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Will Nexus 6 get OTA updates if rooted and custom recovery is installed?

I'm new to the nexus line. Just wondering if OTA updates will work after rooting my device or do I have to return to stock to get the update? Currently I'm rooted stock , decrypted, and TWRP recovery installed. Should I return to full stock locked or what?

gwojo22 said:
I'm new to the nexus line. Just wondering if OTA updates will work after rooting my device or do I have to return to stock to get the update? Currently I'm rooted stock , decrypted, and TWRP recovery installed. Should I return to full stock locked or what?
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ive hear any alteration on the system files will stop the ota from installing. i assume that means recovery as well

gwojo22 said:
I'm new to the nexus line. Just wondering if OTA updates will work after rooting my device or do I have to return to stock to get the update? Currently I'm rooted stock , decrypted, and TWRP recovery installed. Should I return to full stock locked or what?
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Click to collapse
shelooga said:
ive hear any alteration on the system files will stop the ota from installing. i assume that means recovery as well
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sheloga is correct. You'd have to revert back to full stock or wait for someone to make a flashable zip.

Can't you just flash the stock recovery and take the OTA? Or do you have to fully unroot and reflash the factory image?

I would like to pay close attention time to this thread because that is one is the main questions that I have. I hear so many different solutions towards this. I usually wait for a flashable zip but I would want to see someone either wrote a write up or make a video. Subscribed.

My understanding (from looking at the lollipop OTA updater-script) is it checks EVERY file for changes, including other partitions. You must be 100% stock with nothing extra in system (SuperSU apk or busybox etc).

gwojo22 said:
I'm new to the nexus line. Just wondering if OTA updates will work after rooting my device or do I have to return to stock to get the update? Currently I'm rooted stock , decrypted, and TWRP recovery installed. Should I return to full stock locked or what?
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Click to collapse
get and being able to apply are two differing things. unless you make it so you cant receive, then you will get an ota. problem is, that you will not be able to apply the update. 1. you can flash the factory img. 2. you can wait for someone to upload a flashable zip. 3. or you can do what most noobs do, and waste your time. what most noobs do is unroot, and flash the stock recovery, then wait for the update.

BLUF: wait until OTA is made available in a recovery flash method. 90% of the time the OTA updates are patching security holes and other less important features.
Having been with a handful of different android devices in the past several years, I've always gone the route of flashing from recovery vs. OTA.
The LG G3 for example had an OTA just recently that broke rooting. It was fixed by a Dev, but that's the only update found in OTA.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

Once you root the phone you cannot receive OTA updates. However, you arent out of luck when updates are released. Because you have a custom recovery, its easy to just download the update file when its released and install it that way. Once the AOSP updates are uploaded from Google, its all yours. Most people who dont receive their OTA and dont have a custom recovery will typically install it on their own but using ADB.

simms22 said:
get and being able to apply are two differing things. unless you make it so you cant receive, then you will get an ota. problem is, that you will not be able to apply the update. 1. you can flash the factory img. 2. you can wait for someone to upload a flashable zip. 3. or you can do what most noobs do, and waste your time. what most noobs do is unroot, and flash the stock recovery, then wait for the update.
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I read in one of RootSU's threads (I think) that as of Lollipop, OTA via ADB sideload is the only option to apply an update. Any thoughts?

wvcadle said:
I read in one of RootSU's threads (I think) that as of Lollipop, OTA via ADB sideload is the only option to apply an update. Any thoughts?
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no thoughts.
i just flash aosp hours after it appears there. or just wait for @rascarlo to add it to his rom, then i flash

HyperM3 said:
Because you have a custom recovery, its easy to just download the update file when its released and install it that way. Once the AOSP updates are uploaded from Google, its all yours. Most people who dont receive their OTA and dont have a custom recovery will typically install it on their own but using ADB.
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wvcadle said:
I read in one of RootSU's threads (I think) that as of Lollipop, OTA via ADB sideload is the only option to apply an update. Any thoughts?
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Click to collapse
After Android 5.0, you can't sideload the OTA file if you have made any changes to the system partition. You need to be completely stock to take OTA. You can just download the new factory images and extract the various img files from it and just flash those manually in ADB, thereby overwriting your modified system partition with the new factory system image (you can skip overwriting the userdata if you want to preserve your data). No need to revert back to stock (old image) and then take OTA - unnecessary step.

HyperM3 said:
Once you root the phone you cannot receive OTA updates. However, you arent out of luck when updates are released. Because you have a custom recovery, its easy to just download the update file when its released and install it that way. Once the AOSP updates are uploaded from Google, its all yours. Most people who dont receive their OTA and dont have a custom recovery will typically install it on their own but using ADB.
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I understand what your saying. Is there any difference between the OTA and AOSP? Like modem or kernel? I actually like the stock on this device. It seems like there are problems with the AOSP ROMS that are available now such as Netflix and Play Movies not working.
I'm coming from Samsung devices which were completely different as far as rooting and return to stock. I would go to SamMobile to get the stock firmware on my Galaxy S5. Where do I find stock firmware for the nexus?

gwojo22 said:
I understand what your saying. Is there any difference between the OTA and AOSP? Like modem or kernel? I actually like the stock on this device. It seems like there are problems with the AOSP ROMS that are available now such as Netflix and Play Movies not working.
I'm coming from Samsung devices which were completely different as far as rooting and return to stock. I would go to SamMobile to get the stock firmware on my Galaxy S5. Where do I find stock firmware for the nexus?
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From google
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

hlxanthus said:
From google
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
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How does one do this on a Mac? Could you perhaps link us? All I'm finding is guides for windows unfortunately

waqar.qu said:
How does one do this on a Mac? Could you perhaps link us? All I'm finding is guides for windows unfortunately
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You need to install ADB and fastboot. After that, you can use the 'fastboot' command directly from Terminal. I've found that the easiest way to update Lollipop on my Nexus 6 is to:
Download image from Google
Decompress the archive, AND the second archive which was contained within the first one. Note: The recovery, boot, and system images are in the second archive.
Open Terminal, change directory to the extracted folder, and run these commands (they skip overwriting the userdata partition):
fastboot flash bootloader <bootloader file name here>.img
fastboot flash radio <radio file name here>.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader (VERY IMPORTANT TO DO THIS STEP)
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot reboot
You need to restore root at this point; you can use these instructions if you're unfamiliar with the procedure.

[Q]how can i fully exploit root features & receiving OTA updates?

Hello XDA,
Im quite sure this has already been asked on the forum but i couldn't find an answer.
I need some advise about my recently rooted Nexus 6. I want to fully enjoy from a custom recovery but i dont want to lose the option of receiving OTA updates to my phone.
What do you guys do so your nexus keeps getting the lastest of Android?
Can i use WugFresh's root toolkit to sideload OTA updates even when i have a custom recovery?
What other ways can i use to update Android?
Thanks,

No but you could use the tool kit to reload recovery and stock then take your OTA then reroot and reload TWRP.
And you can side load but it is important you understand exactly what you're doing. the kit does nothing more than you can from the command line it just tries to save you from yourself. it can be a help or hindrance. If you don't understand what's going on it will be the latter
Sent from my Benzo'd Google N6 on VZ

If you've got root and/or custom recovery, since Lollipop you can forget about OTA. And if you're gonna go through the hassle of flashing stock recovery and unrooting to get the OTA, you might as well just flash the latest factory image straight away. Just remember to leave out userdata.img so you can keep your data...

Didgeridoohan said:
If you've got root and/or custom recovery, since Lollipop you can forget about OTA. And if you're gonna go through the hassle of flashing stock recovery and unrooting to get the OTA, you might as well just flash the latest factory image straight away. Just remember to leave out userdata.img so you can keep your data...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. OTA is overrated. If I was on T-Mobile or the factory image was not available. I would grab the radio and load what I wanted.
Now I am running the E radio and the i build on VZ
Sent from my Benzo'd Google N6 on VZ

Didgeridoohan said:
you might as well just flash the latest factory image straight away. Just remember to leave out userdata.img so you can keep your data...
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Click to collapse
what do you mean flashing directly?
Can i use Simple recovery switcher to eaisly switch to stock recovery without unrooting and get the OTA update?

torecdude said:
what do you mean flashing directly?
Can i use Simple recovery switcher to eaisly switch to stock recovery without unrooting and get the OTA update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click the link in my signature for more information on OTA updates. No modifications of any kind to system can be made for an OTA to flash successfully.

Didgeridoohan said:
If you've got root and/or custom recovery, since Lollipop you can forget about OTA. And if you're gonna go through the hassle of flashing stock recovery and unrooting to get the OTA, you might as well just flash the latest factory image straight away. Just remember to leave out userdata.img so you can keep your data...
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Click to collapse
Evolution_Freak said:
Click the link in my signature for more information on OTA updates. No modifications of any kind to system can be made for an OTA to flash successfully.
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Click to collapse
Thank you, your thread as helped me alot. But i didnt understand why did you posted OTA files that are flashable with TWRP altough we cant update lollipop with rooted devices?
Guess im going to have to unroot and flash stock recovery to OTA update directly from google or use a pure shamu rom.

Updating via OTA on a Nexus is an undesirable method IMO. As mentioned previously, if you download and flash the factory images, you avoid the potential update failures in an OTA from modified stock parameters. As for recovery, you don't need to flash a custom recovery, you can simply boot a custom recovery from the PC using fastboot and having the recovery image of choice in your platform tools.
fastboot boot name_of_recovery_image_here.img
I don't flash from the device any more. Keeps me out of trouble. Being connected to the PC helps remind me to move a copy of my backup to the PC before flashing.

torecdude said:
Thank you, your thread as helped me alot. But i didnt understand why did you posted OTA files that are flashable with TWRP altough we cant update lollipop with rooted devices?
Guess im going to have to unroot and flash stock recovery to OTA update directly from google or use a pure shamu rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I put the link to that thread in mine as a quick way for people who are rooted/unlocked and running a custom recovery to find. Those are not the "official" way of updating. They work because someone here put the time in to make them work for unlocked/rooted users. No, you can't use an "official" OTA process if you've altered your device but that method uses TWRP to flash just like you were flashing a custom ROM.
I'm glad my thread has helped you! Since I'm not a developer yet, it is my sole purpose here to help users with anything I can. So a comment like that is very reassuring that I'm on the right path.

Not a noob, but still confused.

I have a nexus 6. I have been using custom ROMs from the days of xperia mini pro. Never had a Nexus before. I want to have root in my nexus 6 for ad blocking cereberus and more. But this time I don't want custom ROMs. I just need the OTA's. I know OTA's dont happen automatically after root. So please tell me should I root and put a custom recovery, Or just root for manually updating the OTA's. Where can I get all the OTA's ?? I know it's a lot of questions.. Please.

Quick answer: Isn't going to happen.
Reason: Lollipop wont install OTA if you modify /system, because it is now written as a block, unlike previous versions of android.
IF you root, you have modified /system.
Consequence: you will not update by OTA while rooted. It will fail.
Possible workaround: You can however AFAIK, unroot and then take an OTA, but I'll let others confirm this, please don't take me saying it as factual.
Factory image flash: always works, but you have to await the release after the updates.

mad_rulzzz said:
I have a nexus 6. I have been using custom ROMs from the days of xperia mini pro. Never had a Nexus before. I want to have root in my nexus 6 for ad blocking cereberus and more. But this time I don't want custom ROMs. I just need the OTA's. I know OTA's dont happen automatically after root. So please tell me should I root and put a custom recovery, Or just root for manually updating the OTA's. Where can I get all the OTA's ?? I know it's a lot of questions.. Please.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FWIW: I would recommend that you:
1) Unlock bootloader
2) Decide if you want uncrypted kernel, or not (since it wipes data, just like unlocking bootloader).
3) Fastboot flash TWRP recovery.
4) Download SuperSU .zip and flash it in recovery.
5) Now, when a new OTA comes out, they usually show up here > http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/ref-nexus-6-stock-ota-urls-t2906493
6) You can download your current factory image here > https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
7) Unzip your current factory image. Fastboot flash the system.img and that will unroot and restore the stock recovery.
8) Fastboot flash the stock boot.img if you have a custom kernel (or an unencrypted stock kernel).
9) Relax and wait for the OTA.

RW-1 said:
Quick answer: Isn't going to happen.
Reason: Lollipop wont install OTA if you modify /system, because it is now written as a block, unlike previous versions of android.
IF you root, you have modified /system.
Consequence: you will not update by OTA while rooted. It will fail.
Possible workaround: You can however AFAIK, unroot and then take an OTA, but I'll let others confirm this, please don't take me saying it as factual.
Factory image flash: always works, but you have to await the release after the updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I knew about the OTA failing due to the system partition getting changed while rooting. I think what I was looking for what cam30era just explained!!!

mad_rulzzz said:
I have a nexus 6. I have been using custom ROMs from the days of xperia mini pro. Never had a Nexus before. I want to have root in my nexus 6 for ad blocking cereberus and more. But this time I don't want custom ROMs. I just need the OTA's. I know OTA's dont happen automatically after root. So please tell me should I root and put a custom recovery, Or just root for manually updating the OTA's. Where can I get all the OTA's ?? I know it's a lot of questions.. Please.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can just update in fastboot without an OTA. Just flash the new bootloader, system and possibly the new boot.img in fastboot and reroot. Erase and flash cache.img afterwards. Thats how i do it at least.

mad_rulzzz said:
I knew about the OTA failing due to the system partition getting changed while rooting. I think what I was looking for what cam30era just explained!!!
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Click to collapse
What he just explained is what I said, unroot and take the OTA.... He listed how as well.

RW-1 said:
What he just explained is what I said, unroot and take the OTA.... He listed how as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup.

@rw_1 @cam30era thanks guys

I would do what gee2012 said.
From what I have seen the OTA and the images are released pretty close together.
Instead of flashing images to get back to stock and waiting for the OTA. and then re-rooting
Just download the image files from Google. Manually flash all the files EXCEPT user data if you want to keep your data.
Re-root.
You are now updated and don't have to wait for OTA.
Either way works so it depends on which you are happier with.

mad_rulzzz said:
@rw_1 @cam30era thanks guys
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Click to collapse
Welcome. And BTW: there's a button for that.

gee2012 said:
You can just update in fastboot without an OTA. Just flash the new bootloader, system and possibly the new boot.img in fastboot and reroot. Erase and flash cache.img afterwards. Thats how i do it at least.
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Just to be sure I understood right:
If I don't care about app data or settings ( I have titanium backup),
1)I can just unlock the boot loader
2)Flash the latest factory image from [developers.google.com/android/nexus/images]
3)Root using chain fire's tool
And repeat the process when the factory image of the next version is uploaded by google.
one last thing... Does Google upload factory images after each OTA happens?

cam30era said:
Welcome. And BTW: there's a button for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My BAd!!

mad_rulzzz said:
If I don't care about app data or settings ( I have titanium backup),
1)Can I just unlock the boot loader
2)Flash the latest factory image from [developers.google.com/android/nexus/images]
3)Root using chain fire's tool
And repeat the process when the factory image of the next version is uploaded by google.
Does Google upload factory images after each OTA happens? i.e; If Nexus 6 receives an OTA to 5.2, will they upload the 5.2 factory image soon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you unlock the bootloader it will wipe the contents of your SD card. Make sure it is backed up on your PC.
Unfortunately, not every OTA gets published as a factory image. Most, but not all. Case in point: LMY47M.

cam30era said:
Unfortunately, not every OTA gets published as a factory image. Most, but not all. Case in point: LMY47M.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed that.... But that build is only for T-Mobile users, I guess...
Minor Differences, for example; If you take the android builds for Indian phones they are required by law to display the SAR rating. So I wouldn't worry about LMY47M, unless they have changed something to fix the memory leaks.

mad_rulzzz said:
I noticed that.... But that build is only for T-Mobile users, I guess...
Minor Differences, for example; If you take the android builds for Indian phones they are required by law to display the SAR rating. So I wouldn't worry about LMY47M, unless they have changed something to fix the memory leaks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. M is intended for T-Mobile. My point, though, is that Google doesn't always, 100% of the time publish a factory image for every OTA.

Can you switch from LMY48W to LMY48T in order to upgrade to 6.0?

Hi, I have an unlocked Nexus 6 bought direct from Google. Somehow it became the AT&T version of 5.1.1 (LMY48W). This means that there is currently no OTA upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow for LMY48W.
However, as there is an upgrade to 6.0 from LMY48T, it is possible to either:
Edit the build.prop to trick the update –*and would this cause any problems?
Change my Nexus 6 to LMY48T some other official way?

1 - I wouldn't.
2 - Yes, by flashing a factory image, but in that case you might as well just move straight to Marshmallow. If you don't want to wipe your phone, just skip flashing the userdata image.
(There's a bunch of guides for this, search or check the stickies.)

1. Even if it did download an update, it wouldn't do anything but cause problems for you as the file verification would fail.
2. Why don't you just download the official factory image for Marshmallow and flash it via fastboot?

imnuts said:
1. Even if it did download an update, it wouldn't do anything but cause problems for you as the file verification would fail.
2. Why don't you just download the official factory image for Marshmallow and flash it via fastboot?
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Click to collapse
im on cm12.1 can i just flash the factory image using wugs toolkit?

Thanks, flashing all except userdata.img worked.
Thanks!
"Recordar es vivir"

reyscott1968 said:
im on cm12.1 can i just flash the factory image using wugs toolkit?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't take much to do it manually. Learn to do things without a toolkit and you'll be much better off.
Sent from my Nexus 6

imnuts said:
It doesn't take much to do it manually. Learn to do things without a toolkit and you'll be much better off.
Sent from my Nexus 6
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Click to collapse
adb and fastfoot will become your bestfriends:good:

WIll I get automatic OTAs after I install Magisk on the Oneplus 5t?

The 5T is currently on Nougat. It will get an Oreo OTA one day.
Will having Magisk installed prevent the OTA from being downloaded/installed automatically?
Will I have to download the OTA myself and flash it manually using ADB or a custom recovery?
Also will I have to download the full image or just the OTA?
Hope someone can answer this.
Thanks!

incognitonk said:
The 5T is currently on Nougat. It will get an Oreo OTA one day.
Will having Magisk installed prevent the OTA from being downloaded/installed automatically?
Will I have to download the OTA myself and flash it manually using ADB or a custom recovery?
Also will I have to download the full image or just the OTA?
Hope someone can answer this.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With magisk, you will be able to take/install an ota using your phone by at least restoring your boot.img.... You must have stock recovery of course, so you have to restore it if you have a custom one... I suggest disabling automatic update, it will notify you anyway if you have one...
Sent from my MI 5 using Tapatalk

Okay thanks. Thats what I wanted to know.

It will detect if you have magisk installed, then it will download a full zip which you have to flash manually through TWRP just like a custom ROM. After that, just flash magisk again. (Assuming you still have TWRP installed).
Also what Didgeridoohan said.

Lossyx said:
It will detect if you have magisk installed, then it will download a full zip which you have to flash manually through your custom recovery. After that, just flash magisk again.
No need for restoring boot or recovery image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some prefers to take the ota which is a lot smaller than a full rom zip...
Sent from my MI 5 using Tapatalk

teddy0209 said:
Some prefers to take the ota which is a lot smaller than a full rom zip...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nevermind,

Lossyx said:
The system doesn't care, if you want OTA size you have to download from OnePlus website or somewhere in XDA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, you can add the OnePlus system update to the Hide list and it'll fool it into downloading the regular OTA.
Edit: of course, you can't install it without restoring stock boot image and recovery...

Lossyx said:
The system doesn't care, if you want OTA size you have to download from OnePlus website or somewhere in XDA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess you didn't get what I mean... We all know you can download an update from any source if available... The point is taking the ota directly on your device... I for example don't want to fail an ota because the system will then tell me to download a larger size/full rom to update my device... That's something some people wants to avoid to conserve some data...
Sent from my MI 5 using Tapatalk

teddy0209 said:
I guess you didn't get what I mean... We all know you can download an update from any source if available... The point is taking the ota directly on your device... I for example don't want to fail an ota because the system will then tell me to download a larger size/full rom to update my device... That's something some people wants to avoid to conserve some data...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, sorry! Should have read it more clear.