UPDATE 1: Added ‘new’ steps to root your Google Pixel 6A running Android 13 [due to Anti Rollback Mechanism, we will now be flashing the patched boot to both the slots].
In this guide, we will show you the steps to root your Google Pixel 6A via Magisk patched boot.img. The A series from the Silicon Valley giant is always among the most popular ones for budget buyers. And this time around, things are no different either. While there are a slew of other devices in a similar price bracket, but ‘nothing‘ could come close to the offering from Google.
Especially, if you are looking for an excellent camera and a pure stock Android OS experience then there’s no turning back [though the 60Hz display might leave something more to be desired]. Along the same lines, these devices are among the most popular players in custom development as well. If we talk about the 6A, then its kernel source and device tree are already up for grabs.
As a result of this, custom ROMs and TWRP recovery might be on the way sooner than later. However, it’s the ability to gain administrative privileges that have always been at the top of the priority list for many tech enthusiasts. If you echo the same thought as well, then this guide shall help you root your Google Pixel 6A via Magisk patched boot.img. Follow along for the instructions.
Table of Contents
Benefits and Risks of Rooting Pixel 6A
Once you root your device, you will be in a position to flash a plethora of mods. These include the likes of Magisk Modules, Substratum Themes, Xposed Framework via LSPosed, Viper4Android among others. Along the same lines, you could also flash a custom kernel and implement your desired CPU profile. However, such tweaks do comes in with a few risks as well.
To begin with, rooting requires you to unlock the bootloader- which will wipe of all the data and could nullify the warranty as well. Likewise, SafetyNet will be triggered which will result in your inability to use banking apps (though you could still pass SafetyNet in Rooted Android 12). So if all that’s well and good, then let’s get started with the steps to root your Google Pixel 6A via the Magisk patched boot.img file.
How to Root Google Pixel 6A via Magisk Patched Boot.img [Video]
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.
If you are on Android 13, then please go through this section first.
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 > Advanced > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking.
STEP 3: Unlock Bootloader on Pixel 6A
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 Google Pixel 6A.
STEP 4: Get Pixel 6A Stock Boot.img
- To begin with, download the factory image for your Pixel 6A from the Google firmware page.
- Make sure to download the same version that is currently installed on your device.
- Once downloaded, extract it to any convenient location on your PC.
- Then go to the Images folder and you should get the stock boot.img file. Copy it and then transfer it to your device.
STEP 5: Patch Pixel 6A 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 boot.img file, and select it.
- Then tap on the Let’s Go button situated at the top right.
- The 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. We will now be using this file to root your Pixel 6A.
STEP 6: Boot Pixel 6A Fastboot Mode
- Now connect your device to the PC via 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
- Now if you are on Android 13, then skip STEP 7 and 8 and jump over to this section. On the other hand, Android 12 users could refer to the below steps 7 and 8 to root their Pixel 6A.
STEP 7: Boot Pixel 6A using Magisk patched Boot.img
Now, there exist two different methods to proceed ahead. You could either directly flash the patched boot.img file [see FAQ] or temporary boot it. The second approach is highly recommended because you could easily test if everything is working well or not. If it is, then you could proceed ahead with the permanent installation.
On the other hand, if things don’t go as planned and your device ends up in a bootloop/ softbrick, then just a normal reboot will fix the issue. So on that note, let’s get started with the second approach. For that, execute the below command in the CMD window and your device will be booted to a temporarily rooted OS.
fastboot boot magisk_patched.img
STEP 8: Permanent Root Pixel 6A via Direct Install
After executing the above command, your device will be booted to the OS with a temporary root. Here’s how to make it permanent:
- To begin with, launch the Magisk Manager App.
- Then tap on Install > Direct Install and tap Let’s Go situated at the top-right.
- Once done, hit the Reboot button situated at the bottom right.
- That’s it, your device will now boot to the rooted OS.
So with this, we round off the guide on how you could root your Pixel 6A device 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.
How to Root Google Pixel 6A running Android 13
Beginning with Android 13, Google has introduced the Anti Rollback Protection for the Pixel 6 series. Earlier, if anything went wrong on one slot, then your device would use the second slot to boot to the OS. However, since your second slot would still be having Android 12, it would end up triggering the Anti Rollback mechanism and your device might end up in a bricked state. To prevent that from happening, you should first install the Android 13 firmware to both the slots, using the instructions given here- Install Android 13 in Both Slots on Pixel 6A/6/Pro to Prevent Brick. Once that is done, you may then refer to the below steps to root your Pixel 6A running Android 13.
- To begin with, carry out the STEPS 1 to 6 as listed above.
- Then execute the below command to flash the Magisk patched boot file to Slot A
fastboot flash boot_a magisk_patched.img
- Next up, use the below command to flash the Magisk patched boot file to Slot B
fastboot flash boot_b magisk_patched.img
- Finally, use the following command to boot your device to the rooted OS:
fastboot reboot
FAQ: Root Pixel 6A by Direct Flashing Boot.img
As mentioned in STEP 7. we used the approach of temporary booting to the rooted OS and then used Magisk’s Direct Install method to permanently root your device. However, if you wish to root your device by directly flashing the patched boot.img, then use the below command:
fastboot flash boot magisk_patched_boot.img
