[TWRP][Root][Guide] Lenovo P8 (TB-8703F and TB-8703X)

[danj88]

I found this version of TWRP on the official Chinese Lenovo forum (original thread). The Lenovo P8 was originally released in the Chinese market, but there is now a version with an English stock ROM and full Play Store access being sold online.

The instructions I have written also work for the 4G model (TB-8703X) but you will be using a different version of TWRP (see below).

Notes:
This method installs TWRP and SuperSU without unlocking the bootloader. As such, there are some risks involved. Pay special attention to the steps labeled ''IMPORTANT'' to prevent a bootloop from occurring.

Necessary files:
QPST flash tool (use the latest version): https://androidmtk.com/download-qpst-flash-tool
Qualcomm USB driver : https://androiddatahost.com/nbyn6
TWRP:
- If you have the WiFi TB-8703F model, use TWRP-3.1.1-0821-LENOVO_P8(8703F)-CN-wzsx150-QPST.7z: http://www.mediafire.com/file/s6wpp3eic9gvp2y/TWRP-3.1.1-0821-LENOVO_P8(8703F)-CN-wzsx150-QPST.7z
- If you have the 4G TB-8703X model, use TWRP-3.1.1-0820-LENOVO_P8(8703X)-CN-wzsx150-QPST.7z: http://www.mediafire.com/file/o3qoa4hws0t7g16/TWRP-3.1.1-0820-LENOVO_P8(8703X)-CN-wzsx150-QPST.7z

Instructions:
1) Install QPST and the Qualcomm USB driver from the above links. Also extract the TWRP archive specific to your model number
2) Run QFIL (part of the QPST package), and select the build type ''Flat Build''
3) Next to ''Select Programmer'' click ''browse'' and select prog_emmc_firehose_8953_ddr.mbn (located in your TWRP folder)
4) Next to ''Select Build'' click ''Load XML'' and select rawprogram0.xml and then select patch0.xml (both located in your TWRP folder)
5) Turn your device off. Then, press and hold the volume up button and connect your device to your PC via the USB cable
6) QFIL should detect your device in 9008 mode (''Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008'' will appear at the top)
7) Click the blue ''Download'' button
8) IMPORTANT - once it has finished downloading, disconnect the device and enter TWRP by holding the volume up and power button together (it should vibrate just before loading into TWRP)
9) You will notice that TWRP is in Chinese, but we will now change the language to English. Slide the slider at the bottom all the way to the right, and click the grey button that is second to last in the right column (see here). Then, click the white globle icon at the top right (see here), and set the language to English (see here)
10) IMPORTANT - Press ''Advanced'' and then ''RM Forceencrypt''. Swipe to confirm. Now reboot into system (do not install SuperSU just yet).
11) Once it successfully boots into Android, power down the device again and enter TWRP (hold volume up + power button together)
12) Press ''Advanced'' and then ''Install SU'. Swipe to install.
13) IMPORTANT - after SU successfully installs, go back to the main menu, click ''Advanced'' and then ''RM Forceencrypt''. Swipe to confirm.
14) Reboot into system and your device should now be rooted

Findings:
I encountered a small issue with AdAway not loading initially. This was easily fixed by going into the SuperSU app and changing the setting ''Default access'' to ''grant''. After you successfully load AdAway and see the ''grant permissions'' popup, you can revert the setting back to ''Prompt'' in SuperSU.

----------
Stock ROM for TB-8703F, should you wish to revert back to the original recovery: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=74131339&postcount=16 (credit to @daitalos)
-----------

Special thanks to @wzsx150 and the L.R Team for creating this version of TWRP.

 

[Cascamoferizo]

Error step 7

Thank you for your work.

Error in step 7) Click the blue "Download" button.

'misc.bin' not found.

18:10:09: INFO: FH_LOADER WAS CALLED EXACTLY LIKE THIS
************************************************
C:\Program Files (x86)\Qualcomm\QPST\bin\fh_loader.exe --port=\\.\COM3 --sendxml=rawprogram0.xml --search_path=E:\Descargas\topo\Twrp --noprompt --showpercentagecomplete --zlpawarehost=1 --memoryname=emmc
************************************************

18:10:09: DEBUG: Binary build date: Oct 31 2016 @ 22:51:02

18:10:09: DEBUG: Build Version: 16.10.31.22.51.02

18:10:09: INFO: Current working dir (cwd): C:\Users\TARS\AppData\Roaming\Qualcomm\QFIL\COMPORT_3\
18:10:09: INFO: Showing network mappings to allow debugging
18:10:09: DEBUG: Se registrar*n las nuevas conexiones.

