[UNLOCK][ROOT][TWRP][UNBRICK] Fire TV Stick 4K (mantis)

[Sus_i]

I read VM190 or above/6.2.8.0 & above are unrootable.
I have just received the Firestick 4k from Amazon with VM242, it is still unopened. I want to learn as much as possible before I open the box.

Does the rootability only depend on the firmware version?

Am I right saying that, as long as the firmware is below 6.2.8.0 (assuming), AND I keep it away from OTA updates before the rooting process, it is good to go?

The note in OP is outdated and only valid for the unlock method via shorting.
Since Kamakiri 2 we are able to unlock without shorting, if the OS isn't updated to 6.2.8.7 (this OS patchs the new unlock method).

Keep the stick offline until you are able to try kamakiri 2.0.1 for mantis.
You can use this (up-to-date) guide here:

[UNLOCK][ROOT][TWRP][UNBRICK] Fire TV Stick 3 and Fire TV Stick Lite (sheldon/p)

Read this whole guide before starting. This is for the 3rd gen Fire TV Stick (sheldonp) and Fire TV Stick Lite (sheldon). NOTE: FireOS < 7.2.7.3 required NOTE: This process does not require you to open your device. What you need: A Linux...

forum.xda-developers.com

 

[Sus_i]

gets stuck at the initial FireStick loading menu

What kind of menu is that?

 

[HGSC12]

What kind of menu is that?

My apologies, "menu" wasn't a great choice of words. It gets stuck on the static "fire TV" logo screen. The initial one, before the animated version that should play directly afterwards.

 

[bibikalka]

The note in OP is outdated and only valid for the unlock method via shorting.
Since Kamakiri 2 we are able to unlock without shorting, if the OS isn't updated to 6.2.8.7 (this OS patchs the new unlock method).

Keep the stick offline until you are able to try kamakiri 2.0.1 for mantis.
You can use this (up-to-date) guide here:

[UNLOCK][ROOT][TWRP][UNBRICK] Fire TV Stick 3 and Fire TV Stick Lite (sheldon/p)

Read this whole guide before starting. This is for the 3rd gen Fire TV Stick (sheldonp) and Fire TV Stick Lite (sheldon). NOTE: FireOS < 7.2.7.3 required NOTE: This process does not require you to open your device. What you need: A Linux...

forum.xda-developers.com

Wait, but these new instructions are not for a 4K device. Can one unlock a 4K stick with the new instructions???

Nevermind, I found the new instructions here:

[UNLOCK][ROOT][TWRP][UNBRICK] Fire TV Stick 4K (mantis)

NOTE: There have been multiple reports of devices with serial numbers containing VM190 or higher being shipped with DL-Mode disabled in BROM. These devices cannot be unlocked using kamakiri. These devices do not show up at all on USB when...

forum.xda-developers.com

Now, can I restore a 6.2.8.0+ device back to 6.2.7.7, say, via a TWRP image? I forget now the whole downgrade issue. They burned the fuse, but if I have root, I should be able to go back, right?

 

[Sus_i]

My apologies, "menu" wasn't a great choice of words. It gets stuck on the static "fire TV" logo screen. The initial one, before the animated version that should play directly afterwards.

The black white logo, ok.
If you can boot into TWRP, flash a stock rom, wipe data, then flash the kamakiri zip and then magisk if you like.
If TWRP isn't aviable, re-do the bootrom-step, then fastboot-step and then flash a stock rom + magisk.

 

[Sus_i]

Now, can I restore a 6.2.8.0+ device back to 6.2.7.7, say, via a TWRP image? I forget now the whole downgrade issue. They burned the fuse, but if I have root, I should be able to go back, right?

You can downgrade to any OS you like, in case you wipe data (and skip the initial update) too...
but this won't fix the burned efuse if it's already gone. The new goal for the burned-efuse sticks is to keep the preloader safe, in order to access bootrom

 

[jdawgx]

Below are the commands i've used to send and install prerooted image via TWRP without using any input devices. While the firestick is on TWRP and connected via usb, open Command Prompt, type each line and press enter.

adb push C:\<location of image>\<name of image>.zip / sdcard/
adb shell
twrp install /sdcard/<name of image>.zip
twrp wipe cache
twrp wipe dalvik
reboot -p

I hope this helps.

This worked to get me where I wanted. Thank you very, very much! I was able to find and install the latest prerooted image from here. Using your same steps, I installed Magisk 20.4 from here. Initially I tried installing the latest Magisk (v24.0), but that didn't allow the "su" command to work from within the OS. I then followed the steps here to get the Dual Shock 4 controller working, but, the "mount" commands provided at that site failed because it couldn't find the referenced folders, so what I had to do, after installing the Android Developer Tools on my PC and connecting the Fire Stick to the same PC via USB) was this (a slight modification of what's on the linked site):
adb shell
su
(NOTE: If you have never run the command su before, your Fire TV will display a popup asking for you to grant permission. Select “Grant” on the popup)
mount -o rw,remount /
mount -o rw,remount /system/
cp /sdcard/Vendor_054c_Product_05c4.kl /system/usr/keylayout/
mount -o ro,remount /
mount -o ro,remount /system/
rm /sdcard/Vendor_054c_Product_05c4.kl
exit
exit

Then, after rebooting the Fire Stick and re-pairing the DS4 controller, the Stick correctly handled the controller, and now I'm able to play games on the TV via Steam Link.

Just wanted to give this info for anyone else looking to accomplish this same thing. Thanks again for all your assistance @gojannz!

 

[HGSC12]

The black white logo, ok.
If you can boot into TWRP, flash a stock rom, wipe data, then flash the kamakiri zip and then magisk if you like.
If TWRP isn't aviable, re-do the bootrom-step, then fastboot-step and then flash a stock rom + magisk.

I booted into TWRP, flashed the stock rom found here, wiped data, and reflashed kamakiri. Unfortunately, there is no difference. I can still boot into TWRP, but if I try to boot to the OS it still gets stuck on the black/white logo. I tried leaving it powered on for a while and different patterns of wiping/reinstalling, but still no dice. Do you have any other suggestions? I really appreciate your help.

 

[bibikalka]

You can downgrade to any OS you like, in case you wipe data (and skip the initial update) too...
but this won't fix the burned efuse if it's already gone. The new goal for the burned-efuse sticks is to keep the preloader safe, in order to access bootrom

OK - good to know! I have a perfectly set up 4k - with a custom kernel, EXFAT support, and everything else on 6.2.7.7. So I'll just open up the one I kept in the box, unlock it with kamakiri, clone the other one to it, and will be done! I really bought the new one as a back up in case the remote on the other goes breaks, but it looks like it's another gem that can be unlocked!

 

[door_jam]

The note in OP is outdated and only valid for the unlock method via shorting.
Since Kamakiri 2 we are able to unlock without shorting, if the OS isn't updated to 6.2.8.7 (this OS patchs the new unlock method).

Keep the stick offline until you are able to try kamakiri 2.0.1 for mantis.
You can use this (up-to-date) guide here:

[UNLOCK][ROOT][TWRP][UNBRICK] Fire TV Stick 3 and Fire TV Stick Lite (sheldon/p)

Read this whole guide before starting. This is for the 3rd gen Fire TV Stick (sheldonp) and Fire TV Stick Lite (sheldon). NOTE: FireOS < 7.2.7.3 required NOTE: This process does not require you to open your device. What you need: A Linux...

forum.xda-developers.com

Thanks very much.

I just set up my new 4k stick. I kept it offline, as you instructed, while
- followed post #1 & installed TWRP successfully
- installed Magisk 20.4 via FireISO2 using TWRP install command (successful)

Then I tried to find a way to disable OTA before I head over to boot up the stick. Unfortunately, I could not find any solution.

I then followed this guide from AFTVnews to set up the stick while briefly connecting it to internet.

How to Skip Software Updates during Initial Setup or Factory Reset on a Fire TV, Firestick, or Fire TV Cube

Since the latest software update for Fire TV devices is blocking the ability to use custom launchers, you may want to avoid updating a new or factory reset Fire TV.

www.aftvnews.com

When I went to About My Fire TV (it came with FireOS 6.2.8.1/3387), under Check for Updates, it mentioned the update had been downloaded & will be updated in the next restart. This scared my shxx out.

I then ran these commands:
pm disable com.amazon.tv.forcedotaupdater.v2
pm clear com.amazon.tv.settings.
pm clear com.amazon.device.software.ota

Now back on About My Fire TV, Check for Updates: Last Checked - Never

Is it safe to assume that the last two of the commands above had deleted the OTA update (or just the last one)? I am good to reboot the stick, right?

Or, is it safer to flash rbox's prerooted image 6.2.8.1_r3 ?

[Update] I went back to About My Fire TV & hit Check for Updates (just to see if OTA checking is disabled), it did start to download the OTA again. And I stopped the internet right away.

If I install SweenWolfś Patch-6.2.8.1(No FOTA), will that be sufficient?

 

[Sus_i]

Is it safe to assume that the last two of the commands above had deleted the OTA update (or just the last one)? I am good to reboot the stick, right?

