Obtaining root access on devices running Android 10 (Q) has become much more difficult than in previous versions of the operating system. Google has tightened its security policy by introducing mandatory data encryption, locking the bootloader by default, and introducing the AVB (Android Verified Boot) system. However, for experienced users, access to the superuser opens up endless possibilities for customizing the interface, removing system junk, and fine-tuning performance.
Before you begin the procedure, you need to understand all the risks. The process of gaining superuser privileges will inevitably lead to the complete removal of all data from the device and, in most cases, will void the factory warranty. Esli vy ispolzuete smartfon dlya kriticheski vazhnykh bankovskikh operatsiy ili korporativnykh zadach, stoit zadumatsya o tselesoobraznosti etogo shaga. Magisk segodnya yavlyaetsya standartom industrii, pozvolyayushchim skryvat fakt nalichiya rut-prav ot bolshinstva prilozheniy, no garantiy polnoy nevidimosti nikto ne daet.
V dannoy state my razberem universalnyy metod, podkhodyashchiy dlya bolshinstva sovremennykh smartfonov, ot Xiaomi and Samsung to OnePlus and Pixel. We will not consider outdated kernel exploits, since they practically do not work on Android 10 due to updated security patches. The main emphasis is on the method of patching the bootloader image through the utility Magisk Manager, which is the most secure and reversible method at the moment.
⚠️ Attention: The process of unlocking the bootloader and modifying system partitions can turn your device into a “brick”. Avtor stati ne neset otvetstvennosti za lyubye povrezhdeniya oborudovaniya ili poteryu dannykh. You perform all actions at your own peril and risk.
Preparation of the device and necessary tools
The success of the operation depends 90% on proper preparation. You will need not only the smartphone itself, but also a personal computer with ADB and Fastboot drivers installed. Bez etikh instrumentov vzaimodeystvie s nizkourovnevymi razdelami sistemy nevozmozhno. Download Platform Tools from the official website of Android developers and unpack the archive into a convenient directory on drive C so that the file paths do not contain Cyrillic characters.
The next critical step is backup. Poskolku razblokirovka zagruzchika (Unlock Bootloader) initsiiruet polnyy sbros ustroystva k zavodskim nastroykam (Wipe Data), vse vashi fotografii, kontakty i soobshcheniya budut bezvozvratno udaleny. Ispolzuyte oblachnye servisy ili podklyuchite telefon k PK v rezhime peredachi faylov dlya sozdaniya polnoy kopii.
Takzhe vam neobkhodimo zaranee skachat obraz proshivki (boot.img), sootvetstvuyushchiy imenno vashey versii PO. Proshit obraz ot drugoy versii Android ili ot drugogo regiona nelzya — eto privedet k oshibke proverki podpisi i nevozmozhnosti zagruzki sistemy. You can find the stock image on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums, or extract it from the official firmware downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.
☑️ Checklist for preparing for rooting
Ne zabudte vklyuchit rezhim razrabotchika na vashem ustroystve. Dlya etogo zaydite v Nastroyki → O telefone i bystro nazhmite sem raz na punkt Nomer sborki. After the message “You have become a developer” appears, go to the new menu and activate items Otladka po USB and Razblokirovka OEM. Otsutstvie punkta «Razblokirovka OEM» chasto ukazyvaet na to, chto operator svyazi ili proizvoditel zablokirovali etu vozmozhnost na programmnom urovne.
Unlock Bootloader
The bootloader is a app that runs in front of the operating system and verifies the integrity of its components. Na Android 10 on po umolchaniyu zablokirovan, chto zapreshchaet zapusk nepodpisannykh obrazov. Protsedura razblokirovki otlichaetsya v zavisimosti ot vendora, no obshchiy printsip edin: perevod ustroystva v rezhim Fastboot i otpravka sootvetstvuyushchey komandy.
Dlya perekhoda v rezhim bystroy zagruzki vyklyuchite smartfon, a zatem zazhmite kombinatsiyu klavish (chashche vsego eto Gromkost Vniz + Pitanie). Connect your phone to your computer using a quality USB cable. Otkroyte komandnuyu stroku v papke s Platform Tools i vvedite komandu adb devices. Esli na ekrane smartfona poyavilos zapros na razreshenie otladki, podtverdite ego galochkoy «Vsegda razreshat».
