[Pixel 3a][Android 11][ROOTED][TWRP 3.6.0] Install OTA without reverting to stock - Google Pixel 3a Questions & Answers

Hello!
I am on an older version of Android 11 and I would like to install the latest Android 11 OTA without losing root and TWRP.
I know that I could just manually flash the lasted Android 11 firmware, then re-install TWRP and Magisk, but this would mean losing all data and having to reinstall apps, restore backups, etc...
So I was wondering if there were a quicker way to install OTA updates without losing data and root.
I know that there are many articles on the subject but they all refer to a previous version of TWRP and Magisk. Because TWRP 3.6.0 sports a completely revamped codebase I would like to know what is the latest recommended method if any.
This is my system info:
Android 11 sargo-rq1a.201105.002-factory-2433e0c0
Magisk v23
TWRP 3.6.0-11_0
Japan region
PS I do not intend to update to Android 12 yet

I ended up flashing the latest version of the stock firmware and reinstalling TWRP and root. However if you have a solution please post it for future reference.

I was looking for the same thing, didn't find any good solution, however, you can edit the flash-all script so that it doesn't wipe your data (remove the -w argument if I remember well).

reyqn said:
I was looking for the same thing, didn't find any good solution, however, you can edit the flash-all script so that it doesn't wipe your data (remove the -w argument if I remember well).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The flashall script will still remove TWRP and root though, right?

blksith0 said:
The flashall script will still remove TWRP and root though, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it does, you have to reflash them after

It's annoying that we can't choose the OTA android installs, it has to be the latest one. On some phones you can choose a local file, but I didn't find a way to do so with a pixel 3a.
If you were able to do this, in theory you could just flash the magisk module for twrp retention and preflash magisk on the unactive partition after installing the ota but before rebooting. Then just reboot and you keep everything.
I'm not ready to update to android 12 either (gravitybox, twrp), but I'll try then...

LastStarDust said:
I ended up flashing the latest version of the stock firmware and reinstalling TWRP and root. However if you have a solution please post it for future reference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand. Just flash the Full Factory OTA zip in TWRP. That won't remove any data. And you can just check the box to "Automatically flash TWRP after zip" so that you'll keep whatever TWRP you're using. Then you just have to reboot recovery (so that you're on the updated slot) and flash the Magisk APK in TWRP. Reboot and profit.
P.S. This post belongs in Q&A.

Captain_Throwback said:
I don't understand. Just flash the Full Factory OTA zip in TWRP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wondered if you could do this, apparently TWRP doesn't recommend it.
Also I had no idea how this works on a device with A/B partitions. Does TWRP automatically flash on the inactive partition?

reyqn said:
I wondered if you could do this, apparently TWRP doesn't recommend it.
Also I had no idea how this works on a device with A/B partitions. Does TWRP automatically flash on the inactive partition?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That 'recommendation' is specific to incremental OTAs. Also, it not generally being supported isn't the same as it not being recommended.
TWRP will install the zip to the inactive slot, and then when you reboot, the device will automatically boot into the updated slot.

Thanks for the precisions, I'll know for the next time. TWRP really is awesome

hi everyone, i flashed pixel 3a to android 12 and now my imei is 004400.... and no service ..... what should i do?

Related

Apply monthly update, with Magisk and Xposed, without booting...

I want to update my Pixel phone with the latest monthly update, but also install Magisk and Xposed. But I want to do this without rebooting so that Xposed is always working.
How do I do this?
Is Flashfire the best way to do this, or can I do this manually.
I used to update my Nexus5 by downloading the full monthly update, opening the zip on my PC and then flashing the system update before booting into TWRP to apply Xposed.
But how do I do this on a pixel with the A/B partitions and the like.
Any help would be appreciated.
Ta.
scutworker said:
I want to update my Pixel phone with the latest monthly update, but also install Magisk and Xposed. But I want to do this without rebooting so that Xposed is always working.
How do I do this?
Is Flashfire the best way to do this, or can I do this manually.
I used to update my Nexus5 by downloading the full monthly update, opening the zip on my PC and then flashing the system update before booting into TWRP to apply Xposed.
But how do I do this on a pixel with the A/B partitions and the like.
Any help would be appreciated.
Ta.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could be wrong but I don't think flashfire works with magisk but essentially no there is no way to do what it is you want. You could manually flash the factory images and re-mod or wait for a custom kernel you like to integrate latest security patches and flash that.
KittyRgnarok said:
I could be wrong but I don't think flashfire works with magisk but essentially no there is no way to do what it is you want. You could manually flash the factory images and re-mod or wait for a custom kernel you like to integrate latest security patches and flash that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
So is it just a case of boot to bootloader, manually flashing the factory image, then boot TWRP and flash Magisk and Xposed?
Ta.
scutworker said:
Thanks.
So is it just a case of boot to bootloader, manually flashing the factory image, then boot TWRP and flash Magisk and Xposed?
Ta.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. You can also remove the -w in the flash-all.sh file so you can keep your data. (Or flash-all.bat if on windows)

