[GUIDE] Rooting your Essential PH-1

Search This thread

bmg1001

Senior Member
Mar 18, 2012
1,593
930
Los Angeles
Google Nexus 4
Nexus 7
WARNING: Before attempting to root your device, do note that by unlocking your bootloader and modifying your device with root, ROMs, etc... you are risking voiding your warranty! I am NOT responsible for what you do to your device either, so follow these instructions at your own risk. Make sure you know what you're doing, it's best to understand the process rather than just copy and paste commands and such.

Useful and important general information can be found in the second post here.

NOTES

1. If you flash the TWRP Installer when you've already got Magisk installed, your device will keep booting to the recovery. You should be able to fix this by just simply reflashing Magisk.

2. If you have TWRP installed via the TWRP Installer, you will not be able to install stock OTA updates. You will have to reflash the stock boot image for whatever build you're running beforehand.

3. The prebuilt TWRP image may not have touch functionality if you're using the September 2018 Update or newer. Patching the boot image, however, for these builds with the TWRP Installer will allow touch to work flawlessly. Here is a pre-patched September 2018 Boot Image with TWRP. It should also work with builds newer than September. Since it's based off the September 2018 update, I suggest not using this as your main boot image but rather just as a replacement for the pre-built TWRP image from the official TWRP thread.

4. Simple "flash and forget" boot images pre-patched with Magisk and TWRP are provided by @aer0zer0 and are available here. They are based on ianmacd's variant of Magisk. If you are running stock, you can flash these boot images to get root and TWRP instead of following the guide to patch it yourself. Here is January's.

If you don't care about TWRP and simply want to just root your device, you can just simply patch the boot image for your ROM with the Magisk Manager and flash it in fastboot with
Code:
fastboot flash boot patched_boot.img
The link to the boot images for most stock builds can be grabbed from my Google Drive link in the second post or from the back-to-stock zips.


REQUIREMENTS
An unlocked bootloader
Working adb and fastboot environment, along with knowledge on how they work.
The latest build of TWRP along with the TWRP Installer. Read Note 3 above beforehand.

1. Download the latest build of TWRP and the TWRP Installer. Transfer the TWRP Installer zip to your device.

2. Reboot your phone into fastboot. Once in fastboot, change your device's current slot using the command
Code:
fastboot set_active other
If the command above doesn't work for you, use fastboot getvar current-slot followed by fastboot -aX, replacing "X" with the slot opposite (a or b) from your current slot.

3. Once your device's current slot has been switched, flash the TWRP image you downloaded earlier using the command
Code:
fastboot flash boot twrp.img
Depending on your version of fastboot, the above command might not work either. In that case, you can enter the following command, replacing "X" with your current slot (a or b).
Code:
fastboot flash boot_X twrp.img

4. Once TWRP has been flashed, boot into the recovery.

5. Once you have booted into TWRP, simply flash the TWRP Installer zip.

6. Once you have finished flashing the TWRP Installer zip, boot to recovery on the OPPOSITE slot. You can do this from TWRP by going to "Reboot", then selecting the opposite of the current slot (if on A, select Slot B. If on B, select Slot A), then select "Recovery." You can also do this through fastboot by running the same command from step 2.

7. Once you have booted back into TWRP, simply flash the Magisk zip and you are now good to go! Feel free to flash anything else like kernels while you're at it.

8. Reboot. :good:

NOTE: TWRP WILL remain installed on your device so long as you reflash the installer zip after every update.
 
Last edited:

bmg1001

Senior Member
Mar 18, 2012
1,593
930
Los Angeles
Google Nexus 4
Nexus 7
Important Information for the Essential PH-1 can be found here. Keep it bookmarked.

Tips on updating via OTA after rooting can be found here.

In the case that you mess something up on your device, you may find it helpful to revert back to stock with the unofficial factory images graciously provided by @invisiblek and @aer0zer0 over here.

Official TWRP XDA Thread for the Essential PH-1

Join the Essential PH-1 Discord Server! -- Lots of cool people here!

Join the Essential PH-1 Development Telegram Channel!

Stock Boot Images for most builds can be found at my Google Drive link here.

Have a Red Verity Warning when booting your device? Click here.
If the link to the boot.fix.red image isn't working, you can also find it here or in my Google Drive link in the first post.

