[OnePlus 8T Guides, News, & Discussion] GIutton:
Have searched around XDA and think I'm ready to root my 8T. Have messed with a Galaxy S4 doing custom ROMs using adb_fastboot, Odin and TWRP so have some exp but am still very new to this type of stuff. Using a KB2005 on OOS 11.0.13.13.KB05AA, Surface Pro 3 on Win 10 with adb_fastboot (platform-tools_r32.0.0-windows) installed. Was confused by a few things in this thread and the links in OP seem a tad outdated plus a few others also seem a bit lost so hopefully this can help them as well. Anyway, I would appreciate if someone kind enough who has done this can double check the process and download sources mentioned below.

Edited to reflect tecknight's corrections

1. Enable developer options (tap on build number 7 times)

2. In developer options turn on advanced reboot, USB debugging and OEM unlocking.

3. Reboot phone to bootloader (hold power button then tap 3-dots) then connect to PC.

4. Open PowerShell and type "fastboot devices" to confirm connection (look for random string of characters to show up)

5. Type "fastboot flashing unlock" and confirm the prompt on phone. Phone will wipe and reboot. Disconnect from PC.

6. Complete setup and once again enable developer options and turn on advanced reboot and USB debugging.

7. Download payload dumper from https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=818070582850510260 and extract/unzip.

(Couldn't figure out the first dumper link in OP so this is "ALT dumper for windows only")

8. Download and extract/unzip 11.0.13.13.KB05AA OTA from https://www.oneplus.com/global/support/softwareupgrade/details?code=PM1605596915581

9. Copy payload.bin from the OTA folder into payload_input folder and run the payload_dumper.exe to extract.

10. Retrieve boot.img file from payload_output folder and copy to phone memory.

11. Download latest Magisk apk currently being v24.3 from https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/ and install on phone.

12. Open Magisk Manager > Select Install > "Select and patch a file" > browse to boot.img and select it.

13. Fetch the newly patched boot.img from /sdcard/Downloads/magisk_patched.img and copy file to PC.

(Can't find /sdcard in my storage. Been searching for it since I read that OTA files get saved here, cant find it. I am hoping /sdcard = root directory? Appreciate any comments here)

14. Reboot to bootloader, reconnect to PC, open PowerShell in the folder with magisk_patched.img and type "fastboot devices" to confirm connection.

15. Type "fastboot boot magisk_patched.img" to temporarily boot into it.

16. Open Magisk Manager and search for/perform "Direct Install" which will install magisk on the active slot.

(assuming I will not have to identify an active/inactive slot with this method? Appreciate any comments here.)

17. Reboot and the phone is rooted. Now to fix the fingerprint scanner, safety net and play protect.

18. Download safetynet-fix-v2.2.1-ob1.zip from post #139/BillGoss here https://xdaforums.com/t/oxygenos-12-beta.4383689/page-7#post-86562887

19. Copy safetynet-fix-v2.2.1-ob1.zip to phone (I assume I leave this zipped and in tact???)

20. Open Magisk Manager > tap modules > install from storage > navigate to safetynet-fix-v2.2.1-ob1.zip and install.

21. In Magisk Manager settings turn on "Zygisk Beta" and "Enforce DenyList" then go to "Configure Deny List" and check GPay (Google Pay) and any banking apps that may be troublesome.

22. Clear storage from Google Play Services and Google Play Store then reboot. (Phone should now be rooted with a working fingerprint scanner and able to pass safety net and google play protect?)

24. Magisk used to have integrated access to many useful plugins. That has since been removed. However, you can download Fox's mmm (magisk module manager), a standalone app that has access to 3 different repos containing Magisk plugins.

Download Fox's mmm here:

https://github.com/Fox2Code/FoxMagiskModuleManager/releases/download/0.4.5/FoxMmm-0.4.5.apk

25. If phone gets bricked somehow use MSM tools here https://xdaforums.com/t/op8t-oos-kb...l-to-restore-your-device-to-oxygenos.4180837/

Or would this method below also work/be easier?

1. Complete steps 1-6 above.

2. Download twrp-3.6.1_11-0-kebab.img from https://dl.twrp.me/kebab/ and rename to twrp.img

3. Reboot phone to bootloader and connect to PC.

3. Hold shift+right click inside the folder containing twrp.zip and open PowerShell.

4. Type "fastboot devices" to confirm connection then type "fastboot flash recovery twrp.img" to flash TWRP.

5. Once finished disconnect from PC. Make sure you see "START" in green and press power button to reboot.

6. Download latest Magisk apk currently being v24.3 from https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/

7. Change the .apk file name extension to .zip (Magisk-24.3.apk > Magisk-24.3.zip) then save to phone.

8. Reboot phone to TWRP recovery (it may take a few min to boot and ask for your lockscreen p/w. This is normal)

9. Select "INSTALL" > navigate to Magisk-24.3.zip > swipe to confirm. This will patch+flash the boot.img and load Magisk.

10. Once finished tap "REBOOT" then tap "system" to reboot phone. Current slot can be either A or B. Do not change this.

11. Open app drawer search bar and type Magisk. If it doesn't show up immediately it should appear after a few seconds.

12. Click on it to install and follow prompts to get the full version to complete process.

13. Phone is now rooted.

14. Complete steps 18-25 listed above to fix the fingerprint scanner, safety net and play protect.

As far as I can tell both these methods should work but I am still fuzzy on a few things shown in italics above.

I still have no idea how that MSM tool process works either but am hoping I will not have to use it. Would greatly appreciate any feedback!