[GUIDE] How to unlock your bootloader, install TWRP and gain root access

[TheSt33v]

At the request of @ChazzMatt, I've updated the guide to warn people about the file extensions thing. I've also updated the miscellaneous section with the new ROMs on the block and some other nifty Androidy things.

 

[doubledragon5]

At the request of @ChazzMatt, I've updated the guide to warn people about the file extensions thing. I've also updated the miscellaneous section with the new ROMs on the block and some other nifty Androidy things.

Thanks, that was the only issue I had trying to install TWRP LOL. When I found out I enable show extensios and sure enough I saw two img img. Took off one, and the rest was history...:good:

 

[Coffeemani]

Is there any other solution without paying? because I can't pay wireless.

 

[sd_shadow]

Is there any other solution without paying? because I can't pay wireless.

no there is not

Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Labs

 

[Coffeemani]

What is the point of getting unlocked phone if you have to pay such amount for it anyway, making a buck out of exploits is even beneath than street pimps! I pray these guys get there accounts traced and tracked down for earning unfair funds by hacking securities, I think its against the law, amateurs can get donations and can be forgiven when got caught, on the contrary I am afraid this can be the same for these guys if they keep this up. Charging for security hacks is a serious unforgivable offense.

 

[sd_shadow]

What is the point of getting unlocked phone if you have to pay such amount for it anyway, making a buck out of exploits is even beneath than street pimps! I pray these guys get there accounts traced and tracked down for earning unfair funds by hacking securities, I think its against the law, amateurs can get donations and can be forgiven when got caught, on the contrary I am afraid this can be the same for these guys if they keep this up. Charging for security hacks is a serious unforgivable offense.

lol

Sent from my XT1060 using XDA Labs

---------- Post added at 06:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:43 AM ----------

pay or don't, no one here is interested in your whining
there is no free option, how they hack the device has been published
do some research, and create your own free tool if you want
official xda sunshine thread is here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2792487

Sent from my XT1060 using XDA Labs

 

[ChazzMatt]

Is there any other solution without paying? because I can't pay wireless.

What is the point of getting unlocked phone if you have to pay such amount for it anyway, making a buck out of exploits is even beneath than street pimps!

I pray these guys get there accounts traced and tracked down for earning unfair funds by hacking securities, I think its against the law, amateurs can get donations and can be forgiven when got caught, on the contrary I am afraid this can be the same for these guys if they keep this up. Charging for security hacks is a serious unforgivable offense.

1) It's your fault for buying a bootloader locked phone if you don't want a bootloader locked phone. Even if you are on Verizon there is another Quark (the Moto XT1250 sold by other U.S. CDMA/LTE carriers) that has the exact same radio bands, same FCC ID as the Droid Turbo XT1254 -- and runs on Verizon with a Verizon LTE SIM card. If you are not on Verizon there's also the the Moto XT1225 which doesn't have CDMA bands, but has more LTE bands and more HSPA bands. Both the other Quarks (XT1250, XT1225) are easily unlocked for FREE with code from Motorola website.

Just like many carriers sell the LG G4, many carriers sell/sold the Quark. And just like Verizon's version of the LG G4 has specific model number to differentiate it from AT&T, Sprint, T-mobile's versions, the model numbers of the Quark are XT1254, XT1250, XT1225. Where Verizon is different -- to falsely claim "exclusive" -- Verizon called their Quark a "Droid Turbo" while for other carriers it was called the Moto Maxx/Moto Turbo. But a Quark is a Quark, just like an LG G4 is an LG G4 (except for radio bands).

The only "exclusive" Verizon had was really the locked down bootloader.

However if you check prices on eBay/Swappa for good condition used phones, you will find for some strange reason the XT1254 (Verizon model) is much less (sometimes half) the price of the XT1250/XT1225. Why? Well, on the XT1225 it comes with 64GB internal storage, and more LTE/HSPA bands. But the XT1250 (identical in every aspect to the 32GB XT254) is also worth more money. WHY? I suspect due to their (XT1250/XT1225) easily unlocked bootloader vs the locked down bootloader of the XT1254.

BUT, you can now UNLOCK the XT1254 bootloader! :good: In fact if you factor in $25 for Sunshine when buying an XT1254 , you still come out ahead -- even if you buy a 64GB XT1254. Even with Sushine $25 unlock for some reason Droid Turbo prices are lower than other Quark prices (which have free bootloader unlock from Motorola), even allowing for the 64GB XT1225 internal memory.

• 32GB XT1254 are recently going for $130 on eBay.
• 64GB XT1254 are recently going for $150 on eBay.

Add in $25 Sunshine and it's still much less expensive than the 32GB XT1250 or the 64GB XT1225, for some reason. You are getting a good deal -- even with Sunshine.

Here's recent Swappa prices for Moto XT1225:
https://swappa.com/buy/moto-maxx-unlocked

i bought the phone instead of S5 and didnt research on it because most phones are easy to modify, this one is clearly 1 in a million with its stupid lock. Lastly i dont understand why you are so heated up about it, i said Verizon should give it for free to the owners of the phone because its not a 'state secret'. Chill out please, im not denying Sunshine's work

Most Verizon phones are NOT easy to modify.

