There are many reasons of why you might want to return your HTC One M8 back to out of the box stock state. Some reasons might include if you are trading or selling the device. Another reason is if you need to turn the phone in for warranty situations. Whatever the reason, this post will help you get back to stock.
First of all, this is the Verizon variant I am using so be sure to use files that pertain to your specific device. Remember, you are responsible for your own actions. With that said let’s get going.
Flash the RUU file –
- Run the RUU found Here or HERE
- Place on external sd card (this method should automatically recognize the file, then follow the prompts)
- Boot into bootloader and let it run (power off then hold volume down + power buttons)
- or place in fastboot dir open cmd window > fastboot oem rebootRUU >fastboot flash zip 0P6BIMG.zip
- Reboot
The phone is back to stock now, will be rooted, but that is the last step to remove root.
Relock Bootloader –
Prerequisites
- HTC One M8 with S-OFF. Firewater’s official page to gain it.
- Download and install HTC USB Drivers on your computer. If you have installed HTC Sync, uninstall it temporarily to avoid any problem.
- You must have ADB (Android Debug Bridge) installed and setup on your computer: Refer to this or this guide to setup ADB.
- Enable USB Debugging on your HTC One M8. (Settings > About > Software Info > More > tap Build # several times until you see “You are now a developer” > back to Settings page > Developer Options > Select On > Check on Allow USB Debugging)
Now you’re ready –
- Navigate to the directory where you have setup the Android SDK. Open the folder the platform-tools directory where ADB and Fastboot files are found.
- Press the Shift key and then do a right-click on the mouse at an empty space in the platform-tools folder. Select Open command window here option to launch cmd prompt.
- Connect your phone to the computer using USB cable.
- Double check to make sure the phone is recognized by adb by typing in the command:
adb devices
- If you see the serial number of the device and says attached, you are good to go.
- Type or copy/paste the commands on the cmd line –
adb shell su echo -ne '\x00\x00\x00\x00' | dd of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p2 bs=1 seek=33796 exit exit - You should see the bootloader as LOCKED. To check, reboot your M8 into the Bootloader Mode by using the command:
adb reboot bootloader
Get S-On –
Return to S-ON
- Reboot into bootloader
- Open cmd window in fastboot dir and type or copy/paste –
fastboot oem writesecureflag 3
- Reboot to bootloader and verify S-On
Unroot/ Uninstall SuperSu –
- Go to SuperSu app > Settings > Full unroot option > Reboot
If you are having trouble getting SuperSu to stay off use the Universal Unroot App to remove root.
You should be in fully unrooted, back to stock, relocked bootloader and S-On. My biggest hickup was SuperSu sticking and not being removed. But when I used the Universal Unroot app it worked like a charm.
Source | XDA
Is there a current method for s-off, for the Verizon version with the latest update?
Is there a current method for s-off, for the Verizon version with the latest update?
The firewater link will have updated info. Also the XDA thread will have the same info.
Everything worked except for root removal. Even Universal Unroot isn’t working. Any tips?
Did you try to remove within SuperSu app?
I tried removing with SuperSU, Universal Unroot and manual removal of su files and the superuser app. It kept reinstalling after every reboot, so I took a risk, removed the files manually and accepted the Verizon OTA. As THE STIG experienced, SuperSU app was still present as a system app after the OTA update, even after a full factory reset. I decided to just hide SuperSU in the app drawer since I no longer have root, and everything else is back to stock. I sent it in for warranty work, so I’ll see what happens.
Any update? Did it work? I’m having the same problem – after unrooting using the SuperSU app, and reseting, the SuperSU app is somehow reinstalled every time I boot.
I got a shipping notification from HTC while I was out this weekend, so it appears to have worked. Keep in mind, my warranty work was the one-time free screen replacement through HTC, not my carrier. Hopefully I can work things out once I get it back, in case I need to return it to Verizon in the future.
Final update – My M8 came back repaired from HTC. They factory reset it and SuperSU is still present, but obviously they didn’t check or didn’t care since it was a hardware problem. One thing I didn’t notice until I got it back was an issue with the stock camera app. Only camera and selfie modes are available. Video, Zoe and all other options are nowhere to be found. Could this indicate a problem with the RUU used, or is this the first anyone has heard of this issue?
