How To: Unroot the Motorola Droid

I. Before You Begin

1. The only real reason to unroot is if you need to send the phone in for warranty or if you want to just start from scratch.

II. Restore Back to Android 2.2 with RSDLite

1. Download RSD Lite, the 2.2 .sbf file, and the Motorola Drivers.

Motorola Drivers
RSD Lite
Droid 2.2 Firmware

2. Install RSDLite by double clicking the RSD Lite.msi file you just downloaded.

3. Once RSDLite is installed, unzip the drivers folder you downloaded (32 bit OR 64 bit), then double click the Motorola Consumer Driver Installer application and install the drivers.

4. Plug in your phone to the computer via USB cable.

5. Turn the phone off while it is plugged in.

6. Turn on the phone by holding down Power and UP on the DPad of the keyboard on the phone for 5 seconds then let go.

7. Open the RSDLite program by right clicking it and selecting Run As Administrator.

8. Click on the “…” button next to the filename box and select the .sbf file you downloaded earlier.

9. Once it is selected, hit Start and wait for it to finish flashing the phone.

10. Once it is done, the phone should reboot and you are now on Android 2.2 stock and are all set.

57 thoughts on “How To: Unroot the Motorola Droid”

  1. Hi i tried doing that but the flashing process failed and i got this message:

    Failed flashing process. Phone[0000]: Phone is not compatible with multi-interface super-file. (0x703B)

    Please help i miss my dext!!!

  2. OK so I followed all the instructions, and I got back to 2.1 Stock (which is what I wanted). Then, I was reinstalling all my apps, and for some reason, Google Maps, Facebook, and Google Goggles won’t update. They keep giving me an error that says “installation error. Package file not signed correctly.” Is there any way to fix this without re-rooting? Might going back to 2.0.1 stock and updating via VZW’s update.zip or the OTA update help?

    1. For anyone else reading this, it might not be the best idea to use this .sbf file (see my problem above). If you want to unroot, download a 2.0.1 file, flash that, and then use VZW’s OTA update. If you use the ESE53 build, for some reason Google Maps, FB, and Goggles won’t update. Doing it the way I just described it makes it so that they work.

      1. It worked awesome by going to 2.0.1 and then to 2.1. Thank you for making this so easy to get back to my original version, Now just waiting on 2.2?

      2. CORRECTION … I flashed 2.0.1 and Google Maps, Facebook, and Goggles all updated great. I then flashed 2.1 and got the same message of “Package file not signed correctly”. Do I stay where I am at and hope that 2.2 will correct it or go back to 2.0.1 where I don’t have a problem? If I stay at 2.0.1 will my phone eventually tell me update to 2.1 OTA through my WiFi? I could sure use some help and answers.

      3. I’ve looked all over and can’t find 2.0.1 can you help me out with a link because i’m stuck on 2.1 update1 and it won’t OTA to 2.2

  3. This was EXTREMELY helpful and saved me a boat load of $$!!! The instructions are pretty simple if you have half a brain…Thanks for your help!

    Motorola Droid

  4. What if when I plug the phone in and RSD Lite doesnt load when I press start? I have rooted my phone already and there is Nandroid and Clockwork Mod Recovery on my phone. What should I do. Want to go back to original droid so when 2.2 OTA releases I can do.

  5. This worked great for me! Thanks TheUnlockr.com!

    I’m now running Stock 2.1-update1 on my Motorola Droid. Seeing as how the official OTA Froyo 2.2 update came out today as well as the rooted version of Froyo 2.2 is out as well. I’m doing a hard reset, wiping everything … Settings, apps, data, etc.

    Should I get the original, official 2.2 update or the rooted version? Pls help(:

  6. I am sending my Droid back to verizon in order to get a Droid 2.
    Followed the instructions above but got an error message in rsd while the phone still showed that it was updating.
    After waiting a bit, I decided to disconnect the phone and reboot it.
    Now it boots to a white screen and is totally unresponsive.

    I’ve already got the Droid 2 and am just going to send the Droid back and hope they can just reprogram the thing.

      1. Yup, I can’t get it to update, either. I unrooted by flashing 2.0.1 and no notification to update. Next, I manually applied the update.zip to get to 2.1, still no notification! I don’t care that much, but I gotta return the phone and I don’t want Verizon to know it was rooted. Clever ideas?

  7. This is odd. Status is phone 0000 switching device to BP pass through mode . My progress sticks at executed 99%. Not sure what to do here.. Hmmm

  8. danceswithbongs

    I used 1.4 to root my Droid running 2.2, finished in minutes and was so easy with the instructions provided.
    I have to send my Droid back as I just got a replacement due to my package installer being super buggy, before I ever used Super One Click.
    2 questions I could use some guidance on.
    Since I am sending this rooted by 1.4version back, I think I should unroot it before shipping, would 1.5 do that or not due to rooting by 1.4?
    And second since 1.4 worked great on this model, should I use that to root the new droid2.2, or go with 1.5 due to its having more functionality?
    I’d be grateful if anyone could shoot me a reply when time allows as I have to ship this Droid back in a few days or I will have to pay a penalty.
    You can msg me back here on the site or on this thread, whatever is easier for you.
    I would really appreciate any input/recommendations on this matter.
    thanks again
    danceswithbongs
    Super One Click is the king

  9. So long as you unrooted it doesnt matter what version you are on, you can always say you “never got the OTA and never even heard of it”. They don’t care and will honor the warranty since there is no way to know you messed with it and updates skip devices all the time.

  10. For all those people wondering why you never get the 2.2 OTA update…
    DO NOT use the SBF file linked to above!
    I had to use these instructions mostly because the latest CyanogenMod update made my phone unbootable and I was trying to get it back to a booting state, and didn’t really care if it was root any longer.
    It worked like a charm and had me running 2.1-update1 within 15 minutes… but theres a HUGE catch.
    The SBF file listed is a “user-debug” build! You can see for yourself by going to Settings > About Phone> Build Number… It should just say ESE53, but will instead have a long string including the words “user-debug” (sorry, I already fixed it, so don’t remember the whole thing).
    Because of this, as far as I could tell, your phone will NEVER get the OTA update and you won’t even be able to apply it manually, since those would not be user-debug versions.

    The above method is absolutely fine, it’s just the file. To save your self a lot of headache, grab the SBF file from here instead: http://www.peteralfonso.com/p/downloads.html
    Peter maintains the Bugless Beast custom ROM and is kind enough to keep around every SBF and Update.zip file that comes out for the Droid 1. You will even be better off by simply grabbing the FRG22D SBF (Under SBF files, not Stock System Files, those are rooted) and flashing that the same exact way you did with ESE53. You will now be upgrade to Froyo and unrooted, and as soon as you reboot you will be prompted to update to FRG83D (though, he also has that update.zip there if you are impatient).

    I may root mine again (the only thing I ever used was tether and that was extremely rare) but at least I’m on the latest firmware! Note: You can also use those SBFs at any time to downgrade to a more rootable firmware and then update with pre-rooted update files from there on…

    Hope this helps!

  11. When I go to download RSD lite it says “Another installation is in progress. You must complete that installation before continuing this one.” I closed out of everything and it is still not working. I would appreciate some help. I need to take my phone to Verizon.

  12. Roberts Tiffany

    I use the method above to unroot my phone and when it rebooted it asked me to touch the driod and activate my phone and it won’t activate now what do I do?

  13. Thank you so much for this guide. I was having real trouble finding a guide that was easy to follow.

    Also, good choice on the Incubus song at the end.

  14. So here’s my question of the day. I am ready to get a new phone. In selling my OG Droid, do I leave it rooted with Ultimate Droid to resell it or unroot it back to stock?

    Thanks,
    BachinPhx 

  15. when I start up rsd lite for model it says SE flash OMAP3430 MI and N/A for the IMEI/ESN/MEID what do I do or what am I doing wrong? 

  16. Jasonleeyesitsme

    This worked great! Chose FRG22D from Peter’s site mentioned in the comment from Adam, reset the phone, immediately got notification that there were updates, all is well. Also made sure I could update apps and had no problem like some had mentioned (older comments). FYI towards the end the RDSLite app told me to manually power up the phone, tried that while still plugged in, didn’t recognize anything. I just ended up unplugging it and restarting and it was fine, not sure if that’s right or not but it worked :-P.

  17. I tried this before and it worked fine.. now I am trying it again and it doesn’t work! Did yous change the sbf file that is given in the link? That one is 2.2 and the video shows 2.1? Answer asap would be appreciated,. 

  18. TABITHA BETTENCOURT

    Thank you for this post!!  My husband’s phone was acting up and dropped all his apps.. and I was able to restore it to a point where we could actually use it with this post!!  Much appreciated!

  19. RSD Lite does not recognize my phone.  I tried restarting RSD and and my computer multiple times and it still does not display in the left box.  Can someone provide me with some suggestions?

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