[Android General] jeffagogo:
Rooting the Optus X Play 3G (Alcatel Pixi 4034X) as of March 2019

The Optus X Play is a base model Optus smart phone sold across Australia which is otherwise an Alcatel Pixi 4034x. Its specs are low featuring a tiny 2Gb user space and a barely adequate 512Mb of RAM running Android version 6.0. On the plus side it does have the quad core MediaTek MT6580 @ 1.3Ghz. Performance is sluggish as expected and the preloaded bloatware seems to make it worse. So slow this phone is I've found it almost impossible the answer a call, as the by the time phone rings the person making the call has hung up. The good news is that as of March 2019 many Aussie retailers are now heavily discounting this phone to clear the shelves for new models... and you can pick these up for song if you keep your eyes open. These phones can be successfully rooted and bloatware removed resulting in a substantial performance boost and is a great phone to experiment with.

Rooting Procedure

The use of phh Superuser and Chainfires SuperSu as described in previous posts is now obsolete in my opinion. The way to go now is to use Magisk but still with custom bootloader TWRP. One click rooting solutions such as KingoRoot or Kingroot etc simply don't work with this model of Optus Alcatel, so forget it.

Software required for Rooting:

* 15 Second ADB installer

* Alcatel Mobile upgrade Ver 5.2.1

* MagiskManager-v7.0.0.apk

* Magisk-v18.1.zip

* twrp-3.2-4034x.img

Download these files here: (oops cannot send link because I'm a new user)

1. Enable Developer Options: Goto Settings >> About phone: Tap 7 times on Build Number. You are now a developer.

2. Go back and goto Developer Options >> Enable OEM Unlocking and turn ON USB Debugging.

3. Install 15 Second ADB installer on your PC / Laptop (as provided in the package of software)

4. Plug in USB cable to PC and phone.

5. Goto Windows command prompt (Admin) and type: adb devices

You should see:

* daemon not running. Starting it now on port 5037 *

* daemaon started successfully *

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Unauthorized

6 .Goto the phone. A pop up box should appear: Allow USB debugging? Click "YES" and also the check box "Always allow from this computer"

7. Enter Fastboot mode by entering the command: adb reboot bootloader Phone reboots into fastboot mode.

8. Check connection: fastboot devices (This is similar to the ADB command).

9. Unlock the bootloader: fastboot oem unlock

10. Press volume up key to accept.

11. Check its unlocked: fastboot getvar all (or fastboot getvar unlocked)

12. Remove USB cable and power off phone by removing battery.

13. Put battery back in but don't turn on.

14. Install the Alcatel Mobile Upgrade Tool Ver 5.2.1 on your PC / Laptop (as provided in my software download)

15. Click on the Alcatel Mobile Upgrade. Select 4034 model

16. Click "Start" on the Upgrade Software and follows the instructions it gives.

Notes:

-Make sure your phone is fully charged.

- You will need an internet connect for the firmware to be downloaded

- Interestingly after the first time the firmware has been downloaded, it's stored on your PC for future use. This saves a lot of time if experimenting and you softbrick your phone many times.

- Be patient. This may take 10 mins or so to complete.

- This software is so good, it makes me want to buy more Alcatels :) Send thanks to Alcatel in the feedback.

7. Disconnect USB cable. Power up Optus X Play 4034x. After the upgrade, first boot takes around 8 mins to complete.

8. Click through the usual first time setup procedure.

9. Goto Developer Options again as per step 1 and turn ON USB Debugging. Check OEM Unlocking is still turned on. Bingo! You need not worry about the dreaded soft bricking issue so many other people have experienced when rooting this model phone.

11. Plug in USB cable to PC and phone

11. Goto Windows command prompt (Admin) and type: adb devices (again allow ADB authorisation on the phone)

12. adb push Magisk-v18.1.zip /sdcard/

13. adb push MagiskManager-v7.0.0.apk /sdcard/

14. Enter Fastboot mode by entering the command: adb reboot bootloader

15: Phone reboots into fastboot mode

15a Check connection: fastboot devices

16. Install TWRP: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.2-4034x.img

17. Reboot phone: fastboot reboot

18. Hold down power & volume up to boot into TWRP

19. Swipe to enter main menu in TWRP

20. Select Install

21. Select Magisk-v18.1.zip

22. Swipe to confirm Flash

23. Select reboot. Phone reboots normally.

24. Goto Settings >>Security >> Unknown sources (to allow installation of APK's from unknown source)

25. Goto file manager >> click on Installers >> cick on MagiskManager-v7.0.0.apk and install it.

26. Open Magisk Manager, Your Optus X Play is now Rooted :)

Notes:

If you root the phone without a simcard installed and then decide install a simcard after rooting, you may end up in boot loop "Android is starting". Not sure why this happens and the only way around this is to repeat the whole process with simcard installed.