Hello Friends~!
We now have a working method to achieve ROOT on STOCK Firmware!
A script has been made that can boot your shield into the bootloader, erase the old boot, flash the new boot, and install your choice of Magisk apk for you. The script is also able to revert you back to the stock boot image if needed.
Takes only a minute or two depending if you already have adb installed, fastboot drivers setup, and bootloader unlocked. (The guide will walk you through this if you are new)
Rooting Your Shield Will Break AI Upscaling and Dolby Vision. You /Cannot/ Lock the bootloader while rooted, you can only Lock the bootloader when you have the stock boot Image installed. This tool simply makes it easier to "Root" and to Revert back to Stock when done, so you can use your AI Enhanced Features again.
AI UPSCALER FIX:
THERE'S SOME TROUBLE WITH THE UPSCALER STILL, THE COMMUNITY IS WORKING TOGETHER IN THE COMMENTS BELOW
Verified Working on the Shield:
forum.xda-developers.com
We now have a working method to achieve ROOT on STOCK Firmware!
A script has been made that can boot your shield into the bootloader, erase the old boot, flash the new boot, and install your choice of Magisk apk for you. The script is also able to revert you back to the stock boot image if needed.
Takes only a minute or two depending if you already have adb installed, fastboot drivers setup, and bootloader unlocked. (The guide will walk you through this if you are new)
Rooting Your Shield Will Break AI Upscaling and Dolby Vision. You /Cannot/ Lock the bootloader while rooted, you can only Lock the bootloader when you have the stock boot Image installed. This tool simply makes it easier to "Root" and to Revert back to Stock when done, so you can use your AI Enhanced Features again.
HOW TO ROOT:
If you are already running the STOCK firmware version you want to ROOT, Skip to step 2.
STEP 1:
Select a STOCK firmware from this THREAD, and fully install it.
STEP 2:
Download the BOOT MOD that correlates to your installed STOCK firmware.
STEP 3:
Make sure you have usb debugging enabled in settings and your shield is ON.
STEP 4:
Run your choice of .bootmod, .deltamodonly, or .magiskmodonly. MORE INFO
STEP 5:
You will now have Root and still be able to use apps and features that you shouldn't be able to. Normally with root (or at least on the Dev Rooted Images) we cannot install Disney +, but as you see, we Sure Can Now~! ;-)
IF YOUR PLAYSTORE IS MISSING APPS, SEE THIS POST. REQUIRES MAGISK DELTA
If you are already running the STOCK firmware version you want to ROOT, Skip to step 2.
You can check your currently installed firmware on the shield by going into Settings, selecting About, then scroll to the bottom.
You will see a section called SHIELD Android TV SW Version, this will show your installed FW
You will see a section called SHIELD Android TV SW Version, this will show your installed FW
STEP 1:
Select a STOCK firmware from this THREAD, and fully install it.
STEP 2:
Download the BOOT MOD that correlates to your installed STOCK firmware.
If you want to build your own "Boot Mod" the instructions are HERE
drive.google.com
drive.google.com
drive.google.com
drive.google.com
If you want me to add more, let me know.
9.1.1mods.zip

9.1mods.zip

9.0.0mods.zip

8.2.3mods.zip

Special Thanks to @Manzing for obtaining the 9.1 and 9.1.1 images for us!
drive.google.com
drive.google.com
drive.google.com
drive.google.com
9.1.1mods2017.zip

9.1mods2017.zip

9.0.0mods2017.zip

8.2.3mods2017.zip

Special thanks to @I_did_it_just_tmrrow for taking the time to download from gameworks, patch with magisk, and install the 2015 version, and verified it works HERE as well as they verified the hashes were the same for the boot.img of the 500gb and 16gb boot.img
drive.google.com
9.0.0-2015-MODS.zip

STEP 3:
Make sure you have usb debugging enabled in settings and your shield is ON.
This adds an additional Minute to setup time 


Attach a USB-C cable to your shield and plug it into your PC.
(Use the USB port furthest away from the HDMI Cable)
Go into settings, select device preferences
Select About, then hit the build number 7 times
Back out to device preferences and now select developer options
Then enable USB debugging and Network debugging.
Note the ip address and in a terminal on your computer, connect to this ip address.
Example: adb connect 192.168.0.10:5555
This will prompt the shield to allow for a connection, say yes.



Attach a USB-C cable to your shield and plug it into your PC.
(Use the USB port furthest away from the HDMI Cable)
Go into settings, select device preferences
Select About, then hit the build number 7 times
Back out to device preferences and now select developer options
Then enable USB debugging and Network debugging.
Here's a way to install adb quickly using powershell and chocolatey.
Open powershell as admin and copy and paste these two lines, one line at a time:
That's it!
Open powershell as admin and copy and paste these two lines, one line at a time:
Code:
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))
choco install adb
That's it!
Note the ip address and in a terminal on your computer, connect to this ip address.
Example: adb connect 192.168.0.10:5555
This will prompt the shield to allow for a connection, say yes.
STEP 4:
Run your choice of .bootmod, .deltamodonly, or .magiskmodonly. MORE INFO
Simple 1 min demo:
How to use the new .bootmod script:
After Enabling USB Debugging and Wireless debugging, then adb connecting to your device, run the .bootmod script
If you did everything correctly, your device should be listed, and you may proceed by pressing 1 and enter.
If you forgot to adb connect you may now do so with option 3, just type in your Shield's IP address.
After you select 1 on the main menu, the script will then reboot your device into the bootloader and will wait for you to press a key so the script can run fastboot devices to verify that your device has posted.
Wait to press any key until you see your shield's lights come on and then you hear the window's chime on your computer. (see 0:16 in the video) Then Press 1 if your device is listed like above.
Now you can select which boot mod you would prefer. The script will erase the old boot image, flash the new one, reset, then the script will pause for us.
When your shield has fully rebooted and is on the main menu, you can press any key in the terminal and the script will finish the magisk installation for us by installing the apk to the device.
If you accidentally pressed a button too quickly, you can always access the apk menu to adb install the Magisk apk.
FULL RUNDOWN OF V2 CHANGES
Remember that you can always revert back to the Stock Boot Image and Lock your bootloader (again you can only lock it with a Stock boot flashed) to get your AI Upscaler and Dolby Vision working again when you are done with Root.
How to use the new .bootmod script:
After Enabling USB Debugging and Wireless debugging, then adb connecting to your device, run the .bootmod script
If you did everything correctly, your device should be listed, and you may proceed by pressing 1 and enter.
If you forgot to adb connect you may now do so with option 3, just type in your Shield's IP address.
After you select 1 on the main menu, the script will then reboot your device into the bootloader and will wait for you to press a key so the script can run fastboot devices to verify that your device has posted.
Wait to press any key until you see your shield's lights come on and then you hear the window's chime on your computer. (see 0:16 in the video) Then Press 1 if your device is listed like above.
Run option 2 again, in case the script went too fast or you hit a key too quickly.
If your device is still not showing, make sure you have unlocked the bootloader and installed the fastboot drivers for your device.
If your device is still not showing, make sure you have unlocked the bootloader and installed the fastboot drivers for your device.
NOTE THAT UNLOCKING YOUR BOOTLOADER WILL ERASE ALL DATA ON THE DEVICE!
The shield should now be at the bootloader menu, simply select unlock bootloader
The shield should now be at the bootloader menu, simply select unlock bootloader
Now you can select which boot mod you would prefer. The script will erase the old boot image, flash the new one, reset, then the script will pause for us.
When your shield has fully rebooted and is on the main menu, you can press any key in the terminal and the script will finish the magisk installation for us by installing the apk to the device.
If you accidentally pressed a button too quickly, you can always access the apk menu to adb install the Magisk apk.
FULL RUNDOWN OF V2 CHANGES
Remember that you can always revert back to the Stock Boot Image and Lock your bootloader (again you can only lock it with a Stock boot flashed) to get your AI Upscaler and Dolby Vision working again when you are done with Root.
STEP 5:
Now Opening Magisk will trigger this alert:
Select OK and after the reboot, your Magisk of Choice will be fully installed!
Select OK and after the reboot, your Magisk of Choice will be fully installed!
You will now have Root and still be able to use apps and features that you shouldn't be able to. Normally with root (or at least on the Dev Rooted Images) we cannot install Disney +, but as you see, we Sure Can Now~! ;-)
IF YOUR PLAYSTORE IS MISSING APPS, SEE THIS POST. REQUIRES MAGISK DELTA
SOURCE CODE --- You may repurpose / share this as you see fit.
DELTAMODONLY.BAT
MAGISKMODONLY.BAT
BOOTMOD.BAT ---- There is unused code, the :UNLOCK code will be removed later, it didn't work how I would have liked in testing and I forgot to remove it. It isn't harming anything right now so will remove it with the next update.
DELTAMODONLY.BAT
Code:
fastboot erase boot
fastboot flash boot bootmod2.img
fastboot reboot
MAGISKMODONLY.BAT
Code:
fastboot erase boot
fastboot flash boot bootmod1.img
fastboot reboot
BOOTMOD.BAT ---- There is unused code, the :UNLOCK code will be removed later, it didn't work how I would have liked in testing and I forgot to remove it. It isn't harming anything right now so will remove it with the next update.
Code:
@echo off
title [BOOTMOD]
color 0A
if "%1" neq "" ( goto %1)
:MENU
cls
echo BOOTMOD -- Version 2
echo =========================================
adb devices
echo =========================================
echo 1. Enter Bootloader Menu for Mod Flashing
echo 2. Enter APK Menu
echo 3. ADB Connect
echo 4. Reboot to System
echo 5. HELP
echo 6. EXIT BOOTMOD
echo =========================================
set /p answer= Please Enter your Selection:
if %answer%==1 goto BOOTLOADER
if %answer%==2 goto APK
if %answer%==3 goto ADB
if %answer%==4 goto REBOOT
if %answer%==5 goto HELP
if %answer%==6 goto EXIT
:ADB
cls
set /p answer= Type in SHIELD IP Address:
adb connect %answer%
goto MENU
:APK
cls
echo ===========
echo APK MENU
echo ===========
echo 1. Magisk by TopJohnWu
echo 2. Magisk Delta fork by HuskyDG
echo 3. Return to Main Menu
echo ================================
set /p answer= Please Enter your Selection:
if %answer%==1 goto MAGISKAPK
if %answer%==2 goto DELTAAPK
if %answer%==3 goto MENU
:MAGISKAPK
adb install magisk.apk
goto MENU
:DELTAAPK
adb install delta.apk
goto MENU
:HELP
cls
echo Adb must be installed on the computer and USB debugging must be enabled on the Shield.
echo You will need the Fastboot USB drivers installed on your PC.
echo Check the GUIDE on XDA for more help.
echo LINK: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/bootmod-root-your-shield-in-1-minute-2015-2017-2019.4524873/
echo =====================================================================================
set /p answer=Press 1 to return to Main Menu:
if %answer%==1 goto MENU
:UNLOCK
cls
fastboot oem unlock
echo ==============================================================
echo Use your shield to select yes. Then press any key to continue
echo ==============================================================
pause
set /p answer=Press 1 to Enter Flash Menu or 2 to return to Main Menu:
if %answer%==1 goto FLASH
if %answer%==2 goto MENU
:BOOTLOADER
cls
adb reboot bootloader
pause
cls
echo =====================================================
fastboot devices
echo =====================================================
echo Is your device listed above?
echo =====================================================
set /p answer=Press 1 for yes or 2 for no or 3 for Help:
if %answer%==1 goto FLASH
if %answer%==2 goto BOOTLOADER
if %answer%==3 goto HELP
:FLASH
cls
echo How would you like to flash your boot today? Do you want to include:
echo ====================================================================
echo 1. TopJohnWu's Magisk
echo 2. HuskyDG's Magisk Delta
echo 3. Revert Back To Stock Boot Image
echo 4. Reboot Shield to System
echo 5. Return to Main Menu
echo ====================================
set /p answer=Select a number and press enter:
if %answer%==1 goto MAGISK
if %answer%==2 goto DELTA
if %answer%==3 goto STOCK
if %answer%==4 goto REBOOT
if %answer%==5 goto MENU
:MAGISK
cls
fastboot erase boot
fastboot flash boot bootmod1.img
fastboot reboot
echo =====================================
echo Wait for your Shield to fully Reboot.
echo =====================================
pause
adb install magisk.apk
goto MENU
:DELTA
cls
fastboot erase boot
fastboot flash boot bootmod2.img
fastboot reboot
echo =====================================
echo Wait for your Shield to fully Reboot.
echo =====================================
pause
adb install delta.apk
goto MENU
:STOCK
cls
fastboot erase boot
fastboot flash boot boot.img
echo ================================================================================
echo REMEMBER TO LOCK YOUR BOOTLOADER FOR AI UPSCALING AND DOLBY VISION FUNCTIONALITY
echo ================================================================================
echo 1. Reboot Shield to the System
echo 2. Return to Main Menu
echo =========================
set /p answer=Enter your selection:
if %answer%==1 goto REBOOT
if %answer%==2 goto MENU
:REBOOT
fastboot reboot
goto MENU
:EXIT
exit /b
Here are the sources for the Magisk apk's and their respective projects, used in making the boot mods.
Topjohnwu's Magisk APK Direct Download Link (v25.2):
Github Project Page:
github.com
HuskyDG's Forked version of Magisk "Delta" Direct Download Link:
Github Project Page:
github.com
All original boot images come from NVIDIA's Gameworks:
developer.nvidia.com
Topjohnwu's Magisk APK Direct Download Link (v25.2):
Github Project Page:
GitHub - topjohnwu/Magisk: The Magic Mask for Android
The Magic Mask for Android. Contribute to topjohnwu/Magisk development by creating an account on GitHub.
HuskyDG's Forked version of Magisk "Delta" Direct Download Link:
Github Project Page:
GitHub - HuskyDG/magisk-files
Contribute to HuskyDG/magisk-files development by creating an account on GitHub.
All original boot images come from NVIDIA's Gameworks:

