How to Root Google Pixel Fold via Magisk Patched Init

In this guide, we will show you the steps to root the Google Pixel Fold via Magisk patched init_boot.img. There has been an addition of quite a few new players in the fold domain. However, truth be told, it was the offering from the Silicon Valley giant that many were eagerly awaiting. While it’s in no way the perfect foldable device ever made, but that is completely understandable because the first iteration always has a few rough edges.

So why there’s so much hype surrounding this product? Well, when you are getting a clean stock OS experience, with guaranteed fastest OS updates, and a more than decent camera [at its current state, it is comparable to the Pixel 7A], then there’s nothing much left to ask [expect it could have been a tad bit cheaper]. Moreover, the fact that the devices from Google are always among the most active players in custom development proves to be the icing on the cake.

While custom ROMs might take a tad bit longer to get optimized to this screen size and custom recovery are now a thing of the past, but you could gain administrative privileges by rooting your Pixel Fold via Magisk right away. This will then open the floodgates to the plethora of mods and tweaks. So without any further ado, let’s show you how this could be carried out.

Table of Contents

Benefits and Risks of Rooting Google Pixel Fold

Once you root your device, you will be in a position to flash a plethora of mods. These include the likes of Magisk Modules, Xposed Framework, Substratum Themes, and Viper4Android among others. Along the same lines, you could also flash a custom kernel and implement your desired CPU profile. However, such tweaks do come with a few risks as well.

To begin with, it will wipe off all the data and could nullify the device’s warranty as well. Along the same lines, it will degrade the Widevine L1 certification to L3, thereby preventing you from streaming content in HD [FIXED]. The SafetyNet will be triggered [FIXED], thereby preventing you from using banking apps [FIXED]. So if that’s well and good then let’s get started with the steps to root your Google Pixel Fold.

How to Root Google Pixel Fold via Magisk Patched Init_Boot.img

The below process will wipe off all the data from your device and might nullify its warranty as well, so take a backup beforehand. 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.

STEP 1: Install Android SDK

First and foremost, you will have to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform-tools folder, which will be used throughout this guide.

STEP 2: Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking

Next up, you will also have to enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking on your device. The former will make your device recognizable by the PC in ADB mode. This will then allow you to boot your device to Fastboot Mode. On the other hand, OEM Unlocking is required to carry out the bootloader unlocking process.

So head over to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number 7 times > Go back to Settings > System > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking.

STEP 3: Unlock Bootloader on Google Pixel Fold

Next up, you will also have to unlock the device’s bootloader. Do keep in mind that doing so will wipe off all the data from your device and could nullify its warranty as well. So if that’s all well and good, then please refer to our detailed guide on How to Unlock Bootloader on Google Pixel Fold.

STEP 4: Get Pixel Fold Init_Boot.img

To begin with, download the factory image for your Pixel Fold from below:
```
Google Pixel Fold [felix] Factory Image
```
Make sure to download the same version that is currently installed on your device [refer to Settings > About Phone > Build Number].
Once downloaded, extract it to any convenient location on your PC.
Then go to the Images folder and you should get the init_boot.img file. Copy it and then transfer it to your device.

STEP 5: Patch Pixel Fold Init_Boot.img via Magisk

Download and install the Magisk App on your device.
Then launch it and tap on the Install button next to Magisk.
After that, choose ‘Select and Patch a File’, and navigate to the stock init_boot.img file, and select it.
Then tap on the Let’s Go button situated at the top right.
The init_boot.img file will now be patched and placed under the Downloads folder on your device.
You should transfer this file to the platform-tools folder on your PC and rename it to magisk_patched_init_boot.img.

STEP 6: Boot Google Pixel Fold Fastboot Mode

Now connect your device to the PC via a USB cable. Make sure USB Debugging is enabled.
Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
Type in the following command in the CMD window to boot your device to Fastboot Mode
```
adb reboot bootloader
```
To verify the Fastboot connection, type in the below command and you should get back the device ID.
```
fastboot devices
```

STEP 7: Root Google Pixel Fold using Magisk Patched Init_Boot.img

Now type in the below command to flash the patched init_boot file
```
fastboot flash init_boot magisk_patched_init_boot.img
```
If the above command gives out an error, then you should manually flash the init_boot to both partitions via the below two commands
```
fastboot flash init_boot_a magisk_patched_init_boot.img
fastboot flash init_boot_b magisk_patched_init_boot.img
```

These were the steps to root your Google Pixel Fold via Magisk. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.

About Chief Editor

Sadique Hassan

administrator

A technical geek by birth, he always has a keen interest in the Android platform right since the birth of the HTC Dream. The open-source environment always seems to intrigue him with the plethora of options available at his fingertips. “MBA by profession, blogger by choice!”

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