[Guide] How to root the Pixel 3a with or without twrp & take OTA updates once rooted

[JoeSchmoe007]

Anyway, just received my 3a.
Even if you don't root the phone, unlocking the bootloader won't let you use GPay...... So i guess we need to wait twrp and a proper version of Magisk.....

Is GPay the same feature that allows you to pay for apps in Google Play store? Because even though I don't care much about using the phone as general payment method, I do care about being able to make purchases in Google Play store.

 

[pbanj]

Is GPay the same feature that allows you to pay for apps in Google Play store? Because even though I don't care much about using the phone as general payment method, I do care about being able to make purchases in Google Play store.

gpay has nothing to do with buying apps

 

[Freddy421]

Stuck at trying to load the boot .img

Hi so I got it unlocked but whenever I try to install the patched boot image I get:

PS C:\Users\null\Desktop\platform-tools_r28.0.3-windows\platform-tools> fastboot flash boot C:\Users\null\Desktop\platfo
rm-tools_r28.0.3-windows\platform-tools\test-boot.img
target reported max download size of 268435456 bytes
sending 'boot' (29060 KB)...
OKAY [ 0.779s]
writing 'boot'...
FAILED (remote: Failed to write to partition Not Found)
finished. total time: 1.136s

Any ideas? Thanks And yes I renamed the boot .img and also tried with both names

Edit I fixed this by adding _a to the end of boot

 

[Freddy421]

Unpatched Boot.img

Hi having some issues and trying to back track here. Anyone have a link for the original boot image for pd2a.190115.032 Thanks!

 

[ritchea]

Hi having some issues and trying to back track here. Anyone have a link for the original boot image for pd2a.190115.032 Thanks!

Go here. Download your set of images. Extract a couple of layers then you will see the boot.img plus other images in the build.

 

[Freddy421]

Most excellent TY! Found it two layers in. Hopefully I can use this then try to relock the bootloader without it telling me there is no os or something like that. Just trying to get back to stock config. Tried things quite a few ways today with all sorts of problems. Could even be my cable per some of the posts on here. Can't sideload the stock rom via recovery and adb either which had me also wondering if anyone knows where I can place the stock zip on the phones files system so It would show up under the update from sd card option in recovery. It's ../sdcard that recovery looks at I believe with no apparent options to navigate somewhere else.

 

[mrmazak]

Most excellent TY! Found it two layers in. Hopefully I can use this then try to relock the bootloader without it telling me there is no os or something like that. Just trying to get back to stock config. Tried things quite a few ways today with all sorts of problems. Could even be my cable per some of the posts on here. Can't sideload the stock rom via recovery and adb either which had me also wondering if anyone knows where I can place the stock zip on the phones files system so It would show up under the update from sd card option in recovery. It's ../sdcard that recovery looks at I believe with no apparent options to navigate somewhere else.

As per what is written on that link you followed last time. It says to revert to stock it is officially recommended to use full-ota sideloaded in recovery. instead of the image files download.

Here is the link to the full-ota downloads.

https://developers.google.com/android/ota

 

[yabadabadooo]

Hey guys dumb question
If I root my device and stay on stock is it possible to receive the normal OTA updates from Google?
Thx

 

[jmtjr278]

Hey guys dumb question
If I root my device and stay on stock is it possible to receive the normal OTA updates from Google?
Thx

Yes. But when you accept an ota you will lose root

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

[Freddy421]

As per what is written on that link you followed last time. It says to revert to stock it is officially recommended to use full-ota sideloaded in recovery. instead of the image files download.

Here is the link to the full-ota downloads.

Yup tried that quite a few times it would seem like it was starting to go for a moment then fails. I forget the actual error it gave but something along the lines of could not read command or similar. Also got the too many links error when trying to flash TWRP. I have a bit of time later today and I will figure out just what the error was for sideloading and post it.

 

[pbanj]

Hey guys dumb question
If I root my device and stay on stock is it possible to receive the normal OTA updates from Google?
Thx

Yes. But when you accept an ota you will lose root

https://topjohnwu.github.io/Magisk/tutorials.html#ota-installation just follow that

 

[Fentadroid]

https://topjohnwu.github.io/Magisk/tutorials.html#ota-installation just follow that

Are you shure this way will work?
We had root manually flashing the existing boot.img. So we haven't the original boot image saved my Magisk during usual installation i think.......
I guess we need to restore the original boot.img from the stock rom through the future TWRP once released.

