[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] munchy_cool:
How to Install TWRP Recovery & Root Essential PH-1 (Windows/Mac/Linux)
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This is an alternate method on how install TWRP. This one might give you a better understanding of slots.

Another method can be found at below link. Use whatever is easier for you.

https://xdaforums.com/essential-phone/how-to/guide-rooting-essential-ph-1-magisk-t3701976

Warning 1: If you can't do fastboot commands, do a flash all, root your device or flash TWRP/ROM, please do not ask for help here. If you cannot flash all back to stock, please stay stock for everyone's sake.

Warning 2: You might loose all your data. Make sure to backup your data.

/*
* Your warranty is now void.
*
* I am not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards,
* thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please
* do some research if you have any concerns about features included in this ROM
* before flashing it! YOU are choosing to make these modifications, and if
* you point the finger at me for messing up your device, I will laugh at you.
*/

Pre-Requisites

Make sure you have unlocked the bootloader.

Download and Install drivers (Windows) :- https://storage.googleapis.com/essential-static/Essential-PH1-WindowsDrivers.exe

Make sure to remove pin/password/pattern etc. Even though TWRP support decryption I personally suggest you remove it and can add it back later.

Make sure you are stock. If you are rooted, please install stock boot.img.

How to Boot into fastboot/bootloader mode

1. Reboot phone, and keep volume down pressed while device is rebooting until you see bootloader mode screen.

2. While phone is off, press volume down and then press power button. Keep holding both until you see bootloader mode screen.

How to Install

Steps

1. Download all the files listed in downloads section and place them inside one folder say ph-1.

2. Unzip fastboot and adb zip file (platform-tools). Rename twrp image file to twrp-mata.img. move twrp img file to platform-tools folder.

3. Connect phone to computer and copy below files to internal memory.

* TWRP Installer Zip

* Magisk Zip

Reboot device into bootloader mode.

4. Using command prompt/terminal navigate to folder where fastboot is.

Command Prompt

fastboot devices

Mac/Linux/Powershell

./fastboot devices

Make sure device is detected in fastboot mode.

5. Find current slot. Note this down some where.

Command Prompt

fastboot getvar current-slot

Mac/Linux/Powershell

./fastboot getvar current-slot

6. If you get current slot as

* A - we will flash twrp to slot B

* B - we will flash twrp to slot A

7. Flash TWRP to slot opposite of what we found out in Step 5.

Command Prompt

fastboot flash boot_slot twrp-mata.img

Mac/Linux/Powershell

./fastboot flash boot_slot twrp-mata.img

So, if your current slot was a, you will use boot_b above. If current slot was b, you will use boot_a above.

8. Set slot where we flashed TWRP as active.

Command Prompt

fastboot --set-active=slot

Mac/Linux/Powershell

./fastboot --set-active=slot

So, if your current slot was a, you will use --set-active=b above. If current slot was b, you will use --set-active=a above.

9. Use volume rockers till you see recovery option. Then press power button to select. You should now boot into TWRP.

If the touchscreen doesn't function, skip to instructions in post 2 below.

Now, flash TWRP installer zip file.

Once zip is flashed and has patched both slots. Go back to home screen.

Reboot.

On this screen select the slot which we had noted down in step 5.

Then reboot into system. You should now boot into Android.

10. To root. Boot back into bootloader mode. Go into TWRP recovery. Flash magisk zip. reboot.

Support :

1) Search. Search, search, search. If you make the effort of reading atleast 5 pages back, most if not all your questions will be answered. I personally, will ignore any questions, if I know they have been answered in the last 5 pages. Not being rude, but please read.

2) If you can't find answers in last 5 pages, ask here, be respectful and have a good time.

Video Guide

[youtube]7PYBYDbapho[/youtube]

Downloads :

Latest ADB & Fastboot Zip File :- https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools

TWRP for Essential Phone (need both .img and zip file) :- https://xdaforums.com/essential-phone/development/official-twrp-3-2-3-0-essential-ph-1-t3840931

Magisk :- https://xdaforums.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445

Going Back to Stock :- https://xdaforums.com/essential-phone/development/stock-7-1-1-nmj20d-t3701681

If you flashed September Android 9.0 Pie Back to Stock (BTS) it flashes to both slots. In that case, if touch is not working please refer post 2.

Credits

[MENTION=912474]Dees_Troy[/MENTION] for TWRP

[MENTION=5447216]aer0zer0[/MENTION] for back to stock (BTS)

[MENTION=4470081]topjohnwu[/MENTION] for Magisk

[MENTION=921457]munchy_cool[/MENTION] for this guide ;)