"Can't load Android system" and "Factory data reset" tried and does not work
Hi all,
I bought a Pixel 3a, unlocked the bootloader, upgraded it to Android 10, and then tried to root it with Magisk. I must somehow have missed a step because now the phone only boots to:
Android Recovery
google/sargo/sargo
9/PQ3B.190801.002/5674421
user/release-keys
Use volume up/down and power.
Can't load Android system. Your data may be corrupt. If you continue to get this message, you may need to perform a factory data reset and erase all user data stored on this device.
Try again
Factory data reset
If I "Try again" I end up in the same place after a long time with the Google logo and a reboot. If I "Factory data reset" I also end up in the same place.
My desktop has adb and fastboot, and was able to access the phone until the failed attempt at rooting. Now it does not detect the phone despite the system "bleeping" as if it has found a new device:
>adb devices
* daemon not running; starting now at tcp:5037
* daemon started successfully
List of devices attached
>adb devices
List of devices attached
Is there a way out of this mess?
FD
You're still on P by what recovery says. 0801 image. PQ3B is P. You want QP1A. Please try downloading the recent Q image and follow the official instructions from Google in the link and try again.
https://developers.google.com/android/images
Uzephi said:
You're still on P by what recovery says. 0801 image. PQ3B is P. You want QP1A. Please try downloading the recent Q image and follow the official instructions from Google in the link and try again.
https://developers.google.com/android/images
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Thank you very much! Using the flash-all script I have managed to get my phone back. I have flashed the original Android 9 the phone came with.
Now, one further question, are there some good (as in unlikely to brick my phone again) instructions on how to root my Pixel 3a? I believe that Android 9 is preferred when using Magisk to Android 10, and I do not mind staying with Android 9, but I would like some instructions on how to root it without bricking it again.
Again, thanks for your prompt reply.
Yours,
FD
Frederick Davies said:
Thank you very much! Using the flash-all script I have managed to get my phone back. I have flashed the original Android 9 the phone came with.
Now, one further question, are there some good (as in unlikely to brick my phone again) instructions on how to root my Pixel 3a? I believe that Android 9 is preferred when using Magisk to Android 10, and I do not mind staying with Android 9, but I would like some instructions on how to root it without bricking it again.
Again, thanks for your prompt reply.
Yours,
FD
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I followed this guide. it's for a pixel 3 but it's exactly the same for a 3a. There is no TWRP for 10 so doing it this way is the only way for now.
https://android.gadgethacks.com/how-to/root-your-pixel-3-android-10-0200295/
Just use magisk to patch Android 10 boot IMG and Flash it and your rooted on Android 10
Frederick Davies said:
Now, one further question, are there some good (as in unlikely to brick my phone again) instructions on how to root my Pixel 3a? I believe that Android 9 is preferred when using Magisk to Android 10, and I do not mind staying with Android 9, but I would like some instructions on how to root it without bricking it again.
Again, thanks for your prompt reply.
Yours,
FD
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Click to collapse
I have created a (IMHO) very thorough quide on how to root your Pixel 3a. It walks you through rooting with both Android Pie and Android 10 with very clear and precise steps. If you have any questions about it, feel free to post in that thread or reach out to me via a direct message.
There is no limitation on using Magisk or rooting under Android 10. The only thing you cannot do with Android 10 is use TWRP, but that isn't a deal breaker. TWRP is good for making backups of your OS, but as you have found you can still recover from just about any situation using the Google factory images, so while a backup might be beneficial at times, it isn't a necessity. Personally I would definitely recommend using Android 10 because Pie isn't being updated by Google anymore, so you are going to be behind on security updates, etc if you stick with Pie.
Watch this video and you shouldn't have any problems
sic0048 said:
I have created a (IMHO) very thorough quide on how to root your Pixel 3a. It walks you through rooting with both Android Pie and Android 10 with very clear and precise steps. If you have any questions about it, feel free to post in that thread or reach out to me via a direct message.
