starter question with rooting and unrooting Sony Xperia XZ - Sony Xperia XZ Questions & Answers

Hey, guys, I got fed up google and found this guide (https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=70504721&postcount=2). Sadly, I have found this guide after I unlocked the bootloader and so I am lost at what I should do next? I wanted to root my device, delete bloatware, isntal Xprivacy and lock the phone back up. The questions that I have now are:
1. Is it possible to return my phone to something that I had before if I skipped the TA back-up?
2. Does xprivacy necessarily have to have root enabled all the time or can I do the things that I wanted and just lock the phone back?
3. What is the best resource for fixing DRM key issue with the camera?
Thanks for all the help!
Loki

LokiSonofOdin said:
Hey, guys, I got fed up google and found this guide (https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=70504721&postcount=2). Sadly, I have found this guide after I unlocked the bootloader and so I am lost at what I should do next? I wanted to root my device, delete bloatware, isntal Xprivacy and lock the phone back up. The questions that I have now are:
1. Is it possible to return my phone to something that I had before if I skipped the TA back-up?
2. Does xprivacy necessarily have to have root enabled all the time or can I do the things that I wanted and just lock the phone back?
3. What is the best resource for fixing DRM key issue with the camera?
Thanks for all the help!
Loki
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, once you unlocked your BL your DRM keys are gone for good.. Unless you made a TA backup..
2) you need root for xposed to work.. So no to that question and Xposed is know to cause a bootloop on some devices. So make sure you have a backup.
3) check the Guides section there are a few threads in there about flashing kernels and DRM fixes...

lilbrat said:
Well, once you unlocked your BL your DRM keys are gone for good.. Unless you made a TA backup..
2) you need root for xposed to work.. So no to that question and Xposed is know to cause a bootloop on some devices. So make sure you have a backup.
3) check the Guides section there are a few threads in there about flashing kernels and DRM fixes...
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the promt reply. Can I ask one more thing? If I want to instal AndroPlus Kernel, does it matter which version Nougat stock ROM I flash to my device?

LokiSonofOdin said:
Thanks for the promt reply. Can I ask one more thing? If I want to instal AndroPlus Kernel, does it matter which version Nougat stock ROM I flash to my device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry that one I don't know... But someone may chime in a bit later..

Related

[Q] What to install/tweak after rooting your device

So, what would you do after you root your phone, considering that you dont plan to install a custom ROM?
Personally, I have an HTC Desire C, and after rooting it these things come in mind:
1) Install CWM Touch Recovery
2) Install Busybox/Titanium Backup/SuperSU/Terminal Emulator/SetCPU
3) Install preferred misc applications (messenger/browser etc)
What do you do after you root your phone?
Also, what are other ways to customize your device after rooting it (tweaks etc)? What do you suggest?
Thanks go to everyone who takes a minute to answer this question!:fingers-crossed:
This one's easy.
Very first thing, save my efs folder.
Second, install wifikill to boot random arses from hogging the internet
kaynpayn said:
This one's easy.
Very first thing, save my efs folder.
Second, install wifikill to boot random arses from hogging the internet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds good to me. I dont know yet why you would want to save your efs folder, but I will look it up.
Any other suggestions?
Conserning tweaks, i found this and this.
Are they any good? Im not saying that the original posters didnt do a good job, I just have no idea conserning tweaks.
Roflwat said:
Sounds good to me. I dont know yet why you would want to save your efs folder, but I will look it up.
Any other suggestions?
Conserning tweaks, i found this and this.
Are they any good? Im not saying that the original posters didnt do a good job, I just have no idea conserning tweaks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Forget about using these modded scripts.
For your Desire C, flash this custom rom: Nameless ROM
There's a heavily modded version of this ROM on page 34/5, which has got those tweaks integrated along with an OC Kernel to flash.
I'd recommend using CWM to backup your stock rom and to repeat this after each "tweak" or re-flash of roms.
hello and sorry if i'm in the wrong thread
i just wanna ask will there be any problem if i root my phone,and later on i decide to unlock the bootloader since i have read that it can be a problem on some tablets...i have SE w19i LWW,and i'm planing to root it so will i have any trouble to unlock the botloader later on or i'll have to unroot it and then unlock it? pls send message to my inbox.
Arcaius said:
i just wanna ask will there be any problem if i root my phone,and later on i decide to unlock the bootloader since i have read that it can be a problem on some tablets...i have SE w19i LWW,and i'm planing to root it so will i have any trouble to unlock the botloader later on or i'll have to unroot it and then unlock it? pls send message to my inbox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mean the Sony Xperia Live Walkman?
If so, then I found this thread that you might find of some use.
As for unlocking the bootloader, sony have their own guide and method: check this guide.
As Sony mention, your warranty, if you have one, will be void once you have unlocked your bootloader, but imo it is worth it!
Once you've done all that, flash a copy of CWM and from there you can flash any custom roms that are available for your device!
Remember, always backup your current rom before flashing a new one!
If you need any other help/advice, PM me as your post is in the wrong thread!

