Onyx Boox Palma 2 Pro tips & tricks

Enabling app to run in background

Sometimes when you have a computer in your pocket, running pretty complex operating system you want to enable multitasking on it.
This is used for apps like music player, podcasts, messaging apps, smartwatch app, and many more!
Fortunately it is possible in these days! And as you will see - also easy.

Chapter 1 - eInk Wise

You need to enable option Stay active in the background in eInk Wise center.

There are two possible ways how to get to required settings menu

Option 1

• Longpress on app icon
  

• Select Optimize from menu
  

Option 2

• Open the app you want to configure

• Display eInk Wise overlay

• Tap small cogwheel next to selected eInkWise profile
  

Both these options brings you to app profile in eInk Wise.

Warning

Remember this setting is tied to specific profile for that app. If you change profile from Customize to Recommended or Fast settings including background running will be different (probably default => running in background disabled).
You have to customize settings for all profiles, or be sure that profile for that app never changes.
You can of course take advantage of this feature. Creating profile with and without background running enabled. Then switch app to run in background mode only when you want to (for example when you are going to listen audiobook or something)

• In eInk Wise profile tap on Others
  

• On Others tab enable Stay active in the background option

Chapter 2 - Onyx Settings

Now let's disable App freezing and enable Autostart for our app.

• From Boox launcher or top tray select Settings
  

• In Settings menu select Apps & Notifications
  

• Then select Freeze Settings
  

• Disable Freezing for selected app
  

• Now return back to Apps & Notifications and select App Startup
  

• And enable Autostart for selected app
  

Chapter 3 - Android Settings

Now for the more tricky part. You need to access standard Android setting. But those are unaccessible from Boox launcher.
But since everyone played Dark Souls these days, this cannot stop anyone.
Just install any other launcher of your choice (do not set it as default - it has a reason you will soon find out if you do).
I will use Nova Launcher for example.

• Start launcher of your choice
  

• Start Settings app from launcher (not from top tray!)
  

• This will bring you to Android Settings where you need to select Apps

• Select app you need to allow to run in background

• On app settings page (I changed app name on purpose) scroll down
  

• Disable Manage app if unused

• Now scroll back up and enter App battery usage submenu

• Inside App battery usage submenu tap on Allow background usage text (box next to it should say enabled - this is done by eInkWise)
  

• Clicking on text opens another menu where you need to set Unrestricted option
  

• Now return back to App info screen and select Permissions
  

• Disable Pause app activity if unused

Epilogue

🎊 🎆
If you reached this point, then congrats! You just enabled single app to run on background and not be killed by power management!

As you just witnessed, it is just easy and intuitive.
Who needs some toggle button, when you have this beautiful UI designed by mad genius?!

Enabling notifications for all apps

Since on Android some apps needs Google Services to show local notifications (why?) on the device and Palma 2 Pro does not have them, you must use another solution. Some info for example is here

For these purposes you can use SunUp, ntfy, or some other implementation.
I choosed SunUp because my favorite messaging app has some weird bug with ntfy.

Note

You will need to enable notification app to run in background

Phone calls and SMS on Palma 2 Pro

Since system update 2025-12-27_14-24_4.1.1-rel_12272 (there are some reports about earlier ) device is capable of calling and SMS messages without any modifications.
Receiving calls does not work in sleep if device is connected to GSM network. Calling work reliable only in those cases:

• You have VoLTE enabled and Palma is connected to VoLTE capable network

• You have Wifi calling enabled/preffered and Palma is connected to Wifi network with Internet access

You only have to install some dialer app and SMS app to make it possible. And set them as default dialer/sms app. Few examples of such apps.
Dialer examples: Amadz, Fossify Phone, Google Dialer
SMS app examples: Fossify Messages, QUIK, Google Messages.

Note

You will need to enable dialer and messaging app to run in background

Known problems:

• When device is connected to GSM only cellular network and goes to sleep/lockscreen, is is unable to receive calls. If you call number on Palma 2 Pro, you will get LINE BUSY signal. But SMS messages are somehow received.
• There are no settings in Onyx Power Settings that will allow Stay Connnected to mobile network in sleep state (as it does for Wifi or Bluetooth)

Enabling VoLTE if device is not provisioned (or is blocked) by carrier

I was informed that some carriers do not provision provision or even block VoLTE and VoWifi features for "unsupported" devices. That could mean, device was just not sold by specific carrier. This is pretty interesting (and strange in 2026) problematic - you can learn something more here, if interested.

There is pretty good chance that even if your carrier does not allow VoLTE and/or VoWifi, you can successfuly force it using Pixel IMS patch (version 1.3.2 tested and is working).

If you use Pixel IMS, it is needed to be done only once. Just enable desired function in Pixel IMS, go to settings and enable VoLTE and/or VoWifi. Then you MUST reboot Palma 2 Pro to take effect. Settings will survive reboots (not sure if survives installing BOOX update - no way to test so far)

How to restore Palma 2 Pro if not booting to Android

If you somehow bricked your Palma and have backup there is still hope!
You are probably stuck with unresponsive device with BOOX logo on the screen.

• first connect device to computer and check if it is in fastboot mode with fastboot getvar all

• If you are able to get some output, get edl utility (which you probably already have)

• Leave device connected to computer and issue some edl command using correct loader. Example: edl --loader=palma2pro.bin printgpt

• Now pres and hold Power button on your Palma until device reboots - screen will flash

• Immediately release power button and press and hold VolUp + VolDown until you see device is recognized by computer. Then release buttons.

