How To Root Moto G8 Plus with Magisk and TWRP

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Table of Contents

Prerequisites: Unlocking Bootloader and Downloads

Before getting into rooting, there are a few things you need to set up first. These steps prepare your phone, so everything goes smoothly. Keep in mind that unlocking the bootloader will erase all data on your phone, so backing it up first is essential!

Compatibility: The steps here work for Moto G8 Plus with Android 10 and above.

What You’ll Need:

Root Moto G8 Plus with Magisk and TWRP

This is one of the simplest ways to root your phone. We’ll be using TWRP and Magisk together to make it happen. TWRP is a tool that helps you install custom software like Magisk, which gives you root access.

Unlock Bootloader

To start, the bootloader needs to be unlocked. This is a one-time setup but essential for getting root access.

  1. Enable Developer Options: Go to Settings > About Phone and tap Build Number seven times. You’ll see a message saying, “You are now a developer!”
  2. Enable OEM Unlocking: In Settings > Developer Options, toggle OEM Unlocking to ON.
  3. Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off your device. Then, hold Volume Down + Power button together to enter Fastboot mode.
  4. Connect Device to PC: Use a USB cable to connect your phone to your computer.
  5. Open ADB Terminal: Open a terminal on your computer in the folder where ADB is installed, and type: 
    fastboot oem unlock
  6. Confirm Unlock: Follow the instructions on your Moto G8 Plus to confirm. The device will restart with the bootloader unlocked.

Install TWRP Recovery

TWRP is needed to install Magisk. Let’s install it using Fastboot.

  1. Boot into Fastboot Mode: Repeat the steps above to enter Fastboot mode.
  2. Flash TWRP via Fastboot: In your ADB terminal, navigate to the TWRP image file location and type: 
    fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
  3. Reboot into TWRP: Use the Volume buttons to select Recovery Mode and press the Power button.

Flash Magisk in TWRP

Now that TWRP is set up, let’s install Magisk to get root access.

  1. Transfer Magisk Zip: Move the downloaded Magisk zip to your phone’s storage.
  2. Boot into TWRP: If not already in TWRP, reboot by holding Volume Down + Power and selecting Recovery Mode.
  3. Install Magisk: In TWRP, tap Install, find the Magisk zip file, and swipe to flash.
  4. Reboot Your Device: After Magisk installs, restart your phone.

Your Moto G8 Plus is now rooted with Magisk!

Root Moto G8 Plus Without TWRP

If you’d rather not use TWRP, you can still root your Moto G8 Plus by patching the boot image with Magisk. This is a straightforward option if you don’t need TWRP’s extra features.

Unlock Bootloader

Make sure your bootloader is unlocked. Check the instructions in the first method if you haven’t done this yet.

Extract Boot Image

  1. Download Stock Firmware
  2. Extract Boot Image: Use a tool like 7-Zip to get the boot.img file from the firmware package.

Patch Boot Image with Magisk

  1. Install Magisk Manager
  2. Patch Boot Image: Open Magisk Manager, tap Install > Select and Patch a File, then choose the extracted boot.img.
  3. Transfer Patched Boot Image: Move the patched boot image from your phone back to your computer.

Flash Patched Boot Image

  1. Enter Fastboot Mode: Power off your phone, then hold Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot.
  2. Flash Patched Boot Image: In your terminal, go to the patched boot image location and type: 
    fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img
  3. Reboot Your Device: Once done, restart your device. Root access is now enabled without TWRP.

Install GSI on Moto G8 Plus

Want to install a GSI (Generic System Image) on your Moto G8 Plus? Here’s how to do it!

Unlock Bootloader

Make sure your bootloader is unlocked. If not, follow the steps in the first method.

Download GSI and vbmeta Files

  1. Download GSI Image: Find a compatible GSI image for the Moto G8 Plus here.
  2. Download vbmeta.img: Get the required vbmeta image here.

Flash GSI and vbmeta

  1. Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off your Moto G8 Plus, then hold Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot.
  2. Flash vbmeta: In your terminal, type: 
    fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img
  3. Flash GSI Image: Flash the GSI by typing: 
    fastboot flash system gsi_image.img
  4. Reboot Device: Restart your phone to complete the setup.

Your Moto G8 Plus is now running a GSI setup, giving you more control over how your phone operates!

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