Database Develop

[Q] OTA 5.1 Update file location?

So I received a notification to download the 5.1 update this morning on my rooted Nexus 6. I proceeded to click download and then install.
However, due to that I had TeamWin recovery installed the update failed on reboot. (didn't even try to install)
Now when I click on "Check for updates" in About in System Settings menu. It says that there are no new updates??? Even though it failed to install.
Does anyone know where the update is stored on the device before installation? Maybe i need to remove it before it will try and update again? (now that i have flashed stock recovery)
Any help would be very appreciated.

You need to unroot too.
Ota can be downloaded online.

d1wepn said:
So I received a notification to download the 5.1 update this morning on my rooted Nexus 6. I proceeded to click download and then install.
However, due to that I had TeamWin recovery installed the update failed on reboot. (didn't even try to install)
Now when I click on "Check for updates" in About in System Settings menu. It says that there are no new updates??? Even though it failed to install.
Does anyone know where the update is stored on the device before installation? Maybe i need to remove it before it will try and update again? (now that i have flashed stock recovery)
Any help would be very appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you remove root, try pulling your Sim and rebooting. Let the phone sit, without Sim, and see if update reappears.

rootSU said:
You need to unroot too.
Ota can be downloaded online.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was hoping to use the factory OTA update method for a change. (Always manually update) But might just be easier.
Downloading OTA now. Thanks for the advice rootSU

Evolution_Freak said:
Once you remove root, try pulling your Sim and rebooting. Let the phone sit, without Sim, and see if update reappears.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might give this a try first. Worth a shot. Cheers mate.

OTA update downloads to system/cache folder ... It may get deleted soon after you try installing and restart the phone. You need rooted phone and a file explorer like es file explorer for accessing system folder.
Sent from android one lollypop 5.1
---------- Post added at 12:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 AM ----------
Check first whether you have it in your phone already. Rooted phone go to /cache folder you'll find something.Zip there.

Ok so i managed to get the phone to download the OTA again and attempted to install it again. This time with stock recovery.
Everything was looking good but it fails with "error" below the android logo.
Any ideas?

Sorry I can't help you. I don't want that AT&T 5.1 update. So I did what you did and hit install. It of course didn't. I use TWRP also. But the damn 5.1 update is back!
Tappin from my Nexus 6

Any reason you want the OTA? you can install the factory image from here and get the same result without mucking around...
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

Gage_Hero said:
Any reason you want the OTA? you can install the factory image from here and get the same result without mucking around...
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using a stock image will wipe the device each time. The posters question is even more valid now since Google's doing security patches every month.
I have the same issue & I wasn't able to find the .zip in /cache

Rocky1988 said:
Using a stock image will wipe the device each time. The posters question is even more valid now since Google's doing security patches every month.
I have the same issue & I wasn't able to find the .zip in /cache
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You only need to flash the system.img file within the Google image using fastboot.
After that, boot into TWRP and reflash SuperSU, XPosed, and anything else you've flashed that resides in /system.
Wipe caches and reboot. Easy, and no app or data loss.

Rocky1988 said:
Using a stock image will wipe the device each time. The posters question is even more valid now since Google's doing security patches every month.
I have the same issue & I wasn't able to find the .zip in /cache
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
um.. you are quite a bit late. this is an old thread, look at the dates. you responded to a question thats 6 month old.

liquidzoo said:
You only need to flash the system.img file within the Google image using fastboot.
After that, boot into TWRP and reflash SuperSU, XPosed, and anything else you've flashed that resides in /system.
Wipe caches and reboot. Easy, and no app or data loss.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except, to be more complete, it might be a good idea to flash everything except data and boot - that is, in case changes are made to radio or anything else, but if changes are done to boot and are required for system or kernel and you don't put stock boot, you're kinda screwed (you'd need a different version of twrp in this case and it probably won't be out).
My point, there really is no complete way to know if flashing just system is enough to get all the security updates unless you look at what the update replaces. That's why I'm looking for the ota.zip

Rocky1988 said:
Except, to be more complete, it might be a good idea to flash everything except data and boot - that is, in case changes are made to radio or anything else, but if changes are done to boot and are required for system or kernel and you don't put stock boot, you're kinda screwed (you'd need a different version of twrp in this case and it probably won't be out).
My point, there really is no complete way to know if flashing just system is enough to get all the security updates unless you look at what the update replaces. That's why I'm looking for the ota.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And thankfully Google put version numbers to the other files so takes about 15 seconds to realise you only need to flash system. If a change was made to radio you can still flash in exactly the same way as the system and not lose data...