Have Systemless Root - Upgrading to Android 10?

My phone keeps bugging me to upgrade to Android 10. I have systemless root, magisk etc.
Is this safe to just do? Do I need to get the image from elsewhere and start over? I've had an update alert come through from Magisk announcing Android 10 compatibility, so I'm guessing that won't be an issue...
I really only wander in here whenever I get a new phone so I have no clue how this works.
you can update to android 10 just fine with magisk installed, however you will lose it once the upgrade is done. you will need to patch your boot image with magisk once you are on android 10.
Not sure what that means.
koberulz said:
Not sure what that means.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You. Will. Need. To. Patch. Your. Boot. Image. With. Magisk. After. You. Update. To. Android. 10.
I can read, dude.
What's a boot image? How do I patch it? What are the actual steps here?
koberulz said:
I can read, dude.
What's a boot image? How do I patch it? What are the actual steps here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/how-to/guide-pixel-xl-android-10-0-q-t3964112
So start the root process over, basically? Is there any point in doing the OTA update or do I just grab the latest image from the website?
Steps 7/8 say there's no TWRP for Android 10 yet, so how does that work?
koberulz said:
So start the root process over, basically? Is there any point in doing the OTA update or do I just grab the latest image from the website?
Steps 7/8 say there's no TWRP for Android 10 yet, so how does that work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can not install twrp on android 10, you can still boot twrp though. you will not need twrp for the boot image patch.
update your phone to android 10, get the boot.img from the factory image of the version you updated to, using magisk manager patch that boot.img, boot to bootloader, flash the patched boot.img with
Code:
fastboot flash boot_a patchedboot.img
and
Code:
fastboot flash boot_b patchedboot.img
(or only flash for the boot of the current slot you are on, doesnt really matter)
Personally, on every monthly update I always flash the full factory image (deleting -w if I want to keep my stuff) and then reinstall Magisk and custom kernel by temporarily booting TWRP. I find it much less of a hassle, it applies to major upgrades too (as is your case) and it's guaranteed to work every time.
Flipz77 said:
Personally, on every monthly update I always flash the full factory image (deleting -w if I want to keep my stuff) and then reinstall Magisk and custom kernel by temporarily booting TWRP. I find it much less of a hassle, it applies to major upgrades too (as is your case) and it's guaranteed to work every time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i usually do this also
Flipz77 said:
Personally, on every monthly update I always flash the full factory image (deleting -w if I want to keep my stuff) and then reinstall Magisk and custom kernel by temporarily booting TWRP. I find it much less of a hassle, it applies to major upgrades too (as is your case) and it's guaranteed to work every time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are monthly updates?
I've not been aware of anything at all until now, because now it's sending me a notification.
koberulz said:
There are monthly updates?
I've not been aware of anything at all until now, because now it's sending me a notification.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
December will be the last one, sadly

Safest OTA update method in '21?

