[Google Pixel 3a Guides, News, & Discussion] pbanj:
super simple. I'll assume you use windows

should be noted that unlocking it wipes the phone.

standard you do at your own risk warning applies

update your adb and fastboot I just toss these 4 highlighted files into the windows folder, but you may have a different set up(I put them in the windows folder so I don't have to add them to PATH.

[IMG="adb/fast"]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/399670410565910529/578336582684246027/unknown.png[/IMG]

you may also need the usb drivers

- run through the initial setup(don't bother logging into your google account).

- enable dev options(settings>about phone>build number>tap it 7 times)

- go into settings>system>advanced>dev options>oem unlocking, click the toggle

- while still in dev options scroll down a little and enable usb debugging

- plug your phone into your pc

if/when the phone asks you to trust the computer make sure to check the "always allow this computer" check box

- open up command prompt(powershell works to but i always use command prompt) type into the command prompt

adb reboot bootloader

the phone will reboot into fastboot mode.

- now type into the cmd window

fastboot devices

and see if it lists a device, if not you need to install the drivers i linked to

right click the start menu icon, click device manager, then locate your phone(should have a yellow symbol on it, right click it, then click update driver, then click browse my computer, click the browse button and then navigate to where you extracted the drivers, click the main folder(usb_driver) and then click ok, then click next and ok through any prompts

- if you had to install the drivers try the fastboot devices command again after installing them, it should list the device now.

- now type in

fastboot flashing unlock

you will then have to use the phone to select yes to the unlock. you use the volume keys to select and the power button to confirm

- now you can flash the boot.img I provided that matches your build number using

fastboot flash boot "whatever the boot.img is named"

if the cmd window location does not match the location of the boot.img you will have to enter that too examples

fastboot flash boot C:\Users\pbanj\Desktop\boot.img

or you can do

cd C:\Users\pbanj\Desktop

and then just do the normal fastboot flash boot whatever the boot.img is named.

if flashing fails use the command

fastboot getvar current-slot

it will tell you the currently active slot, either A or B. run the flashing command again but this time instead of boot do boot_"slot letter" example

fastboot flash boot_a boot.img

- after that finishes flashing you can reboot the phone by typing in

fastboot reboot

- now go through the setup and actually set your device up.

- after it is set up open up the magisk manager and it will tell you it needs to install the real manager, select ok

- now open the real magisk manager and it will prompt that it needs to install so extra stuff, select ok, and then reboot when it asks you to.

- you're now rooted, add what you want to magisk hide, and install the magisk mods you want, although i wouldn't go too crazy until we have twrp. if pay doesn't work follow the steps i gave in the main post.

- to update magisk just select the direct install method.

MAKE SURE YOU GO INTO DEV OPTIONS AND TURN OFF AUTO UPDATES.

- follow this to do an ota update

also a shameless plug. if you want to make opening command prompt or powershell in your current folder a bit easier you can use My tools menu but iirc it only works on English windows 10.