Upgrading LineageOS and reinstalling Magisk

upgrade_LineageOS_with_Magisk.md

Upgrade LineageOS with Magisk

WARNING: tested only on my setup (LineageOS 18.1 on instantnoodle), other setups may break and brick the device!

Step-by-step instructions (for reinstalling patched boot.img for Magisk):

1. upgrade LineageOS to the latest by the standard way in Android GUI (download + install + reboot)
2. if using not the latest Magisk: wipe old (possibly hidden) Magisk app then install the up-to-date one from the official Magisk github repo
3. install (git clone) payload_dumper from GitHub (in Termux or in an SSH session on the Android device) for the 1st time, or update (git pull) later
4. the Android terminal session: wget the same LineageOS nightly image installed in step 1 from https://download.lineageos.org/
5. unzip downloaded zip image in the payload_dumper folder (we need payload.bin)
6. run python payload_dumper.py payload.bin, look for output/boot.img, copy it to the shared storage (e.g. ~/storage/shared/), and cleanup (large) temp files (lineageos-*.zip, payload.bin, output folder).
7. UPDATED: now the boot.img itself is available for download. So instead of 3-4-5-6: download the boot.img directly from https://download.lineageos.org
8. run Magisk (it'll reinstall itself if it was hidden), choose "Magisk, Install" (confirm "Ramdisk: YES" before), choose "Select and Patch a File", select boot.img on the shared storage, and "Let's Go". Output file (to be sideloaded) is in Download/magisk_patched-{version}_{rand}.img.
9. adb pull that patched img file.
10. reboot to fastboot mode with adb reboot fastboot
11. fastboot flash --slot=all boot magisk_patched_{version}_{random}.img
12. reboot (fastboot reboot) & enjoy updated LineageOS with Magisk enabled.
13. IMPORTANT: if Magisk was "hidden" (renamed), don't forget to rename it again in Magisk settings, otherwise apps bypassed checks and worked earlier may stop working. Other settings should be survived during the reinstall/upgrade. Hiding might need a reboot cycle (enable app install permission for Magisk then the actual hide function).
14. It is recommended to use the latest Play Integrity Fix plugin from here: https://github.com/chiteroman/PlayIntegrityFix

Hi @tothi , because I had the same need than you and in case you're interested, I have created a small bash script that automates the process.

You can find the process here: https://github.com/NicolasWebDev/reinstall-magisk-on-lineageos

awesome @NicolasWebDev :) just read your update, nice. 👍

Hi @NicolasWebDev and @tothi. Thanks for the great script. I've created a PowerShell script based on your bash script for any Windows users out there due to lack of native USB support in WSL.

https://github.com/richardlock/powershell-install-lineagemagiskpatchedbootimage

Hey there,

May I ask in which cases any of this is necessary? The steps I followed are much, much simpler, yet successful on my OnePlus 8 Pro, LineageOS 21:

1. Download and install update from the Android GUI, but DO NOT reboot yet
2. Open Magisk, tap Install > Install to inactive slot (after OTA)
3. Reboot, done

Hi @mirayashi. That's great if that method works. I do not currently use LineageOS with my phone so no longer maintain the code on my repo.

@mirayashi AFAIS this is only necessary on a new major version when an OTA upgrade will not work, i.E from android 13 -> 14 e.g LOS20->21
At least I didnt have to repatch or reinstall magisk on an OTA upgrade

In LOS21 updating while keeping magisk does not work like that anymore. The update is much faster but it starts by rebooting immediately. After fully rebooting magisk is gone ...

Any chance to keep magisk?

My phone is a LG v30

@daniu-de : just updated to the latest LOS21, and I had success keeping Magisk using the old method described above.

@daniu-de : just updated to the latest LOS21, and I had success keeping Magisk using the old method described above.

Good for you - does not really help me. Pretty sure you use a different device

Currently using LineageOS 22.1 on a Sony Xperia 1 V. Patching boot.img didn't work, but patching init_boot.img worked. I flashed both slots and Magisk got installed.

For Windows 11 users it needs to install USB driver
https://developer.android.com/studio/run/win-usb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4Y2YX8MV4I