By the way, the Verizon version of the Galaxy S5 (a 2014 phone) was bootloader locked until March 2016. Whereas the T-mobile version of the Galaxy S5 came unlocked from the factory.

Verizon is to blame. It's their policy to lock down bootloaders even if the manufacturer does not want to.
________

2) "Amateurs" could not find exploits to unlock the bootloader. It took a full year to find the first bootloader unlock exploit (November 2015). Verizon blocked that in May 2016 and Sunshine team found another in July 2016.

Believe me, a lot of people were looking and one person even pledge a "bounty" of $500. But bounties never work. People "forget" to pay. A model like Sunshine works because if you really care about it, you will pay, and it helps recoup costs. I know they bricked at least one phone (maybe more) during this process and had to buy another. Plus LOTS of time.

___________

Conclusion: You are blaming the wrong people.

• First, blame yourself for buying a bootloader locked phone. Research before you buy.
• Second, blame Verizon for locking their bootloaders when other carriers don't.

Thankfully we have devs like Sunshine team to overcome Verizon stupidity.

 

[iiWoodstocK]

What is the point of getting unlocked phone if you have to pay such amount for it anyway, making a buck out of exploits is even beneath than street pimps! I pray these guys get there accounts traced and tracked down for earning unfair funds by hacking securities, I think its against the law, amateurs can get donations and can be forgiven when got caught, on the contrary I am afraid this can be the same for these guys if they keep this up. Charging for security hacks is a serious unforgivable offense.

All you got is a SIM unlocked phone. Not bootloader unlocked. So no, you did not buy an bootloader unlocked phone. Paying for Sunshine is paying for time and the devices Sunshine bricked while finding an exploit.

For your sake, I hope your employer asks you to work for him/her for free.

 

[TheSt33v]

Is there any other solution without paying? because I can't pay wireless.

All you need is a paypal account. If you don't have one, sign up for one. If you live in a country where it blocks you, use a VPN to get around it. If you don't have a credit card or a bank account, buy a Visa or Mastercard gift card and use that to start a paypal account.

But it seems like the issue is not that you can't, it's that you won't. And for that, there is no solution.

 

[sd_shadow]

All you need is a paypal account. If you don't have one, sign up for one. If you live in a country where it blocks you, use a VPN to get around it. If you don't have a credit card or a bank account, buy a Visa or Mastercard gift card and use that to start a paypal account.

But it seems like the issue is not that you can't, it's that you won't. And for that, there is no solution.

if you have a pre paid visa card, you don't even need a PayPal account, you can pay with PayPal with out signing up

 

[LenAsh]

What is the point of getting unlocked phone if you have to pay such amount for it anyway, making a buck out of exploits is even beneath than street pimps! I pray these guys get there accounts traced and tracked down for earning unfair funds by hacking securities, I think its against the law, amateurs can get donations and can be forgiven when got caught, on the contrary I am afraid this can be the same for these guys if they keep this up. Charging for security hacks is a serious unforgivable offense.

This topic has been done to death already over the past 3 years.

If you don't understand what's what, ask politely rather than lambasting those who are trying to help.

Caveat emptor, as they say in "Latin"... perhaps doing the research beforehand would be worthwhile.

And keep it civil.

 

[Kjunk71]

Jkbone711

Hello I was able to get root o the turbo with 49 update installed but with a locked bootloader. I'm wandering what my next step is? Try adb mafastboot with twrp? I used sunshine to temp root along with KingRoot then super Sume. Didn't buy the sunshine complete package and wandering if I will have to if i have root? Thanks

 

[Claps1775]

To install twrp, you need a bootloader unlocked. So, you need sunshine. Temp root mean nothing. KingRoot does not work.

 

[ChazzMatt]

Hello I was able to get root o the turbo with 49 update installed but with a locked bootloader. I'm wandering what my next step is? Try adb mafastboot with twrp? I used sunshine to temp root along with KingRoot then super Sume. Didn't buy the sunshine complete package and wandering if I will have to if i have root? Thanks

Well, there's your problem. You didn't buy Sunshine. Your bootloader is still locked and you have nothing.

To install twrp, you need a bootloader unlocked. So, you need sunshine. Temp root mean nothing. KingRoot does not work.

Exactly.

 

[settlingnomaf]

Thank you for this message! I have some questions.

What is one supposed to do with the SIM card during all these operations? Should it be in the phone? Or is one to take it out while all this is done? And if it remains in the phone, what happens to the phone number assigned through the SIM card? And for that matter, to the phone line/service associated with the device?

Ultimately, I want to root this phone to get rid of all the Verizon firmware that obligates me to roam while I am overseas, and constantly interrupts my usage when I put in a foreign SIM card. Will rooting the phone make my device "universal"?

Thanks a million

 

[sd_shadow]

Thank you for this message! I have some questions.

What is one supposed to do with the SIM card during all these operations? Should it be in the phone? Or is one to take it out while all this is done? And if it remains in the phone, what happens to the phone number assigned through the SIM card? And for that matter, to the phone line/service associated with the device?

