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

[s4shield]

Download the file www.viperforandroid.com install goto menu set as expert ui under ui setting open viper4android check on click box click appropriate sound changer so it sounds right to u I suggest doing on headphones than use thoose settings as base settings for phone bt ect.. The the real good sound comes in under conolover files you must download impulse response files or. Irs files dfx_pro_surround_2.irs, Dolby,, dfx ect. After u download you unzip and using a file manager find unzipped file and goto sd card u will see viper4android folder inside that folder you will see 2 other folders one being kernel place irs files in kernel folder. Now when you click impulse response you will have the audio producing files. Like Dolby digital cinema, stereo, HD. Ect there are hundreds I'll post my walk though install video

Yup. I've been using viper for about a year now and it's the only reason I would root devices above kit kat now. The only thing I have had issues with with viper is that I've started disliking the sound I'm getting from .IRS files. I use to love it but I'm noticing a hollow sound as i'm walking down a tunnel and my music is playing outside. I listen to mostly metal. So far I haven't found an ors file I like for metal. I've been happiest without that. Thanks for the reply.

 

[jco23]

Awesome post. It definitely will come in handy. One question, at what point should I create a backup image via twrp? Is it before section 3 step 7?

it really doesn't matter if you create a nandroid before or after installing SU, but I don't think it would hurt. the idea of creating a nandroid is to do it BEFORE flashing a new ROM or xposed.

 

[nils39]

There is also the option of using flashify to get twrp working. You just use sunshine to get temp root and then you can flash the version you dowloaded without a computer. It also automatically installed SuperSU for me. It had a small promt after I went into twrp that auto installed it, if I remember correctly.
Link to flashify: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...REC5ab2xQFUJHRPbQ&sig2=mbuHL7v-fdT3KOPnFtlXKA

 

[Krugger]

it really doesn't matter if you create a nandroid before or after installing SU, but I don't think it would hurt. the idea of creating a nandroid is to do it BEFORE flashing a new ROM or xposed.

Okay, thanks!

 

[CatMan8]

Thanks for the great and easy to follow write upTheSt33v, I was able to get my turbo rooted, best day!
Also thanks to beaups for their help with various issues I had with sunshine

 

[Krugger]

There is also the option of using flashify to get twrp working. You just use sunshine to get temp root and then you can flash the version you dowloaded without a computer. It also automatically installed SuperSU for me. It had a small promt after I went into twrp that auto installed it, if I remember correctly.
Link to flashify: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...REC5ab2xQFUJHRPbQ&sig2=mbuHL7v-fdT3KOPnFtlXKA

Thanks! I ended up following this method but the guide had me ready to go in case anything went wrong.

 

[katim]

Finally got it!

There doesn't seem to be a comprehensive guide on this, so I thought I would provide one.

READ THIS FIRST

Please consider the following:

• Ask yourself these two questions: "Why do I want to unlock my bootloader? Why do I need root access?" If the answer to either one of those is "I don't know," don't do it. Both of these actions weaken the security of your phone, and there's no reason to do that if you're not sure why.
  
• This guide is for the Droid Turbo, model XT1254. It is not for the Droid Turbo 2, and it is not for any phone that is not named Droid Turbo.
  
• Standard XDA rules apply. I'm not responsible for anything you do, and neither is anyone else other than you.
  
• I'm assuming that you are running a Windows PC. If you have a Mac, I can't help you. If you're running Linux, you shouldn't need help.
  
• This method is not free. It costs $25 (USD). If that's not okay with you, don't do this.

Still here? Cool.

Section 1: Unlocking the Bootloader

To accomplish this, you need to be on build number SU4TL-44, system version 23.21.44.quark_verizon.verizon.en.US vzw. As of this writing, this is the most recent firmware version of the Droid Turbo. If you've taken every possible OTA update, you're good to go. To determine whether or not you meet these criteria, go to Settings -> About Phone. If your build and system version numbers match what I specified, skip to step 1. If they do not, continue reading.

AS OF THIS WRITING, all you need to do is take every OTA update until you aren't given any more. Once another OTA surfaces (marshmallow should be coming....eventually), I will update this guide with a different method to ensure that you install the correct firmware. For now, though, this is the only method I'm going to provide, since I want this guide to be as noob-friendly as possible. I strongly recommend that you do your own research before attempting this to determine whether or not this is still the case, since you might attempt it before I get a chance to update this. If you update to a version that is higher than SU4TL-44 (which, again, is NOT POSSIBLE as of right now), you will likely ruin your chances of ever unlocking your bootloader.

