Yes. As long as it's factory stock firmware it will flash on a locked bootloader phone.
@alfick3 I know this thread & post are really old but...
How does the phone recognize that it's stock firmware? Is there any way to fool it & flash different firmware?
On a Motorola device with a locked bootloader, fastboot will recognize and allow installation of an official stock firmware package which is the same or a newer build as the firmware last installed on the device. In other words, downgrading is not permitted with a locked bootloader. It's not the stock recovery that is "recognizing" the stock firmware package, but rather the /aboot bootloader partition. Stock recovery recognizes and permits installation of signed OTA update packages, but not entire firmware packages Official firmware packages are installed using fastboot mode or RSD-Lite. As far as "fooling" your device into flashing an otherwise unauthorized firmware package, yes it has been done but is an extremely tedious and risky process. The process involves intentionally hard bricking your Moto device in order to trigger QDLoader_9008 mode. From there, QPST/QFIL is used in conjunction with a firehose program protocol to push the firmware package to the device. This method has been used to root a number of Moto devices that are unsupported for bootloader unlocking. Again, it's rather tedious, complex, and requires a rudimentary understanding of Linux and Python. A locked down bootloader on a Moto device presents a considerable obstacle in the way of rooting, modding and customizing the device. As a good rule of thumb, if you want a Moto device you can easily customize, root, flash, etc., always get a device supported by Motorola's bootloader unlocking portal. Moto devices branded by Verizon, AT&T, Straight Talk & Cricket are notorious for locked down bootloaders. Sprint, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile & T-Mobile branded Moto devices are known generally to support bootloader unlocking. And, of course, factory unlocked and developer edition Motorola devices support oem unlocking, rooting and customizing.
