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Google Pixel: Root + TWRP and basic understanding HELP!

Ok, so I'm coming from the Nexus 6P which has a different file system, I get that. But, this is so confusing to me.
I have gotten TWRP to work and SuperSU, however, they both do not work at the same time.
If SuperSU is working correctly and I want to go to TWRP, TWRP is all encrypted it looks like. It is not until I boot to bootloader and manually use fastboot boot that I can get TWRP to work right. Doing this causes me to lose root and vice versa...
I guess I am wondering what steps people usually take to install a rom and kernel correctly while keeping twrp and root at the same time.
I realize this probably makes no sense, but it doesn't to me either and I'm trying to explain it as best I can.

GohanBurner said:
Ok, so I'm coming from the Nexus 6P which has a different file system, I get that. But, this is so confusing to me.
I have gotten TWRP to work and SuperSU, however, they both do not work at the same time.
If SuperSU is working correctly and I want to go to TWRP, TWRP is all encrypted it looks like. It is not until I boot to bootloader and manually use fastboot boot that I can get TWRP to work right. Doing this causes me to lose root and vice versa...
I guess I am wondering what steps people usually take to install a rom and kernel correctly while keeping twrp and root at the same time.
I realize this probably makes no sense, but it doesn't to me either and I'm trying to explain it as best I can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your problem with TWRP isn't related to root. When you boot TWRP you have to enter your pin or pattern lock (whatever you use to unlock the phone when it's booted up) before it can decrypt the data. If you don't get offered the chance to unlock, reboot recovery until the lockscreen appears. It's a bug in TWRP. I don't have much trouble with it myself but once in a while I have the same thing happen. It might take one reboot, it might take several. Eventually it'll work for you though.

robocuff said:
Your problem with TWRP isn't related to root. When you boot TWRP you have to enter your pin or pattern lock (whatever you use to unlock the phone when it's booted up) before it can decrypt the data. If you don't get offered the chance to unlock, reboot recovery until the lockscreen appears. It's a bug in TWRP. I don't have much trouble with it myself but once in a while I have the same thing happen. It might take one reboot, it might take several. Eventually it'll work for you though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I fastboot booted TWRP and installed the zip so I would keep TWRP, then I flashed the SR4 SuperSU zip. I rebooted and tried going back into TWRP though my ROM and all my folders looked like this:
a9239xwhg802348
8208dncbjs8d0s99
3n9c8bnd8s0s93n3
8db0xndne8s8n3n
nz0sd8fn2308df0n
etc...
I used fastboot boot twrp again and everything went back to normal, but then I lost root. I did the exact same thing again and now it seems I have both working at the same time. You can see how this is so confusing lol. I have no idea why it didn't work the first time when I did the exact same thing.

GohanBurner said:
I fastboot booted TWRP and installed the zip so I would keep TWRP, then I flashed the SR4 SuperSU zip...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be that you didn't use the latest SuperSU. 2.78SR4 is not the newest. Flash 2.79SR3 and see is that works.

I installed the latest SuperSU and all is working correctly, yet there are still some issues I am having...
-Randomly, TWRP will reboot into some kind of encrypted state. Where all the folders listed are like "asd8a0b93eea9dnb9" instead of what's actually in there like the Download folder. Rebooting a few times sometimes fixes it.
-Sometimes phone will just boot into stock recovery even though I have flashed the TWRP installer.
-Need confirmation on what exactly Slot A and Slot B are. Are those just states? Like installing one rom on Slot A and installing one rom on Slot B allows the ability to switch between the two?
-Do I basically need to have a computer handy any time I want to install a ROM because of the fact TWRP sometimes doesn't stick? Or can I run fastboot boot (terminal) commands from inside the system?
-Is there any specific order I need to flash things? Vendor, SuperSU, TWRP, etc?

Update with root/unlock

I cannot for the life up me update my One Plus 7 Pro from 9.5.3 to 9.5.6 with root/unlock. I've tried the Magisk install to other slot method, tried flashing in twrp, tried full OTA, tried re-installing twrp to both slots after flashing. Basically tried all the 6T methods.
How the hell do you do this? What am I doing wrong?

Not sure what you're doing wrong but what I can do is tell you my steps:
- Upgrade via stock OnePlus Updater inside system settings
- Make sure it downloads the full OTA (over 1GB file size) if you are rooted
- Let it update
- Flash the TWRP retention script found in the Magisk repo if you have TWRP and would like to keep it
- Install Magisk to inactive slot from the main screen in Magisk Manager
-Reboot and profit
Couple things to keep note of
- Uninstall all Substratum overlays before doing this
- Optional: remove lockscreen security
Personally I don't remove lockscreen security but I do uninstall Substratum overlays and I never have issues.

Anyone know how to root if I'm already on 9.5.6?

hachem28 said:
Anyone know how to root if I'm already on 9.5.6?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash the Magisk installer zip in TWRP, which is what I did.
Or you can wait until someone posts a patched 9.5.6 boot image.

I posted the 956 magisk image in another thread but here it is again from the gm1917
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0a48lpps6ah90t3/boot956gm1917magisk.img?dl=0
Instructions
(Adb and fastboot on a PC)
(Unlock bootloader): tap build# 6x, Oem unlocking and usb debugging on, connect phone to PC, boot to recovery, "fastboot oem unlock" from PC command prompt which erases phone also, then usb debugging and advanced reboot on again
Download the patched boot image to adb directory
Install the latest version of Magisk Manager to phone
Reboot the phone in fastboot mode
Use the following command via command prompt :
fastboot flash boot boot956gm1917magisk.img
fastboot reboot
The phone will reboot into system, this may take some time be patient
Open Magisk & Install it again[Direct Install]
You've got a rooted OnePlus 7 Pro.
Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

hachem28 said:
Anyone know how to root if I'm already on 9.5.6?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@schmeggy929 posted a patched boot image for the US unlocked variant that you can use for rooting and then installing TWRP. I had to switch the active slot for my device before following the instructions for the patched boot image. After getting Magisk and TWRP installed I didn't have WiFi so I wiped everything in TWRP, used the full zip for 9.5.6 followed by the TWRP installer zip, rebooted to recovery, flashed Magisk 19.2, rebooted, and everything worked great. If you get into a bootloop follow this guide
Standard disclaimer: I'm not responsible for damage, etc.

larsdennert said:
I posted the 956 magisk image in another thread but here it is again from the gm1917
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0a48lpps6ah90t3/boot956gm1917magisk.img?dl=0
Instructions
Download the patched boot image to adb directory
Install the latest version of Magisk Manager
Reboot the phone in fastboot mode
Use the following command via command prompt :
fastboot flash boot boot956gm1917magisk.img
fastboot reboot
The phone will reboot into system, this may take some time be patient
Open Magisk & Install it again[Direct Install]
You've got a rooted OnePlus 7 Pro.
Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
shadeau said:
@schmeggy929 posted a patched boot image for the US unlocked variant that you can use for rooting and then installing TWRP. I had to switch the active slot for my device before following the instructions for the patched boot image. After getting Magisk and TWRP installed I didn't have WiFi so I wiped everything in TWRP, used the full zip for 9.5.6 followed by the TWRP installer zip, rebooted to recovery, flashed Magisk 19.2, rebooted, and everything worked great. If you get into a bootloop follow this guide
Standard disclaimer: I'm not responsible for damage, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK question does both these methods get us to the same results? Just they are different ways of doing it. Don't beat me up to bad guys.