Dalee vvedite komandu adb reboot bootloader, chtoby ubeditsya, chto ustroystvo korrektno opredelilos v rezhime Fastboot. The unlock command may look different. For most devices (Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Motorola) the command is used:
fastboot oem unlockOr a newer option:
fastboot flashing unlockA warning will appear on the smartphone screen that all data will be deleted. Confirm the action with the volume buttons. Protsess zaymet neskolko minut, posle chego telefon perezagruzitsya v chistuyu sistemu. Vazhno note, chto na ustroystvakh Samsung protsedura otlichaetsya: tam razblokirovka proizvoditsya cherez rezhim Download Mode putem uderzhaniya klavishi gromkosti, a komanda cherez Fastboot ne trebuetsya.
Features of unlocking on different brands
On Huawei and Honor smartphones, bootloader unlocking has been officially closed since 2018. Poluchit kod razblokirovki legalno prakticheski nevozmozhno, chto delaet rutirovanie etikh ustroystv krayne slozhnym ili nevozmozhnym bez platnykh servisov. On Verizon and AT&T (USA) devices, the bootloader is often locked forever, regardless of the developer settings.
⚠️ Attention: Some banking applications and contactless payment services (Google Pay / Wallet) may stop working immediately after unlocking the bootloader, even without installing root access. This is due to a violation of the integrity of the TrustZone security platform.
Patching the bootloader image via Magisk
Now that the bootloader is unlocked, you need to modify the kernel image to implement a privilege manager. Previously, SuperSUwas used for this, but it is not supported on Android 10. The only current solution is Magiskwhich works on the principle of systemless root, without directly changing the section /system.
Download the latest version of the application Magisk.apk from the official repository on GitHub. Install it on your smartphone. Pered nachalom raboty pereimenuyte fayl Magisk.apk v Magisk.zip (inogda eto trebuetsya dlya korrektnogo raspoznavaniya arkhiva nekotorymi faylovymi menedzherami, khotya sovremennye versii obychno spravlyayutsya i tak). Copy the previously prepared file boot.img to the internal memory of the phone.
Launch the Magisk application. In the main menu you will see a section called "Magisk". Click the Install (Install) button next to it. In the installation methods menu that appears, select "Select and patch file" (Select and Patch a File). Find your boot.img in the file manager and confirm your choice.
The application will begin the patching process. This will take 10 to 30 seconds. Po zavershenii v papke Download poyavitsya novyy fayl s nazvaniem vida magisk_patched_[random_string].img. This file contains a modified kernel with root privileges embedded. Copy this file back to your computer in the folder with Platform Tools.
If you have a device with two slots (A/B partition), make sure that you are patching the image of the version that is currently active. You can check the active slot with the fastboot getvar current-slot command.
Flashing the modified image and gaining access
The final stage is loading the patched image into the smartphone’s memory. Put your device into Fastboot mode again. Ubedites, chto telefon podklyuchen k PK i viden v sisteme. Now we need to write the modified file to the bootloader section. The command depends on the architecture of your device, but in 95% of cases the standard syntax is used.
Enter the following instructions on the command line, replacing the file name with the current one:
fastboot flash boot magisk_patched_[your_file_name].imgIf your smartphone uses dynamic partitions (common in Android 10+), the command may look like fastboot flash boot_a ... and fastboot flash boot_b ..., but most often the command flash boot automatically applies changes to both slots. After successful recording (message “Finished. Total time: X.XXXs”) enter the command fastboot reboot.
The first boot after rooting may take longer than usual - from 3 to 5 minutes. Don't panic if your smartphone freezes on the logo; give him time. Posle zagruzki sistemy otkroyte prilozhenie Magisk. If the main menu displays the version of Magisk and the status “Installed”, and the “Root” item is highlighted in green, then the operation was successful.
To check rights, download the application Root Checker from Google Play or just try opening a terminal and entering the command su. If the system asks for permission to grant superuser rights, then you have gained full control over the device.
Never try to flash the boot.img image from another version of Android or from another device. This is guaranteed to lead to a bootloop (cyclic reboot) and will require a complete reboot of the device via Recovery or EDL mode.
