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  • So I did this, and it was great. But then I downloaded the 4.4.1 OTA and sideloaded that. Now root isn’t working. When I open SuperSU it says it needs to update the ‘su’ binary, but it doesn’t reboot to TWRP automatically and when I reboot to recovery, nothing seems to happen. How do I get this back?

    Seems like twrp should have a dedicated “root ROM” option in advanced or something rather than an (apparent) one-time thing that runs when you choose “Reboot->System”.

  • Stuck on after ./fastboot flash recovery openrecovery……………device isn’t rebooting into recovery
    Any suggestions?

  • So I followed these instructions and I seem to be stuck at the boot logo, it just keeps spinning. Any help much appreciated. I’ve always had things go relatively smoothly when unlocking and rooting, never had it stuck like this before. Thanks

  • Root/custom recovery In a nutshell:

    -‘adb reboot bootloader’
    -‘fastboot oem unlock’
    -‘yes’
    -‘fastboot reboot’
    -‘adb reboot bootloader’
    -‘fastboot flash recovery filename.img’
    -volume key to reboot to recovery mode
    -adb push supersu_filename.zip /sdcard
    -install ^^ in recovery
    -reboot

  • So strange that I didn’t pre=order order or even consider buying a Nexus 5, but one showed up at my door yesterday.. I just got the Galaxy Note 3 day of release and I am not willing to part with it for any device.. But I am also scared to sell this thing too.. Has my name on it but its no place on my account.. Hummmmm

  • Seeing this article really brings back the memories from when I was looking at all the rooting articles for the Gnex. I’m going to miss not having a nexus from Verizon.

    • on my s3 and galaxy nexus i had nothing but problems with the TWRP versions….bad flashes, incomplete flashes, and bad backups, bad restores….maybe it was just me but CWM hasn’t failed me but less than i can count on 1 hand..

      • Yeah it’s all I’ve ever used and haven’t had any major problems. It seems like TWRP is becoming more and more popular though…

      • Same here. The forums for the ROMs I’ve used were filled with people having issues flashing ROMs and making backups. Turns out, they were using TWRP. TWRP may look better, but at the end of the day, I don’t spend very much time in recovery mode, and I prefer functionality over appearance.

    • The only problem I have ever had with TWRP was that it soft bricked my Nexus 7 when trying to root. Besides that I have used it on my One X and Nexus 7 with absolutely no problems. I think more people started using it because it was more consistent and supported more phones. I know the One X never got an official CWM.

    • I prefer it because of its built in file explorer, clock, ability to charge while in recovery, and ability to run AROMA installer (which is friggin awesome). Very easy to use touch interface as well.

    • I used CWM for 4 years and just installed TWRP on my GNex right before switching to the N5. It is way more user friendly and has touches like allowing the screen to sleep while it works in the background and swiping to confirm instead of finding a “YES” in a sea of “NOs”.

      You can also create a queue of zip files to flash so you don’t have to keep choosing over and over again when flashing multiple files like ROM, GAPPS and kernel.

      That is barely scratching the surface but you should give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised.

  • It’s funny, I used this exact same method with TWRP to root my Nexus 7 and it soft bricked my tablet.

    But this worked fine

  • I’ve grown accustomed to ClockworkMod Recovery and have had far less issues with flashing ROMs with CWM than I did with TWRP. Anyone know if it’s available for Nexus 5? If it is, flashing a SuperSU zip would be just as easy.

  • maybe off topic but maybe someone knows. Tmobile hspa+ on nexus 4 i generally got 9Mbps down and now on tmobile lte nexus 5 I am getting 7Mbps down, same location. is there a reason for this?

    • No idea. But I do know that I’m getting faster speeds on T-Mobile than I am on Verizon. Good news for me!

  • So do I still get OTA updates with a custom recovery? I know I will lose root but just want to keep getting updates from Google.

        • Pretty sure. Although I guess it’s possible I could be wrong. But I’ve owned an OG Droid with a custom recovery, as well as currently owning two Nexus 7s and a Nexus 10, plus I just retired my GNex. All have custom recoveries and except for any out-of-the-box OTAs I’ve never been prompted to update. The recovery is “supposed” to block them.

