How to Install TWRP & Root w/ Magisk on Samsung Android! [UNIVERSAL METHOD] [Android Root 101 #2]

In this Android Root 101 series, we are going to learn how to install TWRP & root with Magisk on any Samsung Android(that has an unlocked bootloader).  This is the “universal method” you can use to install TWRP recovery on any Samsung Android device with unlocked bootloader and also root easily using Magisk.

This tutorial will work on the following phones:

  • Exynos models of Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8 Plus, Note 7, Note 8, S9, and S9 Plus
  • Chinese Qualcomm models of Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8 Plus, Note 7, Note 8, S9, and S9 Plus
  • Most models of Galaxy S6, S5, S4, S3, S2 except AT&T and Verizon models.
  • Most models of Galaxy Note 5, Note 4, Note 3, Note 2 except AT&T and Verizon models.
  • Most 2015 models of Samsung Android devices will be supported but avoid AT&T/Verizon models as they have locked bootloaders.
  • Most 2017 and older Exynos models of Samsung Android devices are supported.

Note: If your model is LISTED, you can still try this method if you can find a TWRP recovery for your Samsung Android device.  At the worst, you will fail but following this method will NOT BRICK your Samsung Android.  You can always reflash stock firmware with ODIN if something goes wrong.

This tutorial is part of the Android Root 101 series, if you want to learn about Android root and custom ROMs check out the whole Android Root 101 Series here.

If you are going to install a custom ROM, you can follow Steps 1 thru 7 and after that follow How to Install Custom ROM w/ TWRP.

IMPORTANT: This root method may require you to WIPE DATA, which means it will ERASE EVERYTHING on your Samsung Android.  Please MAKE A BACKUP of EVERYTHING just in case something goes wrong!

Step 1. In this first step, we are going to enable the hidden Developer Options menu and make sure “OEM Unlocking” is checked ON.

Go to Settings->About phone and find “Build Number”.

, it may be under “Software info” menu depending on your Samsung Android device.

Tap on “Build number” about 5 times until is says, “Developer mode has been turn on.”

Tap the back button once or twice(depending on your device) and you should find a new menu option called, “Developer options”.  Tap on that.

In Developer Options menu, make sure “OEM unlock” is checked ON.  If you have newer Samsung Galaxy devices(Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, S9, S9 Plus, Note 8, or newer) and you DO NOT SEE this option, your phone is probably affected by the new 7-day OEM Unlock jail, meaning you will have to wait full 7-days after turning on your phone for the first time.  Also, if you recently did a factory reset, you will have to wait 7 days from that day to get this option.

However, if you don’t see this option on older Samsung Android(like Galaxy S6, S6 Edge and older), you can skip this step as some of the older Samsung Android devices simply do not have the OEM Unlock option.

Step 2. Let’s put the Samsung device into ODIN Download mode.  Power off your Samsung Android device first.

For newer Galaxy devices like Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, S9, S9 Plus, Note 8, or newer w/ Bixby key, hold down Volume Down, Bixby, and Power buttons for about 5 seconds to enter ODIN Download mode.

For older Galaxy devices like Galaxy S7, hold down Volume Down, Center Home, and Power buttons for about 5 seconds to enter ODIN Download mode.

Hit the Volume Up key to enter ODIN Download mode, then connect a USB cable from your Samsung Android to your computer.

Step 3. You will need to download a bunch of files for rooting your Samsung Android, see below.

Download:

Once all files have been downloaded, unzip the ODIN zip file then go into the new ODIN directory.

Double-click on the ODIN EXE program to run ODIN.

You should see a blue-highlighted box with a random COM number, which means you have proper drivers installed.

If you don’t see that option, try installing the Samsung USB driver program you downloaded earlier.

Step 4. You will also need to find a TWRP recovery file for your Samsung Android.  Go to TWRP.me and find a TWRP recovery(the file ending in “img.tar” or “img.tar.md5”) for YOUR MODEL of Samsung Android.

If for some reason you don’t see your model number then you can try Googling and find some unofficial versions floating on the internet.

Step 5. Once you have downloaded the TWRP recovery file, choose “AP” on your ODIN program and choose the TWRP recovery file.

Step 6. Next, we will flash TWRP recovery then reboot back into the new TWRP recovery before rebooting.  THIS IS UTMOST IMPORTANT especially for newer Samsung Android devices with OEM Unlock jail.  If you miss this step, you may have to unroot your Samsung device with stock firmware then wait 7-days!!!  So, if this is your first time, please watch the video tutorial section of this several times before attempting.

Hold down the Volume button THEN press “Start”.

IMMEDIATE after hitting start, also hold down Bixby(or Center Home button for phones without Bixy button).

As soon as the screen goes black, which means your Samsung Android is rebooting, also hold down the Power button.

Hold all three buttons down for about 4 seconds and let go of all the buttons.  You should be in TWRP recovery.

Step 7. Newer Samsung Android devices may have encryption on this step, most older Samsung Android(2015 or older) won’t have it.  If you do have encryption, we will learn how to remove it in this step.

If you see “Unmodified System Partition” pop-up page like below, your Samsung Android data is encrypted.  If you don’t see this option(if you have older Samsung Android), skip to Step 8.

At this step, if you are NOT trying to root but want to install custom ROM, you can go ahead and follow How to Install Custom ROM using TWRP on Any Android tutorial after this step.

Otherwise, tap on “Keep Read Only”.

Choose “Wipe”.

Since the data partition is encrypted, we must format the data first.

Tap on “Format data”.

Type, “yes” for wipe your data.  WIPING DATA ERASES EVERYTHING on your Samsung Android.  If at this point, you don’t want to do that, stop the tutorial, reboot your phone, backup all your important stuff, then re-try the tutorial.

Data format should take like 5 seconds.

Go back to Home menu and choose “Reboot”.

Then reboot TWRP recovery by tapping on “Recovery”.

Also choose “Do Not Install” if TWRP asks you to install TWRP app.

Once rebooted, choose “Keep Read Only” again.

Step 8. Copy over the Magisk and Samsung Root Tools you downloaded earlier to your Samsung Android device.

While only you need Magisk for older Samsung devices, you may also need additional files for newer Samsung devices.  If you don’t know what you are doing or lost here, just copy all the files as they are small and can’t hurt.

 

Step 9. Next, if your phone has encryption(got the warning screen in Step 7), install the No Verify OPT Encrypt ZIP file at this step and reboot to TWRP recovery.  If not, skip to Step 10.

Choose “Install”.

Install the No Verify OPT Encrypt ZIP file.

Reboot recovery.

Your TWRP recovery should reboot and no warning screens about unmodified system!

Step 10. If you have newer Samsung Galaxy devices(Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, S9, S9 Plus, Note 8, or newer), flash RMM State Bypass ZIP file in TWRP recovery using the Install menu as this will disable your 7-day OEM Unlock Jail.

If not, skip to Step 11.

Install RMM State Bypass Mesa ZIP file like shown below:

Step 11. We will flash Magisk ZIP file to give your Samsung device full root.  Use Install menu to install Magisk ZIP file.

When done, reboot!

Step 12. If we did everything correctly, your phone should reboot and should be rooted.

Once your phone has been rebooted, you should see a welcome screen like below.

Check if you have Magisk Manager app in your App drawer.

If you don’t see it, go ahead and copy over the Magisk Manager APK file that you downloaded earlier and install it with your File Manager app.

Open up Magisk Manager app, if is says, “Magisk is not installed”, simply reboot once.

If Magisk has been installed and root working, you should see “Installed Version” in the app like shown below.

You can also do a SafetyNet Check, and if it passes, you can also fully hide root from apps like Google Pay or Nintendo game apps like Pokemon Go app.

To verify you have full root on your Samsung Android, install free Titanium Backup app on the Play Store and open.

You should see a Superuser request window pop up like shown below.  If you see that, you have successfully rooted your Samsung Android using Magisk and TWRP!  Congratulations!  If you have any trouble, ask a question at our HighOnAndroid Q&A Forum.

 

 

This tutorial is part of the Android Root 101 series, if you want to learn about Android root and custom ROMs check out the whole Android Root 101 Series here.

Have a question?

Please post all your questions at the new Android Rehab Center at HighOnAndroid Forum, thank you for understanding!

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Max Lee

Max Lee is the founder of HighOnAndroid.com. Max makes Android tutorials and review videos for people who want to get high on Android over at his YouTube channel and Korean YouTube channel.