[Magisk] flipmode_11:
Hi, I am trying to centralise this sort of information and am compiling it in another topic for Magisk and android-based media centres too.

Trying to properly document things (full sentences with references, links, and examples) rather than just writing some brief summarised steps that most people will not understand - not just for myself but to share should it assist others learn and understand the preparation and steps involved, plus consequences and ramifications of their actions (which never seem to be stressed enough).

Here is what I have compiled. Hopefully it will help and prevent you going loopy!? :p :silly:

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*** EXTREMELY CLEAR MAGISK ROOT INSTRUCTIONS ***

(Work In Progress! To Be Verified & Critiqued By Others)​

Connect your WiFi so that all auxillary files can be downloaded during the rooting process.

Ensure you have a minimum of 2GB of free disk space. Allow for 1-2 hours to perform these steps. Do not rush! :P

Bootloaders come with every Android device, and give it all the instructions on how to boot and what to execute. If your Bootloader is locked, then you have not flashed anything like TWRP previously, or, you have re-flashed a stock Bootloader and Recovery, etc. The process is much easier when you have previously rooted the device using another method, and the Bootloader already unlocked.

To preserve your System partition, Magisk only modifies the unlocked Bootloader boot partition, which can easily* be restored and 'locked' later.

0. Before starting anything, always perform a FULL Backup (ADB) of your device, using a good quality USB cable and ADB FastBoot toolkit. Or on some devices you can use a Micro SD card with a TWRP recovery.img to boot into TWRP to perform a backup of partitions. Do both if you want! Make sure you search for the appropriate commands and usage of ADB FastBoot backup so that all data is backed up and included. :D

> ADB FastBoot: https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools.html

> TWRP: https://dl.twrp.me/twrpapp/ \\ https://twrp.me/FAQ/

> Plus various other solutions...

1. Identify your device's firmware, build number, Bootloader, full unique model number, etc. Download any two of these apps:

a) AIDA64 ("System", "CPU" & "Android" tabs.)

b) Device Info HW ("General" & "System" tabs.)

c) DevCheck ("Hardware" & "System" tabs.)

2. Download the stock Bootloader, Recovery and Firmware (

___

.tar.md5) for your device model, variant and OS. (e.g. match your firmware, build number, bootloader, full unique module number, etc). Some sites will force you to pay to download - search around and you can get free download links, or sometimes from the manufacturer's site. From this firmware, we need to either extract or download the stock Bootloader.img image separately.

3. Install Magisk Manager v5.3-v5.6 as of 2017.02.22 ("Magisc" is typo by guy above).

4. Open Magisk and go to settings, adjust theme, change the language, enable notify for updates, change prompt timeout, etc.

5. On the home screen of the Magisk Manager app, click "Install" then in the pop-up select "Install" again.

a) If you have root access already, choose "Direct Method" - Select, wait, reboot and done (very easy!);

b) If you have stock recovery & locked bootloader, choose "Patch Boot Image File" - in the pop-up explorer, browse for the downloaded Bootloader Image.

c) ... I don't know about "Download ZIP Only" - I assume for flashing with Odin or ADB FastBoot from PC or existing root/unlocked user....?

NOTE: If you are being asked to browse and select a file, be aware that there is no confirmation! As soon as you click, that JPG or RAR archive will be used for patching (and result in an error if cannot be extracted!!!)

6. A file will likely be downloaded in the background (flashable ZIP), a black screen will pop-up processing etc. Wait.....

The processed Boot image will be processed and output to the /MagiskManager/ directory.

If you do NOT have root, or custom recovery, you will need to:

a) grab a PC, install the USB drivers for your device and confirm your device is fully recognised

b) then flash the "patched" Boot image from the Magisk Manager directory with ODIN for Windows or FastBoot on Windows via a good-quality USB cable.

7. ...

8. ...

I think that is it... I may have forgotten something. Please advise if something needs to be fixed or corrected. My Media Centre was already unlocked, so I did not have to unlock and flash the Bootloader. :)

9. Install free TWRP on your device, and choose to backup any partitions, should you wish to restore them later. Set an alarm to backup your device every few months! What are you prepared to lose if your device was lost/squashed/washed/crunched et al.???

Say

thank you and donate

to the amazing and all powerful Magisk developer 'TopJohnWu' and team!

Sweet! :fingers-crossed: