yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] halfbytecode:
Some time ago, I found a commit related to WIP for getting encryption to work on Pixel 6 series, should be similar for Pixel 7 series.

encryption wip · bigbiff/android_device_google_gs101@5ffb8f4

Change-Id: I897a95195a7e046b0876479b90970de4445f904f

github.com

Another commit that could be useful:

gs101: twrpify · bigbiff/android_device_google_gs101@051451f

Change-Id: I6616d9ff6e5023f2e4649363041e132a3ca2f5ad

github.com

It is also worth adding that last I came to know was TWRP developers trying to figure out a way to pack TWRP into vendor_boot for devices with A/B partitions, such as ours. Retaining TWRP across ROM installations/updates is not hard for such devices.

There would a number of use cases for TWRP, and other custom recoveries. Once they are here, they will make everybody's life easier.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Yeah good. When I am done with my Orangefox build recovery it will be a vendor_boot recovery file.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] jake.99x3:
Let me know if you need anything/a tester to get this working on the 7 pro once it's working on your 7a. I figure it wouldn't be to different from the 7a and I would be all over that lol. My device is rooted/unlocked
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] halfbytecode:
It would be great if we can come up with a flashable zip or an installer app that extracts the existing vendor_boot on the device and replaces the recovery contained in it with a custom recovery and then flashes the resulting vendor_boot, since vendor_boot seems to contain more than just the recovery.

Back during ClockwordMod days, similar was done through the CWM recovery installer app, if I can recall correctly, for devices that included recovery in the kernel image itself.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Correct. Yes will do.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
+1
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
OK Orangefox build for Lynx/Pixel 7a done. Lets see if that boots up. :)
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] jake.99x3:
Having custom recovery and one that is persistent will make this phone absolutely perfect to me. Eagerly watching lol
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Yeah I need to rebuilt and fix some small Kernel things.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Albirew:
Actually, i'm also fine with a non-persistent version that would need to `fastboot boot custom-recovery.img` each time i wanna use.

As long as i can do nand backups & restore, and maybe install some zip in system...
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Fastboot boot a recovery will not work with vendor_boot recoveries.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Albirew:
will still boot external file without installing it, no?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
No afaik that does not work when the phone uses vendor_boot
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Dave_247:
I have the Pro version so I can't be much help, but don't forget there is the Pixel 7a forum you can make a topic in to gather more interest/support for your work. I get if you're wanting to wait until you have a solid build before making a topic though.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Bryanx86:
Have any previous pixel devices not had unlocked bootloaders and fastboot support?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] jake.99x3:
They have. I'm not sure why this member thinks it would be useless. Full device backups, being able to flash without a computer would be hugely beneficial
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] chrisz5z:
Would also be nice to flash Magisk from recovery.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
exactly. :)
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
OK new Orangefox build done successfully.

Will flash and check if that works and boots up later. Just waiting for custom ROM build to complete which I will flash then. :)

EDIT: OK that needs some more checks and adjustments as it seems. It was not booting up. Will check some logs later to see whats going on and try to fix that.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Soon I get it working I hope. Its not really flashing yet by some reason. Just booting back to my ROM recovery instead Orangefox so something is not correct yet. Have to check again.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
Looks like we are a hair string away from a recovery. Very promising. Thank you so much for your efforts and, I know that you will succeed in getting it fully operational.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Yeah I hope so as well. Will check the logs and try to find out why it is not flashing correctly. Hope to get that fixed and working soon. :)
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] chrisz5z:
instead of sideloading, have you tried flashing vendor_boot from fastboot?

Anytime I've flashed one of the mulitple Lineage based recoveries it's always been flashed from fastboot.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Yes and then phone as not booting at all. So something is not correct yet. Hope I will figure that out and can fix that.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Pfeffernuss:
Can't wait to be properly able to tinker with this device without having to resort to going back from scratch after a reset every time.

Nothing as great as booting to recovery, selecting restore Nandroid, waiting ten, fifteen minutes, and be back to where you were.

I pledge to pay you $25 when you succeed making a custom recovery with functioning backup/restore :)
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] fergalc:
+2
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] swieder711:
I will pay a reward too!
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Rebuilding now.......I guess I found the issue, or at least one issue.

Also enabled debug log mode in Orangefox now so that it will log more info for debugging.

Lets see....

EDIT: No luck to get it to boot yet. I have tried a lof of different things and rebuilt Orangefox like 20 times and test things out but it is always just hanging at the Google logo after flashing it.

Also on the Pixel 7 series which is launched with Android 13 we need to wait for updated sources for Android 13 for TWRP/Orangefox. Those are still Android 12.1 based so that can not decrypt data on all phones which are launched with Android 13 like the Pixel 7 series.

So even if I will get Orangefox to boot now it can not decrypt data then since for that the source needs to be updated to Android 13 our phones are too new for the 12.1 source tree which is used now when building TWRP/Orangefox.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Pfeffernuss:
Patience is not one of my virtues:)

But, trying to remain calm and hopeful :whistle:
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] jake.99x3:
Do we know what the status of OrangeFox team is? Curious of what are the odds that they update the source to Android 13 fixing the issues with decrypting data... Wondering if there are any recoveries that hsve their source update to support android 13 or 14
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Orangefox uses the TWRP sources for these things so those are still on Android 12.1 base.

I read some post of a TWRP dev some months ago that there was no one really working on an updated TWRP 13 source right now so I dont know if that ever gets more updated now.

It works fine for older phones which were launched with Android 12 and earlier to decrypt data on a Android 12 and 13 Version since those works fine with the Android 12.1 base of the recovery.

No there is no reccovery out there now which can decrypt data on phones which are launched with Android 13. Those will need updated sources for Android 13 so I assume that even Android 14 decryption will not work with any recovery as I think quite a lot things are getting updated with Android 14 encryption and needs adjustments etc for the recoveries.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Pfeffernuss:
Is that because it's too difficult (now) or can't people be bothered with TWRP?

Find it really amazing that it's not as popular as before, unless it's really hard to accomplish of course.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
There are a few people who were highly talented and, have contributed alot to Xda that have stated that they are no longer rooting their phones. I started hearing these reports a few years ago. j/s.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Pfeffernuss:
That really is a shame. It's the single most thing I dislike about this phone as compared to my previous OP 7Pro.

Except for the camera I find the whole "improvement" not great anyway, actually it's the opposite often. Wanted to try something new but it's the least fun of any new phone, yet.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] bobnot:
It's hard to accomplish now even lineage gave up on doing anything with a custom recovery

Thanks Google and your closed source encryption and weird way of doing things. Fastboot will be next........
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
I believe that their goal is to completely lock all phones down like apple did.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] bobnot:
And Verizon.....

Well time to import Huawei devices then 😂
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
*Edit
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Lughnasadh:
That's for the original Pixel, not the Pixel 7 Pro.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
I realized that after I posted. That's why I deleted the post. I almost got excited until I realized it wasn't for the 7pro.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] DroidRommer:
I would even be okay with it if we had to sideload commands to make and restore backups lol. I just want a true nandroid backup like the good ole days. It was so quick and easy. The process of restoring the system and then the apps and data is just so drug out. Lately restoring with Google has been kind of buggy too. Maybe I'm overthinking it here but wouldn't a company like Google see the potential of a recovery like twrp. I mean they could design their own, charge you a couple of bucks to get the full functionality of the recovery and most people would probably pay for the "pro" version and everyone would win lol. We could then make backups, save them to a pc or Google drive and they could still have the firmwares/full OTAs available on their site in the case of malfunction or if a backup got lost and a full factory reset was necessary. Having said all this I honestly know nothing about the complexity of designing a recovery.Sorry for the rant lol
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
Don't be sorry, I completely agree with you. I'm sure others do too.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Vincent_40:
Goggle will never do a custom recovery because first, it degrades the security of Android for them.

