Android_boot_image_editor

This tool focuses on editing Android boot.img(also recovery.img, and vbmeta.img).

1. Prerequisite

1.1 Host OS requirement:

Linux or Mac. Also need python 2.x and jdk 8.

1.2 Target Android requirement:

(1) Target boot.img MUST follows AOSP verified boot flow, either Boot image signature in VBoot 1.0 or AVB HASH footer (a.k.a. AVB) in VBoot 2.0.

Supported images:

boot.img
recovery.img (also recovery-two-step.img)
vbmeta.img (also vbmeta_system.img, vbmeta_vendor.img etc.)
dtbo.img (only 'unpack' is supported)

(2) These utilities are known to work for Nexus/Pixel boot.img for the following Android releases:

AOSP master
Lollipop (5.0) - Q preview

2. Usage

Clone this repo with minimal depth:

git clone https://github.com/cfig/Android_boot_image_editor.git --depth=1

Put your boot.img to current directory, then start gradle 'unpack' task:

cp <original_boot_image> boot.img
./gradlew unpack

Your get the flattened kernel and /root filesystem under ./build/unzip_boot:

build/unzip_boot/
├── boot.img.avb.json (AVB only)
├── bootimg.json (boot image info)
├── kernel
├── second       (2nd bootloader, if exists)
├── dtb          (dtb, if exists)
├── dtbo         (dtbo, if exists)
└── root

Then you can edit the actual file contents, like rootfs or kernel. Now, pack the boot.img again

./gradlew pack

You get the repacked boot.img at $(CURDIR):

boot.img.signed

If you are working with recovery.img

If you are working with recovery.img, the steps are similar:

cp <original_recovery_image> recovery.img
./gradlew unpack
./gradlew pack

And you get recovery.img.signed

usage demo

3. example & test

An example boot.img has been placed at src/test/resources/boot.img, which is extracted from Nexus 5x(code: bullhead) factory images from Google, you can take it as a quick start.

4. boot.img layout

Read layout of Android boot.img. We now support both VB 1.0 and AVB 2.0 layouts.

5. compatible devices

Device Model	Manufacturer	Compatible	Android Version	Note
Pixel 3 (blueline)	Google	Y	Q preview (qpp2.190228.023, 2019)	more ...
Pixel XL (marlin)	HTC	Y	9.0.0 (PPR2.180905.006, Sep 2018)	more ...
K3 (CPH1955)	OPPO	Y for recovery.img N for boot.img	Pie	more
Z18(NX606J)	ZTE	Y	8.1.0	more...
Nexus 9 (volantis/flounder)	HTC	Y(with some tricks)	7.1.1 (N9F27M, Oct 2017)	tricks
Nexus 5x (bullhead)	LG	Y	6.0.0_r12 (MDA89E)
Moto X (2013) T-Mobile	Motorola	N