researcher by day, and by releasing things like Sunshine, he forfeits sizable bug bounties that he would receive if he reported these bugs to Google or any given phone manufacturer. You don't get something that is more legit, or two guys that are more willing to make our communities possible, than Sunshine and the team behind it.

That was the question that I have yet to see proved with empirical evidence. Does sunshine turn off write protection so that SU will be persistent between reboots. As i have a said a few times, i assume it did, but since i installed SU after I ran sunshine i can not tell for sure. Again, the question was not about preference it was about the misinformation that TWRP is required for permanent root. I dont know why but that one bugs the [email protected] out of me. Again, if you haven't run sunshine yet I urge you to look for the other thread I posted on root without TWRP and try it for yourself. Worst that happens is it does not work.

I am going to put this out there, not because I know I am right but because I'd like it confirmed or refuted myself.
On the Turbo, kingroot or whatever root implementation is used by sunshine is only a temp root, meaning it does not survive a reboot. Kingroot may or may not leave some components on the /system partition but it does not keep the phone rooted, sometimes it can't even keep root while the phone is continuously running. Either way, unstable temp root is not very useful, but it allows sunshine bootloader unlock to work through an exploit.
At this point the write protection may or may not be disabled, I assume it is disabled and I know the sunshine devs could clear this up. For most the next step is flashing twrp, which provides the option to disable WP or not. It is unclear why this needs to be done, I imagine for some circumstance where twrp is flashed but the user wants to keep WP. So twrp is able to toggle WP, but it isn't doing anything too special to accomplish this. For us there is absolutely no reason to unlock the BL, flash twrp, then keep WP on and in fact it may render the phone unusable in this state.
So to get perm root, you need WP turned off. To get WP turned off, you need the BL unlocked. To get the BL unlocked, you need temp root.
Thus there is no free option, just pay these hard working devs for their huge personal investment in our device and appreciate the fact that someone got it done. Root is not easy anymore, and that is why it costs something now. Other high-end carrier locked-down phones will never get root because no one with enough skill and determination is working on them. Or there is simply no available exploit (or at least one that is feasible to use).
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Again, this is the question that some seem baffled by.
Does running sunshine turn off the write protection to enable the swapping of kingroot for SU to be persistent through reboots.
As i have said, numerous time, TWRP is 100% not needed for ermanent persistent root. it just isn't, no matter how often the claim is repeated, it does not make it true. This is not a question about paying the devs or any other philosophical discussion on the merrits of TWRP vs stock recovery. It is a simple technical question of "Can you make root persistent without running sunshine"

HT123 said:
Again, this is the question that some seem baffled by.
"Can you make root persistent without running sunshine"
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Disclaimer: I have no idea what I am talking about but I'd wager I am right.
Not without a new exploit.
To date the only exploit we have that allows write protection disabled is the one that allows an unlocked bootloader.
After that we have full access and then have our choice to use fastboot, adb or twrp.
If another dev/hacker were to look for an exploit I'm guessing they would again attack the bootloader.
This is a very logical starting place since a persistent root would most likely need two exploits. One to gain root, another to gain write access.

mrkhigh said:
Disclaimer: I have no idea what I am talking about but I'd wager I am right.
Not without a new exploit.
To date the only exploit we have that allows write protection disabled is the one that allows an unlocked bootloader.
After that we have full access and then have our choice to use fastboot, adb or twrp.
If another dev/hacker were to look for an exploit I'm guessing they would again attack the bootloader.
This is a very logical starting place since a persistent root would most likely need two exploits. One to gain root, another to gain write access.
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Click to collapse
For the Droid Turbo XT1224, yes TWRP is needed for a fully stable write protection disabled permanent root.
On other phones, no a custom recovery is not necessarily needed. For example, on my old Droid 4, I rooted the phone without installing a custom recovery. That root was permanent, and had write protection turned off.

TheSt33v said:
You're half right. An unlocked bootloader is required for persistent root on the Droid Turbo. There's not really any debate about that. Technically, TWRP is not required. There are ways to get SuperSU on there without TWRP after the bootloader is unlocked (sunshine or kingroot temp root + flashify), but most people prefer to use TWRP since it's incredibly useful for the things that people with unlocked bootloaders usually want to do. Unlocking a bootloader without installing TWRP is like buying a Swiss army knife that doesn't have any knives in it. And yes, if you're determined enough, you can get SuperSU on there via Kingroot with a locked bootloader. But with a locked bootloader, doing so achieves nothing more than a super unstable system. Root's great and all, but it's not better than a phone that will actually turn on for more than 5 seconds before every app starts force closing.
EDIT: Nevermind. I think I misread what you were trying to say. Your post was assuming an unlocked bootloader. I missed that.
---------- Post added at 12:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 PM ----------
Sunshine is 100% not a scam. It is primarily maintained by two guys known as jcase and beaups. If you google either of their names, you'll find that they're associated with many, if not the majority, of the root/unlock exploits that have been released for just about every Android phone that has ever received one. The fee, which is incredibly fair, is necessary to partially recoup the thousands of dollars of their own money that they spend on test devices. Jcase is also a professional security researcher by day, and by releasing things like Sunshine, he forfeits sizable bug bounties that he would receive if he reported these bugs to Google or any given phone manufacturer. You don't get something that is more legit, or two guys that are more willing to make our communities possible, than Sunshine and the team behind it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know it's not a scam when I first used it kind of came off that. I wasn't used to the process and I know why they charge. Anytime I've seen anyone asking you for money to either unlock your bootloader or root your phone it has always been a scam till now. So that's why I saw it that way.