Which phones allow keeping changes made from twrp after locking the bootloader? - General Questions and Answers

So I've seen a few posts in the past, where someone has suggested rooting then locking the bootloader and other things like this. But now days do all phones delete data when they unlock the bootloader, if yes do some manufacturers not delete the data when you choose to relock the bootloader?
What i want is to know which brands if any would be possible for me to, unlock the bootloader flash twrp flash xposed other files root ect restore the stock recovery and then relock the bootloader keeping the changes i have made, for security reasons unlocked bootloaders are risky.
The next question is if this is possible if something messes up while it's locked, i won't have twrp to recover it, how would i fix this is this a issue for bricking the device? will fastboot always work to flash stock firmware files if the manufacturer provides them? i'm assuming that would be the only way to solve this? does fastboot need something like OEM unlock turned on in the system to be able to flash firmware to recover? if it does i wouldn't be able to fix that.
Samsung doesn't require OEM unlock to be turned on to flash through odin, but because of all samsung phones using dm-vertity even if the bootloader doesn't delete everything locking it, dm-verity would detect the changes and prevent using the phone in that state.
Appreciate all suggestions.
Thanks.

Related

Difference between unlocking bootloader and rooting

Does unlocking the bootloader give you root?
And in which instances can you flash a custom recovery or customs ROMs?
Rooting means you can install apps that require root access (like titanium backup or setcpu). Unlocked bootloader means you can load any rom, kernel, etc that you like. Unlocked bootloader is usually acquired after rooting.
I'm not sure I totally understand the first reply, so here is my take on it.
Rooting will let you install apps that require root as already stated, but rooting will let you install custom ROMs and do just about any tweak you want. I finally did unlock my bootloader, but the only benefit I gained was being able to change the flash screen, which is the first screen you see when the phone powers on.
I have read that it's harder to brick your phone with a s=off bootloader too.
It is not harder to brick your phone with an unlocked bootloader, just easier to recover from a soft-brick. An unlocked bootloader will allow you to flash using fastboot. So in the case of a corrupt recovery, or something along those lines, you are able to flash it using your computer. It basically allows you to flash different parts of an image separately.
lowandbehold said:
It is not harder to brick your phone with an unlocked bootloader, just easier to recover from a soft-brick.
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That's pretty much what I meant, I just didn't say it right. Thanks for clearing it up.
How to find my phones' bootloader is locked or not? Because i already flashed different custom ROMs and using it.
Regards,
Cjey
If you are rooted with a custom recovery, your bootloader is unlocked.
lowandbehold said:
If you are rooted with a custom recovery, your bootloader is unlocked.
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Thanks buddy,
I want to know that what if i flash ROM for locked bootloaders?
Honestly, I didn't know you can root your phone till today I read a few posts here. So thank you all guys for the input
slight confusion over rooted
i had the .67 generic uk firmware, i downloaded the central europe .73 firmware and used flashtool to flash the ftf file,
all worked fine once i installed the drivers on flash tool,
my confusion is...... alot of people are saying there phone is rooted/bootloader unlocked, am i rite in thinking my phone is rooted and not unlocked,
others have also said they have flashed the .img to the phone which i havent done, is there something ive done wrong ?

Flashing 33R (or any future OTA) without flashing the bootlodder

Is it possible to pull the 33R OTA package off the OnePlus One site (or anywhere else), and flash the package (via fastboot), on an "exploited" bootloader. In my case, I have an original OnePlus One with the old bootloader, which can be exploited, so that I can do stupid stuff, without unlocking the bootloader. Is it possible to extract the bootloader from a 33R edition (or greater) CM11s ROM, and only flash the /system and other partitions without overwriting my exploited bootloader. (I.e. flash the individual packages via fastboot)
You might ask me why I want to keep the old, unsecure bootloader on my OPO? Cause I don't want to constantly lock/unlock the bootloader after each OTA, and also because I like my OPO that way. (I'm on 25R at the moment)
Why do you think you need to lock/unlock the bootloader for an OTA? That isn't true at all. Just unlock it, leave it unlocked, and you never need to worry about it again.
Transmitted via Bacon
timmaaa said:
Why do you think you need to lock/unlock the bootloader for an OTA? That isn't true at all. Just unlock it, leave it unlocked, and you never need to worry about it again.
Transmitted via Bacon
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The bootloader is there for a 2nd security measure, in case your phone falls into the wrong hands. After you're done rooting and messing about with the phone, you'd relock the bootloader, so if someone tries to hack your phone via root shell, they would have to wipe the phone. For whatever reason, I want to keep my exploitable bootloader, but also update at the same time. AFAIK, the bootloader has no effect on the Android OS, so I was asking whether I could flash every package, except the bootloader, via fastboot. I know keeping the exploitable bootloader is a stupid thing to do, but it's just as stupid as leaving the bootloader unlocked after rooting.
Desolutional said:
The bootloader is there for a 2nd security measure, in case your phone falls into the wrong hands. After you're done rooting and messing about with the phone, you'd relock the bootloader, so if someone tries to hack your phone via root shell, they would have to wipe the phone. For whatever reason, I want to keep my exploitable bootloader, but also update at the same time. AFAIK, the bootloader has no effect on the Android OS, so I was asking whether I could flash every package, except the bootloader, via fastboot. I know keeping the exploitable bootloader is a stupid thing to do, but it's just as stupid as leaving the bootloader unlocked after rooting.
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The chances are if your phone was to be stolen, the thief wouldn't even know a thing about what a bootloader is. As what Tim said, there's no reason to leave your bootloader locked again unlocking.
Take a look into cerberus if you want recovery mode protection for anti theft if you're worried. And no it isn't "stupid" to leaving the bootloader unlocked after rooting, re unlocking would cause the phone to be wiped on your part.
Well I'll give it a shot, and see what happens,
Surely the OTA doesn't need to reflash the bootloader, it's just there as an exploit fix.

what are the benefits of unlocking bootloader??

Hey guys I wanted to know the benefits of unlocking the bootloader on my Nexus 5x device.
Any help will be appreciated. Thank You.
Bootloader is like security software for your device, it'll prevent your device from loading a Software or code which aren't properly signed. So, by unlocking it, you can do vice-versa.. You can load all stuff that aren't allowed by your bootloader.
In this term and simple words, by unlock bootloader, you can enable root access and flashing various custom Software/firmware to your device.
R324D said:
Bootloader is like security software for your device, it'll prevent your device from loading a Software or code which aren't properly signed. So, by unlocking it, you can do vice-versa.. You can load all stuff that aren't allowed by your bootloader.
In this term and simple words, by unlock bootloader, you can enable root access and flashing various custom Software/firmware to your device.
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Can I do this by only unlocking bootloader or is root access necessary. Also is there any way that my phone will be harmed by unlocking the bootloader
mufaddal25 said:
Can I do this by only unlocking bootloader or is root access necessary. Also is there any way that my phone will be harmed by unlocking the bootloader
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Yes it does, lije I said before, bootloader is factory security software to prevent your device from running malicious codes and software.
Unlocking bootloader is necessary to overwrite your stock recovery by custom recovery like TWRP, because stock recovery doesn't allow you to altering system partition.
I suggesting you to do more research before applying this process as it's can harm and possibly bricked your device.
R324D said:
Yes it does, lije I said before, bootloader is factory security software to prevent your device from running malicious codes and software.
Unlocking bootloader is necessary to overwrite your stock recovery by custom recovery like TWRP, because stock recovery doesn't allow you to altering system partition.
I suggesting you to do more research before applying this process as it's can harm and possibly bricked your device.
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Oh okay thanks

Locked bootloader, using twrp, xposed, magisk ect

So I've been looking into this, it seems it's possible to use flashify which allows you to flash .img files if your bootloader is locked and you have root you can flash twrp this way. Flashify can also make backup of stock recovery and install it, the reason i'm interested in this is security, as unlocked bootloaders have lots of risks.
Another post i was reading a person suggested, different manufacturers have different ways they implement locked bootloaders so some phones recovery might be protected and can't flash twrp while locked others may differ, I'm not sure. I currently have a Samsung S7 Edge, some people suggested issues around possible hard bricks, suggesting it's more likely to happen with a locked bootloader, then others saying fastboot wouldn't be able to recovery the device if installing a rom failed.
Someone pointed this out about my OEM unlock not been able to enable it to recover, tho odin doesn't require that to be turned on to flash back the stock firmware from download mode so that should fix that. I want to know the risks involved if flashify flashing twrp, kernels and roms while bootloader is locked is likely to work fine, i have seen posts of people who have done it most the comments seem like they could be assumptions best guesses around this type of thing. I can't find much on it.
What i'm thinking is find an exploit to get root, while locked flash twrp with flashify use twrp to flash xposed maybe? then restore stock recovery after flashing all the things i need, so if i loose the phone bootloader is locked and they don't have clear access to twrp, i think magisk is impossible as that modifys the boot which is the locked bootloader i believe so don't know which things magisk or others will or won't work.
Appreciate all reply's.
Thanks.

Unroot/lock bootloader without losing data

I have a rooted pixel 2 and an unlocked bootloader, but my company requires me to install MobileIron on my device. I can't seem to find a workaround for MobileIron, so it looks like I need to unroot and relock my bootloader.
1. Does anyone know how to get MobileIron up and running on a rooted device?
2. If no, can I unroot without losing any apps/data? I presume this should be possible, even though re-locking the bootloader might not be possible without losing the apps/data.
3. What about relocking the bootloader? I imagine it will be trickier than just going into developer options and unchecking the allow OEM unlocking box, but maybe that's all it takes?
Have you tired magisk hide? That's sytemless root and many security required apps are fooled by hiding root.
Unfortunately that doesn't work. Would uninstalling Magisk from inside the manager cause me to lose data?
No1ustad said:
I have a rooted pixel 2 and an unlocked bootloader, but my company requires me to install MobileIron on my device. I can't seem to find a workaround for MobileIron, so it looks like I need to unroot and relock my bootloader.
1. Does anyone know how to get MobileIron up and running on a rooted device?
2. If no, can I unroot without losing any apps/data? I presume this should be possible, even though re-locking the bootloader might not be possible without losing the apps/data.
3. What about relocking the bootloader? I imagine it will be trickier than just going into developer options and unchecking the allow OEM unlocking box, but maybe that's all it takes?
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As far as your third question goes, to relock the bootloader, you don't uncheck allow OEM unlocking. You do the same as when you unlocked it. Plug it into your computer, boot to fastboot mode and, instead of typing fastboot flashing unlock, you type fastboot flashing lock. That's all there is to it. You want to be completely stock when you do it. Can't remember if it wipes the device though.
To unroot without losing your data, download the latest factory image, remove the -w in the flashall.bat file (don't forget to save it after you edit it) . Plug the phone into a computer and then run the flashall.bat file that you edited.

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