[RECOVERY][TB-X505F][UNOFFICIAL] TWRP 3.6.x for Lenovo Tab M10 HD

[Yahoo Mike]

This version of TWRP works on the Lenovo TB-X505F (wifi).

For the TB-X505X, see this thread. For the TB-X605F/L, see this thread.

For the TB-X606F/L, see this thread. The X606F/L is the second gen M10 and it uses a Mediatek SOC.

#include <std_disclaimer.h>
/*
* We are not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards,
* thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please
* do some research if you have any concerns about features included in this ROM
* before flashing it! YOU are choosing to make these modifications, and if
* you point the finger at us for messing up your device, we will laugh at you.
*/

Working:
AFAIK, everything is working including:

• data decryption
• MTP

Known issues:

• time not adjusting for Daylight Saving
• OTA (for a workaround see this post)

Installation
It is recommended that you also install Magisk. This will ensure TWRP remains your default recovery.

Step-by-step guide

1. download TWRP to your PC (see the Download section below)
2. download magisk.apk to your MicroSD or OTG device. Get the latest Magisk apk file here. Rename the filetype from apk to zip (for example Magisk-v22.0.zip)
3. if your bootloader is already unlocked, go to step 4. To unlock bootloader:
   • on tablet: go to Settings->System->About and press "Build number" 7 times to enable Developer Options.
   • on tablet: go to Settings->System->DeveloperOptions. Turn on: "OEM unlocking" and "USB debugging".
   • connect tablet to your computer. Tablet will ask for permission to "Allow USB debugging". Tick "always allow" and select "OK".
   • backup any files you want to keep to an external device (MicroSD/OTG/computer), because the next step will wipe all your photos, files, google account etc on the tablet.
   • Now unlock the bootloader:
     

     adb reboot bootloader
     fastboot oem unlock-go
     fastboot reboot

4. flash the twrp image:
   

   adb reboot bootloader
   fastboot flash recovery twrp.img

5. if you haven't loaded Magisk yet, go to step 6. If you have already loaded Magisk, you can just reboot and you're finished:
   

   fastboot reboot
   adb reboot recovery

6. load Magisk (step one): reboot to recovery. Do not reboot into the system, because it will over-write TWRP with stock recovery. If that happens, go back to step 4 and start again. When you issue the reboot command (below), you have to immediately press the button combination to reboot to recovery (TWRP). Here are the steps:
   • issue the reboot command:
     

     fastboot reboot

   • immediately press and hold all three buttons (Pwr+VolUp+VolDown). The tablet might reboot twice. Release all the buttons when you see the TWRP screen, or hear your PC acknowledge that ADB is connected.
7. load Magisk (step two): flash Magisk. In TWRP:
   • select "Install"
   • use "select storage" to locate device you stored magisk.zip on.
   • press the OK button
   • select the Magisk zip file
   • swipe to confirm Flash
   • when Magisk is finished, hit the "Reboot System" button
8. finished!

If you prefer to use button combos, rather than fastboot/ADB commands:

• Vol Down + Power = fastboot mode
• Vol Up + Vol Down + Power = recovery mode

Changelog

18/12/2021 - TWRP 3.6.0-0 update
           - support for A12 decryption (keymaster)

27/03/2021 - TWRP 3.5.1-0 update
           - change to landscape mode for tablets

01/01/2021 - TWRP 3.5.0-0: initial release

Downloads

• TWRP 3.6.0-0 for X505F: twrp-X505F_11.img

Source code

• https://github.com/minimal-manifest-twrp/platform_manifest_twrp_aosp/tree/twrp-11
• https://github.com/Yahoo-Mike/recovery_device_lenovo_X505F/tree/android-11.0

Credits
The guys at TeamWin Recovery Project.
Everyone whose device trees I plagiarised from GitHub.

Contributors
Yahoo Mike

Created 2021-01-01
Last Updated 2021-12-18 (v3.6.0)

 

[Yahoo Mike]

reserved

 

[zubair1836]

Thanks for useful post,
Possible to reboot into recovery from fastboot?

 

[Yahoo Mike]

Thanks for useful post,
Possible to reboot into recovery from fastboot?

Not that I know of. The bootloader accepts the command fastboot reboot recovery, but boots to system anyway.

 

[AlexanderZAa]

Hello there, I've been looking how to install this on my slow tablet for almost like an hour. Could there be some tutorial or extended explanation to the process and installation, I'm such a noob, sorry.

 

[emre_ADEG]

This worked for me. Thank you for your effort and the TWRP!

 

[beamingbadger]

Worked for me too - many thanks!
Can't wait for a custom ROM!

