[Moto Z Guides, News, & Discussion] ethanscooter:
NOTE: I am not responsible for anything that might happen to your device while doing this. (it most likely is not).

EDIT: RE-DOWNGRADING TO 7.1.1 IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS!

I noticed there was no clear tutorial on how to do this yet so I have decided to make a guide explaining how to install the Oreo update on the Moto Z. This should work on most unlocked models (excluding Verizon). I have tried this on my Moto Z RETUS and it is working fine. I believe you should also need an unlocked bootloader, I haven't tested it on a device with a locked bootloader. Please download all the files from the bottom of the post.

Run the following commands with fastboot to install this version of 7.1.1 (download below) (hold power + volume down to get into bootloader mode):

fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
fastboot flash fsg fsg.mbn
fastboot erase modemst1
fastboot erase modemst2
fastboot flash bluetooth BTFM.bin
fastboot flash dsp adspso.bin
fastboot flash logo logo.bin
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.0
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.1
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.2
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.3
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.4
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.5
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.6
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.7
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.8
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.9
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.10
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.11
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.12
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.13
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.14
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.15
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.16
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.17
fastboot flash oem oem.img
fastboot erase cache
fastboot erase userdata
fastboot erase customize
fastboot erase clogo
fastboot reboot

Once the device reboots into 7.1.1, turn the device off, and hold power + volume down to get into the bootloader again, and keep pressing the volume up key until you can select recovery. Press the power button to boot into recovery and once in recovery, keep pressing power and volume up buttons (do not hold them) to access all the options. Once the options appear, use the volume down key to scroll down to "apply update from ADB".

Now, open a new command prompt window, and rename the "Blur_Version.27.11.58.griffin.retail.en.US.zip" file to "ota.zip". Run "adb sideload ota.zip", and it should sideload the oreo update.

Note: If you have any issues sideloading the OTA (example issue: * cannot read 'ota.zip' *) then download this and move the adb.exe and dlls to the same folder as the ota zip. This version of ADB should be able to sideload the zip without the "cannot read ota.zip" issue. In terminal, make sure to run "adb.exe sideload ota.zip" instead of just "adb".

Finally, use the volume keys to scroll down to "Wipe cache" and press the power button. Then scroll up to reboot and hit the power button again and you should be good!

------------------------------

All Downloads:

7.1.1: 7.1.1 Firmware Download

Flashtools zip: Moto Flashtools ADB / Fastboot Download

Oreo update: Download Blur_Version.27.11.58.griffin.retail.en.US.zip (Oreo)

Want to root Oreo? Follow this guide, should work for the normal Moto Z:

https://xdaforums.com/moto-z-play/how-to/guide-how-to-magisk-root-xposed-oreo-8-t3743273