Database Info

Last best ROM for this phone with most recent security fixes?

Given the age of this phone, I simply wanted to ask a question on the last, best ROM that brings this phone to the most recent Android version, and provides security fixes? The newest ROM I can find is the Carbon ROM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/myt...ent/rom-carbonrom-mt4gs-april-8-2015-t3077527 based on 4.4.4, and is newer than the Virtuous ROM I have been using on this phone (4.0.3), as I believe that one of the most recent ROMS that supported TMobile wifi calling (although I'm now on Google FI). I don't use this phone as a daily driver, but I do try to keep it updated, and available as a spare.

ebrandsberg said:
Given the age of this phone, I simply wanted to ask a question on the last, best ROM that brings this phone to the most recent Android version, and provides security fixes? The newest ROM I can find is the Carbon ROM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/myt...ent/rom-carbonrom-mt4gs-april-8-2015-t3077527 based on 4.4.4, and is newer than the Virtuous ROM I have been using on this phone (4.0.3), as I believe that one of the most recent ROMS that supported TMobile wifi calling (although I'm now on Google FI). I don't use this phone as a daily driver, but I do try to keep it updated, and available as a spare.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even under the circumstances (lack of activity on the Doubleshot forum - RIP), the question remains very subjective. I still keep my Doubleshot/"media player" up-to-date as much I can, and post the new builds, but it seems I am the only one here that is doing that. So the questions intent (instead of army of one) reads to me as the best over time. Still, it depends on what your needs are.
If you need the latest security patches, there seems to be only one choice. If you need maximum functionality of the device, you would be locked into stock or stock-based (e.g. MikTouch), if you don't care about either but want a balance of performance and features, then there are a myriad of ROM's out there still (TBalden's CM10.1 still leaves a special spot in my heart).
Mind you, the latest available still is not infallible. There are currently two vulnerabilities that can act as a vector for QuadRooter, and one of them may not be fixed (I patched the file as per the guidelines, but it is still picking up on that vulnerability) without having to upgrade the kernel (I attempted a build with a 3.4 kernel, and I'm running into includes/undeclared problems I don't know how to fix). If you use only the Play Store (that is, only verified apps), it's not a problem, but I wanted to share the latest detail at any rate.

Pixel 3a Android 9 vs Android 10

Hey guys!
First, my apologies if I am in the wrong section posting. I was not sure where to post. Please move my thread if needed. Thanks!
Second, would someone recommend and/or suggest Android 9 over Android 10 or Android 10 over Android 9? For myself, I really do not like Android 10. When I am referring to Android 10 and I am referring to the original in September and the two updates in September where that last update has a C3 in part of the name, as well as the October Android 10 update. I just do not like any of the updates. Would I be better off going back to Android 9? It is not an issue because I can flash the factory images via ADB when the phone is powered on than Fastboot once the phone is in the flashing mode

Can you explain why you do not like the update?
I personally don't find that there is a lot of difference between 9 and 10, but offcourse 10 has the latest security updates, which might be a reason for you to stay with 10.

Personally I think the biggest noticeable difference between 9 and 10 is the gesture based navigation. However you can turn the Android 9 style navigation back on if you so desire (Settings/System/Gestures/2-button navigation) or even the older 3 button navigation.
Other changes - like dark mode - are also optional. I see little reason to stay on Android 9. Especially since it is not being updated with security updates.

It would be nice if we could continue to use a preferred version but that comes with considerable security risks. If your dislike is purely asthetics, you can try other launchers.

For the sake of security I'll stick with Q10 for now. I have yet to succeed with a direct OTA update even under full stock. If the pending November OTA updates without needing to sideload, I might then install Magisk.

Cool I w up - Micr
alliance1975 said:
For the sake of security I'll stick with Q10 for now. I have yet to succeed with a direct OTA update even under full stock. If the pending November OTA updates without needing to sideload, I might then install Magisk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The majority of pushback comes from people USED to Android 9/Pie. I get it; I really do - when folks get comfortable, change scares the bejeebers outta them. Because I never ran Pie before the Pixel 3a came along (and Android 10 was halfway through its beta when the 3a arrived) I was able to go from 8/Oreo to 10 pretty much directly with only one migration issue; the gesture support. Simply not using them (even with Gboard) was an option, however - and one I adopted.
Launchers - Pixel Launcher was one I was already familiar with (from my Android 6 and 7 days); returning to it was therefore rather a relief.
The even bigger surprise is that I'm not rooted - or using a non-stock recovery; the first time I've done that on a smartphone (or any Android device since Android 5). TWRP was a certain install on a smartphone (as certain as doing tax returns every year); now - I could, in fact, care less. I follow TWRP development (and Magisk development as well); however, it's more a case of looking for a reason to install either - so far, nothing in Android 10 has given me a reason to move away from dead-stock. (Basically, it's a NEW sort of comfort - dead stock - for the first time in my Android phone history - IS actually good enough to run un-stepped-on.)
Dark mode requires neither; it's an option in Settings. Same with VoLTE/VoWiFi. Basically, so much for Magisk.
The thing is, you have to be comfortable with dead-stock; being as this is, after all, a developer/tweaker-targeting community, how many folks are actually comfortable running dead-stock?
If you CAN get comfortable running dead-stock, Android 10 on your 3a or 3a XL (or any Pixel, for that matter) makes a ton of sense.
Follow up - Due to Microsoft Launcher changing it's code base, I installed the beta on my Pixel 3a, replacing Pixel Launched as default. Due to new features, Pixel Launcher is in trouble! It is not the support for Dark Mode, third party launchers either have or are adding it. It is being able to use apps as plug ins; two I use now are Word (expected) and Google Calendar (unexpected). How many third party launchers let you use a system app - even Calendar - as a plug in directly. While Outlook for Android does, it is still nice to have Launcher do so as well. This very post is another example - I have added the XDA app as a plug in. Depending on how often you use an app, using it as a plug in May be faster than as a shortcut.

Im a new pixel user, i come from Nokia 7 plus (Android 9 - android one program, almost the same as pixel) and simply cant go back to 9...
Im glad my nokia also updated to 10 today , i really like the gestures. And i have been on 9 for 1 1/2 year now...
Nova launcher, gestures work fine on android 10, dark mode is not everywhere but its coming....

PGHammer said:
The majority of pushback comes from people USED to Android 9/Pie. I get it; I really do - when folks get comfortable, change scares the bejeebers outta them. Because I never ran Pie before the Pixel 3a came along (and Android 10 was halfway through its beta when the 3a arrived) I was able to go from 8/Oreo to 10 pretty much directly with only one migration issue; the gesture support. Simply not using them (even with Gboard) was an option, however - and one I adopted.
Launchers - Pixel Launcher was one I was already familiar with (from my Android 6 and 7 days); returning to it was therefore rather a relief.
The even bigger surprise is that I'm not rooted - or using a non-stock recovery; the first time I've done that on a smartphone (or any Android device since Android 5). TWRP was a certain install on a smartphone (as certain as doing tax returns every year); now - I could, in fact, care less. I follow TWRP development (and Magisk development as well); however, it's more a case of looking for a reason to install either - so far, nothing in Android 10 has given me a reason to move away from dead-stock. (Basically, it's a NEW sort of comfort - dead stock - for the first time in my Android phone history - IS actually good enough to run un-stepped-on.)
Dark mode requires neither; it's an option in Settings. Same with VoLTE/VoWiFi. Basically, so much for Magisk.
The thing is, you have to be comfortable with dead-stock; being as this is, after all, a developer/tweaker-targeting community, how many folks are actually comfortable running dead-stock?
If you CAN get comfortable running dead-stock, Android 10 on your 3a or 3a XL (or any Pixel, for that matter) makes a ton of sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know that I had to, but I sideloaded the December update. However, the January update downloaded and installed w/o problem. I have had time to get used to full Q10 stock and it does many nice things. I don't think I'll do root until major changes happen.

Redmi 9a flashed with Treble GSI (stock android ROM) - just saying thanks

Hi everyone,
I've been away from the ROM scene for a few years and was pleasantly surprised to find out that even a MediaTek phone these days can be flashed with a ROM different from its original. With a lot of bumps and information from this thread and others, I was able to test the Lineage, Havoc, and Treble ROMs, flashing through adb commands on fastbootd on unsigned xiaomi drivers. The one with the best compatibility so far is an older ROM, the Treble 10 GSI bundled with go gapps. Treble 11, the latest, doesn't have a working "recent apps" button (multitasker/app switcher). I'm not using this phone as a camera phone, but I did install an older Gcam (Gcam 2.3, I think) by googling the phone's mediatek processor, Helio G25.
On stock android, I do feel like the phone is much improved from the MIUI OS's bloat. I feel that Xiaomi as of late is putting too much adware, a far cry from when I bought my first phone from them (A Redmi 1S).
I would like to thank everyone here for the recovery files, twrp, etc.

