Database Develop

Receiving a New Moto X - How can I keep it from updating so that I can root?

So I'm getting a new moto x dev edition (gsm) today and I want to know if it's possible to keep it from doing the OTA update so that I can root with PwnMyMoto and avoid voiding my warranty.
Can I boot the phone up with no SIM and no wifi connection, and then use "adb push" to get the PwnMyMoto packages onto the phone?
Thanks!

glitch003 said:
So I'm getting a new moto x dev edition (gsm) today and I want to know if it's possible to keep it from doing the OTA update so that I can root with PwnMyMoto and avoid voiding my warranty.
Can I boot the phone up with no SIM and no wifi connection, and then use "adb push" to get the PwnMyMoto packages onto the phone?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just don't accept the OTA update or postpone it to later. No big deal

rmead01 said:
Just don't accept the OTA update or postpone it to later. No big deal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the update won't install automatically? I'm concerned because I never clicked "update" on my old moto x dev edition (returned due to dust under camera lens), yet it was on system version 139.12.57 and JCase said "Any System Version newer than and including 139.12.54 will not be compatible with this exploit."
So does that mean they're shipping with 139.12.57 now and my only choice is to void my warranty to unlock the bootloader and use TWRP to root?

If you are getting the Dev Edition, you are out of luck. It is already updated. You will need to unlock the bootloader (void your warranty) and install SuperSU through custom recovery. Mine, opened two days ago, had 139.12.57 out of the box.

Ok, that confirms my fears. Thanks for setting the record straight.
Sent from my XT1053 now Free

glitch003 said:
Ok, that confirms my fears. Thanks for setting the record straight.
Sent from my XT1053 now Free
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Click to collapse
But you have a dev edition so it doesn't matter bc you can always unlock and root. Plus p3droid has already shown on Google+ how to relock the bootloader

That is true but with the condition that I lose my warranty. Which is something I would really rather avoid for a $700 device (with tax).
Relocking the bootloader doesn't help because Motorola voids the warranty when you request the unlock code
I guess I'll order parts from ifixit if I ever have any hardware issues and just repair them myself....
Sent from my XT1053 now Free

I'm planning on unlocking/rooting when I order my dev edition next week and buying a SquareTrade warranty. They are around $100/2 years with a $99 deductible but they cover everything except theft/loss. Plus if you sell your phone before the two years is finished the return the cash of the unused months, or you have the option to pay monthly for the warranty(works out to be more $ though).
glitch003 said:
That is true but with the condition that I lose my warranty. Which is something I would really rather avoid for a $700 device (with tax).
Relocking the bootloader doesn't help because Motorola voids the warranty when you request the unlock code
I guess I'll order parts from ifixit if I ever have any hardware issues and just repair them myself....
Sent from my XT1053 now Free
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Click to collapse

Rooting for dummies

I need help and that's an understatement. It comes down to this... I'm super confused as what I need to do to flashing a custom recovery and ROM. I'm on a Sprint Moto X running 4.4.
Someone just tell me what to do if you can. This downgrading and what not is confusing me when I see people saying not to worry about it.
Thanks in advance.
Sent from my XT1056 using Tapatalk

Since the downgrading and what not is confusing you, I'm not sure what you know and what you don't so let me start at the beginning...
When you purchase the Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and other carrier editions, they come with their bootloaders locked. You can only flash/install roms and parts of ROMs which are signed by Motorola. This means you have to use some tricks and exploits to root your phone and disable the phone's Write Protection. This is why you see the SlapMyMoto, and MotoWPNoMo, and the like. These processes involve downgrading the rom on your phone so you can take advantage of "flaws" which are present in the older rom and exploited to gain root and disable write protection.
With ROM updates, Motorola can/will close the holes and flaws, meaning new exploits are needed to gain root and such. With 4.4.2, Moto closed the loop hole that allowed downgrading the ROM version on your phone, so you can't use the older tricks to gain root and disable write protection. So if you have 4.4.2 on your X, you are stuck.
If you purchased a developer edition, you can unlock your bootloader, and do so without voiding your phone's warranty. This allows you to flash things/roms/parts that are not signed by Motorola. You can flash a custom recovery for example. Unlocking the bootloader also disables the Write Protection. So you can easily root by flashing a custom recovery, booting to it, and installing SuperSU to root. And you can even flash a custom rom if you want, and if there is one available for your X. This works no matter what ROM version you flash. (this still works for 4.4.2)
Thankfully, some carriers allow you to unlock your Non-Developer Edition X's bootloader. Sprint and T-Mobile allow this. However some, like Verizon and ATT do not. Motorola has a web site setup where you can request the unlock code for your phone. However if your carrier allows this, and you have a Non-Developer edition phone, your warranty is voided when you Accept the terms and REQUEST the code. BUT this does give you the exact same flexibilty to root and disable write protection as a Developer Edition does, just with a voided warranty.
So when you read these threads, there will be info for LOCKED Bootloader and UNLOCKED bootloader.
Ok, that being said.. Since you have a Sprint X, if you are ok voiding your warranty, the best thing to do is get the unlock code from Moto's web site, unlock your bootloader, and use the Root Process for developer edition Moto X. (there is a thread for it) If you already have 4.4.2 on your phone, this is the only way to root and disable write protection.
If you do not want to void your warranty & unlock your bootloader, then you have no choice but to follow the SlapMyMoto thread to root. it does involve downgrading your rom,etc. BUT do not even think about taking the 4.4.2 update if you want to keep root and write protection disabled. And this doesn't work if you already have 4.4.2 on your phone.

Jon.StatiK said:
I need help and that's an understatement. It comes down to this... I'm super confused as what I need to do to flashing a custom recovery and ROM. I'm on a Sprint Moto X running 4.4.
Someone just tell me what to do if you can. This downgrading and what not is confusing me when I see people saying not to worry about it.
Thanks in advance.
Sent from my XT1056 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Sprint model has an unlockable bootloader so you wont need to follow the SpapMyMoto steps. That's only for those with a locked bootloader (although you could do it if you really wanted to).
I unlocked my US Cellular Moto X which is pretty much the exact same thing but without the same model number. So this is what I did:
Unlock the boatloader through the Motorola unlock program. This voids your warranty though.
Flash twrp
Flash supersu
And now your rooted!
Now that you've flashed a custom recovery, the only thing left to do on your list is flash the rom you want.
NOTE: This will only work of you have an unlockable boatloader in which case - you do. If you are able to request an unlock code through the program then just follow those steps and you'll be sweet. Just make sure you copy the code into a word document then remove the spaces first. I made the error of leaving the spaces in there and wondered why I couldn't request a code. Also the request button is at the very bottom of the page so just scroll to the bottom to find it once you input the code. A message will pop up if you forgot to remove the spaces.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app

If I unlock the bootloader and go that route I'm open to flash any ROM I want right?
Sent from my XT1056 using Tapatalk