Ultimately, I want to root this phone to get rid of all the Verizon firmware that obligates me to roam while I am overseas, and constantly interrupts my usage when I put in a foreign SIM card. Will rooting the phone make my device "universal"?

Thanks a million

neither unlocking the bootloader nor rooting should effect the sim card
rooting doesn't remove a carrier lock or other radio issues

Sent from my XT1060 using XDA Labs

 

[Cobra04]

Thank you for this message! I have some questions.

What is one supposed to do with the SIM card during all these operations? Should it be in the phone? Or is one to take it out while all this is done? And if it remains in the phone, what happens to the phone number assigned through the SIM card? And for that matter, to the phone line/service associated with the device?

Ultimately, I want to root this phone to get rid of all the Verizon firmware that obligates me to roam while I am overseas, and constantly interrupts my usage when I put in a foreign SIM card. Will rooting the phone make my device "universal"?

Thanks a million

Leave the SIM card in. Nothing will happen to it or your phone line assigned to it. Use sunshine to unlock the bootloader, then flash TWRP, then use that to flash supersu. Rooted.

 

[DECloyd]

Looking for Clarification

Hi!

I'm new to this game and thread; I'm looking for clarification.

I have read the original post, all posts referencing SU4TL-49/build 49 and the posts since page 23-ish.

I didn't see a post that said that SU4TL-49 was now unlockable.

Here is the main point that I'd like clarification about:
In @TheSt33v's original post, he says,
"2. Look at your Build Number. Is it SU4TL-44 or SU4TL-49? Look at your System Version. Is it 23.21.44.quark_verizon.verizon.en.US vzw or 23.21.49.quark_verizon.verizon.en.US vzw ? If the answer to all of these questions is yes, skip to section 1. If the answer is no, keep reading."

I was able to say "yes" to the questions. (And I am in full agreement with the idea that Sunshine should get their $25. Fine work rewarded!)

I am holding a Droid Turbo with SU4TL-49/23.21.49.quark_verizon.verizon.en.US vzw (I just got a new, refurbed unit). I had been looking for one (at my price point) for several months, but wanted to hold until I saw that a permanent root method was gained. My "phone-tech savvyness" might obviously be lacking; until I started looking for clarification, I didn't have the data about all of the build differences, etc. Darn!

Clarification Question:
Will I be able to unlock the bootloader and complete the rooting actions with my build?


Best regards,
Dave

 

[beaups]

Hi!

I'm new to this game and thread; I'm looking for clarification.

I have read the original post, all posts referencing SU4TL-49/build 49 and the posts since page 23-ish.

I didn't see a post that said that SU4TL-49 was now unlockable.

Here is the main point that I'd like clarification about:
In @TheSt33v's original post, he says,
"2. Look at your Build Number. Is it SU4TL-44 or SU4TL-49? Look at your System Version. Is it 23.21.44.quark_verizon.verizon.en.US vzw or 23.21.49.quark_verizon.verizon.en.US vzw ? If the answer to all of these questions is yes, skip to section 1. If the answer is no, keep reading."

I was able to say "yes" to the questions. (And I am in full agreement with the idea that Sunshine should get their $25. Fine work rewarded!)

I am holding a Droid Turbo with SU4TL-49/23.21.49.quark_verizon.verizon.en.US vzw (I just got a new, refurbed unit). I had been looking for one (at my price point) for several months, but wanted to hold until I saw that a permanent root method was gained. My "phone-tech savvyness" might obviously be lacking; until I started looking for clarification, I didn't have the data about all of the build differences, etc. Darn!

Clarification Question:
Will I be able to unlock the bootloader and complete the rooting actions with my build?


Best regards,
Dave

Yes, we added support for your build a few weeks ago.

--beaups

 

[TheSt33v]

Hi!

I'm new to this game and thread; I'm looking for clarification.

I have read the original post, all posts referencing SU4TL-49/build 49 and the posts since page 23-ish.

I didn't see a post that said that SU4TL-49 was now unlockable.

Here is the main point that I'd like clarification about:
In @TheSt33v's original post, he says,
"2. Look at your Build Number. Is it SU4TL-44 or SU4TL-49? Look at your System Version. Is it 23.21.44.quark_verizon.verizon.en.US vzw or 23.21.49.quark_verizon.verizon.en.US vzw ? If the answer to all of these questions is yes, skip to section 1. If the answer is no, keep reading."

I was able to say "yes" to the questions. (And I am in full agreement with the idea that Sunshine should get their $25. Fine work rewarded!)

I am holding a Droid Turbo with SU4TL-49/23.21.49.quark_verizon.verizon.en.US vzw (I just got a new, refurbed unit). I had been looking for one (at my price point) for several months, but wanted to hold until I saw that a permanent root method was gained. My "phone-tech savvyness" might obviously be lacking; until I started looking for clarification, I didn't have the data about all of the build differences, etc. Darn!

Clarification Question:
Will I be able to unlock the bootloader and complete the rooting actions with my build?


Best regards,
Dave

Yes