Nick did you also have the Tampered Banner?
No, now the camera features are there, but GPS doesn’t work at all, and still can’t find a way to remove SuperSU. I normally use the GPS Status and Toolbox app to gain a lock, but it hasn’t worked after many tries and reboots.
I had the exact same problem. What I did, was I did a factory reset after attempting both root removal techniques. Then SU still remained but I powered down and let it sit off for a little while and root disappeared. Tada! Hope it helps!
Actually, after doing a factory reset again, the SuperUser app returned. So I ended up getting S-off again using the firewater method for user that already have root, then I did the uninstall Superuser method used in this guide, then I did the S-On step mentioned in this guide. That has resulted in a completely stock, locked bootloader, S-on, unrooted with no superuser app device! Good luck!
I actually got help from an XDA member that told me this is why it happened. SU needs to be removed before returning to S-On. All is good now and the new OTA fixed my other problems.
Hi, after running command “fastboot oem writesecureflag 3” my htc one m8 got stuck on bootloader screen it keep restarting in bootloader screen cant do recovery or factory restart, help?
Start the process over?
Need to turn phone in for warranty repair, found your link and followed all instructions. Everything worked perfectly until accepting the Verizon Software Update. SuperSU was still present, went back into bootloader and I now have a “Tampered” flag at the top of the screen. Any help here?
Are you rooted? Use root checker to verify? Do you still have custom recovery?
No, after using this method I checked and did not have root access anymore but, after taking the Verizon update, supersu was reinstalled…
Did you try Universal Unroot or uninstall within SuperSu?
Your experience is strange. I don’t see how the SuperSu showed back up after taking an ota.
HTC seems to be pretty good with support if that’s the route you take.
I had to use universal unroot to remove supersu before taking the ota. Then verified with root checker. After all that is when I took the ota.
I’d put good money on if someone else does the same thing, they would be in a similar boat after taking ota which I read updates the bootloader.
I have no idea how SuperSU remained after taking the OTA… That was the first time I saw it… I think I am “screwed”…
I have the same problem, same series of events, the ota caused it to reinstall, and I also now show tampered on the bootloader, did you ever get this resolved? and if so how?
Could it be I needed to uninstall SuperSU prior to going back S-ON?
For me, I can select unroot in the SuperSU app, but everytime I reboot, it is reinstalled, and I can verify that I indeed have root. Basically, I can only temporarily unroot.
Anyway to do this without an Micro SD Card?
Yes, follow the instructions http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-htc-one-m8/development/ruu-m8vzw-4-4-3-s-off-onlynewest-t2873144 but, please note this is for Verizon specific, may need to change a few names of the ZIP before proceeding.
I went ahead and bought a mini sd card and the steps above worked great. To help future people I used this guide to setup adp http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2708571
Thanks a TON for your write up man! Very informative and precise!
Thank you alot 😀
But I still have a question, I live in Germany and I need the write RUU.zip file, is there any problem if I downloaded your file, if not, can you give me a link please? I have s-on and no root
I just want the OTA update again 🙂
Thanks
Is it work with the international version
This worked with a little searching around the internet and other threads about the topic. There wasn’t *quite* enough information to get me through on this article alone. Thank you for your efforts, though.
You need to uninstall supersu within the supersu app right after you flash the 0P6BIMG.zip. That will remove supersu as a system app, then download supersu from the play store. Then run the commands to lock boot loader and turn s on. After that you can uninstall supersu just like any other user app and take otas without getting the tampered flag. I hope this helps people, cause it cost me $25 for sunshine to figure it out
Same thing just happened to me. Should have read the comments before doing this. Just to be sure, you did the “Cleanup for reinstallation from Google Play” option? Doing a trade-in for Nexus 6 tomorrow.
Hey Guys,
I have an HTC one M8 that is running Official Lollipop. But the the bootloader seems to be unlocked and it is still S-On. I am trying to re install the OEM software because I have a very bad and slow connection but I can’t. SuperSU says no binary installed. The root check shows that the phone is rooted. I believe that the previous owner stopped in the middle of the process since the phone is still S-On. Can someone help please? It is the T-Mobile Version and I would like to have it reset correctly. Thank you