Phone bricked after update to Pie via OTA, Bootloader unlocked

[Amitie10g]

Let's tell my experience.

I had my Moto G6 Play for near two months. I've unlocked the Bootloader and attempted to root it but unsuccessful. So, I've rolled back to my stock rom via Fastboot (using the stock ROM linked in this forum). It worked fine after that.

Some days ago, the official Android Pie update has been available, so, I installed it via OTA. However, it failed. After trying installing again, the phone gone down and never powered on again (even entering the Recovery mode, even charging all the night).

Therefore, I left the device to the technical service, knowing the bootloader unlock voids the warranty.

Does this happened to someone else? In what scenarios?

Thanks for commenting.

 

[Spaceminer]

Let's tell my experience.

I had my Moto G6 Play for near two months. I've unlocked the Bootloader and attempted to root it but unsuccessful. So, I've rolled back to my stock rom via Fastboot (using the stock ROM linked in this forum). It worked fine after that.

Some days ago, the official Android Pie update has been available, so, I installed it via OTA. However, it failed. After trying installing again, the phone gone down and never powered on again (even entering the Recovery mode, even charging all the night).

Therefore, I left the device to the technical service, knowing the bootloader unlock voids the warranty.

Does this happened to someone else? In what scenarios?

Thanks for commenting.

1. Unlocking your bootloader does not void your warranty.

2. That's a recovery loop. It doesn't look like it, but it is.

3. How to fix that crap. -Flash stock firmware, wipe data, cache, and DDR through fastboot, then issue the command fastboot reboot. Let it encrypt, then you can boot into recovery normally. If you don't let it encrypt right after flashing stock firmware then you'll loop again.

 

[Amitie10g]

1. Unlocking your bootloader does not void your warranty.

2. That's a recovery loop. It doesn't look like it, but it is.

3. How to fix that crap. -Flash stock firmware, wipe data, cache, and DDR through fastboot, then issue the command fastboot reboot. Let it encrypt, then you can boot into recovery normally. If you don't let it encrypt right after flashing stock firmware then you'll loop again.

1.- Maybe, depending the country. So, the agent who attended me told me the warranty is void just when unlocking the Bootloader. Motorola's technical service will give the last word about that, as I have re-installed the stock rom.

2.- As I told, the phone don't seems to power on and no charging light. I've connected to the computer and it never identifies as anything than a brick.

3.- Per above, Fastboot won't recognize the device and unable to send commands to the device in any way. In other words, the device seems to be completely dead.

 

[Amitie10g]

The vendor where I purchased the device just told me they will replace the device under the warranty.

So, I'll apply the updates via OTA and tell you the results, but I'll not unlock the bootloader, but backup upload the ROM via Fastboot and TWRP, and upload it.

 

[Amitie10g]

I've finally gone to the vendor to retire the replacement device.

However, they don't have the Moto G6 Play available anymore. Instead, they gave me the Moto G6 (better device except for the battery) for free, as the failure has been covered under the warranty.

Advices:

• Ask your vendor the repair costs for failures caused by failed firmware updates. I assume Motorola didn't checked even if the bootloader is unlocked (as the device seems to be completely dead), they just decided to replace the device.
• Don't send the device to the technical service if it powers on and Fastboot is working unless you're prepared to pay the repairs.
• Don't try to install the Android Pie update with the bootloader unlocked and firmware altered.

 

[blowingoff]

acutally, updating with unlocked bootloader causes nothing. that might have been a hardware problem of some source, idk...

---------- Post added at 09:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 PM ----------

but unlocking the bootloader does void your warranty tho

 

[Amitie10g]

Indeed the warranty is void after unlocking the bootloader, but Motorola haven't noticed (and even checked it) as the device completely died.

¿So, where is actually stored the Bootloader? In the Flash or a separated ROM chip. As a previous flashing attempt may caused failed write to key partitions.

 

[Spaceminer]

Indeed the warranty is void after unlocking the bootloader, but Motorola haven't noticed (and even checked it) as the device completely died.

¿So, where is actually stored the Bootloader? In the Flash or a separated ROM chip. As a previous flashing attempt may caused failed write to key partitions.

Not true. My bootloader is unlocked, and Motorola is well aware of that since I had to ask them for the key. Unlocking it by itself doesn't void it. It's what you do afterwards that might void it. Like running an over volted kernel and frying something. Check the screen shot. My warranty is still good until Aug of this year. And if I really wanted to I could just relock the bootloader before sending it in, which blows that theory out of the water.

 

[Starkiller2]

i replaced one under warranty with no issue. with an unlocked boot loader. twice.