Develop Bugs

Unlock bootloader

I want to install a aosp rom on my Z1 compact.
My Z1 compact is running and i am trying to unlock the bootloader. I have entered *#*#7378423#*# which says i cant unlock the bootloader.
Is there any other method to unlock the bootloader?

No, bad luck.

Do you think it will be possible in the future?

325i. said:
Do you think it will be possible in the future?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who knows, it's a tiring subject, so either return your Phone and buy a SimFree Phone or keep it in the hope that maybe you'll be able to, but don't hold your breath.

2ndBoot method possible?
For some Android phones with a locked bootloader, for example Motorola Defy, a "2nd boot" method has been used to use custom roms.
The way I understand it, this leaves the stock kernel in place, so that the locked bootloader can boot the stock kernel that it insists on.
Using root permissions, the system is modified so that at some stage in the stock boot process, the boot process restarts with a possibly different, modified kernel and the definitely different, custom userspace system, for example AOSP.
Has this been done with Xperia devices, especially the Z1C?

Defyner said:
For some Android phones with a locked bootloader, for example Motorola Defy, a "2nd boot" method has been used to use custom roms.
The way I understand it, this leaves the stock kernel in place, so that the locked bootloader can boot the stock kernel that it insists on.
Using root permissions, the system is modified so that at some stage in the stock boot process, the boot process restarts with a possibly different, modified kernel and the definitely different, custom userspace system, for example AOSP.
Has this been done with Xperia devices, especially the Z1C?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is extremely difficult to accomplish unless the kernel supports loading kernel modules on the fly, and the Z1C stock kernel doesn't. In fact, most devices don't these days since it enables things like this once the security of the ROM is compromised.
@325i. You will most likely (like 99.99%) never be able to unlock your current Z1C, return it and get an unlockable one, or change your mind about wanting to unlock it.

Need a quick check on my "rooting plans".

I've watched the video guides about Sunshine S-off but I'm still a bit confused. I currently have a non-rooted, S-ON HTC 10 with a locked bootloader (in other words it's factory new). I want to upgrade to Nougat when it becomes available in the EU, but since I want to have an "S-off LOCKED" + rooted phone I was told that doing the Sunshine method while still being on MM is the best thing to do. To do this, as far as I'm concerned I have to follow these steps:
1.) Download, run and purchase Sunshine.
2.) Select the S-off LOCKED option and start the process.
3.) This is where things become confusing. According to the videos I've watched, now my phone should be encrypted. Since I don't have TWRP, should I use the original recovery program's factory reset option?
4.) Flash TWRP, just like you had your bootloader unlocked. (If I flash TWRP on MM, will I still be able to use it on Nougat?)
5.) Wait for the Nougat OTA and install it. (The update should come automatically, right?)
6.) Root it.
After rooting, I would still get the OTA updates, right? (since I have my bootloader locked)
I would be grateful if someone could verify these steps. Thanks in advance!

bence.szij said:
I've watched the video guides about Sunshine S-off but I'm still a bit confused. I currently have a non-rooted, S-ON HTC 10 with a locked bootloader (in other words it's factory new). I want to upgrade to Nougat when it becomes available in the EU, but since I want to have an "S-off LOCKED" + rooted phone I was told that doing the Sunshine method while still being on MM is the best thing to do. To do this, as far as I'm concerned I have to follow these steps:
1.) Download, run and purchase Sunshine.
2.) Select the S-off LOCKED option and start the process.
3.) This is where things become confusing. According to the videos I've watched, now my phone should be encrypted. Since I don't have TWRP, should I use the original recovery program's factory reset option?
4.) Flash TWRP, just like you had your bootloader unlocked. (If I flash TWRP on MM, will I still be able to use it on Nougat?)
5.) Wait for the Nougat OTA and install it. (The update should come automatically, right?)
6.) Root it.
After rooting, I would still get the OTA updates, right? (since I have my bootloader locked)
I would be grateful if someone could verify these steps. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a lot of questions unanswered.
1. Why do you want S-OFF? Most people don't need it.
2. Do you want Nougat 2.28 full firmware, or only Nougat Android?
3. You need stock recovery to flash an OTA.
4. Current TWRP will not work on Nougat 2.28 firmware, and I think it won't work until HTC release official Kernel source.
5. If you want only the Android Nougat OS, while staying on MM 1.95 Firmware in order to be able to flash TWRP...then why not just flash Viper, ICE or LeeDroid custom ROM?
6. If you do flash custom N ROM, I believe that there are bugs due to using MM firmware. Something to do with Camera and Sound. It's all very complicated.
Summary: Describe what you want and we'll be able to tell you exactly what you need to do.