Or, is it safer to flash rbox's prerooted image 6.2.8.1_r3 ?

[Update] I went back to About My Fire TV & hit Check for Updates (just to see if OTA checking is disabled), it did start to download the OTA again. And I stopped the internet right away.

If I install SweenWolfś Patch-6.2.8.1(No FOTA), will that be sufficient?

Disabling OTA for rooted sticks on any fireOS version, this works always:

adb shell
su
pm disable com.amazon.device.software.ota
pm disable com.amazon.device.software.ota.override
pm disable com.amazon.tv.forcedotaupdater.v2
pm clear com.amazon.device.software.ota
exit
exit

 

[Sus_i]

OK - good to know! I have a perfectly set up 4k - with a custom kernel, EXFAT support, and everything else on 6.2.7.7. So I'll just open up the one I kept in the box, unlock it with kamakiri, clone the other one to it, and will be done! I really bought the new one as a back up in case the remote on the other goes breaks, but it looks like it's another gem that can be unlocked!

I don't know if 'clone stick' will work, but you can try it.
Years ago I did this on a fireOS 5 box, installed a TWRP backup from a different device...
Problem was (if I recall it right), that the second (cloned) box used the serial, macaddress and so on from the first device Ofc it could be that this isn't the case for mediatek devices, idk.

 

[Sus_i]

I booted into TWRP, flashed the stock rom found here, wiped data, and reflashed kamakiri. Unfortunately, there is no difference. I can still boot into TWRP, but if I try to boot to the OS it still gets stuck on the black/white logo. I tried leaving it powered on for a while and different patterns of wiping/reinstalling, but still no dice. Do you have any other suggestions? I really appreciate your help.

You can try to flash a more recent stock rom

https://d1s31zyz7dcc2d.cloudfront.net/8a17993ff1335c5546eadfd080546e7b/update-kindle-mantis-NS6281_user_4812_0005940366468.bin
https://d1s31zyz7dcc2d.cloudfront.net/d4966e07e86cfd81861531207dcb4cde/update-kindle-mantis-NS6287_user_3770_0006544079492.bin

You can also try to format data instead of the wipe and you can try the kamakiri GPT-fix if you like (somewhere in this thread).

 

[bibikalka]

I don't know if 'clone stick' will work, but you can try it.
Years ago I did this on a fireOS 5 box, installed a TWRP backup from a different device...
Problem was (if I recall it right), that the second (cloned) box used the serial, macaddress and so on from the first device Ofc it could be that this isn't the case for mediatek devices, idk.

I cloned HD7 2014 vintage before, and recently I cloned Fire stick 2 (tank) in TWRP. It works uneventfully, and the serial is still proper, because it's not stored in any of the cloned partitions. So that's the fastest way to keep all the customizations.

 

[digobertoldi]

Hello everybody, im new here. I have a fire tv stick 4k updated to the latest version, which prevents the installation of new launchers and I would like to know if I can follow this thread to root my device and install new launchers with it. Can someone help me? thx

 

[anphabvn]

Found win7 ADB driver for Mantis. Thank people
(srr bad english)

 

[Noisemaker00]

The note in OP is outdated and only valid for the unlock method via shorting.
Since Kamakiri 2 we are able to unlock without shorting, if the OS isn't updated to 6.2.8.7 (this OS patchs the new unlock method).

Keep the stick offline until you are able to try kamakiri 2.0.1 for mantis.
You can use this (up-to-date) guide here:

[UNLOCK][ROOT][TWRP][UNBRICK] Fire TV Stick 3 and Fire TV Stick Lite (sheldon/p)

Read this whole guide before starting. This is for the 3rd gen Fire TV Stick (sheldonp) and Fire TV Stick Lite (sheldon). NOTE: FireOS < 7.2.7.3 required NOTE: This process does not require you to open your device. What you need: A Linux...

forum.xda-developers.com

In your opinion, a device with VM201 (local store item) may have a FireOS version < 6.2.8.7?

 

[Sus_i]

In your opinion, a device with VM201 (local store item) may have a FireOS version < 6.2.8.7?

I've got one with VM2011xxx with 6.2.8.0 on it...

 

[Noisemaker00]

the script

bootrom-step.sh

keep saying

RuntimeError("donwload failure,giving up")

what does it means? the device is patched?
I do not boot up the device to check the firmware version to avoid any type of update

 

[Sus_i]

the script

bootrom-step.sh

keep saying

RuntimeError("donwload failure,giving up")

what does it means? the device is patched?
I do not boot up the device to check the firmware version to avoid any type of update

If you mean 'downgrade failure'
then you can try to disable the rpmb recheck in the main.py