yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] dcarvil:
If all you want is root back, just download Magisk-v23.0.apk from https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/releases/download/v23.0/Magisk-v23.0.apk

Rename it to Magisk.-v23.0.zip, and flash it with twrp. No need to flash a new factory image.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] baikal2:
I am trying to root my phone and am currently on 8.1. Is the Magisk version dependent on the OS version ? TIA
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] dcarvil:
No, not dependent. I'd stay with stable Magisk, though. Version 23.0.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] baikal2:
Thanks for your help. I think I rooted the phone. I checked it with root checker and it tells me that "Sorry! Root access is not properely installed on this device". Not sure what I am doing wrong. Is this normal or did I skip a step somewhere.

I downloaded version 23 of magisk apk.

Renamed the apk to zip and flashed it through TWRP.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] 41rw4lk:
Uninstall magisk and try rooting with canary build, if all checks out then change the update channel in the app to stable for the next update.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] dcarvil:
Was the Magisk Manager app available after you rebooted? If not, install Magisk.apk. Open the Magisk Manager app. There are two Install buttons on the top right of the screen. To the left of the top button, it should have "Installed 23.0 (23000)". If it has "N/A", tap Install, Direct Install.

If that does not fix it, post a screenshot of the Magisk Manager app.

There are a lot of root checker apps, and I have no idea how valid they are. The way I check for root is just open a terminal and type su. That should put you at a root # prompt. The first time you will get a popup to grant root access.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] baikal2:
Looks like I did not reboot after I installed Magisk. After the reboot the root shows up. thx for your help.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] baikal2:
Looks like I did not reboot after I installed Magisk. After the reboot the root shows up.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] lichan:
I'm trying to root a new Pixel 2 XL. By mistake I first flashed unlock_critical before the regular unlock. The bootloader is unlocked but when I try to install the latest Lineage using booted TWRP I get the following error, "Error applying update: 7 (ErrorCode::kInstallDeviceOpenError)". is this caused by the unlocking error? If so, how can I correct it? Thanks.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] lichan:
It turns out the most recent TWRP version was the cause. Version 3.3.0 was able to install without errors,
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] ridenickel9:
Im running Android 11, about to go through this thread and move over to Lineage OS.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] eragonhnn:
I have a question . Can non-rooted devices install TWRP?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] runekock:
Yes. But you'll need to unlock the bootloader.

Some choose to run TWRP directly from fastboot, but I think the answer is still the same: unlock bootloader.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] eragonhnn:
Thank you and F**king Verizon
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] cognitivedissonance:
Not sure if anyone else is still using their Pixel 2 XL, but hopefully someone is. Based on what I've read, it seems that TWRP can't be installed with Android 11. Having said that, I haven't really seen much confirmation about that *STILL* being the case.

Here's the list of Factory Images for Taimen. https://developers.google.com/android/images#taimen

Android 11 was 1st released in Sept 2020, and the final release was Dec 2020.

Here's the link to the TWRP builds for Taimen. https://dl.twrp.me/taimen/

As you'll see, version 3.5.0_9-1 and version 3.5.1_9-0 were both released in March of 2021, then 3.5.2_9-0 was released April of 2021, and finally 3.6.0_9-0 was released November of 2021.

I can't help but wonder if the information about TWRP not being installable on Android 11 is still accurate and applicable to the TWRP releases I've mentioned, given that they were released way after Android 11 was released to the Pixel 2 XL. I assume part of what they were doing would have been trying to make it more compatible with Android 11, right?

