yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] jessejamesd2i:
How can i downgrade from android 10 to get this to work? there arnt really any guides and i seem to be stuck & confused. I tried flashing havoc os, followed all the steps everything seemed to have flashed okay but after reboot it goes straight to fastboot with an "error boot prepare" message. I appreciate any help!
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] s8m:
This may not be advice you expect to hear in a TWRP thread, but to avoid headaches, I'd recommend not using TWRP for bonito at all and just re-flash a Google factory image, then through stock recovery flash a ROM like Dirty Unicorns or Bliss. It's a different flashing procedure for someone used to TWRP (as I was) but its dead simple and those are the best ROMs at the moment for our device anyway IMO.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] FrankRr:
I searched on the Bliss and DU Websites to find instructions how to flash "through the stock recovery", but found nothing.

Can you share your information about this?
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] s8m:
For DU, first download the latest bootloader, radio, and ROM from their site. Bootloader and radio are under the IMAGES tab, ROM is under the OFFICIAL tab (or WEEKLIES if you're OK with potential bugs). If you are going to use Magisk, grab the boot image (under IMAGES tab) that corresponds to your ROM version -- you'll have to manually patch the boot image with Magisk Manager and then flash it through fastboot.

DU has a support group on Telegram where you can type #flash-radio-bootloader and follow the instructions to update your radio and bootloader first. I tried flashing the ROM without first updating the radio and bootloader and it would not work. You won't need to do that every time you flash though, only once (unless they update the images). Then type #flashing-pixel-du and follow those instructions to flash the ROM.

https://web.telegram.org/#/im?p=@DirtyUnicornsSupport

If you don't have Telegram, here are the latest instructions:

#flash-radio-bootloader

How to update your radio and bootloader on a Pixel

Radio:

fastboot flash --slot all radio radio.img

Bootloader:

fastboot flash --slot all bootloader bootloader.img

Make sure that you reboot to the bootloader after flashing either the radio or the bootloader:

fastboot reboot bootloader

#flashing-pixel-du

Pixel flashing instructions

If this is your first time flashing DU on your Pixel:

Download boot.img and ROM zip from DU server

Reboot into bootloader and flash the boot.img

fastboot flash --slot all boot boot.img

Reboot to recovery

Go to recovery select factory reset

Select Apply update from ADB to flash the zip

adb sideload nameofbuild.zip

Reboot and enjoy

Updating DU for your Pixel

Download ROM zip from DU server

Reboot into recovery and select Apply update from ADB to flash the zip

Reboot system now and enjoy
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] zfk110:
I downloaded stock Pie firmware from Google and after flashing I fastboot boot TWRP.img and then I flashed the Magisk it was working fine, this morning I thought let me flash TWRP.Zip within TWRP which went smooth , but I lost the root, so I went back in TWRP and installed the Magisk, now phone stuck in bootloop. I don't know if there is any Kernel for Pie to fix this issue??
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] DriveEuro:
Anyone attempted TWRP 3.4 that was released 4 days ago?

https://www.xda-developers.com/twrp...s-support-legacy-devices-upgraded-android-10/

Ugh....
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] githyanki:
Since the pixel 3a launched with Android 9, we can hope.

https://dl.twrp.me/bonito/

There's a 3.4 image available......
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] DriveEuro:
Yes, there is an image, but without partition support its useless.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Marky__Mark:
Our device didn't launch with Android 10.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] DriveEuro:
But our device (3a and 3aXL) have the logical partitions that are referred to in the XDA news post. That's the reason we haven't had working TWRP since September or whenever it was last year.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] adm1jtg:
So has anyone tried to load the newest twrp? Either on phone or via fastboot boot command. I would but am on stock and it clearly states i would need custom kernel to run
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Shanks:
I did, I'm on dirty unicorns with velocity kennel and it boot looped but i flashed it with the Franco app, I'll try fastboot later tonight
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] adm1jtg:
Guessing no one has made this work... Or is it more like no one cares?
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] vandyman:
No one cares, most have learned adb and fastboot to take care of most tasks. I use a kernel manager that can flash some mods.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] adm1jtg:
What's the replacement for a twrp aka nandroid full backup... Some elaborate dd command?
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] vandyman:
I have not done a nandroid backup in years. If I have an issue I either flash a boot. img or flash the factory rom without wiping data. Now, I depend on Titanium Backup. So without root things can be a little different.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] adm1jtg:
Assuming i want to root and use titanium or even swift backup i have found it doesn't backup everything. Things like login info for specific apps (dropbox for example) don't get backed up, Ajay since specific things in settings, So it's not the same as a full restore from nandroid where you are exactly where you left off. A titanium restore always requires some additional reconfiguring.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] thatsupnow:
3.4 just came out and it supports Android 10. Has anybody tried it yet??

https://twrp.me/google/googlepixel3axl.html
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] githyanki:
Have you read the last few pages?

Doesn't support dual slot devices properly yet.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] sic0048:
It's not the dual slot that breaks TWRP. Our phones had dual slots even under Android 9 and TWRP worked just fine. The Pixel 3a and 3a XL are also listed as supported on the TWRP website.

The issue is that the disk/file structure is vastly different between Android 9 and Android 10 phones. Originally TWRP only worked with Android 9 and it's disk/file structure. The TWRP team was able to work some magic and now TWRP 3.4 will work with Android 10 as long as the phone itself has the old disk/file structure from Android 9. A phone that was updated from Android 9 to Android 10 via an OTA update should retain the old disk/file structure and TWRP should work.

The "problem" is that only "enthusiasts" like us care about TWRP and it's likely that most enthusiasts have flashed a full factory image at least once since upgrading to Android 10. I am guessing that flashing a factory image changes the disk/file structure to the default Android 10 structure and this is why people cannot get TWRP to work on these phones. However someone that upgraded to Android 10 via the OTA image that hasn't subsequently flashed a full factory image may be able to get TWRP 3.4 to work with our phones.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] 41rw4lk:
I think TWRP just has a hard time fitting in with A/B devices. It's not that TWRP can't handle it or do what it's supposed to, it more that it gets in the way when it comes to updates. The whole purpose of A?B devices is seamless updates where you don't have to hit recovery, it just updates in the background and when it's ready you reboot. If you had TWRP installed on stock and tried to OTA, it would fail during install because tge integrity check would see TWRP and halt. A lot of custom roms have their own recovery to handle seamless updates as well. Not to mention that once the new boot.img is flashed TWRP is gone and you have to reinstall. It's going to have to evolve if it wants to be a mainstay for A/B devices. An example is Lineage OS recovery... I'm not a fan, it's basic. Nothing against Lineage or any devs, just a preference. However their recovery got refined and was made to work with A/B devices and persist after an update.

I think if TWRP were revamped a little and added an updater feature it might be more viable than it is at the moment. I think we all recognize that TWRP is handy, it's just became a hassle to keep on your A/B device.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] adm1jtg:
This is why i asked about the fastboot boot option. Still gives the ability for nandroid backups without the game of having to always re install twrp
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] neshipda:
il'd like to achieve too.... i've made your same steps but can't backup...

please, which partitions did you flag for backup (was data flagged?) and what storage did you place as destination?
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Mikee4fun:
I can't get it to prompt with my pin at all, tried three times. I am on QPP4. I will wait it out until something final comes along. Thank you for your hard work.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] luigi90210:
everything works for me

stock rooted on the june update
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Archangel:
What exactly did you back up as for the different slots such as system, boot, data. I ask because in the last year or so back ups and restores have never worked.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] zurny:
I'm having the same problem, both storages are 0MB. Have you had any luck ?

---------- Post added at 08:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:28 PM ----------

I flashed it again and it's fine now. For some reason it didn't prompt for my pin the 1st time. The second time it did and now the storages are mounted and show the correct sizes.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Dixon Butz:
Can't you just disable the pin first? Temporally.

.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] DriveEuro:
Same here. I ultimately had to wipe data and start from scratch.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] hga89:
A PIN and a pattern(?) is not encryption (although I do not know if DU ROM actually supports encryption).
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Antonyo13:
I backed up the default partitions under backup.

Boot, System, Data

I backed up to internal storage.

In order to restore you have to make sure you flashed the correct system image first then restore your backup of boot, system, and data.

(Unless you were on the same system image, then just flash the backup)

Someone can correct me if i am wrong, just what i did, i do not know if you can backup the others with success?

I believe this TWRP only works on Pie and not Q.

I will mention i am running LineageOS 16.0 GSI and have had no issues at all.

(Been running it for about 2 weeks, i do not use Gapps)

https://xdaforums.com/project-trebl...i-lineageos-16-0-gsi-arm64-ab-how-to-t3908029

https://sourceforge.net/projects/an...9-UNOFFICIAL-treble_arm64_bvN.img.xz/download

---------- Post added at 10:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:09 AM ----------

See the post above this one.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] duh1:
What process did you use to get the GSI working on this device, if you don't mind sharing...
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] neshipda:
my problem was on backup because i tried backupping to internal storage too the 3 default partitions but was hanging at 2%.

i was on du so i tried returning to stock but made no difference, same stucking at 2% (it hanged after the first two files of boot). so i reflashed du again and from then backup is working like a charm

anyway tnx for explanation ;)
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
Before rebooting you have to manually change slots if you flashed a ROM zip. Sorry for the inconvenience. Thought that was intended behavior.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
3.3.1-1: Fixed having to manually change slots before rebooting after flashing a ROM.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] :
First off: thank you for your work - you're awesome for getting a recovery running for our device:good:.

But the 3.3.1-1 release seems like it's missing the boot & vendor partition options for backup. Is this part of the plan?

*I have screenshots but xda won't let me post them because I'm too "new".
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
The fstab was also changed. Forgot I rebased on the release branch. My bad. Just a matter of adding it back to the fstab, will add it back before I head off to bed.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] :
Hey...no worries. I was just trying to provide some helpful feedback.

But SLEEP is way more important than any of this stuff, so go do that.

...& Again - thanks for your work :good:
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
Alright, reuploaded 3.3.1-1 with that oopsie fixed.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Dnorris55:
I'm on QPP4, device says it is encrypted, adb and fastboot work just fine.

I can boot to TWRP, but it doesn't ask for PIN, it does ask if I want /system write-protected.

Doesn't matter what I try, I can't see contents of internal storage.

Tried numerous times... :confused:
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
Q is not supported.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Dnorris55:
Wellllllllllllllll, that explains it! :(
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
3.3.1-2: July blobs are here!
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] duh1:
Is it the case that with every monthly update, a new TWRP build is required to be flashed as well? Does the OTA reinstall the stock recovery?
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
You aren't flashing TWRP. We still don't have a method of going about that yet. Ramdisk is too big. Everytime you enter TWRP its via fastboot boot.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] duh1:
Yep, I meant when the zip becomes available, is that something we are going to have to flash every month with each update? Does the OTA overwrite TWRP with stock?

For the large ramdisk, how do the Pixel 3s handle TWRP installation?
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] jmcandrews83:
I can't get command prompt to flash twrp.img even though it's in the same folder as the one I'm running command prompt in. It says not found I even tried renaming twrp to twrp.img
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
The Pixel 3s don't have this large of a ramdisk. They don't have this issue.

If it ever does come, it's going to be every time you change your boot image.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] sic0048:
What is the exact command you are trying to use?

It should be "fastboot boot twrp.img" - we are not flashing this file at all and if you successfully flash the file you are going to have to reflash the stock boot.img file over it.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] jmcandrews83:
That's what I'm typing fastboot boot twrp.img

I thought that's was what was said to do and why does yours look like fastboot boot twrp.img
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] sic0048:
I put the bold text in to highlight the command, that's all.

Are other fastboot commands working normally? Can you get "fastboot devices" to work?

Did you edit the twrp file on the computer for some reason? Windows is notorious about adding a .txt file type to edited files. It's possible the file was changed to twrp.img.txt in that case.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
Under windows it should be fastboot.exe in cmd or powershell
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] jmcandrews83:
No I tried to flash twrp.img just like it was. The only thing I can think of is that I downloaded the file on my phone then moved it over to the file I was using. All other commands like reboot boot bootloader work fine
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Dnorris55:
What is not found? Fastboot or twrpxxx.img?

Does "Fastboot devices" give the correct info?

Is the phone booted into bootloader mode?

Do you have Windows Explorer set to show file extensions?

Try "fastboot boot twrp" (then press the Tab key to autocomplete the file name)
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] jmcandrews83:
Ok I'll give that a try but it's not finding twrp.img

It says something like not in directory
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] duh1:
So TWRP is too big for the partition size? Is that before repacking or after repacking using magiskboot...
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] duh1:
It's been so long since I've played around with this. The options have changed with TWRP 3.3. Instead of installing using the installer script in the zip file, there's a new option to enable to install directly from a booted copy of TWRP, using Install recovery ramdisk. Has anyone tried to get it to work that way?

As far as the magiskboot parameters, it can't be that different from how they got it to work on the Pixel 3 a few months ago...

I didn't check, is Reboot to EDL mode enabled as well, or is that something that doesn't work on the Pixels?
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] gee one:
That's what I just tried with the binary from the twrp image. I edited my post to include some of the gory details.

It didn't boot on my sargo, but it might be due to verified boot on my custom rom.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] duh1:
What about using the stock boot and kernel images from the original July firmware package and trying to build with those?
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] gee one:
I think that would be a good test. I'll have to try it when I get a moment, but it might be a bit because of the holiday.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] duh1:
No rush, enjoy your holiday...
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] gee one:
I did test this and it seems successful.

