Pixel 2 possibly bricked after root attempt

[doublejs73]

Hi All,

This is my first time here, I am hoping someone can let me know if I can recover my phone.

I have a pixel 2 and attempted to root it. I followed these instructions:
https://www.androidcentral.com/how-root-google-pixel-2

I got to the last step and flashed patched_boot.img and typed "fastboot reboot" to reboot the phone and it got stuck one the boot screen(white screen with the G in teh middle). It just sat there spinning and would not start. I got it into recovery mode and tried a factory data reset but it says "can't load android system, data may be corrupt..." and keeps sending me to the same screen. I tried the factory data reset a few times and it just keeps asking me to try again or reset again...

I used this file bootloader-walleye-mw8998-002.0059.00 and I was on the latest release of Oreo 8.1.0. When I was researching a fix I read if you flash a lower version than what you are running you will have a problem. Is my pixel 2 dead?

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

Hi there.

Have you unlocked the bootloader?

If so, try flashing a factory image from the link below.
https://developers.google.com/android/images#walleye

Follow the instructions and if all goes well, you should get it working again.

If not, try contacting support. As far as I know, unlike other OEMs (barring some exceptions), your warranty is not void when rooting a Google phone.

 

[Golfdriver97]

You should be able to reflash the stock ROM. I would reboot into the bootloader, you may have to do that manually. Once there, you can reflash the stock ROM.

 

[xocomaox]

Just get the phone into fastboot again and use the flashall.bat provided by Google for your model. It will resolve all (and also wipe your entire phone).

 

[doublejs73]

The flashall.bat worked! Thanks for teh help, what a relief.

 

[Morty2264]

The flashall.bat worked! Thanks for teh help, what a relief.

So glad everything worked out for you!

 

[doublejs73]

The flashall.bat worked! Thanks for the help, what a relief.

 

[GSDer]

If you don't mind us asking, why did you think you needed root access on your phone in the first place?

 

[Ca_lvn]

Good question ^^^ what would you gain???

 

[Golfdriver97]

If you don't mind us asking, why did you think you needed root access on your phone in the first place?

Good question ^^^ what would you gain???

I'm curious as well. Android as a whole has progressed to the point where unless you want to flash a custom kernel or something, root access isn't as much of a necessity as it used to be.

Back in the days of Ginger bread, you practically needed root access to turn off the phone (kidding)... But seriously, a lot of the things we can do now needed root back then. Disabling apps is one.

 

[GSDer]

https://m.androidcentral.com/i-havent-thought-about-rooting-my-android-phone-years
Timely

 

[doublejs73]

I wanted to try and app that copies an NFC key card. Gym card, apartment complex card, etc. The app needs root access...

 

[muzzy996]

While I think its cool that there's root guides on Android Central my advice is to use guides and seek advice from device specific forums at XDA. Threads over there are far more up to date and often the guides are more detailed. This particular one looks good though but again the updating of it would concern me. Sometimes with incremental updates/OTAs things will change and following an old guide can get you into trouble. Plus, there's less judgement over there about rooting

 

[GSDer]

I wanted to try and app that copies an NFC key card. Gym card, apartment complex card, etc. The app needs root access...

Ah, sounds like an interesting idea. Is this the application that you were interested in?
NFC Card Emulator https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yuanwofei.cardemulator
(I'd try it myself just to see if you perhaps missed something during your setup but unfortunately I have the Verizon variant so the Bootloader is locked. You may want to go the route of flashing a custom Recovery so that you don't have to fiddle with modifying the boot image.)