Can't root Nexus 4 after 4.3 update - tried WugFre?s NRT and N-Cry Toolkit (with TWRP)

[McAnt]

Ok, so here?s the deal. I have an unlocked Nexus 4 with stock ROM. After the 4.3 update I?ve tried to root it, but without any success; I?ve tried WugFre?s Nexus Root Toolkit and the N-Cry Toolkit as well. In both cases, I?ve used SuperSU-v1.51 (and before that, also tried 4.1 and 4.3) and with N-Cry I also used TWRP, and followed instructions outlined on various sites and on YouTube channels. (Yepp, I?m a casual user when it comes to mobiles.) Yet, nothing happens ? or, to be correct, everything seems fine on the screen, the Nexus 4 does what it should, nonetheless no matter how many times I try, it does not flash the SuperSU, and does not root the device. It is very strange indeed, I have nothing installed that would interfere with any of the aforementioned programs and, again, it should be emphasized that everything goes well on the surface as during the process, the mobile shows what it should, reboots when it should, the TWRP works fine, etc, but in the end it does not flash the SuperSU, and remains unrooted. :'(

It is something of a puzzle, and I?m out of ideas: I?ve already checked at least a dozen sites with descriptions and methods how to root the 4.3, hence I?m quite aware that some security features of the new update pose considerable challenge for developers, but I find nothing as regards simply rooting the device.

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[fernandezhjr]

Did you wipe caches and try fixing permissions?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[McAnt]

Yes, I did wipe out caches. As regards fixing permissions, it's a hard nut to crack for somebody with my 'bordering on the ridiculous' knowledge in Android. There are apps that could help but most of those require an already rooted device. The Nexus Root Toolkit in the ?Set/Check File Permissions? menu shows ?0? as a value for all four groups, and no box is ticked?

I forgot to mention that after buying the phone last year I faced no problems whatsoever when rooting it. But now the SuperSU is nowhere to be found on the phone, no matter how many times I try to root it. I'm getting a bit desperate having spent several hours trying to figure out what could be the problem, yet without much success.

 

[fernandezhjr]

Rooting issues are being caused by Google security changes in 4.3. You could try flashing a stock rooted rom. The following is a link to the one I used. It is built from the factory image with SuperSU and Busybox already built into the rom. Nothing else is touched with the rom. It is pure stock. It is v1.45 that is built in and you have the option to flash v1.51 after flashing the rom. My suggestion would be to just install the rom and boot to see if you are successful in retaining root. You could then update SuperSU thru the Play Store. If not successful, you can go back into recovery and try flashing v1.51. This does not flash the new bootloader and radio, but if you are successful keeping root, I will give you the link for flashable zips for those. The rom is available odexed or deodexed. The factory image is odexed. The process to flash involves booting to recovery, performing a factory data reset, flash rom, wipe caches, and then boot.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2010887

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Rizy7]

If you have TWRP the copy the supersu.zip file onto your device. Go into recovery, install and flash the zip.

 

[fernandezhjr]

Also, you can fix permissions in twrp under advanced.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Owen Marshall]

I was having the exact same issues as McAnt. Thanks to everyone involved for posting the questions and the clear and concise explanations/solutions. They really helped!

 

[sordup]

I too have this issue and have tried every technique available that I have found online, including the toolkit and attempting to root manually. I have flashed every version of SuperSU up to the current v.1.55 as is needed to root from stock 4.3. I simply cannot regain root access!
One strange tidbit in my current situation (which is a stock v.4.3 working fine on a Nexus 4 with stock ROM - yet without root) is that I keep getting a OTA "System update" notification wanting to "update" to 4.3 despite the fact that I am already running 4.3 and have been ever since the fist OTA release.
I am quite confounded at this point...

 

[fernandezhjr]

I too have this issue and have tried every technique available that I have found online, including the toolkit and attempting to root manually. I have flashed every version of SuperSU up to the current v.1.55 as is needed to root from stock 4.3. I simply cannot regain root access!
One strange tidbit in my current situation (which is a stock v.4.3 working fine on a Nexus 4 with stock ROM - yet without root) is that I keep getting a OTA "System update" notification wanting to "update" to 4.3 despite the fact that I am already running 4.3 and have been ever since the fist OTA release.
I am quite confounded at this point...

