[RECOVERY][TB-X606F/TB-X606FA][UNOFFICIAL] TWRP 3.6.x for Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus

[Yahoo Mike]

This version of TWRP works on the Lenovo TB-X606FA and TB-X606F. It might also work on the other variants of TB-X606. Reported working on TB-X606X.

Warning: this TWRP will not work for any of the Tab M10 variants with Qualcomm SOCs. For the TB-X505F, see this thread. For the TB-X605F/L, see this thread.

#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:
Almost everything is working including:

• data decryption
• MTP
• OTG

Known issues:

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

Installation
With a stock ROM, it is recommended that you also install Magisk. This will ensure TWRP remains your default recovery.

If Windows 10 does not recognise your tablet in fastboot mode, then see post #2.

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. Change the filetype from "apk" to "zip". Get the latest Magisk apk file here.
3. get a copy of the vbmeta.img file from the stock ROM. It should be located in one of the subdirectories of LMSA's c:\ProgramData\LMSA\Download\RomFiles directory (after you download it using the LMSA rescue (power-off mode). This is only required the first time you flash TWRP, or the first time after you re-flash the whole stock ROM.
4. if your bootloader is already unlocked, go to step 5. 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 flashing unlock

   • follow the instructions on the tablet, then reboot to Android.
   • note: if fastboot reports <waiting for device>, then you need to install the Mediatek USB drivers. Go to developer.android.com/studio/run/oem-usb, then find the link to Mediatek (MTK) and follow the installation instructions.
   • note: after unlocking, tablet will take a while to come back up - because it has to do a factory reset and encrypt data again.
5. flash the TWRP image:
   

   adb reboot bootloader
   fastboot flash recovery twrp_X606FA_11.img
   fastboot --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img
   fastboot reboot recovery

6. backup the stock boot, system and vendor partitions in TWRP, if you don't have backups already
7. load 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

2022-02-06 - added separate download for TB-X606F

2021-12-16 - TWRP 3.6.0 updates
          - support for Android 12 decryption (keymaster)

2021-07-05 - TWRP 3.5.2 updates
           - corrected display of Cyrillic (and other non-ASCII characters) in file names on external drives (utf8)

2021-03-10 - TWRP 3.5.1 updates
           - cherrypicked update 1995 to force splash screen to display on boot
           - orientation is now landscape (for tablets)
           - updated install instructions to reflect new Magisk apk (v22).

2021-02-02 - fix blank screen on boot - don't need to press power button anymore to wake screen up

2021-01-24 - TWRP 3.5.0_10-0: initial release

Downloads

• TWRP 3.6.0_11-0 for X606FA: twrp-X606FA_11.img
• TWRP 3.6.0_11-0 for X606F: twrp-X606F_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_X606FA/tree/android-11.0
• cherry-pick commit: Add support for A12 keymaster_key_blob file structure

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

Contributors
Yahoo Mike

Created 2021-01-24
Last Updated 2022-02-06 (separate TB-X606F download)

 

[Yahoo Mike]

Windows 10 does not recognise tablet in fastboot mode

If your tablet is recognised by ADB but not by fastboot in Windows, you might need to get the latest versions of fastboot and the Mediatek usb drivers.

1. use the latest fastboot version
Make sure you are using the latest version of fastboot. There were major changes to fastboot for Android 10.

If you are using PowerShell, make sure it's picking up the fastboot you expect: fastboot --version. If not, use ./fastboot from the directory with the executable.

2. update device drivers
Try the latest Mediatek (MTK) drivers from Install OEM USB drivers. When they are loaded, they appear in Device Manager as "Kedacom USB Device/Android ADB Interface".

If Windows complains that the drivers are unsigned and refuses to load them, then do this as Administrator in Windows:

1. bcdedit /set testsigning on
2. reboot Windows
3. install the drivers
4. bcdedit /set testsigning off

 

[ldeveraux]

So I have the ZA5W0097US, would you suggest this wouldn't work?

 

[Yahoo Mike]

So I have the ZA5W0097US, would you suggest this wouldn't work?

That looks like a TB_X606F. This TWRP might work. We won't know for sure until someone tries.

Remember, the screen will be blank when TWRP boots up. You'll just have to click the power button twice to wake it up. I'll try and fix that over the next few days.

If you decide to try this TWRP and it doesn't work, please let me know what happens. And when you're booted into Android, can you tell me what the results of these ADB commands are?

adb shell getprop ro.hardware
adb shell getprop ro.boot.hardware

 

[Yahoo Mike]

New version is now available in the first post.

The blank screen issue is mostly fixed...mostly. The screen is still blank on boot when decrypting data, but then it wakes up. No need to press the power button anymore.

 

[sirp0p0]

I just got my TB-X606F (it's actually finishing setup right now) and I'm going to try flashing this TWRP onto it. I *think* the only difference between the "F" and "FA" version is that the "FA" comes with some sort of Alexa capability.

Both adb commands output "mt8768".