Amos91 said:
And thankfully Google put version numbers to the other files so takes about 15 seconds to realise you only need to flash system. If a change was made to radio you can still flash in exactly the same way as the system and not lose data...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you check version numbers for the other files? This may be what I'm after!

Rocky1988 said:
Using a stock image will wipe the device each time. The posters question is even more valid now since Google's doing security patches every month.
I have the same issue & I wasn't able to find the .zip in /cache
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm unable to find the latest update in the /system folder (/system/cache doesn't exist on my device) or the /cache folder either.

/data/data/com.google.android.gms/app_download/update.zip

d1wepn said:
Ok so i managed to get the phone to download the OTA again and attempted to install it again. This time with stock recovery.
Everything was looking good but it fails with "error" below the android logo.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Flashify to install OTA updates instead.

At last i found it
I have clock work recovery installed on my phone. It refuses to update my OTA factory software update, i searched for it and installed it manually. It was in /data/data/com.tinno.systemupdate/files/googleota/0/update.zip

Note 8 T-Mob downgrade after update to Pie Beta

Hey All, any chance of getting a step by step to downgrade back to CRK1 or latest Oreo build. I attempted to do so, using the firmware from SamMobile, and it failed during the "Updating System" step with an "Error!" message at 32%. Odin had registered a pass. I installed the Ap, Bl, Cp, and the clean CSC. There was only 30ish percent of battery remaining if that would make a difference. I also had the December update installed when I updated to the DLR6 version.

pzzamakr1999 said:
Hey All, any chance of getting a step by step to downgrade back to CRK1 or latest Oreo build. I attempted to do so, using the firmware from SamMobile, and it failed during the "Updating System" step with an "Error!" message at 32%. Odin had registered a pass. I installed the Ap, Bl, Cp, and the clean CSC. There was only 30ish percent of battery remaining if that would make a difference. I also had the December update installed when I updated to the DLR6 version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
logs from odin? Or any error code or anything?

Nothing from Odin at all. Odin registered it as a Pass. And I'm unsure how I would pull logs from the phone. Once the "Error!" appears during update, the phone will enter a bootloop unless I hold down the power button to enter Recovery. I was able to successfully enter Recovery, reinstall the Pie Beta Update from my SD card, and the phone works fine again. However, I do use Samsung Pay, and I've noticed that service has suffered considerably, so I'd like to go back to Oreo for the moment.

pzzamakr1999 said:
Nothing from Odin at all. Odin registered it as a Pass. And I'm unsure how I would pull logs from the phone. Once the "Error!" appears during update, the phone will enter a bootloop unless I hold down the power button to enter Recovery. I was able to successfully enter Recovery, reinstall the Pie Beta Update from my SD card, and the phone works fine again. However, I do use Samsung Pay, and I've noticed that service has suffered considerably, so I'd like to go back to Oreo for the moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldnt be suprised if samsung locked going back same what they did with nougat/oreo . I cant help u, sry

pzzamakr1999 said:
Hey All, any chance of getting a step by step to downgrade back to CRK1 or latest Oreo build. I attempted to do so, using the firmware from SamMobile, and it failed during the "Updating System" step with an "Error!" message at 32%. Odin had registered a pass. I installed the Ap, Bl, Cp, and the clean CSC. There was only 30ish percent of battery remaining if that would make a difference. I also had the December update installed when I updated to the DLR6 version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which ODIN are you using? Make sure you're using the modded 3.13.1. Try this: Uncheck the auto-reboot option on ODIN. Flash the Oreo firmware and let it finish. Once it's done, manually reboot into recovery and perform a factory reset. Then boot into the OS.
ScaleneVirus288 said:
I wouldnt be suprised if samsung locked going back same what they did with nougat/oreo . I cant help u, sry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That only happens when they update the bootloader version. It has nothing to do with the OS version. The Pie leaks are still on the v5 bootloader.

Ok, I will give that a try. I will admit, I'm really enjoying Pie, and its user interface tweaks. I just may forego Samsung Pay and wait until Pie is out of Beta.
On that note, is there any way to install the old radio and use the Oreo radio rather than the one bundled with Pie, assuming that Pie has a new radio bundled. Because that is kinda the Beta killer.
And last comment, once Pie is out of Beta, what will I have to do to upgrade to the "Release" version. Will it be an Odin install, or should an OTA take care of it?

pzzamakr1999 said:
Ok, I will give that a try. I will admit, I'm really enjoying Pie, and its user interface tweaks. I just may forego Samsung Pay and wait until Pie is out of Beta.
On that note, is there any way to install the old radio and use the Oreo radio rather than the one bundled with Pie, assuming that Pie has a new radio bundled. Because that is kinda the Beta killer.
And last comment, once Pie is out of Beta, what will I have to do to upgrade to the "Release" version. Will it be an Odin install, or should an OTA take care of it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also check the USB port, use the older USB port this has happened to me or PC and see the phone is probably not compatible with newest USB port....
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

pzzamakr1999 said:
Ok, I will give that a try. I will admit, I'm really enjoying Pie, and its user interface tweaks. I just may forego Samsung Pay and wait until Pie is out of Beta.
On that note, is there any way to install the old radio and use the Oreo radio rather than the one bundled with Pie, assuming that Pie has a new radio bundled. Because that is kinda the Beta killer.
And last comment, once Pie is out of Beta, what will I have to do to upgrade to the "Release" version. Will it be an Odin install, or should an OTA take care of it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What issues are you having with Spay? It seems to work for everyone else, me included.
No, you can't flash a different radio.
Not sure yet what will be required when when the official drops. Won't know until it drops.

So the Pay app opens fine, and it authenticates the card without issue. It will also allow me to put my fingerprint in, and then have the countdown start. However, it doesn't seem to enable the mag spoofer or the nfc chip, and when put next to a mag reader or Pay system, nothing happens. The countdown will continue, and will restart if I ask it to. But again, the phone doesnt seem to do anything.

pzzamakr1999 said:
So the Pay app opens fine, and it authenticates the card without issue. It will also allow me to put my fingerprint in, and then have the countdown start. However, it doesn't seem to enable the mag spoofer or the nfc chip, and when put next to a mag reader or Pay system, nothing happens. The countdown will continue, and will restart if I ask it to. But again, the phone doesnt seem to do anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Weird. I'll have to try it. I thought it was working, but now I'm not sure. I use my Gear S3 so often to pay, now I'm not sure LOL.

Update on the effort to revert back to CRK1.
Used the modified Odin, and un-checked auto-reboot. Phone remained in Download mode.
I could not figure out a way to go from Download mode to recovery mode directly. If someone knows how to do this, it would be appreciated if you could let me know.
However, rather than the "Error!" message, I received a "Erasing" message. Than the phone rebooted, and just kept rebooting, going from T-Mobile splash screen to Samsung and back over and over, with some optimizing apps screens thrown in for good measure.
So I tried again with auto-reboot on, and this time received the "Error!" message, and was able to go into recovery once that happened.
The odd thing is, nothing on my phone was changed, other than having to redo the Samsung biometrics for security. All of my apps and accounts and emails were already there, undeleted.

One more update on the S-Pay. After reinstalling the Update.zip from my SD card in Recovery, iIt does seem like there may have been a change. It is now doing the vibrate thing, which I don't think it was doing before. I will put it to the test later this week.

Downgrade Successful
Performed Factory Reset from Phone menus. (not doing so kept resulting in an unauthorized factory reset prompt)
Performed Factory Reset from Recovery Menu.
Cleared Cache through Recovery Menu
Used Patched Odin
Kept Auto-Restart Checked
Used SamMobile CRK1
Phone restarted successfully.

pzzamakr1999 said:
Performed Factory Reset from Phone menus. (not doing so kept resulting in an unauthorized factory reset prompt)
Performed Factory Reset from Recovery Menu.
Cleared Cache through Recovery Menu
Used Patched Odin
Kept Auto-Restart Checked
Used SamMobile CRK1
Phone restarted successfully.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes! I'm sorry I thought I told you to try a factory reset. You have to factory reset when downgrading. Otherwise bootloop city. Sorry I wasn't more clear, I could've saved you some frustration.
---------- Post added at 11:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:17 AM ----------
I just went back and re-read my posts. I never said try a factroy reset first. Grrr...I'm so sorry!

Mr. Orange 645 said:
Yes! I'm sorry I thought I told you to try a factory reset. You have to factory reset when downgrading. Otherwise bootloop city. Sorry I wasn't more clear, I could've saved you some frustration.
---------- Post added at 11:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:17 AM ----------
I just went back and re-read my posts. I never said try a factroy reset first. Grrr...I'm so sorry!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries, and I did very much appreciate the help. I should have realized that that should come first. I was a bit frustrated and wasn't thinking logically. It was actually the "fixing apps" message you get when you upgrade that clued me in I wasn't properly resetting the phone prior to install.
Regardless, its all good, and now that I know how to do it, I'll be more inclined to try these out in the future.

Any specific reason for the downgrade? Anything not working?

Camera issues on pie beta
My ar emoji not working on this pie update and sometimes force closes any1 else having this issue

Fitted2 said:
My ar emoji not working on this pie update and sometimes force closes any1 else having this issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes

Mr. Orange 645 said:
Yes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You downgraded because no AR emoji? And what force closes are you having?

dami00976 said:
You downgraded because no AR emoji? And what force closes are you having?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never said I downgraded.

November update

https://developers.google.com/android/ota
I've update via adb.
Swiping via Soli seems much improved for me when using the music player.

What is the best way to do the OTA with Magisk root and custom kernel installed? It has been a very long time since I have rooted a phone and did any OTA.

ExcuseTheN00b said:
What is the best way to do the OTA with Magisk root and custom kernel installed? It has been a very long time since I have rooted a phone and did any OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I followed the below steps. This is assuming you are already rooted on October patch level and want to maintain root.
1) Downloaded the factory images for the Nov update (https://developers.google.com/android/images) to the PC.
2) Extracted the zip file (make sure to extract the zip file inside the first one. That zip contains the .img file which we will need in step 4 ).
3) Edited the flash_all.bat file to remove '-w' parameter so that the data is not wiped.
4) Copied the 'boot.img' to the phone and used magisk manager to patch the boot file (https://topjohnwu.github.io/Magisk/install.html#boot-image-patching).
Copied the patched 'magisk_patched.img' from the phone to the PC.
NOTE: I also disabled all magisk modules before the next steps. This is just to ensure that custom module don't mess up the update (have seen this with the Oneplus 7 PRO android 10 update when i had that device)
5) Reboot phone into bootloder and connect to PC
6) Flashed the update by running the flash_all.bat file (make sure to remove the '-w' parameter before flashing so that DATA is not wiped). I did run into issue where the vendor.img failed at flashing but a change of USB cable fixed that (I have seen this issue before. some cables just don't work in fastboot/adb).
7) Once the flashing completes the phone reboots and does some update after booting up.
8) Again reboot into bootloader. Flash the boot with the 'magisk_patched.img' that was copied in step 4.
Code:
fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img
I always flash it on both the a & b partitions by using below command.
Code:
fastboot flash boot_a magisk_patched.img
fastboot flash boot_b magisk_patched.img
9) Reboot the phone. At this point you have ROOT with Magisk and your custom kernel would be gone since stock/patched boot.img would have replaced it. You can re-flash your kernel (make sure the kernel has been updated for the November security update). Also at this point you can enable any modules that you may have disabled before the update.

I got november update now from ota..

Does anyone know why the Pixel 4 has 3 update files? Is there a specific version need for a specific carrier or something?
These are all Nov 2019 Factory/OTA update files for the Pixel 4.
QD1A.190821.007.A3
QD1A.190821.014
QD1A.190821.014.C2
---------- Post added at 09:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:21 AM ----------
meek2100 said:
Does anyone know why the Pixel 4 has 3 update files? Is there a specific version need for a specific carrier or something?
These are all Nov 2019 Factory/OTA update files for the Pixel 4.
QD1A.190821.007.A3
QD1A.190821.014
QD1A.190821.014.C2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I just found the answer here: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/18553639?hl=en
Pixel 4 (XL):
US (ATT & Verizon): QD1A.190821.014.C2
US (TMobile, Sprint, Google Fi) & UK carriers: QD1A.190821.014
All other carriers (AU/JP/CA/TW/US): QD1A.190821.007.A3

ExcuseTheN00b said:
What is the best way to do the OTA with Magisk root and custom kernel installed? It has been a very long time since I have rooted a phone and did any OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The post above (post #3) that says to use the factory image isn't wrong, but it isn't the easiest method either.
You can side-load the OTA image. You can do this on a phone with a locked or unlocked bootloader and you don't need to modify any files to prevent it from wiping the phone. It's just like the OTA update and will not wipe the phone.
You can find the files and directions directly from Google. https://developers.google.com/android/ota
Once the update is done, you will need to reroot the phone using the standard modified boot image method and then reflash your custom kernel (after making sure it has been updated to the latest OTA version). Just be aware that while the actual flashing time is much shorter than taking the OTA normally, it may have to optimize all of the apps during the initial boot. Unfortunately it doesn't give you any indication this is going on (unlike during a normal OTA update) and therefore people tend to get impatient and reboot during the initial boot. Don't do this. Just be patient and let the phone do it's thing. My phone took about 20 minutes to boot initially after side-loading the Nov update because I have a decent number of apps that it had to optimize.

Oops, nevermind. fixed

How do I get into bootloader mode? I can get into fastboot mode fine. But when I execute the command 'fastboot flashing unlock' the command prompt just shows waiting for device.

Spookymyo said:
How do I get into bootloader mode? I can get into fastboot mode fine. But when I execute the command 'fastboot flashing unlock' the command prompt just shows waiting for device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Instructions here
https://developers.google.com/android/ota

Anyone experiencing "improved camera quality" that was listed in the change log? What are we looking for specifically?

xxaarraa said:
Anyone experiencing "improved camera quality" that was listed in the change log? What are we looking for specifically?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pure speculation on my part, but I wonder if Google didn't tweak the auto-white balance due to the complaints about how the phone handled white balance in pictures with a predominantly red color.

Apparently Google killed the manual update your phone function again. At least on my pixel 4. Seemed to happen to me all the time on the pixel 3 too. Anyone else have the same issues?
Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

BubbaGumprc said:
Apparently Google killed the manual update your phone function again. At least on my pixel 4. Seemed to happen to me all the time on the pixel 3 too. Anyone else have the same issues?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same issue, the check update function did not work on my P4. It was working great on my P3.

Ugh! I got antsy and manually flashed the November factory image and now my face unlock is completely broken. I've tried rebooting, deleting face data + creating a new one in different lighting environments 5+ times now. No matter what I do the phone will not recognize my face anymore. It was working flawlessly on the October patch.
Now I'm afraid broken face unlock is one of the reasons Google delayed the role out of the November patch. Not a happy camper right now.
EDIT: I had to revert back to the October patch (full wipe) to get face unlock working again.

sn0warmy said:
Ugh! I got antsy and manually flashed the November factory image and now my face unlock is completely broken. I've tried rebooting, deleting face data + creating a new one in different lighting environments 5+ times now. No matter what I do the phone will not recognize my face anymore. It was working flawlessly on the October patch.
Now I'm afraid broken face unlock is one of the reasons Google delayed the role out of the November patch. Not a happy camper right now.
EDIT: I had to revert back to the October patch (full wipe) to get face unlock working again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's, odd, i updated to november, and my phone is spot on, I've yet to face an issue, or if i have i havent even noticed

sn0warmy said:
Ugh! I got antsy and manually flashed the November factory image and now my face unlock is completely broken. I've tried rebooting, deleting face data + creating a new one in different lighting environments 5+ times now. No matter what I do the phone will not recognize my face anymore. It was working flawlessly on the October patch.
Now I'm afraid broken face unlock is one of the reasons Google delayed the role out of the November patch. Not a happy camper right now.
EDIT: I had to revert back to the October patch (full wipe) to get face unlock working again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you picked the correct image for your phone variant.
My phone came with build 007, installed a different one and it broke the face unlock. Installing back 007 restored it.
Im on November and face unlock works just fine

Does this undo the tweak to get Google pay to work with magisk? Or will we have to re do it?

ahsank128 said:
that's, odd, i updated to november, and my phone is spot on, I've yet to face an issue, or if i have i havent even noticed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hm... When I flashed the November image I did full wipe. Mybe this time I'll try without wipe and see if it retains proper face unlock from the October image.
thehartk said:
Make sure you picked the correct image for your phone variant.
My phone came with build 007, installed a different one and it broke the face unlock. Installing back 007 restored it.
Im on November and face unlock works just fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I was on 10.0.0 (QD1A.190821.007, Oct 2019) before clean flashing 10.0.0 (QD1A.190821.014, Nov 2019). I'm now back on 10.0.0 (QD1A.190821.007, Oct 2019) to get face unlock working again.
I wonder if I should be flashing 10.0.0 (QD1A.190821.007.A3, Nov 2019), instead? That ".A3" is giving me pause though.
Google really needs to label/identify these factory images better like they used to with (unlocked US) or (verizon) etc.. This is confusing.

sn0warmy said:
Google really needs to label/identify these factory images better like they used to with (unlocked US) or (verizon) etc.. This is confusing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look here: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/18742521?hl=en

sn0warmy said:
hm... When I flashed the November image I did full wipe. Mybe this time I'll try without wipe and see if it retains proper face unlock from the October image.
Yeah, I was on 10.0.0 (QD1A.190821.007, Oct 2019) before clean flashing 10.0.0 (QD1A.190821.014, Nov 2019). I'm now back on 10.0.0 (QD1A.190821.007, Oct 2019) to get face unlock working again.
I wonder if I should be flashing 10.0.0 (QD1A.190821.007.A3, Nov 2019), instead? That ".A3" is giving me pause though.
Google really needs to label/identify these factory images better like they used to with (unlocked US) or (verizon) etc.. This is confusing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes flash the .007.A3 if you were on the .007 before. I went through the same problems with the .014 too but .007.A3 fixed it.

Not getting system updates anymore

I am facing a problem with receiving system updates.
for November and December i received them fine and I just had to do the trick where I install it in an inactive slot from magisk to make it work
but this month i got the update and i kept trying to install it but always it shows "Installation failed". and now i can't see it anymore.
I also believe I did not receive the feature drop too.
anyone has any idea why i am not receiving it anymore ? or how can i solve the issue.
I attached two pics to show the problem

alawii_shark said:
I am facing a problem with receiving system updates.
for November and December i received them fine and I just had to do the trick where I install it in an inactive slot from magisk to make it work
but this month i got the update and i kept trying to install it but always it shows "Installation failed". and now i can't see it anymore.
I also believe I did not receive the feature drop too.
anyone has any idea why i am not receiving it anymore ? or how can i solve the issue.
I attached two pics to show the problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OTA is a crapshoot.
Best bet is to flash factory image without wipe and re-root afterwards.

ilal2ielli said:
OTA is a crapshoot.
Best bet is to flash factory image without wipe and re-root afterwards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Absolutely agree!! @Badger50 has posted a great tutorial recently.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-4-xl/how-to/january-images-t4030919/post81409523

alawii_shark said:
I am facing a problem with receiving system updates.
for November and December i received them fine and I just had to do the trick where I install it in an inactive slot from magisk to make it work
but this month i got the update and i kept trying to install it but always it shows "Installation failed". and now i can't see it anymore.
I also believe I did not receive the feature drop too.
anyone has any idea why i am not receiving it anymore ? or how can i solve the issue.
I attached two pics to show the problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As other's have stated, just d/l the full image and fastboot flash it. I like to extract the boot image first and patch it with Magisk, and then transfer it into my ADB folder on the PC. After fastboot flashing the image, I force it back to the fastboot menu and flash the patched boot.img before booting into System for the first time. You get pretty good (and fast) once you've done it a few times. Bonus: there are no delays, and you can skip all those "I don't have the February update yet, do you huh?" threads.

Fixing bootloop?

so my bramble spazzed and did a soft reboot and then the system ui wouldn't load (I was able to use the phone, but not the status bar, navbar). i disabled the lockscreen security and removed my magisk modules. then i tried flashing the stock firmware (december) *after erasing the -w*, then i tried sideloading the december ota via recovery, then i tried to do the same withe november versions and then again the december, you get the idea. nothing doing, the best i get is it'll get to "pixel is loading" for a split second then go to bootloader. anyone have any suggestions for me?
sorry, asking on the P5 forum because the phones are so similar the P5 forum is more active.

mistermojorizin said:
so my bramble spazzed and did a soft reboot and then the system ui wouldn't load (I was able to use the phone, but not the status bar, navbar). i disabled the lockscreen security and removed my magisk modules. then i tried flashing the stock firmware (december) *after erasing the -w*, then i tried sideloading the december ota via recovery, then i tried to do the same withe november versions and then again the december, you get the idea. nothing doing, the best i get is it'll get to "pixel is loading" for a split second then go to bootloader. anyone have any suggestions for me?
sorry, asking on the P5 forum because the phones are so similar the P5 forum is more active.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you booting on the right slot ?

jaythenut said:
Are you booting on the right slot ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, yes I was. I ended up dirty flashing the stock firmware from December and from November and sideloading otas from both months over and over till it was working again. Took all day but I saved my data. I was flashing the all carrier December image as they was the one I was on, not flashing verizon one did the trick. Something to keep in mind for next time.