Hello,
I have an AT&T Moto X, It's sim-unlocked so I have a different carrier (you can check my details on my profile). The condition in which I got this phone is:
It's running a 4.2.2 Rogers CA rom.
Can I update this to a 4.4.2 AT&T rom and still use my phone?
Or am I screwed and stuck with 4.2.2 (because obv the system update says that there is no update avl. at this time).
And.. How do I remove the Google bloatware from my rom? I've tried ES Root Explorer, TiBu, but they reappear when I reboot.
I prefer have a rom without any bloatware and mini gapps. But I love the Active Display.
Because you say it is an ATT Phone, but running Rogers CA rom, I have some questions for your BEFORE any advice will be offered...
On the phone go to App Drawer -> Settings -> About phone... What is listed as the SYSTEM VERSION.
Next, what does the BACK of the phone look like or say? Does it have the ATT logo on it? Does it have SMALL HARD TO READ Fine print at the bottom that says a model number? Or did it come with the original box that has the IMEI and Model on it? (the model would be XT1060, XT1053, XT1058, etc)
What carrier are you intending to use it with?
Power off the phone, then press the power and volume down buttons simultaneously NOTE: you may need to have the USB cable disconnected first. This will bring you into the AP Fastboot Flash Mode screen (aka bootloader or fastboot mode). It will say DEVICE IS... unlocked or locked. Which is it?
I am asking these questions to know...
Exactly what model X you have
if it is bootloader unlocked
exactly what rom version is on there.
As for removing bloat, and having that survive reboot, you need to root and disable write protection. The answers to my questions will help determine IF it can be done on your phone, and what process to use.
Rogers also is a xt1058. But unlike the AT&T, it's bootloader can be unlocked on motos site. Also there is no carrier branding.
---------- Post added at 08:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:00 PM ----------
Are you sure it's an AT&T phone is my point. ?
KJ said:
Rogers also is a xt1058. But unlike the AT&T, it's bootloader can be unlocked on motos site. Also there is no carrier branding.
---------- Post added at 08:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:00 PM ----------
Are you sure it's an AT&T phone is my point. ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And that is why I was asking the questions
KidJoe said:
Because you say it is an ATT Phone, but running Rogers CA rom, I have some questions for your BEFORE any advice will be offered...
On the phone go to App Drawer -> Settings -> About phone... What is listed as the SYSTEM VERSION.
Next, what does the BACK of the phone look like or say? Does it have the ATT logo on it? Does it have SMALL HARD TO READ Fine print at the bottom that says a model number? Or did it come with the original box that has the IMEI and Model on it? (the model would be XT1060, XT1053, XT1058, etc)
What carrier are you intending to use it with?
Power off the phone, then press the power and volume down buttons simultaneously NOTE: you may need to have the USB cable disconnected first. This will bring you into the AP Fastboot Flash Mode screen (aka bootloader or fastboot mode). It will say DEVICE IS... unlocked or locked. Which is it?
I am asking these questions to know...
Exactly what model X you have
if it is bootloader unlocked
exactly what rom version is on there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
System Version
139.12.36.ghost_row.RCI.en.CA
(according to SBF site, this rom is listed as Rogers CA)
I got the phone from a relative, the box imei matches the phone.
The back of the phone has the AT&T logo (a ball), and it says Model: XT1058 and fcc id blah blah
The carrier I'm using currently Ufone (Pakistan).
Says Device is Locked.
Rom is stock I guess? Loaded with Google Bloatware..
Android 4.2.2
Aionism said:
System Version
139.12.36.ghost_row.RCI.en.CA
(according to SBF site, this rom is listed as Rogers CA)
I got the phone from a relative, the box imei matches the phone.
The back of the phone has the AT&T logo (a ball), and it says Model: XT1058 and fcc id blah blah
The carrier I'm using currently Ufone (Pakistan).
Says Device is Locked.
Rom is stock I guess? Loaded with Google Bloatware..
Android 4.2.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A couple of things...
I am not 100% sure about the ability to flash the ROM for your model phone from a different carrier when the bootloader is locked... i.e. can you flash an ATT XT1058 with Rogers XT1058 rom SAFELY and successfully. I know, for example, that flashing roms between models (say XT1052 with XT1053) does require unlocked bootloader or it will immediately fail, plus is risky when you try and flash back.
Therefore i don't want to give you the wrong advice on flashing anything and will wait for someone else to jump in.
Until then.. some info you'll need to understand for removing "bloat"
The Moto X is a Google Certified device, so it will contain all the Google Apps, like Chrome, GMail, Google+, Google Play, Google Calendar, Google Maps, etc.That typical isn't considered bloat because most people buying an Android phone want to use Google's services. In the USA, wireless carriers like Verizon add their own bloat like VZNavigator, VZ Tones, VZ Protect, NFL Mobile, IMDB, VZ Cloud, etc., things MOST of their customers don't use, so it is considered bloat. The ATT ROM is filled with bloat of their own.
Moto freely gives out the bootloader unlock code for the Rogers XT1058 on their web site. BUT for the ATT XT1058, the bootloader is locked, and Moto DOES NOT give out the bootloader unlockcode. The only way to get it is the China Middleman (see the thread in the general section).
Unlocking the bootloader makes the difference in how you can root. Once you unlock the bootloader you have write protection disabled. So after you root, you can modify, delete, rename, etc files in /System and the like, and those changes will survive reboot.
If you can't unlock your bootloader, and are on Roms with Android version 4.4 (aka 4.4.0) and below, you can use SlapMyMoto and MotoWpNoMo to root and disable write protection. But once you get on Android 4.4.2, you lose the ability to disable write protection so options like Pie, Towel or TowelPieRoot, are temporary, don't survive reboot, don't allow write access to /system, etc. And once you have 4.4.4 you can't even root. In other words, if you have a locked bootloader and really want to root and disable write protection, you want to stay on 4.4.0, and never upgrade.
Hey, thanks for replying. Is there any chance that in the near future Motorola may support AT&T bootloader unlocking? I think its a really bad **** move by AT&T to limit us like this. So pretty much I'm screwed with 4.2.2 until theres a way to unlock the boot loader. The China middleman is kinda expensive for me. But I'll give it a try when I'm done saving up 45$
Aionism said:
Hey, thanks for replying. Is there any chance that in the near future Motorola may support AT&T bootloader unlocking? I think its a really bad **** move by AT&T to limit us like this. So pretty much I'm screwed with 4.2.2 until theres a way to unlock the boot loader. The China middleman is kinda expensive for me. But I'll give it a try when I'm done saving up 45$
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No chance we will see the position from ATT, Verizon and Republic Wireless change such that Moto can give out bootloader unlock codes via the web site like they do for Sprint, Rogers, Etc.
Yeah, with a locked bootloader, the highest you can if you want write protection disabled is 4.4.0 (aka 4.4).
Solved!
I installed the 4.4.2 rom by the fastboot method described in the "Return to 100% Stock" thread.
Everything works.
However.. I may not be able to use the China Middleman to unlock my bootloader..
my phone was made on "08 - 25 - 2013"
First post! - joined at first to read posts but now have one of my own mixed with a number of questions.
I recently picked up a used Moto X from Craiglist and the guy claimed it is an unlocked T-Mobile version with an already unlocked bootloader. The whole point of this purchase was so I could experiment and learn more about what goes on with phones.
How can I verify that the guy is really telling me the truth about the version? I used imei.info and it told me it was an XT1055. However, swappa.com told me it was XT1053. I saw on some post here that XT1053 matches the T-Mobile/Dev version which would make sense with what the Craigslist guy told me. Both sites claim it is not 100% accurate so how else can I verify actual version? There is no logo of T-Mobile on the back of this device. Is there some serial number lookup database?
This led me to wonder if it's possible to flash different software variants onto this phone? In theory, could I download the images for an ATT variant and flash them onto my supposed T-Mobile version? Apart from the potential of overwriting the unlocked bootloader and preventing me from downgrading versions (from the other posts that I've read here), would the phone work assuming my SIM/network is ATT? The IMEI would remain the same, right? How much of the underlying hardware configuration is tied to version of the software that I flash onto the phone?
