Home > Root

Root Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra via Magisk without TWRP

In this guide, we will show you the steps to root Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra devices via Magisk without using TWRP Recovery. The latest flagships from the South Korean Congleramte brings in plenty of noteworthy features. Well, it shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the OEM’s track record. Furthermore, these sets of devices have maintained a stronghold in the custom development domain as well.

In this regard, recently I covered an article on how to install TWRP and root Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra devices. At the time of writing, the recovery wasn’t able to decrypt the data partition and required formatting of data. Likewise, you also had to flash the Samsung disabler and disable the AVB before proceeding ahead with rooting your device. For some, all these called for quite a lot of effort and they asked if there is an alternate way out.

And this is how this guide came into existence. Here we will list out the instruction to root your device without using TWRP. So how will the entire process be carried out? Well, we would start off by downloading the stock firmware for your device. Then the firmware’s AP file will be patched via Magisk. The resultant magisk_patched.tar file will be flashed onto your device via Odin. With that in mind, let’s state off with the guide to root Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra via Magisk without using TWRP Recovery.



Root Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra via Magisk without TWRP

I am not going to list out the benefits of rooting as most of our readers would already be aware of that. But the risks associated with this process definitely deserve your attention. The first step is the unlocking of the bootloader which will make the device’s warranty null and void. Likewise, it will also wipe off all the data from your device. Rooting will then trip the Knox Counter, hence apps dependent on it might no longer function.

WideVine Certification will also be degraded from L1 to L3 (resulting in the inability to watch Netflix, Hulu, etc in Full HD). If that’s well and good, then here are the steps to root Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra devices via Magisk without using TWRP Recovery. 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: Unlock the Bootloader on Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra

First and foremost, you will have to unlock the bootloader on your device. For that, please refer to our comprehensive guide on  How to Unlock Bootloader on Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra [Using New VaultKeeper Method]. If you don’t wish to check out that guide, then here are the instructions in short:

how-to-unlock-bootloader-samsung-galaxy-s20-ultra-plus

  1. Enable Developer Options followed by OEM Unlocking on your device.
  2. Then boot it to the Download Mode.
  3. After this, press and hold the Volume Up key for a few seconds, until you are taken to the Device Unlock Mode.
  4. Finally, hit the Volume Up button to confirm the unlocking of the bootloader.
  5. When your device boots up, connect it to the Internet and verify the OEM Unlocking is enabled.

STEP 2: Download Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra Stock Firmware

You will now have to download the stock firmware for your device. This is needed because we would be using the AP file from the firmware to root Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra devices via Magisk without using TWRP Recovery. In this regard, there are quite a few alternatives that you could try out for downloading the firmware. However, for me, Frija is the standout tool among the crowds.

download stock firmware galaxy s20 series frija

If you also echo these thoughts then head over to our guide on How to Download Samsung Stock Firmware/ROM via Frija Tool. When you launch the tool, it will ask for the Model Number and CSC Code. I have provided complete instructions on how to find both of them in the linked article [as for India, CSC Code is INU]. As far as the Model Number is concerned, I am attaching the list of all Samsung Galaxy S20, Plus, and Ultra Variants list, you may refer to it.



STEP 3: Extract AP File from Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra Firmware

  1. Now that you have downloaded the stock firmware, extract it to any convenient location on your PC.
  2. You should now get the following five files in .tar.md5 format:
    AP, BL, CP, CSC, and HOME_CSC

    galaxy s20 stock firmware AP file

  3. Out of these five files, we will use the AP file to patch it via Magisk and then flash it via Odin. This will then root the Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra devices via Magisk without using TWRP Recovery.

STEP 4: Patch Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra AP File via Magisk

It’s now time to patch the stock AP file and get the resultant magisk_patched.tar file. In this regard, we have covered a comprehensive guide on How to Patch Samsung AP Firmware via Magisk. However, if you don’t wish to check that out, then here are the shorter instructions for the same:

patch ap file root magisk samsung galaxy s20 plus ultra

  1. Transfer the stock AP firmware file (that you have extracted from the firmware) to your device
  2. Now install the Magisk Manager app on your device and launch it.
  3. Tap on Install next to Magisk and then choose the ‘Select and patch a file’ option.
  4. Navigate to the AP firmware file and select it. Then tap on the Let’s Go button situated at the top right.

The flashing process will now begin. Once done, you should get the resultant patched file in the Downloads folder. It will be named magisk_patched.tar. [If you face any issues while patching the AP file, then please refer to our guide to Fix Magisk patched boot.img issue while Rooting Android 11]. We will now use this file to root the Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra devices via Magisk without using TWRP Recovery.



STEP 5: Boot Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra to Download Mode

You will now have to boot the device to Download Mode so that Odin is able to interact with your device.  So refer to our detailed guide on How to Boot any Samsung Device to Download Mode. Wish to save a click? Then here are the shorter instructions:

how-to boot-download-mode-galaxy-s20-ultra-plus

  1. Power off your device. Then press and hold the Volume Up and Volume Down keys together.
  2. While pressing both these keys connect your device to the PC via USB cable.
  3. Finally, leave both these buttons and hit the Volum Up key to boot to Download Mode.

STEP 6: Root Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra via magisk_patched.tar and Odin

Now that we have got the patched AP, it’s time to flash it via Odin and root the Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra devices via Magisk without using TWRP Recovery. However, we cannot only flash the patched AP file, you also need to flash the other files that you got after extracting the firmware (AP, BL, CP, and CSC).

If you are new to this, then it is recommended to check out our comprehensive guide on  How to Flash magisk_patched.tar (patched Samsung AP file) via Odin. However, if you have a decent idea about all this, then the below instructions shall be sufficient.

root-samsung-galaxy-s20-plus-ultra-odin-magisk_patched.tar

  1. To begin with, transfer the magisk_patched.tar file to your PC where the other firmware files (AP, BL, CP, CSC, and HOME_CSC) are present.
  2. Then connect your Samsung device to the PC via USB Cable (make sure it is booted to Download Mode).
  3. After this, load the following files to the Odin tool:
    • First off, click ‘BL‘ and load the BL firmware file.
    • Then click ‘AP‘ and load the magisk_patched.tar file.
    • After this, click ‘CP‘ and load the CP firmware file.
    • Then click ‘CSC‘ and load the CSC firmware file (the normal CSC file, not the Home CSC file).
  4. Now to the Options section of Odin Tool and uncheck ‘Auto Reboot‘.
  5. Finally, click on Start to begin the process. Once done, you should get the PASS!‘ message.
    flash-success-odin-pass-message
  6. Once this happens, you may reboot your device to the OS. Then launch the Magisk Manager app and it will ask you to complete additional setup, tap OK. The process will take only a few seconds after which, your device will automatically reboot once. That’s it.
    magisk-requires-additonal-setup-galaxy-s20

With this, we conclude the guide on root the Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra devices via Magisk without using TWRP Recovery. 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.


Share: