Hi All,
I have a non-developer edition AT&T Moto X and I'm thinking about going the route of a custom rom now that it's slowed down a bit since it was new. I've had 4 or 5 android phones in the past, and this is the first one that I have not rooted/modified. So, I suppose my question is, if I'm currently on 4.4.4 with my bootloader locked, will I hinder my ability to later root and flash a new rom if I take the upgrade to 5.1?
Thanks for the help!
Maximum Bob Lutz said:
Hi All,
I have a non-developer edition AT&T Moto X and I'm thinking about going the route of a custom rom now that it's slowed down a bit since it was new. I've had 4 or 5 android phones in the past, and this is the first one that I have not rooted/modified. So, I suppose my question is, if I'm currently on 4.4.4 with my bootloader locked, will I hinder my ability to later root and flash a new rom if I take the upgrade to 5.1?
Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are wondering if you can root or unlock your phone to use a custom ROM, I'm pretty sure for that device there isn't currently any way to root or unlock it, there may be some temporary root methods, but don't really know, but unlocking the bootloader would only be if a new exploit is found with Sunshine, or if the China middleman reappears, which is how I unlocked
Related
So i've had my moto x since october, and just recently got to use a rooted phone and i really want to root my moto x, im on AT&T and i know i cant unlock the bootloader, if i unlock it so i can use any sim card on it, could i root it then? Thank you to anyone that helps
Nope. Not full, real root. Doesn't matter what you do to the phone, if you're on the 4.4.2 or higher bootloader, you can not get write protection disabled. Root yes, with towel root and/or PIE (see dev sections for those)...but wrote protection will be enabled. So changes won't survive a power reset. And you can't write to the system.
And you can't safely downgrade from 4.4.2 or higher either.
HaiMyNamesTrent said:
So i've had my moto x since october, and just recently got to use a rooted phone and i really want to root my moto x, im on AT&T and i know i cant unlock the bootloader, if i unlock it so i can use any sim card on it, could i root it then? Thank you to anyone that helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SIM unlocking allows you to use the SIM from another carrier in your phone.. i.e. use a T-Mobile sim in an ATT branded X. That process does require you to have a different carrier's sim so the phone will prompt you to enter the unlock code. SIM unlock codes are available from many places around the web. It has no impact on rooting.
Bootloader unlocking allows you to flash a custom recovery, 3rd party roms, etc. By virtue of being able to flash a custom recovery you can easily root your phone. There are only two places you can get a bootloader unlock code for the X... Either Motorola's web site (for many, but not ALL carriers) or the Chinese Website or Middleman (only way if Moto doesn't supply)
As @KJ has said, with a locked bootloader and 4.4.2 on your phone, you are limited. PIE to root, but can't disable write protection.
and dispite any thread you might see about downgrading to gain root and disable write protection.. DO NOT!!! you will risk bricking your phone if you have 4.4.3 or 4.4.2 on your phone and attempt to downgrade.
I'm on the Verizon network and I want to purchase the Motorola Moto X and put cyanogenmod on it. I read that I have to have the developer edition of the phone in order to do this. I was thinking of purchasing it from this ebay vendor...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorola-XT...55120?pt=Cell_Phones&var=&hash=item5d507be410
This is my first time purchasing a phone on ebay so I wanted to make sure I am getting the correct phone. I guess my question(s) would be...
Can I install cyanogenmod on this phone? Is this the developer edition phone?
Thanks.
You should be able to install custom ROMs, including CM, with a little effort. This does not appear to be a dev phone. However, all you need is the ability to unlock the bootloader in order do the things necessary to flash custom ROMs. In terms of flashing ROMs, the only difference between a dev phone and an unlocked regular phone is the dev phone will still have an intact warranty. Since this device supposedly comes with 4.2.2, you should be able to run sunshine from the rootninja to unlock the bootloader for $25 (I think it's 25).
You sound like a fairly new flasher. In that case, you need to read read read. Forums, tutorials, every sticky in the Moto X forum, fastboot/adb tutorials, read read read. There are smart people (I am not one of those people) here who will help you but you will save yourself a lot of time and frustration if you educate yourself first. Best of luck my friend and happy flashing.
P.S. always remember to nandroid.
Like cntryby429 said IF it does indeed come with Android version 4.2.2 than you should be able to unlock with sunshine and flash away. I would definitely double check with the seller first though and make sure that is what is actually on the phone.
You'll possibly be disappointed when you use any rom other than stock based ones. No unique moto features on them.... And certain so far unfixed bugs.
Stock and gravity box seems to be the popular choice. If your bootloader is unlocked and you're rooted.
If by chance you get a 4.4.4 device.... You won't be able to Root or pay even to unlock.... As of today.
Good luck!
Thanks for the help guys.
@KJ
What moto features are you referring to? As a former Droid X user I can say that I'm flashing cyanogenmod to get rid of moto features/bloatware. The seller said that the phone was on 4.2.2, so I don't think that 4.4.4 will be a problem for me. Also, I was also under the assumption that cyanogenmod gave me root by default. Has that changed?
droid2501 said:
Thanks for the help guys.
@KJ
What moto features are you referring to? As a former Droid X user I can say that I'm flashing cyanogenmod to get rid of moto features/bloatware. The seller said that the phone was on 4.2.2, so I don't think that 4.4.4 will be a problem for me. Also, I was also under the assumption that cyanogenmod gave me root by default. Has that changed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you unlock your bootloader, which you would have to to flash any rom.... Rooting is simple. Unlock. Flash custom recovery. Flash SU binaries, tho I think twrp and the others do this.... Then install SU. Done.
Active display and touchless control are only on stock and stock based roms. That's why most stay stock and use Gravity box to customize.
And maybe it's changed, but last I knew... Aosp/cm roms have sound or speaker issues. That's the big issue.
Debloating what you don't want is as simple as freezing the apps with titanium backup. ?
Just my 2 cents. To each their own of course.
CM or any custom ROM will have root built in. But you have to be unlocked and rooted with custom recovery before you can flash. Moto x features KJ was referring to would be active display, touch less control, and assist. Any AOSP, or CM based ROM will not have these features. I have flashed about every ROM available for our device and always return to stock. Xposed modules will allow you to customize your phone while running stock firmware. And if you want to remove bloat, just being rooted will allow that.
droid2501 said:
I'm on the Verizon network and I want to purchase the Motorola Moto X and put cyanogenmod on it. I read that I have to have the developer edition of the phone in order to do this. I was thinking of purchasing it from this ebay vendor...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorola-XT...55120?pt=Cell_Phones&var=&hash=item5d507be410
This is my first time purchasing a phone on ebay so I wanted to make sure I am getting the correct phone. I guess my question(s) would be...
Can I install cyanogenmod on this phone? Is this the developer edition phone?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off that listing of specs looks like a copy/paste of the default Moto X feature set when it shipped. I would question that it really still has 4.2.2 rom on there, especially since it says "seller refurbished." 4.2.2 was the initial version the X shipped with, and the first OTA update. Since then, 4.4, 4.4.2 and 4.4.4 have been pushed too it.
It does not appear to be a Developer Edition of the XT1060, but rather a regular retail or Moto Maker version.
To flash any rom besides the Stock and signed by Moto roms for the Verizon XT1060 onto the phone, you need to Unlock the Bootloader.
As @kwyrt mentioned, Sunshine can be used to unlock the bootloader if the XT1060 is on 4.4.2 or lower (and its bootloader is for 4.4.2 or lower). As @KJ said, if you have 4.4.4 you can't bootloader unlock. That is because Sunshine doesn't work 4.4.4, Moto doesn't give out the unlock codes for the Non-Developer Edition XT1060, and the China Middleman (who was selling codes) isn't responding.
So it all comes down to how accurate that listing is. Does it really have 4.2.2? or did they upgrade it when "refurbishing" it but used a copy/paste of an old "spec sheet"?
And of course, if it was a true developer edition, you could just get the bootloader unlock code from Moto's web site and be done with it.
Hi, after some months playing (and loving) my Moto X, I decided it's time to start flashing roms and messing around with it. I used to do this a lot on my Xperia phones, since it was simple. However, Motorola's phones are kind of hard to even root, so for the first time ever, I find myself in the need of unlocking the bootloader because my career will most likely ignore the 5.0 update for the Moto X.
I'm currently using a Xt1058 with 4.4.2. The update for 4.4.4 was just released TODAY, but I'm afraid I won't be able to unlock the bootloader if I update it. So I was wondering if it's possible to unlock the bootloader on 4.4.2 and then flash a 4.4.2/3 ROM from either T-Mobile or generic Brazil (since I heard those update quickly) in order to ensure my update to 5.0. So here are my questions:
1) Is it possible to unlock the BL with my current settings?
2) Is it simple? I've never unocked a BL before.
3) Is it easy (and possible) to flash ROMs from other careers? Will I need to manually install Lollipop if I do that, or will I just get an OTA update?
4) Will I lose all my data?
5) If I mess something up during the process, can it get fixed?
6) Can I unlock bootloader on 4.4.4 and just update my phone via OTA?
1. Sunshine. Google it.
2. Possibly since you never have before
3. Not worth it for your reasons
4. Yes
5. Maybe
6. No
Hello everybody. I'm looking to re-root my moto x. I currently have a Sprint Moto X running Android 4.4.4 Kit Kat. I have my boot loader unlocked and I have prior experience to rooting. I've been looking for a while now and I can't find a thread showing a 4.4.4 root method. Any links or guides would be highly appreciated. Thanks!
If you are bootloader unlocked just flash a recovery in fastboot and then flash the current SU zip from chainfire's website.
Thank you sir. Much appreciated. Didn't know if it was like the old jellybean method but apparently it is. Thanks for the advice
Yep, no problem. It's the same no matter what version you are on.
jonny5449 said:
Thank you sir. Much appreciated. Didn't know if it was like the old jellybean method but apparently it is. Thanks for the advice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were you able to get this done? I'm thinking about updating to 4.4.4 but want to have root as well. I'm on the Dev Edition for Verizon.
royrkaup said:
Were you able to get this done? I'm thinking about updating to 4.4.4 but want to have root as well. I'm on the Dev Edition for Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With a VZW Dev X, just get the bootloader unlock from Moto's site, use it to unlock the bootloader, and you can always root.
Heck, since moto gives out the bootloader for your phone, you could even update, then get/use the unlock code, and root at any time.
Hi All,
I currently have an XT1053 on Lycamobile (T-Mobile MVNO). I rooted it when I got it, have a custom recovery, ROM, xposed framework, XPrivacy, titanium backup. It's been 1.5 years so I'm rusty on how I did it before.
I'd like to move to Verizon pre-paid so I'm looking to buy a used phone. I want to end up with the same capabilities - root, custom ROM, etc.
I'm thinking I should get a Dev edition Verizon Moto-X so that I can get the unlock code from Motorola. In order to reduce chances of issues/bricking, is there are particular version of Android the phone should already have? Anything else I should be looking for?
Thanks,
Mark
From what I have been able to find by looking at a bunch of threads, it looks like I need to look for a Developer phone with Android 4.4.2.
What else am I maybe missing?
Thanks,
Mark
For the Dev Edition it doesn't matter what version you're on, you can root no matter what.
markd89 said:
From what I have been able to find by looking at a bunch of threads, it looks like I need to look for a Developer phone with Android 4.4.2.
What else am I maybe missing?
Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only reason you would need 4.4.2 for easy unlocking is if you were on a non-developer edition phone and were using Sunshine. Dev editions can be unlocked, flashed, and rooted quite easily. Non-developer editions though, you want to be on an earlier release of Android, although there is a root method for 4.4.4 now, so you may still be able to unlock the bootloader.
markd89 said:
....I'd like to move to Verizon pre-paid so I'm looking to buy a used phone. I want to end up with the same capabilities - root, custom ROM, etc.
I'm thinking I should get a Dev edition Verizon Moto-X so that I can get the unlock code from Motorola. In order to reduce chances of issues/bricking, is there are particular version of Android the phone should already have? Anything else I should be looking for?
Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocking the bootloader is needed to run a custom rom, custom recovery, etc. and to ensure the ability to root no matter what ROM is on your phone.
Stick with a Developer Edition XT11060 for Verizon. You can get the bootloader unlock code directly from Motorola, for free.
