[Google Pixel 3 XL Guides, News, & Discussion] eqbirvin:
Updates

Updated to March (.002) based on Magisk 18.1. Please update to the latest adb/fastboot files provided by Google (found in "Useful Links") the latest is "

platform-tools_r28.0.2-windows.zip

"

As a little plus, I've but putting the stock boots up also since we started. Below in "Useful Links" is a link to my Android File Host where you can find the stock and patched boot images.

Preface

Magisk has been updated include support for Pixel XL 3 (crosshatch) and Pixel 3 (blueline) but I figured I would patch the boot.img and upload it to here for those who want to save a small amount of time or who are lazy like myself. Mishaal Rahman has put out a guide on the XDA Portal that directly inspired this guide and I give full credit to him and topjohnwu

HOWEVER, If you are new the the root/dev/command-line scene I HIGHLY recommend that you follow Mishaal's post on the XDA Portal. He goes into a lot of further detail than I will, tells you how to unlock your bootloader if you haven't already, walks you through the installation of Magisk and has suggestions of what to do with root.

I'm going to try to make this as clean and straight to the point as possible for those of us who know the ropes but also clear and concise enough for any newcomers. All credit is being given, if I overlooked where someone deserves credit, please let me know! Well, let us get to it ya'll!

Pre-Recs IMPORTANT

Unlocked Bootloader (this means no root for Verizon Pixel 3/XL owners) If you do not know how to unlock the bootloader, follow Mishaal's "Part 1" of his post and I recommend following his entire guide for those new to this

Correctly installed and up-to-date adb/fastboot and device drivers

(see below for links)

This How-To is written for Windows 10

How-To

Rooting March update (.002) Links to patched_boot.March.002img AndroidFileHost | Google Drive

Make sure you are already on the March update (ending in .002)

Download the above zip and extract to any desired location

Reboot device to bootloader: power button + volume down for 2 seconds from a power-off state, or hold volume down after issuing reboot from power menu, or issue adb command "adb reboot" after enabling adb access from developer settings

This is another reminder to make sure adb and fastboot are up to date (latest are platform-tools_r28.0.2 for windows)

open cmd at the location of the extracted patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot flash boot_a patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot flash boot_b patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot reboot

Open Magisk Manager, it will pop up and say "Update to latest Magisk Manager," click update.

Once in Magisk Manager, it will prompt you with additional files are needed to complete Magisk install, go ahead and download the files

After a few seconds, install will be complete and you will be rooted!

Rooting February update

Links to patched_boot.001.feb.img AndroidFileHost | Google Drive

Make sure you are already on the February update (ending in .001)

Download the above zip and extract to any desired location

Reboot device to bootloader: power button + volume down for 2 seconds from a power-off state, or hold volume down after issuing reboot from power menu, or issue adb command "adb reboot" after enabling adb access from developer settings

This is another reminder to make sure adb and fastboot are up to date

open cmd at the location of the extracted patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot flash boot_a patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot flash boot_b patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot reboot

Open Magisk Manager, it will pop up and say "Update to latest Magisk Manager," click update.

Once in Magisk Manager, it will prompt you with additional files are needed to complete Magisk install, go ahead and download the files

After a few seconds, install will be complete and you will be rooted!

Rooting January Update

[Links to Patched_boot.img Jan.004 AndroidFileHost | Google Drive

Make sure you are already on the January update (ending in .004)

Download the above zip and extract to any desired location

Reboot device to bootloader: power button + volume down for 2 seconds from a power-off state, or hold volume down after issuing reboot from power menu, or issue adb command "adb reboot" after enabling adb access from developer settings

This is another reminder to make sure adb and fastboot are up to date

open cmd at the location of the extracted patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot flash boot_a patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot flash boot_b patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot reboot

Go to Magisk Manager and make sure says you're rooted

Rooting December Update

[Links to Patched_boot.img December.006.Magisk18 AndroidFileHost | Google Drive

Make sure you are already on the December update (ending in .006)

Download the above zip and extract to any desired location

Reboot device to bootloader: power button + volume down for 2 seconds from a power-off state, or hold volume down after issuing reboot from power menu, or issue adb command "adb reboot" after enabling adb access from developer settings

This is another reminder to make sure adb and fastboot are up to date

open cmd at the location of the extracted patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot flash boot_a patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot flash boot_b patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot reboot

Go to Magisk Manager and make sure says you're rooted

Rooting November Update (Patched_boot.img does not work on this method so you have to do it the long way...)

November update is a bit different and we cant seem to get patched_boot.img method to work. So I will outline the process that works for rooting November below. Any guide below requires that you have the latest adb/fastboot installed and that you have an unlocked Bootloader.

If coming from rooted Sept software use this guide:

Uninstall all Magisk Modules then reboot.

Download the stock factory images for Nov.

Extract and find the "flashall.bat" .bat file

Right click > Edit

In the .bat find "-w" and DELETE it

Safe the file

After removing "-w" put phone into fastboot, plug it in, and run "flashall.bat"

Wait for it to get done and reboot

boot to system > go to settings > security and remove any pin or password or pattern

Download the latest Magisk Beta (17.3 as of writing this) and transfer to device internal storage

Now, head over to the TWRP thread and download the twrp_boot.img

Return to fastboot and open cmd in its download location

run "fastboot boot twrp-3.2.3-1-crosshatch.img" and give your device a minute or two to boot into TWRP

Once there, find and flash the magisk beta on the internal storage

reboot and test to make sure it says you're rooted

If starting fresh from November (.A1.) Update

Install November update

Download latest Magisk Beta (17.3) and move it to the internal storage of the device

Reboot to bootloader

Download the .img version of TWRP for "crosshatch"

In the location of downloaded TWRP .img, open cmd and enter

fastboot boot twrp-3.2.3-1-crosshatch.img

Allow twrp to boot (this will take a minute or two)

Then go to install and install the Magisk zip

Reboot and find magisk manager and make sure it says you're rooted

Until there is an update to the patched_boot.imgs, dont follow the how to beyond this point. In fact I am hiding it for the time being.

Rooting Sept software and software that shipped with the device

[Patched_boot.img for Sept Drive | AndroidFileHost]

Download the above zip and extract to desired location

Reboot device to bootloader: power button + volume down for 2 seconds from a power-off state, or hold volume down after issuing reboot from power menu, or issue adb command "adb reboot" after enabling adb access from developer settings

This is another reminder to make sure adb and fastboot are up to date

open cmd at the location of the extracted patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot flash boot_a patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot flash boot_b patched_boot.img

In cmd type

fastboot reboot

Go to Magisk Manager and make sure says you're rooted

Useful links

Magisk Thread

Link to my AndroidFileHost were all stock and patched boot images are

Direct Link to platform-tools for windows, mac and lunix from Google

Refrence for Pixel 3 XL information (factory images/vendor files/KST)

->

This is the one I recommend for quick setup and newcomers

15-second adb for auto install that includes system-wide (got to post #1347 for the most upto date installer)

Manually install adb & fastboot doot drivers for WIndows 10 system wide

Installing for Lunix, MacOS and Windows thanks to the XDA Portal and Aurthor Doug Lynch

Credits

[MENTION=4470081]topjohnwu[/MENTION] (link to Magisk thread) He does amazing work; if you can donate to him

[MENTION=7050182]MishaalRahman[/MENTION] (link to his amazing instuctions on XDA Portal)

[MENTION=3259616]dough[/MENTION]Lynch

and

[MENTION=4820310]jlee08517[/MENTION]

[MENTION=3354333]ridobe[/MENTION]

For being OGs and being here from the begining