Could the guy have purchased this phone to whatever carrier XT1055 matches to - rooted or unlocked the bootloader, and flashed the XT1053 images?
At this point, using mfastboot I was able to verify that the bootloader was unlocked but went ahead and performed the same process on Moto's site anyway (and this seemed to work - did this for experimenting). I then downloaded TMO_RETAIL_XT1053_4.4.3-KXA21.12-L1.21_MR4_CFC to reflash onto the phone. This whole process might have seemed redundant but I just wanted to ensure the used phone that I had purchased matched a stock set of images (minus the unlocked bootloader).
Thanks! Apologies in advance if there was another similar post - I tried searching but maybe not hard enough.
klxavier said:
First post! - joined at first to read posts but now have one of my own mixed with a number of questions.
I recently picked up a used Moto X from Craiglist and the guy claimed it is an unlocked T-Mobile version with an already unlocked bootloader. The whole point of this purchase was so I could experiment and learn more about what goes on with phones.
How can I verify that the guy is really telling me the truth about the version? I used imei.info and it told me it was an XT1055. However, swappa.com told me it was XT1053. I saw on some post here that XT1053 matches the T-Mobile/Dev version which would make sense with what the Craigslist guy told me. Both sites claim it is not 100% accurate so how else can I verify actual version? There is no logo of T-Mobile on the back of this device. Is there some serial number lookup database?
This led me to wonder if it's possible to flash different software variants onto this phone? In theory, could I download the images for an ATT variant and flash them onto my supposed T-Mobile version? Apart from the potential of overwriting the unlocked bootloader and preventing me from downgrading versions (from the other posts that I've read here), would the phone work assuming my SIM/network is ATT? The IMEI would remain the same, right? How much of the underlying hardware configuration is tied to version of the software that I flash onto the phone?
Could the guy have purchased this phone to whatever carrier XT1055 matches to - rooted or unlocked the bootloader, and flashed the XT1053 images?
At this point, using mfastboot I was able to verify that the bootloader was unlocked but went ahead and performed the same process on Moto's site anyway (and this seemed to work - did this for experimenting). I then downloaded TMO_RETAIL_XT1053_4.4.3-KXA21.12-L1.21_MR4_CFC to reflash onto the phone. This whole process might have seemed redundant but I just wanted to ensure the used phone that I had purchased matched a stock set of images (minus the unlocked bootloader).
Thanks! Apologies in advance if there was another similar post - I tried searching but maybe not hard enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are using a SIM in it, it is NOT an XT1055 - those are sim-locked.
You probably have a real XT1053.
There is absolutely NO REASON to ever flash another carrier's firmware. It's dangerous and you gain nothing. Stick with your proper firmware - you can already use it on any carrier you wish.
P.S. Look on the bottom of the back of the phone. In TINY print should be the model number...
Thanks! I did not notice that tiny print - it seems to fade out with the glare in normal lighting conditions.
samwathegreat said:
If you are using a SIM in it, it is NOT an XT1055 - those are sim-locked.
You probably have a real XT1053.
There is absolutely NO REASON to ever flash another carrier's firmware. It's dangerous and you gain nothing. Stick with your proper firmware - you can already use it on any carrier you wish.
P.S. Look on the bottom of the back of the phone. In TINY print should be the model number...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
klxavier said:
Thanks! I did not notice that tiny print - it seems to fade out with the glare in normal lighting conditions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same, I did not notice it on a white back. Also if it says Developer Edition on the back then it is most likely a 1053 also.
Can I install TWRP for the AT&T version with Nougat? I have heard that if I try it will brick. I'd really like to install a new ROM so I can get rid of all the crapware that comes with the phone.
Micah_Droid said:
Can I install TWRP for the AT&T version with Nougat? I have heard that if I try it will brick. I'd really like to install a new ROM so I can get rid of all the crapware that comes with the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 920A At&t cant be rooted as of yet and no twrp because the bootloader is locked...
Bootloader
I recently talked to at&t about getting my bootloader unlocked and a supervisor told me the only way to do so without bricking would be to being it in to an at&t store and they will unlock the bootloader.. anybody else have this told to them?
