If you encountered a boot loop or hung Moto G when updating to Lollipop from Kitkat, this guide can help you to start over. You can also downgrade your phone back to Kitkat 4.4.4 from Lollipop 5.0.2 using this guide. This will work on every model, provided you have correct firmware file. I will be showing this for XT1033.
To start with, you will need following,
1. Unlocked bootloader. This is important as without this, you will get “Error : invalid PIV signed sistem”
2. Stock Kitkat firmware file. You can get it XML firmware file with all partitions from Filefactory. Just make sure, you select firmware related to your phone.
I downloaded Kitkat 4.4.4 for Moto G 1st Gen (India) from Google Drive, instead.
3. Next, you need a downgrade package,
4. Motorola drivers. Get it from here and install this, if you already don’t have it. Make sure you restart the system after installing this and then connect your phone.
Procedure
First of all extract the downgrade package and firmware package to separate folders. You can use WinZip to extract the xml file, even if looks different than a zip file.
Now, copy the following files from firmware folder to batch downgrading folder,
logo.bin
boot.img
recovery.img
system.img_sparsechunk.0
system.img_sparsechunk.1
system.img_sparsechunk.2
modem NON-HLOS.bin
fsg fsg.mbn
Make sure, you only copy and replace these files. The final look of batch downgrade folder will look something like this,
Now, put your phone in bootloader mode. Switch off the phone. Hold power button and volume down together and release after 2-3 seconds. You will be in bootloader.
Connect your phone to computer and check that bootloader shows that USB is connected. If any drivers are missing, your PC will install it automatically.
Next you only need to click and run the batch file named ‘5.0t04.4.4‘ from this folder and sit back.
When everything is done, phone will restart and you will be back on stock Kitkat firmware. At first boot, the logo will flicker and also the screen. Don’t worry about it. Just lock and unlock the phone. This will be resolved.
All done! If you want to upgrade your Unlocked and rooted phone again to Lollipop, you can follow this guide.