The key is flashing a boot image that matches what you are currently running.
The second set of instructions also flash TWRP.
Both flash magisk which is essentially root.
I preferred the first method as it was simple and initially only boots to a modified image. If anything goes wrong in that step, nothing permanent has been done. The first method requires you are at least on 9.5.4 as earlier recoveries did not support booting to an image unless it was flashed.
Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 10:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 PM ----------
The second instructions basically continue where mine left off by flashing TWRP recovery. He then used TWRP to repair having flashed the wrong boot image while rooting and eventually giving up and flashing the whole rom again. I think that's what happened to him.
Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

larsdennert said:
---------- Post added at 10:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 PM ----------
The second instructions basically continue where mine left off by flashing TWRP recovery. He then used TWRP to repair having flashed the wrong boot image while rooting and eventually giving up and flashing the whole rom again. I think that's what happened to him.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed the correct boot image, but to the wrong slot which led me to a bootloop. After fixing that problem and getting back to stock I switched slots, flashed the boot image, and didn't have WiFi (I triple checked the version was correct and others have had the issue). That's what led me to flashing the full ROM in TWRP and then Magisk.
To the OP:
I like having TWRP with a rooted device, but if you just want root then follow the first set of instructions

OK guys I'm on Verizon I just got my phone Friday and it had the update 9.5.6GM21AA for the Iphone and 7pro problem so I did it. OK now the dumb question when it says Open Magisk & Install it again. There are talking about the boot image right? I'm sorry guys I've not done this in a long time.
OK guys I googled and found what I needed thank you

With the phone only a few weeks old, we are all experimenting with what works. 1+is also releasing a lot of patches all the time so things are a moving Target. Luckily things are settling and the early adopters have sorted out how to get out of a jamb when it happens.
For others clarity open the magisk app after booting to the patched boot image i provided and do a direct install. This is that step that actually permanently patches your boot image for magisk. There are other instructions floating around that instead flash the modified image provided. Those were earlier instructions They are more hazardous in case there is a problem with the supplied image or it doesn't match your rom, or you don't flash to the correct Slot. That's what happened to the other poster but he was experienced enough to simply fix the issue. It's still a sinking feeling when it happens and you wonder how badly you've just bricked your phone. I've been there many times, lol.
Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

skythian said:
I cannot for the life up me update my One Plus 7 Pro from 9.5.3 to 9.5.6 with root/unlock. I've tried the Magisk install to other slot method, tried flashing in twrp, tried full OTA, tried re-installing twrp to both slots after flashing. Basically tried all the 6T methods.
How the hell do you do this? What am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in the exact same boat. I went through a bunch of trouble getting my phone rooted for the first time on 9.5.3. Finally got everything setup properly. 9.5.3 with root and twrp 3.3.1-20 (with decryption working).
Wanted to upgrade to 9.5.6 and have been holding off for fear of messing things up and having to wipe and start over.
Decided to go for it. Used the OP system updater. Installed 9.5.6. DID NOT REBOOT. Went to Magisk Manager and installed Magisk using the "After OTA" method. Rebooted. It booted to stock OP recovery.
Frustrated and not quite sure what to do, I went to my computer and installed twrp 3.3.1-20 using "fastboot flash boot twrp.img". I expected it was going to boot into twrp since I installed it on the current slot (A) but to my surprise it booted into system. Unfortunately I lost root, but at least i'm not at the stock recovery.
Then I decided I would try to get root using the patched image that @larsdennert posted on post 5. I went into fastboot and followed his instructions exactly. Waited for it to reboot and ended up at the stock OP recovery screen again. Since the only thing I knew how to get back into my system was flashing the twrp 3.3.1-20, I did that, rebooted, and am now back in Android, but without root.
After reading countless threads about the Slot A and B partitioning, I thought I understood it, but I must not. Or something must be setup wrong. I follow steps exactly and nothing seems to work for me.
Maybe someone can help me out. I'd like to get 9.5.6 rooted, but I am terrified to mess stuff up and have to wipe it clean again.
EDIT:
I got root! Once I got to system I had the idea to boot to recovery to see if twrp was there. Turns out it was, so I flashed Magisk from twrp and rebooted. Saw that it was rooted and direct installed Magisk again from Magisk Manager.
Man, I really have no clue how or why this worked out this way. I feel like i'm going to stay on 9.5.6 for a while out of fear of screwing something up again. This is nothing like my old One Plus 5. lol
Edit x2:
It appears my WiFi isn't working. I don't really know what to do from here.

Blackfireball5 said:
Edit x2:
It appears my WiFi isn't working. I don't really know what to do from here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flash the Sky-Dragon Kernel, it'll fix the wifi

Marco589 said:
flash the Sky-Dragon Kernel, it'll fix the wifi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not really interested in going to a different kernel. I'm going to try to dirty flash the update again and reflash twrp and Magisk. Hopefully that will work.

Can't reboot to Recovery after upgrade to Android 10

Hello everyone,
As I mentioned in the title, since I upgraded to Android 10, can't boot to recovery.
Dowloaded latest version of the Adb kit, and while issuing
adb reboot recovery
the phone reboots but goes to normal boot.
Tried manually (power + vol down etc.) and when choosing Recovery - same thing happens.
Needless to say that my laptop is authorized debug device and phone is in debug mode etc. - I have done this many times before Android 10 update.
All I try to do is to sideload the latest OTA as I did many times before because my phone is rooted and the updates do not install automatically.
Pixel (First generation)
Rooted with Magisk
Bootloader unlocked
Stock recovery (using TWRP without installing it when flashing Magisk)
Hope somebody can advise. Obviously there is something new in Android 10 which has to be set (like the need for debugging authorization for example, which I already did).
Thank you
John

Im getting a similar problem. I get stuck on th Google logo screen. I cant hard-reset, recovery mode or boot, the only things that works is th barcode.

Android 10 changed something in the ramdisk that you can't install TWRP directly on the phone. You have to boot it via PC using "fastboot boot <insert twrp image name>.img"

You can try installing twrp to ramdisk. Put twrp 3.3.1-0.img in your devices storage and then fastboot twrp 3.3.0-0 (disable pin etc first) then once it's booted go to advanced and select install to ramdisk and select the 3.3.1-0.img and it should install it. You may get a not enough storage error on 10/Q (I did) bit worth a punt. Make a back up first as usual, if no good flash a fresh factory.img and see if that cures it and then restore your apps/data etcfrom your Google back up (if you use it)
Good luck

junglism93 said:
You can try installing twrp to ramdisk. Put twrp 3.3.1-0.img in your devices storage and then fastboot twrp 3.3.0-0 (disable pin etc first) then once it's booted go to advanced and select install to ramdisk and select the 3.3.1-0.img and it should install it. You may get a not enough storage error on 10/Q (I did) bit worth a punt. Make a back up first as usual, if no good flash a fresh factory.img and see if that cures it and then restore your apps/data etcfrom your Google back up (if you use it)
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the advice, however as I mentioned in my original post I don't want to install TWRP permanently , and the problem is that I cannot go to the stock recovery mode which has no connection to TWRP. There is something with Android 10 which changed since 9 and I'm interested to find what. Everything worked fine before the upgrade.
Also, the option to flash factory image and restore (I also have Titanium in addition to Google backup) is a too much of a hassle. I use this phone for real, not only to play with it.
Anyway, again thank you for your input.
John

Sorry mate, re read your OP. I just tried booting into the aosp recovery and got the same issue! My guess is its magisk as I could boot into the aosp recovery prior to installing it. Re flash or restore the previous boot.img or a stock boot.img and it should boot into aosp recovery again. Magisk must be installing to or patching the aosp recovery ramdisk and stopping it booting. Other than that just fastboot twrp and use that.
Edit: it's magisk, restored original images and it booted into aosp recovery first try.

I've had no problems installing TWRP 3.3.0.0 normally after using an *.img file to get TWRP started. EDIT: and booting into it.

junglism93 said:
Sorry mate, re read your OP. I just tried booting into the aosp recovery and got the same issue! My guess is its magisk as I could boot into the aosp recovery prior to installing it. Re flash or restore the previous boot.img or a stock boot.img and it should boot into aosp recovery again. Magisk must be installing to or patching the aosp recovery ramdisk and stopping it booting. Other than that just fastboot twrp and use that.
Edit: it's magisk, restored original images and it booted into aosp recovery first try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right. I did open Magisk and from the uninstall options choosed "Restore images" (no need to do complete uninstall, which is the other option). After that I was able to boot in recovery etc. I guess this is what you meant in your PS. At the end re-flashed Magisk and all is back to normal.
I will alert the Magisk team about the issue (if they are not already aware).
Case closed.
Thanks again.
John

Master Cylinder said:
I've had no problems installing TWRP 3.3.0.0 normally after using an *.img file to get TWRP started. EDIT: and booting into it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please read my OP. I was clear that I DON'T want to install TWRP permanently and this was never the problem.
The problem is solved (kind of). See the other posts.
Thank you.
John

I thought TWRP wasn't compatible with Android 10 yet? I am seeing mixed things

aholeinthewor1d said:
I thought TWRP wasn't compatible with Android 10 yet? I am seeing mixed things
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works just fine.

Mzprx said:
It works just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are there steps for how to install somewhere? I keep reading that it's not working on the Pixel with Android 10. Thanks

aholeinthewor1d said:
Are there steps for how to install somewhere? I keep reading that it's not working on the Pixel with Android 10. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is a mess. It works with Pixel (I have this one and can confirm) and supposedly Pixel 2. It won't work for brand new phones arriving with factory installed Android 10.
Read the following:
https://twrp.me/site/update/2019/10/23/twrp-and-android-10.html#
After that, if you want to try, go to the page below to find instructions for your device. Note that the list is by manufacturer, so if you are looking for Pixel, it is under Google.
https://twrp.me/Devices/
Just in case - backup and have the factory image for your phone handy in case something goes wrong. For google phones you can download the image and see instructions here:
https://developers.google.com/android/images
Note that I never installed TWRP permanently, so I can't say if the permanent installation will work (I think it should, but not sure). Typically I just load TWRP and use it to flash pakages, but at the end I'm keeping the stock recovery.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
John

Mzprx said:
It is a mess. It works with Pixel (I have this one and can confirm) and supposedly Pixel 2. It won't work for brand new phones arriving with factory installed Android 10.
Read the following:
https://twrp.me/site/update/2019/10/23/twrp-and-android-10.html#
After that, if you want to try, go to the page below to find instructions for your device. Note that the list is by manufacturer, so if you are looking for Pixel, it is under Google.
https://twrp.me/Devices/
Just in case - backup and have the factory image for your phone handy in case something goes wrong. For google phones you can download the image and see instructions here:
https://developers.google.com/android/images
Note that I never installed TWRP permanently, so I can't say if the permanent installation will work (I think it should, but not sure). Typically I just load TWRP and use it to flash pakages, but at the end I'm keeping the stock recovery.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
John
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Yea from what I can tell no one has had luck actually installing it on the Pixel with Android 10 yet. I'm familiar with how to fix everything if something goes wrong. I would try but others have already tried and failed. It won't install for them.

firstly, dont use whatever ****ty platform-tools you are using, get them from here.
secondly, you dont install recovery on android 10 yet, it doenst work. you have to just boot to twrp using `fastboot boot twrp.img` once you are in bootloader mode.

Issues rooting my oneplus 7 pro / installing twrp properly

Dear oneplus community,
the recent days I wanted to update my stock system and keep my magisk at the same time. But somehow things messed up and lost my root status so I had to go back and flash magisk via twrp again. Since I didn't install twrp as default recovery, I had to boot manually into it.
Here is one of the first issues: the command "fastboot boot recovery.img" had an output line which said that the file is unauthorized. That is quite a common error so I booted into twrp via the all in one tool. Alright here I am in the recovery, ready to install magisk again as usual. Now I am facing the unable to mount vendor, storage and system error, so I fixed it by going to exfat and back to ext4 if I am correct.
Now somehow things messed up even more because at this point I was stuck in a boot loop. I managed to get out of it with the MSM back to stock method.
So in the end I got a stock android 10 oxygenos system I want to have magisk on it again. But when I try to get into the recovery mode sometimes itll work and sometimes it wont. Sometimes the command prompt gives me the unauthorized error message again and sometimes I get stuck in the fastboot mode screen with the oneplus logo.
Eventually I get into the recovery by using various methods e.g. all in one tool, but also here it happenes that the command prompt gives me the unauthorized error.
At this point everything seems to be okay with the installation of magisk (no errors, etc.). But when I'm trying to boot up from the recovery it says that I have no OS installed whether I have magisk installed or not. In a second and third try I additionally tried to flash a rom before installing magisk so I am sure to actually having a OS installed. But it still gives me the same error.
Any ideas how to deal with that, so that I can install magisk on my stock rom properly without having these weird issues.
At this point I'm losing the belief in myself because it shouldn't be that hard at all, since I already rooted my previous phones like mi6 the oneplus 6 haswell..
I will post error codes later.
Thank you.

I actually just started a thread about installing TWRP and magisk yesterday. I am having the same problem installing. I assume it's the versions of each file that I am using that are incompatible, because I am following the instructions as written.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-7-pro/help/current-twrp-magisk-unlocked-oneplus-7-t4094307
At this point, since no one seems to know what the problem is, I'm just gonna stay on stock, unlocked bootloader, no root. Which defeats the purpose of even having an unlocked bootloader, but at least I'll have functioning phone. If you need to install an OS on your phone, follow this method.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-7-pro/how-to/bricked-oneplus-7-pro-stuck-fastboot-t3972469
This will get you back to factory settings, unlocked bootloader.

+1 here, actually quite confused how to get TWRP properly so it sticks, amd confused about two slots situation.

Now going back to stock via MSM Method. Im in a bootloop/bricked device again.
I'll try to do it one more time and i'll document my steps detailed, so more experienced users can follow the steps better.

Silencex33 said:
Now going back to stock via MSM Method. Im in a bootloop/bricked device again.
I'll try to do it one more time and i'll document my steps detailed, so more experienced users can follow the steps better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get twrp from here https://forum.xda-developers.com/on...nt/recovery-unofficial-twrp-recovery-t3932943. 3.3.1-79

im about to try this on my tmob oneplus 7 pro, any suggestions as to if I should wait for new updates ?

Help access internal storage from fastboot

So i tried updating my phone and rerooting but as soon as i flashed the patched image something got corrupted and its only been pain now for the last few hours. Ive been super irresponsible in not backing up my phone away from the phone so I would rather not lose everything by flashing the factory image so anything and everything helps. for context it booted into 11 fine but as soon as I touched fastboot and the latest .img files is when stuff started going south.
edit: fixed the issue another way but an answer for that question would be nice to finally have on the internet.

I'm not very clear about what you did... The regular Magisk OTA process is:
1. Uninstall Magisk.
2. Install the OTA (do not reboot).
3. Install Magisk (after OTA).
The more involved process I've used (when the Magisk backup isn't valid) is:
1. Fastboot flash the vanilla boot.
2. Fastboot boot the patched boot.
3. Install the OTA (do not reboot).
4. Install Magisk (after OTA).
If you are doing a fastboot flash or boot you need to make sure the image you are using exactly matches your system. Which is especially important for the initial install. If you boot the wrong image, rebooting will fix it. If you flash the wrong image you have to flash the right image to fix it. That's why Magisk install has you fastboot boot and install from Magisk manager, less chance of a permanent issue
If you were going from Android 10 to 11 with Magisk 20, that will be a problem.

To answer the question in the title... You cannot access user data from fastboot. But you can probably fastboot boot TWRP and use that to access your data. I've done that before, but not on this phone.