Kyuubi10 said:
There is a lot of questions unanswered.
1. Why do you want S-OFF? Most people don't need it.
2. Do you want Nougat 2.28 full firmware, or only Nougat Android?
3. You need stock recovery to flash an OTA.
4. Current TWRP will not work on Nougat 2.28 firmware, and I think it won't work until HTC release official Kernel source.
5. If you want only the Android Nougat OS, while staying on MM 1.95 Firmware in order to be able to flash TWRP...then why not just flash Viper, ICE or LeeDroid custom ROM?
6. If you do flash custom N ROM, I believe that there are bugs due to using MM firmware. Something to do with Camera and Sound. It's all very complicated.
Summary: Describe what you want and we'll be able to tell you exactly what you need to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the anwser!
I'll try to anwser your questions (and ask new ones) as precisely as I can.
1.) I want S-OFF because that way the bootlocker can stay locked, and as I've heard you can go S-ON again with Sunshine. That way I don't really have to worry about the "relocked" state and warranty loss. Otherwise the HTCDev method would be perfectly fine for me.
2.) I didn't know that you can use the Nougat OS without upgrading your firmware. Could you please explain the differences between "Nougat 2.28 full firmware" and "Nougat Android"? I tried to do a research but I've failed
3.) So basically if I have TWRP the only way to install system updates is to flash them manually? Also if I stay with stock recovery while being S-off LOCKED will I get the OTAs? And what if I unlock the bootloader?
4.) When do you think HTC will release official Kernel source? Weeks? Months?
5.)- 6.) When I bought my phone in July, I decided not to root it immediately. I've planned to root after installing Android N, and since the EU release is near I've started researching on the process. The only reason I want to S-off now, while being on MM, is that Sunshine might not work after installing the Nougat OTA (I need Sunshine to protect my warranty). I'm not in a hurry, my goal is to have a phone with Nougat, TWRP, root and xposed (maybe an N version of Viper). I don't want to have a buggy phone. If running Nougat/Viper on an older firmware would cause bugs, I'd rather wait with the whole process until the OTA arrives, then install it and unlock my bootloader with HTCDev instead of achieving the "S-off LOCKED" state with Sunshine, even if this means warranty loss.
I hope I could explain things better this time.

bence.szij said:
Thanks for the anwser!
I'll try to anwser your questions (and ask new ones) as precisely as I can.
1.) I want S-OFF because that way the bootlocker can stay locked, and as I've heard you can go S-ON again with Sunshine. That way I don't really have to worry about the "relocked" state and warranty loss. Otherwise the HTCDev method would be perfectly fine for me.
2.) I didn't know that you can use the Nougat OS without upgrading your firmware. Could you please explain the differences between "Nougat 2.28 full firmware" and "Nougat Android"? I tried to do a research but I've failed
3.) So basically if I have TWRP the only way to install system updates is to flash them manually? Also if I stay with stock recovery while being S-off LOCKED will I get the OTAs? And what if I unlock the bootloader?
4.) When do you think HTC will release official Kernel source? Weeks? Months?
5.)- 6.) When I bought my phone in July, I decided not to root it immediately. I've planned to root after installing Android N, and since the EU release is near I've started researching on the process. The only reason I want to S-off now, while being on MM, is that Sunshine might not work after installing the Nougat OTA (I need Sunshine to protect my warranty). I'm not in a hurry, my goal is to have a phone with Nougat, TWRP, root and xposed (maybe an N version of Viper). I don't want to have a buggy phone. If running Nougat/Viper on an older firmware would cause bugs, I'd rather wait with the whole process until the OTA arrives, then install it and unlock my bootloader with HTCDev instead of achieving the "S-off LOCKED" state with Sunshine, even if this means warranty loss.
I hope I could explain things better this time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're thankful press the thanks button, it would mean much more than saying you're thankful. It is there for a reason.
By seeing your answers my best advise will be, you don't need to S-OFF.
HTC explicitly states in their full T&C that your warranty is not completely void when you unlock bootload.
Your warranty just becomes conditional, which means that if you brick your device your warranty is void.
Or if any damage to the phone comes as a direct effect of you unlocking your bootloader, then warranty is void.
If the damage/fault is unrelated to you unlocking your bootloader then your warranty should still be AND will be valid.
Has been this way since I first joined the HTC bandwagon with the OneX.
Now regarding waiting for N before rooting. I also advise against this.
When the N sources are released you will be jumping into mostly BETA releases.
These tend to have a few bugs early on, I'd advise to root now while on M which is very stable and full of awesome features.
Wait around until N has some stable ROMs and Kernels.
Answering your other questions:
2) The firmware on your phone is your: "Bootloader, Radio, OpenDSP etc..." These are the deepest software on your phone, and for security and to avoid bricks should stay stock, unless you really know what you are doing. Firmware is not made by Google, but instead by the OEM. This is unique to the hardware on your phone. Android is made by google, and it can be divided into Kernel and OS/ROM.
3) S-OFF I don't know, but if you are S-ON with stock system and stock recovery you should always be able to install OTA even if you have unlocked bootloader.
4) I believe January.
Enjoy root and xposed on MM...get familiar with what is possible and learn as much as possible on a stable configuration.
Once you've learned a bit more about what root is capable of then move on to N when N is stable.
I suggest to learn how to use RUU.exe/RUU.zips before moving to N though.

