[Nexus 5X General] SlimSnoopOS:
[SIZE=+3]Heisenberg's How-To Guide For Beginners[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+2]Nexus 5X[/SIZE]

​

[SIZE=+1]Intro[/SIZE]

This thread will serve as a location for basic how-to guides for the Nexus 5X. I'm going to start off with a couple of the more obvious ones and go from there. If anyone has any suggestions for additions please feel free to let me know.

If you're unsure about something please read the FAQ section in post #2 before creating a post to ask a question.

[size=+1]Prerequisites[/size]:

You'll need a working adb/fastboot environment on your PC to get through some of these guides. Below are two options for install.

Please do not install adb/fastboot via any means other than the Android SDK, using other tools (like Minimal adb & fastboot) can lead to an outdated setup and various problems with flashing. You've been warned, other tools will not be supported in this thread.

Option A

Google hosts ADB/Fastboot (platform-tools) for Windows, OSX, and Linux. This is a minimal download, in contrast to Option 2. These links and file sizes may be updated periodically by Google. If using Windows, download the Google USB Driver and follow the driver install instructions. Once you have downloaded the platform-tools zip, extract the file then transfer the platform-tools folder to your desktop. The platform-tools folder contains adb, fastboot, and several other files. Note that clicking any link for platform-tools will immediately start a download.

*Windows: platform-tools. Google USB Driver install.

*OSX: platform-tools. For additional details on how to use OSX and adb/fastboot commands, see post #3.

*Linux: platform-tools.

See Option B below for old method to install adb/fastboot:

Option B

Go here to download the Android SDK, which will give you most updated version of adb and fastboot. Scroll to the bottom of the page and find Other Download Options>SDK Tools Only, and grab the right version for your OS. While it's downloading create a folder in C:\ called SDK (C:\SDK). Once you've downloaded the zip you can extract it into your C:\SDK folder. Navigate to C:\SDK\android-sdk-windows and open SDK Manager.exe. In SDK Manager you need to install the following packages:

Tools> Android SDK Tools, Android SDK Platform-tools

Extras> Android Support Repository, Google USB Driver

Once you have installed those, inside C:\SDK you should see some new folders, one of them will be called platform-tools, within that folder you should see fastboot.exe and adb.exe. I'll refer to this as your fastboot folder/directory or working folder/directory during this guide.

For Option A and B, make sure adb is correctly installed. Open a command prompt from within your fastboot folder (hold shift + right click, select open command prompt here) and issue this command:

adb version

If it returns a version number for Android Debug Bridge then you're good to go.

You can test adb by connecting your device to your PC while booted into Android (making sure that adb/usb debugging is enabled in Settings>Developer Options) with the screen unlocked and issuing this command:

adb devices

It should return your device serial number, if so, adb is working.

You can test fastboot by connecting your device to your PC while booted into the bootloader (power + volume down) and issuing this command:

fastboot devices

It should return your device serial number, if so, fastboot is working.

By attempting any of the processes listed this thread you accept full responsibility for your actions. I will not be held responsible if your device stops working, catches on fire, or turns into a hipster and claims to have been modified before it was cool.

​

[SIZE=+1]Quick Tips[/SIZE]

How to boot into the bootloader:

Power off your device. Once it's powered off hold power + volume down and the phone will boot into the bootloader. You can also use the following adb command:

adb reboot bootloader

You can also use an app called Quick Boot to boot into the bootloader directly from Android (root required).

How to boot into recovery:

Boot into the bootloader (see above), use the volume keys to scroll through the options and use the power button to select the recovery mode option. You can also use the following adb command:

adb reboot recovery

You can also use an app called Quick Boot to boot into the recovery directly from Android (root required).

​

[SIZE=+1]Index[/SIZE]

How To Unlock Your Bootloader

How To Install A Custom Recovery On Your Device

How To Decrypt Your Data Partition

How To Make A Nandroid Backup With TWRP Recovery

How To Make An EFS Backup With TWRP Recovery

How To Root

How To Install A ROM with TWRP Recovery

How To Install A Custom Kernel With TWRP Recovery

How To Update To A New Build Of The Stock ROM

How To Flash The Factory Images (Return To Stock)

How To Flash The Factory Images (Return To Stock But Leaving Internal Storage Intact)

FAQ can be found in post #2!

​

[SIZE=+1]1. How To Unlock Your Bootloader[/SIZE]

Go into Settings/About Phone, scroll down and click on ?build number? continuously until you see a toast notification telling you that you've enabled Developer Options. Go back to your Settings menu and enter Developer Options, scroll down and click on the ?Enable OEM Unlock? checkbox, also make sure you enable USB Debugging while you're in the Developer Options menu.

Power off your phone then boot into the bootloader (power + volume down).

Connect your phone to your PC via usb cable.

Open a command prompt from within your fastboot folder (navigate to where you have fastboot.exe located on your PC, shift + right click anywhere within that folder, select open command prompt here).

Check your fastboot connection by issuing this command:

fastboot devices

It should return your device serial number, if not you need to make sure your drivers are installed correctly.​

Once you've confirmed your fastboot connection issue this command:

fastboot oem unlock

This will erase all user data from the device!

You should now see a screen on your phone asking you to confirm this action, use the volume keys to scroll and the power key to confirm if you're sure you want to go ahead.

Allow the process to complete and then issue this command:

fastboot reboot

Allow everything to go ahead and once finished you can disconnect your usb cable.

Important: do not relock your bootloader unless your phone is fully stock. You must flash the factory images first in order to remove root and custom recovery (if you have them), if this precaution isn't taken you may end up with a brick. Please see section 10 of this guide for full instructions on how to return to stock.

​

[SIZE=+1]2. How To Install A Custom Recovery On Your Device[/SIZE]

Prerequisites: unlocked bootloader (section 1). Please read FAQ #7 if using TWRP 3.0.2-1 or 3.0.2-2.

Download TWRP Recovery onto your PC.

Make sure you check the md5 to verify its integrity (where possible).

Place the file in your fastboot folder (this is where fastboot.exe is located on your PC).

Power off your phone then boot into the bootloader (power + volume down).

Open a command prompt from within your fastboot folder (navigate to where you have fastboot.exe located on your PC, shift + right click anywhere within that folder, select open command prompt here), enter this command:

fastboot flash recovery filename.img

(The recovery filename in the command will change depending on which recovery you're flashing)

Use the volume keys to scroll and power key to select the Reboot Bootloader option. Once the phone has booted back into the bootloader, use the volume keys to scroll and the power key to boot into your newly flashed recovery. It's now safe to disconnect your usb cable. If using Nougat 7.0 or newer, you must now boot directly into TWRP and flash SuperSU (or your preferred root alternative) so that TWRP will persist between reboots.

When TWRP boots up you'll be asked whether you want to allow system modifications or to keep it read-only, choose to allow system modifications, there's no benefit to keeping it read-only.

Do not flash the version of SuperSU that TWRP offers to flash for you in order to give you root, it is not compatible and will cause problems. When you attempt to reboot out of TWRP it will tell you that it's detecting that you don't have root and it will offer to root for you, skip past this.

Some users need a custom recovery for a temporary period, so they live boot the recovery. In this scenario, the custom recovery replaces the stock recovery until a reboot is performed. Place the file in your fastboot folder then enter this command:

fastboot boot filename.img

(The recovery filename in the command will change depending on which recovery you're flashing)

​

[SIZE=+1]3. How To Decrypt Your Data Partition[/SIZE]

This is no longer necessary as long as you use TWRP 2.8.7.1 or newer

Prerequisites: unlocked bootloader (section 1).

TWRP recovery cannot decrypt your data partition at this stage. In order for TWRP to be able to read/write on your data partition (to root or create a nandroid backup) you will need to format it, a format will remove encryption.

Boot into the bootloader and connect your phone to your PC via usb cable.

Open a command prompt from within your fastboot folder (navigate to where you have fastboot.exe located on your PC, shift + right click anywhere within that folder, select open command prompt here), enter this command:

fastboot format userdata

Please note: this will erase all user data from the device!

Once the process has completed you can either reboot normally:

fastboot reboot

Or you can reboot back to the bootloader in order to undertake another task:

fastboot reboot-bootloader

​

[SIZE=+1]4. How To Make A Nandroid Backup With TWRP Recovery[/SIZE]

Prerequisites: unlocked bootloader (section 1), TWRP recovery (section 2).

A nandroid backup is a very important thing to have before installing any custom software on your device. It's basically a backup of your stock system that you can fall back on if anything goes wrong or if you just want your stock ROM back. You can also use the backup tool to create a backup of your favourite ROM set up exactly the way you like it. The backup you create can be easily restored using the restore tool in TWRP recovery.

Boot TWRP recovery, select the backup option from the TWRP home screen, check the system/data/boot boxes, and swipe to backup. The process will take a few minutes.

​

[SIZE=+1]5. How To Make An EFS Backup With TWRP Recovery[/SIZE]

An EFS backup is very important to have, if your EFS partition becomes corrupt you will have no IMEI, and therefore will not be able to use the phone as a phone. Making an EFS backup is insurance against this catastrophic event. Without a backup, restoring your EFS can be extremely difficult or impossible. The backup you create can be easily restored using the restore tool in TWRP recovery.

Please read FAQ #7 if using TWRP 3.0.2-1 or 3.0.2-2. Boot into TWRP and select the backup option from the TWRP home screen, make sure only the EFS box is selected, and swipe to backup. The process will take a few seconds. Keep a copy of the backup on your phone and also keep another copy somewhere safe.

​

[SIZE=+1]6. How To Root[/SIZE]

Prerequisites: unlocked bootloader (section 1), TWRP recovery (section 2).

Download the latest root method of your choosing to your phone:

Magisk

SuperSU Stable

SuperSU Service Release (SuperSU beta channel)

Or to root Android Nougat 7.0 visit this thread: Use SuperSU 2.78 or newer.

[WIP] Android N Preview

Boot into TWRP recovery and enter the install menu.

Navigate to where you have SuperSU stored on your internal storage and select it.

Swipe to install.

Once you've installed SuperSU you'll have an option to wipe cache/dalvik and an option to reboot system. Wipe the cache/dalvik, hit the back button, and hit the reboot system button. That's it.

Do not flash the version of SuperSU that TWRP offers to flash for you in order to give you root, it is not compatible and will cause problems. When you attempt to reboot out of TWRP it will tell you that it's detecting that you don't have root and it will offer to root for you, skip past this. You do have root, ignore this every time it comes up.

​

[SIZE=+1]7. How To Install A ROM with TWRP Recovery[/SIZE]

Prerequisites: unlocked bootloader (section 1), TWRP recovery (section 2), vendor.img (section 9).

Installing a ROM is a straight forward and easy process. Before you install anything you should make a nandroid backup (instructions above). Next, install the vendor.img that matches the Google security OTA that the ROM you want to install is based on. Find the vendor.img inside the factory images provided by Google then flash this file with fastboot (section 9).

Download a ROM and appropriate Gapps package and place on your device.

Boot into your custom recovery.

Select the wipe option from the TWRP home screen.

Perform a Factory Reset.

Select advanced wipe.

Check the system, data, cache, and dalvik cache options.

Swipe to wipe.

Install the ROM.

Select the install option from the TWRP home screen.

Navigate to where you have the ROM zip stored on your sd card and select it.

Swipe to install.

Most ROMs will run an installer script at this point but some ROMs have what is called an Aroma Installer which allow you to choose some install options before the script runs.​

You will also need to install the appropriate gapps package directly after installing the ROM.

Once you've installed all necessary zips you'll have an option to wipe cache/dalvik and an option to reboot system. Wipe the cache/dalvik, hit the back button, and hit the reboot system button.

​

[SIZE=+1]8. How To Install A Custom Kernel With TWRP Recovery[/SIZE]

Prerequisites: unlocked bootloader (section 1), TWRP recovery (section 2).

A custom kernel can open up a new level of control over your device, such as overclocking/underclocking, undervolting, changing governors, changing I/O schedulers, adjusting colour calibrations, adjusting sound calibrations, and many other options.

Download a kernel that is compatible with your current ROM.

Check the md5 to verify its integrity.

Enter TWRP recovery.

Select the install option from the TWRP home screen.

Navigate to the kernel and select it.

Swipe to install.

You'll have an option to wipe cache/dalvik and an option to reboot system. Wipe the cache/dalvik, hit the back button, and hit the reboot system button.

Once your phone has booted up you can use a kernel tuning app to change governors, I/O scheduler, clock speed, and other options. Some of the popular kernel apps are Kernel Auditor, EX Kernel Manager, Trickster Mod, No Frills, Kernel Tuner, and many more.

​

[SIZE=+1]9. How To Update To A New Build Of The Stock ROM[/SIZE]

Prerequisites: unlocked bootloader (section 1).

This method does not wipe your data, so you will keep your apps and settings. You should have no problems, however, if you experience problems you may need to perform a factory reset and flash again. Make a backup first and transfer it to your PC.

Download the latest build via the appropriate factory images for your model (Nexus 5X/Bullhead) here.

Note: Android 7.1.2 and newer factory images do not contain cache.img. Do not wipe the cache.img for this process when using or moving to Android 7.1.2 or newer. If you have wiped cache.img, download the most recent Android 7.1.1 factory image and flash the cache.img from that zip archive.

Unzip the bullhead-xxxxxx-factory-xxxxxxxx (x's replace variables) into a directory on your PC (for this guide we'll use C:\bullhead\).

Once unzipped you should have a folder named bullhead-xxxxxx (x's replace variables). Open it and move the following files to a new directory named C:\bullhead\images\:

bootloader-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

radio-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

(Please note that radio and bootloader naming changes from build to build so the filenames and below commands will change with them)

Within C:\bullhead\bullhead-xxxxxx\ you'll see another zip archive named image-bullhead-xxxxxx, unzip the contents of that zip into the C:\bullhead\images\ folder we created before. Now within C:\bullhead\images\ you should have the following files:

android-info.txt

boot.img

bootloader-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

cache.img

radio-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

recovery.img

system.img

userdata.img

vendor.img

Boot into the bootloader and connect your phone to your PC via usb cable.

Open a command prompt from within your fastboot folder (navigate to where you have fastboot.exe located on your PC, shift + right click anywhere within that folder, select open command prompt here), enter these commands to flash:

fastboot flash bootloader C:\bullhead\images\bootloader-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash radio C:\bullhead\images\radio-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash boot C:\bullhead\images\boot.img
fastboot erase cache
fastboot flash cache C:\bullhead\images\cache.img
fastboot flash recovery C:\bullhead\images\recovery.img
fastboot flash system C:\bullhead\images\system.img
fastboot flash vendor C:\bullhead\images\vendor.img

You can skip flashing the recovery if you wish, but even if you do the stock recovery may be patched on the first boot anyway. So you'll need to flash TWRP and SuperSU again if you need/want those, as well as any other system modifications you may have had.

You'll have to flash SuperSU again now, plus add any mods that you previously had.

​

[SIZE=+1]10. How To Flash The Factory Images (And Return To Stock)[/SIZE]

Prerequisites: unlocked bootloader (section 1).

This section will explain how to return the phone to be like it was when it came out of the box. This will wipe

everything

from the phone. If you wish to flash the factory images without wiping your personal data from the internal storage please move on to the next section.

Note: Android 7.1.2 and newer factory images do not contain cache.img. Do not wipe the cache.img for this process when using or moving to Android 7.1.2 or newer. If you have wiped cache.img, download the most recent Android 7.1.1 factory image and flash the cache.img from that zip archive.

Go to Settings/Backup & Reset and perform a factory data reset. This will remove all of your user data from the device (apps, settings, photos, music, etc).

Download the appropriate factory images for your model here.

Unzip the bullhead-xxxxxx-factory-xxxxxxxx (x's replace variables) into a directory on your PC (for this guide we'll use C:\bullhead\).

Once unzipped you should have a folder named bullhead-xxxxxx (x's replace variables). Open it and move the following files to a new directory named C:\bullhead\images\:

bootloader-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

radio-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

(Please note that radio and bootloader naming changes from build to build so the filenames and below commands will change with them)

Within C:\bullhead\bullhead-xxxxxx\ you'll see another zip archive named image-bullhead-xxxxxx, unzip the contents of that zip into the C:\bullhead\images\ folder we created before. Now within C:\bullhead\images\ you should have the following files:

android-info.txt

boot.img

bootloader-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

cache.img

radio-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

recovery.img

system.img

userdata.img

vendor.img

Boot into the bootloader and connect your phone to your PC via usb cable.

Open a command prompt from within your fastboot folder (navigate to where you have fastboot.exe located on your PC, shift + right click anywhere within that folder, select open command prompt here), enter these commands to flash:

fastboot flash bootloader C:\bullhead\images\bootloader-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash radio C:\bullhead\images\radio-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash boot C:\bullhead\images\boot.img
fastboot erase cache
fastboot flash cache C:\bullhead\images\cache.img
fastboot flash recovery C:\bullhead\images\recovery.img
fastboot flash system C:\bullhead\images\system.img
fastboot flash vendor C:\bullhead\images\vendor.img

If you wish to you can also relock the bootloader with this command:

fastboot oem lock

(This command will wipe all user data from the device)

Important: do not lock the bootloader unless you have first flashed the stock images. Locking the bootloader while you have a custom recovery installed can result in a brick. Please also note that the locking procedure will wipe all data on an encrypted device.

Once all commands/flashes are complete you can reboot the device:

fastboot reboot

​

[SIZE=+1]11. How To Flash The Factory Images (Return To Stock But Leaving Internal Storage Intact)[/SIZE]

Prerequisites: unlocked bootloader (section 1), TWRP recovery (section 2). Note: Android 7.1.2 and newer factory images do not contain cache.img. Do not wipe the cache.img for this process when using or moving to Android 7.1.2 or newer. If you have wiped cache.img, download the most recent Android 7.1.1 factory image and flash the cache.img from that zip archive.

This section will explain how to return the phone to be like it was when it came out of the box, except it will not wipe any of your personal data (photos, music, etc) from the internal storage.

Download the appropriate factory images for your model here.

Unzip the bullhead-xxxxxx-factory-xxxxxxxx (x's replace variables) into a directory on your PC (for this guide we'll use C:\bullhead\).

Once unzipped you should have a folder named bullhead-xxxxxx (x's replace variables). Open it and move the following files to a new directory named C:\bullhead\images\:

bootloader-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

radio-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

(Please note that radio and bootloader naming changes from build to build so the filenames and below commands will change with them)

Within C:\bullhead\bullhead-xxxxxx\ you'll see another zip archive named image-bullhead-xxxxxx, unzip the contents of that zip into the C:\bullhead\images\ folder we created before. Now within C:\bullhead\images\ you should have the following files:

android-info.txt

boot.img

bootloader-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

cache.img

radio-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img

recovery.img

system.img

userdata.img

vendor.img

Boot into TWRP recovery and enter the wipe menu, select advanced wipe, check only the data box and swipe to wipe.

Go to the TWRP main menu and enter the reboot menu, select bootloader. The phone will now boot into the bootloader, once it has you can connect your phone to your PC via usb cable.

Open a command prompt from within your fastboot folder (navigate to where you have fastboot.exe located on your PC, shift + right click anywhere within that folder, select open command prompt here), enter these commands to flash:

fastboot flash bootloader C:\bullhead\images\bootloader-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash radio C:\bullhead\images\radio-bullhead-bullhead-xx.xx.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash boot C:\bullhead\images\boot.img
fastboot erase cache
fastboot flash cache C:\bullhead\images\cache.img
fastboot flash recovery C:\bullhead\images\recovery.img
fastboot flash system C:\bullhead\images\system.img
fastboot flash vendor C:\bullhead\images\vendor.img

Once all commands/flashes are complete you can reboot the device:

fastboot reboot

​

FAQ can be found in post #2!

Donate To Me