yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Moto X General] G-Rock13:
PIE + MotoWpNoMo on 4.4 = Success!

(This post should probably go on the MotoWpNoMo thread but since I got the answer here I felt the urge to reply here.)

So after reading hundreds and hundreds of posts and MotorolaOTA getting on my nerves prompting me to update Kitkat, I got the courage to try to root my T-Mobile GSM-Unlocked Moto X running 4.4 (w/locked bootloader). With the help of iKrYpToNiTe advice and posts from samwathegreat and Twinkyz1979 it was a success! Thanks again guys.

Here's what I did:

First, I used PIE to root then used MotoWpNoMo to disable write-protect. Then I used PIE to root a second time after MotoWpNoMo reboot #1 and finally used PIE again to root a third time after MotoWpNoMo reboot #2. After five attempts I got it to finally work. Twinkyz1979 post was dead-on. Timing the execution of PIE root is CRITICAL after the reboots! Now I'm enjoying persistent root without having to SlapMyMoto! Yay!

Thanks for all the hard work of jcase and beaups. Keep up the awesome work! -Cheers-
[Moto X General] samwathegreat:
3 days, and still no update to the original post regarding this.....

Anyone who happens upon this thread (maybe you clicked the link in [MENTION=4036181]KJ[/MENTION] 's excellent new "One Stop Shop Rooting Thread"?):

If you're frustrated, because the original post links you to towelroot.com -- and the app hosted there DOES NOT WORK on your Moto X, save yourself some heartache, find out WHY in [MENTION=1637011]chrisp6825[/MENTION] 's post HERE:

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=54330726&postcount=235 <<<<-------- SOLUTION / ANSWER HERE

The answer was discovered by [MENTION=2831641]jpond83[/MENTION] , and everything is explained in the post I linked above. It is somewhat buried in the thread, and since (from my experience) most people read the OP, then jump right to the end of the thread, I wanted it to be in a location where people might actually find it. Several of us were tearing our hair out trying to find out why it doesn't work, and (myself, [MENTION=2831641]jpond83[/MENTION] , and [MENTION=1637011]chrisp6825[/MENTION] ) would like to save YOU the trouble.... ;)

Also, keep in mind that [MENTION=4850320]iKrYpToNiTe[/MENTION] 's new "TowelPieRoot" app is probably a much better solution than this method.
[Moto X General] Chuckleb0ne:
So wait... You got write protection disabled? Or are you just referring to the new Pie/TowelRoot method?

---------- Post added at 09:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:41 PM ----------

Sorry if I sound stupid.... I've been reading the past 10 pages and I've been getting lost. I've been seeing discussions in other threads regarding the disable of write protection (for a few people).
[Moto X General] samwathegreat:
***He is still on 4.4*** No possibility of write-protect-disable if you are on ANY version after 4.4

His method is simply an alternative to "SlapMyMoto", which does the same exact thing (IF you are on 4.4 or lower), but his method does not require downgrading to 4.2.2, like "SlapMyMoto" does. Keep in mind that you SHOULD NOT downgrade. The ONLY semi-safe downgrade possible was from 4.4 > 4.2.2 post-camera-update. Any other attempts to downgrade can/will result in immediate/future BRICKS. Personally, I would be hesitant even attempting the 4.4 > 4.2.2 post-camera-update downgrade.

Hope that clears it up.
[Moto X General] Chuckleb0ne:
It does. Thank you.
[Moto X General] :
I had disabled write protection some how yesterday. I reset my phone with rsdlite so I can try to figure out exactly what did it. I'm not sure right now but I will figure it out.
[Moto X General] Verttex:
I have updated the OP after neglecting this thread for a bit. Feel free to use iKrYpToNiTe's method instead.
[Moto X General] chrisp6825:
Ah and I see you updated the link to towelroot. Good man. Thank you!

tapa'd on my moto x
[Moto X General] bgmg:
I don't understand why pie is needed first (why can't you just use towelroot the entire time for a temporary root solution. Why will towelroot not work unless pie is used first?

Perhaps you would consider making the OP a little clearer on this point.
[Moto X General] :
Op seems clear to me
[Moto X General] bgmg:
Then please explain why can't you just use towelroot the entire time for a temporary root solution?
[Moto X General] chrisp6825:
As described on the opening post, and multiple times in this thread (and possibly in other threads) towelroot will not grant the same permission as a true su binary does.

The su context towelroot gives is an untrusted root context. Some apps cannot perform their functions with this context.

PIE root gives a lower (or higher) root context, kernel, allowing most apps to perform correctly.

Read up on Unix system permissions for more info.

tapa'd on my moto x
[Moto X General] bgmg:
Thank you
[Moto X General] Jtelliott94:
GREAT NEWS everyone...So I went about rooting my Moto X 4.4.2 with Pie a LONG time ago, and was able to reboot whenever I wanted and re-apply Pie. Then I heard of the great Towelroot! Don't have to use a PC! Superb. Installed it a while ago, tried it. Didn't work. Superb, I am sure that somewhere in this forum people had similar experiences but I don't care.

So yesterday I go about uninstalling Towelroot...dont need it right? Wrong. As soon as I reboot 20 minutes later (after being in sleep mode for 19 minutes after uninstalling towel) Bam. Hard bricked. No recovery. No power on. Nothing. Tried everything in the books. Tried all the methods for unblricking imaginable. Fortunately motorola will send me a new one under warranty. But dear God. Don't ever put out stuff like this that 1) doesn't work, and 2) destroys a phone's boot loader.
[Moto X General] doitinthedirt:
google towelpieroot
[Moto X General] chrisp6825:
I can't say that I've seen a similar case. Hope all works out well with the new phone.

An FYI, if your new phone comes with 4.4.4, you won't have a root method unless you unlock your bootloader... Or a new method comes around. The later is somewhat unlikely.

tapa'd on my moto x
[Moto X General] Jtelliott94:
I realize that, I have pretty much given up on the moto x...it was literally the best phone I have ever owned and in my opinion the best phone there IS. I am going to sell whatever one I get, use this crappy droid 2 until the moto x+1 comes out, and then I will grab a dev edition of that phone...oh well. this is what happens when Lenovo/Motorola and Verizon do business together...
[Moto X General] chicodelta:
I can confirm that this app does not work with the Sprint Moto X running android 4.4.2. PIE method works however this app doesn't. Such a shame since if phone is powered off I will need to be near PC to regain root access :(.
[Moto X General] samwathegreat:
This thread is obsolete. Search towelpieroot. It DOES work with all variants up to and including 4.4.2
[Moto X General] chicodelta:
Authors first post reads:

XT1056 - Sprint, not confirmed, should work.

I have search this entire thread and have not read anyone confirming that this works on Sprint. I have a Sprint Moto X and AM reporting that I have not had success with the towelroot app in regaining root access after reboot.
[Moto X General] samwathegreat:
Dude, read my post before you reply.

Not towelroot. TowelPIEroot. I can confirm it does work. If you would have searched for the thread I referenced: towelpieroot (its in the themes / apps subforum) you would have seen that it is confirmed to work.

Again, as I already said: THIS thread is obsolete.
[Moto X General] chicodelta:
I stand corrected. Thank you for clarifying.
[Moto X General] samwathegreat:
No problem, but I am curious: why not just unlock your bootloader? The sprint variant can be unlocked. This will give you permanent root and write protect disable. Pie and towelpieroot do not disable wrote protect.

Much better method. Are you concerned about voiding your warranty?
[Moto X General] chicodelta:
Is there a link with instructions to accomplish this? I was under the impression that if running Android 4.4.2 I would not be able to gain full root access. Please direct if I am completely missing something.
[Moto X General] samwathegreat:
Yes, you just follow the same instructions for unlocking the developer edition.

You request an unlock code from Motorola's official unlock website. Then use fastboot to unlock. Then flash twrp recovery which will permanently root for you.

[MENTION=4036181]KJ[/MENTION] 's one stop shop rooting reference will guide you. Just find the section on unlockable bootloader.

Any sprint XT1056 can be unlocked free from Moto's website.
[Moto X General] samwathegreat:
[MENTION=4895568]dier325[/MENTION] :

Would you consider asking this thread to be closed since it is obsoleted by TowelPieRoot? You could make a final post to this thread, directing (linking) users to the TPR thread, then click the "Report Post" button and request the MODs to close it. They will close it if the OP requests it. It will help avoid more confusion and posts like the above.

Your call - completely up to you. Just seems like a good idea to me. People still appear to be trying the TR app from the official website (and we have confirmed it doesn't work). It is unclear to me if the above poster even tried the version that you have linked in the OP - not sure. Regardless, no reason to use TR when TPR is available.
[Moto X General] Verttex:
This thread is now obsolete due to the release of [MENTION=4850320]iKrYpToNiTe[/MENTION] 's TowelPieRoot.
[Moto X General] gregbradley:
Thread closed at OP request
[Moto X General] doitinthedirt:
So xposed will not work if I root with Pie only?
[Moto X General] Verttex:
You won't be able to reboot to apply Xposed's changes without losing root.
[Moto X General] cell2011:
You have to soft boot thats all. i apply xposed features all the time and soft boot and keep root. Unless you add alot of features it may hard boot and you have to reroot
[Moto X General] tu3218:
These instructions:

Originally Posted by jpond83

1) install towelroot. Xposed installer, Busybox installer, power menu

2)run towelroot, click "welcome to towelroot", replace 0 with 1, make it rain.

3) run xposed and click install

4) run busybox installer and click install

5) run power menu and click "hot reboot"

6) enjoy root without using a PC.

These are used to get root and get xposed functionality. Seems straight foward. If this works to get xposed access, is there any reason I should mess with PIE then? I'm not to up to date on PIE and it seems it requires sending some abd codes on the computer to the phone.
[Moto X General] :
You have to use pie root once or busybox will never install
[Moto X General] tu3218:
Ahh gotcha. Okay I gotta find out how to do this. Any good site or post that helps describe what to do? Been a long time since I've dealt with adb.
[Moto X General] Verttex:
Towelroot allows you to have a backup incase you do restart your device, say it dies.

Check jcase's PIE thread, linked in the OP.
[Moto X General] Abhinav Valecha:
Ok so, i read probably everything i could... and i have some questions.. some are silly i guess..

1) using PIE and towelroot will not require to unlock my bootloader, and so it will not void my warranty, right? or will all this still void my warranty?

2) if i ever wish to revert all this, all i have to do is reboot... so just in case i have to use my warranty and send my device to the motorolas center, all i have to do is reboot and they wont ever know that i was rooted?

3) i read somewhere that using xposed to change the soft keys will not work..anyone can confirm that? if yes, then will my device get bricked or will it reboot normally?

4) in case my device gets bricked, and the bootloader is locked, how can i get it working? using my warranty is the only way? (bcoz AFAIK flashing stock rom will require unlocked bootloader)

5) what about 4.4.3? i read PIE is not working above 4.4.2? so we wont be ale to use xposed? or this method will just not work completely?

6) can anyone confirm this working on XT1052? i have the asia retail model (india)

i can actually unlock the bootloader, but i am not willing to void my warranty, so i think these methods are nice..
[Moto X General] KidJoe:
#1, depending on how you interpret the wording of the Motorola Warranty, and how your carrier (if they are the ones exchanging your phone) interpret it, yes you void your warranty by rooting, even if you don't unlock the bootloader. Because of how it is worded, they might not consider your warranty voided and thus replace your phone. (NOTE: some carriers check, some don't.) Unlocking your bootloader on non-Developer Editions voids the warranty from Motorola's stand point. Again, if the carrier is replacing it would be their call.

#2, that is my understanding, based on how write protection of the X works. power off/on un-does PIE and Towelroot, BUT since I have not used PIE and TowelRoot, I'll let someone else answer that.

#3, I haven't used Xposed, but if that mod requires ability to write to /system, /system/bin or the like, it wont work.

#4 You can flash stock rom via RSDLite or mFastboot with a locked bootloader. You are limited to flashing only Motorola Signed images. And it must be for your carrier/model X.

#5 PIE does not work with 4.4.3 and up. If you do not unlock your bootloader, you will not be able to root them, at least not until someone finds a vulnerability and writes an exploit for it. I believe towelroot also wont work with 4.4.3 and up. Without root, you can't use Xposed, or any root app.

#6 PIE does work on every variant of X so far. I believe the same should be true for the Towelroot instructions in this thread.
[Moto X General] Dantrpan:
This works on att moto x with 4.4.2. You must set temp root. One question though, can this be run with something like tasker to have it run on boot. I am not familiar with the app, so I am not sure of it's limitations. My thoughts would be to find the default string used by towelroot, change it to temp root, have the application launched, make it rain, and then go to the home screen.
[Moto X General] Verttex:
I would highly suggest unlocking the bootloader since this whole method is very complicated and at any time may fail.

I don't think so, you can remove the files for PIE and Towelroot and it should look like a normal device.

You might have to remove some of PIE's files.

I am currently using an Xposed module to alter my soft keys and it works fine.

You can flash back to stock with a locked bootloader using mfastboot. Go to here, and click on Return to Stock.

