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Create Flashable Zip From CWM/TWRP

Backup
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Oct 16, 2014

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Android users who want to have a little adventure use many

mods and frequently change ROMs to make their devices
brand new everyday. But you might never know when your
device might get into a boot loop after installing a Mod or in
the worst case it might get bricked and you need to restore
the device. So its always advisable to take Nandroid backup
of your device whenever possible, so that you can restore
your device whenever you face a little ill fate. If you dont
know how to take a nandroid backup, follow our guide from
the below link.

Restore Moto X Play to

Stock Lollipop Firmware

Fast Recovery & Backup

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But what if you have an old CWM nandroid backup of your

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device but youve moved to TWRP recently.(or Vice Versa)

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We know how frustrating it would be, but dont lose your

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nandroid backup into a flashable Zip so that you can flash it

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using any custom recovery. Once you got a Zip file, you can

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either transfer it to the SDcard on your bricked device or if

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your device doesnt sport an external SDcard, then you can

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sideload it using the ADB tool.

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So lets begin our little tutorial on creating flashable Zip files

from CWM and TWRP backups.

on Android Lollipop

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Create Flashable Zipfrom CWM/TWRP

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Create Flashable Zipfrom CWM/TWRP

Backup
The method for creating flashable Zip from CWM and TWRP

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backups are different as both the recoveries use different

techniques to backup the device.

For CWM Backup

1. Transfer the CWM backup from Phone to PC.
2. Extract system.ext4.tar file with any of the archive apps
like Winrar or 7zip, you will get the system folder of your
device containing all the files.
3. Gather the boot.img from the CWM backup.
4. Now collect a META-INF folder from any custom
ROM which is made for your device. Make sure you get
the correct Meta-Inf folder, else the Zip wont work and
might worsen the condition of your device.
5. Select the META-INF, System folders and the boot.img and
right click your mouse and select add to Archive.
6. In the Archive settings, choose the extension of the
compressed file as Zip (Make sure of this part)
Thats it, your flashable Zip is now ready and you can flash it
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For TWRP Backup

1. Transfer the TWRP backup from Phone to PC.
2. Youll see a file named system.ext4.win which is the
System partition backup of your device. Rename it to
system.ext4.tar (Changing its extension from .win to .tar)
3. Extract the system.ext4.tar using an archive software like
Winrar or 7zip.
4. If your TWRP backup is not in compression mode, you will
directly get the system folder, else you will get a file
named system.ext4, which should be renamed again
to system.ext4.tar and extract it to get the system folder.
5. Take the boot.emmc.win file and rename it to boot.img.
6. Now collect a META-INF folder from any custom
ROM which is made for your device. Make sure you get
the correct Meta-Inf folder, else the Zip wont work and
might worsen the condition of your device.
7. Select the META-INF, System folders and the boot.img and
right click your mouse and select add to Archive.
8. In the Archive settings, choose the extension of the
compressed file as Zip (Make sure of this part)
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Now you can use this Zip file to flash it on your Custom
recovery.
Leave your feedback regarding the guide in the comments
section below.
Source

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CWM RECOVERY

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10

Naveen Robsworth
Naveen is a tech enthusiast with a deep interest
in Open Source software and Operating Systems.
Freelancing and learning new technologies are
his motives. His Pen name Robsworth reflects that
his talents are worthy to be robbed.

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Manou

6 months ago

Hi, I don't have boot.img in the backup folder. can I get it elsewhere?

Reply Share

z00rado

6 months ago

I do Exactly as you say, the system.ext4.win had system.ext4, and when I change the format, only show a /etc fo
and told that the file is corrupted. Pls help me, I Think my TWRP doesn't make the backup correctly! My device is
Razr I (SMI) XT890

Reply Share

Niranjan Panse

9 months ago

hi,
Why do i need META folder from any custom ROM ? My stock ROM backup wont have that folder? (resulting
flashable ROM will be the stock rom from the device i guess)

Reply Share

Naveen Robsworth > Niranjan Panse

9 months ago

Every custom recovery has their own backup method resulting in different compression techniques and s
So you can restore it with the same recovery because other recoveries might use different decompressio
technique(sometimes, I even faced issues with different versions of same recovery). When you want to u
your backup as flashable zip to flash it from any recovery, you need a universal code that can be understo
by any recovery. Hence we need Meta-inf folder, in which you have an updater script of your device which
a recovery what to do with the flashable zip.

Reply Share

Niranjan Panse > Naveen Robsworth

9 months ago

thank naveen for the info.....

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Prob is my backup do not have sys.ext4. file but there is sys.rfs.

2. off topic, why ODIN (samsung) needs diff files for flashing (Modem,PIT etc) but flashable files ar
single alone
best wishes

Reply Share

Naveen Robsworth > Niranjan Panse

9 months ago

1. How did you take the backup in the first place? Anyway, all you need to do is to place all
contents of system folder of your device in the flashable zip. So you can look for a rfs extra
and extract the system.rfs file. Usually system directory contain folders like app, bin, etc, u
framework and many more. If you have these contents after extracting the rfs file, you're go
to go.

2. ODIN Firmware is usually in .tar or .tar.md5 format. The PIT file contains partition details
the device, so if you ever need to re-partition your device, you will need it. Modem.bin is use
for restore radio (2G, 3G related) on your device.

Reply Share

Niranjan Panse > Naveen Robsworth

9 months ago

1. I took backup with CWM via recovery mode. Backup folder has 5 files..
(nandroid.mdf ,cache.rfs.tar, .android_secure.vfat.tar ,data.rfs.tar and system.rfs.tar
2. flashable zip dont need these PIT,MODEM files like ODIN uses ?
3. Can i use this flashable zip on another phone (same make and model) ?

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Jordan Lynch

10 months ago

Got an interesting side question: Would this be useful to convert ext4 to f2fs? As TWRP creates ISO-like files, yo
can't just restore an ext4 backup to a f2fs partition. Would this zip be similarly file-system dependent/ISO-like, or
would it instead work by installing the data to any filesystem? Thanks in advance. There are a lot of people that co
really benefit from this.

Reply Share

Naveen Robsworth > Jordan Lynch

10 months ago

IMO, the f2fs partition support is embedded in the kernel of the device (boot,img). In this method, you're
restoring the boot.img which replaces the kernel as per the backup. Additionally, you need to edit the upda
script of the ROM to replace the ext4 specific code to the relevant f2fs code. If you use a ext4 compatible
kernel and updater-script on a f2fs partitioned system, it might lead to a soft/hard brick. However, if you're
sure to unbrick your device, you can give your idea a try but we would recommend you to take necessary
measures in case of any misfortunes.

Steve Jacobs

Reply Share

a year ago

Can i get any META-INF that compatible on my Device?

Reply Share

Rakesh

Admin

> Steve Jacobs a year ago

Yes, download any flashable zip meant for your device, extract it and copy it.

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1 comment 12 days ago

Raghav Veerlas Hey I'm getting status 7 error while updating the ota through stock recovery How can I solve this Do

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Shmulik Cohen Thanks. So did the way I describe the process is correct?

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