The other thing I was wondering is whether anyone has had any experience installing SHRP recovery on Android 11. The only real info I've found on it is from this thread: https://xdaforums.com/t/recovery-taimen-sky-hawk-recovery-project-v3-1-04-11-2021.4222501/ and this video: youtube.com/watch?v=rvwec9QE3hM. Both are somewhat less than confidence inspiring, so I'm curious to know whether anyone has actually used it and had success.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Nergal di Cuthah:
Uh what's going on with the above rooting 2xl post.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] flash713:
Pretty sure SHRP is based on TWRP. Just backup what you can of your device using Google backup or whatever and also backup your current boot.img and transfer it to USB or PC then boot TWRP via fastboot: fastboot boot twrp-(whatever is in image name here).img and either install TWRP installation zip or try the advanced tab in TWRP and the "flash latest recovery" option ...if it's available in your devices latest TWRP. You can also backup current boot.img using FKM app and move the FKM folder to USB or PC..

If you have issues manually boot to bootloader and flash your boot.img you backed up before you started using fastboot: fastboot flash boot boot.img --slot all, then reboot. You should boot back to how you were before.. At this point with my devices I'm used to wiping everything and starting over. I always just try things myself and don't ask questions. As long as you have read "everything available" about whatever you are trying to do first and understand and you know how to fix things if something were to go wrong and as long as your boot.img from before you started this TWRP install mission is backup up and moved to another device you should be able to revert back by flashing it. All else fails you can always manually boot to bootloader and install a factory image. I don't have a Pixel 2xl I'm actually using a Pixel 5 now but that's what I would do. Not sure if you need to or not but you may need to also flash magisk again after you installed TWRP installer zip and or use the "flash latest recovery" option in advanced TWRP tab, before rebooting. I would probably do that as well. You should be able to flash magisk in twrp once it's booted or you can adb sideload magisk.apk. You might need to rename magisk.apk to magisk .zip before flashing it. I keep both on a USB drive.. Remember adb sideload you probably have to hit it a few times to get it to start the sideload process ..

Quite sure if you are here on xda then you know things like remove lockscreen lock before any of this... Hope this helps.

If the TWRP dev last said twrp isn't installable on A11 and never commented anything else about it then I would think it probably can't be installed on A11. If this is the case its probably because of them whole A/B change and the size of the boot partition not being able to house boot and recovery. I know that's what happened on Pixel 4XL. If that be the case just boot twrp when you want to use it.

(Edited)
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Schroeder09:
a little late (like a couple years) to the party, but I'm finally gonna move to A11 on my P2XL. I wanted to dirty flash the big update. I've read through the last 10-15 pages here. I gather that the install process is the same as it was on A8 through A10 with the exception being that you can't install TWRP, so the process looks like this:

1.) download december 2020 image .zip to PC

2.) extract and edit the flash-all.bat to remove the "-w"

3.) adb reboot bootloader

4.) run the flash-all.bat file from the powershell or cmd window

5.) reboot and make sure it runs.

6.) adb reboot bootloader

7.) fastboot twrp.img

8.) flash EX kernel

9.) flash latest magisk (download to phone before step 1 above)

10.) reboot to system

finished

is this right? with all the A11 talk i didn't see it spelled out like this. it seems like some people are saying this works. others were successful by patching a boot image.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] simplepinoi177:
I could be wrong, but I believe TWRP states that it works on A11 & A12; but I might be wrong on the fact that it can be installed specifically on the Pixel 2 XL for whatever reason...

I'm just jumping on this thread because it popped up on my alerts and I forgot that I was "watching" this thread, so I'm not read up on TWRP or anything Pixel 2 XL related....

I can't believe this thread is still here lol... I miss my taimen....
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Edmontonchef:
I'm pretty sure you'll have to patch the boot.img with magisk manager and root then install Ex with ex-kernel manager.

Taimen is a good old phone, still keep mine as a backup weekly updated with lineage
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] simplepinoi177:
it used to be you could install/root Magisk by installing the Magisk.zip in TWRP... that brings me back... so much simpler...i wonder if that has changed...
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Schroeder09:
can you explicitly explain the steps to do this?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Edmontonchef:
How To Root a Pixel XL, 2, 2XL, 3, & 3XL

Rooting your Android device lets you access many of the features that aren’t provided by default on your device. These features include access to root-only apps, custom versions of the operating system, and custom recoveries to flash various files. It’s totally possible to root a Pixel XL, 2...

www.online-tech-tips.com
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] delta1071:
On my Pixel 2XL I'm running into an error when doing the TWRP>adb sideload>PixelExperience 13. "Failed to mount /system_root (Invalid argument)" and "failed to mount /vendor (device or resource busy)". Occurs with TWRP 3.6 and 3.7. Same errors occurring when using TWRP install (from zip) option. I've tried this using a USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 port with 2 different cables on my PC.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] runekock:
Note that PixelExperience requires you to repartition, as detailed on their website:

Install PixelExperience on taimen - PixelExperience Wiki

Install PixelExperience on taimen - PixelExperience Wiki

wiki.pixelexperience.org
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] delta1071:
Thank you for responding, runekock. After following all the steps on the PE site, the PE13 BETA sideload fails to install in either slot_a or slot_b. The error messages are (same for both slots):

Error applying update: 7 (ErrorCode:: kInstallDeviceOpenError) and

ERROR: recovery: Error in /sideload/package.zip (status 1)
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] runekock:
I suspect that a reboot is necessary after flashing the repartition zip. Also, you need to format data - which will delete all your files.

If this doesn't help, try posting to the PE thread.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] robadob2795:
I just pulled out my P2XL outta the drawer to try and unlock the bootloader. Factory reset the phone, updated to 11 and followed the instructions provided to unlock bootloader.

OEM Unlock is checked

USB debugging check

"ADB reboot bootloader" worked

But when I got to "fastboot flashing unlock," CMD sat in a state of "<waiting for device>

On the P2XL, it showed the standard stuff you would see.

"FastBoot Mode" was in red

"Secure Boot" - "yes"

"Device State" - "locked"

Not sure what else to do
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] runekock:
You posted this to the Verizon thread as well.

If your phone is indeed a Verizon model, no solution is known.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Lf562:
Noob here looking to root my P2XL that has the OEM enable button greyed out. Is the correct process or do I have to do something else?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Edmontonchef:
If it's a Verizon model you're SOL. If anything try factory resetting it and see if unlocking becomes available.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] blackmennewstyle:
He probably will be able to get the OEM unlock activated like i did, however as soon as he will reboot in fastboot, all the flashing command won't work:

```

fastboot flashing unlock

FAILED (remote: 'Flashing Unlock is not allowed

')

fastboot: error: Command failed

```

```

fastboot flashing unlock_critical

FAILED (remote: 'Flashing Unlock is not allowed

')

fastboot: error: Command failed

```

The people at Verizon are real scumbags, even now when the phone is basically not supported anymore, they will not provide a way to unlock their phones. STUPID IDIOTS.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] simplepinoi177:
That happened to me; Was able to get OEM unlock ticked but it would go away after a reboot or when booting into bootloader mode right after....

Unfortunately, it's not about "provid[ing] a way to unlock their phones"; it's more that they get their variants permanently locked down right at the very beginning [i imagine at the factory] paranoid there'll be an exploit found that they leave no avenue of it being unlocked possible even in the future. I imagine it's much like how Samsung gets KNOX permanently tripped. They just don't leave an avenue/possibility for any instance that there wouldn't be "a way" in the future when it's not supported anymore regardless...
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] blackmennewstyle:
Yeah but that `factory bootloader lock` still has flaws since people were able to unlock with specific older firmware. Too bad sideload flashing doesn't allow to flash recovery with older OAT images.

Kinda sad since these phones are still usable to-date, the hardware is still really capable and they could have received new ROMs which would have expended their lifetime and usability: Mine found a new life with crypto mining lol
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Karl_in_Chicago:
6 year later . . . :)

So with my Pixel 2 XL just slightly out of support now I finally figured I'd re-enter the rooted world. While I've been running the bootloader unlocked since I bought the phone (as I have with all my phones for like forever now) I hadn't especially felt the need to root. This guide is *excellent* and all anyone needs but I'm adding - for, ahem, a friend that might not read the post in its entirety before starting - UPDATE YOUR DRIVERS!!!! ADB worked fine but FASTBOOT kept hanging with device not ready. I (extremely incorrectly) figured the drivers couldn't be the problem if adb worked, amiright? Anywhoo once I finished with the (highly recommended) RTFM therapy I went and downloaded Google's android drivers and was able to complete the process with no more curse words or hurled objects.

So, TL;DR version - great doc, read it ALL, and UPDATE YOUR DRIVERS first. As Mr. Monk would say "You'll thank me later".

Thanks for the great writeup that is still spot-on 6 years later nathanchance.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] KennyG123:
[MENTION=6842057]nathanchance[/MENTION]

It may be important to note in the OP that sideloading OTA's does not require an unlocked bootloader nor root.

Thanks for this thread! :good:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] nathanchance:
Oh yeah duh :silly: will update shortly, thanks Kenny!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] iamjimmy:
Not to hijack the thread, but is is possible to add certain features which are available in Custom ROMs, manually. Assuming Root.

Are there any apps or other ways to edit files and get these features. Ex:

1) Navigation bar Tuner to add and change placement of Nav buttons (the app in play store only allows VERY limited customization).

2) Double tap lockscreen/nav bar to sleep

3) Long press power menu options.

4) Kill back button etc
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Scettles:
I really dont want to flash to stock lol. I dont want to go through the backing up and what not... lol is that okay? how would i do it without reverting back to stock
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Veritech:
So if we're on September 8.0 and have rooted with Magisk, how do we go about implementing the November OTA? The only module from Magisk I installed was the tethering one. I have not installed TWRP Alpha (if it's needed) but I have already downloaded the OTA from Google's website. Thanks in advance!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] nathanchance:
Restore the stock boot image in Magisk, do the sideload using the steps in the OP, patch the boot image with Magisk, then flash it.

Alternatively, you can following Magisk's OTA guide: https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/blob/master/docs/tips.md#ota-installation-tips
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] the1dynasty:
[MENTION=6842057]nathanchance[/MENTION] I have a Pixel 2 XL that I am sending back to Google because I got the replacement device today... I was on the dev preview for 8.1 and wanted to return it to stock at least for them... I ran the following:

fastboot flashing unlock

followed by

fastboot flashing unlock_critical

I then flashed the Sept release 8.0.0 (OPD1.170816.010, Sep 2017) and after it flashed successfully, I ran the following commands

fastboot flashing lock

After a quick erase, the phone got stuck in a bootloop... And because I had never seen the _critical command... I ran just for good measure...

fastboot flashing lock_critical

I keep getting an error that the system may be corrupt and it's stuck in a bootloop... I started over with unlocking again and then I flashed (successfully) the latest image (8.0.0 (OPD1.170816.025, Nov 2017)) after reading the OP...

I am still stuck with the same problem as flashing the first image... it's bootlooping and I cannot figure it out... any suggestions?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] nathanchance:
1. Are you running the flash-all script with the "-w" added? You should because that will fully wipe the device.

2. Don't lock the bootloader until you know the device boots successfully.

Only thing I could think of is the downgrade is failing from AVB but that doesn't make sense otherwise Google would have warned about it.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] the1dynasty:
I ended up booting to recovery and sideloading via ADB the Nov OTA taimen-ota-opd1.170816.025-f62d726d and it booted up fine...

Still has the warning at the beginning saying "This device is corrupt........" any idea how to get rid of that??