 

[sirp0p0]

TB-X606F/ZA5T0300US (the manual also says TB-X606X) confirmed TWRP and Magisk are working. Had a hell of a time with getting fastboot to work on my main machine so I used a virtual machine to do everything with fastboot.

 

[Yahoo Mike]

TB-X606F/ZA5T0300US (the manual also says TB-X606X) confirmed TWRP and Magisk are working. Had a hell of a time with getting fastboot to work on my main machine so I used a virtual machine to do everything with fastboot.

Cool. I'll update the OP.

Maybe check you have the latest version of fastboot on your main machine. There were some major changes for Android 10.

 

[sirp0p0]

Good call. My adb and fastboot were both way out of date.

 

[ldeveraux]

I also have the TB-X606F and was able to get this working 100%. I thought it was going to wipe my system so I backed everything up beforehand, but no wipe. Just replaced recovery with TWRP and here I am. Thanks a ton, great to have another TWRP recovery device!

 

[Yahoo Mike]

... I thought it was going to wipe my system so I backed everything up beforehand, but no wipe.

It will only wipe if you are unlocking the bootloader for the first time.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[snickle]

Tried this process and ran into an issue. Flashed TWRP Okay, flash vbmeta ok, rebooted to twrp, but could not find magisk on sdcard for some reason. Not tablet won't take fastboot commands. Says waiting for device

adb device shows the tablet

 

[snickle]

Tried this process and ran into an issue. Flashed TWRP Okay, flash vbmeta ok, rebooted to twrp, but could not find magisk on sdcard for some reason. Not tablet won't take fastboot commands. Says waiting for device

adb device shows the tablet

Rebooteed to bootloader flashed twrp and vbmenta. REbooted to recovery and twrp came up. Installed magisk zip and rebooted. No root and stock recovery comes up instaead of TWRP.

THoughts?

Also still no fastboot commands available when tablet booted, just from bootloader.

Tried completely reflashing stock image, still no change.

 

[Yahoo Mike]

...rebooted to twrp, but could not find magisk on sdcard for some reason.

You have to download Magisk-v21.4.zip and push it to /external_sd/.

If you did that, can you see your other files in /external_sd/ ?

...tablet won't take fastboot commands. Says waiting for device

adb device shows the tablet

Make sure you have the latest adb and fastboot from Google. There were some major changes to fastboot for Android 10.

Also make sure you have the latest USB drivers from Lenovo.

 

[snickle]

I have the latest adb and drivers. fastboot commands used to work.

I rebooted to bootloader and flashed thre patched boot image made with the canary version of magisk and got root.

I then reflashed twrp and vbmeta and things seem to be working. Except for fastboot commands whlle booted.

 

[Yahoo Mike]

I have the latest adb and drivers. fastboot commands used to work.

For Windows, the latest fastboot --version is 31.0.0-7110759

...things seem to be working. Except for fastboot commands whlle booted.

If you are using Windows 10, check that the "Android Bootloader Interface" driver is loaded in Device Manager when the tablet is in fastboot mode. See this post.

And when you say "except for fastboot commands while booted", do you mean "while the tablet is booted in fastboot mode" or "while the tablet is booted in twrp recovery or Android system"?

 

[snickle]

For Windows, the latest fastboot --version is 31.0.0-7110759


If you are using Windows 10, check that the "Android Bootloader Interface" driver is loaded in Device Manager when the tablet is in fastboot mode. See this post.

And when you say "except for fastboot commands while booted", do you mean "while the tablet is booted in fastboot mode" or "while the tablet is booted in twrp recovery or Android system"?

Latest ADB and drivers loaded.
Fastboot commands work while in fastboot mode, but do not work when booted to system any more.

 

[Yahoo Mike]

Fastboot commands work while in fastboot mode, but do not work when booted to system any more.

That's ok. That's how it's supposed to work.

ADB only works when your device is in recovery or system. It won't work when you're in fastboot or EDL mode.

Fastboot only works when your device is in fastboot mode. It won't work when you're in EDL, recovery or system.

The fastboot utility is an interface to the Android bootloader. When your device is in fastboot mode, you can use this utility to configure (some of) the bootloader and partition images. That's about it. I'm oversimplifying again, but...once the bootloader has passed on execution to EDL or a kernel (recovery or system), the fastboot utility can't work because the bootloader process is no longer running.

Unhelpfully fastboot just displays the "waiting for device" message, rather than something like "waiting for device to enter fastboot mode".

I hope that helps explain what's going on.

 

[snickle]

Twrp is working as expected no issues I have found, except for the need to press the power button s few times after booting into recovery to get twrp screen.

 

[Bdie]

Hello! I need a bit of help... I have a TB-606F, 4GB/64GB version

I'm stuck on step 5. I've unlocked the bootloader, flashing TWRP and vbmeta seems successful, but then I cannot reboot into recovery. Using the fastboot reboot command I get "fastboot: usage: unknown reboot target recovery". If I try to reboot using volume up + volume down + power it eventually boots to Android.

Any thoughts are much appreciated!