1. Download Sunshine from here: http://theroot.ninja/download.html
2. Move the apk file to a convenient location on your phone. If you downloaded it with your phone, it's in your downloads folder already, so leave it there.
3. Use any file browser on your phone to navigate to the folder that contains the Sunshine apk file. Tap on it to install it.
4. If a message comes up and says that you need to enable installation of apps from unknown sources, follow the instructions on that message to enable it.
5. Open your app drawer and start Sunshine.
6. Follow the instructions.
7. If, when your phone reboots, you see a "Warning: The bootloader is unlocked" message, you have successfully unlocked your bootloader. If you do not see this message, open Sunshine again and follow the directions again.

Section 2: Installing TWRP

Team Win Recovery Project is arguably the most important tool to have on a bootloader-unlocked phone. This is how you install it:

1. Download and install Minimal ADB and Fastboot from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2317790.
2. Download TWRP from here: https://dl.twrp.me/quark/twrp-2.8.7.0-quark.img.html
3. Download and install the Motorola Device Manager from here: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/88481
3. Rename the file that you downloaded in step 2 to TWRP.img
4. Copy TWRP.img to the directory that you installed Minimal ADB and Fastboot to. The default location on an installation of 64-bit Windows is C:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot.
5. Turn off your phone.
6. Hold the volume down button and press the power button to boot into bootloader mode. You should see a green android lying on his back with his chest open, and some information about your phone. It's much less gruesome than it sounds.
7. Plug your phone into your computer.
8. Double click on the Minimal ADB and Fastboot shortcut that's on your desktop.
9. Type "fastboot devices" without quotes and press enter. If it gives you your phone's serial number, you're good to go. If it gives you nothing, your device is not detected. This can happen for several reasons, and I won't discuss them here. However, if you followed these directions and all of your hardware is functioning properly, you should be good to go.
10. Type "fastboot flash recovery TWRP.img" without quotes and press enter. It should tell you that the flash was successful.
11. Type "fastboot reboot" without quotes and press enter to boot your phone normally.

Section 3: Gaining Root Access

If you intend to install a custom rom, these steps are not necessary. Custom roms almost always come with root access built in. Refer to the thread of your custom rom of choice for installation instructions.

If you do not want a custom rom, and you simply want root access on the stock Droid Turbo rom, continue reading.

1. Download SuperSU from here: https://download.chainfire.eu/696/SuperSU/UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.46.zip
2. Transfer that file to a convenient location on your phone. If you downloaded the file with your phone, it's in your downloads folder. You can keep it there.
3. Turn off your phone.
4. Boot into bootloader mode again by repeating step 6 of section 2.
5. Use the volume up and down buttons to highlight "Recovery mode."
6. Press the power button to select Recovery mode.
7. TWRP will boot, and it will ask you if you want to allow write access to the system partition. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALLOW THIS. Check the box that says to never ask this question again.
8. Select Install from the TWRP main menu.
9. Navigate to the location where you saved the file that you downloaded in step 1, and select it.
10. Swipe the bar at the bottom of the screen to flash this zip file.
11. When it finishes, select Reboot System to boot your phone normally.

Section 4: Miscellaneous

Here are some links to stuff you can flash now that your bootloader is unlocked:

Official Cyanogenmod 12.1: https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?device=quark

Resurrection Remix (a great Cyanogenmod-based rom): http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-maxx/development/rom-resurrection-remix-5-5-5-t3197643

Computerfreek274's optimized stock rom: http://forum.xda-developers.com/droid-turbo/development/computerfreekunlocked1-0-t3255945

Change the splash screen (the bootloader unlocked warning message) that you see when you first start your phone: http://forum.xda-developers.com/dro...custom-boot-logos-accepting-requests-t3262873

Xposed framework and installer (make sure to use the sdk22-arm version if you're running a lollipop rom): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3034811

Pon-3 Audio Mod (A modified and improved Viper4Android. It makes your phone sound better.): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2530976

I had the same problem getting twrp running as 22e, so I reflashed twrp and rebooted using the "fastboot reboot-bootloader" cmd and things started working from there. So... I have SuperSU loaded, what's next. I'm new to this "Rooted" phone world and wan to get the most out of what I have.

 

[22e]

I had the same problem getting twrp running as 22e, so I reflashed twrp and rebooted using the "fastboot reboot-bootloader" cmd and things started working from there. So... I have SuperSU loaded, what's next. I'm new to this "Rooted" phone world and wan to get the most out of what I have.