---------- Post added 10th November 2017 at 12:36 AM ---------- Previous post was 9th November 2017 at 11:53 PM ----------

I fixed this by manually flashing the boot.img by pulling it from the downloaded factory image I was on... then I ran these commands

fastboot erase boot

fastboot flash boot boot.img

fastboot flashing lock_critical

fastboot flashing lock

The error went away and all is well again :good:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] KennyG123:
Was never found a way to get rid of the corrupt notice. It is still there in the Nexus 6P.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] beezar:
So why wouldn't you want to do the critical unlock vs just the standard unlock? Are there disadvantages other than accidentally flashing the wrong bootloader and bricking your phone? And if you do brick it that way, is it recoverable?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] nathanchance:
I don't know why you wouldn't want to do a critical unlock lol.

I don't know if flashing an incorrect bootloader is recoverable.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] chazall1:
Your Guide is informative and should relieve some of the basic issues

if everyone reads it and understands dont panic.

Thank You.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Cowbell_Guy:
Once we root and install magisk, is this (link below) the best and most appropriate way to continue getting OTAs while maintaining magisk root?

https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/blob/master/docs/tips.md#ota-installation-tips
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] chazall1:
Yes it is. The A/B slots are always switching to the active slot during every update. Updated done by OTA, or adb sideload will change your active slot. If you run, fastboot getvar current-slot, it will give you your current active slot. Lets say your active slot is (a). You receive and OTA or sideload the update. Your new active slot will be (b). and so on. On the safe side For the boot.img I always flash to both slot_a and slot_b.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] probono10:
Make the Pixel 2 XL Ad-Free?

Will the links you posted allow for the device to be ad-free via Adaway? I've only rooted 2 devices before using TWRP, and simply don't want to go back to a phone that's like one never ending commercial.

Should I take the warnings that I could brick this brand new device more seriously than the warnings posted in the past prior to Google launching the Pixel brand?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] nathanchance:
Yes, Magisk should allow Adaway to work fine.

No, this is just like any other Google device, unlocking the bootloader should be a safe procedure. I just put warnings so that nobody can claim I bricked their device :silly:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] probono10:
OTA 8.0.0

In your opinion should I install the new OTA 8.0.0 update prior to doing this?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] slaydog:
Ugh, I LOVE this phone, but an active XDA community is a must for me. I've never even looked at the Pixel 1's development forums, just assumed they were similar to the 6Ps...

I hope the OP5T comes out soon, because if that's where the development is, they deserve my money. And much less of it, I might add, lol...
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] nathanchance:
Eh OnePlus isn't without its flaws either. The release cycle is annoying, kernel source is terrible compared to Google, and the fragmentation between ROMs is frustrating. But those are more developer gripes than anything; from a user's perspective, it's like the ROMs of old lol. It's all about priorities. If a strong development community is what you value, you can't go wrong with OnePlus.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Az Biker:
Using my steps you would SKIP flashing TWRP.zip from within TWRP.

You can never go wrong with OP instructions, but my steps work too :D
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] tarroyo:
Does the root method work the same for all monthly security patches going forward? Or is it different every update???
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] nathanchance:
Yes, it should.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] cavolo:
Hi there, I've been trying to install Magisk on my new phone tonight, but it seems that I'm not able to...

I've been a long time user of Nexus devices, with platform-tools up-to-date, know how to use fastboot and adb (just a little info about me, si you know).

Once I got my phone I've unlocked it (both unlock and critical), flash'd the latest OTA (was en 8.0, now on the latest 8.1), already used it for 2 days, but the ads that are everywhere on internet... its annoying (I've been using adaway for so long haha).

I've installed MagiskManager, put the stock boot.img on my phone and tried to patch it, but MagiskManager did nothing :/

So I thoughts I'll just boot twrp.img, and flash the magisk 14.5 zip with twrp and voilà.

Buuuut, I can't boot twrp :/

fastboot boot Downloads/twrp-3.2.1-0-taimen.img
downloading 'boot.img'..

And its been 10 minutes thats its stuck like that and I've tried to find an answer in some threads here, but can't find to right solution for me :(

Any idea ?

Thanks :)
[Google Pixel 2 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] jblanko6:
After fallowing the steps to root 8.1 I'm getting this message . Any ideas :(