18:10:09: DEBUG:

18:10:09: DEBUG: No hay entradas en la lista.

18:10:09: DEBUG:

18:10:09: INFO:



18:10:09: INFO: Trying to store 'rawprogram0.xml' in string table
18:10:09: DEBUG: ==================================================================================
18:10:09: DEBUG: ==================================================================================
18:10:09: INFO: Looking for file 'rawprogram0.xml'
18:10:09: DEBUG: 1. Calling stat(E:\Descargas\topo\Twrp\rawprogram0.xml')
18:10:09: DEBUG: 2. Calling fopen('E:\Descargas\topo\Twrp\rawprogram0.xml') with AccessMode='rb'
18:10:09: DEBUG: Trying get filesize, calling fseek()
18:10:09: DEBUG: Found 'E:\Descargas\topo\Twrp\rawprogram0.xml' (671 bytes)
18:10:09: DEBUG: 2. Calling fopen('E:\Descargas\topo\Twrp\rawprogram0.xml') with AccessMode='r'
18:10:09: DEBUG: Trying get filesize, calling fseek()
18:10:09: DEBUG: User set ZLPAWAREHOST to 1

18:10:09: INFO: User wants to talk to port '\\.\COM3'
18:10:09: DEBUG: port_fd=0xCC

18:10:09: INFO: Took 0.01600000 seconds to open port
18:10:09: INFO: Sorting TAGS to ensure order is <configure>,<erase>, others, <patch>,<power>
18:10:09: INFO: If you don't want this, use --dontsorttags

18:10:09: DEBUG: ==================================================================================
18:10:09: DEBUG: ==================================================================================
18:10:09: INFO: Looking for file 'recovery-TWRP-3.1.1-0821-LENOVO_P8(8703F)-CN-wzsx150.img'
18:10:09: DEBUG: 1. Calling stat(E:\Descargas\topo\Twrp\recovery-TWRP-3.1.1-0821-LENOVO_P8(8703F)-CN-wzsx150.img')
18:10:09: DEBUG: 2. Calling fopen('E:\Descargas\topo\Twrp\recovery-TWRP-3.1.1-0821-LENOVO_P8(8703F)-CN-wzsx150.img') with AccessMode='rb'
18:10:09: DEBUG: Trying get filesize, calling fseek()
18:10:09: DEBUG: Found 'E:\Descargas\topo\Twrp\recovery-TWRP-3.1.1-0821-LENOVO_P8(8703F)-CN-wzsx150.img' (31382828 bytes)
18:10:09: DEBUG: 2. Calling fopen('E:\Descargas\topo\Twrp\recovery-TWRP-3.1.1-0821-LENOVO_P8(8703F)-CN-wzsx150.img') with AccessMode='rb'
18:10:09: DEBUG: Trying get filesize, calling fseek()
18:10:09: DEBUG: ==================================================================================
18:10:09: DEBUG: ==================================================================================
18:10:09: INFO: Looking for file 'misc.bin'
18:10:09: DEBUG: 1. Calling stat(E:\Descargas\topo\Twrp\misc.bin')
18:10:09: DEBUG: 2. Calling stat(misc.bin')


(_)
__ ____ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ __ _
\ \ /\ / / _` | '__| '_ \| | '_ \ / _` |
\ V V / (_| | | | | | | | | | | (_| |
\_/\_/ \__,_|_| |_| |_|_|_| |_|\__, |
__/ |
|___/


18:10:09: WARNING: find_file:7638 Couldn't find the file 'misc.bin', returning NULL


_____
| ___|
| |__ _ __ _ __ ___ _ __
| __| '__| '__/ _ \| '__|
| |__| | | | | (_) | |
\____/_| |_| \___/|_|


18:10:09: {ERROR: handleProgram:8405 'misc.bin' not found. You could possibly try --notfiles=misc.bin,OtherFileToSkip.bin (note, exiting since you specified --noprompt)

S

----------
Sorry, the file 'misc.bin' is a system file (hidden) that had not decompressed.
Now everything is correct.

Thank you very much.

 

[gamicizia]

Hi,
thank you for your work.
What rom can i install on my lenovo TB-8703F tablet? Lineage 15 is compatible? where i can download it?

 

[wantagewill]

Excellent

Excellent work. Thank you very much for doing this & doing it so well & making everything very clear. I have been trawling the Russian forums trying to work out how to root for the last 2 days. You have just made a great little tablet even better. Thank you.
Best, Will

 

[evilhomura89]

Any possibility of installing Magisk instead of SuperSU?