Hi guys. I know there has been a million topics about this and I've read most of them but does anyone know which route is currently the safest for an ota update? I have a 7pro rooted with Twrp and magisk. I'm on 10.0.5 and looking to update to 10.0.10.
Should I use trwp recovery and flash everything from there or can I flash locally and then use magisk along with the a/b retention script? I messed up rooting the phone originally and lost some data and now I have a mental block around which method is safest to do without losing my data or bootlooping. I want to make sure both slots update correctly and I'm unsure of the correct method.
Any help would be appreciated before I give it a go, thank you.
I'm also wondering if I've edited the build prop in any way with the build prop editor, will this cause a boot loop or will a full ota zip return it to normal anyway?
Thanks
Bxperiaz3 said:
Hi guys. I know there has been a million topics about this and I've read most of them but does anyone know which route is currently the safest for an ota update? I have a 7pro rooted with Twrp and magisk. I'm on 10.0.5 and looking to update to 10.0.10.
Should I use trwp recovery and flash everything from there or can I flash locally and then use magisk along with the a/b retention script? I messed up rooting the phone originally and lost some data and now I have a mental block around which method is safest to do without losing my data or bootlooping. I want to make sure both slots update correctly and I'm unsure of the correct method.
Any help would be appreciated before I give it a go, thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the typical and safe route to take an OTA and keep your root is:
download OTA using oxygen downloader app
Use the sytem update app to install the file above using the local upgrade option. DO NOT REBOOT.
Use magisk to install the twrp a/b keeper script. DO NOT REBOOT.
Use magisk to install magisk to the inactive slot. Then reboot.
I have the gm1913 phone which is a different variant, but I'm sure that the concept is the same.
Good luck.
Thanks for the reply. Did something similar to this
What I ended up doing incase anyone else needs to know..
Disable all magisk modules and reboot
Flash full update from local storage
Don't reboot
Go to magisk and flash twrp zip
Don't reboot
Flash magisk zip to separate slot (ota option)
Now phone reboots its self
Re enable modules in Magisk
Reboot
Profit