Which recovery are you using? Did you try flashing the rom I linked above? I highly recommend using TWRP. In recovery, factory data reset, flash rom, wipe dalvik cache, flash SuperSU, and then reboot. You are probably getting the ota notification because your current stock rom does not have the current security patch applied.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[anon(301129)]

I too have this issue and have tried every technique available that I have found online, including the toolkit and attempting to root manually. I have flashed every version of SuperSU up to the current v.1.55 as is needed to root from stock 4.3. I simply cannot regain root access!
One strange tidbit in my current situation (which is a stock v.4.3 working fine on a Nexus 4 with stock ROM - yet without root) is that I keep getting a OTA "System update" notification wanting to "update" to 4.3 despite the fact that I am already running 4.3 and have been ever since the fist OTA release.
I am quite confounded at this point...

Let the phone do the update. It updates from version V to version Y. After that the Nexus Toolkit worked just fine for me. I just did mine about an hour ago.

 

[sordup]

I have not flashed a different ROM because I wanted to avoid doing a factory reset since I cannot currently do a backup using Titanium without root. All else in the above 2 suggestions I have done: I have TWRP recovery, I've wiped the cache, flashed SuperSU and responded to the 4.3 "Update" notifications - all several times. Note: my version still shows as JWR66V not "Y" despite these repeated "updates" to 4.3

 

[fernandezhjr]

I have not flashed a different ROM because I wanted to avoid doing a factory reset since I cannot currently do a backup using Titanium without root. All else in the above 2 suggestions I have done: I have TWRP recovery, I've wiped the cache, flashed SuperSU and responded to the 4.3 "Update" notifications - all several times. Note: my version still shows as JWR66V not "Y" despite these repeated "updates" to 4.3

In that case you can do what I did, dirty flash the above rom in the link. You can do this because you are essentially flashing the same build with only a security patch applied. Just skip the factory data rest. Flash the rom, wipe dalvik, flash SuperSU, and reboot. If TWRP offers to fix root, make sure you deny. This actually breaks root because it is wanting to apply an older method that was before the security changes. If this method helps you to maintain root, you would just need to flash the latest radio if you so desire.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[fernandezhjr]

Also, the other suggestion of using Wug's toolkit is a good one. It has been updated and I have been reading of success with it. You will need to connect to PC for it. Wugs's toolkit is what I initially used to root on 4.2.2.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[sordup]

Sorry, but what do you mean by flashing the radio?

 

[fernandezhjr]

Sorry, but what do you mean by flashing the radio?

The bootloader and radio firmware, also referred to as the modem, are not included in the linked rom. Being on the W build, you will already have the latest bootloader. However, the patch that upgrades the software from W build to J build includes new radio firmware that is not flashed with that rom. You would need to download it and flash it in recovery separately. If you decide to go that route, I can supply you with a link to download it.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[sordup]

Would that be a decision I make after flashing this ROM? What does the radio firmware allow me to do?

 

[fernandezhjr]

Yes, after flashing the rom. The firmware is for the radio to function so you will have a signal and a data connection. You really don't have to flash it. Staying with the version you have is fine. In fact, there is a known bug in the latest that is causing some people to briefly lose signal, interfering with and dropping calls. Google is supposed to be addressing this in a future release.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[sordup]

Sorry if I'm being a bit thick here, but: are you saying if I flash to this ROM that you link to and do not flash the radio, I will not have a data connection? This of course is not a route I would want to take.

 

[fernandezhjr]

No, I'm saying you would be fine with the radio you have. If you already flashed 4.3, you already have a newer radio. The security update bumped the radio again. If you want it, it is just a mater of flashing it in recovery.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[fernandezhjr]

Just try Wug's toolkit if you are nervous about flashing yourself. It has been updated and will do everything for you. You just need to setup your PC for it.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4