[APP][FIRETV][NOROOT] Launcher Manager (Change Launcher without Root)

[wha1eve1]

Patch - 6.2.8.9 (mantis / Firestick 4k) [Final]

Added recents Support to CLH (Double press Home to open shortcuts)

NOTE:
Needs NS6289 to work
Needs Patched boot image, either flash attached boot.img or just install magisk

Hi SweenWolf, Currently I have 6.2.8.1_r3 installed. So what is the correct sequence to flash 6.2.8.9 with your patch.
Is the following workflow correct?

1. flash your modified boot.img in fastboot on 6.2.8.1_r3 and there should be only one boot partition for mantis right?
2. reboot into twrp and flash 6.2.8.9
3. before reboot flash your patch for 6.2.8.9

Thank you for your time and help.

 

[SweenWolf]

Hi SweenWolf, Currently I have 6.2.8.1_r3 installed. So what is the correct sequence to flash 6.2.8.9 with your patch.

watch the video to create a new TWRP flashable image.

Written steps:

1. download latest bin file. (e.g. mantis.bin)
2. download some archive tool (e.g. 7-zip)
3. rename the bin extension to zip (e.g. mantis.zip)
4. open "mantis.zip" using "7-zip" and delete all folders from zip file
5. now open "Scripts.zip" and extract it (download from attachment)
6. put the extracted folder "META-INF" into "mantis.zip"
7. put patched boot.img into "mantis.zip"

now you can simply flash the "mantis.zip" files in TWRP

Is the following workflow correct?

NO.

1. flash your modified boot.img in fastboot on 6.2.8.1_r3 and there should be only one boot partition for mantis right?

Doing this WILL brick your stick. Never flash any boot or recovery image using Fastboot, use TWRP to do that.

Usually a boot.img is to be flashed along with the os image itself, but it can be flashed after os installation and not prior to it (and before any reboot)
if you flashed mantis.zip using twrp then flash boot.img right after that (you should not reboot before that)

IN THIS CASE WE ARE PUTTING THE PATCHED BOOT.IMG INSIDE THE OS IMAGE SO NO NEED TO FLASH IT MANUALLY.

2. reboot into twrp and flash 6.2.8.9
3. before reboot flash your patch for 6.2.8.9

Thank you for your time and help.

Just follow the instructions, create a modified OS image, flash the image using TWRP and reboot.

after that you can simply flash anything you like e.g. magisk or pathces.

 

[SweenWolf]

We are flashing the patched boot.img so that we can modify the system partition without the device refusing to boot.
And also that the system does not execute efuse burner script even if its present in the system.

The above script.zip also deletes efuse burner files on the system

 

[wha1eve1]

watch the video to create a new TWRP flashable image.

Written steps:

1. download latest bin file. (e.g. mantis.bin)
2. download some archive tool (e.g. 7-zip)
3. rename the bin extension to zip (e.g. mantis.zip)
4. open "mantis.zip" using "7-zip" and delete all folders from zip file
5. now open "Scripts.zip" and extract it (download from attachment)
6. put the extracted folder "META-INF" into "mantis.zip"
7. put patched boot.img into "mantis.zip"

now you can simply flash the "mantis.zip" files in TWRP

NO.

Doing this WILL brick your stick. Never flash any boot or recovery image using Fastboot, use TWRP to do that.

Usually a boot.img is to be flashed along with the os image itself, but it can be flashed after os installation and not prior to it (and before any reboot)
if you flashed mantis.zip using twrp then flash boot.img right after that (you should not reboot before that)

IN THIS CASE WE ARE PUTTING THE PATCHED BOOT.IMG INSIDE THE OS IMAGE SO NO NEED TO FLASH IT MANUALLY.


Just follow the instructions, create a modified OS image, flash the image using TWRP and reboot.

after that you can simply flash anything you like e.g. magisk or pathces.

Thank you for the detailed answer. I will take a look at your tutorial. One more thing, Since I do not have a usb adapter to connect the mouse and can only install a boot.img with adb twrp command. Wondering if twrp install sdcard/boot.img the correct command to flash the boot partition. TWRP docs are unclear about flashing a boot with command line.

Followed your tutorial and successfully updated to 6.2.8.9

 

[Noisemaker00]

Hi guys, nobody answered me, so I ask again:

I have a rooted firestick 4K (mantis) I would ask can I simply install the wolf launcher without the launcher manager and then using
pm disable ...
to disable the stock amazon launcher?
if yes, is there a github repo (or similar) where I can get the .apk of the wolf launcher?
(or compile myself if the project is not active anymore)

 

[aliinbox]

Hi guys, nobody answered me, so I ask again:

I have a rooted firestick 4K (mantis) I would ask can I simply install the wolf launcher without the launcher manager and then using
pm disable ...
to disable the stock amazon launcher?
if yes, is there a github repo (or similar) where I can get the .apk of the wolf launcher?
(or compile myself if the project is not active anymore)

https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...e-launcher-without-root.4176349/post-86666585

 

[Jerri1240]

Not to jinx myself but wolf launcher is still working for me. I'm on Fire OS 7.2.7.9

Not sure what the latest version is, but everytime it forces an update I think it will stop working, at which time I'mm buy a second nVidia shield.

 

[SweenWolf]

Hi guys, nobody answered me, so I ask again:

I have a rooted firestick 4K (mantis) I would ask can I simply install the wolf launcher without the launcher manager and then using
pm disable ...
to disable the stock amazon launcher?
if yes, is there a github repo (or similar) where I can get the .apk of the wolf launcher?
(or compile myself if the project is not active anymore)

You can install it without launcher manager but you will face a long boot time on later version of FireOS. (This issue occurs when you disable stock launcher, use Launcher Manager's Handler to fix this)

If you disable stock launcher then most of the search results will not be shown to you as that is handled by amazon launcher itself.

You cannot simply update the launcher and get your prime or netflix working because thats not the root cause of the issue, the issue is DRM. The TrustZone of your device needs to be updated in order for these app to function, simply put you need to ìnstall any rom >= 6.2.8.1 along with its TZ.

You can download WL from the Mega Link.

Why are you still on 6.2.7.7?
Why don't you just update to 6.2.8.9?

 

[SweenWolf]

Not to jinx myself but wolf launcher is still working for me. I'm on Fire OS 7.2.7.9

Not sure what the latest version is, but everytime it forces an update I think it will stop working, at which time I'mm buy a second nVidia shield.

Any launcher set as default should remain default unless is installed or updated (or they specifically resets the defaults)
Just dont reset or disable your 3rd party launcher

 

[Noisemaker00]

You can install it without launcher manager but you will face a long boot time on later version of FireOS. (This issue occurs when you disable stock launcher, use Launcher Manager's Handler to fix this)

If you disable stock launcher then most of the search results will not be shown to you as that is handled by amazon launcher itself.

You cannot simply update the launcher and get your prime or netflix working because thats not the root cause of the issue, the issue is DRM. The TrustZone of your device needs to be updated in order for these app to function, simply put you need to ìnstall any rom >= 6.2.8.1 along with its TZ.

You can download WL from the Mega Link.

Why are you still on 6.2.7.7?
Why don't you just update to 6.2.8.9?

I bought a 4K stick with 6.2.7.7 on board and I unlocked and rooted it.

Since then I disabled the updates to avoid any issue that could break root. As far as I read in the UNLOCK thread it should be safe to have a system up to 6.2.8.7, after that they patched the exploit.
Am I wrong?

 

[SweenWolf]

As far as I read in the UNLOCK thread it should be safe to have a system up to 6.2.8.7, after that they patched the exploit.

This applies to locked sticks with stock rom only.

 

[Noisemaker00]

This applies to locked sticks with stock rom only.

So I should re-enable the apk(s) used for manage updates and let them update my system?
Sorry to bother you, I have no experience on firestick system so I would not break something

By now I disabled:

com.amazon.device.software.ota.override
com.amazon.device.software.ota
com.amazon.tv.forcedotaupdater.v2

edit:
Can you explain me this better?

You cannot simply update the launcher and get your prime or netflix working because thats not the root cause of the issue, the issue is DRM. The TrustZone of your device needs to be updated in order for these app to function, simply put you need to ìnstall any rom >= 6.2.8.1 along with its TZ.

By now prime-video and netflix works fine, you mean that I cannot simply update the stock launcher leaving my system with 6.2.2.7 but I have to upgrade the whole system?

 

[mmortal03]

at which time I'mm buy a second nVidia shield.

You might try out the Walmart onn. Android TV 4K UHD box -- it only costs $19.88, and comes with the Google G10 reference remote. I'm able to install Button Mapper and FLauncher on it, mapping the Home key to FLauncher. It performs more smoothly than my Fire TV Stick 4K on various videos. The only problem I have with it currently is that the Vudu app (owned by Fandango now, no longer Walmart) hasn't been updated to support 4K UHD. I also prefer the Fire TV Stick 4K remote to the Google G10 remote, because the former has a dedicated play/pause button -- but you can always pair a different Bluetooth remote with the onn. box.

 

[Jerri1240]

You might try out the Walmart onn. Android TV 4K UHD box -- it only costs $19.88, and comes with the Google G10 reference remote. I'm able to install Button Mapper and FLauncher on it, mapping the Home key to FLauncher. It performs more smoothly than my Fire TV Stick 4K on various videos. The only problem I have with it currently is that the Vudu app (owned by Fandango now, no longer Walmart) hasn't been updated to support 4K UHD. I also prefer the Fire TV Stick 4K remote to the Google G10 remote, because the former has a dedicated play/pause button -- but you can always pair a different Bluetooth remote with the onn. box.

Thanks but I’m in the UK. No walmart!

 

[T1inkering]

watch the video to create a new TWRP flashable image.

Written steps:

1. download latest bin file. (e.g. mantis.bin)
2. download some archive tool (e.g. 7-zip)
3. rename the bin extension to zip (e.g. mantis.zip)
4. open "mantis.zip" using "7-zip" and delete all folders from zip file
5. now open "Scripts.zip" and extract it (download from attachment)
6. put the extracted folder "META-INF" into "mantis.zip"
7. put patched boot.img into "mantis.zip"

now you can simply flash the "mantis.zip" files in TWRP

NO.

Doing this WILL brick your stick. Never flash any boot or recovery image using Fastboot, use TWRP to do that.

Usually a boot.img is to be flashed along with the os image itself, but it can be flashed after os installation and not prior to it (and before any reboot)
if you flashed mantis.zip using twrp then flash boot.img right after that (you should not reboot before that)

IN THIS CASE WE ARE PUTTING THE PATCHED BOOT.IMG INSIDE THE OS IMAGE SO NO NEED TO FLASH IT MANUALLY.


Just follow the instructions, create a modified OS image, flash the image using TWRP and reboot.

after that you can simply flash anything you like e.g. magisk or pathces.

Thanks, just updated to 6.2.8.9 using your instructions. Are OTA updates auto blocked with your provided scripts.zip or do i need to flash your v2 patch aswell? nvm i just installed magisk and pm disabled

 

[Jerri1240]

Any launcher set as default should remain default unless is installed or updated (or they specifically resets the defaults)
Just dont reset or disable your 3rd party launcher

Thanks!

Got another update last night. Took an age to reboot but still working fine.

I’m still pondering buying another shield. I’m just reluctant to spend more cash when the cube does everything I want, I just really can’t stand the Home Screen.

 

[RiCkLaR]

Thanks!

Got another update last night. Took an age to reboot but still working fine.

I’m still pondering buying another shield. I’m just reluctant to spend more cash when the cube does everything I want, I just really can’t stand the Home Screen.

For clarity, please note the actual firmware build number next time, not just say you got an update. Thanks!

MANTIS updated to build: (NS6290/4021)
- Build creation date: Wed Jun 22 2022
- Android Security Patch: 2022-01-01

Only thing notable is that it includes an OTA update for the Remote's software.

 

[pir8skin]

Hello all,

I just ordered a 2nd gen Fire TV Cube and had a few questions.

1. What was the last AFTV firmware version that worked with Launcher Manager & Debloat toolbox?
2. What does the FireTV Toolbox do?
3. Are the attachments in the first and second post of this thread the most current versions of the software?

Thanks,
pir8skin

 

[Finnzz]

Hello all,

I just ordered a 2nd gen Fire TV Cube and had a few questions.

1. What was the last AFTV firmware version that worked with Launcher Manager & Debloat toolbox?
2. What does the FireTV Toolbox do?
3. Are the attachments in the first and second post of this thread the most current versions of the software?

Thanks,
pir8skin

The debloat tool still works on all FireTVs. What changed was that Amazon started protecting certain packages in 7242/3515, beginning with OTA update packages. Then in 7273/2625 Amazon protected the Amazon launcher. A protected package can't be disabled by a user without root. There was a user many pages back that figured out you could remove the update to launcher to unprotect it, and that may still work. 7242/2906 is the last fully unrestricted version on the Cube I know of. I think new Cubes are still shipping with 7229/1856.

This thread is sort of Wolf's official development page for most of his apps. Anything on the main page is the latest version you will find of that app for the most part.

FireTV toolbox is mostly for FireOS5, it's sort of an early version of Launcher Manager for switching the launcher. I'm not sure it has much to offer on FireOS7.

 

[pir8skin]

The debloat tool still works on all FireTVs. What changed was that Amazon started protecting certain packages in 7242/3515, beginning with OTA update packages. Then in 7273/2625 Amazon protected the Amazon launcher. A protected package can't be disabled by a user without root. There was a user many pages back that figured out you could remove the update to launcher to unprotect it, and that may still work. 7242/2906 is the last fully unrestricted version on the Cube I know of. I think new Cubes are still shipping with 7229/1856.

This thread is sort of Wolf's official development page for most of his apps. Anything on the main page is the latest version you will find of that app for the most part.

FireTV toolbox is mostly for FireOS5, it's sort of an early version of Launcher Manager for switching the launcher. I'm not sure it has much to offer on FireOS7.

Wow. Thank you for your reply. Extremely helpful and informative.