Essential Phone (PH-1) Partition Layout

Dumping Boot Images

1. Find the current slot with
Code:
fastboot getvar current-slot
or
Code:
adb shell getprop ro.boot.slot_suffix
2. Switch to the opposite slot in Fastboot using the command
Code:
fastboot set_active other
3. Flash TWRP using the command
Code:
fastboot flash boot twrp.img
4. Now, boot into TWRP and use the following command from your PC, replacing X in "boot_X" with the original slot from step 1 (a or b). TRIPLE CHECK:
Code:
adb shell dd if=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/boot_X of=/sdcard/boot.img
5. Profit! Don't forget to switch back to the original partition with the same command from step 2!

extractTarFork() error when restoring data from a TWRP backup

1. Reinstall the ROM from which the backup is based on.
2. Wipe your data. You can do this from the recovery or from fastboot using the command
Code:
fastboot -w
3. Boot into the ROM. When going through the initial setup, use the EXACT same security setup as the one from your backup. For example, if you used a Fingerprint + Password in the backed up ROM, use the exact same combo along with the exact same password as well. There is no need to set up anything else, like accounts.
4. Flash, install, and reboot into TWRP. You should now be able to restore the data backup without any issues.
 
Last edited:

prozo

Member
Nov 10, 2016
46
10
Thanks for the detailed guide, it worked great!

Any idea how to install xposed sdk 25? I tried the adb sideload function and the Magsik Module but both failed. Any ideas?
 
  • Like
Reactions: dewey4991

prgopala

Senior Member
Jun 10, 2010
513
118
Sydney
Google Pixel 6 Pro
how to install the NMJ32F ota update when you are already rooted on NMJ20D?
Tried adb sideload but cannot install obviously because boot-loader is unlocked and is rooted.
 

bmg1001

Senior Member
Mar 18, 2012
1,593
930
Los Angeles
Google Nexus 4
Nexus 7
Thanks for the detailed guide, it worked great!

Any idea how to install xposed sdk 25? I tried the adb sideload function and the Magsik Module but both failed. Any ideas?

Xposed works fine for me. Make sure you installed the correct Xposed Installer/Manager apk linked in the thread for the Xposed Module. Also, it may take a reboot or two for Xposed to fully activate.
 

prozo

Member
Nov 10, 2016
46
10
Xposed works fine for me. Make sure you installed the correct Xposed Installer/Manager apk linked in the thread for the Xposed Module. Also, it may take a reboot or two for Xposed to fully activate.


Maybe I'm not gathering the information correctly, using the Magisk Module itself doesn't work, sideloading the zip file via the adb fastboot TWRP.img doesn't work either, using the actual Xposed APK installer doesn't work either. I rebooted the phone about 4 times before removing it entirely.

Any chance you can walk me through how you got it installed without the TWRP recovery fully installed?
 

bmg1001

Senior Member
Mar 18, 2012
1,593
930
Los Angeles
Google Nexus 4
Nexus 7
Maybe I'm not gathering the information correctly, using the Magisk Module itself doesn't work, sideloading the zip file via the adb fastboot TWRP.img doesn't work either, using the actual Xposed APK installer doesn't work either. I rebooted the phone about 4 times before removing it entirely.

Any chance you can walk me through how you got it installed without the TWRP recovery fully installed?

All I did was install the Xposed APK and then the Xposed Magisk Module. After two reboots, the apk said everything was working. This is the apk I used: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16-OHpswcngp1KLtkWCBDwwl8AvFafR5H/view?usp=drivesdk
 

prozo

Member
Nov 10, 2016
46
10
All I did was install the Xposed APK and then the Xposed Magisk Module. After two reboots, the apk said everything was working. This is the apk I used: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16-OHpswcngp1KLtkWCBDwwl8AvFafR5H/view?usp=drivesdk


Alright I got it to work

So I didn't use the APK instead I downloaded the zip from the XDA thread that is specifically for Magisk Module and then added via the modules tab on the left side of the Magisk Module APK.

After I restarted I had the newly installed APK to download and install the proper version of Xposed 88.2 sdk25

Another restart and boom I got the active module notification in green.

Thanks man!

Thread for downloads can be found here:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/xdaforums.com/xposed/unofficial-systemless-xposed-t3388268/amp/
 
Last edited:

Top Liked Posts

  • There are no posts matching your filters.
  • 110
    WARNING: Before attempting to root your device, do note that by unlocking your bootloader and modifying your device with root, ROMs, etc... you are risking voiding your warranty! I am NOT responsible for what you do to your device either, so follow these instructions at your own risk. Make sure you know what you're doing, it's best to understand the process rather than just copy and paste commands and such.

    Useful and important general information can be found in the second post here.

    NOTES

    1. If you flash the TWRP Installer when you've already got Magisk installed, your device will keep booting to the recovery. You should be able to fix this by just simply reflashing Magisk.

    2. If you have TWRP installed via the TWRP Installer, you will not be able to install stock OTA updates. You will have to reflash the stock boot image for whatever build you're running beforehand.

    3. The prebuilt TWRP image may not have touch functionality if you're using the September 2018 Update or newer. Patching the boot image, however, for these builds with the TWRP Installer will allow touch to work flawlessly. Here is a pre-patched September 2018 Boot Image with TWRP. It should also work with builds newer than September. Since it's based off the September 2018 update, I suggest not using this as your main boot image but rather just as a replacement for the pre-built TWRP image from the official TWRP thread.

    4. Simple "flash and forget" boot images pre-patched with Magisk and TWRP are provided by @aer0zer0 and are available here. They are based on ianmacd's variant of Magisk. If you are running stock, you can flash these boot images to get root and TWRP instead of following the guide to patch it yourself. Here is January's.

    If you don't care about TWRP and simply want to just root your device, you can just simply patch the boot image for your ROM with the Magisk Manager and flash it in fastboot with
    Code:
    fastboot flash boot patched_boot.img
    The link to the boot images for most stock builds can be grabbed from my Google Drive link in the second post or from the back-to-stock zips.


    REQUIREMENTS
    An unlocked bootloader
    Working adb and fastboot environment, along with knowledge on how they work.
    The latest build of TWRP along with the TWRP Installer. Read Note 3 above beforehand.

    1. Download the latest build of TWRP and the TWRP Installer. Transfer the TWRP Installer zip to your device.

    2. Reboot your phone into fastboot. Once in fastboot, change your device's current slot using the command
    Code:
    fastboot set_active other
    If the command above doesn't work for you, use fastboot getvar current-slot followed by fastboot -aX, replacing "X" with the slot opposite (a or b) from your current slot.

    3. Once your device's current slot has been switched, flash the TWRP image you downloaded earlier using the command
    Code:
    fastboot flash boot twrp.img
    Depending on your version of fastboot, the above command might not work either. In that case, you can enter the following command, replacing "X" with your current slot (a or b).
    Code:
    fastboot flash boot_X twrp.img

    4. Once TWRP has been flashed, boot into the recovery.

    5. Once you have booted into TWRP, simply flash the TWRP Installer zip.

    6. Once you have finished flashing the TWRP Installer zip, boot to recovery on the OPPOSITE slot. You can do this from TWRP by going to "Reboot", then selecting the opposite of the current slot (if on A, select Slot B. If on B, select Slot A), then select "Recovery." You can also do this through fastboot by running the same command from step 2.

    7. Once you have booted back into TWRP, simply flash the Magisk zip and you are now good to go! Feel free to flash anything else like kernels while you're at it.

    8. Reboot. :good:

    NOTE: TWRP WILL remain installed on your device so long as you reflash the installer zip after every update.
    21
    https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=11410963190603865614

    December patched boot.img (stock, TWRP, ianmacd 1203 17.4 magisk

    Enjoy :)
    20
    Important Information for the Essential PH-1 can be found here. Keep it bookmarked.

    Tips on updating via OTA after rooting can be found here.

    In the case that you mess something up on your device, you may find it helpful to revert back to stock with the unofficial factory images graciously provided by @invisiblek and @aer0zer0 over here.

    Official TWRP XDA Thread for the Essential PH-1

    Join the Essential PH-1 Discord Server! -- Lots of cool people here!

    Join the Essential PH-1 Development Telegram Channel!

    Stock Boot Images for most builds can be found at my Google Drive link here.

    Have a Red Verity Warning when booting your device? Click here.
    If the link to the boot.fix.red image isn't working, you can also find it here or in my Google Drive link in the first post.

    Essential Phone (PH-1) Partition Layout

    Dumping Boot Images

    1. Find the current slot with
    Code:
    fastboot getvar current-slot
    or
    Code:
    adb shell getprop ro.boot.slot_suffix
    2. Switch to the opposite slot in Fastboot using the command
    Code:
    fastboot set_active other
    3. Flash TWRP using the command
    Code:
    fastboot flash boot twrp.img
    4. Now, boot into TWRP and use the following command from your PC, replacing X in "boot_X" with the original slot from step 1 (a or b). TRIPLE CHECK:
    Code:
    adb shell dd if=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/boot_X of=/sdcard/boot.img
    5. Profit! Don't forget to switch back to the original partition with the same command from step 2!

    extractTarFork() error when restoring data from a TWRP backup

    1. Reinstall the ROM from which the backup is based on.
    2. Wipe your data. You can do this from the recovery or from fastboot using the command
    Code:
    fastboot -w
    3. Boot into the ROM. When going through the initial setup, use the EXACT same security setup as the one from your backup. For example, if you used a Fingerprint + Password in the backed up ROM, use the exact same combo along with the exact same password as well. There is no need to set up anything else, like accounts.
    4. Flash, install, and reboot into TWRP. You should now be able to restore the data backup without any issues.
    16
    15
    https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=11410932744536995931

    nov_patched_twrp_magisk_stock boot.img is up

    Enjoy:)