[TWRP & ROOT] Ticwatch E/S & Unroot Instructions for Updates - v003

[EpicLPer]

DISCLAIMER:
I'm not responsible for any damaged watches or other broken things! All of this is still heavily in development and mainly a developer release, not at all recommended for normal usage!
The following tutorial CAN brick your watch if you're not careful enough! Once again I'm not taking any responsibility!
This has only been tested on Android N so far, Android O is not yet fully tested!​

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Please read before doing anything:
This is a port of TWRP for the Ticwatch E. Currently we're not able to boot it via fastboot (well, it technically does but there's an issue with the video driver) and when trying to flash it the watch will instantly flash the stock recovery over it upon reboot.
To avoid this we have to do a little workaround! Once you reboot your watch it'll restore the stock recovery again! After following these steps your watch will be stuck in a bootloop which we'll fix too tho.
Please keep the Changelog below in mind and read what's working and what's not before asking. We may or may not have seen this issue before already.

Files you'll need:

• v003 of "TWRP for Ticwatch E" (and most likely S) - OneDrive Mirror
• Stock Recovery for Ticwatch E (and most likely S) - OneDrive Mirror
• ADB and Fastboot drivers installed (I recommend "15 Seconds ADB Installer")

Changelog:
Updated Instructions:
Slightly updated the instructions so you won't lose any data if you're already on an bootloader unlocked watch!
v003 (OneDrive Mirror):
Managed to make TWRP persistent! Check Instructions on how to.
v002 (OneDrive Mirror):
Now includes systemless root package inside the TWRP image so you're able to root your watch!
v001 (OneDrive Mirror):
Initial release, no ADB so far. Can't be booted from fastboot directly either due to weird fastboot behavior and has to be flashed first. However upon normal reboot Mobvoi decided to flash over the stock recovery again so we have to do a workaround.


Instructions:
The new Instructions by Luxios require a few less steps AND if you've already unlocked your watch before you won't even lose data!

• Enable ADB in the Developer Settings
• Once done connect your watch to your computer and do "adb reboot bootloader"
• THIS WILL RESET YOUR WATCH:*Once in fastboot mode type "fastboot oem unlock" (if you already have an unlocked bootloader you [font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]can skip this[/font])
• Follow the on-screen instructions on your watch to unlock it (if you already have an unlocked bootloader you can skip this)
• Reboot via "fastboot reboot" and wait until Android Wear fully starts up
• One started reboot to the bootloader via the same command as above
• Once the bootloader shows up again type "fastboot flash recovery TWRP_TicwatchE_v003.img"
• After that type "fastboot oem reboot-recovery" to reboot to the TWRP recovery
• In order to make TWRP persistent you need to go to "Install" > "Install ZIP" > "supersu" > "TicwatchE_TWRP_keeper.zip" and flash it
• Upon rebooting you may notice it'll get stuck in an infinite TWRP bootloop. To fix this boot into TWRP, then choose "Reboot" > "Bootloader", back in fastboot type "fastboot boot StockRecovery_TicwatchE.img" and wait a few seconds, a few reboots later Android Wear should start right up again.
• If you want to root your watch reboot it once again with "adb reboot recovery" and go to the same folder as above, tho this time flash "SuperSU-2.79-wear_systemless.zip"

Unroot/Remove TWRP for Android O Update:
Go to this thread to also update directly to the last Android O update and revert all customizations: https://forum.xda-developers.com/sm...es/android-o-super-easy-ticwatch-e-s-t3789835

Have fun!

 

[Piereligio]

You're the best! I'm gonna try as soon as I can, and let you know.

 

[Piereligio]

Ok, I'm trying to flash it.
Problem is, it flashes, but when I do fastboot reboot, it will boot in android wear instead that TWRP.
If then I reboot in the recovery with adb reboot recovery, it will be already the stock recovery again... Any tip?

 

[EpicLPer]

Ok, I'm trying to flash it.
Problem is, it flashes, but when I do fastboot reboot, it will boot in android wear instead that TWRP.
If then I reboot in the recovery with adb reboot recovery, it will be already the stock recovery again... Any tip?

If your bootloader is (or was) already unlocked you have to lock and then unlock it again for it to work.

 

[Piereligio]

Yes sorry, I noticed that right after posting, but I've bad network.
Now seems to have gone all fine, I'm booting it, I'm only unsure it flashed SuperSU well, since it shown an error at the end of the script, although the rest of the log seemed to report all to go fine.

 

[EpicLPer]

Yes sorry, I noticed that right after posting, but I've bad network.
Now seems to have gone all fine, I'm booting it, I'm only unsure it flashed SuperSU well, since it shown an error at the end of the script, although the rest of the log seemed to report all to go fine.

The guy who made it initially did send me a picture of it successfully rooted. Should work, errors can happen since TWRP can't write to all partitions yet.

 

[Piereligio]

Sadly it looks like SuperSU failed to root. It gave a data partition mounting error at the end of the script, don't know if it is normal. TWRP isn't able to mount data either.

EDIT: Looks like I found a way to boot TWRP without having to lock/unlock bootloader.
Doing this, I managed to boot TWRP after setting the watch up, and in this way, it didn't fail to mount /data. Let's see...
EDIT2: now SuperSU still fails, but for a different reason. I'm gonna ensure that it failed though.
EDIT3: su command responded, so seems that root works. I'll do some more tests.

 

[EpicLPer]

TWRP is now persistent! Check the updated guide

 

[Piereligio]

Rooting succeeded!

Seems like I managed to root the smartwatch using the version 2. For the moment I'm happy like this, next times I'll indeed use new procedures.

EDIT: Yes, I rooted it.
My steps (the ones on OP are the recommended ones):
-Bootloader unlock;
-Boot in Android Wear to enable ADB from Settings;
-Reboot in bootloader with "adb reboot bootloader";
-Flashed this TWRP v2;
-"fastboot reboot", then "adb reboot recovery" as soon as adb was detected while booting.
In this way I managed to avoid the system to flash stock recovery over TWRP.
By the way, I don't recommend my way of rooting it, it's less safe, just follow the updated instructions in OP.

Huge thanks to @EpicLPer

 

[BackCheck]

Wow, this is excellent. I had TWRP built days ago, I went through hell (long story) finding the kernel code and got help from Mobvoi's CTO. I just couldn't get it to boot to recovery. I tried the supplied TWRP, seemed to basically work except for not being able to mount all the partitions. I tried the one I build and I'm in a bootloop. Power button does nothing, we'll see what happened when it loses it's battery. Oh well, will probably order another one anyway.

Thanks for the recovery. I'll resume testing when I get another working device.

 

[EpicLPer]

Wow, this is excellent. I had TWRP built days ago, I went through hell (long story) finding the kernel code and got help from Mobvoi's CTO. I just couldn't get it to boot to recovery. I tried the supplied TWRP, seemed to basically work except for not being able to mount all the partitions. I tried the one I build and I'm in a bootloop. Power button does nothing, we'll see what happened when it loses it's battery. Oh well, will probably order another one anyway.

Thanks for the recovery. I'll resume testing when I get another working device.

If the watch doesn't turn off even after holding the button for a minute then you've damaged something else than just the recovery. Holding down the button normally triggers all the time no matter what, even if you'd have bricked it.

 

[Luxios]

Wow, this is excellent. I had TWRP built days ago, I went through hell (long story) finding the kernel code and got help from Mobvoi's CTO. I just couldn't get it to boot to recovery. I tried the supplied TWRP, seemed to basically work except for not being able to mount all the partitions. I tried the one I build and I'm in a bootloop. Power button does nothing, we'll see what happened when it loses it's battery. Oh well, will probably order another one anyway.

Thanks for the recovery. I'll resume testing when I get another working device.

You can flash again the stock recovery with spflash tool.

 

[BackCheck]

If the watch doesn't turn off even after holding the button for a minute then you've damaged something else than just the recovery. Holding down the button normally triggers all the time no matter what, even if you'd have bricked it.

I really wish I knew what. All I did was flash a bad recovery, pretty sure something was was wrong with the ram disk. All I get is the splash logo for 3 seconds and a brief vibrate.

You can flash again the stock recovery with spflash tool.

I think I need a scatter file to even get started. I've never used the tool so any other instructions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[elios93]

Great to hear someone that it is working on this! What about Android Wear updates? Did you try if it is possible to install them using TWRP?
Edit 1: Just tried to install twrp but inside "supersu" folder there is only "SuperSU-2.79-wear_systemless.zip", where can I find "TicwatchE_TWRP_keeper.zip"?

 

[Niktendo]

Great to hear someone that it is working on this! What about Android Wear updates? Did you try if it is possible to install them using TWRP?
Edit 1: Just tried to install twrp but inside "supersu" folder there is only "SuperSU-2.79-wear_systemless.zip", where can I find "TicwatchE_TWRP_keeper.zip"?

I have the same problem...
EDIT: I have a Ticwatch S.

 

[elios93]

I have the same problem...
EDIT: I have a Ticwatch S.

I've managed to install it anyway. First check if it is not already installed using command

adb reboot recovery

If it does not work try this after you are in bootloader:

fastboot flash recovery TWRP_TicwatchE_v003.img
fastboot reboot

Then, as suggested by @Piereligio send this command as soon as possible while the watch is booting:

adb reboot recovery

This should work
However it is interesting that you have a S model. By sharing the build.prop of your device should be possible unlock all watchfaces for E model for instance!

 

[Luxios]

I've managed to install it anyway. First check if it is not already installed using command

adb reboot recovery

If it does not work try this after you are in bootloader:

fastboot flash recovery TWRP_TicwatchE_v003.img
fastboot reboot

Then, as suggested by @Piereligio send this command as soon as possible while the watch is booting:

adb reboot recovery

This should work
However it is interesting that you have a S model. By sharing the build.prop of your device should be possible unlock all watchfaces for E model for instance!

This is the best way i found to install the TWRP recovery:
- Unlock the boot loader
- Reboot, wait until android start again
- Reboot again in boot loader mode
- flash the twrp v003 recovery
- type:

fastboot oem reboot-recovery

- Flash the twrp keeper zip package
- flash the root zip package (if you want root)

 

[BackCheck]

The guy who made it initially did send me a picture of it successfully rooted. Should work, errors can happen since TWRP can't write to all partitions yet.

Can you get me the device tree or at least BoardConfig.mk used for this? I have a working watch (still working on recovering the old one) and I think I can get the rest of the partitions working but I would really like to avoid any more mistakes.

This is the best way i found to install the TWRP recovery:
- Unlock the boot loader
- Reboot, wait until android start again
- Reboot again in boot loader mode
- flash the twrp v003 recovery
- type:

fastboot oem reboot-recovery

- Flash the twrp keeper zip package
- flash the root zip package (if you want root)

That 'fastboot oem reboot-recovery' command sure is a nice find!

 

[hassanabid94]

Hey, bought my ticwatch e used online.
The watch is almost new and everything works as it should, but it has these two developer orriented apps preinstalled and can’t be uninstalled via settings neither with a factory reset.
They dont do anything but i just want to remove them
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gTNg5QCPzBtKgnzy1
And yeah the watch also generates a bug report by itself everyday i also want to stop that lol

 

[EpicLPer]

Hey, bought my ticwatch e used online.
The watch is almost new and everything works as it should, but it has these two developer orriented apps preinstalled and can’t be uninstalled via settings neither with a factory reset.
They dont do anything but i just want to remove them
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gTNg5QCPzBtKgnzy1
And yeah the watch also generates a bug report by itself everyday i also want to stop that lol

Maybe it's a specific developer unit. Don't do anything with it yet, we could loom further into this if it is something special.