[Q] TA backup question based on previous Xperias

Hi guys,
Long time Android hacker, first time Sony user.
Im sorry if this has come up before but i have a question about the Bootloader unlock and TA partition wipe.
Based on experience of say the Z2, even if you acquire root first and backup your TA partition, are you able to run custom roms/kernels with the DRM/screen/camera optimizations at the same time? Or is the only point of the backup to restore if you are re-locking the bootloader?
I ask because if i cant have the screen optimization and root at the same time, i wont bother waiting to see if a root exploit becomes available as ill never run the phone stock anyway. If based on previous phones it might be possible to have both once you have a backup i will probably wait as i have other phones to use.
Thanks for your time.
With an unlocked bootloader you cannot have those DRM keys
If you restore the TA backup then you automatically relock the bootloader as well.
You can not have your cake and eat unfortunately.
Danthemanz said:
Hi guys,
Long time Android hacker, first time Sony user.
Im sorry if this has come up before but i have a question about the Bootloader unlock and TA partition wipe.
Based on experience of say the Z2, even if you acquire root first and backup your TA partition, are you able to run custom roms/kernels with the DRM/screen/camera optimizations at the same time? Or is the only point of the backup to restore if you are re-locking the bootloader?
I ask because if i cant have the screen optimization and root at the same time, i wont bother waiting to see if a root exploit becomes available as ill never run the phone stock anyway. If based on previous phones it might be possible to have both once you have a backup i will probably wait as i have other phones to use.
Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, backup is only if you want to relock bootloader and run Stock rom again.
You cant use DRM with other ROMS/KERNELS
EDIT
Sorry gregbradley, you was a little bit faster
Thanks for the quick response guys.
Looks like I'll start the unlocking process and get this baby up and running!
Danthemanz said:
Thanks for the quick response guys.
Looks like I'll start the unlocking process and get this baby up and running!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a quick note, if you unlock before you backup the TA partition, you will never be able to restore the DRM keys

[Q] DRM restore for UB with Sony ROM?

This hasn't really been answered, or I couldn't find it
1) Can I unlock the bootloader and then restore the TA partition and keep the DRM functions working on the original ROM?
2) Is the TA partition erased once on unlocking or is it erased on every boot with unlocked bootloader?
I want to unlock the bootloader, install a custom kernel (to be able to boot into recovery) and then restore the TA partition, thus keeping DRM working.
Thanks
Zviratko said:
This hasn't really been answered, or I couldn't find it
1) Can I unlock the bootloader and then restore the TA partition and keep the DRM functions working on the original ROM?
2) Is the TA partition erased once on unlocking or is it erased on every boot with unlocked bootloader?
I want to unlock the bootloader, install a custom kernel (to be able to boot into recovery) and then restore the TA partition, thus keeping DRM working.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's answered...
If you check how to lock bootloader again, or relock if you want you'll see you can't have both.
You are unlocking bootloader to flash custom kernel, if you relock it, you have to flash stock kernel again...
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I know I can relock and restore the TA partition.
What I don't know is if I can keep it unlocked and restore the TA partition, or if it will keep erasing itself, and this is what I need answered
Basically it boils down to:
Is the TA partition erased when unlocking, or is it kept erased when unlocked?
Zviratko said:
I know I can relock and restore the TA partition.
What I don't know is if I can keep it unlocked and restore the TA partition, or if it will keep erasing itself, and this is what I need answered
Basically it boils down to:
Is the TA partition erased when unlocking, or is it kept erased when unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure which way it is working, but I guess if you try to restore TA on unlocked bootloader it will either fail or you end up with a hardbrick.
Afaik it gets erased when the BL gets unlocked and you can't restore it with an unlocked bootloader (don't know why, may be protected?).
If this would be possible what would the point of DRM's be if you could restore them easily after unlocking?
So nobody has tried that before? Why hardbrick? It's not like I will be restoring a TA dump from a different phone - the worst that can happen is that it won't boot and I will have to relock/unlock to erase it again, no?
We're not supposed to "backup" the DRM partition anyway, but we can because we have root without unlocking, so I don't think keeping it unlocked and restoring is unimaginable...
Don't you think if it would be possible or easy somebody would've at least tried it? But that's not the fact (at least what I know). For most devs this would be an unnecessary hard work as the only way to utilize the DRM keys is on a stock ROM and therefore unlocked bootloader would solely be useful for custom stock based kernel.
For now I think the needed work isn't in relation to its use. The DRM functions can mostly be utilized without the keys and the lost functions are not that important for most users, so where's the point?
Zviratko said:
I want to unlock the bootloader, install a custom kernel (to be able to boot into recovery) and then restore the TA partition, thus keeping DRM working.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know that you can boot into recovery without a custom kernel, don't you?
I can't speak for others but I am personally quite happy with the stock ROM, but I want and need root (Titanium backup, call recording and some security software). Right now all that is working on Lollipop, but recovery isn't, and I am not comfortable not having that safety net.
The only way to have a working recovery is a custom kernel, that means losing DRM keys, and that means some parts of ROM will lose functionality - whether that functionality is important or not is a good question that I can't answer as I haven't really dug into that, but I'd prefer to simply keep it after unlocking.
I don't understand why it should not work, and if I were Sony I'd probably just erase the DRM partition when unlocking and then forget about it - who says it can't be restored after that? Maybe it really is that simple and nobody tried?
I have heard nothing definitive here, so maybe I will be the first to try.
Omario-242 said:
You know that you can boot into recovery without a custom kernel, don't you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On Lollipop I can't. Or maybe I can with fastboot boot...? Can you clarify?
Zviratko said:
On Lollipop I can't. Or maybe I can with fastboot boot...? Can you clarify?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did forget about Lollipop and its recovery problem. I'm sorry.
But for the other thing: it isn't possible to restore the TA partition after unlocking. That's it. There's no way so far that we can do this and I guess it won't be possible in future.
Whether it is too much work or not possible at all, there's no need in discussing this any further as it is way easier for devs to get the recovery on lollipop working instead of the TA partition on an unlocked bootloader.
EDIT: A quick google search brought up this: "Restoring the TA (Trim Area) partition on a device like the Z2 [same goes for Z3] relocks your bootloader and restores your specific DRM keys with all it's functions."
So that's what happens if you restore the TA on UB. No brick (if you have stock kernel/ROM) but no UB anymore.
Omario-242 said:
Did forget about Lollipop and its recovery problem. I'm sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem, I just though I've missed something
Omario-242 said:
But for the other thing: it isn't possible to restore the TA partition after unlocking. That's it. There's no way so far that we can do this and I guess it won't be possible in future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you talking about getting back completely to stock and relocking, or about restoring TA on unlocked bootloader? I am confused. AFAIK there's a procedure for flashing the full FTF _and_ restoring DRM, there just isn't one for keeping it unlocked.
To be honest I'm still not convinced - restoring the TA should be quite simple with root (just a simple dd...), and I don't understand why it shouldn't just work - IMO the worst that can happen is a soft brick until it is erased again (which can be done by relocking and unlocking, or from recovery). I'm hoping someone will chime in with a definitive answer.