But I hope a developer will manage to make a TWRP work for the last Pixels series
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
The thing is that the current source of TWRP and Orangefox is still based on Android 12.1 so even whgen trying that now it will never fully work now on any phones which came with Android 13 at release.

There seems to be a lot of things in the recovery source which needs to be adjusted for Android 13 and I guess there is only one TWRP dev working with that and also not really priotitizing that now.

So I am not sure if we ever get a updated recovery source for Android 13 and later, and when it sounds like it is really much job and will take several month to implement all the needed changes.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Vincent_40:
And we must not forget that we will go to A14 within 1 month or so. it will be an additional delay
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] jake.99x3:
I am curious as to how the lineageOS recovery works/gets around the need for decryption. If it had the option for backups it would be perfect haha
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
Swift backup seems like our only option in terms of backing up from device only.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] bobnot:
Everything is side loaded or from a external thumb drive. Lineage gave up on getting decryption to work.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] halfbytecode:
OnePlus 11 just got a TWRP, seemingly with working decryption support. The source code also seems available. Maybe it can help us as well, since OnePlus 11 also launched with Android 13.

Moreover, if TWRP would be easier to work on, that would be good for our devices too.

OnePlus 11 TWRP thread:

https://xdaforums.com/t/recovery-12-unofficial-teamwin-recovery-project.4625181/
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Yea that good to know. No if the device tree is good and works it almost makes no real difference it TWRP or Oranfgefox recovery is built.

But I assume that it is more difficult now to get this to work on newer Pixel devices with Tensor Chip than for Oneplus devices with Qualcomm Chip, but I will resync my Pixel 7a device tree, adjust it and built again with latest Orangefox source. I mean it should be possible in some way to at least get Orangefox to boot, I guess more that the data decryption part will be more difficult now on Pixel devices with that A12.1 device tree for recovery.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] halfbytecode:
It would be great if decryption could also work on Pixel devices, considering the Android 12 device tree for the recovery was used even for TWRP for OnePlus 11.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
I am not sure if that is possible. It seems to be much more complicated to get that working on current Pixel devices with Tensor Chip as it is for Qualcomm devices.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Locoman_:
I loved TWRP. Flashing new ROMs often and having (current) backups with everything setup as I'd like was great. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that something similar comes along some day.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] simplepinoi177:
I've been in a discussion about having backups like nandroid backups (quoted below). I haven't had a chance to try it out, but it looks promising (albeit I am a bit hesitant as everything about it seems rather newly developed...). But I've really relied on TWRP nandroid backups in the past -- and it's rescued me a number of times; and was such a sigh of relief when absolutely no settings were changed -- so I would really like for this to work (and/or a custom recovery to be developed on the Pixel 7, of course). The below may not deal/handle custom ROMs (as TWRP does), but it addresses the backup (nandroid-like) at least...
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] jake.99x3:
The last Android I had was the Galaxy S4 before switching to iPhone and then back to this pixel 7 pro. I had gotten tired of the cat and mouse game with jailbreaks and was certain Googles devices would have no such thing; custom recovery etc. I was shocked when I first picked the 7 pro up in November there was no such thing. The moto edge+ 2023 seems interesting
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] bobnot:
Any device that shipped with anything newer then Android 12 won't have a custom recovery with decryption. It's the android 13 code and decryption that broke all the things.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
There is a working TWRP with decryption for the Oneplus 11 (which got launched with Android 13) but such things are easier for Qualcomm devices.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] xdrc45:
I have faith.... You can do it @Wishmasterflo 👍✌️
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Hmmm lets see. Its all a bit more special for the new Pixel devices to get that working as it seems but I will try again. At least trying to get Orangefox to boot first in some way.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
OK I did a new Orangefox build now for Pixel 7a but can not test if it boots/works now as I am on locked bootloader etc now. :sneaky:

Here, test on own risk on Pixel 7a if someone want to try. :eek:
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] jake.99x3:
Perhaps we should make a post on the 7a forum. I'm sure someone out there with the 7a is also dying for a custom recovery xD
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] ghost9640:
Blasphemy 🤣
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Pete02:
Hey all.. I don't really get much time doing these things but I've got a P7a that I'd be willing to experiment with. A14 totally messed up my P7a and I had to flash it back to stock via Google but I'm using my P3 rooted happily for now. I'd be fine with testing builds on the P7a when I have the chance. Are you still testing a recovery for this?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] jake.99x3:
There isn't much activity as far as a custom recovery goes. I believe it's because we don't have the source but I'm not sure of what/what it would take.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] simplepinoi177:
If you read Post #112 to Post #120 of this exact thread, you'll find that it seems to have something to do with encryption for A13 and A14...

@Pete02 , It seems that Wishmasterflo might be able to get you a test build, maybe (as he indicated in the quote below)...
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Hello!

Data decryption on a custom Recovery for the Pixel 6/7 series will not work and I assume never will be, due to all the security that the Tensor Chips have built in.

I did built a Orangefox recovery for the Pixel 7a where I disabled decryption (as that will not work anyway) but by some reason I still had no luck in getting that to boot up. I also tried to built it with different Kernels etc but no luck in booting it up yet.

Right now I have actually no idea why it is not booting.

Everything I tried where I thought that it would fix that boot issue did not solve it. Hmmm..... :cautious:
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] HippoMan:
Recovery is indeed needed for those of us who want nandroid backup/restore.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] JohnTheFarm3r:
Unlocked bootloader and "fastboot" support have nothing to do with why a custom recovery would be useful.

If it's useless for you, you don't use it. But just because you don't find a use for it, doesn't mean no one else does.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
I think that our best hope of getting a twrp recovery would be from fellow member deepongi. He built one (fully working) for the one plus 8 when no one else could. I strongly believe that if he were asked to help out and, was provided a 7pro this can be achieved. I participated greatly in getting his oneplus 8 fixed and, days later he had a working twrp for oneplus 8. Just saying, this may be an option.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] jake.99x3:
We need to get a GoFundMe going for a pixel 7 pro for this guy 😂😂
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] simplepinoi177:
That's exactly the purpose of "bounty threads" (with certain conditions, mind you) that have been made here on XDA in the past -- to raise funds to purchase a device for a developer to work on a significant developmental feat...

Had to learn about them when becoming a mod....

Just saying/informing, in case you guys were serious about wanting it and believing he'd do it and wanted to start one....
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] halfbytecode:
TWRP seems to have added support for vendor_boot and recovery_ab devices.

https://gerrit.twrp.me/c/android_bootable_recovery/+/7117

Hopefully, TWRP can now boot on our devices.

@Wishmasterflo
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
I can try but not sure if that will boot now. Our Pixel devices are using Boot Header V4.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] halfbytecode:
There is some code related to Boot Header v4 present as well in this commit apparently. Hopefully, that makes it work for our devices.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] ryanbarillos:
Just posting a quick bump to know if there had been any more progress on this front. (Perhaps a successful TWRP for this Pixel 7 Pro can trickle down to the regular Pixel 7 too, when that happens.)
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Zooandbio4me:
If there is a bounty, or any works in the progress,I would love to help!!
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Zooandbio4me:
sooooo... no love I assume?? wishful thinking I suppose!!

Sent from Pixel 7 Pro using ReLabs
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] ryanbarillos:
@Wishmasterflo ?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
I have not really tried again there anything recently.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Locoman_:
This would be fantastic, but sounds like it ain't going to happen -
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] rchris494:
well you can get a cheap unlocked 7 pro off swappa for about 320.

