yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
In fastboot mode, type in.....fastboot oem-info....and see if it says critical is unlocked.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] techlogik:
Disregard post. Got TWRP to finally boot and install. For some reason, takes like 4 attemtps of ADB commands for it to work..otherwise adb version message. But fastboot works always.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] EXV:
It didn't even recognize the command! However I tried a different USB port and magically, everything worked. I don't know why or how but why argue haha thanks for responding!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] _Dusty_:
Hi guys quick question.

I rooted/flashed all of my phones but for some reason I'm not really clear on what to do with my Pixel :/

At the moment I am running stock and all I want is magisk so I can use ad block and maybe xposed. Do I need to unlock the critical part for this awell ? Also can I just boot twrp instead of replacing stock recovery and flash magisk for example? If I run stock + magisk and stock recovery can I install ota's or do I have to dirty flash the factory roms ?

I searched through this topic but I didn't really found a clear anwser so thats why I'm asking :3
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] nathanchance:
I would recommended unlocking critical so you can update your bootloader whenever there is a new one.

Yes, you can temporarily boot TWRP to flash Magisk.

You may be able to take OTAs via this method but if it does not work, you'll need to fully unroot, take the OTA, then reroot.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] def-g:
I'm in the same situation. I have TWRP installed and also running your latest kernal. Does that make a difference or will above method still work?

G
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] MikereDD:
I am on stock and do not flash twrp.

I just fastboot boot twrp

Then after it loads flash flash kernel then I flash magisk

As per updating monthly I use the images and remove the "-w" from the flash-all.sh script so it doesn't wipe.

Works like a charm only time it failed an I had to wipe was going from 8.0 to 8.1

You do not have to flash twrp just fastboot boot twrp will be fine.

Just limits you when away from a computer and wanting to flash anything which I am just fine with.

Sent from like the interweb or something or the other...
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] kongpingzi822:
No, I'm using twrp, anyway, it worked finally even I still had no idea how it did.:crying:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Ghisy:
Hey guys,

My Pixel 2 XL will be arriving this week and I want to read more about the whole A/B partitioning. Is there an XDA thread explaining how to deal with it (flashing, TWRP, etc.)? Didn't really find a single thread for it.

Thanks!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/xdaforums.com/pixel-2-xl/help/explain-b-partition-t3716170/amp/

:cool:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Ghisy:
Thanks, I knew about this part though. I was more asking about TWRP, flashing OTAs and such. Does the methodology differ from a Nexus for example? Like does the order of flashing things (ROM/Gapps/kernel/root) matter now?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
It's pretty close to the 6p. Except, magisk is the only root method. No need flash Gapps....yet, since their all included in most all of the roms. Most of us on custom roms don't flash OTA's, we use factory images. The SOP for flashing roms as of now is...

In twrp, factory reset, flash rom, flash twrp installer zip, let it boot up. Then go back into twrp and flash your custom kernel, then magisk for root. :cool:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Ghisy:
Yeah, I think I will stay on stock with Magisk and Xposed (Gravity Box) for now. Unless custom ROMs bring something more. I usually use custom only but I feel like stock rooted with extras should be good on this.

So if I'm using the stock ROM, I can just flash the factory image, flash TWRP installer zip then boot up. And kernel and Magisk separately after the first boot. Although, about the factory image, do I have to use the flash-all.bat (minus the -w) if I want to keep my data (user apps) and userdata (sdcard)? I'm guessing flashing separate .img files is the same thing?

Thanks, that's helpful! And sorry about all the questions, I'm used to flashing things on my 6P but don't wanna screw up my 2 XL haha!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
No trouble man. You've pretty much got it figured out. Just make sure when you get your device, you run BOTH bootloader unlocking commands which are....fastboot flashing unlock...

And...fastboot flashing unlock_critical..

This will allow you update your stock system with the monthly google releases. The pic is how I update every month without wiping data :cool:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Ghisy:
Yeah, I noticed the new fastboot flashing unlock_critical that didn't exist on Nexus phones. I will definitely run both commands!

Thanks again! :good:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] cognitivedissonance:
Hi there, this makes it sound like the Pixel 2 XL can't be downgraded back to a previous version of Android once it is updated. I've been discussing it with another user in this thread https://xdaforums.com/pixel-2-xl/help/downgrade-android-8-1-t3701430/page3 and he believes that downgrading is possible.

Can anyone confirm this information? I'm not referring to the Verizon variant btw - I know that one cannot be unlocked, downgraded, etc.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] nathanchance:
https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=76041703&postcount=1375

I haven't had time to update the OP.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] cognitivedissonance:
Thanks for the response! So, I'm assuming this means that downgrading is actually possible with an unlocked bootloader? I guess perhaps it's not as straight forward as it has been previously based on some of the threads I've encountered where ppl are having issues downgrading.

EDIT: yep, confirmed independently. This thread pretty much covers the conditions necessary to downgrade and the commands to do it. https://xdaforums.com/pixel-2-xl/help/downgrade-8-1-to-8-0-t3726641/page2
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Ghisy:
[MENTION=3730810]Badger50[/MENTION], just wondering if you're using Viper4Android on Taimen? I've seen 2 different ones and I'm confused on how to install them or which one to choose. One is a .zip file to flash in TWRP and the other one an .apk.

--> https://xdaforums.com/apps/magisk/module-viper4android-fx-2-5-0-5-t3577058

--> https://xdaforums.com/android/apps-games/app-viper4android-fx-2-6-0-0-t3774651
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
I use the first one you posted which is the magisk module. I download it, and flash it with twrp.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Ghisy:
Man, I love your replies, crystal clear and straight to the point! Thanks again! :good:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] ecsnead69:
Does SElinux have to be permissive? I installed it that way and it told me I need to install the drivers every time I opened it?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Mine is since I use the digital Dolby zip. You can set it within the V4A app under developer mode. However, with the way ViPER is right now, I'm so lost that I don't know what to tell anyone. All I know is that I'm on the 1.5.5 version, because I upgraded from my old original 2.8 version via magisk module downloads, and it's working fine. Think I just may go back to flip phones! ????
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] rickysidhu_:
I use this version of Viper and it allows for Dolby to work without selinux being permissive!

Just thought I'd mention it in case you wanted to give it a try :)

(I chose the vol up option in the v4a install btw) :)
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Much obliged. However, I'm old..old..old school! If it ain't broke, I'm not gonna try fixing it! Selinux means nothing to me. If hackers want my stuff, come get it. I don't keep much of real value on my phone anyways ???
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] mayorblurps:
Interesting that you do it this way. I have the same Viper version installed but I did it all thru Magisk - installing the module and letting Magisk do the work, which I guess is essentially the same process? I did have to make install an app for Selinux permissive though to get it to work correctly.

I'm still on the March build. Time to update again. Even though I know the process is the same, I always worry when a new TWRP is released that the steps that worked nicely thus far will mess up somehow. But seems to be working fine for all! I do really enjoy the stock ROM w flash's kernel and Magisk root (which I think is the best root method/manager I've ever seen). As a Fi user, not quite ready to flash a custom ROM and have Fi not work for some reason, plus the partitions are confusing to me... So stock rooted it is. And for the 1st time since my Samsung Nexus (I think!) have I actually enjoyed the stock Android Oreo. I still hold out hope for Beans to roll out something for the Pixels though :cool:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
I do many things different from the norm, just ask my family!? As far as stock + root, couldn't agree with you more. I've tried several roms already, and while they're fun, and have some cool stuff, there are a couple of things that stock just does better for my usage. Don't be too worried about updating your system, it's pretty fool proof with the use of fastboot and the flash-all script :good:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Az Biker:
Oh great! There goes honey Badger's head, inflating beyond belief :rolleyes:

Soon, he'll be asking for a raise, a corner office, and a personal Xda assistant :p
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Sold my brother! ?????
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] vibrantliker:
You guys ever see this?

[youtube]4r7wHMg5Yjg[/youtube]
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Oh dude! That made my day! Bwahahahahaha..Hahahahahaha!!! ???

The video is right! Us Honey Badgers don't give a **it ?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] erney1:
You
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] ridobe:
State of the union, I guess.

My taimen comes tomorrow. From what I can tell from reading is that TWRP can decrypt on 8.1 but not on P, correct? I'm planning on flashing P, so with this in mind I'm going to only boot TWRP, not flash. I want to stay fully encrypted. I will just add sideload the kernel and magisk at ROM or kernel updates. Does this sound reasonable?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Yep, you've pretty much got it. You can still flash the twrp installer zip, you just have to have your screen lock security set to wipe or none to be able to use twrp if you want to flash anything :good:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Az Biker:
THIS is where I got the saying "Honey Badger don't care" from.

I know some may not appreciate the language so I modified the saying to be more Xda friendly :D
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Ghisy:
Oh my! Hahaha! But seriously, it's nice to have fellow XDA users being so helpful. It's important to say so.

And if it isn't good ol' Az from the PN thread! Nice to see you here, I'll be on the Pixel 2 XL boat very soon! (sometime this week)
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Oh sweet bruh...AZ and I can help you blow it up! ????
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Ghisy:
Oh my ???

Turns out my phone is arriving tomorrow, woohoo!

But we're OT... Sorry about that!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Pkt_Lnt:
Jus' like ol' honeybadger, nathanchance don't give a ***, long as we are nice in our OT. :good:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] egren58:
How do I return to 100% stock.. root not worth it with all this slot and encrypted twrp imo
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Az Biker:
Flash the latest Google factory image via fastboot (and leave the -w intact) and that will wipe your entire device, but will not lock the bootloader (which I don't think you really care about, as unlocked bootloader won't interfere with running 100% stock.

You'll be 100% stock image, no root, not twrp :D
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] CPngN:
SafetyNet no longer passes since April update.

Help! After the April update for the P2XL, I updated as usual, patched boot, flashed it, and root worked... but I no longer pass SafetyNet. I discovered this when Android Pay refused to work yesterday.

I have since uninstalled, rebooted, installed Manager 5.6.4 and flashed 16.3 (and again with 16.0)... Both fail to pass SafetyNet (both checks). I have turned off Hiding, rebooted, and re-enabled and hid all google related apps/services, and no change. I can't seem to get back to the same working state I had in 8.1 with March update. What am I missing??

Thanks in advance!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] clothednblack:
Patched boot? What did you patch? Mine works and passes, it I never patched anything.

April release

DU 12.1

Flash kernel

Magisk 16.0
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] CPngN:
push boot.img to phone, patch with magisk, pull to computer, fastboot flash boot boot.img

Has worked before until this month.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] clothednblack:
Oh ok, I wasn't aware that was still a thing that needed to be done. I haven't patched that for a couple of month's. Have you tried not doing the patch?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] CPngN:
How else do you get Magisk root to work? I thought the live patching or whatever it's called didn't work on the Pixels..
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] clothednblack:
Use twrp to flash the magisk 16.0 zip, I was on stock 8.1 April and rooted without patching anything.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Pkt_Lnt:
When you flash Magisk from TWRP it patched the boot image. :D Look at your recovery log! :cowboy:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] CPngN:
I don't use TWRP. Have never needed it. Why would this change now? Is it dangerous to go back to, say, Magisk 15.4. I believe that worked fine a few months ago.

adb push boot.img /sdcard/Download/

<patch in the app>

adb pull /sdcard/MagiskManager/patched_boot.img

adb reboot-bootloader

fastboot flash boot patched_boot.img

fastboot reboot-bootloader

reboot

I suppose I can go down the TWRP road again but I'm not clear why adb/fastboot method would stop working.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Pkt_Lnt:
Then what I said above and you quoted does not apply to you. :)

Your method is basically what Magisk does automatically with it's script on install.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] CPngN:
So what the heck could be wrong now? Both ctsProfile and basicIntegrity fail :(

I just boot TWRP and installed TWRP zip, as well as Magisk 16.3 zip. Magisk loads, SafetyNet still fails.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Pkt_Lnt:
I'm not good at that. Look here. Tag [MENTION=4667597]Didgeridoohan[/MENTION] when you see his posts. :good:

https://www.didgeridoohan.com/magisk/MagiskHide

Part of this guide.

https://www.didgeridoohan.com/magisk/HomePage
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] clothednblack:
Right, I was referring to not using the manual way like we use to ?. Thanks to twrp, we have it easy
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] CPngN:
Ah, thank you. I'll check it out, hopefully I can discover something simple to do/undo to get back to Sneakyville. lol

Thanks again.

---------- Post added at 04:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:28 PM ----------

No luck. And now I remember why I gave up on TWRP. I shutdown, held power and down, got the menu, boot recovery... and get a dead Android with "No command". Ugh whyyyyy!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
After you fastbooted twrp, did you then flash the twrp installer zip?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] CPngN:
Wow... I think I got on Google Sht list by trying to use Google Pay at the wrong time. I reflashed stock April update, ran the Magisk app, confirmed Magisk is not installed, and both safetynet checks still fail! What the..

---------- Post added at 04:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:27 PM ----------

Yep.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Hmmmm.....maybe try this.....fastboot boot twrpxxxx.img. Once in twrp, flash the twrp.zip, then the magisk 16.3 zip

You may want to try Flash kernel as well. Which you would flash after the twrp.zip, followed by the magisk.zip.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] CPngN:
That's exactly what I did, minus a new kernel, as I didn't want to complicate things when it's acting so strange as it is.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Your definitely having more difficulties than you should be. The kernel isn't any big deal to flash. However, if that doesn't work, you may have to wipe everything and start clean. I'm assuming all your adb/sdk is up to date as well?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] CPngN:
It was last month, I haven't checked very-recently though. Yeah I just had the hang of all the steps necessary to do this right via a Mac. It's very weird. I've discovered you can't easily go back on Magisk... the install button gets replaced with an Update Magic button and forces you to download the latest first. This is very frustrating!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Mac huh...sorry man, I don't know anything about those, but I think I've read there are certain commands that need a little modification to work properly, which may be what's causing your trouble with fastbooting twrp. Then again, I could be totally wrong. Sorry I can't be of more help :(
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] CPngN:
Nope, already been through that. It's *nix command line stuff on the Mac, and it works quite well. No special drivers needed or anything. ADB and Fastboot themselves work great. But thanks for the assistance. Hopefully someone will come along who has been here and fixed it.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Didgeridoohan:
If both checks fail you still have something on your device that is triggering SafetyNet. Both checks should only fail if you're running Android in an emulator (not applicable), if there are signs of a compromised system (rooting, etc), or signs of other active attacks (Xposed, etc). Source.

You might have to perform a full wipe.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] simplepinoi177:
So just some thoughts [MENTION=4602292]CPngN[/MENTION]...

I bolded & underlined some of your statements in the quotes as I wish to address some things about them...hopefully it'll help some, but you may already know what I'm talking about so, if anything, it'll be a refresher then...

...You were talking before about running the adb/fastboot syntax through Mac. I know I've read in various places here on the P2XL thread trouble about running things through Mac that you need to include in the syntax "./" or something...I imagine that's what you were referring to, but if it isn't, this may be the root of said problems and that should point you to the right direction in getting things proper on a Mac...

the "dead android" with the "no command" is actually normal. That

is

what the stock recovery for Oreo/Pixel 2. When you're at that point, you hold up (i believe, going off of memory, as I use TWRP) and then power (while holding) to get to the menus. I don't know why Google decided on this, as if to hide it...? I mean, if you have gotten that far, why the fake smokescreen? My guess is that it's a weak deterrent...???

Also, you mentioned that you had re-flashed stock images...but you specifically said you re-flashed "stock April update". Now, this is key and maybe nobody here picked up on it, but if you wanted to reset your system/phone totally back to stock, you shouldn't be flashing the "OTA images" because those are updates, where if you wanted a

full

reset, you would want to flash the whole factory images -- not OTA's... If this is all obvious to you, my apologies, just didn't want to "leave any stone un-turned" kinda thing...

But yea, worst comes to worst, you'll have to flash the factory images with "-w" intact/included.

Good luck to ya and hope any of this helps...
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Ghisy:
[MENTION=3730810]Badger50[/MENTION], hi, I need your help please!

I'm getting the "device is corrupt" error screen after flashing TWRP, Magisk and XPosed (it did show up after flashing XPosed). I'm running the latest April update with Flash kernel. Now my phone is stuck in a loop before the Google logo.

I read somewhere I should fastboot the April update to both partitions? Can you explain the process please? Dang Google and their stupid security!

Thanks!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] rickysidhu_:
Flash the vbmeta image in fastboot
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Az Biker:
I'd try to hard reboot your device first if it's stuck at G screen.

As far as flashing the slots A/B, I have never manually selected slots when flashing.

These are the two methods I've used since the beginning:

fastboot factory image (removing the -w)

fastboot into TWRP.img

flash TWRP.zip

cust kernel

magisk.

reboot

even when flashing DU cust Rom (with the above environment)

factory reset

flash DU in twrp

flash twrp.zip

reboot to OS

reboot to twrp

flash cut kernel in twrp

flash magisk in twrp

reboot

No where in any of this have I ever been asked or had to manually select slot a or slot b.

I think your frustration with Google security is misplaced, and you should be frustrated with Xposed, as by your own admission, the problem started after you installed Xposed.

There's a reason that developers won't troubleshoot issues with their Roms if Xposed is installed.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Ghisy:
It actually bootloops and doesn't boot the OS. I can get into TWRP though.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
I'm not an xposed user, therefore, I don't know what the ramifications are if it doesn't install properly. However, after doing some searching and reading, I think [MENTION=4691727]rickysid[/MENTION]u has a good answer for you. Look at what the vbmeta image does :good:

https://android.googlesource.com/platform/external/avb/+/oreo-cts-release/README.md
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Az Biker:
I started reading that and my brain started screaming

View attachment 4473690
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Hahahahahaha....well, you know what they say!????
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Ghisy:
Oh sorry, I thought you had Xposed installed. My bad.

This. I've read the page twice and I don't understand much. I work in IT but I'm no dev. Where do I find this vbmeta image? :confused:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Pull it from the secondary zip in the factory image :good:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Az Biker:
If you're in IT and do get most of this I feel a little bit better.

I'm in IT too, Italian & Tacos... Doesn't help much here though :p
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Badger50:
Italian & Tacos...BWAHAHAHAHAHA...Nice one!.??