I have not used 4.4.3 yet so I do not know exactly.

I think you would be the first.
[Moto X General] Abhinav Valecha:
Thanks for your reply... there is nothing like carriers here is india, i get my phone directly from motorola, and all the services and exchange are done directly by motorola.. so i think using this method is safe because it wont unlock my bootloader and all i have to do is a reboot to revert it.. thanks for your answers, i will think over it a little and maybe give it a try.. :)

---------- Post added at 08:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:21 PM ----------

just noticed your post after replying the previous person.. thank you.. i will give it a try :)
[Moto X General] Verttex:
If you need some help, be sure to just ask! Good luck.
[Moto X General] tu3218:
What is the difference between a soft and hard reboot? lol may be a dumb question but if this root exploit is determiend by whether we soft reboot(retain root) or hard reboot(lose root), figured I'd should know. I googled it but people mention soft reset and hard reset, and not sure if that's getting into something else or not.
[Moto X General] cell2011:
Hard boot lose root if on pie
[Moto X General] Verttex:
Hard reboot is basically turning the device off then turning it back on. It loads the bootloader and then the OS.

Soft reboot is restarting what is shown on the screen. It doesn't go to the bootloader, it just restarts the OS.
[Moto X General] Hugo_A2lonso:
I did the PIE installation and I had root acces, but then when I try the TowelRoot app I can't gain root access again, do I have to install the BusyBox and Xposed to re-root whenever I reboot my phone?? I just need root to use the WakeLock detector app.
[Moto X General] PeterDLai:
What kind of things are we missing out on without an unlocked bootloader? (i.e. are there certain Xposed modules that don't work without an unlocked bootloader?)
[Moto X General] Trozzul:
doesn't Motorola allow you to unlock their boot loaders now without voiding your warranty? i could be wrong.
[Moto X General] Abhinav Valecha:
[MENTION=4700814]Trozzul[/MENTION] no, only dev editions are allowed to unlock boot loaders without voiding the warranty...mine is not a dev edition..and dev editions are not even available in my country.. motorola services are really limited in India

and [MENTION=4895568]dier325[/MENTION] i have a few more questions,

1) how can i remove those PIE file you mentioned? maybe you can add it in the first post with the 'Unroot' heading or something..

2) i dont know anything about busybox, i only know it is required by a lot of root apps, so installing busybox does not require write protection disabled?

now i am learning ADB to use PIE btw..

and yeah one more question..

any xposed module you know not working because of the write protection?
[Moto X General] Verttex:
Make sure you change the last digit in TowelRoot to a one by clicking the Welcome to Towelroot 3 times.

An unlocked bootloader allows you to have write access which is something locked bootloaders don't have.

Yes, but only for dev editions and some other carriers.

1. I think the correct way to do it would be

adb shell
rm -r /data/local/atvc/pie.jar
rm -r /data/local/atvc/root.sh

2. Installing Busybox does not require the write protection to be disabled if you do it with the method in the OP.

I have GravityBox, StatusbarVolume, and Xtended Navbar working fine. I do not know of others.
[Moto X General] Abhinav Valecha:
and i am now rooted without bootloader unlock :D ...i just dont know if my warranty is lost or not.. it can only be confirmed by going to motorola... i assume i still have warranty.. thanks a lot man...and add this to the first post...XT1052 confirmed working (asia,india model)
[Moto X General] Verttex:
Glad I could help. I'll be sure to add it to the OP.
[Moto X General] PeterDLai:
I knew about the technicality of it, but I was just curious if there are practical examples of things we might want to be able to do with our devices that the /system write access restriction prevents us from doing.

Thanks in advance!
[Moto X General] Verttex:
Flashing ROMs, Kernels, applications. Modifying build.prop etc.
[Moto X General] tu3218:
Sorry for the rookie question, but I have Minimal ADB and Fastboot installed, as well as the pie.zip. Installed moto drivers so I think I'm ready. Do I just plug my phone in, and run Minimal ADB and enter those codes into that software? Do I need to place the pie.zip anywhere special? It's been a long time since I used ADB and I remember I had place the files I wanted to send in a particular folder. Anyone care to share some steps so I don't screw this up lol
[Moto X General] adolfo778:
Didn't work for me on At&t

nvm got it to work
[Moto X General] samwathegreat:
The complete process is detailed in the "PIE" thread located in the "Original Android Development" sub-forum.

