• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Root TextNow Root?

D

Downgraded286

Newbie
I just got an LG Volt from TextNow, running Android 4.4.2. None of the options listed here seem to work. Towelroot doesn't work, and neither does LG One Click Root or DP Tools. DP Tools wants me to reboot into download mode, but I can't seem to do that? I can hold vol+ while plugging in the USB cable, and it takes me to some strange screen that says to press vol+ until download mode appears, but it never does. (Am I supposed to press it repeatedly, or hold it for a long time?) LG One Click Root fails and says "Looking for LG serial port...
ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value."
 
Nothing is working. I'm running Windows 10, if it matters. LG One Click Root and DPTools both fail when they try to find the LG serial port. In device manager, I tried changing my Communications Port (under Ports (COM & LPT)) to 41, because I kept hearing something about port 41 and this phone. Nothing. I try to get to download mode on my phone, but it never appears. It says press vol up until download mode loads, but it never loads...

I also hear a lot about "zv3" "zv5" etc... Not exactly sure what that means, but I think it correlates to the software version under software information? Here's what mine says...

mijenKs.jpg
 
Last edited:
Yes, zv3, zv4, etc are referring to the software version. You appear to be on zv99, which would explain why nothing is working. They seem to have their own software version with everything blocked. I think your only hope would be to try to flash something over and, but I don't know if that would even be possible.
 
Do not use kingroot.apk it might bootloop after root because the boot loader is not unlocked. Google Lg one click root v1.3 it will be the first link on Google search. Its a windows application. This one will work its posted on xda website. Again just Google Lg one click root v1.3.
 
Downgraded286 said:
Nothing is working. I'm running Windows 10, if it matters. LG One Click Root and DPTools both fail when they try to find the LG serial port. In device manager, I tried changing my Communications Port (under Ports (COM & LPT)) to 41, because I kept hearing something about port 41 and this phone. Nothing. I try to get to download mode on my phone, but it never appears. It says press vol up until download mode loads, but it never loads...

I also hear a lot about "zv3" "zv5" etc... Not exactly sure what that means, but I think it correlates to the software version under software information? Here's what mine says...

mijenKs.jpg
Click to expand...
Also your software version is ZV9
 
bg4m3r said:
Yes, zv3, zv4, etc are referring to the software version. You appear to be on zv99, which would explain why nothing is working. They seem to have their own software version with everything blocked. I think your only hope would be to try to flash something over and, but I don't know if that would even be possible.
Click to expand...

That sucks, I at least wanted root adblockers and the ability to freeze/remove apps I can't otherwise.

techspec74 said:
Do not use kingroot.apk it might bootloop after root because the boot loader is not unlocked. Google Lg one click root v1.3 it will be the first link on Google search. Its a windows application. This one will work its posted on xda website. Again just Google Lg one click root v1.3.
Click to expand...

Already tried that application.
 
I have the same exact thing. My thread I mad about rooting and etc works for zv99 also. All the steps in my thread is exactly what I did and it worked. Try again, one more time with king root but its been updated.
 
Last edited:
Don't use that unless you wanna also download aptoide. Just use my instructions cause I was in your same shoes. I got it to work.
 
Well, if he does what I did, he should get root. Since I was in the same shoes as him, I was giving him how to do it like I did. Its always best to go to the website because they update it first before anyone and aptoide packages have a rare chances of being viruses and that's just one more thing to download is all
 
ChangeOfJinzo said:
I have the same exact thing. My thread I mad about rooting and etc works for zv99 also. All the steps in my thread is excarly what I did and it worked. Try again, one more time with king root but its been updated.
Click to expand...
Seems to have worked this time. I don't know how it went through this time after everything else I've tried, including the Windows Kingroot program... But at least I got root.

Now... Any oc capabilities? I wouldn't mind trying a custom ROM either. This time however I will definitely definitely make a backup before I meddle with anything (as soon as I get a custom recovery to do so). I learned my lesson about that with my old ZTE Force. I'm interested in better performance, better battery life, and possibly if there's any way to get better cell signal?
 
Last edited:
Downgraded286 said:
Seems to have worked this time. I don't know how it went through this time after everything else I've tried, including the Windows Kingroot program... But at least I got root.

Now... Any oc capabilities? I wouldn't mind trying a custom ROM either. This time however I will definitely definitely make a backup before I meddle with anything (as soon as I get a custom recovery to do so). I learned my lesson about that with my old ZTE Force. I'm interested in better performance, better battery life, and possibly if there's any way to get better cell signal?
Click to expand...

If you want a good ROM (follow my thread to get trwp) You can use the newly updated BlissPop ROM or the newly updated CandyRom. I personally like those two a lot more than CM12.1. Now, since your a textnow user with a LG Volt. There's a hit and miss if you'll have working data and cellular. You'll either get the green camera with working data, working camera with no data, or both working. Good luck.
 
Not sure what I want to do from here. I've had both good and bad experiences with custom ROMs. Arearom Dynamic helped with my LG Optimus Dynamic, but custom ROMs available for my ZTE Force trashed my phone. Guess it's up to me to make a backup and see what I get now.
 
At first, DP Tools and LG One Click Root didn't work (they use the same rooting method). Going into download mode was easy, but for some reason the COM port kept resetting itself; I figured TextNow must have implemented that automatic port reset as a security feature seeing as both of the above tools worked for everyone else.
The trick was flashing the stock z5 ROM that I found on this forum. I flashed it (Textnow comes with TWRP Recovery), tried to root again and it worked!
That stock ROM looked like shit so I eventually flashed BlissPop. After a whole day of moderate usage, I still had 20% battery when I got home, which is pretty amazing considering it's Lollipop (this is still the case, the battery life is amazing). LTE issues are still there, it comes and goes, but I found that 2G (1x) works everywhere regardless. Call quality sucks, texting (FB messenger, the TextNow app, etc.) and web browsing work alright although slow. LTE is shoddy, but 2G always works.
A workaround for the LTE issues is: go to the APN (Access Point Names) list in Settings > Mobile networks and tap on the little bullet next to 'Sprint LTE Internet'. It starts working but after a while it shows that exclamation point on the signal indicator. It's tedious to have to do that every time but it's a temporary solution until all of us hopefully get the official Lollipop update.
Also, use wifi as much as you can, and don't use LTE unless absolutely necessary. DO NOT stream music, use Snapchat, Instagram, or anything involving a download/cache of some kind. Do that and you'll use up all of your data in a matter of days if not hours. My first month I was stupid enough to do that and my 2gb was gone in a week.
Overall the service isn't great, but it gets the job done. I'm sticking with Textnow for sure, lets just hope they don't **** up in one way or another.
 
Last edited:
If you're paying for 2GB from TextNow, you would be better off using Straight Talk IMO. No VOIP crap, no hijacked dialer or goofy texting app. And you can use either AT&T or T-Mobile, either of which are better than Sprint, which is what TextNow uses.

I use TextNow because they offer cheap phones and the 500MB plan is <$20/mo. The call quality may be bad and there are some other specific things that annoy me sometimes, but there is value in what I pay for.
 
before you try any rom,you need to make a backup of your current setup. not sure what these roms will do to your device as far as internet,etc. considering you were on what appears to be a "modded" zv99 from your carrier. not sure exactly how they have changed things versus what sprint,etc have.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom