[Shield Tablet General] Toby4213:
Hello Guys,

At first a little background story:

I bought the Tablet 3 Month ago. I have got the Update to Android 6.0 in January and unfortunately, I applied it.

So If you don't want to apply a custom rom do not update to 6.0, because 5.1.1 is much better.

I am not responsible if anything goes wrong.

Ok, so let's get started:

At first you must install Minimal ADB and Fastboot on your PC/Laptop/Mac.

Windows: https://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2588979

Linux/Mac: http://rootmygalaxy.net/install-adb-and-fastboot-on-mac-or-linux/

Here is the link for all OSs: http://lifehacker.com/the-easiest-way-to-install-androids-adb-and-fastboot-to-1586992378

Before you can Root or flash a Custom Rom you must flash the recovery:

You will need:

-Nvidia Family Drivers(Extract it in a folder of your choice): http://nvidiashieldzone.com/files/shieldtv/shieldfamilydriver.zip not working anymore, official link:

http://developer.download.nvidia.com/mobile/shield/SHIELD_Family_WHQL_USB_driver_201801.zip

-As many of you are experiencing problems with my previously mentioned TWRP 2.8.7.3 version I am replacing the link with the official TWRP Shield Tablet Download Site. Just take the newest stable version: https://dl.twrp.me/shieldtablet/ (Put the file into the ADB+Fastboot Folder)

-TWRP 2.8.7.3 Recovery(Put the file into the ADB+Fastboot Folder): Download URL: https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=24269982087009777

Developer Post: http://xdaforums.com/shield-tablet/orig-development/recovery-twrp-2-8-7-0-touch-recovery-t3257172

Install the Drivers

Connect your Tablet to your PC

Windows:

Open your Device Manager

If there Is a device with a yellow ! klick on it and update the Drivers Manually(select the Folder where you extracted the Family Divers)

Linux:

You don't need any drivers

(For every fastboot command in ADB+Fastboot you will need a "sudo" in front of it...)

Mac:

You also don't need any drivers

(For every fastboot command in ADB+Fastboot you will need a "./" in front of it...)

Flash Recovery

1. Open Minimal ADB and Fastboot

2. Type in

adb devices

if you get a long term of numbers and letters your drivers are correctly installed, If this command does not bring up a device, check your cable connection and/or update your drivers again.

3. Now you must enable developer options on your SHIELD Tablet K1

3.1 Go to your Setting, scroll all the way down and choose Info(or similar)

3.2 Tap seven times on the Build Number

3.3 Now go back and now there is a new menu point Developer Options

3.4 Open them and Enable USB Debugging

4. Now type

adb reboot bootloader

EDIT: 4.1 To enable the fastboot protocol, you must select "Fastboot mode" on the Tablet. After that type

fastboot devices

in order to check if fastboot is enabled.

5. Before you can do anything you must unlock the Bootloader

5.1 Type in

fastboot oem unlock

5.2 Follow the Instructions on the Terminal(On your tablet: press the volume down button and then the power button)

6. Now you are ready to flash the recovery

6.1 Type in

fastboot flash recovery twrp-x.x.x-x-shieldtablet.img

6.2

Wait until it is finished

then navigate with the volume buttons through the Menu on your Tablet and choose the option recovery mod with you power button

7. You are now in a custom Recovery on this point you must decide what you want to do:

-Do you only want to root your Device

-Or do you want to install a custom rom

Custom Rom

If you want to be on the safe side you should consider wiping the /data partition (Troubleshoot section at the end of the Post)

1. You can access your tablet from your PC

2. Now move your Custom rom to your internal or SD Card Storage

2.1 Download your custom rom of your choice.

2.1.1 Cyanogenmod 12.1 (Android 5.1.1) and BlissPop v4.0.3 https://www.androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=150249

2.1.2 Cyanogenmod 13.0 (Android 6.0) https://androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=27600&sort_by=date&sort_dir=DESC

2.1.3 Nvidia Shield Tablet Resurrection ROM (Android 6.x) https://androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=60681&sort_by=date&sort_dir=DESC

2.1.4 BlissPop

2.2 Download Google Apps (Gapps) (ARM Device)

2.2.1 Android 5.1 http://opengapps.org/?api=5.1&variant=stock

2.2.2 Android 6.0 http://opengapps.org/?api=6.0&variant=nano

2.3 Download Nvidia Apps (You still need to install Nvidia Shield HUB from the Play Store)http://xdaforums.com/shield-tablet/development/shield-apps-cyanogenmod-12-t3070116

3. In TWRP click on Backup and Swipe to Back Up

3.1 Now go to Wipe. For a dirty flash you will only need to wipe the Dalvik and Cache for a full wipe select Dalvik, System, Data, Cache

4. After it has finished Click on Install and choose the .zip of your Custom Rom

4.1 To install the Google Apps click on Add More Zips and select the GApps zip

4.2 And again click on Add More Zips and select nvsystemservices.zip

4.3 now you can Swipe to Confirm Flash

Root

Download the Latest Stabel SuperSU file: http://download.chainfire.eu/supersu-stable and copy it to the internal or SD Card Storage

For Android 7.0 (Nougat) the SuperSU r4 2.78 version is confirmed working.

1. Open Minimal ADB and Fastboot

2. Type in

adb reboot recovery

to enter the recovery mode

3. In TWRP click on Backup and Swipe to Back Up

4. After it has finished Click on Install and choose the UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.65-20151226141550.zip (or similar) and Swipe to Confirm Flash

5. Restart you Tablet and now a new App SuperSU is Installed

Xposed Framework

Download the Xposed Framework Zip file, take the newest version:

(The Shield Quad Core has a 32 bit arm architecture, so you need the framework for arm)

SDK21 for Android 5.0: http://dl-xda.xposed.info/framework/sdk21/arm/

SDK22 for Android 5.1: http://dl-xda.xposed.info/framework/sdk22/arm/

SDK23 for Android 6.0: http://dl-xda.xposed.info/framework/sdk23/arm/

and the apk: https://xdaforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3921508&d=1477916609

and move them to you Tablet.

Developer Thread (for the uninstaller): https://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=3034811

Go to Recovery with Root

1. Now that you have root you don't need you PC anymore. Go to the Play store and download Quick Boot

2. Open Quick Boot and klick on Recovery

3. Allow Root rights and the Tablet should boot into recovery

Go to Recovery without Root

1. Shut down your Tablet

2. Press and hold the Vol down button and the Power button until the Bootloader screen appears

3. Navigate with the volume buttons through the Menu on your Tablet and choose the option recovery mod with you power button

Install Xposed Framework

1. In the TWRP Recovery (Optionally you can make a Backup) select Install and choose the xposed-v80-sdk22-arm.zip file

2. When you get an Error let me know

3. Now Restart you Tablet and install the .apk file normally

4. In the App Press Framework and now there should be a green writing saying: Xposed Framework version 80 is active

5. Here is a list of very useful programs for the Xposed Framework: http://xdaforums.com/android/general/best-xposed-modules-android-t3103027

Please Leave a post if you are getting errors or something isn't clearly explained! And if I could help you, consider giving me a Thanks ;)

Troubleshoot

If you are stuck in a Bootloop:

Without data loss(e.g. when you installed Xposed framework zip and its stuck in a bootloop)

1. flash the stock rom boot image BUT ONLY IF YOU DONT USE A CUSTOM ROM (it will probably loose root). go to https://developer.nvidia.com/gameworksdownload#?search=SHIELD Tablet K1&tx=$additional,shield and download the latest NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 Recovery OS Image

2. Unpack the zip file and flash it to your Tablet

fastboot flash boot boot.img

If something went wrong while flashing a custom rom (after that you will need to flash the custom/stock rom again)

wipe the /data partition. It could be encrypted from the previous rom. Be aware that you need to reinstall the rom, therefore loose all your data. Troubleshot guide by agentbob123

-Toby

Credits:

@xsquid mac support

@agentbob123 suggestion to mention to wipe the /data partition as a solution for being stuck in a bootloop

@champs777 suggested the newest TWRP

@grävling mentioned importance of waiting until the recovery flash is finished