[Android General] parrots_:
This serves to be a more modern guide of the previous Pixi 3 thread, as it has some errors.

I'm working on an archive for the Pixi ROMs and recoveries. Find it here.

=========================

Rooting

These phones (or atleast mine) came with an unlocked bootloader. Because of this, it's incredibly easy to root them.

Manual Flash

This method generally follows the same method.

I haven't made a backup of the patched boot images from kirito9, so go to his thread to get them. They should be scatter txt files.

1. Turn off your phone, and remove the battery.

2. Connect your phone, and open up SPFT.

3. Load the scatter txt file for root, and flash it. I suggest you put in a custom recovery with it too.

4. Reboot, and you should have root access.

Unverified root methods

If you install a custom recovery without root, you could try an older version of Magisk. I've tried SuperSU on CTRecovery, and it softbricked my phone. I plan on experimenting with this more, but if anyone else would like to help, please do and tell me the results.

Previously Kingoroot / Kingroot did work on these phones. Kingoroot did apparently work, but I haven't thoroughly tested it. Kingroot however, bricked my Pixi 3 4.5. If anyone else has success with it, I might add it.

=========================

Flashing custom ROMs

I have added custom ROMs to the archive. However, it's incomplete, and not all the roms are there.

!!! IF YOUR ROM HAS A KERNEL PATCH, MAKE SURE TO FLASH IT AFTER THE CUSTOM ROM !!

If you don't flash it, you'll have to unbrick it via SPFT.

Installing ROMs

First of all, you'll need a custom recovery.

1. Install the custom ROM onto your device or microSD card.

2. Reboot into recovery

3. Press 'install ZIP', might be different depending on which recovery you're using.

4. Select your ROM, and install it.

5. Wait, and eventually it should be done.

6. Reboot and wait again. You should be in.

Currently, the S6 custom ROM is broken. This is because of an error in the updater script. It automatically reboots when you install it. If you install it, you won't be able to install the kernel patch, and thus get a brick.

I've patched it for the Pixi 3 4.5, so you shouldn't have that issue.

Porting ROMs?

Most, if not all Pixi 3 devices use an MT6572 SoC. There are multiple guides on how to port ROMs. From my experience however, you'll get symlink errors, set_metadata errors, amongst other errors when you try to install your ported ROM.

=========================

Unbricking

Incase you messed something up while flashing a custom ROM, or it won't properly boot, whatever the problem is, this guide should fix it. Most Pixi 3 phones don't have fastboot from what I can tell. Despite no fastboot, this guide should still fix it.

Setup:

1. Remove the back cover, and take out the battery.

2. Plug the phone into the computer. You should be getting detection on the PC.

Unbrick Method 1: Alcatel Mobile Upgrade Tool

This is the easiest way to fix it, but might not work.

The download should be at the bottom. This is the same installation I used, it's pretty old, but it should work. All you need to know is your model number.

Instructions should be displayed while in the app, telling you to take out the battery, plug it in, etc.

If it fails to fix it, move on to the second unbrick method.

Unbrick Method 2: SP Flash Tool

This method is barely any harder, and just requires some extra work.

Firstly, download SP Flash Tool from here. After you've installed it, you should be presented with an image like this:

You shouldn't have anything in the "Scatter-loading File" section, or in the table. Mine just auto-loads the scatter file I use sometimes.

On the drop-down box below the "Scatter-loading File", press "Download Only".

Now, you need to find the firmware. The firmware should contain a TXT file, going like "MT6852_Android_scatter.txt", or similar. Load it in the "Scatter-loading File" section. It should load and fill the table. From there, you can press "Download", and it should begin flashing soon.

After it's finished flashing, take the cable out, and put the battery in.

It'll take quite a bit of time, but it should reboot normally.

=========================

Credits

Kirito9 - Previously made the Pixi 3 thread, got root on the Pixi 3, and ported multiple ROMs

4pda forum- Created multiple ROMs for the Pixi phones, will try to add more specific credits

There's probably many more people uncredited, I'll try to add more