How to root Android 12 (Google Pixel 3a)

Let’s see how to root an Android phone with a rooted Android from the official image, first we will flash the device with an official android image, second will root the device and then we will install useful tools.

Flashing a Pixel 3a with the Official Android 12 Image

Flashing your Pixel 3a with the official Android 12 image is straightforward when following these steps:

Step 1: Reboot into Recovery Mode

Connect your Pixel 3a to your computer.
Open a terminal or command prompt and run: adb reboot recovery
To access the recovery menu:
- Hold the Power button.
- Press Volume Up once.
- The recovery menu should appear.

Step 2: Enter ADB Sideload Mode

Use the volume buttons to navigate and select Apply update from ADB from the recovery menu.
On your computer, check if your device is connected correctly: adb devices Your device should show up in sideload mode.
Start the sideload process: adb sideload sargo-ota-sp2a....zip Replace sargo-ota-sp2a....zip with the exact name of the OTA package you downloaded.

Rooting Android 12 on Pixel 3a

Rooting allows you to unlock advanced customization and features on Android. Here’s how to root Android 12 on your Pixel 3a:

Step 1: Gather the Necessary Files

Download the OTA file that matches your currently installed Android 12 version.
Get the Magisk Manager from the official GitHub page.
Extract the OTA file to retrieve the payload.bin file. You can use the payload-dumper-go tool: python3 extract_android_ota_payload.py payload.bin . This will extract the boot.img file from the payload.

Step 2: Patch the Boot Image

Transfer the boot.img file to your phone: adb push boot.img /sdcard/Download/
Open the Magisk app on your phone and select Install > Select and Patch a File. Choose the boot.img file.
Magisk will generate a patched boot image, typically named magisk_patched....img.

Step 3: Flash the Patched Boot Image

Transfer the patched boot image back to your computer: adb pull /sdcard/Download/magisk_patched....img .
Reboot your phone into bootloader mode: adb reboot bootloader
Verify that your device is detected in fastboot mode: fastboot devices
Unlock the bootloader (this will wipe your data): fastboot flashing unlock
Flash the patched boot image: fastboot flash boot magisk_patched....img
Reboot your phone: fastboot reboot

Install Useful Tools

After rooting, you can enhance your device with these tools:

HTTP Toolkit: For inspecting HTTP traffic.
Frida Server: A dynamic instrumentation toolkit for reverse engineering.
ProxyDroid: For managing and using proxies.
Certificate Manager: For managing custom certificates.

Conclusion

With Android 12 successfully flashed and your device rooted, you now have full control over your Pixel 3a. Remember to always use trusted sources for files and tools to avoid security risks. Enjoy exploring the possibilities!