That took me way too long... Xposed: - So you install Xposed Installer 3.1.5 which you found on the interwebs. - You install OnkeyRoot X9S which you find here: https://www.mcbluna.net/wp/zidoo-applications/ (because it was the official way to root the X9S which you remembered from years ago. - Then you download xposed-v88.2-sdk23-arm.zip from archive.org (https://archive.org/download/xposed-sdk23 ) because you know that that version works on another x9s you have at home. But more importantly you know that sdk23 refers to Android 6.0.x and that the zidoo x9s is an arm device (not arm64, not x86). - then you manually unzip and move all files in the /system/ folder to the actual system folder on the X9S manually, using a file explorer that can grab root (I used total commander), honoring the folder structure in the .zip - then you give all xposed files you just copied into the /system/bin/ folder 755 access permissions (thats: rwxr-xr-x)) (using total commander and its longpress on file > properties > RWX function for example) - then you give all other xposed files you just copied in the /system/, /system/lib/ and /system/framework/ folders 644 access permissions (thats: rw-r--r--) - then you give xposed.prop in /system/ 666 access permissions (thats: rw-rw-rw-) because someone online suggested so although this probably could have been 644 as well - then you reboot - and then Xposed Installer shows "installed but not active" and you waste 3 hours troubleshooting until you remember something and find out - that this is - because xposed installer cant pull root from the root binary that OnkeyRoot X9S installs. So you find this forum post: https://xdaforums.com/t/supersu-error-su-binaries-occupied.3612334/ install SuperSU 2.82 which sees the su binary as occupied, so YOU dont do that, but install SuperSU 2.79 instead, launch it, say "I'm a simple , non expert user" app will tell you that the superuser binary needs updating. You grant it permissions. You relaunch the app - now it will ask you how to update the su binary, you'll tell it now, in place and NOT via TWRP, then you wait a little. Then the su binary will successfully be updated. Then you reboot. Then Xposed framework will magically start working. (It couldnt grab su permissions from the su binary OnkeyRoot X9S installed - but it never told you, so troubleshooting took 3 hours). Installing the play store and being able to log in and use it was easier. Play Store Download com.android.vending_41.0.28-23_0_PR_633720010-84102800_minAPI23(arm64-v8a,armeabi-v7a,x86,x86_64)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com (most current version for Android 6.x as per the writing of this tutorial) Download com.google.android.gms_24.16.60_(040400-633767044)-241660013_minAPI23(arm64-v8a,armeabi-v7a)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com (most current version for Android 6.x as per the writing of this tutorial) Use both those apks to update the google play store and google play services to their most recent versions. (If you use adb install, you have to add the -r flag to allow apks you push to the device to update ones that are already in place.) Google play services will now crash once in a while, but dont worry we will fix that later. Open the play store, and register your google account. Play Store should start working now. If not delete the data for the following apps one by one under settings>advanced settings>apps>show system apps Google Play Store Google Play Services Google Services Framework (can stay on 6.0.1) Google Account manager (can stay on 6.0.1) Google Backup transport (can stay on 6.0.1) (afair the last two dont have any data stored, so you cant delete it, you'll figure it out. ) Then try opening the Play Store again. After it works, we fix the Google play services crashing error by going into settings, advanced settings, apps, show system apps, find Google play services, DONT click on force stop and uninstall, but click on the three dots in the top right, select downgrade Google play services. Say yes. If the system tells you it cant, because there are device administrators preventing that, click on the button that shows you which, disable them. Try to downgrade again. If there are still device administrators preventing that, repeat the last step a few more times (I had to untick one twice) until android actually downgrades play services on the x9s again. Then find com.google.android.gms_23.44.14_(040300-580326705)-234414009_minAPI23(armeabi-v7a)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com and use it to update google play services. The crashes will be gone, and the play store still works afterwards. edit: If you dont want "allow su access" prompts you can uninstall SuperSU 2.79 after it updated the su binary, and everything will still work. edit2: Fixed copy paste version error in the play services required versions lines.