@Captain_Throwback helped a guy get a kind of working twrp for the pixel 5a. he use to build them all the time on HTC, but now doesnt do them unless he has a phone to work with. he would probably be the best person to talk to about trying to get a working twrp for the pixel 7 pro or if it is even possible. also being a twrp developer. im sure he would have the best information on it.

coming from HTC to pixel. i still can't believe how buggy the stock pixel rom is. 5a was horrible. 7 pro is only a tiny bit better. 3 button gestures at the bottom work about 1/2 the time. you would think in the past 4 android version they could get a working rom, but i am not holding my breath. now i see why HTC sold their crap line of phones to google.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Locoman_:
A guy helping a guy 'kind of' get a working twrp on an older model phone with an older version of android doesn't sound hopeful. If he or others had a current twrp working, they'd make money and/or be very well known. There would def be more custom roms as you could change back to your exact previous setup if you wished. People want it, talented minds would create it, if this could be a thing. I'm really hopeful you will prove me wrong, thanks.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Yeah for Pixel 5 I guess it might be more easy but with Pixel 6 and Pixzel 7 and onwards which are using the Google Tensor Chips, it is more difficult to just get TWRP or Orangefox to even boot up as it seems, and also if it would I assume that it is almost impossible to get data decryption working on a custom recovery on the Pixel devices with Google Tensor.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] rchris494:
the only reason why i said kind of is because he built it for 11 and 12 was pushed right after. then he moved on to helping teamwin and left the twrp hanging out to dry on XDA
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
We have progress here now. I build an updated Orangefox recovery for Pixel 7a and it is booting up. Just touch screen is not working but I am on it and try to get that fixed.

DOWNLOAD
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
This is definitely good news.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Yes now there is much more hope for all this.

I have build an Updated Orangefox Recovery for the Pixel 7a which is actually booting up now.

I have disabled decryption so it will not try to decrypt data now (I dont even think that will work, but I can enable it later when I got everything else fixed).

Right now it seems that touch is not working (that might hopefully be an easy fix for me), but otherwise I just heard from another Telegram member who is building ROMs for the Pixel 7 series, that he had the same issue in the ROMs recovery, that touch was not working.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
OK I have built and uploaded a new Orangefox Version now.

Can someone check if Touch screen is working now in Orangefox.

DOWNLOAD
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
I will be happy to test for the 7pro if that becomes available.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
OK got it.

Guess I will first try to fix most issues on the Pixeol 7a and then when I know what exactly is needed to get everything fixed I will build Orangefox for Pixell 7 and Pixel 7 Pro as well.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] sawdoctor:
Any chance of the pixel fold as well? Same hardware (more or less) so hopefully shouldn't be too difficult to add
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Zooandbio4me:
Word homie, definitely willing to test as well!!!
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] VerticalCobra:
Can do on Pixel 7 Pro
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
Yes will do for Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 pro as well as soon as I have fixed everything on Pixel 7a.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Locoman_:
I hope this goes well. Good luck!!
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
OK new Version is uploaded now.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] scorpio76r:
Just curious, have you been able to backup and restore on your own device with this version?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
No, I have disabled to try to decrypt data for now. First I want to get everything else working. Then I will check what happens if I enable decryption in Orangefox.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] victor20010:
on pixel 7 panther works ro2rw to decrypt
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] BotAdhd:
Hey this looks great bro super proud of you. Your doing gods work

I have a google pixel 6 pro will it work on this phone ?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wishmasterflo:
The Version I build is only for Pixel 7a now, so for Pixel 7 series it can be quite easily be adjusted for.

Sure it is possible to build it for Pixel 6 series as well, but first I need to get it working on Pixel 7 series.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] BotAdhd:
awesome i wish you the most success my friend. ill check back in to see your inevitable conquering of this project
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Zooandbio4me:
Hey man you're a rockstar, I'm sure I alone have over iterated, but I'm super down to test anything you need on a p7 pro!!! Thanks so much my guy!