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

[zhaoyun]

You will not be able to use anything that checks SafetyNet. Android Pay is the only service that I know of that does this. People have claimed that Pokémon Go uses SafetyNet, but that isn't true. I can run it just fine despite failing SafetyNet. I can also use my bank's tap and pay app, which is the same thing as Android Pay.

Correct. TWRP will prevent you from taking an official OTA. However, the official OTA has been packaged into a TWRP-friendly format, so instead of taking the OTA, you can flash stock marshmallow that way. See this forum here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/droid-turbo/development/rom-mcg24-251-5-100-stock-t3512949

If you would like to take the official OTA, perform section 1, reboot and take the OTA, then perform section 2 to install TWRP if you wish. If for some reason you need to replace TWRP with the stock recovery menu later on, it's easy to do.

Thanks again. Now I have downloaded the sunshine, on the apk install screen, the one that show me a lot of permissions required, it showed the NEXT button in the lower right of screen and when I scroll down it will become INSTALL. However I can only click CANCEL but cannot click the INSTALL to proceed. I am sure I have set the permission to install 3rd party app and rebooted the phone to try again. What else should I do?

 

[sd_shadow]

Thanks again. Now I have downloaded the sunshine, on the apk install screen, the one that show me a lot of permissions required, it showed the NEXT button in the lower right of screen and when I scroll down it will become INSTALL. However I can only click CANCEL but cannot click the INSTALL to proceed. I am sure I have set the permission to install 3rd party app and rebooted the phone to try again. What else should I do?

you can try wiping the data of the installer app, but may have to factory reset or reflash firmware with RSD Lite

Sent from my XT1080 using XDA Labs

 

[tecsironman]

IDDQD

That is one code I will never forget


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[zhaoyun]

you can try wiping the data of the installer app, but may have to factory reset or reflash firmware with RSD Lite

Sent from my XT1080 using XDA Labs

Do you mean the clearing the data of "Package installer" app? Have just tried but nothing changed. I am avoiding factory reset as far as possible, any way out?

 

[mrkhigh]

Fwiw.

My understanding as of today is Safety net does not detect unlocked bootloader on lollipop bootloader. (It does on marshmallows)

If you do not update the bootloader, you will not need any "trickery" to use Android pay.

 

[EjđiSixo]

Guys , quick question can't find any info on the net.
Does Droid Turbo Employee Edition (EE) have unlockable bootloader through Motorola's site? So basically same phone as moto maxx? Searhed whole net and forum , it doesn't state nowhere it's unlockable. I ask because on ebay there was one and it was stated that it's a special employee edition and that it has UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER by default. hm..

 

[ChazzMatt]

Guys , quick question can't find any info on the net.
Does Droid Turbo Employee Edition (EE) have unlockable bootloader through Motorola's site? So basically same phone as moto maxx? Searhed whole net and forum , it doesn't state nowhere it's unlockable. I ask because on ebay there was one and it was stated that it's a special employee edition and that it has UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER by default. hm..

No, that is not true. The Droid Turbo Employee Edition does have regular locked bootloader, like all other Quarks including the Moto Maxx. Either the seller doesn't know any better or he already unlocked it via Sunshine and for some reason doesn't want to admit he modified the software. In fact the Droid Turbo with already unlocked bootloaders are MORE valuable, in my opinion. Some people -- for stupid reasons -- were LOCKING their bootloaders back before selling, which is very problematic for buyers wishing to unlock the Droid Turbo bootloader.

FYI, even the Moto Maxx (I own three of them) have LOCKED bootloaders. But easily unlocked with free code from Motorola on request.

All Quarks have locked bootloaders when bought new. The difference is control freak Verizon does not let Motorola give out bootloader unlock codes for the Droid Turbo. It stays locked down, unless you use Sunshine exploit.

 

[EjđiSixo]

Thanks for answer. I know they all come locked ,but I was usking if unlockable through motorola's site . But obviously not since I couldn't find any info about it. I guess we'll never know , until somebody tries.

 

[ChazzMatt]

Thanks for answer. I know they all come locked ,but I was usking if unlockable through motorola's site . But obviously not since I couldn't find any info about it. I guess we'll never know , until somebody tries.

Does the seller state whether it still has Lollipop or does it have Marshmallow already?

Tell him to prove it by showing the bootloader status. Is he saying it's already unlocked or that it can be easily unlocked?

As far as I know, the only difference in Droid Turbo Employee Editions were trim colors and special pricing at the point of sale.