Right. Thanks for the help!
Sent from my XT1056 using Tapatalk

KidJoe said:
Since the downgrading and what not is confusing you, I'm not sure what you know and what you don't so let me start at the beginning...
When you purchase the Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and other carrier editions, they come with their bootloaders locked. You can only flash/install roms and parts of ROMs which are signed by Motorola. This means you have to use some tricks and exploits to root your phone and disable the phone's Write Protection. This is why you see the SlapMyMoto, and MotoWPNoMo, and the like. These processes involve downgrading the rom on your phone so you can take advantage of "flaws" which are present in the older rom and exploited to gain root and disable write protection.
With ROM updates, Motorola can/will close the holes and flaws, meaning new exploits are needed to gain root and such. With 4.4.2, Moto closed the loop hole that allowed downgrading the ROM version on your phone, so you can't use the older tricks to gain root and disable write protection. So if you have 4.4.2 on your X, you are stuck.
If you purchased a developer edition, you can unlock your bootloader, and do so without voiding your phone's warranty. This allows you to flash things/roms/parts that are not signed by Motorola. You can flash a custom recovery for example. Unlocking the bootloader also disables the Write Protection. So you can easily root by flashing a custom recovery, booting to it, and installing SuperSU to root. And you can even flash a custom rom if you want, and if there is one available for your X. This works no matter what ROM version you flash. (this still works for 4.4.2)
Thankfully, some carriers allow you to unlock your Non-Developer Edition X's bootloader. Sprint and T-Mobile allow this. However some, like Verizon and ATT do not. Motorola has a web site setup where you can request the unlock code for your phone. However if your carrier allows this, and you have a Non-Developer edition phone, your warranty is voided when you Accept the terms and REQUEST the code. BUT this does give you the exact same flexibilty to root and disable write protection as a Developer Edition does, just with a voided warranty.
So when you read these threads, there will be info for LOCKED Bootloader and UNLOCKED bootloader.
Ok, that being said.. Since you have a Sprint X, if you are ok voiding your warranty, the best thing to do is get the unlock code from Moto's web site, unlock your bootloader, and use the Root Process for developer edition Moto X. (there is a thread for it) If you already have 4.4.2 on your phone, this is the only way to root and disable write protection.
If you do not want to void your warranty & unlock your bootloader, then you have no choice but to follow the SlapMyMoto thread to root. it does involve downgrading your rom,etc. BUT do not even think about taking the 4.4.2 update if you want to keep root and write protection disabled. And this doesn't work if you already have 4.4.2 on your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gotta say @kid Joe this is an awesome explanation. I'm on the fence about voiding my warranty never have I seen such a detailed explanation without any animosity or being rude. I love Xda.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk

r_diaz13 said:
I gotta say @kid Joe this is an awesome explanation. I'm on the fence about voiding my warranty never have I seen such a detailed explanation without any animosity or being rude. I love Xda.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Agree completely. I was about to comment the same. Great response.

No bootloader unlock yet?

besides the chinese connection which may or may not be working , I dont need the spam nor do I need links having access to PP accounts . I guess my Moto X will continue to be a paperweight , My Note OG will continue to be my DD , since it has never failed me . Too bad Android is going the way of the proprietory scams (apple,windows ) and I dont blame the Devs like some people in here , , ya gotta figure if Microsoft, Google, Apple or HP ,Oracle see's what these guys are doing and says "I want that kid " , "yore hred kid , but you cant release anymore code to the public, trust me you'll be compensated well" , why wouldnt they take that offer ?
Just wish there was something else we could do ?

Get the Dev Edition
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

It's AT&T that refuses to allow Motorola to unlock their model ...

I've seen nothing but happy customers from the Chinese code seller...the phones he could unlock anyway.
So a bit of spam, or an unlocked bootloader..... Seems most go for the unlock.
As said, dev edition is your only other choice. Sell the one you have and you'll be most of the way to the DE cost.

I don't know of anyone on here who has gotten any spam using the PayPal method with the Chinese guy. If you don't have an unlockable version or a dev version, it will likely be the only possibility ever. Motorola have locked these things down tight.

Vintage144 said:
I guess my Moto X will continue to be a paperweight
<snip>
Just wish there was something else we could do ?
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Click to collapse
Well, you could start by buying phones that actually suit your needs. Some versions of the X were bootloader-locked. This was known from the outset. So whose fault is it that you own a "paperweight"? It's not the developers, or Google, or Microsoft, or anyone else.
You could have bought a dev edition. You could have bought from a carrier who allowed unlocking. You could have skipped the X altogether... so, why?
I'd like it if Big Red offered more unlockable phones, but I go into any phone purchase with eyes wide open. I decided the Moto X suited my needs even bootloader-locked. So you won't hear any complaints from me: it's my own fault if I don't like it. I don't hear a lot of Ford F350 owners complaining about their gas mileage, and there aren't a lot of Prius drivers that think their car is a paperweight because it can't haul a boat.

Vintage144 said:
I dont need the spam nor do I need links having access to PP accounts
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Click to collapse
I used the Chinese PayPal method and haven't received any spam what so ever, only a single email with my code. Would highly recommend that option to anyone.

wasnt referring to spam from the chinese guy and that would be the option Id take , as for the paperweight , should have stayed with stuff I know like Samsung and HTC anyway , theyve never let me down , there isnt some are some arent!

No disrespect intended.....but you didn't like the X three months ago even, why haven't you just sold it????
Just curious.

I used the chinese MM method. Sent the payment via paypal as instructed and received the code less than 24 hrs later.
Unlocked BL, rooted phone, and installed GravityBox today. Noticed literally no extra lag so far and the increase in functionality, customization, and my satisfaction of the phone has increased exponentially.
If you're worried about spam, can't you just make a temporary email account?

jamesino said:
I used the chinese MM method. Sent the payment via paypal as instructed and received the code less than 24 hrs later.
Unlocked BL, rooted phone, and installed GravityBox today. Noticed literally no extra lag so far and the increase in functionality, customization, and my satisfaction of the phone has increased exponentially.
If you're worried about spam, can't you just make a temporary email account?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where can I find that Chinese mm method?

androiddoglover6969 said:
Where can I find that Chinese mm method?
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Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/china-middleman-t2751177
Only generally works with phone made in 2014 though. Check the lower right corner of the sticker on your box for the manufacture date.

jamesino said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/china-middleman-t2751177
Only generally works with phone made in 2014 though. Check the lower right corner of the sticker on your box for the manufacture date.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Semi off topic:
If I rooted my phone to 4.4.2. and I have a bootloader locked, doing a factory reset will entitle me to keep my root? Or will I lose it?
And what if I do a factory reset on my rooted moto x on 4.4.2 when my bootloader is unlocked. Will I be able to keep my root when doing factory reset? I am trying to get rid of this "com.motorola.process.system" because I've tried wiping cache and dalvik and safemode and date and time method doesn't work.

androiddoglover6969 said:
Semi off topic:
If I rooted my phone to 4.4.2. and I have a bootloader locked, doing a factory reset will entitle me to keep my root? Or will I lose it?
And what if I do a factory reset on my rooted moto x on 4.4.2 when my bootloader is unlocked. Will I be able to keep my root when doing factory reset? I am trying to get rid of this "com.motorola.process.system" because I've tried wiping cache and dalvik and safemode and date and time method doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See my reply to this same question you asked in another thread. You're out-of-luck.
Please follow my instructions in the other thread. You'll have to re-flash the stock 4.4.2 rom, and you will NOT be getting root back without BL unlock.
Sorry...its posted all over this forum that you cannot take the 4.4.2 OTA - it patches the BL exploits we used.

samwathegreat said:
See my reply to this same question you asked in another thread. You're out-of-luck.
Please follow my instructions in the other thread. You'll have to re-flash the stock 4.4.2 rom, and you will NOT be getting root back without BL unlock.
Sorry...its posted all over this forum that you cannot take the 4.4.2 OTA - it patches the BL exploits we used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't take the 4.4.2 OTA...
---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 AM ----------
samwathegreat said:
See my reply to this same question you asked in another thread. You're out-of-luck.
Please follow my instructions in the other thread. You'll have to re-flash the stock 4.4.2 rom, and you will NOT be getting root back without BL unlock.
Sorry...its posted all over this forum that you cannot take the 4.4.2 OTA - it patches the BL exploits we used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright. Just bought the unlock bootloader service.

If you want a bootloader unlock for AT&T Moto X, you could just get the Rogers Moto X.
They are both XT1058 and the Rogers one is bootloader unlockable on the Motorola website. I unlocked 3 there myself.

scorpion667 said:
If you want a bootloader unlock for AT&T Moto X, you could just get the Rogers Moto X.
They are both XT1058 and the Rogers one is bootloader unlockable on the Motorola website. I unlocked 3 there myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good call, but hopefully that'll be useful for those with that 1058 model. I am on XT1049.

scorpion667 said:
If you want a bootloader unlock for AT&T Moto X, you could just get the Rogers Moto X.
They are both XT1058 and the Rogers one is bootloader unlockable on the Motorola website. I unlocked 3 there myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I have. Unlocked on moto site.

[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.
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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.
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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.