Omario-242 said:
Whether it is too much work or not possible at all, there's no need in discussing this any further as it is way easier for devs to get the recovery on lollipop working instead of the TA partition on an unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, it looks like we won't be getting recovery on Lollipop anytime soon - Sony did their homework and circumventing SELinux might not be that easy. I expected a working recovery within a day of LP release, but it's been quite a while longer and no progress in sight. The options are not good - you either lose DRM or don't have recovery. I think that having an unlocked bootloader _and_ a working DRM should be the ultimate goal for all, as it allows free switching between ROMs and easy rooting of Sony Lollipop ROMs (without downgrading/rooting/upgrading and hoping for the best - it's not really a foolproof thing right now).
Zviratko said:
I can't speak for others but I am personally quite happy with the stock ROM, but I want and need root (Titanium backup, call recording and some security software). Right now all that is working on Lollipop, but recovery isn't, and I am not comfortable not having that safety net.
The only way to have a working recovery is a custom kernel, that means losing DRM keys, and that means some parts of ROM will lose functionality - whether that functionality is important or not is a good question that I can't answer as I haven't really dug into that, but I'd prefer to simply keep it after unlocking.
I don't understand why it should not work, and if I were Sony I'd probably just erase the DRM partition when unlocking and then forget about it - who says it can't be restored after that? Maybe it really is that simple and nobody tried?
I have heard nothing definitive here, so maybe I will be the first to try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like good idea.. Why nobody tried before? Simply because they get it for granted that unlocked with DRM is not possible... Someone has to be the first. I am no bootloader expert but my understanding resorting TA partition will relock bootloader so boring custom kernel will not be possible... But it's my only guess..
Sent from my D6603 using XDA Free mobile app
As I said if you have an unlocked bootloader (with whatever ROM/kernel) and you restore the TA partition your bootloader gets locked automatically. The devs definitely would've thought about getting the DRM keys to work on UB if this would be easy. If you have some Dev skills please go on and try it yourself, if not please stop discussing a topic you don't have enough knowledge about.
Omario-242 said:
As I said if you have an unlocked bootloader (with whatever ROM/kernel) and you restore the TA partition your bootloader gets locked automatically. The devs definitely would've thought about getting the DRM keys to work on UB if this would be easy. If you have some Dev skills please go on and try it yourself, if not please stop discussing a topic you don't have enough knowledge about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I think I understand now. I didn't realize that the locked/unlocked state was part of the TA partition. (Seems like a pretty odd place to store that info, though).
I still believe there is a way to do it - pointing the TA partition in the system to either a loopback device or a different partition with TA contents should fool the system into using the DRM keys on it while keeping the bootloader unlocked (unless of course the hardware looks at the partition directly, which I doubt).
No, I am not a dev, and it's unlikely I will attempt it at this point.
P.S. I don't appreciate a STFU attitude - this is a Q&A section, and I am fairly confident this has not been discussed or at least I couldn't find it. If you have a link that explains how exactly TA partition contents work then please post it. I don't feel stupid for asking questions I can't find answers to.
Omario-242 said:
As I said if you have an unlocked bootloader (with whatever ROM/kernel) and you restore the TA partition your bootloader gets locked automatically. The devs definitely would've thought about getting the DRM keys to work on UB if this would be easy. If you have some Dev skills please go on and try it yourself, if not please stop discussing a topic you don't have enough knowledge about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please refrain from telling people what they should or should not discuss. Everyone is free to open the thread he wants to discuss and it is your free decision to participate or not. You comment is rude and shows pretty nosey attitude.
Sent from my D6603 using XDA Free mobile app
ondrejvaroscak said:
Please refrain from telling people what they should or should not discuss. Everyone is free to open the thread he wants to discuss and it is your free decision to participate or not. You comment is rude and shows pretty nosey attitude.
Sent from my D6603 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Zviratko said:
Thanks, I think I understand now. I didn't realize that the locked/unlocked state was part of the TA partition. (Seems like a pretty odd place to store that info, though).
I still believe there is a way to do it - pointing the TA partition in the system to either a loopback device or a different partition with TA contents should fool the system into using the DRM keys on it while keeping the bootloader unlocked (unless of course the hardware looks at the partition directly, which I doubt).
No, I am not a dev, and it's unlikely I will attempt it at this point.
P.S. I don't appreciate a STFU attitude - this is a Q&A section, and I am fairly confident this has not been discussed or at least I couldn't find it. If you have a link that explains how exactly TA partition contents work then please post it. I don't feel stupid for asking questions I can't find answers to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to be rude at all. English is not my mother language and I may have used the wrong terms.
I didn't mean to tell you to stop discussing whether it will be possible or not in the future, I just wanted to clarify that if you do it right now you will lock your bootloader (what I thought you didn't understand from my previous posts) and that there's no point in discussing that particular step.
If some devs will actually make the DRM keys work on UB with a custom kernel I guess there's a lot of happy users. Though I still think that it would be a lot work (looking into other Xperia devices there's never been success for DRM keys in that case).

