Question Can the P11 Plus be rooted?

[SpectreCular]

I have the P11 Plus J616F model and cannot get the device to unlock after many attempts with wiping device reinstalling firmware reinstalling device drivers. Does failed (unknown status code) after (bootloader) sysytem-fingerprint:Lenovo/TB-J616F/TB-J616F:12/SP1A.210812.0 mean anything to anyone. I can adb reboot recovery, from recovery I can use the keys to choose fastboot and tab goes into fastbootd and fastboot devices returns my device fashboot flashing unlock starts but ends with the failed message above. fastboot getvar all returns a bunch of information about the device but also stops with same failed message. If I choose reboot bootloader using the keys on my tab while in fastbootd tab reboots to FASTBOOT... shows up in device manager as you would expect but typing fastboot flashing unlock returns waiting for device. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

What's your build number (Settings > About tablet > Build number)?
Because there was a recent security update, meaning TB-J616F_S240138_221026_ROW won't work if that OTA update went through. In this case, you could try finding and using the newer stock ROM, but I don't know if maybe they patched this or not which is why I've disabled OTA updates and am hesitant to update until someone else can confirm it works for them

 

[straightcore]

What's your build number (Settings > About tablet > Build number)?
Because there was a recent security update, meaning TB-J616F_S240138_221026_ROW won't work if that OTA update went through. In this case, you could try finding and using the newer stock ROM, but I don't know if maybe they patched this or not which is why I've disabled OTA updates and am hesitant to update until someone else can confirm it works for them

TB_J616X_S240155_230210_ROW

Same as the J616F, the X only has an extra LTE module.

 

[SpectreCular]

TB_J616X_S240155_230210_ROW

Same as the J616F, the X only has an extra LTE module.

Likely if the hardware is any different, then the firmware will also be slightly different. Can't confirm or deny if any other firmware will work, especially one with security updates. You can try it using different firmwares, but your mileage may vary

 

[straightcore]

Likely if the hardware is any different, then the firmware will also be slightly different. Can't confirm or deny if any other firmware will work, especially one with security updates. You can try it using different firmwares, but your mileage may vary

This is J616X with firmware for J616F "TB_J616F_S240155_230210_ROW", only LTE support is missing, otherwise they are identical in hardware.
I doubt that lenovo will develop and produce two different versions of the same model series, just because of the LTE slot, I think they both have them, only the J616F has a different drawer without the possibility to insert a sim card.

 

[straightcore]

This is J616X with firmware for J616F "TB_J616F_S240155_230210_ROW", only LTE support is missing, otherwise they are identical in hardware.
I doubt that lenovo will develop and produce two different versions of the same model series, just because of the LTE slot, I think they both have them, only the J616F has a different drawer without the possibility to insert a sim card.

So yes, I can confirm that both HW and SW devices are the same.

 

[SpectreCular]

Right, but there are separate firmwares for each model.
Take a look: https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/lenovo/Tab_P11_Plus/
So again, I've only tried with a J616F on firmware TB-J616F_S240138_221026_ROW_SVC and it worked for me back then, and others are welcome to try other firmwares and report back their successes/failures

 

[AliasGprime]

Hello, I've been trying to root this tablet of my own (J616F) but I can't get over the first step of unlocking the bootloader. In Fastboot Mode, it doesn't correctly connect to my computer. I've tried many drivers, USB cable, USB Port, even on another computer, without success. While the tablet is connected to my PC, it just loop connect/disconnect over and over again. I can hear the connection sound, that windows make, every 10 seconds or so, and the device manager refresh itself (like a new device has been connected to) at the same pace. Anybody could help me out? That would be very much appreciated.

 

[nexuspb]

Hello, I've been trying to root this tablet of my own (J616F) but I can't get over the first step of unlocking the bootloader. In Fastboot Mode, it doesn't correctly connect to my computer. I've tried many drivers, USB cable, USB Port, even on another computer, without success. While the tablet is connected to my PC, it just loop connect/disconnect over and over again. I can hear the connection sound, that windows make, every 10 seconds or so, and the device manager refresh itself (like a new device has been connected to) at the same pace. Anybody could help me out? That would be very much appreciated.

Try a usb 2.0 port

 

[AliasGprime]

Try a usb 2.0 port

unfortunatly, that did not worked. I've tried every usb port on my PC, 2.0 and 3.0, also on my laptop and my Surface tablet. I get the same result. Could it be because I use the wrong driver?

 

[SpectreCular]

unfortunatly, that did not worked. I've tried every usb port on my PC, 2.0 and 3.0, also on my laptop and my Surface tablet. I get the same result. Could it be because I use the wrong driver?