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Very detailed indeed, but I still have a question: in your instructions you seem to boot into TWRP to install Magisk, but you do NOT install TWRP itself, just boot it for the installation of Magisk. Is that correct? Why?
sic0048 said:
There is no limitation on using Magisk or rooting under Android 10. The only thing you cannot do with Android 10 is use TWRP, but that isn't a deal breaker. TWRP is good for making backups of your OS, but as you have found you can still recover from just about any situation using the Google factory images, so while a backup might be beneficial at times, it isn't a necessity. Personally I would definitely recommend using Android 10 because Pie isn't being updated by Google anymore, so you are going to be behind on security updates, etc if you stick with Pie.
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I am going through all this rigmarole to be able to install XPrivacyLua through the Xposed Framework, but the instructions for Xposed (https://www.xda-developers.com/xposed-framework-hub/) seem to indicate you need TWRP as a requisite, hence I think am stuck with Android P (9.0).
On the other hand, I get conflicting information as to whether Xposed for Magisk does (https://www.xda-developers.com/xposed-framework-hub/) or does not (https://forum.xda-developers.com/xposed/unofficial-systemless-xposed-t3388268) pass SafetyNet. Most confusing...
FD
Frederick Davies said:
Very detailed indeed, but I still have a question: in your instructions you seem to boot into TWRP to install Magisk, but you do NOT install TWRP itself, just boot it for the installation of Magisk. Is that correct? Why?
FD
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There is no need to install or boot into TWRP (btw. there is even no working TWRP for Android 10 yet) to install Magisk. It's sufficents to install Magisk Manager on your phone and patch the boot.img extracted from the factory image. Just follow the instructions which have been quoted here in the thread already.
AndDiSa said:
There is no need to install or boot into TWRP (btw. there is even no working TWRP for Android 10 yet) to install Magisk. It's sufficents to install Magisk Manager on your phone and patch the boot.img extracted from the factory image. Just follow the instructions which have been quoted here in the thread already.
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Dear AndDisa,
As I said, I am rooting my Pixel 3a because I want to install XPrivacyLua, which requires the Xposed Framework; and to install Xposed with Magisk, it lists TWRP as a pre-requisite (see "Method 2: Magisk" in https://www.xda-developers.com/xposed-framework-hub/). Since it seems there is some kind of reluctance to use/install TWRP in this thread, I am asking why that is so. I understand it is possible to install Magisk without TWRP, I am just asking "why?"
Again, thank you all for your help.
FD
TWRP doesn't work on Android 10 at this point so you can't flash it.
Frederick Davies said:
Dear AndDisa,
As I said, I am rooting my Pixel 3a because I want to install XPrivacyLua, which requires the Xposed Framework; and to install Xposed with Magisk, it lists TWRP as a pre-requisite (see "Method 2: Magisk" in https://www.xda-developers.com/xposed-framework-hub/). Since it seems there is some kind of reluctance to use/install TWRP in this thread, I am asking why that is so. I understand it is possible to install Magisk without TWRP, I am just asking "why?"
Again, thank you all for your help.
FD
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If you read closely in the guide sic linked, he does state the TWRP method is only for P because you can't use TWRP on 10. It is the way partitions are handled in 10 where you really can't read your internal storage and it would have to require a code rework. Until that's done, no TWRP.
Edit: quote from twrp developer about it. https://twrp.me/site/update/2019/10/23/twrp-and-android-10.html
https://github.com/ElderDrivers/EdXposed/pull/354
https://github.com/ElderDrivers/EdXposedManager/releases
You can flash xposed without TWRP. Just install edxposed by downloading and installing through magisk and install the edxposed manager. You don't need TWRP
Frederick Davies said:
Very detailed indeed, but I still have a question: in your instructions you seem to boot into TWRP to install Magisk, but you do NOT install TWRP itself, just boot it for the installation of Magisk. Is that correct? Why?
FD
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As other have noted, TWRP does not work with Android 10. However, I also wanted to answer your question because it is valid.....
With Android Pie (9), you cannot permanently install TWRP unless you first flash a custom kernel that supports LZMA compression. Using the stock kernel, you can load TWRP using ADB and use it just like normal, but when you reboot the phone TWRP will not be loaded anymore. My instructions are about rooting the phone and not about installing TWRP permanently on the phone and therefore I provided the simplest method to accomplish that goal.
Most custom kernels have been updated with LZMA support, but you should really read the TWRP thread for more information on how to permanently install TWRP on Android Pie
Dear All,
Thank you for all your help and explanations concerning my questions.
I have now rooted my Pixel 3a running Android 9 following the instructions supplied (no TWRP installation), and It seems that Magisk is installed and happy (at least it thinks it is and FX has root access), but I am afraid that EdXposed and XPrivacyLua are not working as expected.
After Magisk, I installed the "Riru - Core" and "Riru - EdXposed (YAHFA)" modules. I then installed the "EdXposed Framework (YAHFA)" (giving the EdXposed Installer superuser privileges; EdExposed reports it is installed and active), and the XprivacyLua module inside it. But now Magisk complains that the SafetyNet checks are failing (this coincides with installing XPrivacyLua, but it is the only module I have in EdXposed), and XPrivacyLua is not actually blocking anything at all (that is, even when I supposedly block access to some functions, the apps just go ahead and use them).
Why do I get the impression Google does not want people to root their phones?
Yours,
FD
Frederick Davies said:
Dear All,
Thank you for all your help and explanations concerning my questions.
I have now rooted my Pixel 3a running Android 9 following the instructions supplied (no TWRP installation), and It seems that Magisk is installed and happy (at least it thinks it is and FX has root access), but I am afraid that EdXposed and XPrivacyLua are not working as expected.
After Magisk, I installed the "Riru - Core" and "Riru - EdXposed (YAHFA)" modules. I then installed the "EdXposed Framework (YAHFA)" (giving the EdXposed Installer superuser privileges; EdExposed reports it is installed and active), and the XprivacyLua module inside it. But now Magisk complains that the SafetyNet checks are failing (this coincides with installing XPrivacyLua, but it is the only module I have in EdXposed), and XPrivacyLua is not actually blocking anything at all (that is, even when I supposedly block access to some functions, the apps just go ahead and use them).
Why do I get the impression Google does not want people to root their phones?
Yours,
FD
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It is most certainly the things you have installed that are breaking the SafetyNet check. I don't know anything about XprivacyLua, but I would assume there is a support thread here on XDA for it. I would read that support thread and see if there is a solution to the Safetynet issue.
Dear All,
OK, I have now rooted my Pixel 3a: I am running Android 9, and I flashed Magisk (Magisk Manager version 7.4.0; Magisk version 20.1) without installing TWRP as per the instructions. Then I installed the Riru - Core (version 10) and Riru - Ed Exposed (version 0.2.8_beta) modules, which allowed me to install EdXposedInstaller (version 2.2.5). I am currently running Xposed Framework (version 90.0-0.2.8) with XPrivacyLua (version 1.25).
The result is that XPrivacyLua is working with a few caveats: the SafetyNet Check fails both the ctsProfile and basicIntegrity checks (this is triggered by XPrivacyLua, not (Ed)Xposed), and when I limit access of WhatsApp to the Contacts list, there are constant errors whenever WhatsApp tries to read it (though it seems to work as expected). Also, the Contacts list keeps disappearing from the Contacts app itself, despite WhatsApp actually seeing those contacts in there (go figure).
Other apps that require root (like FX) are working as expected.
In the end, I have decided that since I am not interested in using my mobile for Google Pay, I will have to live with it as it is now, but I have a couple of points for others that may want to follow in my footsteps (this is not necessarily related to the method of rooting; those who helped me here are certainly not at fault for the following):
1. XPrivacyLua is in no way as capable and easy to use as XPrivacy was (XPrivacy is the main reason why I am rooting my phone). If I could install Android 4 on my Pixel 3a, I would do so and go back to XPrivacy (my venerable Nexus 5's second battery is shot, so I had to get new hardware). There is nothing in Android 9 that I actually need that was not there in Android 4.
2. We really need a Nexus Toot Toolkit for Pixel phones. The multitude of versions and steps required in rooting them successfully is too much for those like me who will root their phone for one or two apps and then leave it as it is. I know that these forums are really for tinkerers who want to extract the maximum from their hardware, and hence my point of view is not representative here, but I just want a mobile that will not spy on me, the rest is irrelevant to me.
I guess I will have to open a thread in the XPrivacyLua forums to see if I can sort out my problems, but I would like to thank you all for your help in getting me here and answering my questions (no matter how pointless they may have seemed).
Yours,
FD
Frederick Davies said:
Dear All,
OK, I have now rooted my Pixel 3a: I am running Android 9, and I flashed Magisk (Magisk Manager version 7.4.0; Magisk version 20.1) without installing TWRP as per the instructions. Then I installed the Riru - Core (version 10) and Riru - Ed Exposed (version 0.2.8_beta) modules, which allowed me to install EdXposedInstaller (version 2.2.5). I am currently running Xposed Framework (version 90.0-0.2.8) with XPrivacyLua (version 1.25).
The result is that XPrivacyLua is working with a few caveats: the SafetyNet Check fails both the ctsProfile and basicIntegrity checks (this is triggered by XPrivacyLua, not (Ed)Xposed), and when I limit access of WhatsApp to the Contacts list, there are constant errors whenever WhatsApp tries to read it (though it seems to work as expected). Also, the Contacts list keeps disappearing from the Contacts app itself, despite WhatsApp actually seeing those contacts in there (go figure).
Other apps that require root (like FX) are working as expected.
In the end, I have decided that since I am not interested in using my mobile for Google Pay, I will have to live with it as it is now, but I have a couple of points for others that may want to follow in my footsteps (this is not necessarily related to the method of rooting; those who helped me here are certainly not at fault for the following):
1. XPrivacyLua is in no way as capable and easy to use as XPrivacy was (XPrivacy is the main reason why I am rooting my phone). If I could install Android 4 on my Pixel 3a, I would do so and go back to XPrivacy (my venerable Nexus 5's second battery is shot, so I had to get new hardware). There is nothing in Android 9 that I actually need that was not there in Android 4.
2. We really need a Nexus Toot Toolkit for Pixel phones. The multitude of versions and steps required in rooting them successfully is too much for those like me who will root their phone for one or two apps and then leave it as it is. I know that these forums are really for tinkerers who want to extract the maximum from their hardware, and hence my point of view is not representative here, but I just want a mobile that will not spy on me, the rest is irrelevant to me.
I guess I will have to open a thread in the XPrivacyLua forums to see if I can sort out my problems, but I would like to thank you all for your help in getting me here and answering my questions (no matter how pointless they may have seemed).
Yours,
FD
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Cool story bro
I'm experimenting with rolling Micro-G on ROG5 and de-Google the device (on stock rom obviously). But getting successful signature spoofing is a blocker for me. The Xposed method is not working out , and neither is flashing patches.
Has anyone successfully signature spoofed an ROG 5 yet? If so, mind sharing how you did it. Thanks.
Did you ever solve this?
Hello, You can use this Xposed modules:
On android 11: https://github.com/whew-inc/FakeGApps (latest version should work also on Android 12)
On android 12: https://github.com/nift4/FakeGApps/releases
They are confirmed working, but don't check them with "signature spoofing checker" as they spoof signature only for GMS and Play Store. To install MicroG just systemlessly debloat original GMS and Play Store, reboot and install MicroG Magisk Module from Fox Magisk Modules Manager. This way You will have MicroG installed fully systemless way and You can install system updates from ASUS website without need to repeat installation of MicroG after each update.
Yes I did although didn't stick with it. I need Play Services to remain for a couple of things. Practically everything else Google is stripped from my device however and Play Service is heavily restricted, I found that to be the best solution for me.