(Newbie) D6603 root

Hi.
I have recently bought a secondhand d6603 on Android 6.0.1, build number 23.5.A.1.291
I need to find a way of rooting my phone (easiest way)
I have rooted phones before but only by using Kingroot etc
I have been going round in circles looking at websites explaining it but don't understand some of it.
All I want is an easy explanation of how to do it that I can follow.
Can I root without unlocking Bootloader? If not, how do I do it?
I really need someones help if possible. Like I say, the easiest way possible would be great.
Thanks in advance. Love the group
You can keep locked bootloader as long as you use ROMs with stock kernel. They will specify this and most here are for LB.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3/general/recovery-root-mm-575-291-lb-t3435214
This will get you recovery the fastest way and from there you can flash a pre-rooted .zip or custom ROM
Many thanks for that, however, I managed to remove the Bootloader and install TWRP. First thing I did was do a backup using TWRP but now I am stuck in a bootloop and don't know what to do :crying:
I reinstalled the backup just incase it was something like that, but even after reinstalling the backup, I'm still in bootloop.

should I root 7 pro

Hello guys,
Don't know if I should root my phone..if I root my phone can I go totally stock without problems (no boot warning and so on)?
And also is there a solution to get Netflix in hdr and better resolution with unlocked bootloader?
And which why should I root / which apps are really recommend to let me root
manutoxic said:
Hello guys,
Don't know if I should root my phone..if I root my phone can I go totally stock without problems (no boot warning and so on)?
And also is there a solution to get Netflix in hdr and better resolution with unlocked bootloader?
And which why should I root / which apps are really recommend to let me root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should post your question on https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-7-pro/help
No, rooting requires you to unlock your bootloader which means you will get the boot warning. I think there was a workaround for previous phones but I wouldn't recommend it. Google forced OEMs to add the warning.
Judging by your questions though, I would seem that you already knew the answers.
First of all, please search the forum, or just take a look at the threads at least, before making new threads. There is already a lengthy discussion on this exact question, right on the top page of Q&A: https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-7-pro/help/root-yes-t3936633
And another here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/on...ens-unlock-bootloader-features-loose-t3932323
And here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-7-pro/help/advantages-unlocking-bootloader-t3938457
Note that unlocking the bootloader and root go hand in hand. So even though 2 of the thread subject lines refer to unlocking the bootloader, a lot of the discussion involves root as well.
We really don't need a new thread, every time someone comes on here that can't make their own decision about root/no root. A decision that can be based on readily available info, that existed even before the above discussions existed!
Feeling charitable today, so I'll answer your questions as well as I can (my responses below in red font):
manutoxic said:
Don't know if I should root my phone..if I root my phone can I go totally stock without problems (no boot warning and so on)?
Return to full stock ROM, and relocking the bootloader should get rid of the boot warning, etc. I haven't tried it personally (restore to stock) but do a search if you want to verify, the info probably exists.
And also is there a solution to get Netflix in hdr and better resolution with unlocked bootloader?
Not sure yet (just got the phone and rooted it). There is a modded Netflix apk (older version, not for this device specifically) that some folks say will get back the 720p. But others report that it is still only 480p with the modded apk. And no HDR (as the apk is an old version that doesn't support it).
And which why should I root / which apps are really recommend to let me root
Root isn't typically achieved with an "app". But there is a toolkit that performs most of the functions. Although, all you really need is a couple files, and typing a couple fastboot commands. And frankly, if you don't know how to you fastboot, you really shouldn't be messing with root in the first place. My recommendation would be the method: unlock the bootloader, fastboot boot TWRP, in TWRP flash the TWRP installer zip, flash Magisk root, done. Pretty easy, and I did it with zero issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A wise man once said: If you have to ask, don't root.
B3311 said:
A wise man once said: If you have to ask, don't root.
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Mr. XDA said that

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