Motorola USB drivers worked for me ( https://motorola-global-en-uk.custhelp.com/app/usb-drivers/ ), but I also installed a couple others beforehand from Google and Lenovo

 

[AliasGprime]

Motorola USB drivers worked for me ( https://motorola-global-en-uk.custhelp.com/app/usb-drivers/ ), but I also installed a couple others beforehand from Google and Lenovo

This is what I've been using... I don't know what's the problem. At that point, maybe on the tablet side?

 

[13didounet]

I used

How to Download and Install MediaTek USB VCOM Drivers

In this tutorial, we will show you two automatic and manual methods to download and install the MediaTek USB VCOM Drivers on your PC.

droidwin.com

to root and install rom gsi
no problem

 

[AliasGprime]

I used

How to Download and Install MediaTek USB VCOM Drivers

In this tutorial, we will show you two automatic and manual methods to download and install the MediaTek USB VCOM Drivers on your PC.

droidwin.com

to root and install rom gsi
no problem

This one changed something. Now the tablet is recognized as a ADB device in windows devices manager. But, the command "adb devices" doesn't detect anything. When I enter the fastboot command to unlock, it's just "waiting for device".

 

[13didounet]

Put your smartphone in developer mode, in the settings press 7 times on the build number
- In the menu Options for developers that appeared, you must enable OEM unlocking, enable USB debugging
- Connect the smartphone to the computer, accept the requested authorization on your smartphone
- In the platform-tools folder enter the command
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flashing unlock Press VOL+ to confirm
fastboot flashing unlock_critical Press VOL+ to confirm
fastboot reboot

Unlock Bootloader
Now you can root your device

 

[Sjflowerhorn]

Can I play?

 

[AliasGprime]

Put your smartphone in developer mode, in the settings press 7 times on the build number
- In the menu Options for developers that appeared, you must enable OEM unlocking, enable USB debugging
- Connect the smartphone to the computer, accept the requested authorization on your smartphone
- In the platform-tools folder enter the command
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flashing unlock Press VOL+ to confirm
fastboot flashing unlock_critical Press VOL+ to confirm
fastboot reboot

Unlock Bootloader
Now you can root your device

(Sorry for the delay, been busy recently) That still doesn't work. ADB leave me on "< waiting for device >" at flashing unlock.

 

[13didounet]

(Sorry for the delay, been busy recently) That still doesn't work. ADB leave me on "< waiting for device >" at flashing unlock.

what is the version of windows

Type adb devices and hit Enter. You should now see a list of attached devices, with serial numbers. This shows that it is working and your phone is connected

 

[AliasGprime]

what is the version of windows

Type adb devices and hit Enter. You should now see a list of attached devices, with serial numbers. This shows that it is working and your phone is connected

Windows 11. But I also tried on my laptop which is Windows 10.

When I am on the android OS, adb devices return the devices correctly and my tablet is there. But when I am on bootloader/fastboot mode, adb devices doesn't show me anything. Although, Windows device manager do see an adb compatible device connected.

 

[13didounet]

Windows 11. But I also tried on my laptop which is Windows 10.

When I am on the android OS, adb devices return the devices correctly and my tablet is there. But when I am on bootloader/fastboot mode, adb devices doesn't show me anything. Although, Windows device manager do see an adb compatible device connected.

- In the platform-tools folder enter the command
adb reboot bootloader
fasboot devices

 

[zigozo]

Windows 11. But I also tried on my laptop which is Windows 10.

When I am on the android OS, adb devices return the devices correctly and my tablet is there. But when I am on bootloader/fastboot mode, adb devices doesn't show me anything. Although, Windows device manager do see an adb compatible device connected.

I've been following this thread for a bit, but I managed to get a TB-J616F rooted with Magisk. I just patched the boot .img from the stock rom in magisk, then flashed it in fastboot mode from a linux terminal (ubuntu laptop PC). It was root & working great until this System Update notification kept bugging me to ota update for "TB-J616F_S240138_221026_ROW_to_TB-J616F_S240155_230210_ROW". I tried to let it do it's thing and update, it failed a few times. I uninstalled Magisk (unrooted it) and it still won't do the OTA update. That's where I'm at now. Lol. Will see how it goes..

I also used the same rooting method but from Android to Android, phone -> tablet & vice versa. You just need another device with root, and a USB-C cable with 2 male ends or a OTG adaptor. You can do the same ADB and Fastboot commands in Termux, or use this app I tried which makes things a lot easier. Pretty neat, https://github.com/nikita-yfh/android-adb-tools