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What happens if you get OTA on a rooted phone?

I heard the phone gets unrooted with an OTA? So what happens to the apps that need root access? They stay there and start working fine when you root again or need to be reinstalled?
Do you lose data in the process when you install OTA update on a rooted phone?

if i remember correctly , it will not have OTA with rooted phone even with stock ROM.
by root , you must have change some system file , most case, flash CWM recovery and install superuser, which will effectively fail the OTA.

You will get the ota.
it will install perfectly normal if you still have stock recovery.
if you have custom recovery manually flash the update.zip Then flash su.zip. You're now stock rooted.

albundy2010 said:
You will get the ota.
it will install perfectly normal if you still have stock recovery.
if you have custom recovery manually flash the update.zip Then flash su.zip. You're now stock rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have stock recovery and I do have some third party apps installed as system apps but I havent deleted any.
I'll think unless I am one of the first to get OTA I'll prolly be too impatient to wait for it anyways and flash through CWM. But will I lose data flashing through CWM? I have flashed stock roms through stock recovery when it was allowed in GB and never lost data but I wasnt rooted back then.

Gambler_3 said:
I heard the phone gets unrooted with an OTA? So what happens to the apps that need root access? They stay there and start working fine when you root again or need to be reinstalled?
Do you lose data in the process when you install OTA update on a rooted phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be patient, stay rooted, soon after the release I am sure there will be a stock rom that you can flash via CWM,

You won't loose data.
You can flash official updates through cwm no problem. In fact that was the only way to do it manually after 4.0.3. Stock recovery would not allow manually flashing the update zip. Would end up in a error 7.
So it was either wait for the update to be pushed to your phone or flash it manually with a custom recovery

[Q] Trouble updating to 4.4 (Rooted / CWM)

Hi xda,
Can anybody help me in updating my shield to the latest update 72? I have a rooted NVIDIA Shield on (I believe) update 68, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. I have clockworkmod recovery installed as the bootloader. Upon downloading the update and hitting restart, it brings up CWM and asks if I want to flash the update zip it downloaded, click yes, says root may have been lost - fix? click yes/no, doesn't matter I've tried both and then it boots right back up and says the system update is still available. SO it's obviously not installing correctly.
Can anybody help me out? Is it possible to install the OTA update with CWM, or do I have to restore the default android bootloader? And if so, do I also have to unroot? Factory reset? What would be the easiest way of updating?
Thanks in advance, I'm loving my Shield!

You will need to revert to the stock recovery before you perform the update, as CWM cannot do it for some reason.
If you are not using CWM features outside of rooting, you might prefer this rooting method which does not require installing it so you can just do OTA upgrades without worrying:
https://github.com/linux-shield/shield-root

Failed OTA with a twist...
I also tried the OTA with a rooted/CWM Shield and failed. However, I found this thread and reverted to stock recovery as instructed. But now, it says there are no updates available, and still reports I'm running 4.3. So how do I get it to update?

rpalmer919 said:
I also tried the OTA with a rooted/CWM Shield and failed. However, I found this thread and reverted to stock recovery as instructed. But now, it says there are no updates available, and still reports I'm running 4.3. So how do I get it to update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually had the same problem as you after reverting back to stock recovery. The only solution I could find was to 1) Backup everything on my Shield and 2) Factory reset. After factory resetting, the OTA update was detected, and installed flawlessly. I'm now on 4.4 Kit Kat, stock recovery, and am in the process of restoring all my apps and then re-rooting.

525 45863523
Gnurou said:
You will need to revert to the stock recovery before you perform the update, as CWM cannot do it for some reason.
If you are not using CWM features outside of rooting, you might prefer this rooting method which does not require installing it so you can just do OTA upgrades without worrying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just an update:
After going back to stock recovery, factory resetting for the OTA update to detect, installing it, restoring all my apps, and re-rooting using the method above, everything is running great. Future OTA updates with ease as well as being able to have root access!

[Q] How to install OTA with rooted, S-OFF, TWRP

A month ago I rooted the stock rom, S-OFF, and install TWRP. I tried another ROM, but it didn't really interest me. I realized, that I actually like the stock ROM.
However, now I want to install the 4.4.3 OTA update. Is that possible? If I follow the directions, the device reboots in to TWRP, but does not install the update.
How can I install the OTA update, if I have a custom recovery?

DBordello said:
A month ago I rooted the stock rom, S-OFF, and install TWRP. I tried another ROM, but it didn't really interest me. I realized, that I actually like the stock ROM.
However, now I want to install the 4.4.3 OTA update. Is that possible? If I follow the directions, the device reboots in to TWRP, but does not install the update.
How can I install the OTA update, if I have a custom recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It appears it is impossible: http://teamw.in/officialota
I guess I will have to completely reflash.

First off, it's not impossible. There's a thread in here with firmware that you can use and update without the OTA. Second, this is the wrong sub-forum for questions.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

I'm also trying to get to 4.4.3 but after trying to re install the old recovery, it tells me I can't do the OTA.

Jeez...if you guys have soff and twrp and whatnot just flash the stock rooted rom scott gave us. Simple as that. You'll find it here in the vzw one m8 android development section.

Or alternately, if you no longer require control of you device at the lowest levels then just flash dottats RUU and magically your phone will be 100% stock.
But yeah, wrong forum.

silver04v said:
Jeez...if you guys have soff and twrp and whatnot just flash the stock rooted rom scott gave us. Simple as that. You'll find it here in the vzw one m8 android development section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason to do the OTA, is because I am lazy. I don't feel like reinstalling all of my apps, etc. The OTA is a nice incremental upgrade.
Where can I find the stock recovery, and directions to flash back to it? It is my understanding, that if I do that, I can apply the OTA.

Used S5 rooted KK

Just picked up a used S5 that was already rooted running KK, not sure of the root method used. Looking to upgrade to Lollipop but obviously can't take the OTA, used unroot in SU and the OTA says it's been modified and won't take it. How do I update it to lollipop and still keep my data?

gottria said:
Just picked up a used S5 that was already rooted running KK, not sure of the root method used. Looking to upgrade to Lollipop but obviously can't take the OTA, used unroot in SU and the OTA says it's been modified and won't take it. How do I update it to lollipop and still keep my data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You unrooted but you may still have a custom recovery. That will prevent the OTA update. Without more info it is hard to tell you the right way to go. I would backup what you have first. Do a nandroid. I would backup apps and data with Titanium Backup (but you can't since you already unrooted).
I had a Note3 that was rooted, slightly modified and then unrooted. I was able to get it back to stock and updated using Kies. Not sure if that will work for you in this case.

gottria said:
Just picked up a used S5 that was already rooted running KK, not sure of the root method used. Looking to upgrade to Lollipop but obviously can't take the OTA, used unroot in SU and the OTA says it's been modified and won't take it. How do I update it to lollipop and still keep my data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try Triangle Away but I'm not sure that would work. The best way would be to put the phone into download mode, and then use Odin to go to the stock OA6 Lollipop build, but this would cause you to lose all your data. You could also re-root, titanium backup / sms backup and restore, then once you Odin to Lollipop you can restore all your old apps and data as well as text messages.

So I can jump right to the stock OA6 lollipop odin with no issues? At this point I have all my stuff backed up and don't care about what's left on the phone, wipe it clean and start fresh is what I'm thinking. My plain is to odin the stock OA6 build, root using chainfire and hotspot mod.

Go for it. That should work. Use Odin to load the full tar of oa6 and then root it.

Bricked the S6 SM-920I. I'm at wits' end.

I got the Galaxy S6 yesterday and coming from Nexus 5, I wanted to remove the existing bloatware by flashing the XtrestoLite Deodexed ROM. This one here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s6/samsung-galaxy-s-6--s-6-edge-unified-development/rom-xtrestolite-deodexed-mod-edition-1-3-t3119968
I'm haven't had much experience in rooting and it's my first time flashing a custom ROM. The phone was running on Android 5.1.1.
Apparently I failed. I started with CF-Root but I wasn't sure if it was done correctly. This was followed by TWRP 2.8.7.1 . Then I tried booting up the phone and the boot logo just loops. I tried to wipe the cache as well as the Delvik-cache through TWRP but it's still the same. Then I tried to flash the stock ROM that I found online but I got the error "Nand Write Start" followed by "Fail". I seem to have tried everything and now I just want to get the phone to work again. It shouldn't be so hard.
Someone help me please :crying:

Have you tried to flash the stock rom via Smart Switch software? There's an option in the top of the window where it says "More" called Emergency Recovery. When my S6 bricked nothing but that did the trick, you should give it a try.

Gallitho said:
Have you tried to flash the stock rom via Smart Switch software? There's an option in the top of the window where it says "More" called Emergency Recovery. When my S6 bricked nothing but that did the trick, you should give it a try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you do it? I've installed the Smart Switch software but the device doesn't appear under the list in emergency software recovery, so I can't proceed.
Edit: I managed to do it through initialization. I'll update when it's done.
Edit 2: It worked! Thanks so much!

ztmj96 said:
How did you do it? I've installed the Smart Switch software but the device doesn't appear under the list in emergency software recovery, so I can't proceed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your PC is recognizing your phone? If not maybe you shall update your drivers first. My S6 is the same model number as yours and it does appears in the Emergency Recovery list.
Another solution could be trying to flash using another version of Odin; I saw a similar problem on another forum and it was solved using Odin 3.10 to reflash the stock firmware.
Also remember that you can't downgrade your firmware once that you are on 5.1.1, no 5.02 or so allowed.

ztmj96 said:
How did you do it? I've installed the Smart Switch software but the device doesn't appear under the list in emergency software recovery, so I can't proceed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By the sounds of it you're able to boot into twrp? If so then simply boot into twrp, connect to your computer and copy a flashable rom to your phone and install it using twrp instead of odin

1qazwsx4 said:
By the sounds of it you're able to boot into twrp? If so then simply boot into twrp, connect to your computer and copy a flashable rom to your phone and install it using twrp instead of odin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How could I transfer the flashable ROM to the phone when I can't have it boot up to connect to my computer?

Gallitho said:
Your PC is recognizing your phone? If not maybe you shall update your drivers first. My S6 is the same model number as yours and it does appears in the Emergency Recovery list.
Another solution could be trying to flash using another version of Odin; I saw a similar problem on another forum and it was solved using Odin 3.10 to reflash the stock firmware.
Also remember that you can't downgrade your firmware once that you are on 5.1.1, no 5.02 or so allowed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you're using the same model as mine, what are you running on your S6 right now? Are you able to root and flash a custom ROM like XtrestroLite onto Android 5.1.1?
Can you guys help me check if this post has the correct steps or is it missing anything like bootloader and root?
reddit.com/r/GalaxyS6/comments/39wwf6/should_i_install_xtrestolite_rom/cs7b7yq

ztmj96 said:
Since you're using the same model as mine, what are you running on your S6 right now? Are you able to root and flash a custom ROM like XtrestroLite onto Android 5.1.1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually yeah. Earlier tonight I flashed XtreStoLite over stock 5.1.1, but I must confess it wasn't as easy as I thought, mainly because I didn't followed the steps in the right way and I ended up having to root my phone through installing UniKernel, which is pre-rooted and that did the trick for me, because I got stuck in the Samsung logo right after I tried to flash with CF-AutoRoot, needless to say I obviously couldn't root with that method and had to reflash stock 5.1.1 firmware to unbrick my phone, install UniKernel, and after that I was able to enter my phone config, uncheck the reactivation block under Find My Mobile settings (which was the reason for me to get stuck at the S-logo) and then flash through Odin XtreStoLite deodexed and Xposed FW too, so I can tell you for sure that SM-G920I can run XSL like a charm.

Gallitho said:
Actually yeah. Earlier tonight I flashed XtreStoLite over stock 5.1.1, but I must confess it wasn't as easy as I thought, mainly because I didn't followed the steps in the right way and I ended up having to root my phone through installing UniKernel, which is pre-rooted and that did the trick for me, because I got stuck in the Samsung logo right after I tried to flash with CF-AutoRoot, needless to say I obviously couldn't root with that method and had to reflash stock 5.1.1 firmware to unbrick my phone, install UniKernel, and after that I was able to enter my phone config, uncheck the reactivation block under Find My Mobile settings (which was the reason for me to get stuck at the S-logo) and then flash through Odin XtreStoLite deodexed and Xposed FW too, so I can tell you for sure that SM-G920I can run XSL like a charm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. So what is the correct order?
2. Did you have to manually unlock bootloader?
3. And is it a must to install uniKernel in order to root the device?
I have no idea how to proceed now.
This requires a lot more effort than I thought :fingers-crossed:

1. The correct order apparently WAS to flash 5.1.1 bootloader and modem over 5.0.2, then root, then TWRP, then flash XtreStoLite, or at least that was what I understood from Edgar's guide (as you can tell, I hurried myself too much and was to excited to flash XLS, so I didn't read properly).
Since I (and I think you did too) installed stock 5.1.1 first, there was no way to autoroot nor ping-pong root the device, that was the reason I got stuck in the Samsung logo screen after trying to autoroot, so I had to reflash stock 5.1.1 to regain access to the device settings/Find My Mobile as I explained before, after that I flashed UniKernel and that did the trick, no other steps were required to achieve root access beyond this point.
2. I didn't had to, but your carrier may have locked yours. My device is a SM-G920I (as yours) from Telcel carrier, so I can tell for sure.
3. There are several others way to root devices running over 5.0.2, but according to my personal research there aren't much options on 5.1.1 other than flash a pre-rooted kernel, but UniKernel isn't the only pre-rooted kernel, so you can choose whichever you like the most.
If I were you the first thing I'd try, as I said earlier, would be to switch to another Odin version or another firmware (as long as it is 5.1.1) and if that don't do the trick, then I'd update drivers and try via Smart Switch again.

Gallitho said:
1. The correct order apparently WAS to flash 5.1.1 bootloader and modem over 5.0.2, then root, then TWRP, then flash XtreStoLite, or at least that was what I understood from Edgar's guide (as you can tell, I hurried myself too much and was to excited to flash XLS, so I didn't read properly).
Since I (and I think you did too) installed stock 5.1.1 first, there was no way to autoroot nor ping-pong root the device, that was the reason I got stuck in the Samsung logo screen after trying to autoroot, so I had to reflash stock 5.1.1 to regain access to the device settings/Find My Mobile as I explained before, after that I flashed UniKernel and that did the trick, no other steps were required to achieve root access beyond this point.
2. I didn't had to, but your carrier may have locked yours. My device is a SM-G920I (as yours) from Telcel carrier, so I can tell for sure.
3. There are several others way to root devices running over 5.0.2, but according to my personal research there aren't much options on 5.1.1 other than flash a pre-rooted kernel, but UniKernel isn't the only pre-rooted kernel, so you can choose whichever you like the most.
If I were you the first thing I'd try, as I said earlier, would be to switch to another Odin version or another firmware (as long as it is 5.1.1) and if that don't do the trick, then I'd update drivers and try via Smart Switch again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you use to root? May I ask for the link? I just tried flashing CF AutoRoot and now I think it's bricked again. (RECOVERY IS NOT SEANDROID ENFORCING) I'm thinking it might be due to incompatibility because I got it from here (https://autoroot.chainfire.eu/#odin) and the Android version states 5.0.2.

ztmj96 said:
What did you use to root? May I ask for the link? I just tried flashing CF AutoRoot and now I think it's bricked again. (RECOVERY IS NOT SEANDROID ENFORCING) I'm thinking it might be due to incompatibility because I got it from here (https://autoroot.chainfire.eu/#odin) and the Android version states 5.0.2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, that was the exact moment where mine got stuck too, as I stated before at that time I had to reflash stock firmware. The trouble is caused by CF-Autoroot, it won't work at all when you're on 5.1.1 (at least with SM-G920I) and if you try to root using this method, you'll get stuck with the message "RECOVERY IS NOT SEANDROID ENFORCING". You'll have to reflash to stock too, I'm affraid...
Flash UniKernel via Odin once you're on 5.1.1 stock again and see the magic happen. Once you have root access, gained by this kernel, you can install TWRP and flash XtreStoLite or any other rom you may want. Here is the direct link to the post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s6/samsung-galaxy-s-6--s-6-edge-unified-development/kernel-stockmod-kernel-t3100395
Hope you get lucky.

Gallitho said:
Yep, that was the exact moment where mine got stuck too, as I stated before at that time I had to reflash stock firmware. The trouble is caused by CF-Autoroot, it won't work at all when you're on 5.1.1 (at least with SM-G920I) and if you try to root using this method, you'll get stuck with the message "RECOVERY IS NOT SEANDROID ENFORCING". You'll have to reflash to stock too, I'm affraid...
Flash UniKernel via Odin once you're on 5.1.1 stock again and see the magic happen. Once you have root access, gained by this kernel, you can install TWRP and flash XtreStoLite or any other rom you may want. Here is the direct link to the post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s6/samsung-galaxy-s-6--s-6-edge-unified-development/kernel-stockmod-kernel-t3100395
Hope you get lucky.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just did that before you suggested it and it worked! I was so elated! I love you bro (no homo). Our situations are identical. Now I have XtrestroLite running on the S6! Thank you so much!
Simply put:
1. Update bootloader and modem
2. Install TWRP without root via Odin
3. Install UniKernel via TWRP
4. Install ROMs!

ztmj96 said:
I just did that before you suggested it and it worked! I was so elated! I love you bro (no homo). Our situations are identical. Now I have XtrestroLite running on the S6! Thank you so much!
Simply put:
1. Update bootloader and modem
2. Install TWRP without root via Odin
3. Install UniKernel via TWRP
4. Install ROMs!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to read that, dude!
Yep, our situations are identical and also happened at the same time haha.
Now's time to enjoy! :good: