yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Questions and Answers] gizzygone:
As an aside question: If you reflash to somebody else's rom, Is it possible to go back to the factory rom easily???

I'm just a little wary about modifying something to that extent! I don't have the $$$ to replace it if I brick it!
[General Questions and Answers] fatheadpi:
Off the bat, plan on running HardSPL and getting a new ROM. I'd suggest going with the one in my sig. If you start from scratch, you will like the phone a lot more. It is stable and awesome without TouchBlo. It SUCKS with TouchBlo.

Other than that, it's a fingerprint magnet. You can revert to factory SPL and ROM easily.

The Fuze's D-Pad sucks. If you liked to play emulators on your Tilt, you might as well get the Fuse on a second line and keep it around as a Game Boy, or get used to watching movies on your phone instead.
[General Questions and Answers] clitcommander:
This thread has some good, honest feeback: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=446520

Fundamental flaw - TF3D couldn't mask WM's 'touch unfriendliness' heh... WM just depends on the stylus too much to get the job done, in it's current iteration.
[Introductions] wiiix:
Hello everyone am wiix, Am a tech blogger
[Introductions] orb3000:
Hey, welcome to XDA
[Introductions] wiiix:
Thank you
[OnePlus 7T Pro (Regular & McLaren) Q & A] RustyDaggers:
Hi XDA,

I rooted my phone following step by step instructions from this youtube video -

.

enjoyed it for few months, then realised cant use banking apps and i tried playing around with magisk hide and unhide and couldnt get any upi apps to work. Fed up with it, i just let it be.

When time came for OS updates, i just followed this youtube video from same channel -

and my life was fine.

until it wasnt.

one of the updates, i somehow missed or deviated on one of the steps of that second video and somehow lost root is what i feel. but my bootloader is not locked. And my phone is two OS updates behind officially (atleast i have two OTA updates waiting to install on my phone). But i am too scared to do anything lest i loose data or worse brick my phone.

So this has been my state for past four months. I need help and i will ask the intelligent people here to help me guide to what should i do to move ahead from my limbo.

my aim is to

1) check whether my phone is still rooted?

2) update to latest official stable OS thats valid for India region

3) ensure my data is all intact

4) lock the bootloader back (not sure if i still have the original file. but if i followed the first youtube video to T, so i should have it somewhere, but incase i dont have it, i need guidance on what can i do)

5) Check everything is as stock as it should be as if i never rooted and hope phone works with all the data intact.

6) I have lost my data more than 5 times in my life (everytime, i lost two to three years of my memories) and i hope i dont loose it this time around and get my act together and not mess things

So any kind soul who would have the patience to provide me some step by step guides to follow so i can achieve the above?

PS: Also i dont have a laptop currently to attempt stuff like connecting phone to laptop to use adb tools. I have a chromebook at my disposal.

I also just checked with Root Checker if my root is still active. It tells me it's not!,

So I need to fix that first! But how?
[Google Pixel 7] Nateg900t:
My Pixel 3 is having power button/battery-life issues, so I took advantage of the inflated Google trade-in values and pre-ordered the 7 (ugh, hope it goes better than the 6 launch, especially since with my trade-in I'll be stuck if I have issues).

My Pixel and Pixel 3, I unlocked the bootloader and rooted, but with the Pixel 3, seemed like I was spending more and more time trying to read and make sure that I was going to be able to get the updates installed and re-root with Magisk, and still be able to pass SafetyNet and Play store certification with a different kernel, such that I was skipping updates because I just didn't have time.

My main reason for rooting these days was to use AdAway and to freeze apps that I wasn't using regularly (like Uber, Lyft, store apps needed to get coupons but rarely used which I didn't want waking up and siphoning data in the background) with Titanium Backup. And to migrate a few apps and app data using Titanium Backup (though I think most apps/data transferred successfully using the Pixel transfer wizard when I went Pixel->Pixel 3?- can't remember the last time I had to do this, after 3 years on the P3)

When setting up the P7, I'm thinking about not unlocking the bootloader and just trying to use an adblock DNS, but wonder if anyone else is having similar thoughts? Have you been able to backup/restore apps and app data when necessary using ADB or Helium? Do you freeze apps or just uninstall ?

If I have forgotten some other reason why I really needed to be rooted with unlocked BL, do you think I'll be able to take an ADB backup, unlock BL and wipe and restore all apps/data?

Would be interested to know what everyone else is planning on doing...
[Google Pixel 7] Lughnasadh:
The very first thing I will do is unlock the bootloader and root. Not really a hassle for me and I don't use banking apps.
[Google Pixel 7] Nateg900t:
What are your biggest reasons to root? I don't mind just using banking websites, and I suppose I could do check deposits with a different device like an iPad... Back in the day was also using Xprivacy but now there is more control over app permissions too. Just trying to decide if there's still a reason to go through the hassle for my use cases.
[Google Pixel 7] Lughnasadh:
Adaway root version

YouTube & YouTube Music Vanced

Substratum

Repainter

JamesDSP

Pixel Launcher Mod

Shortcutter app

Swift Backup

App Manager

To name a few..
[Google Pixel 7] Nateg900t:
Thanks, from your list Adaway root is the big pull for me.
[Google Pixel 7] bobby janow:
How about a VPN with ad blocking? Kill two birds..Proton is awesome for me. Do a backup, save it then try without root for a bit. You can't stand it then root.
[Google Pixel 7] Nateg900t:
Have thought about that- use a VPN to a VPS when traveling on wifi, and a VPN to access my home network, but don't like the idea of leaving it connected all the time (battery drain, keeping the radios active to keep the connection) or the idea of having to constantly connect/disconnect it when I want to use the phone. And I would have to create new profiles for adblock to use on mobile while maintaining no-adblock for other devices.

That's why DNS or Adaway hosts seems like the best options for me.

I think I might do your idea of starting without and see how it works. Just looking for any reports from others who have been able to successfully fully backup and restore apps/data to unlock the bootloader. If I have to setup everything from scratch, it's a larger barrier to doing the BL unlock later.
[Google Pixel 7] chopt51:
I unlock the bootloader right away so I can use the Android Flash Tool for quick updates via my work computer. I don't like waiting for OTA updates and the optimization process that follows. Root and AdAway is another benefit, also better theme possibilities.
[Google Pixel 7] mruno:
I used to root for the adblocking, but found setting the private dns to dns.adguard.com is just as effective. As for backups, I used Titanium Backup, but have found Google's backup is just as effective. For those apps not installed from the play store, I use swift backup running on top of Shizuku. For ad-free Youtube, you can find a modified youtube (vanced) apk, but as always, modified apks come with risks.
[Google Pixel 7] Nateg900t:
Thanks for sharing your experience! Have been reading more about the private DNS options, just trying to figure out whether connecting to my OpenVPN profiles will override the phone settings and cause me to have to change server config settings in OpenVPN server (seems like OpenVPN will override if doing server push, and the iOS and Android OpenVPN clients don't listen to the pull-filter commands to ignore server config DNS which would be needed to allow non-adguard profile option with a client profile instead of running a second server instance on a different port). I'm probably just going to have to experiment and figure out some combination of settings that allows me to use adguard Private DNS when on mobile/wifi when not using VPN, and also adguard Private DNS when on my own VPN, with the option to use a non-adguard DNS profile if something isn't working/loading and I need to disable the adguard.

Was also reading about using Shizuku and Hail to freeze/disable apps without root, which is my other biggest use-case.

Have a family YoutubeMusic account that costs $2.50/month and includes no-ad Youtube, so thankfully don't have to worry about Youtube ads.
[Google Pixel 7] Nateg900t:
Do you play the game of trying to maintain Gpay compatibility and Play store certification to install Netflix and other apps, or that's just not something that matters for your use case?
[Google Pixel 7] chopt51:
I honestly don't have to worry about those instances. My use might be different than others.
[Google Pixel 7] t-ryder:
I'm thinking about getting a Pixel 7 (non Pro), and if I get one I'll keep the BL locked I guess. Right now I got a Realme GT2 Pro, and it's locked running stock color OS. I got a virtual credit card and various banking apps, so I don't want to mess around anymore. For blocking unwanted stuff I use personalDNSfilter (got that running on my PC and my smartphone and it's great) and adblocking browsers. During the last years I used less custom ROMs and kernels, because I don't need that stuff anymore. It rather annoyed me testing ROMs and getting problems because of root.
[Google Pixel 7] 96carboard:
Immediately unlock the bootloader and leave it unlocked. You can decide to go with root at any time it suits you after that without losing all your data -- can be as simple as fastboot'ing the modified boot image, and as temporary as its gone the next time you reboot.
[Google Pixel 7] bobby janow:
I haven't unlocked for some time and when I did I didn't use GP or my banking apps. Does Pay and all banking apps work with an unlocked bootloader. Perhaps before telling someone to immediately unlock the bootloader you could inform them of the drawbacks as well as the benefits you provided. Maybe suggest a few articles on the security risks of an unlocked bootloader as a start. The person you are quoting has numerous financial apps on the device and is security conscience. Blanket statements of "immediately unlock the bootloader and leave it unlocked" can be shortsighted for some people.
[Google Pixel 7] 96carboard:
Everything will work perfectly with an unlocked bootloader. It will just give you an annoying warning screen briefly when powering on.

If you want to know about security risks, they're fairly small, and ONLY apply if your phone is handled physically by someone untrusted for an extended period of time, in which the only thing they could actually do is install a modified boot image. Under those circumstances, the device security has to be assumed compromised whether the bootloader is unlocked or not.

An unlocked bootloader will NOT allow a 3rd party to access data on the device, since it is encrypted and requires your security code to unlock.

Now, you can actually tell if they've rebooted the device, which they would HAVE to do in order to install a different boot image; the unlock screen (which they are NOT able to modify without resulting in boot failure) will tell you!

And I absolutely disagree that it is shortsighted to advise immediate unlocking. Nothing of real benefit comes from having a locked bootloader. Any sense of security you gain from it is smoke and mirrors. It can only be tampered with if someone has physical access, and if somebody has physical access, it has to be assumed compromised regardless of whether it is unlocked or not. If anything, your security is improved because it is now on your mind that it could potentially be tampered with, and you are reminded of it with the id10t warning every time it reboots.
[Google Pixel 7] bobby janow:
Everything will not work perfectly. Let's be honest here. Look it up, some banking apps work mine doesn't. Pay will work one day and not the next. And if your bank finds out your account was hacked and your phone is unlocked and/or bypasses bank security protocols who will pay for the missing funds when they find out?

A missing device can be booted into a custom recovery and adb commands will be available to take everything on your device bypassing any security you have. With a locked bootloader that is not possible. So if you know your phone can be compromised you feel more secure? That is ludicrous and really doesn't make sense. I mean talk about smoke and mirrors.

Now that being said there are a lot of folks in your camp that say you're living a pipe dream if you think the phone is more easily hacked or info stolen. I understand that argument entirely and it's possibly correct to a certain degree. But to summarily say immediately unlock your bootloader if you don't plan on rooting because.. well just in case, is really disingenuous to a great many individuals. At the very least look up some articles on why to keep your bootloader locked, especially for someone that hasn't done it in some time, if ever. The beauty of Android is the possibility if you so desire. Just be conscience of the advice you give. Many years ago Chainfire said in his blog that if you have an unlocked bootloader and have financial apps on your device you're asking for trouble and you might want to rethink that. (not in so many words) That weekend I locked my bootloader and never looked back. I haven't missed anything.. well other than flashing MVK kernel for my 6a. ;-) But then I'd need root and that brings a host of other issues.
[Google Pixel 7] Nateg900t:
Good points about unlocked BL. Every phone I've had with an unlocked bootloader, I also had root. If I have an unlocked bootloader but run a stock image, I see bobby and 96cardboard are offering different reports of whether that will result in apps like banking apps, Play Store certification, and GPay deciding that they won't allow normal functioning. Anyone else have recent experience on this?

If I can run stock with unlocked bootloader, then I might be more in the camp to have the unlocked BL but not root, at least initially. I like the idea that if somehow an update or some other Android bug borks the OS and/or boot partitions, I could potentially fastboot install a stock copy of the OS and have a chance of recovering my data, whereas with the locked bootloader, it seems the options are limited/none, correct (sorry, haven't had to try and recovery from that situation in the past, so maybe I just don't know/understand the tools available)? I just know from past experience that it seemed like an unlocked bootloader was required and also know that unlocking wipes all data in the process. Not sure if there's a reliable way to get a phone to back up user data to a computer via ADB that can be restored even when the OS isn't working, but also don't have experience trying to use ADB backup with a functioning phone (used to do nandroid backups and they saved my butt a time or two).
[Google Pixel 7] bobby janow:
@Nateg900t You're not going to trash the os with an update. You might with root if you don't know what the new root process is. But why not just make a backup with an app or two and keep it offline. No adb needed. And copy your important pics too. But I do understand what possibilities there are with an unlocked bl.

What I sometimes do is make a full Google backup and an SMS, call log backup. Then I'll flip the OEM switch just in case I need to unlock. I actually have it flipped now because I'm on QPR1 b2. Now that can bork something. If I needed to wipe I could recover about 90+% within about 30 minutes. If you want to bl lock due to some app or something then a full wipe is needed. Oh how I miss nandroid backups.

Keep asking your questions all over and make an informed decision. Enjoy the device it's pretty awesome.
[Google Pixel 7] Nateg900t:
Ahh, good call on flipping the oem unlock switch.

What app are you using to make app backups? Helium? I don't do full Google backup because I don't pay for extra cloud storage. But I was going to try making the full adb backup and seeing if I can use that and restore my old pixel 3 (once it is transfered to the new 7, just before I wipe it for trade in... At that point it won't matter if the restore doesn't work and it will be nice to test and get the experience for backing up the 7 via adb..

For pics, already using an app that uploads pics to my NAS each night overnight.

Going to give private dns via adguard a try instead of adaway and with that and backup/restore capabilities, I think that will cover my root needs these days.
[Google Pixel 7] 96carboard:
You're thinking about hacked non-pixels. None of what you've said applies.
[Google Pixel 7] bobby janow:
Ok, I'll bite. Please support your statement with some verifiable facts and articles. The above is a little short on details.
[Google Pixel 7] 96carboard:
No details are needed, you can look it up yourself. Unlocked bootloader doesn't break anything.
[Google Pixel 7] bobby janow:
None of what you said applies.

@Nateg900t Aren't you glad you asked? So this demonstrates what I said previously that there are 2 schools of thought. If you are security conscience then not only do you not unlock but you don't even flip the OEM switch. If you do and you switch it back it will ask you to reboot to reenable security. If you're not worried about losing your phone or having your information at risk then you can unlock.

I cannot, nor will I, take a stand on whether you should do it or not. That's entirely up to you. If you don't plan on rooting I see no reason for it either way. Updates don't trash your phone in my experience, although it is remotely possible. Back up your device is my suggestion. Sure you'll lose some stuff but not that much and what you do lose you probably didn't need. lol. Anyway, good luck and do some research on your own. There are obviously no clear answers here among the passionate feelings expressed.
[Google Pixel 7] KenNashua:
Thank you for asking this question. I too took advantage of the generous Pixel 3 trade-in and my 7 should be coming today so have been contemplating this question. My Pixel 3 is unrooted -- I at times miss being able to backup & restore with Titanium (though I guess Swift is the new thing). Even being able to fastboot with a rooted image for backups would be nice so the unlocked bootloader might be a good day-1 compromise. I have a pixel 2XL for games & such that is rooted/unlocked so I'll load up my banking apps to see if they work.
[Google Pixel 7] abhi0502:
Well i have rooted every other phone and rooting, installing kernel or roms solve some problem where oem is lazy or will not solve. Previously i was using OnePlus 7 pro with unlocked bootloader initially with Android 9. During Android 10 i prefer to lock bootloader again as during that time i was damm busy and getting time for root and transfer data was not possible. During Android 11 Oneplus had really ****ed up, device was getting hot like frying pan in summer. I really had no choice but to unlock bootloader and installed a stable custom rom(CR Droid) . Everything was perfect. After 9-10 months i thought i willl go to stock again and lock bootloader. But to my surprise cts profile was not getting matched. My phone was constantly recognized as Google pixel 6 pro (no NFC payment and play store dont recognize netfix) . Only safety net fix with Magisk was able to fix it. What really surprise is when i again installed Oxygen OS 10 cts profile was showing match with locked bootloader and with Oxygen OS 11,12 will show CTS profile mismatch. I really don't know what i had done wrong and there is no solution for locked bootloader.

So my suggestion is if anybody really want to unlock bootloader and have magisk prefer with your secondary device.
[Google Pixel 7] SuperUser1010:
What are the alternatives to adaway if you do not root? I cannot imagine the number of ads people who are unrooted see.
[Google Pixel 7] bobby janow:
I use a VPN with ad blocking. Proton VPN. Works great.
[Google Pixel 7] BasedKanye:
You boys play nice, you're both very smart. Entertaining and thorough arguments though. This is why I have two devices, one locked and one unlocked. If you are concerned enough to ask the question, you already know your answer
[Google Pixel 7] BrianRC:
On my Pixel 6 I unlocked the bootloader and rooted on day one, but was frustrated that TWRP was not available yet for Android 12. The problem with rooting is that the monthly security updates are no longer automated and must be done manually. This can be a tricky procedure and if you don’t do it right you can get stuck in a bootloop and have to do a factory reset and start over. Without a proper backup, this can take hours if not days, and this happened to me twice. With TWRP you can easily do full backups (images) of your phone, and do full restores in minutes. So having to factory reset is not a big deal.

Who knows when TWRP will be available for Android 13? So now I am also considering leaving the Pixel 7 locked. I'll be interested in hearing how the adb backup works.
[Google Pixel 7] Nateg900t:
Got my Pixel 7 last night and transferred everything from my Pixel 3. I'm using adguard DNS instead of Adaway now, since I didn't end up unlocking/rooting. ( https://adguard-dns.io/en/public-dns.html )

So far, seems to be doing a pretty good job of blocking most ads, but not 100% of them, which is to be expected.

I also found out that the "OpenVPN for Android" app (instead of OpenVPN Connect) allows you to modify the client profiles with pull-filter DNS parameters to change override the pushed DNS from the server configuration, in case you have your own OpenVPN server and want to have the option of creating profiles which use adguard DNS and another which doesn't, since then you can just connect to the non-filtered profile if something wasn't loading correctly.

I still wish Android had a full encrypted backup/restore to local computer option, (at least the apps/data partitions, even if not the OS). I know that they want everyone to pay the Google One subscription fees, and Apple wants people to pay for iCloud in perpetuity, but at least Apple offers the local option in easy-to-use fashion (theoretically- don't ask me about the time I couldn't restore the wife's iPhone immediately, because her backup was made from the latest iOS, and her new phone shipped with an older version, and it required us to boot and setup her new phone enough to do the latest software update before then trying to restore- not sure why it couldn't just recognize that the backup was a later OS version and offer to install the latest OS before restoring from the computer, but it eventually worked).
[Google Pixel 7] ern88:
I'm keeping my phone vanilla. No rooting and unlocking bootloader for me.
[Google Pixel 7] SuperUser1010:
I might do that for the first year. But once the warranty is gone, I think I may as well unlock bootloader and root.
[Google Pixel 7] thesm4rt1:
AdGuard creates local VPN that blocks ads in pretty much all ads across the device. There are other open source alternatives out there as well. I believe AdAway has a local VPN option in the latest apk but I've never used it so can't vouch
[Google Pixel 7] thesm4rt1:
I rooted and installed a few Magisk modules. Be careful what you install since I bootlooped a few times installing modules that didn't support Pixel 7 / Android 13. Ironically enough the bootloop preventing modules kept bootlooping my phone after about a minute of being rebooted so had to go.
[Google Pixel 7] dmbardal:
Unlocked and rooted mine.

Using a few different Magisk-modules and LSPosed (Xposed).

No issues with any banking-apps, nor Google Play etc.