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Trying to root Sprint Moto x 4.4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recovery issues

So Im at a total loss on this phone. I had a moto e unlocked that everything worked fine on and Im not totally new to working on phones. But this phone has me stumped. I have a unlocked XT1095, that is rooted. I tried to install TWRP on it, I can flash the .img file okay but everytime I reboot the phone to go into the recovery menu option, the phone just goes black and shuts off. I can't get into the recovery at all or any of the other fastboot options. My specs are as follows, Moto X 2nd gen, 5.1, system version is 23.16.3.victara_tmo.tmo.en.US tmo build number, LPE23.32-21.3

Don't reboot the phone after you flash TWRP. Select recovery from fastboot as soon as you flash it.
Sent from my XT1095 using Tapatalk

AGISCI said:
Don't reboot the phone after you flash TWRP. Select recovery from fastboot as soon as you flash it.
Sent from my XT1095 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tried that today and it still shuts the phone off. The other odd thing is I tried to do this OTA update that was only a few MB. Once I tried that, it booted into TWRP just fine but into a boot loop. I had to delete the cached update file in order to get it to boot up properly.

XT1060 Custom Recoveries do not work

I currently have PacMan rom 4.4.4 KitKat installed on my Moto X and when I went to update to a new rom I found that TWRP didn't work. I can boot into recovery mode, but the splash screen just displays and never actually enters the recovery. I have to hold the power button down until the phone reboots to get out of it. I currently have TWRP v2.8.7.0 installed. I tried some of the older versions of TWRP and none worked. I also tried updating to the unoffical TWRP 3.0.2 and that behaved the same. Lastly, I tried Philz CWM recovery v6.57.9. That loaded and I was able to navigate the menu but once I selected a option that performed a task, it would freeze. If anyone can help me out it'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks

frew415 said:
I currently have PacMan rom 4.4.4 KitKat installed on my Moto X and when I went to update to a new rom I found that TWRP didn't work. I can boot into recovery mode, but the splash screen just displays and never actually enters the recovery. I have to hold the power button down until the phone reboots to get out of it. I currently have TWRP v2.8.7.0 installed. I tried some of the older versions of TWRP and none worked. I also tried updating to the unoffical TWRP 3.0.2 and that behaved the same. Lastly, I tried Philz CWM recovery v6.57.9. That loaded and I was able to navigate the menu but once I selected a option that performed a task, it would freeze. If anyone can help me out it'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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Click to collapse
Had a similar problem on my XT1060 Dev Ed., lost all my data coz of it. Only method which worked was to flash a stock firmware via RSDlite or manually through mfastboot.
Try option 5 from here with complete data wipe.

Try to go to bootloader first and load it from there. Already saw this working some times.
Sent from my XT1052 using XDA Free mobile app

varunpilankar said:
Had a similar problem on my XT1060 Dev Ed., lost all my data coz of it. Only method which worked was to flash a stock firmware via RSDlite or manually through mfastboot.
Try option 5 from here with complete data wipe.
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Click to collapse
This worked perfectly, thanks.

[Solved][HELP] Flashng twrp recovery through adb and accessing stock recovery problem

Hey Guys,
I just decided to install Twrp 3.0.2-2 and root my XT1092,
I have been facing issue right after flashing twrp, i select Recovery option in bootloader. Which just shuts down my phone.
After that i try to access recovery by booting into fastboot mode which again gives me a shutdown.
Later i discovered i could access stock recovery when my device is booted into the official mm rom. "adb reboot recovery"
Please help me guys. I tried fxz'ing and retrying the whole process. with different methods to no avail.
i even tried just rooting by only booting recovery "fastboot boot recovery.img" which again gives me a blank screen.
Any help would be really appreciated.
Device Details:
Moto XT1092
VICTARA_RETEU_XT1092_6.0_MPE24.49-18_cid7_CFC.xml
Regards,
Uzayr

Uzayr said:
Hey Guys,
I just decided to install Twrp 3.0.2-2 and root my XT1092,
I have been facing issue right after flashing twrp, i select Recovery option in bootloader. Which just shuts down my phone.
After that i try to access recovery by booting into fastboot mode which again gives me a shutdown.
Later i discovered i could access stock recovery when my device is booted into the official mm rom. "adb reboot recovery"
Please help me guys. I tried fxz'ing and retrying the whole process. with different methods to no avail.
i even tried just rooting by only booting recovery "fastboot boot recovery.img" which again gives me a blank screen.
Any help would be really appreciated.
Device Details:
Moto XT1092
VICTARA_RETEU_XT1092_6.0_MPE24.49-18_cid7_CFC.xml
Regards,
Uzayr
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you put the phone in bootloader mode:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.0.2-2-victara.img
Then you use only the volume rocker to select recovery (not the power button).
If the phone boots into stock Android, TWRP will be overwritten with stock recovery (which is useless), in which case you'll have to repeat the above.

same issue
on Verizon. Bootloader unlocked with code from Moto. Trying to use Windroid to finish up twrp install and root. I got a message in bootloader about mismatched partition size. tried ADB commands and said it installed. still won't work. no idea what to do next. was thinking of relocking and starting over but I would rather not. any suggestions? Thanks!

I have tried that as well. Used the volume rocker buttons to select recovery. I end up with a blank screen.
Tried fastboot flash recovery.img and I even tried mfastboot flash recovery as well.
Device just doesn't go to recovery after flashed through fastboot and selecting recovery.

Uzayr said:
I have tried that as well. Used the volume rocker buttons to select recovery. I end up with a blank screen.
Tried fastboot flash recovery.img and I even tried mfastboot flash recovery as well.
Device just doesn't go to recovery after flashed through fastboot and selecting recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is your bootloader unlocked? Maybe you should try reflashing the full stock firmware, and trying again.
https://firmware.center/firmware/Motorola/Moto X (2nd gen-2014)/Stock/

Gus Ghanem said:
So you put the phone in bootloader mode:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.0.2-2-victara.img
Then you use only the volume rocker to select recovery (not the power button).
If the phone boots into stock Android, TWRP will be overwritten with stock recovery (which is useless), in which case you'll have to repeat the above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gus Ghanem said:
Is your bootloader unlocked? Maybe you should try reflashing the full stock firmware, and trying again.
https://firmware.center/firmware/Motorola/Moto X (2nd gen-2014)/Stock/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot mate,
I had gone back to stock again. Finished with the recovery process.
I have been using the power button to select the highlighted option :silly: my bad.
Thanks for stressing that out.

A Stock ROM and Bootloader that will leave bootloader unlocked?

As per another thread, I am having issues (bootloops at the android/moto logo screen) after replacing my Turbo screen. I am unlocked and rooted. I know this cause I was before I replaced the screen (used Sunshine) and had RR custom ROM installed. Still unlocked because I can get to the bootloader screen (Power + Vol Down) and it says "Phone is Unlocked. Status code: 3".
To try to at least get a booting phone: Is there ANY stock ROM and Bootloader that I can flash that will still keep my phone UNLOCKED? I don't want to re-lock it and then have it locked forever (which I think the latest stock updates does). I am thinking that if I can flash a stock bootloader and ROM, then I can reflash TWRP and custom ROM (and get rid of the bootloop).
I would assume that if I had put something together incorrectly then it wouldn't boot at all and I wouldn't be able to get to the bootloader screen.
Thanks for any info/advice.
P.S. I did try just reflashing TWRP but it still bootloops at the same point; and I can't get into recovery.

So, when you boot to bootloader (Phone off, then power and volume down button at the same time), and you then arrow up to "recovery" when you push the button to go there, what happens? Is TWRP not still installed or something? the only reason it wouldn't be installed is if you flashed stock firmware and wiped it out with stock recovery.
Use the hardware method
First of all, you have to turn off your phone.
Then, you need to press Volume Down button and hit power key.
Bootloader mode will be then displayed on your device.
From there, use volume up and down buttons in order to scroll up and down and power key to select.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
________
If your Droid Turbo bootloader is unlocked, flashing stock firmware with bootloader won't lock it. The newest firmware is to PREVENT the bootloader from being unlocked by Sunshine. It won't lock it back.
However, with stock Marshmallow you will have to re-root with older SuperSu beta for initial root. Flashing with newer SuperSu causes bootloops. After you have initial root then you can update to newer SuperSu.
But first tell me what happens when you try the hardware method of getting to recovery.
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---------- Post added at 12:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 PM ----------
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also you can force the phone to boot to TWRP, even if you don't have TWRP installed on the phone...
fastboot boot recovery.img
Where "recovery.img" is your TWRP file on you PC.
if you named it TWRP.img, then the command would be
fastboot boot TWRP.img
If you need to force the phone to go to the bootloader, the commad is
adb reboot bootloader
and then from there
fastboot boot recovery.img
(where "recovery" is whatever you have named the TWRP file.)
It's basically "temporary" TWRP. It doesn't install TWRP, but makes your phone boot to TWRP from your bootloader screen. It uses the TWRP file (whatever you have named it) from your PC folder. You then will boot into TWRP, can install stuff, make a backup, whatever you want to do. From TWRP, you can even install TWRP!
But you can reinstall your custom ROM, or you can restore a backup -- whatever you want to do from the "temporary" TWRP.
I used this a couple of years ago to use TWRP to make a backup of STOCK Kitkat image. I was booted into TWRP but TWRP was not installed on the phone. The phone was still pure stock, so I could easily make a backup image.
Then I rooted the phone! And made another backup image. It was rooted stock, still with no TWRP installed.
And then last I actually installed TWRP, was rooted and made a backup of that. And posted all those images for people to use. But a lot of people forget that you can BOOT TO TWRP even if TWRP is not installed on the phone. And that "temporary" TWRP (one session) will still allow you to do anything you want.
It's a useful trick to know!
Moto Maxx - Moto Turbo XT1225 factory images (Mexico | Puerto Rico | India | Brazil)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-maxx/development/moto-maxx-moto-turbo-xt1225-factory-t3078274