Good Luck
[Moto X General] adolfo778:
Look too see where adb was installed and unzip the zip there
[Moto X General] tu3218:
Okay so I opened the command prompt and did adb devices, and I see my serial number but it says offline.

As for the root files, I extract them into the folder that contains all the files from when I installed Minimal ADB and Fastboot.

EDIT: So i went ahead and ran the commands, definitely didn't get the correct output on the command for hte last two codes, but I went into root checker and I have access! So now I should go ahead and run Towelroot?
[Moto X General] adolfo778:
ya think it does that for most people. go ahead and run towelroot and make sure to click the header three times and change the last number to a 1
[Moto X General] tu3218:
Gahh I did the towel root, and just tried to install busy box and now it can't find root! I had it from PIE but towel root seems to have messed it up. I did change the 0 to 1 in towel root too. Any ideas?
[Moto X General] peters4n6:
same for me.
[Moto X General] adolfo778:
I had the same problem I rebooted my phone and tried it again. try seeing if hitting the check mark on the keyboard after you change the last number on towelroot works
[Moto X General] tu3218:
That worked! Now do I need busybox? What does that add for me? Is that what is necessary to use gravity box?
[Moto X General] peters4n6:
confirm -- using checkmark worked.

thx
[Moto X General] adolfo778:
Ya install busy box look at the first page and someone posted three links to busy box try the third one that seemed to work the best after that install xposed(google the app) and then you can download gravity box. Also Make sure you only reboot using the hot reboot option with the app the op posted.

Make sure to hit thanks!
[Moto X General] tu3218:
Anyway to make sure it installed? I clicked install and it seems installed but there doesn't seem to be anything different within the app.

I also tried to hot reboot using the power app but nothing happened after I confirmed that I wanted to hot reboot.
[Moto X General] Verttex:
If your phone won't Hot Reboot, it's either you didn't install the PIE files right, or Busybox isn't installed. Try installing a Busybox checker and then trying different Busybox installers.
[Moto X General] tu3218:
Yeah it seems busybox is in fact installed. I guess the PIE files didn't go in right. But it told me I had root after it so that's weird.

---------- Post added at 03:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:16 PM ----------

C:\Users\Brandon\Desktop\Minimal ADB and Fastboot>adb devices

List of devices attached

T062005KYP device

C:\Users\Brandon\Desktop\Minimal ADB and Fastboot>adb push pie.jar /data/local/a

tvc

3353 KB/s (1538138 bytes in 0.447s)

C:\Users\Brandon\Desktop\Minimal ADB and Fastboot>adb push root.sh /data/local/a

tvc

26 KB/s (192 bytes in 0.007s)

C:\Users\Brandon\Desktop\Minimal ADB and Fastboot>adb shell chmod 755 /data/loca

l/atvc/root.sh

C:\Users\Brandon\Desktop\Minimal ADB and Fastboot>adb shell /data/local/atvc/roo

t.sh

rm failed for /data/local/atvc/blop.asec, No such file or directory

rm failed for /data/local/atvc/blop, No such file or directory

mkdir failed for /data/local/atvc/dalvik-cache, File exists

pie by jcase

want to buy me pie? paypal-> jcase@cunninglogic.com

C:\Users\Brandon\Desktop\Minimal ADB and Fastboot>

Any ideas why I'm getting that error the last set of code? I'm using Minimal ADB and Fastboot, I have extracted the two PIE files into the Minimal ADB and Fastboot folder that was installed when I installed the application. Am I not putting the files in the right place? It seems I am or else I feel like the first 3 lines of code would of failed.
[Moto X General] seabass950:
nm
[Moto X General] tu3218:
Hot reboot works now! I redid PIE, so I'm afraid to mess with Towelroot again.

Well for some reason my phone rebooted while I was in Xposed looking around, and after it restarted I did PIE, got root, and now hot reboot doesn't work again. So it seems Power menu only works PIE has been applied and no reboot has occured. So Towelroot gaining root alone doesn't allow power menu to work. So I don't know if I'm good to go ahead and start using xposed or not. Never used it before. Do I need to mess with the framework install information?
[Moto X General] samwathegreat:
I'm getting confused since you are posting in the 2 different forums. In the PIE forum, you stated that you installed busybox....but none of the instructions (neither PIE, nor Towerroot) tell you to do this. It is possible that the busybox you installed, and the busybox that is built in to PIE are conflicting and this could be your issue. Try uninstalling whatever busybox you installed, start from the beginning, and don't perform any steps that are not outlined in the turorials. Let us know if that works for you.

Also, which device are you using?