Gameworks Download Center
Get the latest Gameworks software for your game development work.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE XDA COMMUNITY <333
Thank you to @topjohnwu for making Magisk
@huskydg For making the forked magisk with magiskhide enabled and other features
@nooted1 for teaching us about the magisk variant "delta" that has magiskhide still configured inside the apk
@ajolly for their efforts in educating us about safetynet modules that can be used within magisk
@louforgiveno for their efforts in reverse engineering apks, determining that it would be better to clear data in the google playstore instead of cache, and providing excellent feedback on pretty much every step of the way.
@abc1054 for testing the ai upscaler and teaching me how to even use the silly thing.
@Zer0_rulz for testing the upscaler and teaching us about link2sd and providing a useful idea for studies, to "freeze apps" as opposed to straight deletion in tests. I will use both methods in the future!
@pinvok3 for their script they made to teach us how to more efficiently locate the apps tied to the ai upscaler and determining the "tvsettings.apk" to potentially be culpable in jailing our upscaler. They also taught me about the dolby vision feature on the shield
@Renate for allowing me to bother her in the AVB thread while I try to learn how to talk to people like her. haha
@Manzing for stepping up and being the hero we needed for the 2017 shield community! They were able to locate the correct pathing for the OTA Firmware as well as provide us the stock 9.1 boot and complete OTA!!
@I_did_it_just_tmrrow For taking the time to verify magisk is able to indeed patch the 2015 version of the Shield HERE and more so they explained the boot images provided on gameworks for the 2015 version have the same hash, therefore a patched boot will work on both the 16gb and 500gb models. Thank you!
Thank you to @topjohnwu for making Magisk
@huskydg For making the forked magisk with magiskhide enabled and other features
@nooted1 for teaching us about the magisk variant "delta" that has magiskhide still configured inside the apk
@ajolly for their efforts in educating us about safetynet modules that can be used within magisk
@louforgiveno for their efforts in reverse engineering apks, determining that it would be better to clear data in the google playstore instead of cache, and providing excellent feedback on pretty much every step of the way.
@abc1054 for testing the ai upscaler and teaching me how to even use the silly thing.
@Zer0_rulz for testing the upscaler and teaching us about link2sd and providing a useful idea for studies, to "freeze apps" as opposed to straight deletion in tests. I will use both methods in the future!
@pinvok3 for their script they made to teach us how to more efficiently locate the apps tied to the ai upscaler and determining the "tvsettings.apk" to potentially be culpable in jailing our upscaler. They also taught me about the dolby vision feature on the shield
@Renate for allowing me to bother her in the AVB thread while I try to learn how to talk to people like her. haha
@Manzing for stepping up and being the hero we needed for the 2017 shield community! They were able to locate the correct pathing for the OTA Firmware as well as provide us the stock 9.1 boot and complete OTA!!
@I_did_it_just_tmrrow For taking the time to verify magisk is able to indeed patch the 2015 version of the Shield HERE and more so they explained the boot images provided on gameworks for the 2015 version have the same hash, therefore a patched boot will work on both the 16gb and 500gb models. Thank you!
AI UPSCALER FIX:
THERE'S SOME TROUBLE WITH THE UPSCALER STILL, THE COMMUNITY IS WORKING TOGETHER IN THE COMMENTS BELOW
Please note that patching the boot with Magisk causes problems like the AI upscaler and Dolby vision being unavailable. You may want to wait for updates unless you have a reason to root with stock but otherwise feel free to join us in troubleshooting!
NOTE THAT THIS METHOD REQUIRES A FIX SO ONE COULD RUN ADB AS ROOT OUTSIDE OF THE SHELL. (adb shell su works, but not adb root outside of shell) Trying to mod this binary. Bare with me
NOTE THAT THIS METHOD REQUIRES A FIX SO ONE COULD RUN ADB AS ROOT OUTSIDE OF THE SHELL. (adb shell su works, but not adb root outside of shell) Trying to mod this binary. Bare with me
Verified Working on the Shield:

[GUIDE][NO-ROOT] How to install Ubuntu and other Linux Distros on Your Phone or Android TV Box, using Termux
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