Unfortunately the only build of TWRP that anyone has posted is unable to boot on Android 11 and I've not seen any other serious effort.
Assuming you were working entirely with stock ROMs, my best recovery from an unbootable state has been to reflash the stock boot.img, then boot into recovery, and apply over ADB the full downloadable OTA zip. No data wipe occurs.

I just tried to boot TWRP and it didn't work. Odd because it shouldn't depend on anything on the device... Looks like the bootloader is rejecting it
"Error verifying the received boot.img: Invalid Parameter"

a1291762 said:
I just tried to boot TWRP and it didn't work. Odd because it shouldn't depend on anything on the device... Looks like the bootloader is rejecting it
"Error verifying the received boot.img: Invalid Parameter"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does depend on what's on the device because recovery is no longer its own partition. It's part of the kernel (boot.img). This unofficial TWRP was built against Android 10. And the entire partition layout changes around with the upgrade from 10-11. So it is just not valid and won't boot.

cmstlist said:
Assuming you were working entirely with stock ROMs, my best recovery from an unbootable state has been to reflash the stock boot.img, then boot into recovery, and apply over ADB the full downloadable OTA zip. No data wipe occurs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried to access adb in stock recovery, and it didnt work. I made a new hread specific to it here.
Cant get ADB in recovery mode, but works in live mode, and so does fastboot
On my Rooted Pixel 4a, I can use: Fastboot - I flashed the latest update firmware as well as the rooted boot image ADB Over WiFi - This is the most comnon way I connect for ADB ADB While the Android OS is running What I cannoit get woirking is...
forum.xda-developers.com
Can you see what I a doing differently or have missed that made it work for you?
on a side note...
cmstlist said:
Unfortunately the only build of TWRP that anyone has posted is unable to boot on Android 11 and I've not seen any other serious effort.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have built TWRP for one of my previous devices, and i am not sure why no one has built one for A11, for our device; but i can think of a couple of reasons. Right now i have a major sprain In my right wrist/hand, so typing is one handed, and its not my dominate hand. Even if i got it to build, i would be looking for test pilots.

DiamondJohn said:
...snip...
on a side note...
I have built TWRP for one of my previous devices, and i am not sure why no one has built one for A11, for our device; but i can think of a couple of reasons. Right now i have a major sprain In my right wrist/hand, so typing is one handed, and its not my dominate hand. Even if i got it to build, i would be looking for test pilots.
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just came across this post, which may help explain why TWRP is problematic for our device. But the thread did hint about running twrp from fastboot. (Post by cmstlist)
TWRP 3.7.0-12 for Sunfish[Testing]
[RECOVERY] TWRP 3.7.0-12 - TeamWin Recovery Project Introduction: Team Win Recovery Project or TWRP for short, is a custom recovery built with ease of use and customization in mind. We started from the ground up by taking AOSP recovery and...
forum.xda-developers.com

DiamondJohn said:
I have built TWRP for one of my previous devices, and i am not sure why no one has built one for A11, for our device; but i can think of a couple of reasons. Right now i have a major sprain In my right wrist/hand, so typing is one handed, and its not my dominate hand. Even if i got it to build, i would be looking for test pilots.
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As a software developer that's been doing embedded Linux for 20 years, it saddens me that I haven't got past app development for Android
I'd love to help get TWRP going for the Pixel 4a but probably I'd get nowhere. I can certainly test TWRP builds though. My Pixel 4a is my daily driver but it's unlocked and rooted and I've got a solid off-device backup so I'm relatively fearless with hacking

DiamondJohn said:
I tried to access adb in stock recovery, and it didnt work. I made a new hread specific to it here.
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I was not saying you can execute arbitrary ADB commands in stock recovery. However if you have a full OTA zip and can get into stock recovery, you can choose the option on-device to flash an update over ADB according to Google's instructions. This will only work with a signed official OTA zip. But if you happen to have corrupted your stock ROM to an unbootable state, it is a possible path to get it back to bootable so you can access the contents.