[Guide] [November 6, 2023] Root Pixel 4a (5G) Unlock Bootloader + Pass SafetyNet + Both Slots Bootable + More

[kertez]

I'm having trouble flashing the magisk patched boot.img... Latest magisk stable and canary. pixel 4a 5g. on fastboot flash boot boot.img it just hangs for ever. I tried to flash stock boot.img and it worked fine. any idears?

edit nvm, umm i did -vv after and it worked? guess it just wanted to talk

 

[jackhu]

Thanks for the detailed guide, much appreciated.

 

[wewantutopia]

I just unrooted my phone because my work app won't run even with safteynet magisk module. I returned everything to stock. I relocked the bootloader following step 3.3 but now I'm getting the dreaded "can't find valid operating system. The device will not start"

Can anyone offer any suggestions?? Ugh. Thank you!!

edit: I just tried relocking it and now it's working again. However, the bootloader is still unlocked. I may not matter, but if it does, anysuggestions?

 

[Homeboy76]

I just unrooted my phone because my work app won't run even with safteynet magisk module. I returned everything to stock. I relocked the bootloader following step 3.3 but now I'm getting the dreaded "can't find valid operating system. The device will not start"

Can anyone offer any suggestions?? Ugh. Thank you!!

edit: I just tried relocking it and now it's working again. However, the bootloader is still unlocked. I may not matter, but if it does, anysuggestions?

Before you lock the bootloader do a factory reset (OP, Index, #3, Return to Stock ,3.). Then do (OP, Index, #3, Lock bootloader ).

 

[PetrSP7]

Hello. Maybe I'm a fool, even though I've already installed at least 10 Custom ROMs. I can't open the Bootloader, Power Shell returns a set of instructions, see the picture, the device still shows "locked" in green and not an unlock option. I have the latest EU stock FW RQ3A210605.005, recommended ADB Tools, magisk_patched.img but I can't get through the unlock Bootloader. Is it not possible that changes were made in the latest version of the FW so that the Bootloader could not be unlocked?

 

[Homeboy76]

Hello. Maybe I'm a fool, even though I've already installed at least 10 Custom ROMs. I can't open the Bootloader, Power Shell returns a set of instructions, see the picture, the device still shows "locked" in green and not an unlock option. I have the latest EU stock FW RQ3A210605.005, recommended ADB Tools, magisk_patched.img but I can't get through the unlock Bootloader. Is it not possible that changes were made in the latest version of the FW so that the Bootloader could not be unlocked?View attachment 5333537

Was your bootloader ever unlocked?

How did you install the Custom Roms With a locked bootloader?

No, there were no changes made to the FW RQ3A210605.005 that would prevent the bootloader from being unlocked (OP, Android Security Bulletin—June 2021 and Pixel Update Bulletin—June 2021)

 

[PetrSP7]

Was your bootloader ever unlocked?

How did you install the Custom Roms With a locked bootloader?

No, there were no changes made to the FW RQ3A210605.005 the would prevent the bootloader from being unlocked (OP, Android Security Bulletin—June 2021 and Pixel Update Bulletin—June 2021)

Hi, I was not speaking about THIS device, but OnePlus 3, OnePlus 3t, SG Note II... ;-) This is my first Pixel phone, but Pixel is not officially distributed in the Czech Republic. The reason for the root is that I need to get support for 5G networks, which Google (yet?) does not have in the support list ...
But I can't unlock the Bootloader for some reason, even if I follow the exact procedure. It's clear to me that Custom ROM wouldn't load either, but I don't want to do that. I only need Magisk root to edit the file, see here: https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-how-to-add-5g-support-for-non-supported-yet-carriers.4221701/
Unfortunately, TWRP is not yet available, which would greatly simplify the process.
EDIT 16:11:
HEUREKA! I found another thread and I see the correct command format is:
./fastboot flashing unlock
./fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img
which resulted

(in this thread beginning is ./ missing in description!!) My PC is running Windows 10 last build 20H2, not Linux!

 

[Homeboy76]

Hi, I was not speaking about THIS device, but OnePlus 3, OnePlus 3t, SG Note II... ;-) This is my first Pixel phone, but Pixel is not officially distributed in the Czech Republic. The reason for the root is that I need to get support for 5G networks, which Google (yet?) does not have in the support list ...
But I can't unlock the Bootloader for some reason, even if I follow the exact procedure. It's clear to me that Custom ROM wouldn't load either, but I don't want to do that. I only need Magisk root to edit the file, see here: https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-how-to-add-5g-support-for-non-supported-yet-carriers.4221701/
Unfortunately, TWRP is not yet available, which would greatly simplify the process.
EDIT 16:11:
HEUREKA! I found another thread and I see the correct command format is:
./fastboot flashing unlock
./fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img
which resulted
View attachment 5333705
(in this thread beginning is ./ missing in description!!)

Yup, Linux/Mac computers uses the ./ with adb/fastboot commands.

Glad you found the solution.

 

[wewantutopia]

Before you lock the bootloader do a factory reset (OP, Index, #3, Return to Stock ,3.). Then do (OP, Index, #3, Lock bootloader ).

Thank you for the reply.

So, I re-flashed the stock unrooted boot.img, did a factory reset and setup the device as listed in OP, Index, #3, Return to Stock, then re-locked the bootloader as in OP, Index, #3, Lock boot loader.

The same thing happens, boot loader re-locks but then I get the "can't find valid operating system. The device will not start" message. If I re-unlock the bootloader everything is fine.

Any ideas on what is going wrong?

 

[PetrSP7]

Yup, Linux/Mac computers uses the ./ with adb/fastboot commands.

Glad you found the solution.

OK, but my computer runs Windows 10 20H2 build...

 

[Homeboy76]

OK, but my computer runs Windows 10 20H2 build...

Ok, it's a PowerShell thing.

 

[Homeboy76]

Thank you for the reply.

So, I re-flashed the stock unrooted boot.img, did a factory reset and setup the device as listed in OP, Index, #3, Return to Stock, then re-locked the bootloader as in OP, Index, #3, Lock boot loader.

The same thing happens, boot loader re-locks but then I get the "can't find valid operating system. The device will not start" message. If I re-unlock the bootloader everything is fine.

Any ideas on what is going wrong?

That's unusual, I don't have any idea why that is happening.
Maybe, it would help me troubleshoot the problem if you would tell me:
- Did you do Settings > Systems > Advanced > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset)?
- What ROM was on your phone before you did the factory reset?

 

[wewantutopia]

That's unusual, I don't have any idea why that is happening.
Maybe, it would help troubleshoot the problem if you would tell me:
- Did you do Settings > Systems > Advanced > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset)?
- What ROM was on your phone before you did the factory reset?

I did do "erase all data (factory rest)" after re-flashing the stock boot.img
I was just using the stock ROM that was rooted using Magisk to patch boot.img as listed in the OP #7

 

[Homeboy76]

I did do "erase all data (factory rest)" after re-flashing the stock boot.img
I was just using the stock ROM that was rooted using Magisk to patch boot.img as listed in the OP #7

Ok. I don't know why it didn't work. Hopefully, one of the other XDA members has a solution to the problem with your Pixel 4a5g.

 

[Homeboy76]

@jackhu
You're welcome!

 

[Homeboy76]

OP Updated
Index, • Open Command Prompt on Computer

What changed and Why?

The Option to open powershell was removed.
While it is still true you can open a command prompt in powershell: Open File Explorer ==> click the platform-tools folder ==> click the folder icon (left side of address bar) to highlight it type powershell and press enter.

Typing ./fastboot devices, ./flash-all, etc. no longer works.

I do not know why or when it stopped working.

My guess is one of the Windows 10 updates changed something in powershell.

 

[Homeboy76]

OP Updated
Index, • Open a Command Prompt on Computer

What changed and Why?

The Option to open powershell was restored.

I made a mistake.

I forgot to enable USB debugging before booting fastboot mode (bootloader) on my phone.

After, I corrected my mistake, I opened a powershell command prompt: Opened File Explorer ==> clicked the platform-tools folder ==> clicked the folder icon (left side of address bar) to highlight it typed powershell and pressed enter.

Then I typed ./fastboot devices at the powershell command prompt and pressed enter. It worked.

 

[matt6575]

I'm just about to attempt this but was looking for a quick verification first as I seen mention of verizon problems maybe?
My service is actually through Spectrum Mobile not verizon directly but they do use verizons network. My OEM unlock was greyed out originally so it couldn't be changed. I called Spectrum and told them I wanted my phone unlocked and they said ok, an hour later OEM unlock was now available to turn on. I have toggeled that to unlocked so that appears to work fine. Does that mean at this point I will be able to unlock the bootloader as well or is it possible that with OEM unlock enabled that they can still prevent the bootloader from being unlocked?

 

[Homeboy76]

I'm just about to attempt this but was looking for a quick verification first as I seen mention of verizon problems maybe?
My service is actually through Spectrum Mobile not verizon directly but they do use verizons network. My OEM unlock was greyed out originally so it couldn't be changed. I called Spectrum and told them I wanted my phone unlocked and they said ok, an hour later OEM unlock was now available to turn on. I have toggeled that to unlocked so that appears to work fine. Does that mean at this point I will be able to unlock the bootloader as well or is it possible that with OEM unlock enabled that they can still prevent the bootloader from being unlocked?

If you have Setting ==> Advanced ==> Developer options ==> OEM unlocking enabled on your Pixel 4a5g. AFAIK, you should be able to unlock the bootloader.

 

[PhilipTD]

I'm just about to attempt this but was looking for a quick verification first as I seen mention of verizon problems maybe?
My service is actually through Spectrum Mobile not verizon directly but they do use verizons network. My OEM unlock was greyed out originally so it couldn't be changed. I called Spectrum and told them I wanted my phone unlocked and they said ok, an hour later OEM unlock was now available to turn on. I have toggeled that to unlocked so that appears to work fine. Does that mean at this point I will be able to unlock the bootloader as well or is it possible that with OEM unlock enabled that they can still prevent the bootloader from being unlocked?

Hi, Did you end up rooting your phone?