Setting up hiding root access and working with modules
Getting root access is only half the battle. On Android 10, many applications, especially banking (Sberbank, Tinkoff) and gaming (Pokemon GO), use the service to check the integrity of the system. If they detect root access or an unlocked bootloader, the application will refuse to launch. Google SafetyNet to check the integrity of the system. If they detect root access or an unlocked bootloader, the application will refuse to launch.
In Magisk settings, activate the function Zygisk (running code in the Zygote process) and enable the option "Follow the list of exceptions" (Enforce DenyList). Then go to the “Set up DenyList” menu and check the boxes for all banking applications, Google Pay and Google Play services. This will force Magisk to hide the presence of root access for these particular apps.
However, simple hiding is often not enough, since some applications are able to detect the very fact of an unlocked bootloader. To solve this problem, there is a module Universal SafetyNet Fix. It must be downloaded as a zip archive and installed through the Modules tab in the Magisk application. After installation and reboot, the phone must pass the SafetyNet check.
Also, the Magisk ecosystem offers hundreds of modules for expanding functionality: from changing fonts and boot animations to overclocking the processor and improving sound. Be careful when installing modules that modify system files. An incompatible module can cause a “bootlap”, from which you can only exit through Recovery mode by deleting the folder with modules through the file manager.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
The rooting process does not always go smoothly. The most common problem is that the device goes into an endless reboot (bootloop). This happens if an incompatible image was flashed boot.img or the process was interrupted. In this case, you need to enter Fastboot mode again and flash the original, stock bootloader image with the command fastboot flash boot stock_boot.img.
Another common problem is loss of broadband connection (IMEI null) or non-working Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. This happens when a partition is damaged EFS or Persist. That is why, before any manipulations, it is critical to backup these partitions, if your phone model allows it. IMEI restoration is a complex procedure that requires special boxes or service software.
Below is a table with common errors and methods for eliminating them:
| Symptom | Possible cause | Solution method |
|---|---|---|
| Bootloop (cyclic reboot) | Incompatible boot.img or crash during firmware | Flash stock boot.img via Fastboot |
| Magisk does not see root | The old one is installed version or installation failure | Reinstall Magisk by selecting “Direct installation” |
| Google Pay does not work | DenyList is not configured or the SafetyNet module is not installed | Enable Zygisk, configure an exception list, install a fix |
| Error "Device is corrupt" | The bootloader signature is broken (often on Samsung) | Reflash the full firmware dump via Odin/SP Flash Tool |
⚠️ Attention: Recovery interfaces and unlocking methods may vary depending on the specific model and regional firmware version. Always check the commands and steps with the profile threads on the forums for your specific device, since there are no universal instructions for all 100% of models.
If you are faced with a situation where the computer does not see the phone in Fastboot mode, try replacing the USB cable or switching it to a different port (preferably USB 2.0). The problem could also be missing drivers. Go to Windows Device Manager, find an unknown device and manually update the driver by specifying the path to the folder usb_driver from Platform Tools.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will data be reset from the phone when you get root access?
Yes, the data will be deleted. The bootloader unlocking process, which is the mandatory first step to root Android 10, automatically initiates a hard reset of the device (Wipe Data). Be sure to make a backup before you start.
Is it possible to get root without unlocking the bootloader?
On Android 10 this is almost impossible for ordinary users. The only way is to use kernel vulnerabilities (exploits), which are extremely rare, are quickly closed by manufacturers and often require specific versions of security patches. The standard method through Magisk requires mandatory unlocking of BL.
Will the camera stop working after rooting?
The camera itself will work. However, on some smartphones (for example, Xiaomi), unlocking the bootloader can lead to a decrease in the quality of photo processing in Night Mode or the appearance of watermarks, since the integrity of the verification system is violated. This is usually solved by installing custom modules or GCam.
How to completely remove root access and return the warranty?
The Magisk application has an “Uninstall” button, which allows you to completely clear the device of modifications. However, to return the warranty, you will also need to lock the bootloader again with the command fastboot oem lock. Please note that locking the bootloader will also erase all data and the device must be completely stock (original boot.img).
Is it safe to use banking apps with root?
It is always a risk. Even with Magisk Hide and SafetyNet Fix modules, banks are constantly updating detection methods. The application may work today, but after an update it may stop working. For maximum security of financial transactions, it is recommended to use a separate device without root access.