yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
After an OTA, you will have to flash EX kernel (maybe TWRP, I'm not sure), and then it should work again. I haven't actually tested this, but there's no reason that it shouldn't work.

Same process for custom ROMs. Always backup your data in TWRP before applying on OTA though.
[Nexus 6P General] Chaosin1983:
Thanks for the quick reply! but I meant the updates you made to the modified files... yesterday I fixed the phone using the files from that post, now I wish to apply the latest modified files for the performance upgrades you describe, do I just repeat the steps with the files on the first post?
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
All the download links in the OP have the performance upgrades (except the 1 core link). So if you flashed yesterday, your phone is the most updated.

To update the fix, check the changelog in my OP periodically. If you see a change you haven't downloaded yet, you can flash it in TWRP, and now you are updated! (For anyone who didn't know, TWRP can flash images too).

Hmm... This post is giving me an idea. I'm going to look into making an app that can automatically detect updates for this fix, alert you if there is a new one, and it will download it for you if you wish. I would like to learn how to build an Android app anyways.
[Nexus 6P General] dyingearth:
Hum. I'm not even getting as far as the kernel loading animation. Just Google logo and back to the bootloader. My phone is unlocked. and my attempt at using this method isn't quite working yet. I'll try the later images posted to see if that works. (I was using N2G48B_4Cores.img).

what I have done is to use NRT to load this month's factory image. and then load 48B_A4.img for the boot. Currently, going from boot loader to Google Image to boot loader.

48B_A4.img isn't working either. Right now I'm just leaving it on the bootloader recovery.

While waiting for the new unit (last time it took them 2 weeks to ship me this one) I'm trying more, including factory flash back to last month's security build.
[Nexus 6P General] daproject:
This is just a heads up, I bought a cheap new phone while I wait for the note 8 after my 6p died. Thanks to this fix my 6p is up and running again, but I being trying a lot of custom roms to see what was the best using the 4 cores ex kernel.

Some of them just bootlooped, others didn't even boot, some took looooong time to boot and other ones did not worked properly (very laggy), but one of the ones I tried is amazingly fast and work perfectly and that one rom is aicp rom.

Give it a try, is even faster than before and now my 6p is my daily driver again, no problems at all.
[Nexus 6P General] Chaosin1983:
Thank you Sir! Google should pay you for cleaning up their mess!
[Nexus 6P General] Sass86oh:
Have you tried using the command "fastboot flashing unlock" while the phone is booted in fastboot mode (hold the volume down button immediately after powering on the device)? I'm not sure whether or not it will work if "oem unlock" is disabled inside of developer options, but it's worth a shot.
[Nexus 6P General] Spaccacerque:
can anyone post a detailed guide??? there are so many steps i'm confused! ^_^ i'll appreciate it a lot!!!! ^_^ thnx mates!
[Nexus 6P General] ArniPL:
[MENTION=5288606]XCnathan32[/MENTION], did you manage to modify the kernel for Android O? That would be great. Thanks in advance!
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
What's NRT? I haven't heard of it. I like flashing the factory images with Fastboot, as it's the easiest and most reliable way.
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Unfortunately, I haven't gotten this to work with O yet :(
[Nexus 6P General] dyingearth:
http://www.wugfresh.com/

It's basically a graphic interface over fastboot.

Right now, I'm just waiting for the RMA to clear through. The previous phone had a problem with battery which won't go beyond 15 minutes of un-ac connected use. I RMA on May and the bootloop happens. The battery problem started 'round December, probably due to Nexus N upgrade issue.
[Nexus 6P General] The_Hamster:
So, I know the fix for TWRP asking for a password is to wipe /data, but that's the exact reason why I need TWRP.. My phone is going to be repaired, and I wanted to make a backup of the entire phone, including /data.. Got any idea how I can avoid wiping everything?
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Flash the modified boot.img, your phone should boot up, and then you can back up your data from there.
[Nexus 6P General] Mr. Whiskers:
I need help

Okay so I have a nexus 6p and this is my first time rooting my phone. About 3 weeks my nexus when into bootloop and I was desperately finding a solution. So I stubble upon this website and read your solutions towards the bootloop. So far I managed to unlocked the OEM and my phone. (I think). I did click on the OEM unlocking option and also typed "fastboot flashing unlock" on the command propt.

Now this is where I need help. I don't know what to do next. I did download the "15 secs ADB Installer v1.4.3" and follow snoop05 videos. I just don't understand the flashing part or what else to download.
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Update: I am going to start working on making this fix open source, from now on, I will be building everything I upload from source (as opposed to modifying the already built file, which technically I'm not supposed to do), and I will start uploading the source to all of the images I have uploaded.

For the average user, this won't mean too much, but it does give me more control over the environment, and with the source posted, it makes it easier for other people to find improvements or build their own 4 core kernels.

I also uploaded Franco kernel and Flash kernel, and they are the first of the modified files to have the source posted.

Over the next few days I will work on getting together the source for the rest of the files.

(Someone asked for a Franco kernel too, I just can't find the post)
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Ok, first, download the modified TWRP from here, then download EX kernel here. (You don't need EX kernel, you can also use Franco or Flash kernel in my OP, but I have tested EX far more, so I recommend that for now) Make sure both of the files are in the same folder.

In the folder where you downloaded the files, hold shift and right click on an empty space. In the menu that pops up, click "Open command prompt here".

Now, boot your device into bootloader mode (hold power and volume down), and connect it to the computer.

In the command prompt on your computer, type "fastboot flashing unlock" (just to make sure). This will wipe your data if you have not unlocked it previously, so be warned.

Then type "fastboot flash recovery twrp3_1_1_4Cores.img". This will flash TWRP on your phone. Then type "fastboot reboot recovery" to go into TWRP.

Once in TWRP, your device should come up in file explorer, copy the EX zip you download to your phone. Then, in TWRP, click on install, then select the EX zip.

After that the rest of the installation should be self explanatory.

Feel free to ask if you need more help.
[Nexus 6P General] dnsh89:
Thanks a lot for the flash build.. I'm hoping you'll be building for Android Or as well..:o
[Nexus 6P General] MrMarques01:
Just a reference of what's possible in terms of battery life when only 4 cores are being used
[Nexus 6P General] DEVILOPS 007:
I almost want to flash the boot image even though I have no bootloop.
[Nexus 6P General] btvolta:
Try it out. You can always flash back a regular kernel.
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Unfortunately I haven't gotten Android O to work yet.
[Nexus 6P General] dnsh89:
I know you'll figure it out.. looking forward.. :good:
[Nexus 6P General] darkriff:
which has the same problem

Thanks!!
[Nexus 6P General] The_Hamster:
I've gotten it to boot, ran a Titanium Backup and backupped my internal storage, but I really wanted to make a TWRP-backup.. Guess I can't do that then?
[Nexus 6P General] alienflorina:
Impressive but if you keep discharging your battery to this low level often, you will need a new one soon ??
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
I'm fairly certain there's no way to decrypt data once it has been encrypted. I would recommend backing up everything in Titanium backup (make sure to store the backup on your computer, or else it will get wiped), then factory reset the device in TWRP, and

before

you reboot, flash a custom kernel that disables forced encryption (magisk also disables forced encryption). Then reboot and restore the Titanium backup.
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Is the battery problem caused by allowing to drain a lot? I'd like to keep this as long as possible.
[Nexus 6P General] Mr. Whiskers:
Im still Stuck

Hey so I follow everything step by step yet my device still does not appear under file explorer. Also when I hold shift and right click on an empty space my command prompt does not appear only windows shell does which is what used to put in the commands. I was wondering if by any chance I did something wrong or if theres a way to fix this.
[Nexus 6P General] iplexus4:
Mr. Whiskers, Just open command promt from start and run "cd path_to_folder" something like "cd C:\Users\admin\Downloads\adb" and keep doing guide steps
[Nexus 6P General] alienflorina:
Modern batteries don't like extremely high and low charge. A lot of people charge their batteries to 80% and try not to let it drop below 20%.

If you think of it can be done easy since our phones can go from 20-80% in 45 mins .

http://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-phone/how-properly-charge-phone-battery-3619623/

Basically use an app like accubattery to monitor your charges and set the level you want to charge it , I'm doing the 80-20%.. and charge it once a month to 100% full circle to calibrate .
[Nexus 6P General] Finerminer:
Looking forward to a possible android O fix as I'm now bootlooping on the beta software with only a few weeks to go til the new Pixels release...
[Nexus 6P General] Shaman3k:
Good Afternoon Gents,

So I managed to unlocked boot loader, flash twrp. Then from boot loader, I reset into Recovery. My computer recognizes my phone, so I try both adb and copy the Kernel zip file into my phone. I went perfectly. However, when I reset, it said no "no OS is installed. Are you sure you want to reset?". I did reset and it still at Google Logo.

Can you please give me advice?

Thank you very much !!
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Somehow you wiped your ROM. Just flash a new one in TWRP, and flash a modified kernel over it.
[Nexus 6P General] M-LinkInt.:
Wow, man, never thought I'd see anything but the ugly Google logo staring at me again, and lo and behold, I now see a LineageOS Boot Animation! Thanks for the work sir!
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Interesting, I'm definitely going to try this.
[Nexus 6P General] Shaman3k:
Please correct me if I am wrong. I did install 48B, 48C and Darkroom bot image, both in boodtloader and recovery. Then I flash the kernel over it. I even tried to chose the lowest setting.

However, I am still stuck at Google Logo :(.

The ROM that you mentioned is the .img file, right?

---Update----

Somehow I found LineAgeOS via google. I downloaded the zip file from there main site lineageos.org

I put the whole zip file to twrp and install it.

My computer didn't recognize my phone via twrp, so I used adb to sideload the kernel.

Finally, I don't know if the LineAgeOS I install is being modified to used 4 cores?

Do you recommend LineAgeOS? Should I try to re install the boot image from your first post?

Thank you very much !!
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
To answer your question on if the IMG is a ROM, here's a (simplified) android boot crash course.

Android devices start up in this way:

When you press the power button, the bootloader is initialized, the bootloader loads extremely low level drivers, and initializes the kernel.

The kernel loads more drivers, and gets the hardware set up (such as setting CPU voltages and frequencies, etc.).

The kernel then loads the ramdisk, the ramdisk gets everything ready to start android (such as mounting partitions, running init scripts that control how android runs, etc.)

Then the ramdisk loads the ROM, the ROM is similar to an OS on a computer. The ROM is the part of android that you see (e.g. The apps, the user interface, etc.)

The boot.img is called the "kernel", however, this is technically not accurate, as the boot.img includes the actual kernel, the ramdisk, and a configuration file.

When TWRP gives that warning, that means that the system partition is wiped. The system partition is where the majority of the ROM exists.

You can find many ROMs here on XDA developers. Some are packed full of features, and some are very minimal.

LineAgeOS is an example of a ROM, however I believe that LineAgeOS also flashes a custom kernel with it too (which would not be modified to use 4 cores). So you could flash LineAge, but then you would need to flash a modified custom kernel zip over it. The .img file is only meant to be used with stock android, so don't flash the .img, but flash the .zip kernels.

Personally, I've never used LineAgeOS, but I've heard it's good. The fun part about android is trying out different ROMs and seeing what you like.
[Nexus 6P General] McDowski:
I don't have OEM permission, either, and am trying to unlock the phone but the hair dryer trick doesn't seem to be working for me.

When choosing the Recovery mode from bootloader, what is supposed to happen for me to know that the process is working as it did for you? For me, choosing Recovery it goes on to a screen with the Android guy on his back, a red exclamation mark over him, and a text below that says "No Command." After a couple of minutes on that screen, it goes back into the bootloop cycle where the white Google logo is on screen and goes away, then comes back, etc...
[Nexus 6P General] Shaman3k:
Awesome Answer! Thank you very much for the informative reply! I did flash your custom kernel after I flash LineAgeOS.

So far, my phone has't been crash again, but I could access "developer" option. I may have to find another room (OS).If you can recommend one, I will be very appreciate! Also, Twrp want me to update from Playstore. I believe I shouldn't do it because the version on playstore isn't modified.

Thank you very much !!
[Nexus 6P General] romarius21:
boot looping again

Hello,

My Nexus 6P worked perfectly with this workaround until a few days ago. I now have the boot looping issues again (with 4 cores).
[Nexus 6P General] xian2380:
can you please make a 4 core boot.img for pixel dust rom？please
[Nexus 6P General] zain0300:
Electron kernel worked for me better than any others in the past. Unfortunately I can no longer use it with all cores enabled. If you have time and interest can you please work your magic on it? Thanks

https://xdaforums.com/nexus-6p/orig-development/kernel-electron-kernel-angler-t3443431
[Nexus 6P General] Mr. Whiskers:
After trying so many times, I cant managed to get pass the TWRP to show up on my phone or file explorer. When I click on the saved "twrp3_1_1_4cores" file it says "the disc image file is corrupted" so it that the reason why it wont work? I tried other .img files but they all say the same. Also should my USB debugging be on?

My nexus does work but only for an hour before it goes into bootloop.
[Nexus 6P General] deskjet390:
1. First off take a step back and use your resources to learn the partitions of an android phone

2. Then read about the partition layout of the nexus 6p and recognize the valid partitions talked about in the instuctions

3. Learn about fastboot and how it is used to write partition images

4. Do a search on "installing fastboot and adb" so that you can now que up fastboot on your pc whenever necessary from any cmd prompt.

5. Learn how to place your phone into "download mode" or otherwise known as "fastboot mode" or other other wise known as "bootloader mode"

6. learn the correct (and very simple) syntax for writing your relevant selected download choices to your device

Not being an ass.....but put in the time to learn all these things before doing something fast like double clicking a downloaded file and you have no idea what it does. The things you learn will help you for years to come.
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
When it says no command, try holding the power button for about 3 seconds, then click the volume up button.
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Yeah don't update TWRP, as you will have to reflash the modified recovery.

My top 3 ROMs (in no particular order) are Pure Nexus, PA, and Nitrogen. They all have great performance and battery life, and I like the mostly stock experience. OWNrom v4 is also a ROM I like. It's packed full of features, but unfortunately, my battery life and performance wasn't up to par.
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
I'll try it tomorrow, as I'm about to go to sleep. Have you tried flashing one of the modified kernels in the OP over it though?
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Will work on it tomorrow.
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Please read the "What this fix does and how to apply it" section of the OP first. If you have any questions after trying that, I can help.
[Nexus 6P General] fuadhdmini:
Just want to share that I manage to boot Pixel Dust ROM with the modified Elemental X kernel.
[Nexus 6P General] Si73:
Thought I my launch day 6P had escaped the BLOD but it fell victim to it the other day. Thank you for your work as it is now saved! Time to sell it & move on.
[Nexus 6P General] McDowski:
Thanks for the reply. Do I have to hold the power for a few seconds, release, then press volume up? Or hold them both together? I tried both, and the first way didn't seem to do anything, while the second way led to the phone rebooting into the same screen again (i.e. Andoridy on his back and the exclamation mark).
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
Hold power, then after a few seconds, press volume up while holding power.
[Nexus 6P General] fuadhdmini:
Android O official release this 21st August. Hopefully our 4 cores 6p can get a taste of it too.
[Nexus 6P General] XCnathan32:
I hope so too.
[Nexus 6P General] corona_gorda:
Unfortunately, I could not succeed in any of the suggestions: I still don't "see" the zip according to the locations mentioned. I suspect that I may have not managed to "mount" the drive so as to "see" the Zip once transferred because I do get replies such: "cannot mount drive". Could this be a prior step, taken for granted to be completed, when it seems not in my case ? If so, how do I go about it ? Also, sideloading does not work for similar reasons; is there a comprehensive step-by-step guide to sideloading kernel zips somewhere on XDA or elsewhere ?

Thanks,

---------- Post added at 05:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:44 PM ----------

Hi, has anyone worked with recent developer previews of Android O and can give feedback on the "resolution" (hopefully) of the reboot cycling and its variants discussed in this thread ? I wonder if "O" has included corrections to unroot the causes of the erroneous battery readings at around 0% all of a sudden that triggers reboots ?

---------- Post added at 05:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:50 PM ----------

I will monitor this forum thread for a while to see comments of 6P users and the O upgrade before installing mine. I have the 4 Core modified Nougat running but the original 8 core Kernel. Anyway, it always comes out OTA in Canada, about 2 weeks later than the US.
[Nexus 6P General] Mr. Whiskers:
sorry to bother again

okay so finally download TWRP on my nexus and I followed the next step, which is typing "fastboot reboot recovery" some commands come out but my phone stays the same. So I typed "fastboot reboot" and my phones boots TWRP. At this time my phone wont come out on my laptop and also, in my phone its asking me for a password. I pressed cancel and started messing around on my phone, until I managed to download the zip file. After it finish downloading and proceded with the configuration. My phone still stays in TWRP. How can I access my phone?

Sorry for not knowing and for asking a lot of questions.
[Nexus 6P General] Tivaldi:
That's because there is no such command for fastboot. Fastboot doesn't go directly to recovery. You need to make fastboot go to bootloader using

Fastboot reboot bootloader

And then you move to recovery using volume keys.

The list of commands that pop up are an error. That's basically fastboot saying "I don't know what you typed, I only know the following commands".

That is correct. You have to press cancel.

Ideally, when you move to recovery mode, your laptop should automatically recognise the phone (if Google drivers are installed on the laptop), and you can copy paste files directly into "internal storage".

This "internal storage" can be accessed via recovery by going to "install"-> navigate to "/sdcard".

/Sdcard is the place that is the equivalent of "internal storage". Find the zip file and install it. Go back.

After you install the kernel (the zip file), you have to click on reboot -> system.

Asking questions is not wrong :) however, please read all instructions on first post CAREFULLY AND SLOWLY!

If you have never rooted your phone before, or ever tampered with it, you should read Heisenberg's guide on that. Cannot stress this enough. His guide explains in detail all the steps and more, regarding rooting. It's the third stickied thread in the General section, titled "[GUIDE] Unlock/Root/Flash for Nexus 6P".
[Nexus 6P General] corona_gorda:
Hi Tivaldi, with the responses above, you seem to answer an underlying question I had: in order to load a new/modified Kernel, my phone has to be rooted. Can you confirm this ? If not, what is the tool/method to flash a kernel without rooting? The EX Kernel manager app needs root access and is pretty much useless if it is not. Thanks
[Nexus 6P General] fuadhdmini:
Kernel manager app is only required only if you want to further customize/tweak your kernel.

But if you've already flashed the kernel in recovery and set some settings (in the aroma installer), having kernel manager app is optional.

It just that since you've already in recovery mode to flash the EX kernel, it's a good thing to flash root too (be it super su or magisk) but still up to u.

Correct me if I'm wrong, since XCNathan32 already modified the stock boot image to utilize only 4 cores, that means flashing EX kernel is also an optional thing, solve your issue to not bother regarding having root or not.
[Nexus 6P General] Tivaldi:
We don't need the boot.img anymore.

The kernel itself is all we need to stop the bootloop.

As for the original question:

No. Your phone doesn't need root to flash a modified kernel. All it needs is a custom recovery like the modified TWRP from OP.

However, since you have gone so far as to flash a custom recovery, the advantages to just going one more step ahead and flashing a Magisk zip (which will give you the root), are SO many, that you might as well.

One of those advantages is using the Kernel Manager app from the guy who made EX Kernel. That enables you to manage the kernel specifics from the phone. Since it needs access to system files, it needs the root access.

The process or providing root access, if I have understood this myself, is the part where you flash a superuser (like Magisk or SuperSU).

Rooted my nexus 5, 4 years ago. Rooted every phone thereafter.
[Nexus 6P General] fuadhdmini:
If any user wanna go with everything stock, the updated modified boot image will do. That's why the modified boot image is there. Flashing EX kernel is now optional for stock, PA Dev, pure Nexus and Dark ROM since XCNATHAN32 has made modified boot image respectively.

And the universal EX kernel zip, flash and Franco are applicable for other ROMs since we can't expect XCNathan32 to modify boot image for every custom ROM
[Nexus 6P General] newtonfb:
****, my phone started bootlooping yesterday. Whats with the android O release today, how do i flash that and have only 4 cores running?
[Nexus 6P General] SlimSnoopOS:
You don't. You must wait until OP can see if the Android 8.0 stable allows him more access to disable the big cluster. To date, the 8.0 developer previews have not allowed the room to do so.