 

[EjđiSixo]

Actually that was some time ago on ebay when I realised mine can't be unlocked. Yesterday I found one for ok price and asked the guy about it. He said probably it is unlockable because somebody already asked him that and that it says on the phone limited edition and his wife is employee so employee edition. It was sold shortly after, before I could find any answer about it. Ok price, but looked quite used so wouldn't give up on mine that's brand new for that..

 

[zhaoyun]

Do you mean the clearing the data of "Package installer" app? Have just tried but nothing changed. I am avoiding factory reset as far as possible, any way out?

After some googling, I found out the reason for unable to click install is due to the blue light filtering app that overlay the screen. By disabling it, I have successfully installed sunshine.

So now I can boot up the device and see the bootloader unlock warning everytime. So can I say I can safely go to get the OTA update?

 

[ChazzMatt]

After some googling, I found out the reason for unable to click install is due to the blue light filtering app that overlay the screen. By disabling it, I have successfully installed sunshine.

So now I can boot up the device and see the bootloader unlock warning everytime. So can I say I can safely go to get the OTA update?

Yes, if you didn't install TWRP to replace stock recovery.

If you did, you can flash a TWRP-flashable version of the OTA found in this forum.


Also, you can get rid of the bootloader unlock warning, either ADB or via TWRP:
CUSTOMIZED MOTOROLA LOGOS
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=70287750&postcount=75

 

[zhaoyun]

Yes, if you didn't install TWRP to replace stock recovery.

If you did, you can flash a TWRP-flashable version of the OTA found in this forum.


Also, you can get rid of the bootloader unlock warning.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=70287750

Thanks a lot. I don't mind the warning. I seldom reboot either.....

 

[ashhad101]

hey guys i was wondering if 25$ are necessary as i dont have a credit card or is there any other free method? Thanks

 

[ChazzMatt]

hey guys i was wondering if 25$ are necessary as i dont have a credit card or is there any other free method? Thanks

There's no free bootloader unlock method for the XT1254, been asked hundreds of times, in this thread -- like HERE -- and many other threads in this fourm. Blame Verizon. The sibling Quarks (XT1225, XT1250) are not locked down, only Verizon's XT1254.

You aren't being obnoxious about it, but some are and even get replies like this:

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

and I've even posted a few like that.

BUT there are other ways of paying for Sunshine. See here from their website. Choose which works best for you.

http://theroot.ninja/purchase.html

PURCHASE SUNSHINE
In-app Purchases
We accept major credit cards, major debit cards and PayPal purchases in-app. All in-app payments are processed through PayPal, credit and debit card payments can be made without a PayPal account through the PayPal system. PayPal users with two factor authentication enabled will need to make their purchase outside of the application, please visit our real time Live Chat or submit a support ticket for this service.

Out-of-app Purchases
We can take BitCoin, Google Wallet, Amazon GiftCards, Western Union and PayPal outside of the application, please visit our real time Live Chat or submit a support ticket for this service.

 

[jweakley]

newbie, shooting for tethering

First off, great walkthrough. This was my first attempt ever at rooting, worked great! Now that I have root access, any advice. Main goals are to speed up phone, get rid of bloatware,...

I have a grandfathered in unlimited data plan, and a really need tethering back, what apps, methods work?

Also, in this process for some reason every time I reboot my device I am getting the optimizing app # of #, takes forever. I have searched many forums so far with no solution

 

[ChazzMatt]

First off, great walkthrough. This was my first attempt ever at rooting, worked great! Now that I have root access, any advice. Main goals are to speed up phone, get rid of bloatware,...

I have a grandfathered in unlimited data plan, and a really need tethering back, what apps, methods work?

Also, in this process for some reason every time I reboot my device I am getting the optimizing app # of #, takes forever. I have searched many forums so far with no solution

1) all custom ROMs have built in tethering. Resurrection Remix (Nougat, Marshmallow), AOKP (Nougat, Marshmallow), Bliss POP (Marshmallow), CM 13 and CM14 unofficial... All of them. Plus the one listed below.

2) If you are a Verizon customer and need Verizon VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling, then this ROM would be best for you:

Computerfreek274_MM_1.0.4 Marshmallow 6.0.1 Stock rooted VOLte Debloated
https://forum.xda-developers.com/dr.../computerfreek274mm1-0-android-6-0-1-t3503634

1.0.4 Change Log

• Native Tether. (Tested and Working)
• Audio Boost In call volume. "Fixed in 1.0.4 Lowed down from 94 to 90 Stock is 84 to avoid echo when volume was up to full."
• Audio Boost Media Audio.
• De-Bloated.
• Removed Some Google apps like YouTube ,books,games,videos,Google Photos, Slacker radio, NFL Game,Verizon Cloud, Google pay and and some Verizon apps. Plus the demo stuff and mp4's also removed all amazon junk.
• init.d Support.
• Tweaks for speed.
• Tweaks For battery life.

