NOTICE: This content was originally posted to Google+, then imported here. Some formatting may be lost, links may be dead, and images may be missing.
The new FlashFire update is finally here! This is the first version of FlashFire compatible with Android 6.0, and yes, it does OTAs!
Note that this update focuses mainly on Nexus devices and their capabilities, since most of my other devices aren't up to 6.0 yet.
Nexus OTAs and root
If you are using SuperSU in systemless mode (the default) on Android 6.0, and you haven't modified the kernel, /system or /vendor, just let Android download the update, but instead of clicking install, open FlashFire.
If all goes as planned, FlashFire will detect the OTA, and offer to generate the actions for you. Just hit "Flash" afterwards, take a minute to make an offering to your deity of choice, et voila! Booted and rooted.
I've personally tested this procedure going from the earliest 6.0 version, OTAing in several steps to the very latest update, while keeping root, on the Nexus 5, 5X, 6, 6P, and 9. The Player (because X86) and Pixel C (because ChromeOS leftovers) are currently not supported.
Full firmwares
There have also been significant improvements to flashing full firmware archives (and rooting in the process). Several more archive formats are now supported, as well as several more partitions.
However, please do not flash any of the new BETA Samsung 6.0 firmwares with this yet unless you are expecting to soft-brick and/or lose all your data. They are hard to flash and prone to (soft)bricking even with Odin and need more testing.
Backup/restore
Please note that backup and restore have not been tested as extensively yet on 6.0 as flashing OTAs and firmwares. There haven't been any specific issues with this during testing either, though.
Omni/CM
Many users had trouble flashing Omni, CM, and their derivatives on old FlashFire versions. A number of issues influencing this have been fixed, and I've flashed Omni and CM to several devices without issue. However, you should position a Wipe action before the ZIP flash, and make sure the "Mount /system read/write" option is enabled.
The UI does note both these things, but people rarely read. I don't even know why I'm writing this :)
Future
I expect to release another update rather soon, as there are some more small things I would really like to adjust/fix ASAP. However, today is OTA day, so here we are.
Download
You can follow the link in the box below this post to give Google's awkward beta system a try, and see if you can convince Google Play to give you the download. I have seen this work once, I swear. (Seriously, I do recommend doing this, though it may still be offering you v0.24 for a few hours).
For this once, I've also made the APK available from my own server, though you shouldn't consider this a permalink: https://download.chainfire.eu/898/FlashFire/FlashFire-v0.26-20160202001009.apk
Bugs
There will be many. This is a fairly massive update to a fairly complex tool that runs on a fair number of different firmwares and devices, doing pretty much exclusively things that fall outside of the supported API. Things are going to break, and you get to keep all the pieces.
Discussion
As Google+ comments invariably turn into a beepfest of spam and foreign languages, I mostly ignore them. As usual, the thread on XDA is where it's going on: http://forum.xda-developers.com/general/paid-software/flashfire-t3075433
Changelogs
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(C) 2016
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Archives: TAR: Fix MD5 warning if no MD5 signature found
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Archives: Added option to ignore MD5 mismatch
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Archives: Added support for Huawei Bootloader packed image format
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Archives: Added support for MSM89xx Bootloader packed image format
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Archives: Added support for Motorola Bootloader packed image format
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Updated embedded SuperSU version to v2.67-3
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Root must be SuperSU or (CM SU + Permissive)
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EverRoot: Enable on boot image modification, if currently systemless
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Firmware: Display partitions in the correct order
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UpdateZIP/OTA: Support progress bars
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UpdateZIP/OTA: Fix several issues with flashing Omni/CM
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OTA: Work-around apply_patch freeze
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OTA: Detect downloaded OTA and suggest flashing
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Partitions: Added various partitions
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M: Fix clear cache not working fully
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M: Update partition detection
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M: Toybox compatibility
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M: Fixed native graphics library
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M: Fixed sdcard mounting
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M: Relocate systemless SuperSU during setup
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M: Do not remove boot image backups and su image on wipe
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M: UpdateZIP/OTA: offer to restore boot and recovery image before flash
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L: UpdateZIP/OTA: mount /system, /vendor and /oem as r/o if unmodified
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L: Backups: Use RAW mode for unmodified /system, /vendor and /oem partitions
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Backups: Use RAW mode for partitions where the filesystem cannot be detected
What to expect if I'm on a custom kernel? (EX)
In like Flynn...
Bump ?
(To +Francois Roy) Assuming you didn't modify /system, /vendor, etc, nor mounted it read/write, you can prepend the OTA flash with a restore of the stock boot and recovery image (if you have them specifically backed up, or have the stock firmware stored on your device).
Similarly you can add a backup action to backup the boot and recovery partitions again after the OTA (so you have them handy next time), followed by an update/zip action flashing your custom kernel again.
That's just one way to do it. There are several. It's a powerful tool.
Top notch stuff , as usual
Thanks +Chainfire
So can I backup my boot, twrp, restore stock boot, recovery, ota flash, restore boot, twrp, root, kernel etc?
+Chainfire let's see if I get this right. I'm running systemless on my nexus 5 and 7v2 with stock kernel and rom and /system and /vendor haven't ever been modified and are still ro. In that case flashfire will restore the boot image backup made through superSU, flash the ota, flash SuperSU (which creates a new boot image backup) and done? If that correct? Or am I missing something. Do we need to keep a SuperSU zip on storage?
Y yo que gano me decis que mi dispositivo puede transformarse en un posavasos y gratis
I need a nexus to test this out can some one help
+Cody Fyler you can flash a new stock image without wiping data and just reinstall root
I assume this works for custom recoveries? Thanks!
Phenomenal work, man! Really impressive!!
WOW!!! OTA IS AWESOME FEATURE!!!
Hi
I wonder if it works with moorefield (eg . Asus tablets) devices. But the last time I tried to flash one (ota) it ended up fully bricked, needing factory repair, so I'm a little afraid of trying...
A lifesaver recommend for all super users
Nice!
It works on Lg G4 Marshmallow?
What is m I l f?
+Wim Vandekerckhove exactly
So impossible to use when xposed is installed?
+Jorrit Jongma which part of the question does that refer too? And how does this impact custom recoveries. Does this new approach mean we can now keep a custom recovery instead of fastboot booting or will that still abort an ota? I can take this over to xda if you want for a more detailed answer.
+Arnaud Vanqueleff Unless you have a 'raw' backup of /system around you can restore before the OTA. Of course you can also just download the latest full image from Google's site, and flash that with FlashFire.
+Wim Vandekerckhove The whole part up to "and done" is correct. FlashFire comes with its own copy of SuperSU. In most cases the procedure (restoring SuperSU's backups) will also restore the stock recovery, so you have to reflash your custom one afterwards.
+Chainfire one last question...if i flash full image with flashfire will it factory reset?
+Chainfire well, looks like I have some testing to do :-) and if it works like I expect it to I'll be supporting with picking up pro like a few other apps of u I have done. 1 final question. I saw the the 'backup' action. I'm assuming this will make a full rom backup (depending on partitions selected). Is it possible with this new approach to make a rom backup with FF and then have it apply the ota procedure. If so, what is the procedure I need to do. Thanks for such an amazing new piece of software and excellent work.
Definitely Chainfire is the man of the hour right on time helping all of us get done what we need to get done with Flashfire and I've learned a lot just listening to what you guys have did with Flashfire and have accomplished with this awesome tool for super users so let's support Chainfire peace in kavanaugh out.
Show your appreciation for chainfires awesome genius, awesome tool for flashing when we don't have a recovery, like me, I used it to flash partial firmware and Jasmine rom on my samsung galaxy note 3 so keep it up Chainfire it just gets better peace in kavanaugh out.✊✊✊✊✊✌in.
+Arnaud Vanqueleff not unless you till it to
+Wim Vandekerckhove Just add a backup action and drag it to below/above the update ZIP, depending on the order you want to make things happen. All the actions are performed in the order you see them in the list.
+Chainfire what is the planned date for when we buy this? I always treat your work as pay first because of the quality and features. I also did not realize that Mobile Odin, nor this existed! I'm glad I follow you on Google+. Thank you for your hard work! I usually end up multiple Android revisions behind because of the pain of reinstalling root and losing my data/programs through a full wipe. From what I read, this is a genius program! Great idea!
omg I rooted my phone with kingroot but it didnt have proper binarys so I removed root and installed root with towel root and thanks to ur super user app my binarys were updated thanks
Nice! Thank you! Really cool and useful.
+Chainfire guess now it's up to Google to post mmb29q to find out :-)
Please add support to recovery and boot img flashing
Hi, thanks for the great work but please if you can add in support LG G4 H818P. Good work
+Erik Rye last time I checked that's the factory images not an ota to test with FF
Will it work on the lg g3 running cm 13
Tried doing an OTA update (6.0.1) with FlashFire and it does not work. Using your auto root and on a Nexus 6.
Can i use this rom on note 3 and note 4?
will this work even if I have stock recovery? I noticed I can also use it to flash zips...
Muy bueno
Exelente
Continued here: https://plus.google.com/+Chainfire/posts/Q7YYVPwv8Fx