TWRP Recovery Installation Steps
1. Download android platform tools
2. Unlock developer mode on the M10
3. Enable USB debugging on the M10
3. OEM unlock enable on the M10
4. XDA download TWRP copy to sd
5. Download Magisk app (from Github!!! johnwu), change extension to .zip
6. Adb to fastboot
7. fastboot flash recovery [filename.img]
8. Turn off device
9. Turn on device holding all 3 buttons, release when see Lenovo splash screen
10. In TWRP find Magisk zip
11. Install Magisk

Stock ROM Recovery
1. Download qualcomm drivers 64 bit install
2. Download Lenovo recovery and image tool windows app from Lenovo support website
3. Fastboot oem edl
4. Turn off M10
5. Start recovery windows app, wait till instructions
6. Hold volume up (up is the side of the button closest to the front camera) and insert cable
7. Release button after windows app detects device
8. Troubleshoot by checking windows device manager for the M10 appears as a Qualcomm device

 

[Heeni]

I'm thinking about getting one of these tablets, but before I do so I'd like to know that the screen lock still works after installing TWRP.

This might sound like a crazy question, but my Samsung Tab A won't set a screen lock - pattern, PIN or password - once TWRP has been installed, and I'd rather not run into the same issue again.

 

[zubair1836]

I'm thinking about getting one of these tablets, but before I do so I'd like to know that the screen lock still works after installing TWRP.

This might sound like a crazy question, but my Samsung Tab A won't set a screen lock - pattern, PIN or password - once TWRP has been installed, and I'd rather not run into the same issue again.

Confirmed working normally.

 

[Heeni]

Confirmed working normally.

Many thanks.

 

[PBogi]

Thank you! TWRP is working fine!

Stupid me flashed before I installed the Android 10 OTA, so I had to temporarily go back to stock recovery. Unfortunately beamingbadger's method didn't work for me.

This is how it worked for me:

1. Download the OTA via Lenovo's "Rescue And Smart Assistant"
2. The stock recovery image will be in the Download folder (default path: C:\ProgramData\LMSA\Download\RomFiles) called "recovery.img"
3. Flash the recovery.img the same way as you would with the twrp img (adb reboot bootloader -> fastboot flash recovery recovery.img)
4. fastboot reboot
5. Install OTA
6. Flash TWRP recovery + Magisk again (follow the steps from the first post, skip bootloader unlock)

 

[Yahoo Mike]

The method I use to install OTAs is:

1. open Magisk App
2. select "Uninstall Magisk", then the "Restore Images" option
3. reboot to Android (you will have no root access and stock recovery is restored)
4. apply OTA
5. re-flash twrp and install Magisk

NOTE 1: if you've unencrypted your data partition, it will be re-encrypted by this process.

NOTE 2: the new Magisk App (v22) can be installed in TWRP by renaming the *.apk to *.zip. See the new install instructions.

 

[Heeni]

What's involved with running gsi ROMs on this device? It's got the same SoC as my Samsung Tab, which runs them well, so I'm assuming that this tab will also, but I'd like to know if there are any traps that I need to be aware of.

 

[Heeni]

I can partly answer my own question. It all went more smoothly than I expected: installing TWRP, Magisk and then LineageOS R Mod //LiR, followed by Disable_Dm-Verity_enfec.zip.

If I want to try other GSI ROMs, do I need to flash stock before trying another one? I've had some trouble doing that (won't boot) and it's possibly to do with encryption.

 

[Yahoo Mike]

I can partly answer my own question. It all went more smoothly than I expected: installing TWRP, Magisk and then LineageOS R Mod //LiR, followed by Disable_Dm-Verity_enfec.zip.

That's great news. Well done.

If I want to try other GSI ROMs, do I need to flash stock before trying another one? I've had some trouble doing that (won't boot) and it's possibly to do with encryption.

On my X605F I do this in twrp for a new GSI install:

• format (not wipe) data partition. This is the option where you have to confirm by swiping.
• factory reset. This clears the caches.
• restore the stock boot and vendor partitions (from a backup I made). This is because Magisk can touch these partitions.
• install the GSI system image
• install anything else I need like disable_Dm-Verity, Magisk, gapps etc

I don't know what LOS R Mod //LiR does to your system. If it touches any other partitions, you should restore those to stock too.

 

[Heeni]

Thanks for that. It gives me something to go on with. I've downloaded the stock ROM from lolinet, so I can grab the boot and vendor images from that.

 

[Heeni]

I was able to try a couple of other GSI ROMs and I've settled on AndyYan's LineageOS 17.1 for now. The only serious installation issue I had - which I can laugh about in hindsight - was thinking I'd got myself into a very bad bootloop, when all I needed to do was let go of the power button after the Lenovo logo appeared.

On this tablet, there is no navigation capability at all (no navbar, no gestures, no setting to configure them) on installation, and I have to set it using adb. I suspect it goes back to PHH basic ROMs, but I don't feel like doing yet another install and testing right at this moment. Is this happening on the other tablets that you're testing, or is it unique to this one?

 

[Yahoo Mike]

I just posted the v3.5.1 update to twrp.

It's also changed to landscape mode, as many of you requested.

 

[ldeveraux]

Quick question, how do i apply new system updates with twrp installed? Should i not bother? Also, i forgot how to block check for updates!

 

[The Jack of Clubs]

will this allow flashing of stock roms download from lenovo recovery? ive been stuck on an ancient android 9 version because the ota updater fails.