Kyuubi10 said:
If you're thankful press the thanks button, it would mean much more than saying you're thankful. It is there for a reason.
By seeing your answers my best advise will be, you don't need to S-OFF.
HTC explicitly states in their full T&C that your warranty is not completely void when you unlock bootload.
Your warranty just becomes conditional, which means that if you brick your device your warranty is void.
Or if any damage to the phone comes as a direct effect of you unlocking your bootloader, then warranty is void.
If the damage/fault is unrelated to you unlocking your bootloader then your warranty should still be AND will be valid.
Has been this way since I first joined the HTC bandwagon with the OneX.
Now regarding waiting for N before rooting. I also advise against this.
When the N sources are released you will be jumping into mostly BETA releases.
These tend to have a few bugs early on, I'd advise to root now while on M which is very stable and full of awesome features.
Wait around until N has some stable ROMs and Kernels.
Answering your other questions:
2) The firmware on your phone is your: "Bootloader, Radio, OpenDSP etc..." These are the deepest software on your phone, and for security and to avoid bricks should stay stock, unless you really know what you are doing. Firmware is not made by Google, but instead by the OEM. This is unique to the hardware on your phone. Android is made by google, and it can be divided into Kernel and OS/ROM.
3) S-OFF I don't know, but if you are S-ON with stock system and stock recovery you should always be able to install OTA even if you have unlocked bootloader.
4) I believe January.
Enjoy root and xposed on MM...get familiar with what is possible and learn as much as possible on a stable configuration.
Once you've learned a bit more about what root is capable of then move on to N when N is stable.
I suggest to learn how to use RUU.exe/RUU.zips before moving to N though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again!
I guess I'll do as you said and do it now. I have only one more question left then: let's say I unlock my bootloader with HTCDev, install TWRP, then root my phone and flash xposed. A few months later Nougat becomes stable and I decide to upgrade. In that case, I would be still using my current firmware, so N based roms would contain bugs, which I don't want. How can I upgrade my firmware in a situation like this?

bence.szij said:
Thanks again!
I guess I'll do as you said and do it now. I have only one more question left then: let's say I unlock my bootloader with HTCDev, install TWRP, then root my phone and flash xposed. A few months later Nougat becomes stable and I decide to upgrade. In that case, I would be still using my current firmware, so N based roms would contain bugs, which I don't want. How can I upgrade my firmware in a situation like this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome, it's a pleasure to help.
An easy way of getting root is by flashing a custom ROM which already comes with root
I believe that quickly by Feb you should already have a stable N release.
Now to upgrade firmware... That's what the RUU part of my previous answer is for.
HTC are really rooting friendly, so much so they gave us a way to easily and quickly going back to stock. That is called an RUU.
You can search that more in detail to learn about it.
But to update firmware you have two ways, the fast way through RUU, or the slow way by flashing stock ROM via TWRP, then fastboot flash stock recovery and then flash the OTAs.
By doing RUU or via OTA method will update your firmware.

Keep in mind if you plan to use Android Pay or Pokemon Go, this may effect some your decision if you want to go s-off locked status or unlocked bootloader. Everything @Kyuubi10 said is good info, that's just something I would factor into consideration. There may be ways around having an unlocked bootloader and using Android Pay, I'm not the expert there because I don't want google having more of my financial information than they already have. But if you do use it or plan too, that might be something you need to take into consideration before you go unlocked and s-on.
I'm not talking you out of unlocking or anything, I just want you to know in case it's something you need to further consider.

CharliesTheMan said:
Keep in mind if you plan to use Android Pay or Pokemon Go, this may effect some your decision if you want to go s-off locked status or unlocked bootloader. Everything @Kyuubi10 said is good info, that's just something I would factor into consideration. There may be ways around having an unlocked bootloader and using Android Pay, I'm not the expert there because I don't want google having more of my financial information than they already have. But if you do use it or plan too, that might be something you need to take into consideration before you go unlocked and s-on.
I'm not talking you out of unlocking or anything, I just want you to know in case it's something you need to further consider.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually... I believe you can go unlocked and use android pay.
As long as you don't have root.
You can even have customROM and custom Kernel, but as long as you have no root, and no xposed you should be able to use Android Pay and Pokemon Go.
E.g. MultiROM with 1 rom non-rooted should be possible.
But I may be wrong, so don't quote me.

bence.szij said:
Thanks again!
I guess I'll do as you said and do it now. I have only one more question left then: let's say I unlock my bootloader with HTCDev, install TWRP, then root my phone and flash xposed. A few months later Nougat becomes stable and I decide to upgrade. In that case, I would be still using my current firmware, so N based roms would contain bugs, which I don't want. How can I upgrade my firmware in a situation like this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're lucky!
HTC released N sources yesterday!!
Will probably get a stable release by mid January.

Kyuubi10 said:
You're lucky!
HTC released N sources yesterday!!
Will probably get a stable release by mid January.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info! I've unlocked the bootloader yesterday and I'm planning to flash TWRP and SuperSU tonight?

bence.szij said:
Thanks for the info! I've unlocked the bootloader yesterday and I'm planning to flash TWRP and SuperSU tonight?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry about flashing SuperSU, usually it'll be included in the Custom ROM...if you want to use Custom ROM.
Or even TWRP gives you the option to enable SuperSU, if you wish to stay with stock ROM.

Relock the bootloader or not?

I've successfully flashed my first ROM. My purpose in doing so was to get the monthly Android security updates, and more broadly have my phone as secure as practical. In that vein, can I safely relock the bootloader? Should I? I am aware that many (most?) people here choose to keep the bootloader unlocked, and I respect that choice, but I'm seeking maximum security.
Searching here at XDA I see conflicting guidance. Some folks say that re-locking the bootloader with a custom ROM installed is begging to be bricked, while others say they have re-locked with no trouble. So what is your advice, why is that your opinion, and do you speak from experience?
I have not rooted the phone, nor do I plan to. I'm running AICP 8.1 on Nextbit Robin and don't plan to make any changes other than receive OTA updates. Should I make future changes beyond that I would not be bothered by the very minor inconvenience of having to unlock then relock it.

I too want to simply flash the stock recovery and lock my bootloader, but from what I've read to update the ROMs we need an unlocked bootloader. So that needs to be unlocked again does that mean everytime I lock-unlock I will be wiping my data all over? Thats would be a pain.
So this is an experiment I want to run from quite long and might do it sometime next month maybe. I will be wiping-unlocking-flashing-locking and see again if I can unlock without wiping my data and lock again, this way I can know for sure if this is doable because most online answers are weirdly confusing.

javelinanddart found that locking the bootloader on the Robin results in similar behavior as on the Nexus devices. The phone will check and make sure that the key used to sign the recovery partition remains the same as it was when your device got relocked, so as a result, TWRP should still work, and updating to a new version of TWRP would work too since it's (presumably) signed with the same key. System partition checking is handled by the kernel itself (dm-verity), but all the custom roms for the Robin have that disabled, so that wouldn't be a problem.
I've also been running custom roms with my bootloader locked and haven't run into any issues with flashing roms with TWRP.
I will be honest though, since TWRP lets you do so much to your phone, relocking your bootloader wouldn't really help security wise. You can pull up a damn root shell right in TWRP, for crying out loud.

@jabashque
Wait so are you saying despite locking the bootloader I can still go in custom recovery? Whats the point then?
I mean for me why I a considering locking the bootloader is so that if I lose my phone no one can access my data. As of now with custom ROM anyone has free access to my data via TWRP/custom recovery.

/root said:
@jabashque
Wait so are you saying despite locking the bootloader I can still go in custom recovery? Whats the point then?
I mean for me why I a considering locking the bootloader is so that if I lose my phone no one can access my data. As of now with custom ROM anyone has free access to my data via TWRP/custom recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suppose you could flash Lineage recovery instead, which was designed to be an OEM-grade recovery and doesn't include the ability to pull up a root shell or use adb.
Grab that here: http://downloads.codefi.re/jdcteam/javelinanddart/ether/ether-lineage-recovery-20180310_170949.img
Personally, I locked my bootloader so that I could actually see my custom splash screen without having to press the power button to dismiss the warning message.
EDIT: the build of Lineage recovery I linked still has adb shell access enabled it seems; I was wrong on that. Also, I haven't tried flashing another rom's system partition that's been signed with different keys.

jabashque said:
I suppose you could flash Lineage recovery instead, which was designed to be an OEM-grade recovery and doesn't include the ability to pull up a root shell or use adb.
Grab that here: http://downloads.codefi.re/jdcteam/javelinanddart/ether/ether-lineage-recovery-20180310_170949.img
Personally, I locked my bootloader so that I could actually see my custom splash screen without having to press the power button to dismiss the warning message.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So for an OTA update do I have to wipe all data to unlock again? I am on Omni btw.