I'd love to know how you accomplished this, as an otherwise decent phone is, I feel, crippled by MIUI's ridiculous bloat.

Bludwurst said:
I'd love to know how you accomplished this, as an otherwise decent phone is, I feel, crippled by MIUI's ridiculous bloat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi @Bludwurst ... I'll see if I can write something semi-coherent about it. Please give me a few days. But the general method was pretty similar to flashing other treble-based ROMs, the important thing is that the phone boots into FASTBOOTD ("elevated" fastboot) and the rom you're flashing is the correct architecture with some Google Go apps (if you want it to be easier to set up). They update every few weeks, so depending on the progress, it may even be feasible to try out the other more popular ROMs. Lineage was 2nd best in my experience, and Android 11 to boot with its own recovery, but it doesn't come bundled with Google Go apps, you'll have to flash the Google apps yourself.
Major caveat about the treble GSI i'm using though -- the Gcam with HDR on has a chance of shutting down (exiting). It's less of an issue when the setting is off. I do have a separate primary camera phone so that wasn't an issue to me.
I've had the phone for about 3 weeks now. I think the biggest difference between this ROM and the MIUI OS is that the MIUI OS is very aggressive about killing my VPN (Ad blocker) and other background apps. With this Treble GSI (Android 10, not 11), I won't claim that my mediatek phone suddenly became a snapdragon, but there's no unexpected app-killing, which is very important for Blokada to stay alive.
**Has any other app crapped out (crashed/exited) since I changed ROMs?**
I don't run games on this phone, so I can't say if there's a difference between MIUI and Treble, but most of the productivity stuff is running okay (time tracker, markdown editor, pdf viewer, etc.) there IS some slowdown when running mobile youtube on my browser (yes, i don't run the youtube app... there may be an improvement if you're using a dedicated app.
I bought this phone as my work tracker phone. Before, with the MIUI stuff, it would stutter after a few apps were loaded. This is improved, but under heavy loads (10+ tabs, video playing), the phone is likely to complain.
**How's the battery life**
I bought this phone for the battery life, so I'd say I'm pretty satisfied on that front. The difference between the MIUI and the Treble GSI.... there's some small improvement with the Treble GSI. But it is (after a few weeks of use) not as much of a "battery boost" as I initially thought. Maybe this is because MIUI keeps killing background apps that now stay on? Can't tell.
**Any other issues**
I had to fix brightness and I think the headphone bug. I still have the commands somewhere, I'll dig it up.
Next, I am not sure if this phone will get security issues moving forward, or if i'll have to keep reflashing to a later GSI. I haven't checked if there's a way to sideload kernel security patches.
**Worth it to switch?**
Yeah, absolutely. Not having to reload apps is a huge deal, and not losing working data while typing helps. Tradeoff is camera hdr and security.

This all sounds very interesting.
I've admittedly not kept up with the Android scene (to call it something), so I'm a bit lost regarding Treble ROMs and such; I'll try to catch up a bit.
Take your time, I can wait.
(It goes without saying that, should I not like the results, I can always bail and reinstall an official Xiaomi ROM for this device, no?)
Yes, MIUI is extremely aggressive killing apps, and getting it to stop is rather confusing (it's not enough to turn off battery optimizations... You need to dig into Settings).
I managed to stop it from killing Netguard, at least...
I also don't play games or otherwise make extremely heavy use of the phone; I also don't care much for camera apps, so such disadvantages aren't dealbreakers for me.
Thank you for your reply

can you tell what gsi did you install? tkss

Luelu said:
can you tell what gsi did you install? tkss
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should use arm32_binder64-ab variants for this device, and you should flash an image that is THE SAME ANDROID VERSION you currently have or 1 version above. Example if you have Android 11, Flash Android 11R version, if you have Android 10 only flash ANDROID 10Q versions, etc.
To find out what GSI image should you use, this app makes it easier, it recommends you which one to download. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tk.hack5.treblecheck&hl=&gl=US --
#Another mirror:
https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/hacki...lease/treble-info-5-0-6-android-apk-download/
2 Years later, i made a guide on how to flash it , maybe it can be useful to you.
Xiaomi Redmi 9A 9i 9AT 10A
Notes about tinkering with Android Project Treble. Contribute to phhusson/treble_experimentations development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com

s_code said:
Hi everyone,
I've been away from the ROM scene for a few years and was pleasantly surprised to find out that even a MediaTek phone these days can be flashed with a ROM different from its original. With a lot of bumps and information from this thread and others, I was able to test the Lineage, Havoc, and Treble ROMs, flashing through adb commands on fastbootd on unsigned xiaomi drivers. The one with the best compatibility so far is an older ROM, the Treble 10 GSI bundled with go gapps. Treble 11, the latest, doesn't have a working "recent apps" button (multitasker/app switcher). I'm not using this phone as a camera phone, but I did install an older Gcam (Gcam 2.3, I think) by googling the phone's mediatek processor, Helio G25.
On stock android, I do feel like the phone is much improved from the MIUI OS's bloat. I feel that Xiaomi as of late is putting too much adware, a far cry from when I bought my first phone from them (A Redmi 1S).
I would like to thank everyone here for the recovery files, twrp, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
by the way can you share the links you used to download those roms? I wanna try em out too

Is there a stable Custom OS ROM for the OnePlus 6 that has OxygenOS's Hidden Space feature?

Hi all,
TL;DR - Please does anyone have suggestions on a stable custom OS ROM for the OnePlus 6 that has something akin to OxygenOS 10's Hidden Space feature and has ongoing security updates? Many thanks in advance!
So here's the lowdown. I love my OnePlus 6, but when OxygenOS 11.1.2.2 stopped providing security updates in late 2021, it was time to buy a new phone. I decided to go with the OnePlus Nord 2 5G, which from a hardware perspective was definitely upgrade (just crazy amount of RAM for the price). However, OxygenOS 12 has been nothing but a disappointment and I'm certainly not a fan the move to be more like Oppo's ColorOS.
OxygenOS's Hidden Space:
One OxygenOS feature I use a lot is the Hidden Space, which is great to store hidden apps like those for online banking and password management in one convenient place. To ellaborate for those that are unsure what I'm talking about, in OxygenOS 10 (and also versions of OxygenOS 11 for, I suspect, selected OnePlus models) this was where you simply opened the App Drawer, swiped left and unlocked with your passcode/finger pattern/fingerprint biometrics. Boom! There are all your hidden apps you were able to access quickly, easily and reliably.
<rant>
This feature was made worse IMO in OxygenOS 12 where you instead had to use the stock phone call dialler to dial an visible unlock code (no other unlock options) to access the same hidden apps drawer. If that wasn't frustrating enough, if you wanted to use two hidden apps consecutively, OxygenOS 12 would send you back to the stock dialler rather than what OxygenOS 10 did and sent you back to where all your hidden apps were. Even worse, there is your viewable unlock code still populated in the call dialler for any one else to see if you didn't remember to completely close dialler app afterwards. It's like having a sign on your front door telling theives where all your valuables are and that they cans also find the spare key under the flowerpot in the front yard...
</rant>
Life after OxygenOS 12:
So it's been about 18 months and I'm ready move onto a new phone. I don't think a new OnePlus phone is an option given ColorOS for Android 13/14 will be on it and that the Hidden Space is still the same as it is on OxygenOS 12. I'm thinking of going back to Stock Android (and thus the Google Pixel 7) as I have previously bought the Google Nexus 5X and Pixel 1 phones. I could be wrong and being presumptive, but Stock Android has always felt cleaner, lighter and doesn't have the bloatware that annoys me about Samsung phones. However, I've been informed that Stock Android 13 doesn't have a built-in feature similar to the Hidden Space like OxygenOS has.
As an alternative I've had a little hands-on using a different launcher app (I've tried Nova Launcher Prime and Apex) on OxygenOS 12+ with the intent to use it Stock Android too, but that solution feels unfortunately cumbersome, at least from what I experienced when using Nova and Apex.
So my next idea I'm looking into is to attempt to install a custom ROM (something I've never done before) onto my OnePlus 6. And now it's all about seeing if there is a custom ROM that fit my requirements. Is there even continuous development/patching for custom ROM's with regard to security updates? I'm freshfaced to all of this that that I'm unsure on a lot of aspects, which is why I want to try this for the first time on a phone I don't currently use day-to-day.
Anyway, any suggestions of security patch supported custom ROM's with a in-built Hidden Space feature would be gratefully appreciated!

Nokia 8.3 5G downgrade from Android 12 to stock Android 10

Good morning, dear respective XDA community members!
Yesterday I have encountered with complete misfortune. I really hope on your expertise and expert knowledge in that issue. Appreciate your help and thank you very much in advance!
I have a Nokia 8.3 5G as my main working smartphone which I cherish as the apple of one's eye. I have headaches from PWM and can't use Samsung phones because of PWM and I need Android 10 as I have some work related apps which works only with Android 10.
So from the date of purchase my phone was complete brand new with Android 10 (Build number 00WW_1_110_RU) and (Android security patch level September 1, 2020) out of the box. I did not done any manual downloads and update of Android security patch level and neither Android updates to 11, 12. But last few months I started to receive irritating splashing system window with following text “Your system is out of date for 273 days, update & restart now”. While launching Opera browser the click on it's icon matched with the time of appearing that update window and phone pushed “restarting now” text with rotating circle. I fully understood that I was done here and started to press and hold power button to somehow block the execution of update but phone displayed standard boot up logo "Powered by Android" with green Android logo instead of standard white. I hold power button again and phone switched off. On the next attempt to boot it the "Powered by Android" logo remained with green Android. I understood that I now can't influence on it's update process. Now my phone with Android 12 (Build number 00WW_3_380_RU) and (Android security patch level: April 1, 2022).
I totally dislike Android 12, interface design not suits me, performance of the phone drastically decreased. And those specific software which I used for work only works on Android 10, developer of them would not make it to work with Android 12 due to platform limitations.
I never done any manual updates of Android, and Android security patch levels, strange that security patch updated by itself without my command.
There are no any information in the internet regarding of downgrading the Nokia 8.3 5G from Android 12 to Android 10. The only information I was able to find is how to downgrade Nokia 2.2 from Android 10 to Android 9, using boot slot change method, available here: https://www.techmesto.com/downgrade-nokia-2-2-from-android-10-to-android-9-pie/ I am not sure whether this tutorial applicable for Nokia 8.3 5G. I did not tried anything yet as now I am afraid to get a brick.
I consider actions of Nokia by rolling such splashing window with update without confirmation mechanism as criminal. Every person encountered with that must make Nokia liable and get case to court. Last time I encountered with such nasty situation was with iPad, I do not remember which generation it was as it happened while ago, but same situation with splashing update window happened when I tried to open Safari browser. And I was not able to get downgrade as Apple stopped signing iOS I needed.
Such actions are illegal as those Android updates are completely affects the performance. On Android 10 I had about 5.2 GB after boot and about 3.2 - 3.5 GB during work of free RAM. Now I have 4.2 GB of RAM after boot and only 2.2 GB during work. That's horrible as I lost of 1.3 GB of RAM, Android 12 decreased performance of my phone completely. Apple does same with their new iOS for older devices.
Even Samsung does not do such illegal actions, my father have old Samsung Galaxy S8 with stock Android 8 for years, he accidentally clicks every time on some system settings and asks me to revert them, but even there Samsung not uses any splash window with update, only Android update message I see from his phone is in notifications, but you have need to pass good amount of windows with confirmations in order to get Android update, so even unexperienced users are safe from accidental Android update.
It's a shame for Nokia. I would never buy anything from them again. Such technique with splash window is done by fake hacker apps and their swindler developers, every time you see some commercial such windows are appearing "Do you want to close advertisement?", but instead of closing it forces to redirect on downloading link of some virus APK or opening Google Play with malicious application.
Could you please say what I must do in order to safely downgrade my phone back to Android 10. I do not need the Root as I need to use NFC payment options of Google Wallet.
I can’t work now as applications I used for work only works with Android 10.
Thank you very much in advance for your expertise in this issue! Appreciate and grateful for your help.

For Nokia 8.3, if you want to downgrade the phone back to Android 10, then you must unlock the bootloader as well after sideloading android 10 full OTA.