How to Unlock the Bootloader and Install Custom Recovery on the Nexus 7 ‘Razor’ (2013 version)
The newly released 2013 version of the Nexus 7 comes with Android 4.3 out of the box and if you are someone who actually kept away from other higher-specced tablets waiting for this, chances are you will root it the first chance you get, lob a custom recovery at it, and start flashing custom ROMs right away! If this is you, then read on to know how to unlock the bootloader and install custom recovery (TWRP Recovery in this case) before you go on to root in our next guide.
I. Before You Begin
1. This guide will definitely, surely erase everything you have on your device, so back up everything you care about before you start.
2. Charge your device to 75% or more before you begin to prevent unwanted shutdowns.
3. This procedure works on the new 2013 Nexus 7 running Android 4.3 only; do not try it on older Nexus 7 devices.
4. Make sure that you have ADB setup on your Windows PC and have the necessary drivers installed before you begin.
II. Necessary Downloads
1. Android.zip
2. openrecovery-twrp-2.6.0.0-flo.img [or any newer version available here]
III. Unlocking the Bootloader
1. Extract Android.zip to a folder on your desktop.
2. Open up a command prompt window at the Android folder. To do this, hold Shift and right click on the Android folder, then click on Open Command Window here.
3. Enable USB Debugging on your device. To do this, go to Settings > Applications > Development Options and tick the USB debugging checkbox. If you don’t see the Development Options menu, go to Settings > About Phone and tap on Build number seven times until you see the message “Now you are a developer.” Then go to the Applications menu to find the Development Options.
4. Connect your device to your PC using a compatible microUSB cable. If there are drivers being installed at this point, let them do so before continuing [If no drivers are installed and your device is not recognized by your PC, this means that you have not set up ADB/drivers properly and you will need to do so before continuing].
5. Run the following commands (ignore the explanations in brackets and do not type them in!):
adb reboot bootloader [the device should now reboot to the bootloader]
fastboot oem unlock
You will be prompted to confirm; you can use the Volume Up and Down buttons to navigate and highlight Yes, and the Power button to select it.
6. Once done, select Start to reboot the device.
IV. Flashing TWRP Recovery on the Nexus 7
1. Copy openrecovery-twrp-2.6.0.0-flo.img to the Android folder.
2. Open up a command prompt window at the Android folder. To do this, hold Shift and right click on the Android folder, then click on Open Command Window here.
3. Enable USB Debugging on your device. To do this, go to Settings > Applications > Development Options and tick the USB debugging checkbox. If you don’t see the Development Options menu, go to Settings > About Phone and tap on Build number seven times until you see the message “Now you are a developer.” Then go to the Applications menu to find the Development Options.
4. Run the following commands:
adb reboot bootloader [the device should now reboot to the bootloader]
fastboot flash recovery openrecovery-twrp-2.6.0.0-flo.img
Reboot your device and you should now have a working custom recovery on your shiny new Nexus 7! To go to TWRP Recovery, power down the device, press and hold the Volume Up + Volume Down + Power buttons until you see the bootloader screen, use the volume keys to navigate to Recovery mode and press Power to enter recovery.
If this procedure helped you please thank/donate to the original developers here.
How to unlock bootloader on asus memo pad hd7?