 

[pbanj]

Are you shure this way will work?
We had root manually flashing the existing boot.img. So we haven't the original boot image saved my Magisk during usual installation i think.......
I guess we need to restore the original boot.img from the stock rom through the future TWRP once released.

Actually you're right. Totally forgot it wouldn't have been able to make a backup

 

[flar2]

Looks like it's still a little rough, I'll wait for him to get things sorted out a better. Thanks for the heads up.

Everything working 100% now. The 3A XL is my new daily driver.

 

[AutomaticFailure27]

Actually you're right. Totally forgot it wouldn't have been able to make a backup

So, I'm just going to assume that when we get an OTA, we'll just have to extract the boot.img from the stock rom and flash that?

 

[pbanj]

So, I'm just going to assume that when we get an OTA, we'll just have to extract the boot.img from the stock rom and flash that?

ya

 

[krabman]

Are you shure this way will work?
We had root manually flashing the existing boot.img. So we haven't the original boot image saved my Magisk during usual installation i think.......
I guess we need to restore the original boot.img from the stock rom through the future TWRP once released.

It absolutely works, I went through all the original patches on the 6T and the following 9 beta updates using the install after OTA method without a hitch. Wish I had known about it sooner; it's perhaps the way to fly if you're not going to be on a ROM and don't need TWRP for backup.

 

[Archangel]

Has anyone tried to do something like place an apk inside of system/app and it fails? I use root explorer and every time I try to put an apk inside of system/app after making sure it is r/w it either fails or when I reboot it is gone like I never placed it in there? But, I can place a different boot animation inside of the product folder change permissions, reboot and it works?

 

[pbanj]

Has anyone tried to do something like place an apk inside of system/app and it fails? I use root explorer and every time I try to put an apk inside of system/app after making sure it is r/w it either fails or when I reboot it is gone like I never placed it in there? But, I can place a different boot animation inside of the product folder change permissions, reboot and it works?

There's a Magisk mod for that

 

[jayxiao171735]

super simple. I'll assume you use windows
should be noted that unlocking it wipes the phone.
standard you do at your own risk warning applies

update your adb and fastboot I just toss these 4 highlighted files into the windows folder, but you may have a different set up(I put them in the windows folder so I don't have to add them to PATH.

you may also need the usb drivers

- run through the initial setup(don't bother logging into your google account).

- enable dev options(settings>about phone>build number>tap it 7 times)

- go into settings>system>advanced>dev options>oem unlocking, click the toggle

- while still in dev options scroll down a little and enable usb debugging

- plug your phone into your pc

- open up command prompt(powershell works to but i always use command prompt) type into the command prompt

adb reboot bootloader

the phone will reboot into fastboot mode.

- now type into the cmd window

fastboot devices

and see if it lists a device, if not you need to install the drivers i linked to

right click the start menu icon, click device manager, then locate your phone(should have a yellow symbol on it, right click it, then click update driver, then click browse my computer, click the browse button and then navigate to where you extracted the drivers, click the main folder(usb_driver) and then click ok, then click next and ok through any prompts

- if you had to install the drivers try the fastboot devices command again after installing them, it should list the device now.

- now type in

fastboot flashing unlock

you will then have to use the phone to select yes to the unlock. you use the volume keys to select and the power button to confirm

- now you can flash the boot.img I provided that matches your build number using

fastboot flash boot "whatever the boot.img is named"

if the cmd window location does not match the location of the boot.img you will have to enter that too examples

fastboot flash boot C:\Users\pbanj\Desktop\boot.img

or you can do

cd C:\Users\pbanj\Desktop

and then just do the normal fastboot flash boot whatever the boot.img is named.

- after that finishes flashing you can reboot the phone by typing in

fastboot reboot

- now go through the setup and actually set your device up.

- after it is set up open up the magisk manager and it will tell you it needs to install the real manager, select ok

- now open the real magisk manager and it will prompt that it needs to install so extra stuff, select ok, and then reboot when it asks you to.

- you're now rooted, add what you want to magisk hide, and install the magisk mods you want, although i wouldn't go too crazy until we have twrp. if pay doesn't work follow the steps i gave in the main post.

- to update magisk just select the direct install method.

- follow this to do an ota update

also a shameless plug. if you want to make opening command prompt or powershell in your current folder a bit easier you can use My tools menu but iirc it only works on English windows 10.

After unlocking the bootloader,everything will be erased?