Updated to OOS 11.05.1.GM21AA, Magisk not working, TWRP too

Hi - I installed OOS 11.05.1.GM21AA on my OP7P today, and patched my boot.img file with Magisk 24.1.
After going into Fastboot Mode and doing a fastboot flash boot magisk_patched_boot.img, my OP7P rebooted OK, but my OP7P isn't rooted.
Is there something new that I am missing?
Also, is there a way to get both TWRP 3.6.x and Magisk to be available in the same patched boot image? It looks like TWRP completely overwrites the Magisk modded boot.img file, and then is stuck in a Recovery bootloop.
Thanks,
¿GJ?
¿GotJazz? said:
Hi - I installed OOS 11.05.1.GM21AA on my OP7P today, and patched my boot.img file with Magisk 24.1.
After going into Fastboot Mode and doing a fastboot flash boot magisk_patched_boot.img, my OP7P rebooted OK, but my OP7P isn't rooted.
Is there something new that I am missing?
Also, is there a way to get both TWRP 3.6.x and Magisk to be available in the same patched boot image? It looks like TWRP completely overwrites the Magisk modded boot.img file, and then is stuck in a Recovery bootloop.
Than
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
¿GotJazz? said:
Hi - I installed OOS 11.05.1.GM21AA on my OP7P today, and patched my boot.img file with Magisk 24.1.
After going into Fastboot Mode and doing a fastboot flash boot magisk_patched_boot.img, my OP7P rebooted OK, but my OP7P isn't rooted.
Is there something new that I am missing?
Also, is there a way to get both TWRP 3.6.x and Magisk to be available in the same patched boot image? It looks like TWRP completely overwrites the Magisk modded boot.img file, and then is stuck in a Recovery bootloop.
Thanks,
¿GJ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same issue, I had to downgrade to 11.04, grab a new 11.05 ota from oxygen updater app, extract boot from that and go from there
hammered58 said:
I had the same issue, I had to downgrade to 11.04, grab a new 11.05 ota from oxygen updater app, extract boot from that and go from there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this the Oxygen Updater App you are referring to, or is it the incremental OTA that I would get from a "OnePlus system update" on a now unrooted and unTWRP'd phone?
Also ... Will I lose any data if I downgrade to 11.04? I've never downgraded before, so do I just install the stock 11.04 image via TWRP like I did the 11.05 image?
Lastly ... I'm assuming this will just get me root, but not including TWRP?
¿GotJazz? said:
Is this the Oxygen Updater App you are referring to, or is it the incremental OTA that I would get from a "OnePlus system update" on a now unrooted and unTWRP'd phone?
Also ... Will I lose any data if I downgrade to 11.04? I've never downgraded before, so do I just install the stock 11.04 image via TWRP like I did the 11.05 image?
Lastly ... I'm assuming this will just get me root, but not including TWRP?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yes that is the app Iam talking about.
2. Will you lose data? I always do a format (after the down grade) so I lost data but I never tried it with out formating, it might work, you could try it and see what happens .If it acts strange then it will need a format.
3. Yes you install 11.04 via twrp
4. Yes you will get root but if you want twrp you will have to reinstall
Once you down grade install the oxygen updater, let it download the update , don't let it install it, you can then grab the update from your root directory as it doesn't hide it, then your good to go, you can extract the boot.img by using payload dumper, then take the boot.img and patch that with the magisk app . ( Just install the magisk app on your downgraded 11.04 you don't need root to run the app ) ,,Then after your thru upgrading to 11.05 and after setup just reboot to bootloader and run the magisk patched boot.img, ( fastboot flash boot boot.img) reboot and wait a minute for the magisk app to appear ,it will want to install and do a reboot . Then you can install twrp if you want.
This is how I did it and it worked, you may find a simpler way once you start doing it ,, hth
I'm reluctant to go and do a total wipe (which I have been reading will be required to downgrade).
I'm wondering if the problem I'm facing is that my OP7P needed to be rooted for Magisk 24.1 to be able to successfully patch the latest OP7P build? My OP7P isn't rooted right now although I have v24.1 installed.
I accidentally had installed the latest 11.0.5 OTA before I had a chance to attempt re-rooting.
¿GotJazz? said:
I'm reluctant to go and do a total wipe (which I have been reading will be required to downgrade).
I'm wondering if the problem I'm facing is that my OP7P needed to be rooted for Magisk 24.1 to be able to successfully patch the latest OP7P build? My OP7P isn't rooted right now although I have v24.1 installed.
I accidentally had installed the latest 11.0.5 OTA before I had a chance to attempt re-rooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right now I have 11.05 installed and Iam rooted, tomorrow I will unroot and downgrade to 11.04 without wiping and let you know what happens iam curious myself
I'm rooted now. I did have to wipe my OP7P to get root (due solely to my own heavy-handed approach to getting root again).
I posted in another thread, and I think that the thing that might have made a difference for me wasn't that I wiped, but possibly that I removed encryption before installing the Magisk-patched boot image.
¿GotJazz? said:
I'm rooted now. I did have to wipe my OP7P to get root (due solely to my own heavy-handed approach to getting root again).
I posted in another thread, and I think that the thing that might have made a difference for me wasn't that I wiped, but possibly that I removed encryption before installing the Magisk-patched boot image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess that's possible , I never thought of that, the only way to know is to do a fresh install only this time setup encryption then try to install magisk . But for now your rooted,, until the bug hits you or me to try another rom then we can start the whole thing over again,,

Question Tmo users who converted to global at A11-OOS11, how did you get to 13 rooted?

I cant do normal OTA updates, nor can I install them with the built in installer in settings (that I gained with conversion). Im not exactly sure why and trying to figure this out. Were you able to update as normal to A13?
Its possible I broke something (cant think of what), so Im restoring my after-root twrp "base" backup to see if it can OTA.
Figured Id ask in the meantime...
TimmyP said:
I cant do normal OTA updates, nor can I install them with the built in installer in settings (that I gained with conversion). Im not exactly sure why and trying to figure this out. Were you able to update as normal to A13?
Its possible I broke something (cant think of what), so Im restoring my after-root twrp "base" backup to see if it can OTA.
Figured Id ask in the meantime...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to uninstall magisk/restore images. Then start ota. Then before you reboot go into magisk again and install to opposite slot and reboot . After ota has installed. Stock boot image is the only way it works. It's will fail upon checksum of partitions by google
I figured as I just went back to my base savior A11 rom fresh root, and still nothing. Thank you!
Uninstall magisk it automatically restores boot images right?
*Actually do I need stock boot? I have twrp. Where do I get stock boot image?
Im screwed. Its unable to restore my old image from usb, so Im bricked now. No idea what to do.
mattie_49 said:
You have to uninstall magisk/restore images. Then start ota. Then before you reboot go into magisk again and install to opposite slot and reboot . After ota has installed. Stock boot image is the only way it works. It's will fail upon checksum of partitions by google
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know how I can get back to stock boot?
NM found it. So to be sure, when i want to move from A11 I need to uninstall Magisk, boot to fastboot, then fastboot flash stock boot.img?
Here
^But I have twrp, so wont restoring just bring me to unlocked bootloader unrooted with twrp? (*still not stock?)
*Sorry for the questions. It just seems TWRP has problems restoring backup completely (or I missed something, I backed up everything in TWRP maybe I dont need to do that?).
Im trying to avoid what happened a couple nights ago, because I lost confidence in TWRP on this phone. Usually, its just something ****s up? Well restore your backup, because you just made one. That didn't work completely (it didn't restore /data), and I had to set up a ton I dont want to do again, unless Im on custom A13 rom. Got savegames!
Thanks for all help.
I was on android 12 with april 2022 security update, so it was a very very early android 12 build. I couldn't update via OTA cause I kept getting "update failed" I was rooted, had data I didn't wanna lose so I just ignored it.
I'm now on A13 with root. what I did was: MSM tool back to A11, update via OTA until I reach final official build, extract the boot file through msmtool, patched it with magisk, flashed it via fastboot, job done.
Couldnt Magisk patch boot image from app? Instead of extracting it? Thats how I did it on 11.
I also dont know how to use msm tool to get to 11, or even where to get files. *I think this is it? General - OnePlus 9 11.2.22.2 (T-Mobile) MSM Download Tool | XDA Forums
*Thats exactly whats happening to me too. update failed. So I guess this would be a sure fix.
pubmastervnt said:
I was on android 12 with april 2022 security update, so it was a very very early android 12 build. I couldn't update via OTA cause I kept getting "update failed" I was rooted, had data I didn't wanna lose so I just ignored it.
I'm now on A13 with root. what I did was: MSM tool back to A11, update via OTA until I reach final official build, extract the boot file through msmtool, patched it with magisk, flashed it via fastboot, job done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait. How did you unlock bootloader (after MSM put your phone back to lock BL I assume)? Is the option later available on Tmobile roms? Did you need a token?
pubmastervnt said:
I was on android 12 with april 2022 security update, so it was a very very early android 12 build. I couldn't update via OTA cause I kept getting "update failed" I was rooted, had data I didn't wanna lose so I just ignored it.
I'm now on A13 with root. what I did was: MSM tool back to A11, update via OTA until I reach final official build, extract the boot file through msmtool, patched it with magisk, flashed it via fastboot, job done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you get update failed bec. of the magisk image. you have to restore to stock image before you download the OTA. in magisk dashboard, go to uninstall magisk. choose RESTORE IMAGES. download the ota. do not reboot. go to magisk and install magisk. choose install Magisk after OTA (or something) then press Let's go. and reboot.
jmadiaga said:
you get update failed bec. of the magisk image. you have to restore to stock image before you download the OTA. in magisk dashboard, go to uninstall magisk. choose RESTORE IMAGES. download the ota. do not reboot. go to magisk and install magisk. choose install Magisk after OTA (or something) then press Let's go. and reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't having twrp boot image installed mean that magisk restored twrp image to when before magisk patches it (so it's not actually stock)? Doesn't it just restore a non rooted image with twrp on it?
jmadiaga said:
you get update failed bec. of the magisk image. you have to restore to stock image before you download the OTA. in magisk dashboard, go to uninstall magisk. choose RESTORE IMAGES. download the ota. do not reboot. go to magisk and install magisk. choose install Magisk after OTA (or something) then press Let's go. and reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This fails if you have TWRP.
pubmastervnt said:
I was on android 12 with april 2022 security update, so it was a very very early android 12 build. I couldn't update via OTA cause I kept getting "update failed" I was rooted, had data I didn't wanna lose so I just ignored it.
I'm now on A13 with root. what I did was: MSM tool back to A11, update via OTA until I reach final official build, extract the boot file through msmtool, patched it with magisk, flashed it via fastboot, job done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you tmobile? How did you unlock BL on 13?

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