[S905x] Help with Mi Box (Android TV MDZ-16-AB) Bootloader Unlock And Root

[nthacks]

thank you. is there a way we can unlock the bootloader of mibox3?

There is no way to unlock the bootloader on this device and probably never will be unless Xiaomi intentionally allows it.

 

[andybz]

There is no way to unlock the bootloader on this device and probably never will be unless Xiaomi intentionally allows it.

Having said that, I've been surprised that I could boot an ARMBIAN image on my MDZ-16-AB. After messing up Android on it, I followed along with this thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/an...omi-mi-box-3-mdz-16-ab-boot-log-uart-t3702010

I soldered my TTL adaptor to the pins on the board, and successfully booted an ARMBIAN 5.34 build. I have a Debian Stretch XFCE environment running on it right now. I'm wondering how and why this works though. I also tried some LibreELEC/CoreELEC builds, but had no success.

 

[iakovl]

well, i ****ed up
used 4pda guide to MDZ-19-AA to global rom based on vientam forum

downgraded to MiBOX3S_queenchristina_r145, flashed segunda Rom and rebooted to recovery, once i tried to insert the DOK for flashing ONCE global it rebooted and now stuck on boot...
any ideas on how to force recovery mode? or unbrick it?

 

[lonnieo]

well, i ****ed up
used 4pda guide to MDZ-19-AA to global rom based on vientam forum

downgraded to MiBOX3S_queenchristina_r145, flashed segunda Rom and rebooted to recovery, once i tried to insert the DOK for flashing ONCE global it rebooted and now stuck on boot...
any ideas on how to force recovery mode? or unbrick it?

how did you downgraded to MiBOX3S_queenchristina_r145? from Oreo?

 

[iakovl]

how did you downgraded to MiBOX3S_queenchristina_r145? from Oreo?

No, it wasn't Oreo... Updated to Oreo

 

[bigtalker]

Truly amazing.....

this thread has been active over 2 years and peeps are still attempting to do the impossible

truly amazing....

 

[Crescendo Xenomorph]

this thread has been active over 2 years and peeps are still attempting to do the impossible

truly amazing....

impossible is nothing

 

[cRaZy-bisCuiT]

this thread has been active over 2 years and peeps are still attempting to do the impossible

truly amazing....

People said bringing treble to non-supported devices is impossible. But it is possible! Check out mido e.g.!

 

[[xFv]]

this thread has been active over 2 years and peeps are still attempting to do the impossible

truly amazing....

Nothing is impossible, only improbable!
With that being said, I am sorta new to android TV boxes and I followed along to get superSu installed.

Now I was wondering a couple of things.
1: Can I delete the pre installed bloatware?
2: if yes, which if any should I not delete?

THANX

 

[elliwigy]

;78153957]Nothing is impossible, only improbable!
With that being said, I am sorta new to android TV boxes and I followed along to get superSu installed.

Now I was wondering a couple of things.
1: Can I delete the pre installed bloatware?
2: if yes, which if any should I not delete?

THANX

i recommend disabling at first.. this way if it messes something up you have somewhat a chance to re-enable it lol

im sure a lot could b removed but as u already seem aware removing the wrong stuff could cause you to start over from scratch

 

[Crescendo Xenomorph]

at this rate, I might sell mine & get Amazon Fire Stick 4K instead of this piece of junk....

 

[nkewk]

at this rate, I might sell mine & get Amazon Fire Stick 4K instead of this piece of junk....

I hope you have sold it already. I cant even believe that they DONT update it. It feels like they want people to think that their product is ****..?!

 

[Aashim]

https://android.googleapis.com/pack.../efb7b83f37bb7c4273c366fa4ab237e47d8908e3.zip

Mi box s 9 pie beta

 

[Aashim]

Mi box s android pie beta

 

[zyonee]

https://android.googleapis.com/pack.../efb7b83f37bb7c4273c366fa4ab237e47d8908e3.zip

Mi box s 9 pie beta

Here comes the obvious question:

Will this work on a Mi Box 3 (MDZ-16-AB)?

 

[Aashim]

Here comes the obvious question:

Will this work on a Mi Box 3 (MDZ-16-AB)?

Not sure

>Changelog (Partial):

>• Reading and writing via USB;

>• New settings menu interface;

>• Audio via USB;

>• Special access for apps, such as overlap;
Amazon Prime video as system app

>• New interface when pressing the volume button;

>• Screenshot while holding on / off button pressed;

>• Options to manually select audio formats, such as Dolby Digital plus and AAC

 

[bigtalker]

Here comes the obvious question:

Will this work on a Mi Box 3 (MDZ-16-AB)?

Sure but only if you figure out how to overcome the version check that is the first line of the update script!!!

In reality, no. Don't anticipate any more development work for this 3 year old piece of gear.

Learn to live with its last few remaining quirks or start shopping....

 

[zyonee]

Sure but only if you figure out how to overcome the version check that is the first line of the update script!!!

In reality, no. Don't anticipate any more development work for this 3 year old piece of gear.

Learn to live with its last few remaining quirks or start shopping....

Pity. Seeing they have almost identical hardware, you'd think they Xiaomi could release the same update for the old box, should be a easy thing for them.

 

[Aashim]

Good news Android Pie will be coming to Mi Box 3 also

Source: https://t.me/miboxsindia

 

[coffenat]

Instructions on how you did it. Thanks.

Have adb on on the device , and when you reboot
Have it plugged into a computer or like i did a rpi0 with Linux installed and adb obviously then make a udev rule that when you plug in the mi box it uses adb to
setenforce 0
It's been a good minute but to get the identifier use lsusb , for now I forget it but simple enough it's the ####:#### number if you need more info you can read man lsusb or the man page on udev