• Now you will be able to flash backup and restore device functionality

Warning

For some reason I encountered behavior that even after restore Palma refused to boot. Setting active boot partition to secondary and then back was needed.
Can be done this way:

edl --loader=palma2pro.bin setactiveslot a
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin reset
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin setactiveslot b
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin reset

Rooting Palma 2 Pro

Used sources: Palma2Root guide issue, eOS documentation - Install on FP4, MobileRead thread

Warning

This procedure will wipe your data on device! Be prepared.
Rooting and modifying device is dangerous. Do this on your risk. You can cause device will be unable to boot.
It is probably good idea to buy some pre-made EDL cable to be prepared when things goes wrong!

Preparing tools

Get edl utility

Get Palma loader file for EDL utility: wget -O palma2pro.bin 'https://github.com/bkerler/Loaders/raw/refs/heads/main/lenovo_motorola/0000000000000000_bdaf51b59ba21d8a_fhprg.bin'

Get latest available eOS build for Fairphone 4 Android 15 from eOS site. I used this specifically.

From that Fairphone 4 image, extract abl.img somewhere. I will reference it as abl-fp4.img in the process.

Reboot phone into bootloader with adb reboot bootloader, then issue fastboot getvar current-slot. And note down that letter. For me it was and rest of the guide I will be using slot a. Do adjust those commands for your active slot.

Backing up data

Put the device into EDL mode with adb reboot edl

Now do the backup of the device. Best way how to do that is backing up all partitions. (except userdata - will be wiped anyway)
It takes about 15 minutes and takes ~9GB disk space. Can be done with command (folder stock_partitions_backup must exists):
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs rl stock_partitions_backup/ --skip=userdata
If you do this you can skip next step with backing all partitions again and adjust partitipn paths to this whole backup.

Now let's backup the important stuff only. This cannot be skipped:

mkdir stock_backup
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs r devinfo stock_backup/devinfo.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs r boot_a stock_backup/boot_a.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs r boot_b stock_backup/boot_b.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs r vbmeta_a stock_backup/vbmeta_a.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs r vbmeta_b stock_backup/vbmeta_b.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs r vbmeta_system_a stock_backup/vbmeta_system_a.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs r vbmeta_system_b stock_backup/vbmeta_system_b.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs r recovery_a stock_backup/recovery_a.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs r recovery_b stock_backup/recovery_b.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs r abl_a stock_backup/abl_a.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs r abl_b stock_backup/abl_b.img

Unlocking bootloader

Unfortunately Boox firmware does not allow unlocking device. But since hardware is similar to Fairphone 4 we will take Fairphone image to help.

Get into edl mode again with adb reboot edl. Then issue those commands to write FP4 ABL into Palma (not sure why, but for me it was needed to write into both slots):

edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs w abl_a abl-fp4.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs w abl_b abl-fp4.img

Now use your activeslot you noted before (my palma was not booting without this) and reboot device:

edl --loader=palma2pro.bin setactiveslot a
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin reset

Go into android settings. You can use command adb shell am start -a android.settings.SETTINGS to do that. Or use method described in run in background guide.
Select System submenu.

Then select Developer options.

In those go to Developer options enable OEM unlocking.

Reboot the device.

Now we will proceed to unlocking bootloader. Your data will be WIPED from the device. There is no going back! Ready?

Reboot into bootloader with adb reboot bootloader.

You should get BOOX logo on screen and command fastboot devices should see the device.

Issue fastboot flashing unlock to begin unlocking.
On screen there will still bee BOOX logo, nothing visible.
Press Vol Up once, and then Power button.
Now device will automatically reboot few times and wipes all your data.

Now you are with clear device in defaults. Enable ADB in settings again. And issue adb reboot bootloader.

Issue fastboot flashing unlock_critical.
AGAIN: On screen there will still bee BOOX logo, nothing visible.
Press Vol Up once, and then Power button.
Device will automatically reboot few times and wipes all your data once again.

Now you have unlocked device. fastboot oem device-info should say something like:

(bootloader) Verity mode: true
(bootloader) Device unlocked: true
(bootloader) Device critical unlocked: true
(bootloader) Charger screen enabled: true

Rooting with Magisk

From now the rooting procedure can be done as on Palma 2.

Install Magisk to your Palma

Push your backed up boot image for your activeslot onto Palma adb push stock_backup/boot_a.img /sdcard/

Patch the boot image using Magisk in your phone. Note the filename and use it in next command.

Then download it back to your computer: adb pull /sdcard/Download/magisk_patched-30600_x1Hl9.img boot_a_patched.img

Reboot Palma into EDL mode: adb reboot edl

Write modified image into Palma and reboot it:

edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs w boot_a boot_a_patched.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin reset

Congrats! Your Palma is rooted now!

If you want, you can now flash back the stock ABL images back into Palma.
I do recommend it, because without it, device was kinda unstable and for example launching Onyx settings from top-tray did not worked (after flashing original ABL it did worked)

edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs w abl_a stock_backup/abl_a.img
edl --loader=palma2pro.bin --memory=ufs w abl_b stock_backup/abl_b.img

How to get into recovery menu

Source: Boox support video

• When turned off, long-press power button until screen blinks

• Release the power button and then press it again for 5 sec

• Release the power button and short-press 6 times

• If you end up with white screen, pres Vol Down once