  • How to root Verizon phones:

    1. start a bounty
    2. Hope that your phone is popular enough for a developer to give a damn
    3. Hope they can work miracles around today’s very tight security
    4. keep waiting……..
    5. keep waiting……
    6. Sell verizon phone on e bay
    7. Buy Nexus 5
    8. Cancel verizon
    9. Achieve root in less than 5 minutes
    10. enjoy

    • Or, stay on Verizon; buy LG G2 (essentially, Nexus 5 but better specs and surprisingly decent and useful LG UI); spend 5 minutes running a few commands in ADB; have root and TWRP on phone; enjoy.

      (Not bashing the Nexus 5, I’d have one if i had another carrier option. Just pointing out that hope for rooting/ROMming a Verizon is still alive and kicking.)

        • I used to think so. Go back through my posts and you’ll see I’m one to bash OEM skins until my fingers were sore from typing. But aside from the look (although the look is actually very stock-like), the features LG brings are incredibly useful. Lots of stuff I would get from 3rd party apps is build right in. And regarding the look, as i’m rooted, a few simple mods took care of the things I didn’t like. To each his own though.

        • I have used CyanogenMod for the last days, each of one stable. I’m gonna go back to a LG ROM though (debloated and deodexed) and add any mods manually. CyanogenMod is great (personally I love AOKP but not supported and still presents same issues here), but you can’t take snap pictures with the back buttons, or long press them to go straight into an app, or have the phone pop up so calls don’t disturb your apps (sms/MMS pop-ups are present though) and a list thst continues (having the Browser open in its own window over a text editor and on a code reference page while I’m coding something so I don’t need to flip back and forth,.. 3d performance.. etc etc.). I’ll flash a 4.3 LG ROM when /if an OTA allows us to build it. Same with 4.4 (but I’ll flash vanilla 4.4 though and just get over what I’m missing). The LG UI is quite nice and Android could steal many parts of it.

          • Completely agree. As much as i miss using Carbon, which ran great on my GNex, i would miss way too many features of the G2 stock rom if i switched to an AOSP rom. Malladus is running great, and with Xposed, i can have my phone however i want. And the battery life is just astounding.

        • The Nexus 5 nor any other device runs stock Android. It’s a common rookie mistake so I won’t hold it against you. But for the record, stock Android is the source code that Google pushes to AOSP. And that source code will not work on any device until it is compiled for the specific hardware it is compiled for and has the appropriate drivers added to it. The Android experience on a Nexus device is a skinned experience just as Sense, TouchWiz, etc. are.

          • Whew! What a relief that you won’t hold my rookie language against me! So maybe “stock” Android is not the correct term here. Vanilla Android might be better. I agree that drivers need to be individually addressed per device but I would hardly call that a skin. We’re talking about UI, not device drivers. Nexus reflects an otherwise untouched UI, with the exception perhaps of the home launcher. But, I would consider that a default from Google and not an added skin. LG and others are slapping a thick coat of paint on top.

    • Fairly accurate lol. Phone model plays a big role though. G2 was a quick root/bootloader work around only cause the loki exploit was already used in I think o some Samsung phones? And happenes to work with little effort on G2. But yeah, that’s how the process goes… Sad but true

  • Anyone tried running one of the major Linux distros in a chroot (ie. Debian or Arch Linux)? I’d like to get a real Linux shell and filesystem. I also like the ability of apt-get/pacman installing software or, if need be, make && make install them.

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    • sure. I was using Botbrew and had full apt-get on my Nook Color. The same guy also offered a chroot installer called pengdroid.

      That particular project is out of date now, but I think others have at least a token of that functionality. Little Debbie, I think it is called?

  • Anyone have the chance to try out Ti Backup and rooting with the Nexus 5? I thought that the new SELinux permissions might screw up it’s ability to do such things (my Nexus 5’s charging and therefore not had it’s root-cherry popped just yet).

  • Automating this is no fun… It’s just the “HAHA, I’M SUCH A HACKER” feeling you get when you use ADB; it can’t be beat.

  • meh, phone has everything I want. no need for root.

    SPEAKING of that. 32GB Black gets here tomorrow 🙂

    Goodbye Verizon, Hello Straight Talk!

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