I only unlock my bootloader to flash a cool splash screen then relock it. Even if the bootloader is locked I can still flash custom ROMs using ADB sideload. Works like a charm every time. I'm running the AEX custom ROM with Android 8.1.0

akeemk said:
I only unlock my bootloader to flash a cool splash screen then relock it. Even if the bootloader is locked I can still flash custom ROMs using ADB sideload. Works like a charm every time. I'm running the AEX custom ROM with Android 8.1.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But you still locking it while on TWRP isn't it? Which means anyone has access to shell via TWRP defeats the purpose of security provided by a locked bootloader, isn't it?

/root said:
But you still locking it while on TWRP isn't it? Which means anyone has access to shell via TWRP defeats the purpose of security provided by a locked bootloader, isn't it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess that's why Nextbit never had a problem with us unlocking the phone's bootloader.

Remove unlocked bootoader warning

Is there any way to Remove unlocked bootoader warning (while booting) ? I have heard that in moto devices if we flash custom logo.bin, we can regret it!!
Is there any way like that?

Me interested too

+1 Just picked up this phone today on the recommendation of XDA as the best budget phone. Now I see that there really is limited support and ROMS available. I have been running Lineage/ Cyan for years now and it's unavailable to the BND L24.
I want to root to get rid of all the google crap but don't want to start the process and be left with the unlocked warning. Will unlocking and rooting but keeping the stock rom make me miss out on the OTA updates if I keep the stock Oreo ?

I'm interested too.
I've flashed RROS (here https://openkirin.net/download/) and i'd like delete the bootloader warning for more comfort in use

FieryAura said:
I'm interested too.
I've flashed RROS (here https://openkirin.net/download/) and i'd like delete the bootloader warning for more comfort in use
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no way to do so.
h2odiver said:
+1 Just picked up this phone today on the recommendation of XDA as the best budget phone. Now I see that there really is limited support and ROMS available. I have been running Lineage/ Cyan for years now and it's unavailable to the BND L24.
I want to root to get rid of all the google crap but don't want to start the process and be left with the unlocked warning. Will unlocking and rooting but keeping the stock rom make me miss out on the OTA updates if I keep the stock Oreo ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, LineageOS is avalible via OpenKirin.
If you unlock and root, you will have the unlocked warning and also won't get OTA updates anymore. However, having just the bootloader unlocked, you will STILL get OTA updates but installation will always fail.

pradeep494ammu said:
Is there any way to Remove unlocked bootoader warning (while booting) ? I have heard that in moto devices if we flash custom logo.bin, we can regret it!!
Is there any way like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That warning actually useful, you will get to know when u mess up with your phone ! Everything is there for a reason !

steven360 said:
There is no way to do so.
First, LineageOS is avalible via OpenKirin.
If you unlock and root, you will have the unlocked warning and also won't get OTA updates anymore. However, having just the bootloader unlocked, you will STILL get OTA updates but installation will always fail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OTA updates installation will fail maybe that why the new update fails really thank you and will lock it back and test it

Root Without Unlocking Bootloader

Hi. I am about to purchase a Huawei Mate SE and wanted to know if there is a way to root without unlocking the bootloader. It looks like Kingroot and/or Kingoroot might be an option. I'm not new to rooting phones so I understand most of the basics. From what I read, I won't be able to install a custom recovery and therefore can't install custom ROMs which is fine. I mainly want root for apps like Titanium Backup and Greenify. I don't want to lose the ability to OTA. Is this possible? Thanks in advance for the help.

Kingroot and kingoroot are hot piles of garbage on oreo, and nougat. Pretty sure it only works up to lollipop.
Only way to root is to flash Magisk, and that requires an unlocked bootloader.

Dang. That sucks. Thanks for the response though

no need to install a custom recovery to get root. unlockbootloder densest effect ota. after u unlock ur bootloader you can flash a patch kernel that has Magisk

ReppinTheSouth said:
Dang. That sucks. Thanks for the response though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just ordered this phone also. You should be able to get your bootloader unlocked with a service. See threads.
I sure hope so. Cause i plan on doing some stuff with this device.

Unlocking the bootloader is not difficult, but then there is a stupid bootloader unlocked warning that comes every time the phone restarts. And supposedly there is no way to turn it off for Huawei phones