LineageOS on Moto X4 (payton)

docs

• https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/payton/install
• https://wiki.lineageos.org/adb_fastboot_guide.html
• https://www.reddit.com/r/LineageOS/comments/82wjpe/how_to_install_los_151_without_twrp/

limitations

• OTA updates (i.e. standard "nightly" updates) cannot be applied via network download but have to be downladed via adb/usb
• NetFlix app cannot be used in LineageOS

prepare

Using MacOS here

• download latest image from https://download.lineage.microg.org/payton/ (allows life without google)
• download latest android platform tools from google https://dl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools-latest-darwin.zip
• install tools to $HOME/ (see https://wiki.lineageos.org/adb_fastboot_guide.html)
• download recovery image (TWRP) from https://dl.twrp.me/payton/ (download .img!)
• download LineageOS su add-on arm64 package (optional) from https://download.lineageos.org/extras

install

• follow instuctions on https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/payton/install

oem unlocking

for oem unlock of payton: use instructions on https://www.getdroidtips.com/unlock-bootloader-moto-x4/

• get unlock key from Motorola - output from "fastboot oem get_unlock_data" cannot be used directly to unlock phone
• make sure to use Chrome-Browser for getting the unlock key at Motorola!!! Otherwise the "get unlock code" button will not be visible.

macantha:~ tim$ fastboot oem unlock
(bootloader) Check 'OEM unlocking' in Android Settings > Developer 
(bootloader) Options
OKAY [  0.001s]
Finished. Total time: 0.001s
macantha:~ tim$ 

• activate oem unlocking in android settings
• execute twice:

fastboot oem unlock xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (20 digits)

• reboot

install via twrp recovery

• NOTE: Monthly security updates may break decryption of /data in TWRP. MTP does not work at this time, but you can use adb to transfer files.
• make sure to install the .img (not the .zip) file of the TWRP recovery image:

fastboot boot twrp-3.2.3-1-payton.img

• wipe
• format data partition to remove encryption
• wipe advanced - system partition
• copy image to sdcard:

adb push lineage-15.1-20181030-nightly-payton-signed.zip /sdcard/

• install image in twrp (select above image)
• Once installation has finished, return to the main menu, tap Reboot, and then System.
• ignore any messages "no os installed"
• IMPORTANT: for this phone do not install any Updates via WiFi as this will hard brick your Moto X4!
• In case you did not read the above - read on in the next section ;-)

restore in case of hard brick

• all attemps so far using twrp have led to hard bricked phone
• symptoms: blank screen, no led, pressing of power button does not seem to do anything (even long pressing of >20 secs)

make fastboot mode work again

all of this needs to be done via Windows PC. (in my case Win10), disabled anti-virus SW

• docs (tried a lot - only this one worked): https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x4/help/hard-bricked-how-enter-emergency-t3757472
• not quite sure if this step is essential:
  • remove all qualcom drivers from windows
  • install old drivers from http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3261089&stc=1&d=1428980071
• downloaded blank flash tool here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wfNOTMquSJFcCjCtaxf1lrSPVABm9XTS/view
• unpack blank flash
• start cmd and connect bricked phone to usb
• execute "blank-flash.bat"
• if this hangs in step "[ 0.001] Detecting device":
  • long-press the power button until blank flash tool disconnects and then start blank flash again

C:\Users\User\Downloads\blankflash>blank-flash.bat

C:\Users\User\Downloads\blankflash>.\qboot.exe blank-flash
Motorola qboot utility version 3.86
[ -0.000] Opening device: \\.\COM3
[  0.001] Detecting device
[  0.004] ...cpu.id  = 172 (0xac)
...
[  4.453] Rebooting to fastboot
[  4.458] Total time: 4.459s

C:\Users\User\Downloads\blankflash>pause
Drücken Sie eine beliebige Taste . . .

C:\Users\User\Downloads\blankflash>

• will come up in fastboot mode.

wipe device

• use twrp as shown above to wipe and format partions then switch to fastboot mode again

re-installing stock oreo image

• doing this on macos 10.13, but should very similarly work on other OSes
• docs: https://www.stechguide.com/stock-firmware-of-moto-x4/
• download stock image XT1900-1_PAYTON_RETAIL_8.0.0_OPW27.57-40_subsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip from https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=673791459329071182 and unpack it, cd to dir
• attempts with standard fastboot fail from step "flash moem NON-FLOS.bin, therefore download osx-fastboot for motorola devices from https://app.box.com/s/f4ia6l8agg53ut4xfuqm
• prepare osx-fastboot for execution:

chmod 755 osx-fastboot 
mv osx-fastboot /Users/tim/bin

• enter fastboot mode on moto x4 and execute the following commands on your mac

osx-fastboot flash partition gpt.bin
osx-fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img
osx-fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
osx-fastboot flash fsg fsg.mbn
osx-fastboot erase modemst1
osx-fastboot erase modemst2 
osx-fastboot flash bluetooth BTFM.bin
osx-fastboot flash dsp dspso.bin
osx-fastboot flash logo logo.bin
osx-fastboot flash boot boot.img
osx-fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.0
osx-fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.1
osx-fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.2
osx-fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.3
osx-fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.4
osx-fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.5
osx-fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.6
osx-fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.7
osx-fastboot flash system_b system_other.img
osx-fastboot flash oem oem.img
osx-fastboot erase carrier
osx-fastboot erase userdata
osx-fastboot erase ddr
osx-fastboot reboot

possible next steps

• continue migration to LineageOS: https://howto.cactus.de/index.php/LineageOS_on_Moto_X4_(payton)#install_via_twrp_recovery
• or leave it at that