Android_boot_image_editor

This tool focuses on editing Android boot.img(also recovery.img, recovery-two-step.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 in VBoot 2.0.

Supported images:

• boot.img
• recovery.img
• recovery-two-step.img
• vbmeta.img

(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

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

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 ...
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

6. References

boot_signer https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/extras

bouncycastle https://android.googlesource.com/platform/external/bouncycastle

cpio / fs_config https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core

AVB https://android.googlesource.com/platform/external/avb/

mkbootimg https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core/+/master/mkbootimg/

Android version list https://source.android.com/source/build-numbers.html