[LG K7 Guides, News, & Discussion] ObliviousEnigma:
***MOD EDIT: BE WARNED THAT WHEN PERFORMING THESE INSTRUCTIONS, THAT ALL DATA WILL BE WIPED (FACTORY RESET) FROM THE DEVICE - THIS INCLUDES THE INTERNAL DEVICE STORAGE (INTERNAL SDCARD). YOUR EXTERNAL SD FILES, HOWEVER, ARE SAFE AND WILL NOT BE MODIFIED.***​

Hello.

I will attempt to keep this tutorial as concise as humanly possible, without the expenditure of costly applicably valid information. There are many other persons (whom I do not know) to thank for the majority of this information (from XDA Developers and other sites around the world wide web). Without further adieu: Let's begin!

The base operating system that this tutorial references is a Windows distro (I am operating on: Windows 10 Home OEM).

Target phone specs (http://www.lg.com/us/cell-phones/lg-MS330-White-k7):

Carrier: MetroPCS®

[*]

[*]Make: LG K7 ("HW" or "White")

[*]Model: LG MS330

[*]Build number: LMY47V

[*]Software version: MS33010m

[*]Android version: 5.1.1

[*]Android security patch level: 2017-04-01

[*]Kernel version: 3.10.49
​

Prerequisites:

A USB cable (able to transfer data)

A functional copy of Windows

An internet connection (to download the software tools)

If you opt to not download and install the stock firmware ROM (*.kdz) and LG UP (used for many things):

You are taking a great risk in the event something catastrophic occurs (no backup; Corrupted partition(s); Broken hard-key reset; etc).

The LG UP tool combined with the ROM file enables you to

fully

slate the drive on the phone (effectively restoring it to a manufacturers state; No partitions, no data, nothing!).

It also acts as a major fail-safe as previously iterated.

You can also (if you take the time of day) use it to create your own customized 'factory style' bloatware free, customized filled state *.KDZ ROM! Although TWRP backups should be capable of emulating this type of behavior.

The ROM is ~1GB in file size from the server (capped at ~10MB/s download rate at the time of the writing of this post). Translation: It takes a while (~30min) to download. Fortunately for me: I had it and

had

to use it earlier today (TWRP backup failed).

Software tools (ADB, TWRP, SuperSU, LG UP, ROM):

ADB (Android Debug Bridge): https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools.html

TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) v3.2.1.0: https://twrp.me/lg/lgk7.html

SuperSU (SuperUser) v2.82: http://www.supersu.com/download

LG UP Lab v1.10: https://www.mylgphones.com/download-lg-up-software

Stock ROM (MS33010i -- *.kdz): https://mega.nz/#F!sdwRDLbZ!yPOiRPv5QJS_9I4hzL4ptQ!ddJHSBhR

This will be a step-by-step process; If you skip a step: Make sure you have a

good

reason!

I will be assuming you have followed the links above and both downloaded and installed the appropriate software (ADB, LG UP). Keeping everything organized is key.

For instance: Create a folder on your main drive ("C" drive is common traditionally). Name this folder "Rooty." Create a short-cut of "adb.exe" and place it there. Place the SuperSU *.zip and *.kdz ROM data files in the same directory as well.

Overview of procedures:

Enable "OEM unlock"

Enable "USB debugging"

Unlock OEM bootloader

Install ("flash") TWRP

Using LG UP (after TWRP is either installed or live loaded)

Install SuperSU

Step 1) Enable developer options

Enabling developer options -- Navigate to "Settings," then to "About phone," then to "Software info," then tap on "Build number" until the dialog states: "No need, you are already a developer."

Step 1.1) Enable OEM unlock option

Traverse two levels up; Tick off "Enable OEM unlock"; Scroll down 2 options and tick off "USB debugging."

Step 2) Unlocking the OEM bootloader

Insert your USB cable to connect your desktop/laptop to your cellphone; When the dialog comes up asking for permission to debug: Accept it (OPTIONAL: Tick off the 'always allow this device'). Ensure "Media device (MTP)" option is selected (it will automatically install the drivers from your phone to your computer if enabled).

Step 2.1) Unlocking the OEM bootloader (for the not-so-technically-inclined)

Create a textfile and name it whatever you'd like (I prefer the filename: "OEM_Unlock.bat").

Copy and paste this script and simply place it in the same directory ('folder') as ADB.

REM This will reboot the phone into "bootloader" mode
adb reboot bootloader

REM This will unlock the OEM bootloader (a message will display on the starting logo afterwards)
fastboot oem unlock

REM This is just to verify that it was successfully unlocked ("unlocked: yes")
fastboot getvar unlocked

Alternatively: You can manually input the commands one at a time by typing them yourself or copying and pasting.

Step 3) Installing TWRP

You can just use ADB to directly flash the recovery partition of the ROM on the phone:

fastboot erase recovery
fastboot flash recovery C:/Android/recovery.img

You can also simply 'live boot' into TWRP (less risk of a faulty TWRP):

fastboot boot C:/Android/recovery.img

Now TWRP is installed (unless you simply loaded the image file into the phone's RAM).

Using LG UP to flash the ROM ("WIPE" every partition of the phone with TWRP; EVERYTHING will be lost:

To use LG UP: You only need to power down the phone fully (ensure it is not yet connected to the computer).

Hold the "VOLUME UP" key (do not release); Insert the USB cable. The phone should (within moments) place itself into "DOWNLOAD MODE." At which point LG UP will recognize the phone. There will be two options: "Refurbished" and "Upgrade"; Tick off 'upgrade' every time! Below that is "3 dots" which enables you to navigate (GUI) to the directory of your desired *.tot or *.kdz file. Simply hit "start" and it'll flash the phone (it usually takes ~300s or ~5m).

Step 4) Installing SuperSU

Through TWRP: Click on "Advanced"; Then click on "ADB Sideload"; Tick both the "Wipe Dalvik cache" and "Wipe cache" (these will force all APKs to be reinstalled via root level). Then slide the bar across. Return your attention to Windows.

You can just use ADB to directly sideload SuperSu onto the phone.

adb sideload C:/Android/SuperSU.zip

The final page asks if you would like to install the "official TWRP app" and also if you'd like to install it under "system" privileges (one less than root).

The end! You now have root accessible privileges through the "SuperSu" application (which contains root privilege at this point).

Alternatively to manually inputing everything by hand into ADB: I've whipped up this simple batch script for Windows:

ECHO OFF
CD\
CLS

ECHO Waiting for the device to communicate (ensure you are not in 'recovery,' 'sideload,' or 'bootloader' state)
adb wait-for-device

REM Reboots to the bootloader
adb reboot bootloader

REM Unlocks the OEM bootloader
fastboot oem unlock

REM Quick check to see if it successfully unlocked
fastboot getvar unlocked

REM Flashes (deleting the stock ROM recovery program)
fastboot erase recovery

REM Flashes (copies the TWRP custom recovery program)
fastboot flash recovery C:/Android/recovery.img

REM Loads the TWRP custom recovery program into memory (a "live boot")
fastboot boot C:/Android/recovery.img

REM Pauses execution until the phone boots into "recovery" state
ECHO Wait until the phone enters a "recovery" state...
adb wait-for-recovery

CLS

ECHO Traverse to "Advanced" then to "ADB Sideload"
ECHO Check off clearing both the Dalvik cache and cache
ECHO Press any key *after* you swipe the bar across
ECHO(
PAUSE

REM Copies over the APK to the ROM (security exploit to gain root permissions)
adb sideload C:/Android/SuperSU.zip

adb reboot

How to use the batch script file to root your phone with ADB, TWRP and SuperSU:

Place: SuperSU.zip and TWRP.img in the same directory as the ABD/fastboot executables

Modify the

absolute

paths and file names to your system (EG: "C:/Android/" and "recovery.img")

I hate to post this, but I feel it to be utterly important to express my deepest gratitude to all those who have posted this information that was scattered about the internet. This is my first Android or PHONE for that matter to root! It was quite the under-taking (nearly a 48 hour scourge of research). I've learned quite a bit how the Android OS works internally as a result; as well as the tool-kits that are commonly used in conjunction with modding the Android (out of the scope of this thread).

I hope this very recently updated and compiled information will help ease the suffering of another's entrance into the world of rooting Android phones. I also hope it really deepens the understanding of what they're doing (EG: The commands being utilized with abd and fastboot).

Here is a helpful link in regards to adb/fastboot:

- Quick reference to abd commands (syntax and meaning): https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb.html

- Alternatively: You can use "adb help" to see a print-out of the commands and arguments (same applies to fastboot).

Happy rooting, y'all!