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Root Root access nexus 4, keep stock ROM, keep stock kernel & OTA updates

G

gmark7

Lurker
Okay, so I am new to these forums and new to rooting. I am a computer scientist so I have knowledge of how all of the rooting works and what it does but, since I have never actually rooted an android device yet, I just want to clarify and get some advice from the experts here about it.

So here is my situation, I have a nexus 4 running stock android 4.3. I love the stock android experience but would like root access to be able to play around deep down in the OS in my spare time. My goal here would be to root my device, however keep the stock ROM, keep the stock kernel, and be able to still get OTA updates from Google. I understand that after an update I would need to redo my root access or use a rootkeeper. I also want an easy way to be able to undo the root and go immediately back to the stock configuration if need be. Is this possible to use a toolkit of some sort, get root access, keep the stock ROM, keep the stock kernel, and still get OTA updates from Google?

I would appreciate any detailed help!

Thanks,
Mark
 
Hello and welcome to AF. :)

To answer your question, it is indeed possibly to get root access on the N4 without changing the rom or kernel. However it does require you to at least change the recovery temporarily in order to install the su binary.

There are a couple of toolkits, my personal favorite being Wug's Nexus Toolkit, that can do almost all of this for you. The general procedure that either the toolkits will do, or you will have to do manually is the following:
1)install the adb & fastboot drivers along with the appropriate sdk files in order to use fastboot & adb
2)unlock the bootloader (this will wipe the device completely clean, erasing everything)
3)after the phone reboots, download a flashable zip that contains the su binary.
3)install a custom recovery from the bootloader. Either Clockworkmod, or TWRP recovery will do the job.
4)boot the device into recovery and install the su zip file in recovery.

If you want to be able to install further updates, you will have to reinstall the stock recovery to the device after you do the above steps. Even if you do so, installing ota's can be very finicky and might not install.

I've also moved this thread to the root subform so that other expert rooters can chip in their opinion.
 
gmark7 said:
My goal here would be to root my device, however keep the stock ROM, keep the stock kernel, and be able to still get OTA updates from Google. I understand that after an update I would need to redo my root access or use a rootkeeper.
Click to expand...

Won't work on 4.3, you will have to re-root again.
 
Ok, here's another simple reoot method for the N4 that I know works with 4.3 (I tried it) and does not require a custom recovery - it simply uses fastboot:

CF-Auto-Root

Download page for the Nexus 4 version is here.
 
CF-root is written by chainfire, who is one of the most respected developers in the android community. I've never personally used it, but given the developer, I would trust it.
 
jhawkkw said:
CF-root is written by chainfire, who is one of the most respected developers in the android community. I've never personally used it, but given the developer, I would trust it.
Click to expand...
I just backed up my device, returned it to factory 4.3 and used CF Auto Root. It works but as the XDA page states, it is a somewhat limited method of rooting. Reading the OP of the thread linked above explains this.

For most users who just want a Stock Rooted experience, maybe with the ability to use Titanium Backup and some other basic root apps, then it is worth it. But if you want to be able to do all kinds of adb stuff with full access, you might want to root using the method jhawkkw described in post #2 of this thread.

Plus, it will help you to understand how to be self-sufficient and knowledgeable in modding your device. A Nexus device is probably this simplest to unlock, root and ROM. That said, it is worth it to know the basic steps of doing these things manually in case the unthinkable happens!

jmar
 
FWIW when I was on 4.2.2 I used wugs toolkit to unlock the bootloader & root. I didnt do anything else. I kept the TWRP recovery that this installed.
I didnt change the kernel or the ROM.

When the 4.3 OTA update came out it worked just fine without me having to do anything (ie unroot). Of course installing the OTA update removed my root.
 
I have been reading around that CF-Root will not allow for future OTA updates. Is this true? I need a way to root my nexus 4 keep the stock ROM, stock Kernel, stock radio, and still get OTA update in the future (maybe able to use OTA rootkeeper????)
 
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