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

• 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

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.

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, therfore 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