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[Q]How to receive an OTA update without losing root?

For the Nexus 5, how can I install an OTA update without losing root?
I believe there are different ways to do this, Can some share what works? With or without a custom recovery installed. Thanks.
(For this who haven't heard, an update is rumored for 11/13, FWIW)

pseudoware said:
For the Nexus 5, how can I install an OTA update without losing root?
I believe there are different ways to do this, Can some share what works? With or without a custom recovery installed. Thanks.
(For this who haven't heard, an update is rumored for 11/13, FWIW)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check if OTA Rootkeeper https://play.google.com/store/search?q=ota rootkeeper is 4.4 compatible or maybe a similar app. If it isn`t rerooting with CF Auto Root will take 2 minutes bro.
-Edit- enable root survival mode after installing a OTA if you use superSU in the superSU settings menu

.... i'm sorry, but i have to ask why bother with the OTA updates if one has a custom recovery installed? can almost bet money on someone having a flashable image here of the stock ROM within hours of one being released.

elementaldragon said:
.... i'm sorry, but i have to ask why bother with the OTA updates if one has a custom recovery installed? can almost bet money on someone having a flashable image here of the stock ROM within hours of one being released.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, but some are still on the stock rom, recovery and kernel and only want root.

pseudoware said:
For the Nexus 5, how can I install an OTA update without losing root?
I believe there are different ways to do this, Can some share what works? With or without a custom recovery installed. Thanks.
(For this who haven't heard, an update is rumored for 11/13, FWIW)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who cares when it's so easy to root.

Thanks for the replies. Which N5 sub-forum is the most likely place where someone would post the updated flashable stock image, when available?

pseudoware said:
Thanks for the replies. Which N5 sub-forum is the most likely place where someone would post the updated flashable stock image, when available?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chuck this out in the general forum, it's stikied. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=46290762

jd1639 said:
Who cares when it's so easy to root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But wouldn't one lose their data if they used CF-Auto Root again?
When I did the process, it wiped my phone.
Or is it that once the bootloader is unlocked it never wipes the phone again? Meaning it's just a simple matter of running CF auto root after OTA update and nothing else will be changed?

Still have the doubt
I know this information has to be somewhere in this forum, but I have searched and haven't found it. The question is, if I install an update with TWRP, will I lose root as well? If so, is there a way to get it back without wiping everything?
I think the answer is in what the previous post says, that once the bootloader is unlocked, there is no forced wipe anymore. I'm not sure, though.
Actually, the only thing I want is to be able to update to stock unaltered ROMs without losing root (and without a full wipe, of course), I don't care if I have to flash it manually or if I have to install TWRP or if it's ok with OTAs.
Thanks.

[Q] Root issues after 4.4.2 update

I manually sideloaded 4.4.2 onto my nexus 5 all was good and root appeared to be working as nova,lightflow,adblock all asked for permission upon reauthentication. However when i went into supersu it prompted for a updated. Which I continued as normal but it fails. Even after reboot.
I've even tried using cf-autoroot again to no luck.
Whats the best solution for me.
Nexus 5 - 4.4.2 KOT49H from 4.4 KRT16M
Root : Supersu by chainfire using cf-autoroot.
Nova launcher seems to be able to use root as does lightflow and root explorer.
Adblock asks but cannot change the files it needs.
Any extra information needed I will gladly produce

Try flashing su zip? - https://mega.co.nz/#!xk92nAZI!t2-Mhj_BbBMlYVj6OLC6xT2ycAMixnETqnUdqFXkr9w
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Ben36 said:
Try flashing su zip?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a custom recovery and sideloading this fails.

brichardson1991 said:
I don't have a custom recovery and sideloading this fails.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use fastboot to flash a custom recovery?
basic stuff man.

Zepius said:
use fastboot to flash a custom recovery?
basic stuff man.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought not having a custom recovery was the way to ensure OTA updates?
But if I'm not going to be getting OTA then I'll go for it.
Whats the best one for Nexus 5, as i used to use Clockworkmod on Galaxy S2 but i've read TWRP is better ?

brichardson1991 said:
I thought not having a custom recovery was the way to ensure OTA updates?
But if I'm not going to be getting OTA then I'll go for it.
Whats the best one for Nexus 5, as i used to use Clockworkmod on Galaxy S2 but i've read TWRP is better ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
custom recoveries in themselves do not stop a OTA. what stops a OTA is the fact that people do system mods and that breaks the OTA.
as for which is best, that falls under best rom/kernel type stuff. pick one.

brichardson1991 said:
I thought not having a custom recovery was the way to ensure OTA updates?
But if I'm not going to be getting OTA then I'll go for it.
Whats the best one for Nexus 5, as i used to use Clockworkmod on Galaxy S2 but i've read TWRP is better ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OTA only check the system partiiton, custom recovery won't spoil OTA.
and stock recovery = no recovery

I prefer TWRP.
If you currently have root access, download teh TWRP app from the Play Store and it'll install itself

brichardson1991 said:
I thought not having a custom recovery was the way to ensure OTA updates?
But if I'm not going to be getting OTA then I'll go for it.
Whats the best one for Nexus 5, as i used to use Clockworkmod on Galaxy S2 but i've read TWRP is better ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't have ANY modification. Recovery, Kernel, Binaries(Xposed), factory apps all have to be in tact for the official OTA to work. You'll need to find to flashable version, or flash clean back to absolute stock.

Decimation said:
You can't have ANY modification. Recovery, Kernel, Binaries(Xposed), factory apps all have to be in tact for the official OTA to work. You'll need to find to flashable version, or flash clean back to absolute stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I flashed TWRP using the app.
and now supersu is up to date.
So in future all OTA updates won't work and i will just have to sideload them like i did with these 2 ?
If that's the case I'm fine with that.

For future OTA you can flash the OTA after the download is provided here, then flash SuperSU immediately after. Also just double check if SuperSU is updated so you have the most recent version.
Thats what I did for the 4.4.1 and 4.4.2 OTAs and I never lost root. All done via TWRP

Thanks all. I've sorted it out. Can close this topic now.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] Update Error again?! Really?!

Greetings!
So, the update 4.4.4. OTA was just avaible in my phone now and when it rebooted to install it, I received an error...AGAIN! I did some modifications to the system in the past, but then put the phone back to stock (using the tutorial here on xda) and flashed the 4.4.3. (from previsouly 4.4.2. - Nexus 5.
In this version (4.4.3.) the phone was completly stock except it had root (with cf-auto root) and with Xposed. I didn't do any modification to the system and when it was isntalling the new version, it did an error again, like I have done modifications to the system! I Already unchecked all the modules and unistalled the framework before updating to 4.4.4 OTA... Don't know why it isnt doing the workingOTA update..
Please help me! Thanks in advance!

how did you uninstall the framework?

Zepius said:
how did you uninstall the framework?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Went to Xposed Framework and clicked on Unistall framework, like I should..

ExoidX said:
Went to Xposed Framework and clicked on Unistall framework, like I should..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Save the hassle and flash the system and boot image from 4.4.4 in fastboot.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

Just download the full rooted stock ROM in android development and flash it without wipe from recovery.
It's actually fewer steps anyway.
OTA = revert system changes and/or kernel, reboot into recovery, flash the OTA , boot to bootloader, connect to pc, fastboot flash recovery, reboot into recovery, flash supersu.
Rooted stock = reboot into recovery, flash the ROM.
No brainer really. Flashing an OTA if rooted is a fool's errand.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

rootSU said:
No brainer really. Flashing an OTA if rooted is a fool's errand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's an OTA?

Lethargy said:
What's an OTA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unsure at this stage.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

But if i'm completly stock and already unistalled Xposed, why I can't update OTA? I know how to flash the update, but would like to know why... Because if I receive an update installing error, maybe the system is with some files missing and I probably have to put back to stock all over again and then update no? (That's what i'm afraid off, because if I only need to flash the update no problem, but put all over to stock...)

ExoidX said:
But if i'm completly stock and already unistalled Xposed, why I can't update OTA? I know how to flash the update, but would like to know why... Because if I receive an update installing error, maybe the system is with some files missing and I probably have to put back to stock all over again and then update no? (That's what i'm afraid off, because if I only need to flash the update no problem, but put all over to stock...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who knows what all modules you installed and what changes those modules did to system? Just take our advice and flash the stock 4.4.4 rooted rom. Done within a few steps.
Why do you want to OTA update it?
- Sent from an IceCold Hammerhead!

vin4yak said:
Who knows what all modules you installed and what changes those modules did to system? Just take our advice and flash the stock 4.4.4 rooted rom. Done within a few steps.
Why do you want to OTA update it?
- Sent from an IceCold Hammerhead!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. We are not mind readers.. We do not have all the facts.. "Why?" Is not the right question. "How?" is the right question and that has already been answered.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Q] Restoring my recovery, but not wiping

Hi all,
I have searched the web, but haven't found an exact answer to my question.
I have a Nexus 5, currently on 4.4.2 (KOT49H). I am unlocked, rooted + Xposed and have TWRP. I want to update to 4.4.4 preferably OTA, officially. I would like to be able to use OTA updates from now on if possible.
Currently, if I disable Xposed, and use Suvival Mode in SuperSU and try to install the OTA update, TWRP intervenes and doesn't let me.
I would like to replace TWRP with the stock recovery so I can update OTA in the future. I don't want to wipe the phone to achieve this if possible. If this isn't possible, could someone step through how to update to 4.4.4 with TWRP installed — I'm on a mac also.

Flash the stock recovery image in fastboot
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
Flash the stock recovery image in fastboot
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where can I find the stock recovery? Is that this: *w*w*w*.developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

providedbike said:
Where can I find the stock recovery? Is that this: *w*w*w*.developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, extract the image and then the zip file
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

OTA is the least compatible and hardest way to update. Why do you want to use this method? It's the worst option available to you.

rootSU said:
OTA is the least compatible and hardest way to update. Why do you want to use this method? It's the worst option available to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because it would seem easier for me—AFAIK. Although this didn't work, this workflow sounds appealing to me every time an update comes out:
- Disable Xposed
- Enable Survival Mode in SuperSU
- Install OTA update
- Re-enable Xposed, done.
No USB, no computer, no terminal.
Is there another way to achieve this?

providedbike said:
Because it would seem easier for me—AFAIK. Although this didn't work, this workflow sounds appealing to me every time an update comes out:
- Disable Xposed
- Enable Survival Mode in SuperSU
- Install OTA update
- Re-enable Xposed, done.
No USB, no computer, no terminal.
Is there another way to achieve this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Running a rooting rom without a custom recovery is dangerous IMHO.
Without having to lose custom recovery
1) Download latest rooted stock ROM
2) Flash
3) Enable Xposed

rootSU said:
Running a rooting rom without a custom recovery is dangerous IMHO.
Without having to lose custom recovery
1) Download latest rooted stock ROM
2) Flash
3) Enable Xposed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does this apply for the stock rom? I'm rooted, but still stock...

providedbike said:
Does this apply for the stock rom? I'm rooted, but still stock...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, whenever there is a new stock ROM, someone makes a rooted stock flashable zip of it. Also if you make any small changes to system, sometimes like adblocking, OTA will fail but flashable zip of rom will just override all that bs.
latest 4.4.4 rooted stock rom is in a thread which you can find i the resources section of the sticky-roll-up thread. You can get there via my signature.
That way, you can take a nandroid backup so if anything goes wrong after the update, you can do a full restore, where as with OTA you will not be able to with stock recovery.

rootSU said:
Yes, whenever there is a new stock ROM, someone makes a rooted stock flashable zip of it. Also if you make any small changes to system, sometimes like adblocking, OTA will fail but flashable zip of rom will just override all that bs.
latest 4.4.4 rooted stock rom is in a thread which you can find i the resources section of the sticky-roll-up thread. You can get there via my signature.
That way, you can take a nandroid backup so if anything goes wrong after the update, you can do a full restore, where as with OTA you will not be able to with stock recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok great that's very helpful, thanks!

providedbike said:
Ok great that's very helpful, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem.
I just think that way is easier....I wouldn't want you putting extra work in, if you dont have to. It also gives you more freedom to work with mods in the future too, or kernels etc

rootSU said:
No problem.
I just think that way is easier....I wouldn't want you putting extra work in, if you dont have to. It also gives you more freedom to work with mods in the future too, or kernels etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep it's all good. For some reason, I had this little fear of the fact it's an official stock rom, that's been "toyed" with. But of course that makes no sense really, considering I'm willing to install many third party apps and processes that could easily alter/mess my phone up.
Do the rooted stock roms get released fairly rapidly after the official one is released?

providedbike said:
Yep it's all good. For some reason, I had this little fear of the fact it's an official stock rom, that's been "toyed" with. But of course that makes no sense really, considering I'm willing to install many third party apps and processes that could easily alter/mess my phone up.
Do the rooted stock roms get released fairly rapidly after the official one is released?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. as soon as the factory image is released. Maybe a day or two. Which is before 99% of people even receive the OTA notification

rootSU said:
Yeah. as soon as the factory image is released. Maybe a day or two. Which is before 99% of people even receive the OTA notification
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perfect, thanks for clearing things up for me.
Just checking, I'll make a backup before I flash, but technically, will all my data still be there if all goes to plan?

providedbike said:
Perfect, thanks for clearing things up for me.
Just checking, I'll make a backup before I flash, but technically, will all my data still be there if all goes to plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. the /data partition is not touched. Just /system and /boot (ROM and Kernel)

rootSU said:
Yep. the /data partition is not touched. Just /system and /boot (ROM and Kernel)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great I'll do it tonight

Can I get root on 5.0 without installing a custom recovery?

Sorry for having to ask this but I am getting confused with the threads talking about rooting the different versions on the nexus 5.
From what I am reading I am thinking you can only get root at this point if you want to install a custom recovery? Is that correct? I want root so I can run xposed but I would rather say with the stock recovery so I can still get OTA updates. Just want to make sure if I am missing something or not.
Thanks!

You can root stock android 5.0 using chainfire auto root. Google it, I can't link. But.....Xposed will not work on 5.0 regardless of root. Sorry mate.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

frenziedfemale said:
You can root stock android 5.0 using chainfire auto root. Google it, I can't link. But.....Xposed will not work on 5.0 regardless of root. Sorry mate.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
xposed don't work with ART runtime, so no xposed on Lollipop
use CF auto root from chainfire
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/orig-development/nexus-5-cf-auto-root-t2507211

1) root without custom recovery is a bad idea
2) xposed prevents ota updates
3) you don't need stock recovery to receive ota updates
4) ota updates are not the only way to update
5) xposed doesn't work on L

Thanks for clarifying everybody. Maybe I will wait until xposed works. FYI I had xposed installed before upgrading and I got the ota.

rootSU said:
1) root without custom recovery is a bad idea
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can boot a custom recovery every time you want by just running a "fastboot boot customrecovery.img" from a computer when connected via bootloader.

msaeger said:
Thanks for clarifying everybody. Maybe I will wait until xposed works. FYI I had xposed installed before upgrading and I got the ota.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could be waiting a while.... It may never work
I don't get why you specifically don't want a custom recovery? It's modifying the system that makes ota not work. Twrp can flash the ota file that downloads to your phone the same as stock recovery
Sent from my Android 5.0 Nexus 5

brotbuexe said:
You can boot a custom recovery every time you want by just running a "fastboot boot customrecovery.img" from a computer when connected via bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and you always need access to a computer to do that. It's less than idea, ergo not a good idea.

Ben36 said:
You could be waiting a while.... It may never work
I don't get why you specifically don't want a custom recovery? It's modifying the system that makes ota not work. Twrp can flash the ota file that downloads to your phone the same as stock recovery
Sent from my Android 5.0 Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess I didn't want one because I thought it would stop ota updates but if xposed won't work I don't have any reason to root anyway.

What features do you want xposed for?
Sent from my Android 5.0 Nexus 5

hmmm...
I could not live without slim.

Ben36 said:
What features do you want xposed for?
Sent from my Android 5.0 Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With 4.4.4 I wanted it to add rotation lock to the quick setting pull down but now I see that is there anyway. I also was using lock screen disable. There also looked like there was a ton of good modules I had not tried but those where the two I installed it for.

msaeger said:
With 4.4.4 I wanted it to add rotation lock to the quick setting pull down but now I see that is there anyway. I also was using lock screen disable. There also looked like there was a ton of good modules I had not tried but those where the two I installed it for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could wait for cataclysm lollipop to see what features it's gonna have. See in the original development forum
Sent from my Android 5.0 Nexus 5