Stock ROM: Root & OTA Updates - Moto G 2015 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

My new MOTO G 2015 XT1540 16GB/2GB will be delivered early next week. I have been trying to do all my reading in advance. Ideally I would like to keep the stock ROM, root the device, and keep receiving OTA updates.
My understanding to date is it is possible root without installing (flashing) TWRP. And by fast booting TWRP (vice installing) I can root the phone, keep the stock boot loader, and receive OTA updates as long as I completely unroot the device prior to updating. What is not clear to me is if I can keep receive OTA updates and not break the phone under the following circumstances:
1) custom kernel installed
2) adding apps to the system such as Cerberus (I know it can be elsewhere)
3) adding apps that require root such as Adfree (modifying host file)
4) freezing or removing system apps (bloatware)
Any suggestions how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.

Freezing/adding apps doesn't affect ota's,

HelpMeruth said:
Freezing/adding apps doesn't affect ota's,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhh, yes it does, at least sometimes. My last OTA failed until a bug report to Motorola traced it to system apps I had frozen. I don't think it matters now, at least with Titanium and Marshmallow. Many of the system apps I uninstall or freeze come un-frozen after a reboot. All that I uninstall become installed again after a reboot. I don't know if that's a Titanium Backup problem with Marshmallow or what.

Tel864 said:
My last OTA failed until a bug report to Motorola traced it to system apps I had frozen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your update simply failed with no ill effect on the phone?
Were you using the stock kernel?

MrTooPhone said:
So your update simply failed with no ill effect on the phone?
Were you using the stock kernel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No lasting ill effect. Yes, everything stock. I had previously un-rooted which won't stop the OTA download, just the install. When the install still failed, I had forgotten that I'd frozen some Google apps, Gmail, Play Movies & TV, and Google Play Music. When the OTA kept failing to install, Motorola had me send a bug report. After I unfroze the above apps, the update seemed to go through fine. This had not happened on earlier versions of Android, so I'm thinking something changed or maybe it was just a bug in my software, who knows. You don't get a lot of feedback from Motorola. I think you have a better chance of winning the lottery or getting struck by lightning.

Related

[Q] OTA update error, rooted using CF-Autoroot

Hi, have seen some posts for this issue but none really help me understand what went wrong (tried this update 3 times with same result)
I have nexus 5 with android 4.4.2, rooted with CF-Auto root.
Recently i received OTA update notification to 4.4.3, but when i'm trying to install it i get error without any info.
Before trying to update i completely uninstall xposed and all of its modules.
To my understanding using CF-Autoroot should not interfere with OTA updates.
Any ideas?
oshera said:
Hi, have seen some posts for this issue but none really help me understand what went wrong (tried this update 3 times with same result)
I have nexus 5 with android 4.4.2, rooted with CF-Auto root.
Recently i received OTA update notification to 4.4.3, but when i'm trying to install it i get error without any info.
Before trying to update i completely uninstall xposed and all of its modules.
To my understanding using CF-Autoroot should not interfere with OTA updates.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you do any other system modifications? change kernels?
I'd just dirty flash 4.4.3 and call it a day.
Zepius said:
did you do any other system modifications? change kernels?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nop, unless apps like titanium backup or file manager (only other apps that require root) change something. :/
Lokke9191 said:
I'd just dirty flash 4.4.3 and call it a day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im no android expert(far from it), and prefer to stick to the most simple methods as long as i can run xposed framework.
this is why OTA without flashing or interfering with OS is best for me.
Keep this as last resort if no progress will happen regarding OTA updates.
Thanks!
oshera said:
Im no android expert(far from it), and prefer to stick to the most simple methods as long as i can run xposed framework.
this is why OTA without flashing or interfering with OS is best for me.
Keep this as last resort if no progress will happen regarding OTA updates.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OTA is more complex if you're rooted.. There's more flashing involved if you have / want a custom recovery (which all rooted users should aim to have)
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, boot recovery, flash, re-flash recovery, re-root
Rooted stock = boot recovery, flash
No brainer really. Flashing an OTA if rooted is a fool's errand
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
oshera said:
Im no android expert(far from it), and prefer to stick to the most simple methods as long as i can run xposed framework.
this is why OTA without flashing or interfering with OS is best for me.
Keep this as last resort if no progress will happen regarding OTA updates.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lmao, its FAR from the most simple method. most simple method would be to dirty flash a 443 stock/rooted rom and call it a day, without over complicating anything.
oshera said:
Hi, have seen some posts for this issue but none really help me understand what went wrong (tried this update 3 times with same result)
I have nexus 5 with android 4.4.2, rooted with CF-Auto root.
Recently i received OTA update notification to 4.4.3, but when i'm trying to install it i get error without any info.
Before trying to update i completely uninstall xposed and all of its modules.
To my understanding using CF-Autoroot should not interfere with OTA updates.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you uninstall Xposed from within the app? If you simply uninstalled it the same way you install regular aps (by dragging to uninstall from the app drawer) then it doesn't completely uninstall.
marleyfan61 said:
Did you uninstall Xposed from within the app? If you simply uninstalled it the same way you install regular aps (by dragging to uninstall from the app drawer) then it doesn't completely uninstall.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
That fixed my problem, after uninstall from within the app i could use OTA updates without flahing anything!
And thanks for everyone else for advises
oshera said:
Thank you!
That fixed my problem, after uninstall from within the app i could use OTA updates without flahing anything!
And thanks for everyone else for advises
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad it worked for you. For future reference, do read this sticky - http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/general/info-nexus-5-ota-help-desk-t2523217
(along with the other stickies in that forum)

N5 now can't find OTA update, but b4 yes

Since some week ago my n5 notice me the 5.0 update.....but since i want to wait a better version i disabled the notify of google play services.
Today i got to check if update is still here but......the message is that my phone is already updated.
5.0.1 also coming for n5?
Error from system?
My phone is stock except xposed framework and root by chainfire tool
Red_Vex said:
Since some week ago my n5 notice me the 5.0 update.....but since i want to wait a better version i disabled the notify of google play services.
Today i got to check if update is still here but......the message is that my phone is already updated.
5.0.1 also coming for n5?
Error from system?
My phone is stock except xposed framework and root by chainfire tool
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me fix your last sentence. You're running a stock ROM, but you're not fully stock. The second you modify anything in /system directory (even being rooted and or using xPosed) will disallow future OTAs.
If you're still planning to update, you should either ...
1. Return to stock by flashing 5.0 factory image through Fastboot. (Wipes all data and returns entire device to a clean state) (best option but make a backup)
2. Attempt to dirty flash (don't wipe data, but DO WIPE system) and flash a rooted Lollipop ROM, there are many. (Make a nandroid and continue from there..should work but it is a less suitable option)
Edit : Please note Xposed doesn't work on 5.0+ currently.
TheLastSidekick said:
Let me fix your last sentence. You're running a stock ROM, but you're not fully stock. The second you modify anything in /system directory (even being rooted and or using xPosed) will disallow future OTAs.
If you're still planning to update, you should either ...
1. Return to stock by flashing 5.0 factory image through Fastboot. (Wipes all data and returns entire device to a clean state) (best option but make a backup)
2. Attempt to dirty flash (don't wipe data, but DO WIPE system) and flash a rooted Lollipop ROM, there are many. (Make a nandroid and continue from there..should work but it is a less suitable option)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not what i mean.
I know perfectly that i must be fully stock to apply ota update.
What i mean is why notification of update is vanished from few days... i've xposed and root from months and the ota notification message is not influenced by that since i've received lollipop notification.
What i'm asking is that notification is gone because they are going to rollout 5.0.1 also for n5 (so they remove the old 5.0 from ota to make space to a possible 5.0.1) or something else.
Anyway if i want to update i'll flash factory removing -w from flash all .bat and before to do this uninstall xposed and unroot from supersu.
In this way i'm full stock.
And of course i know that doesn't work on ART runtime i'm still on 4.4.4
Red_Vex said:
That's not what i mean.
I know perfectly that i must be fully stock to apply ota update.
What i mean is why notification of update is vanished from few days... i've xposed and root from months and the ota notification message is not influenced by that since i've received lollipop notification.
What i'm asking is that notification is gone because they are going to rollout 5.0.1 also for n5 (so they remove the old 5.0 from ota to make space to a possible 5.0.1) or something else.
Anyway if i want to update i'll flash factory removing -w from flash all .bat and before to do this uninstall xposed and unroot from supersu.
In this way i'm full stock.
And of course i know that doesn't work on ART runtime i'm still on 4.4.4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems you are well versed. As per why the notification vanished I have no direct answer, other than that maybe somehow disabling Google Play Services triggered a bug where it thinks you've already updated.
TheLastSidekick said:
It seems you are well versed. As per why the notification vanished I have no direct answer, other than that maybe somehow disabling Google Play Services triggered a bug where it thinks you've already updated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might be a bug, the update isn't showing to me either. I was planning tho update using fast boot anyway, I just hope it doesn't escalate to 5.0
Itsukki said:
Might be a bug, the update isn't showing to me either. I was planning tho update using fast boot anyway, I just hope it doesn't escalate to 5.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Friendly advice but if you're not doing a -w and you're doing a FULL wipe you may be better off waiting for 5.0.1 official or just go pure AOSP.
TheLastSidekick said:
Friendly advice but if you're not doing a -w and you're doing a FULL wipe you may be better off waiting for 5.0.1 official or just go pure AOSP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm just trying to see if the battery bug is present updating (It used to fix some issues on my cm days) instead of flashing. I have a nandroid ready to go back.

How to stop lollipop from installing automatically?

I have just noticed my G3 is taking the ota without asking for my approval. How can I stop it from doing it again? Thanks in advance.
Secret Menu
I went to the dialer keypad and typed in 3845#*850#, the 850 is my model number. Change it to your model # and secret menu will appear. Tap on WLAN settings and it will show OTA updates and pick disable. That's it. Worked for me.
Did that but the phone will still try to install. The reason I know is because my phone will be boot looping in twrp. At first I thought I did something crazy until this morning I saw a message saying phone will install update and will reboot in 10 seconds. Good thing is that I have the boot loop fix zip file in my sdcard.
I kept having this happen to me as well, even after disabling the option in the secret menu. I ended up installing the 855 minus 5 ROM.
I actually had that happen as well. My whole system was gone and stuck in twrp. I downloaded the copy of the 10f stock file and the zip fix file. Thought everything was good, then the update popped up again in the notifation bar, so I made a backup in twrp and tried disabling notifications. The next morning it started to auto install and it failed. Stuck in twrp again, ran my backup then disabled notifications again. Haven't seen the update again in the notifications. Hopefully it won't come back.
Using TiBu, I disabled/froze com.leg.lgfota.permission and Software Update and I have not had any issues.
Sent from my LG G3 D850
So I tried Titanium Backup. Couldn't figure out how to do it. I also noticed I couldn't send or receive MMS pics. Did some searching and on Google Play, there is an app called Disable Service. Download the app, open it, click on system at the top, scroll down to Google Play Services and click on it. Scroll down to SystemUpdateService and uncheck the box. I also went down to software update and unchecked all 3 of those boxes. Restart your phone and you're done. I also re enabled the setting in the secret menu. Now my pics come through again and the update disappeared when I restarted the phone.
Can the OTA be undone?
auky said:
I have just noticed my G3 is taking the ota without asking for my approval. How can I stop it from doing it again? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This may be a dumb question but I had something similar happen and I'm desperately looking for a way to reverse things. My D850 was rooted, still stock but tweaked to PERFECTION, and I was under the false impression that the OTA checked for root and wouldn't proceed, so when I got the notification that the update was available I dismissed it and didn't think about it. Next morning I woke up to find the OTA happened without any action from me and of course I lost root. The phone is now really sluggish with numerous nuisances and I hate it. AT&T really f'd up my perfect G3. I chose not to factory reset or clear the cache as some have suggested to improve performance. I guess I was hoping that with everything still installed there might be some hope to regain root.
I'm reading about people going back back and flashing zip files but I don't get how it's being done. I did not have a custom recovery installed but I did have a backup with Titanium, although I obviously can't get into that now without root. The really odd thing is that Softcard still thinks it's rooted and won't run. Anybody have any ideas?
Thanks,
...Joe K.
jkovacs89 said:
This may be a dumb question but I had something similar happen and I'm desperately looking for a way to reverse things. My D850 was rooted, still stock but tweaked to PERFECTION, and I was under the false impression that the OTA checked for root and wouldn't proceed, so when I got the notification that the update was available I dismissed it and didn't think about it. Next morning I woke up to find the OTA happened without any action from me and of course I lost root. The phone is now really sluggish with numerous nuisances and I hate it. AT&T really f'd up my perfect G3. I chose not to factory reset or clear the cache as some have suggested to improve performance. I guess I was hoping that with everything still installed there might be some hope to regain root.
I'm reading about people going back back and flashing zip files but I don't get how it's being done. I did not have a custom recovery installed but I did have a backup with Titanium, although I obviously can't get into that now without root. The really odd thing is that Softcard still thinks it's rooted and won't run. Anybody have any ideas?
Thanks,
...Joe K.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid you wont be able to go back to rooted kitkat without having to clean install as there is no root for Lollipop yet.
aybarrap1 said:
Using TiBu, I disabled/froze com.leg.lgfota.permission and Software Update and I have not had any issues.
Sent from my LG G3 D850
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey aybarrap just curious if the TiBu freezing has held up. Took your advice and did the same. Just curious if you've had any issues so I can be on the lookout.
adosin said:
Hey aybarrap just curious if the TiBu freezing has held up. Took your advice and did the same. Just curious if you've had any issues so I can be on the lookout.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have NOT received a single nag or download for OTA. I have had these frozen for over two months without seeing any issues in the phone's operations. In fact I waited 10 days after the 10f was released before installing and had no issues.

[Q] XNPH05Q - Disable system update alltogether?

Hi all,
I tried finding for a way to disable system updates (OTA's) completely. The search function revealed some methods, but all of them seem to be device specific - anyone got an idea how to kill updates on the OPO? Reason being is that I am very very happy with my current setup, and I don't want to change it under any circumstances (and if I do at some point, it should be my decission). So I keep canceling update notifications, but the phone is still downloading them - at 90MB each. And keeps doing so whenever I cancel, so I'm wasting 500-600 MB per month out of my 3GB data package.
Phone is fully rooted, running stock CM11-XNPH05Q with TWRP 2.8.5.1 bacon.
Any help would be highly appreciated!
Goto System/apps Find any app related to OTA updates Just Delete it and reboot.
Use Root explorer.
pratyush369 said:
Goto System/apps Find any app related to OTA updates Just Delete it and reboot.
Use Root explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh no, don't delete it, that's a terrible idea. First, it won't work, you can't just delete system apps through that menu. Secondly, you have no idea if deleting a system app is going to send the phone into an unrecoverable boot loop. The best idea is to freeze the update app with Titanium Backup, root required of course.
Transmitted via Bacon
Viking84 said:
Hi all,
I tried finding for a way to disable system updates (OTA's) completely. The search function revealed some methods, but all of them seem to be device specific - anyone got an idea how to kill updates on the OPO? Reason being is that I am very very happy with my current setup, and I don't want to change it under any circumstances (and if I do at some point, it should be my decission). So I keep canceling update notifications, but the phone is still downloading them - at 90MB each. And keeps doing so whenever I cancel, so I'm wasting 500-600 MB per month out of my 3GB data package.
Phone is fully rooted, running stock CM11-XNPH05Q with TWRP 2.8.5.1 bacon.
Any help would be highly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't CM11-XNPH05Q the latest OTA? So what updates would you be nagged about then? I'm on 44S and I've freezed the system update apk to stop being nagged about installing CM11-XNPH05Q.
aussieglis said:
Isn't CM11-XNPH05Q the latest OTA? So what updates would you be nagged about then? I'm on 44S and I've freezed the system update apk to stop being nagged about installing CM11-XNPH05Q.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been nagged with all updates since I got the OPO about 9 months ago, I configured my phone the way I wanted it back then, didn't miss any particular features and never encountered any specific bugs that annoyed me. Just last weekend I updated to 05Q to get rid of notifications for now, and the new updated that pushed some unwanted software on me (swiftkey and something else that installed as system apps) fortified my decision to get rid of all future update and not change the running system again. Oh and it sucks to re-root every time, survival mode of SuperSU Pro doesn't seem to work.
Do you realise that there's a reason for updates? They bring fixes for bugs, added fluidity and/or stability, added features, plus a metric crap-ton of stuff under the hood. Plus, it literally takes me 30 seconds to flash SuperSU after an update.
Well as I said, I don't care about new features if I'm happy with the current ones, and if there are no obvious bugs, I don't care.
And I really, really hate it when dev's are pushing unwanted crap [aka 'system apps'] on me.
Fair enough, if you're happy with the phone the way it is, leave it the way it is.

Security Update XT1572

Finally the September Security Patch is available for the Style. Hope Nougat is on the way soon.
How many threads about a September security patch that is now 4 months old do we need? Not very impressive to get the September patch in January in my opinion. If anything, the release of a security patch for Marshmallow now doesn't give me much hope that we will see Nougat in the near future. I hope I'm wrong, but I feel like we are getting screwed.
Moto does security patches in 1/4 by 1/4 updates so roughly every three months. Also they are usually a 1/4 behind the most recent.
autosurgeon said:
Moto does security patches in 1/4 by 1/4 updates so roughly every three months. Also they are usually a 1/4 behind the most recent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Motorola/Lenovo never committed to a release schedule.
If u have the captured ota pls share it here
Xt 1572 Retasia Ds
False expectations that it was Nougat update, turns out to be just a security update for September month.
Moto updates slowly turning out to be a just a regular name any oem. No reliability for the software updates.
Day by day getting disappointed by Moto series ??
quakeaz said:
Motorola/Lenovo never committed to a release schedule.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am aware of that however past performance while not indicative or proof of future performance says they have been sticking to an every 3 to 4 month schedule on Moto X line for security updates.
Uninstalled supersu, flashed stock recovery, downloaded security update. But while install getting the dead andi symbol with 'error'. upon reboot says the update install was unsuccessful. phone functions normally.
where did it go wrong? any suggestions.?
thanks
kcnanand said:
Uninstalled supersu, flashed stock recovery, downloaded security update. But while install getting the dead andi symbol with 'error'. upon reboot says the update install was unsuccessful. phone functions normally.
where did it go wrong? any suggestions.?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uninstalling SU doesn't disable root. Did you unroot?
boxman99 said:
Uninstalling SU doesn't disable root. Did you unroot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did full unroot from within the su app before remove twrp. Don't want to restore full stock image. May be I will wait till N is released. Now if there is a way to disable the nagging update notification
Sent from my XT1572 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
kcnanand said:
I did full unroot from within the su app before remove twrp. Don't want to restore full stock image. May be I will wait till N is released. Now if there is a way to disable the nagging update notification
Sent from my XT1572 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you used root to make any change to the system partition (like Xposed, or even some simple things like the GSAM root battery_stats monitor), you cannot take an OTA successfully. The script checks to see if the system partition has been modified, or possibly just ever mounted R/W, and will refuse to continue and will result in an error in recovery like you see.
If the condition occurs like you are seeing, the only recourse is to restore to pure stock by flashing the factory images or restoring a pre-root TWRP backup.
acejavelin said:
If you used root to make any change to the system partition (like Xposed, or even some simple things like the GSAM root battery_stats monitor), you cannot take an OTA successfully. The script checks to see if the system partition has been modified, or possibly just ever mounted R/W, and will refuse to continue and will result in an error in recovery like you see.
If the condition occurs like you are seeing, the only recourse is to restore to pure stock by flashing the factory images or restoring a pre-root TWRP backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way to do is flash stock.. else wipe cache partition and disable notification for Moto Update app. It wont bother you anymore.
rahul14322 said:
The only way to do is flash stock.. else wipe cache partition and disable notification for Moto Update app. It wont bother you anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, I meant the only way to take the OTA update was to go back to stock... I neglected to mention that you can restore functionality to the device by just wiping caches.
I got the Security Update today too @ XT1572
ATT here got it today as well.
Anyone having problems with calls after this update!?
Since I updated yestarday people complaining they dont hear me well when they call me!
andromobilogy said:
Anyone having problems with calls after this update!?
Since I updated yestarday people complaining they dont hear me well when they call me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problems here... Spent a good 2 hours on the phone last night after getting the update and no one said anything.
kcnanand said:
Uninstalled supersu, flashed stock recovery, downloaded security update. But while install getting the dead andi symbol with 'error'. upon reboot says the update install was unsuccessful. phone functions normally.
where did it go wrong? any suggestions.?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do a minimal factory restore to satisfy the checks for the OTA. Just reflash the partitions most likely modified (recovery, system, boot) and the OTA should succeed. This assumes you're not running an alternate modem or haven't tinkered with any other partitions (besides the logo, that's fine to leave altered).
See ace's nice post @ https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...de-return-to-stock-relock-bootloader-t3489110, and just execute the lines from boot.img to system.img_sparsechunk.8 with the appropriate 6.0 (May) files.
Has anyone from India received this update? I download RETASIA DS verison of this ROM and flashed it, however I'm getting no wifi and can't find an alternate download link. And obviously now I can't flash an older verison and then update using OTA
rahul14322 said:
The only way to do is flash stock.. else wipe cache partition and disable notification for Moto Update app. It wont bother you anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What Moto Update app??? I don't see such a thing listed under Apps in settings.

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