[Moto E4 Guides, News, & Discussion] t-timmy:
[Qualcomm]

Hello.

I went through the process of rooting my XT1768. I did it only to be able to use my phone as a hotspot even though my carrier blocked it. The guides I found were very helpful, but there were a few things specific to this model, and to my specific goal of having a hotspot, that I had to figure out on my own. I'm writing this to help anyone else who's trying to do the same as I did.

References:

Main guide: https://xdaforums.com/moto-e4/how-to/moto-e-guide-to-rooting-t3652982

Unlock hotspot guide (do this after the main guide): https://xdaforums.com/moto-e4/how-to/how-to-enable-hotspot-t3654214

So here is what I learned:

Be careful clicking on hyperlinked words in posts. This forum system injects ads into our posts, so it looks like links to additional information. For example, the word "stock" may be hyperlinked and it sends you to buy chicken stock at Walmart (real example that happened to me). If you want to click something, hover over it and look at the bottom of your browser. The ad links are insanely long and start with the same domain name (I forget what it was, something like vlink dot com etc etc). Adblock doesn't block these.

After getting to the bootloader, I was not able to flash TWRP recovery. I got a failed error. I needed to boot from it, not flash it, everytime I wanted to use it: fastboot boot twrp-x-x-x.img

Small thing: the main guide tells to click wipe data, then slide. The TWRP I used (3.2.3-r1) had wipe data, but I had to type "yes", not slide.

The guide tells you to install Magisk ZIP but doesn't tell you where to get it. A simple google will help, but here's the link anyway. https://xdaforums.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445

After wiping data, you can use the ADB tool to send the zips for no-verity and magisk to the device storage so you can install them. You don't have to get an external SD card for that. Just type adb push [localfile] /sdcard . For example: adb push Magisk-v18.zip /sdcard . You will then have the file in the /sdcard folder and you can navigate there in TWRP and install the zip.

If you get red errors in TWRP when trying to do something (wipe, install, etc.), I found that you just need to go back to bootloader and re-boot TWRP and try doing it again.

When the main guide says "set system as R/W", they mean going into Mount in TWRP, removing the tick from "read only system" and picking "system" to mount. Took me a while to realize that.

After installing the no-verity and magisk ZIP, while still in TWRP, you can access a shell prompt using your ADB. You'll need to do that in order to edit your /system/build.prop file. Type adb shell in your PC and hit enter. Make sure you mounted /system as writable (not read only) or else you won't be able to change build.prop.

After you add the line to build.prop, you can make sure it's there by typing cat /system/build.prop . The last line should be the line you added.

After I added that line I booted into my device and installed Terminal Emulator. I installed it through googling Terminal Emulator APK and installing it directly, but you can probably find it in the google Play store. When you open it, it will ask you to allow it SuperUser rights with a countdown timer. If not, it means you didn't install magisk properly, and it's a good idea to start over. When you get SuperUser in Terminal Emulator, type the line and press Enter: settings put global tether_dun_required 0

I don't remember if I rebooted after typing that and before trying to use my hotspot.

If you get a bootloop (just the Motorola and Lenovo logos), go to this other thread which I made: https://xdaforums.com/moto-e4/how-to/advice-xt1768-flashing-stock-motorola-t3879797

Please let me know how it went. Even if it went perfectly, just say that this worked for you, it'll help others dealing with problems.

Good luck!