Double Tap to Wake on the Nexus 6 Without Root

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A few weeks ago, we featured an app which allowed the Nexus 6 to regain the double tap to wake functionality. Originally planned to have this feature, Google killed it off just before the Nexus 6’s release, as evidenced in its device-specific source code. However, Nexus 6 owners with root access were able to load the aforementioned app and regain the removed functionality. Unfortunately, this meant that folks who hadn’t rooted their devices would miss out. Now, an alternate solution exists for those who have already unlocked their bootloaders (easily possible via fastboot oem unlock) but have chosen not to root their phones.

Thanks to the efforts of XDA Senior Member qwerp_, non-rooted Nexus 6 owners can also have the double tap to wake function. You simply have to replace power.shamu.so in the /system/lib/hw directory with a modified version recompiled by qwerp_. This is most easily done through TWRP file manager. So while you don’t need root access to run an application that brings back the functionality, you DO need to have unlocked your bootloader and installed TWRP custom recovery. After you’ve replaced the file, reboot your phone and it’ll have double tap to wake again. It should be advised that you make a backup of the original file in case you want to revert the effects or if something goes wrong.

So if you have an unrooted Nexus 6 with an unlocked bootloader and custom recovery and are interested in regaining this feature, head over to the unrooted Nexus 6 double tap to wake thread for more information.