[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] renatohm:
Downgrade Moto G XT103x (non GPE) from Lollipop to KitKat + remove unlocked bootloader warning + root!

Greetings!

After benefitting from XDA for so long, I’m trying to help a little.

Many people I know, myself included, own a Moto G XT1033, which is by far the most popular version in Brazil (XT1032 didn’t sell nearly as much, GPE not officially available). One of these friends complained about issues, like lags and some apps not working, after OTA update to Lollipop. He asked me to downgrade his phone. It took me quite a while to find everything – instructions, firmware, etc.

So I decided to compile a few tricks here and there for you people who want to downgrade.

Inspiration from here:

http://technolect.org/moto-downgrade-lollipop-android-501-android-444-kitkat/

I’M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES!

DO NOT TRY TO DOWNGRADE TO ANYTHING EARLIER THAN 4.4.4 OR YOU MAY HARDBRICK!

BACKUP YOUR STUFF AS THESE PROCEDURES WILL ERASE YOUR DATA!

FOR NOW, SOME DEVICES SHOW A SCREEN FLICKER DURING/AFTER BOOT. THIS FLICKER IS NOTHING MORE THAN A NUISANCE, AND WILL TEMPORARILY GO AWAY AFTER A SCREEN LOCK AND UNLOCK, APPEARING AGAIN AT NEXT REBOOT. NO PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS BUG IS KNOWN AT THE MOMENT, IF YOU FIND IT OUT, PLEASE SHARE WITH US FOR DUE CREDIT!

I only tested this procedure with Brazilian xt1033/Windows. If this works on other models, and I see no reason why it shouldn’t, please tell me. I will credit you and others will benefit!

Requirements:

1) Moto G XT103x non GPE (duh!). Works like a charm on Brazilian XT1033, should work fine in other models too.

2) Download and install Motorola USB Drivers (http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=48021572&postcount=1)

3) Unlock your bootloader (https://motorola-global-portal.cust...e/bootloader/unlock-your-device-a/action/auth)

4) Battery should be at 60% or better

5) Enable Developer Options. On your device: Settings> About Device and press more than 7 times in a row the number Compilation until a message is displayed notifying the developer options have been activated. Then from your device go to Options developer and check the box USB Debugging

6) Get ADB (http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=42407269#post42407269) and mfastboot (included in the rar, but, just in case, also here http://xdaforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2427667&d=1385958280)

7) Get a custom recovery img file for your device. I like TWRP (http://xdaforums.com/moto-g/development/recovery-twrp-2-8-2-0-touch-recovery-t2980621).

8) Firmware (http://www.filefactory.com/folder/c6cdedc45a775d27). Firmwares in tar.gz should be extracted by a 3rd party app in Windows, like 7Zip (http://7-zip.org/), or natively in Linux/OSX.

XT1033 KitKat firmwares (I’ll leave out of the rar, download the one you prefer) here http://technolect.org/moto-downgrade-lollipop-android-501-android-444-kitkat/

9) Appropriate CF-Auto Root files (http://autoroot.chainfire.eu/)

And a little patience, it should not take more than a few minutes!

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Get everything above working! To test if everything is A-OK, open a command prompt, type “adb devices” (without quotes) and hit enter/return. If there is a number/name listed there, you’re good to go. If not, try reinstalling Moto drivers, ADB...

2) Create a work folder. I usually create a ‘moto’ folder in Desktop.

3) Extract the xml.zip file inside the ‘moto’ folder.

4) Extract the rar file inside the ‘moto’ folder.

5) Extract the CF-Auto Root files in a folder inside the ‘moto’ folder, for example, ‘autoroot’

6) Make sure these files are inside the same folder (for example, Desktop\moto)

* autoroot folder (or any other name you chose)

* lollipop to kitkat xt103x.bat

* mfastboot.exe

* logo.bin

*boot.img

* recovery.img

* system.img_sparsechunk.0

* system.img_sparsechunk.1

* system.img_sparsechunk.2

* NON-HLOS.bin

* fsg.mbn

7) run lp-to-kk-xt103x.bat. The script will automatically reboot into bootloader, factory reset, downgrade to KK and remove the unlocked bootloader warning logo, but will not reset your phone.

8) now enter the ‘autoroot’ (or whatever) folder and run the root-windows.bat file in there. The script will use the CF-Auto Root, install the latest Super SU and reboot your phone.

9) the phone will start in KK and rooted! Enjoy!

10) I recommend installing Flashify (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cgollner.flashify). It is awesome to install custom recoveries.

And that’s it! Sorry for the mistakes and poor English!