It's a stock-based, debloated, tweaked version of the new Marshmallow firmware. And because it's based on Verizon firmware, it has Verizon VoLTE and Verizon Wi-Fi calling still built in. For people who are NOT Verizon customers, who couldn't care less about Verizon-only features, many of those go for other ROMs which may have more advanced CM-type options. But for you I would recommend that ROM.

3) You shouldn't be seeing that optimization on every reboot. I only see it if I manually clear caches in TWRP to force all my apps to optimize.

____________________________
CUSTOM ROMS LIST FOR ALL QUARKS

For anyone curious about what custom ROMs are available after unlocking your bootloader and rooting, go here and look at the last post.

[ROMs][Quarks][List for Moto Maxx and Droid Turbo]
https://forum.xda-developers.com/droid-turbo/development/roms-t3347701

@calsurferpunk, who maintains "unofficial" CM ROMs, started the list almost a year ago because a lot of people didn't know about the ROMs available for ALL Quarks in the other Quark forum. (We used to be one forum, they were split in September 2015 before the XT1254 bootloader was unlocked by Sunshine.) I've tried to keep it updated. I only list the current Nougat and Marshmallow ROMs. I'm sure the half dozen custom Lollipop ROMs still work, but they are not being updated.

 

[ChazzMatt]

Can I confirm that Android Pay does not work on rooted devices?

Fwiw.

My understanding as of today is Safety net does not detect unlocked bootloader on lollipop bootloader. (It does on marshmallows)

If you do not update the bootloader, you will not need any "trickery" to use Android pay.

Thank you! Your observation led to this development...


ANDROID PAY ON UNLOCKED BOOTLOADERS!
New development for unlocked bootloader, rooted users. Start with this post and go down.

Thanks to @TheSt33v!

https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=70504607&postcount=4

 

[jweakley]

1) all custom ROMs have built in tethering. Resurrection Remix (Nougat, Marshmallow), AOKP (Nougat, Marshmallow), Bliss POP (Marshmallow), CM 13 and CM14 unofficial... All of them. Plus the one listed below.

2) If you are a Verizon customer and need Verizon VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling, then this ROM would be best for you:

Computerfreek274_MM_1.0.4 Marshmallow 6.0.1 Stock rooted VOLte Debloated
https://forum.xda-developers.com/dr.../computerfreek274mm1-0-android-6-0-1-t3503634


It's a stock-based, debloated, tweaked version of the new Marshmallow firmware. And because it's based on Verizon firmware, it has Verizon VoLTE and Verizon Wi-Fi calling still built in. For people who are NOT Verizon customers, who couldn't care less about Verizon-only features, many of those go for other ROMs which may have more advanced CM-type options. But for you I would recommend that ROM.

3) You shouldn't be seeing that optimization on every reboot. I only see it if I manually clear caches in TWRP to force all my apps to optimize.

____________________________
CUSTOM ROMS LIST FOR ALL QUARKS

For anyone curious about what custom ROMs are available after unlocking your bootloader and rooting, go here and look at the last post.

[ROMs][Quarks][List for Moto Maxx and Droid Turbo]
https://forum.xda-developers.com/droid-turbo/development/roms-t3347701

@calsurferpunk, who maintains "unofficial" CM ROMs, started the list almost a year ago because a lot of people didn't know about the ROMs available for ALL Quarks in the other Quark forum. (We used to be one forum, they were split in September 2015 before the XT1254 bootloader was unlocked by Sunshine.) I've tried to keep it updated. I only list the current Nougat and Marshmallow ROMs. I'm sure the half dozen custom Lollipop ROMs still work, but they are not being updated.

Thanks ChazzMatt!, I am now rooted and running 1.0.4. So far everything works as I was hoping it would.

I appreciate the advice.

 

[birdgofly]

Root problem

Hi all!

So yesterday I unlocked my bootloader using sunshine, which worked perfectly, I then took the OTA to upgrade to MM - no problems there. Today, I installed TWRP, that worked great, and then I flashed the SuperSU file found in the original post of this thread using TWRP, and it didn't give me any errors or anything, but now my phone is stuck at the "warning bootloader unlocked" screen

I was hoping someone could explain to me what went wrong and how I can fix it. Will I have to reflash the OTA? Should I wipe first? And how can I install root without causing this to happen again? Am I using the wrong SuperSU file? I already tried reflashing the SuperSU file but I'm having the same results. Any help would be appreciated!