 

[elros90]

Ok, two potentially stupid questions: Am I going to receive ota after rooting the device? Is there any custom rom?
Thanks for your help!

 

[ArtistsTech]

Tested. [Worked]

Tested and working! Thank-you!

I only ran into a small hiccup which was the driver was unsigned and wouldn't install when I connected my device. I used method #1 mentioned (replace @ signs with . ) [email protected]@com/167723/how-to-disable-driver-signature-verification-on-64-bit-windows-8.1-so-that-you-can-install-unsigned-drivers/ and reconnected my device and it worked.

 

[daitalos]

Ok, two potentially stupid questions: Am I going to receive ota after rooting the device? Is there any custom rom?
Thanks for your help!

Of course not,you will not get updates,except if you turn to stock rom again..
(Lenovo P8 will not get update Nougat, only security update perhaps)
sry for english

 

[gamicizia]

somebody could tell me which custom rom is compatible with TB8703F tablet. I would like to install at least android nougat or oreo on this tablet. Thank you

 

[daitalos]

somebody could tell me which custom rom is compatible with TB8703F tablet. I would like to install at least android nougat or oreo on this tablet. Thank you

you have humor ...
there is no custom rom for this device
there will be no nougat update on this device from Lenovo, or other custom rom...
perhaps,only some security update on marshmallow ofcourse..

 

[dot64]

Is unlocking the bootloader impossible on this model or is it just a matter of time until a way is found?

 

[daitalos]

Is unlocking the bootloader impossible on this model or is it just a matter of time until a way is found?

Yes right.,.bootloader does not unlock yet in 8703F
maybe with some update,Lenovo be fix it.(?)
This is a big fault from Lenovo !! (In 8703X bootloader can be unlock with > fastboot oem unlock-go )
sry for english

 

[PremiumMediocre]

This is probably a stupid question, but is possible to encrypt the device somehow? In settings it still says encrypted, but it's not as far as I can see. I've installed magisk with your instructions.

 

[daitalos]

Lenovo P8 - After Rooting - improvements

After Rooting device we can few things (no custom roms there,no developing)...
for example, we can open MultiWindow, themes,emoji changer(android O) & some build.prop tweaks (for the better operation of the device)
_How to Enable Multi-Window : open buildprop line & change the value of build type from user to userdebug & Reboot device... (In developer options will see a new choise : Multi-window mode) ≥ see the second screenshot..
__Enable multiwindow mode with two ways: using an app from playstore very easy,(build.prop editor,Root Essentials etc) or using adb & pc : https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/guide-enable-multi-window-mode-android-t3121483


_ build prop tweaks_ [ Make sure that you take a complete backup of your rom using twrp ! ] & backup your currently buildprop settings....

ro.HOME_APP_ADJ=1 (Force launcher into memory)
ro.media.enc.jpeg.quality=100 (for JPEGs higher quality)
media.stagefright.enable-player=true (*)
media.stagefright.enable-meta=true (*)
media.stagefright.enable-scan=true (*)
media.stagefright.enable-http=true (*)
media.stagefright.enable-rtsp=true (*)
media.stagefright.enable-record=false (*)
ro.config.hw_fast_dormancy=1 (Better signal)
ro.config.hw_quickpoweron=true (Faster boot)
debug.performance.tuning=1 (Increases touch responsiveness)
ro.config.nocheckin=1 (this disables sending of usage data)
debug.sf.nobootanimation=1 (this disables boot animation for faster boot time but maybe has a risk sometimes)
(*) = less video buffering on streaming services & videos streaming faster

(build.prop tweaks for battery life - reduced battery consumption)
wifi.supplicant_scan_interval=180 (This conserves battery life but may come with side effects as wifi points not showing up as fast)
pm.sleep_mode=1
ro.ril.disable.power.collapse=0
ro.mot.eri.losalert.delay = 1000

[for Better RAM management(& better work of Launcher), faster & better streaming videos, better signal, faster boot, tweaks for improved performance & disables sending of usage data(for example to Lenovo!)]

__ from Root Essentials buildprop, the backup is mandatory....From other app, (buildprop editor etc) we get backup the current buildprop settings before all this!! because all these have a risks! (maybe bootloop)
__ [ if you do not know how to bring back your device in stock,stay away! ] > How to flash Stock Rom Lenovo P8 - 8703F(wifi) - Unbrick Via QFIL : https://forum.xda-developers.com/an...w-to-flash-t3720621/post74870431#post74870431 ]

__Get the Android P media controls on any Android 4.0+ device:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-wait-android-p-volume-control-t3761774

_ https://www.xda-developers.com/android-p-screenshot-editor/
(android P screenshot on any device)



[ some useful tools after rooting ]

__Root Essentials : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.superthomaslab.rootessentials&hl=en
__buildprop editor: http://buildpropeditor.jrummyapps.com
__Kernel adiutor : https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-kernel-adiutor-t2986129
__Layers manager : (Deprecated) : (only this works here) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lovejoy777.rroandlayersmanager
__Official MEGA RRO Layers Overlays Collection : https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/themes/0-themes-official-mega-rro-themes-t3011075

__Lenovo SNAPit Camera : https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-lenovo-snapit-camera-redmi-note-4-t3608065

__Android P Volume Slider: https://labs.xda-developers.com/store/app/com.bhanu.androidpvolumeslider

__Quick Reboot (Root) : https://m.downloadatoz.com/quick-reboot-root/phongit.quickreboot/quick-reboot-root,v1.6.5.html
__Xposed : http://www.mediafire.com/file/155uhyyylydcy7c/xposed-v87-sdk23-arm64.zip (flashable zip via twrp)
__Xposed 3.1.1 apk : http://www.mediafire.com/file/qs8qxa6c1e84cc5/XposedInstaller_3.1.1.apk
__Weather Widget : http://www.mediafire.com/file/pzzr1s2xgjocfxl/CM_LockClock_.apk

_ https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/mie-a...-0-2-2-0613-0_v_00_1123-android-apk-download/

__Trimmer(fstrim) : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fifthelement.trimmer&hl=en
__Stick mount(Root) : https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/23-03-2014-stickmount-v3-01-t1400034
__Adaway : https://labs.xda-developers.com/store/app/org.adaway
__DNS66 : (rooted & unrooted devices) : https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-dns66-source-host-ad-blocker-root-t3487497

__Privset : https://www.xda-developers.com/modify-android-framework-values-privset/

(you can find more apps in xda labs : https://labs.xda-developers.com )

__Debloater V3.90 (for root & non root users,read OP before using it) : https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/debloater-remove-carrier-bloat-t2998294
( you can see on youtube video : https://youtu.be/Hg1lVSUiJKA ) {kitkat + no Root needed}

__[ How to Remove Bloatware or any app Without Root? ] : (easy way with debloater or via adb : https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/ )

If you can using Nova launcher,is much better for your device!
(Or use Rootless Pixel Launcher 3.x : https://github.com/amirzaidi/Launcher3/releases ) -it does not need root

_Trebuchet LAOS launcher 15 (working with any android version equal or greater than Android 5.x. - Porting of the popular LineageOS 15 ROM's Trebuchet launcher) >
https://labs.xda-developers.com/store/app/com.lineageport.trebuchet

__ ( Substratum is not compatible) __
( I have no responsibility for what does anyone on his device! )

sry for english & Gl

 

[overhole]

After Rooting device we can few things (no custom roms there)..
for example, we can open MultiWindow, themes,emoji changer(android 0) & some build.prop tweaks (for the better operation of the device)
_How to Enable Multi-Window : open buildprop line & change the value of build type from user to userdebug & Reboot device... (In developer options will see a new choise : Multi-window mode) ≥ see the second screenshot.
sry for english & gl

Hi, mind telling which launcher is that? Also, did you find a way to get rid of that annoying "too many startup apps" notification?

 

[TapaSte]

Try an hard reset. From a while I've no more experienced that annoying problem.

Sent from Lenovo TB-8703F using Tapatalk

 

[daitalos]

Hi, mind telling which launcher is that? Also, did you find a way to get rid of that annoying "too many startup apps" notification?

Nova launcher...
NO... these annoying notifications, there is no way to stop (don't do it hard reset if your device are rooted,is very dangerous)
this is a bug of system M6 and needs update from lenovo to be corrected...

 

[miczl57]

Hello,
You have the password for stock rom archive ?
Thanx

 

[daitalos]

Hello,
You have the password for stock rom archive ?
Thanx

I have written it : lenovo-forums.ru
http://www.mediafire.com/file/nvdo3hq0r6mnoqs/TB-
8703F_S000031_170616_ROW_QPST.7z (latest S000031)

http://lenovo-forums.ru/topic/24317-tab3-a8-plus-proshivka-tb-8703f_s000031_170616_row_qpst/
Only TB-8703F (wifi model!)

 

[franktom]

work as expect,thanks