In this guide, we will show you the steps to root your Pixel 7A via Magisk patched init_boot. Google has just released its “awkward middle child” which is more closer to its big brother than ever before. While there have been some noticeable improvements over its predecessor 6A [90Hz display and wireless charging], however, this has also resulted in its price increment and has made it closer to the Pixel 7.
But keeping that aside, the device is sure to be among the most active players in custom development. Once you have checkmarked the sole prerequisite of unlocking the bootloader, you could then welcome abode a plethora of mods and tweaks onto your device, including the likes of Viper4Android, LSPosed, and AOSP Mods. But before you could carry out any of these tweaks, you’ll first have to root your Pixel 7A via Magisk patched init_boot. And in this guide, we will show you how to do just that. Follow along.
Table of Contents
Benefits and Risks of Rooting Pixel 7A
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 7A.
How to Root Google Pixel 7A via Magisk Patched Init_Boot.img
The below instructions are listed under separate sections for ease of understanding. Make sure to follow the same sequence as mentioned. 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 Pixel 7A
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 the Bootloader on Pixel 7A.
STEP 4: Get Pixel 7A Init_Boot.img
- To begin with, download the factory image for your Pixel 7A from below:
Pixel 7A [lynx] 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 7A 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 Pixel 7A 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 Pixel 7A 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 Pixel 7A via Magisk patched boot.img. 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.
