In this guide, we will show you the steps to install OTA updates on your rooted device via KernelSU. In a normal use case scenario, you can easily install updates onto your device directly from the Settings menu, however, that isn’t the case when you have rooted your device. In such cases, you’ll have to install the OTA updates to the inactive slot and only then restart your device to boot to the said slot.
In this regard, we have already covered a guide on how you can carry out this task via Magisk. However, most of the users are now making a switch from Magisk over to KernelSU [mainly because it is somewhat easier to hide root in the latter]. So how can you install OTA updates on your device when it is rooted via Kernel? And is the process different for GKI and LKM rooting mechanisms? Let’s find out.
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How to Install OTA Updates on Rooted Device via KernelSU
The steps are different depending on whether you have rooted the device using a GKI [Generic Kernel Image] or LKM [Loadable Kernel Module]. Make sure to follow the instructions that correspond to your device’s requirement. Moreover, before starting, please take a backup of all the data on your device. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.
In LKM
- To begin with, go to Settings > System Updater > Download the OTA Update.
- Once the OTA is downloaded and installed, it will ask you to reboot the device.
- Do not do so. Instead, launch the KernelSU and select ‘Install to Inactive Slot’.
- Once that’s done, KernelSU will now ask you to reboot the device, do not do so.
- Instead, go back to the System Updater and then restart the device from there.
- Your device will now reboot to the Inactive Slot with the root being preserved.
In GKI
- To begin with, download the same firmware which is installed on the device.
- Then extract the vbmeta.img and boot.img using the Fastboot Enhance Tool.
- Once that’s done, download & extract Android SDK Platform Tools on the PC.
- Now enable USB Debugging and connect your device to your PC using a USB.
- After that, boot your device to the Fastboot Mode using the below command:
adb reboot bootloader
- Then, type in the below commands in the CMD to flash the boot and vbmeta:
fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img fastboot flash boot boot.img
- Go to Settings > System Updater > Download the OTA Update > Do not reboot.
- Now launch the KernelSU app > select ‘Install to Inactive Slot’ > Do not reboot.
- Next up, go back to the System Updater and then restart the device from there.
- Your device will now reboot to the Inactive Slot with the root being preserved.
That’s it. These were the steps to install OTA updates on your rooted device via KernelSU. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution as soon as possible.