They're most likely taking about a Sim unlock not bootloader. Also there is a method for rooting it but you have to be on a specific bootloader and you can only use it on lolipop.
asislife20 said:
They're most likely taking about a Sim unlock not bootloader. Also there is a method for rooting it but you have to be on a specific bootloader and you can only use it on lolipop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya, I know about that root method. Unfortunately, my phone decided to update itself a few weeks ago and now its on BL 5. So that's pretty much a no go.
In relation to bringing in the store for a BL unlock, I did specifically ask and made sure the tech I was speaking with knew the difference between BL and sim unlock. In fact, i made it very known that my radio was already unlocked, I done that weeks before i talked to her.
I recently got an XT1900-1 on EBay and tried to unlock the bootloader on the way to rooting the phone. The Motorola site told me that the bootloader could not be unlocked. The phone is carrier unlocked. I thought that maybe since I was attempting to unlock a still-unactivated phone that *could* later be activated on AT&T or Verizon, I might have better luck if I inserted a Sprint SIM (since I'm on Sprint). Is that right, or is there another reason? Though the phone is not marked as an Amazon phone and Alexa is not in the app drawer, Alexa does show up in the list of hidden apps on the phone. Is this enough to make it an Amazon phone? I sure thought I had the retail version.
So if I'm being refused a bootloader-unlock code because of Amazon, would I have better luck with a new Moto X4? They're available on EBay in the Android One variant with Nougat instead of Pie. If I got one of those phones, could I root it and keep it from upgrading to Pie? I see that Android One updates still seem to be coming. The latest update my current XT1900-1 has is from January 2020.
I also have the XT1900-1 version and mine was completely unlockable. One issue with Moto X4's unlocking is that once you unlock it, there is no way to make it as clean as it was, meaning the phone will trip some value and it's just not possible to revert it back to the locked bootloader with everything stock. You can flash the stock ROM and relock the bootloader but the integrity check will fail and you will get Play Store not certified error, which renders Google Pay (NFC) and some apps useless/un-installable. Now, if you want to root the phone, you're gonna have to keep the BL unlocked of course, so even if you didn't prevent it from updating to Pie, you can always flash Nougat back on the phone, granted you have the stock images. If the Moto's website told you that your phone is not unlockable, then there is no way for you to unlock the phone If you get an unlockable version (non-Amazon), you can get the code and unlock the device to do whatever you want with it. Once you get it, you can enable Developer settings and disable Automatic system updates from there to avoid installing newer versions. Cheers!
So, I've seen some posts concerning this and, at this point, I'm ready to purchase and replace the motherboard.
My daughter recently acquired a used Moto X4 (running Android 9 "pie") from a friend and she wants it de-Googled. I can get the unlock data to unlock the bootloader but Motorola says that the phone is unlockable - that would be because the phone had been purchased from Amazon (software variant / channel = "amz"). I think that if the ROM and bootloader could be replaced with stock (which, apparently could be done if the phone were on a lower Android version), I'd be in business but everywhere I've looked says that this is impossible - Motorola must do an amazing job of locking down their phones!
Since I'm just about ready to purchase a new motherboard ($60+ at cellspare), any "dangerous" suggestions are welcome since she refuses to use the phone as-is - can't say that I blame her.
You could try to flash the phone with the stock ROM of the google FI variant, but whether or not that works would be anybodys guess as I don't believe the IMEI would be changed. If you are planning to get a new device anyway, it couldn't hurt to try it and see before you buy another phone. I have the google Fi variant, and I know for a fact that the bootloader can be unlocked on it.
Kilogrm said:
You could try to flash the phone with the stock ROM of the google FI variant, but whether or not that works would be anybodys guess as I don't believe the IMEI would be changed. If you are planning to get a new device anyway, it couldn't hurt to try it and see before you buy another phone. I have the google Fi variant, and I know for a fact that the bootloader can be unlocked on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried loading different ROMs onto a locked Motorola phone in the past - the bootloader will not permit itself to be overwritten without being unlocked. As I understand it, there's a hidden partition where a copy of the bootloader resides and, with the locked bit set, any attempt to overwrite the boot partition will trigger a check against the hidden partition and will prevent the overwrite.