If you get a RETAIL or Moto Maker variant, so long as the phone was never updated to 4.4.4 or higher, you can use Sunshine to unlock its bootloader. BUT Sunshine relies on exploiting a vulnerability to unlock the bootloader. There has been some question on if the vulnerability will be patched in Lollipop and could that pose any issues for those who used Sunshine to unlock. Will it re-lock them or will the unlocked status survive, etc? I have not seen a definitive answer.
While there is a ROOT method for a certain 4.4.4 build for non-Dev Verizon XT1060, that wont allow you to flash a custom rom or recovery, and it doesn't turn off write protection so there are some limits.
Thanks Gents, very helpful.
Is there any downside to getting a Moto X Developer that is already rooted? I'd still be able to contact Motorola for the unlock if I needed it again, right?
Thanks,
Mark
Thanks for bringing this up OP. I have a Verizon Note 4 and quite frankly I'm tired of the size and it's the longest I've been without root. Not to mention the lag with the TouchWiz lollipop build is driving me crazy. I now want a smaller (sorry Nexus 6) bootloader unlocked rootable android phone. After getting a pre-paid moto g to play around with I'm digging the smaller size and the resolution is more than acceptable. The Moto G should be even better.
I initially looked at the 2014 X but Verizon never released a developer model. My only hesitation to the 2013 is Android M. Is that coming to the 2013 X? And do people here have experience buying refurbished 2013 developer Xs from ebay. Pretty cheap around $110 to $150.
markd89 said:
Is there any downside to getting a Moto X Developer that is already rooted? I'd still be able to contact Motorola for the unlock if I needed it again, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To clarify - if I get phone that's already unlocked because the previous owner got the code from Motorola, would I be able to contact Motorola in the future for the unlock code if I needed to re-unlock the phone or do they only give that out once?
Thanks much,
Mark
markd89 said:
To clarify - if I get phone that's already unlocked because the previous owner got the code from Motorola, would I be able to contact Motorola in the future for the unlock code if I needed to re-unlock the phone or do they only give that out once?
Thanks much,
Mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Developer editions come SIM Unlocked to begin with.
Saythis said:
Developer editions come SIM Unlocked to begin with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I was under the impression that they come bootloader locked so that I would need an unlock to achieve root. Am I mistaken?
markd89 said:
To clarify - if I get phone that's already unlocked because the previous owner got the code from Motorola, would I be able to contact Motorola in the future for the unlock code if I needed to re-unlock the phone or do they only give that out once?
Thanks much,
Mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
markd89 said:
OK, I was under the impression that they come bootloader locked so that I would need an unlock to achieve root. Am I mistaken?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People often get SIM unlocked (aka carrier unlocked) confused with bootloader unlocked when someone just says "unlocked"
The Verizon XT1060, Developer Edition or Retail/Moto Maker are SIM Unlocked (aka carrier unlocked) out of the box due to FCC 700 C-Block rules.
All 2013 X's ship as bootloader locked. The ATT XT1058, Republic Wireless XT1049 and Verizon Retail/Moto Maker XT1060 editions can not get the bootloader unlock code from Moto. The rest, including the Developer Edition XT1060 for Verizon, CAN.
Once bootloader unlocked using the code from Moto, the phone will stay that way unless you re-lock it. However, keep in mind there are 3 states of the 2013 X bootloader Locked Status 0 (as it ships from factory), Unlocked Status 3 (after you unlock via the code), and LOCKED Status 2 (aka relocked). We as users can not toggle it back to Status 0. Because we can't get back to Status 0, there is no real reason to try and relock. The "bootloader unlocked" warning message shows when status is NOT 0. *IF* you buy a used XT1060 Dev Edition where the previous owner as re-locked the bootloader, you will need the code to unlock it. The codes are unique to each phone.
I have no experience requesting the bootloader unlock code from moto for a USED phone, so I can't be of any help answering that question.
I purchased a used xt1060 dev that the previous owner had relocked the bootloader....not sure why. I was able to get a unlock code from Motorola no problem.
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
Thanks, all!
I have my used Dev Moto X Verizon on order and look forward to the XDA fun when I get it