[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Pritster5:
Preface:​

There are many good guides available on how to update the Pixel 7 Pro while Rooted on this forum. However, many of them rely on manually editing the install scripts which I believe is unnecessarily complicated given the existence of Google's own Official Android Flash Tool (AFT). This guide aims to be as simple as possible.

Welcome!​

I wrote a guide on how to update a rooted Pixel 7 Pro (and preserve root afterwards) using the AFT. I hosted it on GitHub and wanted to share it here in case anyone else found it useful.

I believe it's as straightforward and simple as possible, hope you all enjoy :)

Also, since it's on GitHub, feel free to make Pull Requests or issues if you see room for improvements.

Links:​

The latest version of the guide will always live here: https://github.com/pritster5/Rooted-Android-Pixel-Update-Guide/blob/main/README.md

Disclaimer: I will periodically update this post to include the latest version's text, but the link will always be the most up-to-date version.

Guide:​

A guide on updating the Android OS while rooted | Written for the Google Pixel 7 Pro | Works across Major OS Version Upgrades

Note: I followed this guide to update my Pixel 7 Pro from Android 13 to Android 14 and it worked without any issues at all :)

Let's begin​

Assumes prerequisites are already installed: Google's USB Drivers for PC-Phone interaction, platform-tools from Google, bootloader unlocked, Magisk is already up and running on phone, USB-Debugging is enabled, PC-Phone connection is set to File Transfer

Download the latest Google Pixel 7 Pro factory image from: https://developers.google.com/android/images#cheetah

Extract the .zip that it comes in (will look something like "cheetah-tq2a.230305.008.c1.zip").

Extract the init_boot.img file located inside "image-cheetah-some.timestamp.build.number.zip" which is inside the zip we extracted in step 2.

Copy that init_boot.img file to your phone. Personally, I copy it to my Downloads folder.

Patch that init_boot.img file with Magisk via [1. Install -> 2. Select and Patch a File -> 3. "Let's Go"]. The file will be patched and sent to the Downloads folder on your phone.

Copy the magisk patched boot image file (magisk_patched-version_someRandomSequenceOfChars.img) back to your computer.

Open the Android Flash Tool (AFT) by Google in your browser. If the device shows up as "Already in use", run adb kill-server in your computer's commandline, and then reload the AFT page. If you see this screen, click "More Releases":

Then click your current Android version (13 at the time of writing) and the AFT will automatically choose the latest stable build. Then choose "Default" unless you're on the Verizon version of the device (bless your soul, why would you do that to yourself :|)

De-Select the following build flags: "Wipe Device", "Lock Bootloader", "Force Flash all partitions". Make sure to do this, or you will lose all personal data on the device!

Click "install build". DO NOT INTERACT WITH YOUR PHONE DURING THE INSTALL PROCESS. Let it complete fully. It will take several minutes and reboot on its own several times including into a mode called FastbootD, and finally reboot back to the lockscreen.

Once the phone is back to the lockscreen, unlock the phone once and then launch platform-tools (if platform-tools is in your PATH environment variable, then this is not necessary, just type adb devices in any command prompt/PowerShell window and the command will be recognized) on your connected PC.

Check that connection to your phone via platform-tools works via adb devices. You should see a device which represents your phone. If it says "unauthorized", make sure to hit "Allow" on the USB Debugging Notification on your phone.

Run adb reboot bootloader to get into Fastboot mode on your phone.

Check that the connection persisted via the fastboot devices command. You should see a similar message to step 12.

Now run fastboot flash init_boot ./path/to/magisk-patched-init_boot.img

Once that is done, run fastboot reboot to restart the device. You should be updated + have Magisk installed now.

Thanks for reading!​