I posted in the sargo forum since that's how I roll.

https://xdaforums.com/pixel-3a/development/twrp-3-3-1-pixel-3a-t3943413/post79842080
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Karitoriki:
Any ETA on a permanent version of TWRP for this phone? Flashing outside of recovery works fine for most things, but sometimes having that extra depth of control is necessary.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
Nope, no ETAs on anything. I don't know when I'll find a solution. Until someone can figure out how to shrink TWRP ramdisk by about 3-5MB that is. Any suggestions are welcome, but I haven't found much of anything that would work.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] vandyman:
This is only going to get more harder to install TWRP with the newer phones and newer OS.

Example: Pixel 4 with Android Q.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Sir Penguins:
Forgive me for my ignorance, it's been years since I've worked on Linux kernel stuff, but I'm under the impression that one can compress the initrd with a variety of different compressors.

Is it possible to use something very CPU heavy, like say xz , to squeeze a little more space out of the image?

I believe the Linux kernel supports a large swath of compressors for the initrd (that is what we're talking about right?). Who knows which might do the job, if any.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
I've already fixed the issue for the 3A, by using LZMA. Problem is its not supported on stock without a custom kernel because stock kernel doesn't support LZMA. Both the unofficial build of DU and the official StatiXOS supports LZMA so I released 3.3.1-4 for the 3A. This release allows you to permanently install TWRP. Can only install on a custom ROM with LZMA support though, or a custom kernel with LZMA. Haven't put out a build for the 3A XL yet because no ROMs currently support it. StatiXOS exists for the 3A XL, but seeing as I'm not able to test it myself I haven't released it yet. Someone is supposedly testing it though, so maybe soon. For DU I have commits in their Gerrit awaiting approval, so if that goes through you should be able to install TWRP on DU. Already let the Bootlegger maintainer know, so if he picks the LZMA commits then Bootleggers should be supported as well. Not releasing the build for bonito until at least one ROM supports it though.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] stebomurkn420:
Support added to Bootleggers! Will be uploading new images/zip to their respective threads in the coming hours! Thanks for your work as always [MENTION=7299508]ZVNexus[/MENTION]
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] vandyman:
A lot of people use EX kernel. Maybe something can be done with it.

[emoji102]
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
3.3.1-3: Can now install TWRP to boot image. ADB, MTP, LOGD, Repack Tools and Logcat have all been removed to save the necessary space for this to work. You can grab stuff while in the OS, then flash it in TWRP (Keep in mind I have only tested this on stock as of now, feel free to test it on whatever ROM you use. It should work, but let me know if it doesn't).

3.3.1-4: Changed back to LZMA compression, also added back all the features besides ADB/Logcat. As long as your kernel supports LZMA you will be able to take advantage of installing it permanently without having to worry about space restrictions.

3.3.1-5:

Add persist entry to fstab

* To allow TWRP to store a backup settings file on /persist

and also to be used as QCOM time fix source during early boot.

Revert "Don't include logcat."

Revert "Don't include repack tools."
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] DriveEuro:
Installed 3.3.1-5

Thanks!

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

UPDATE: TWRP 3.3.1-5 won't boot untethered for me. I booted 3.3.1-5.img and then flashed 3.3.1-5.zip. It says it completed both A and B. But now I cannot get into recovery at all. Choosing recovery from fastboot gives me the google logo for a few seconds, then the phone reboots to fastboot, then boots up to unlock screen. I cannot reboot/boot (untethered) into TWRP recovery at all.

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

UPDATE 2: TWRP 3.3.1-3 is working for me now with stock 9.0!

THANKS AGAIN!

_______________________

UPDATE 3: Flashing magisk 19.3 causes the phone to boot to a black screen when attempting to restart in recovery or even when booting the phone. Reflashing stock boot.img fixes it.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
I explained this in another post, but the reason you cannot flash 3.3.1-5 on stock is because the stock kernel does not support LZMA compression. The reason 3.3.1-3 boots on stock is because I removed a ton of features to save the absolute max space I could, and that's why it was able to boot on stock without using LZMA. However, I just BARLEY saved enough space to make this happen, so any changes to the boot image that changed size even a little, (like magisk) would render the phone unable to boot. To get 3.3.1-5 working on stock you need to have a custom kernel with LZMA support.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] kirschdog1:
3.3.1-3 not working on stock

Could not get it to boot on stock july firmware with 3.3.1-3
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] Dixon Butz:
Thanks.
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] ZVNexus:
Unfortunate. I don't support stock
[Google Pixel 3a XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] SurNubs:
juat wanted to let you know the image file and recovery zip stick onto the phone i built aosip for this device and it works like a charm thank you for your hard work as well.