Stock ROM: Root & OTA Updates

[MrTooPhone]

My new MOTO G 2015 XT1540 16GB/2GB will be delivered early next week. I have been trying to do all my reading in advance. Ideally I would like to keep the stock ROM, root the device, and keep receiving OTA updates.

My understanding to date is it is possible root without installing (flashing) TWRP. And by fast booting TWRP (vice installing) I can root the phone, keep the stock boot loader, and receive OTA updates as long as I completely unroot the device prior to updating. What is not clear to me is if I can keep receive OTA updates and not break the phone under the following circumstances:

1) custom kernel installed
2) adding apps to the system such as Cerberus (I know it can be elsewhere)
3) adding apps that require root such as Adfree (modifying host file)
4) freezing or removing system apps (bloatware)

Any suggestions how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.

 

[HelpMeruth]

Freezing/adding apps doesn't affect ota's,

 

[Tel864]

Freezing/adding apps doesn't affect ota's,

Uhh, yes it does, at least sometimes. My last OTA failed until a bug report to Motorola traced it to system apps I had frozen. I don't think it matters now, at least with Titanium and Marshmallow. Many of the system apps I uninstall or freeze come un-frozen after a reboot. All that I uninstall become installed again after a reboot. I don't know if that's a Titanium Backup problem with Marshmallow or what.

 

[MrTooPhone]

My last OTA failed until a bug report to Motorola traced it to system apps I had frozen.

So your update simply failed with no ill effect on the phone?

Were you using the stock kernel?

 

[Tel864]

So your update simply failed with no ill effect on the phone?

Were you using the stock kernel?

No lasting ill effect. Yes, everything stock. I had previously un-rooted which won't stop the OTA download, just the install. When the install still failed, I had forgotten that I'd frozen some Google apps, Gmail, Play Movies & TV, and Google Play Music. When the OTA kept failing to install, Motorola had me send a bug report. After I unfroze the above apps, the update seemed to go through fine. This had not happened on earlier versions of Android, so I'm thinking something changed or maybe it was just a bug in my software, who knows. You don't get a lot of feedback from Motorola. I think you have a better chance of winning the lottery or getting struck by lightning.