[Guide] Install TWRP and Root your Robin

[MiryCaro]

Here is a rooted twrp backup:
http://xdaforums.com/nextbit-robin/development/rom-rooted-twrp-backup-t3336828#post65843511

Thaaanks!!! My Robin is up and running again.

 

[razorj7]

Hey everyone!

I am having no progress with getting my Robin rooted. So far, I have unlocked the bootloader and flashed TWRP. However, I am stuck here. When I boot into TWRP, I get prompted for a password to decrypt the system. However, my password doesn't work, and even if I wipe, it stills prompts me for a password.
I have attempted the method of restoring a pre-rooted backup, but because I am unable to decrypt the system, I can't even do that.

Any one have a way around this annoying road block?

Thanks!

 

[DJBhardwaj]

Hey everyone!

I am having no progress with getting my Robin rooted. So far, I have unlocked the bootloader and flashed TWRP. However, I am stuck here. When I boot into TWRP, I get prompted for a password to decrypt the system. However, my password doesn't work, and even if I wipe, it stills prompts me for a password.
I have attempted the method of restoring a pre-rooted backup, but because I am unable to decrypt the system, I can't even do that.

Any one have a way around this annoying road block?

Thanks!

You will need to disable encryption. You can try by going to fastboot mode and using the following commands:
fastboot format userdata
fastboot format cache

The process will completely wipe the internal storage.

 

[razorj7]

You will need to disable encryption. You can try by going to fastboot mode and using the following commands:
fastboot format userdata
fastboot format cache

The process will completely wipe the internal storage.

Thanks for the reply!

Unfortunately that did not work. I get a FAILED error because the partition does not exist, neither cache nor userdata.

 

[DJBhardwaj]

Thanks for the reply!

Unfortunately that did not work. I get a FAILED error because the partition does not exist, neither cache nor userdata.

Have you tried formatting data from TWRP > Wipe > FORMAT DATA ?

 

[deadman96385]

You do not need to disable encryption all you need to do is click enter on that screen it will then use the default password.

 

[IAvariciousI]

You do not need to disable encryption all you need to do is click enter on that screen it will then use the default password.

I've tried that and it doesn't work. I've tried using pins and patterns and your method but still nothing.

 

[singh029]

You do not need to disable encryption all you need to do is click enter on that screen it will then use the default password.

Im having the same issue. I cant even install the prerooted rom because it wont mount my storage because its encrypted.

 

[IAvariciousI]

Im having the same issue. I cant even install the prerooted rom because it wont mount my storage because its encrypted.

Yeah same here. I hope someone can figure out a fix soon. I can't even flash it via OTG.

 

[singh029]

Yeah same here. I hope someone can figure out a fix soon. I can't even flash it via OTG.

I finally got it!
The following guide assumes you have twrp recovery installed and your bootloader is unlocked.
1. Boot into twrp recovery
2. Tap Wipe
3. Tap Format Data and type yes
4. Tap Reboot > Recovery
5. Your encryption should be removed and you should now be able to see the internal storage.
6. While on the main screen of twrp, plug your robin into your computer.
7. Type

adb devices

into the command prompt and make sure your device is listed.
8. Put your supersu.zip in your platform-tools folder (same place adb.exe resides)
9. In the command prompt type

adb push supersu.zip /sdcard/

This will push the super user zip into /sdcard
10. Now tap Install and find your supersu.zip file and install it!

YAY! you did it! hopefully.

Reasons why this was neccessary:
-cant decrypt. so you must format data to remove encryption and install supersu because once you setup your phone (even without a password) it automatically gets encrypted.
-when trying to adb sideload, phone wont connect to computer to install supersu (im assuming because usb debugging is off). Hence, the reason for running adb push while encryption is removed.

I used step 3 on this guide

 

[IAvariciousI]

I finally got it!
The following guide assumes you have twrp recovery installed and your bootloader is unlocked.
1. Boot into twrp recovery
2. Tap Wipe
3. Tap Format Data and type yes
4. Tap Reboot > Recovery
5. Your encryption should be removed and you should now be able to see the internal storage.
6. While on the main screen of twrp, plug your robin into your computer.
7. Type

adb devices

into the command prompt and make sure your device is listed.
8. Put your supersu.zip in your platform-tools folder (same place adb.exe resides)
9. In the command prompt type

adb push supersu.zip /sdcard/

This will push the super user zip into /sdcard
10. Now tap Install and find your supersu.zip file and install it!

YAY! you did it! hopefully.

Reasons why this was neccessary:
-cant decrypt. so you must format data to remove encryption and install supersu because once you setup your phone (even without a password) it automatically gets encrypted.
-when trying to adb sideload, phone wont connect to computer to install supersu (im assuming because usb debugging is off). Hence, the reason for running adb push while encryption is removed.

I used step 3 on this guide

Nice man! I figured it out earlier today finally and now I have Xposed flashed with all my modules so I'm happy. You should post that on the Nextbit forums if anyone needs help.

 

[mnp]

Nice man! I figured it out earlier today finally and now I have Xposed flashed with all my modules so I'm happy. You should post that on the Nextbit forums if anyone needs help.

I can't get past the oem unlock. Keeps getting stuck at <waiting for device> any ideas?

Developer Options are enabled as is USB Debugging and have adb/fastboot setup on win10. Was the same on OS X.

 

[IAvariciousI]

I can't get past the oem unlock. Keeps getting stuck at <waiting for device> any ideas?

Developer Options are enabled as is USB Debugging and have adb/fastboot setup on win10. Was the same on OS X.

I can suggest a few things:

1. Make sure your adb drivers, usb drivers and Robin drivers are up to date. That's usually the main cause of this problem.

2. If you believe they're up to date then try uninstalling them and reinstalling them

Those are usually the main reasons why this happens but if those don't work try these:

- Downloading the fastboot and adb SDK tools from "http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html".
- Make sure your Robin isn't on the "charge only" option in your notification drawer.
- This one might be silly but make sure your USB cable is plugged in correctly. I made the mistake of plugging it in backwards haha.

Hope this helps!

 

[mnp]

I can suggest a few things:

1. Make sure your adb drivers, usb drivers and Robin drivers are up to date. That's usually the main cause of this problem.

2. If you believe they're up to date then try uninstalling them and reinstalling them

Those are usually the main reasons why this happens but if those don't work try these:

- Downloading the fastboot and adb SDK tools from "http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html".
- Make sure your Robin isn't on the "charge only" option in your notification drawer.
- This one might be silly but make sure your USB cable is plugged in correctly. I made the mistake of plugging it in backwards haha.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the quick help dude. I was using an Android.zip adb/fastboot package, so will try the full SDK. I think there might be an issue with my JDK version so just updating that first. Robin was on MTP mode and double checked the cable so hopefully it will work now. Will let you know

 

[IAvariciousI]

Thanks for the quick help dude. I was using an Android.zip adb/fastboot package, so will try the full SDK. I think there might be an issue with my JDK version so just updating that first. Robin was on MTP mode and double checked the cable so hopefully it will work now. Will let you know

Haha no problem man. Yeah definitely do that. Also when you download the SDK (make sure it's just the SDK package and it's the zip not the exe) you run the SDK manager and install the necessary files.

 

[mnp]

Haha no problem man. Yeah definitely do that. Also when you download the SDK (make sure it's just the SDK package and it's the zip not the exe) you run the SDK manager and install the necessary files.

Done! Thanks again. Installed new JRE and JDK and ran the full on Android SDK Manager and got it going with ./adb commands on OS X. Had to delete the DATA partition to get round the encryption issue in TWRP and then sideload supersu.zip. Then all good Now just need to reinstall everything again!

 

[IAvariciousI]

Nice! That's what I did too. Enjoy your phone man. ?

 

[singh029]

So i guess Android Pay will not work on Robin until TWRP decrypting is fixed.

Android Pay doesnt work when rooted. And if you try to fix it by doing a full unroot and try to setup android pay, then you can't reinstall supersu.zip because your phone will become encrypted again. Then you have to Format Data to remove encryption and that will wipe everything (including your card you just setup with android pay).

But maybe Robin can backup android pay data. I haven't tried it and I dont plan on it because im tired of wiping my phone.

 

[micro2112]

I cannot get past the fastboot stage.

ADB reboot bootloader

worked as expected. but

 fastboot devices

comes up empty but under device manager, there is a fastboot device shown. Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[DJBhardwaj]

Im having the same issue. I cant even install the prerooted rom because it wont mount my storage because its encrypted.

It will not mount because it has forced-encryption. To permanently disable it, you will have to use a custom kernel with Verity Check (dm-verity) disabled. For now, you can simply decrypt it, and go ahead with installing your ROM.
Here is a tutorial I wrote. It will help you install TWRP, decrypt your Robin, and finally root it.
How to Install TWRP and Root Nexbit Robin


---------- Post added at 09:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:58 PM ----------

I cannot get past the fastboot stage.

ADB reboot bootloader

worked as expected. but

 fastboot devices

comes up empty but under device manager, there is a fastboot device shown. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Could be multiple causes.
First of all, restart your PC. The port you connected to, might have too many links running (happens a lot on Windows).
If it still doesn't work, try switching the port, and connect your phone to a different one. Still doesn't? Try using a different USB cable, or PC.