The next step would be to install SuperSU. I am still having problems installing it on my side. It keeps saying to update the binary. I've tried "normal" and "twrp" but installation always fails. Is there another SuperSU application I can use instead?

 

[ATFNightHunter]

I've installed sunshine, but I can't seem to get root on the device it keeps telling me that Temproot failed.
What am I missing? (I'm pretty sure it's something obvious.)

I'm on the latest OTA so I should be able to use this.

 

[Ffgod1]

Problem Here. Could Use Help

I'm having the same issue as ATF above me. I have some screenshots of what I'm seeing. I am able to get Kingroot to complete and show phone is rooted. Sunshine does not recognize the temp root and therefore will not complete showing a failed message. TWRP will not install in fastboot either so that's the proof it didn't unlock the bootloader. I'm running the Turbo with 5.1 and all my phone's information matches that from the instructional post a couple posts back. I can provide any information needed if someone thinks they can help me and the previous poster out.

Edit: I am not good typing in forums and have no idea how to quote users or how to insert photo's. I am however very good at following instructions lol.

 

[JoyoSahab]

Sir, is there any other way to unlock bootloader...in my country PayPal service is not available so could not pay...I have moto droid turbo xt1254 lollipop installed

 

[6Binford]

I'm having the same issue as ATF above me. I have some screenshots of what I'm seeing. I am able to get Kingroot to complete and show phone is rooted. Sunshine does not recognize the temp root and therefore will not complete showing a failed message. TWRP will not install in fastboot either so that's the proof it didn't unlock the bootloader. I'm running the Turbo with 5.1 and all my phone's information matches that from the instructional post a couple posts back. I can provide any information needed if someone thinks they can help me and the previous poster out.

Edit: I am not good typing in forums and have no idea how to quote users or how to insert photo's. I am however very good at following instructions lol.

Kingroot is no longer needed. Sunshine will provide its own temp root needed to unlock the bootloader. I would suggest getting rid Kingroot completely and then try sunshine again.

 

[ATFNightHunter]

I tried that, it keeps telling me "Root failed"


Update: I knew it was something obvious. The phone was encrypted due to a policy that was pushed to it. One FDR later Sunshine works again.

 

[Ffgod1]

Kingroot is no longer needed. Sunshine will provide its own temp root needed to unlock the bootloader. I would suggest getting rid Kingroot completely and then try sunshine again.

I tried that first and foremost. Now I'm wondering what encryption policy ATF is talking about. Sunshine still fails.

 

[Ffgod1]

Just did a factory reset. First thing I installed was Sunshine and ran it. It failed. I really don't know why this isn't working. Any ideas?

 

[TheSt33v]

Sir, is there any other way to unlock bootloader...in my country PayPal service is not available so could not pay...I have moto droid turbo xt1254 lollipop installed

No. I would suggest Googling how to use a VPN to bypass the country restriction.

 

[mrkhigh]

Just did a factory reset. First thing I installed was Sunshine and ran it. It failed. I really don't know why this isn't working. Any ideas?

Is your WiFi on? Keep trying.

 

[Ffgod1]

Thanks to all the little tips and a private message I got it working. Did not realize Wifi had to be on and the tip to "Fastboot reboot-bootloader" was the other step that made everything work. I appreciate everyone here in XDA.

 

[JoyoSahab]

No. I would suggest Googling how to use a VPN to bypass the country restriction.

OK sir is there any way to downgrade to 4.4 or 4.2 KitKat from lollipop and gain root acess and unlock boot loader

 

[TheSt33v]

OK sir is there any way to downgrade to 4.4 or 4.2 KitKat from lollipop and gain root acess and unlock boot loader

There is no 4.2 rom available for the droid turbo. The turbo shipped with 4.4.4. If you want to downgrade to that, follow the guide in my OP to unlock the bootloader. After you've done that, download the 4.4.4 firmware here: http://rootjunkysdl.com/getdownload.php?file=Droid Turbo/Firmware/VRZ_XT1254_SU2-12_12_CFC.xml.zip. Then boot into bootloader mode and plug your phone into a PC. Extract the contents of that zip file into the Minimal ADB and Fastboot installation directory, and double click on the .bat file that came from the zip file that you extracted. This should automatically flash all of the 4.4.4 images and wipe your phone.

Once you have done that, follow the instructions for installing TWRP and gaining root access.