Root Your Unihertz Atom the Easy Way

root-your-unihertz-atom-the-easy-way.md

Root Your Unihertz Atom the Easy Way

WARNING! This method will RESET your device. Remember backups, you know the drill. ;)

This guide targets the Unihertz Atom, it might work for other devices also. If you're trying to root an other android device, I highly recommend doing more research and reading the Magisk Installation Guide carefully.

This guide was written with Windows 10 in mind, but the given commands are general. On Windows, all commands with either adb or fastboot should be replace with .\adb.exe and .\fastboot.exe respectively (more on this later). The guide should work with other systems (MacOS, Linux, etc.) aswell.

WARNING! This will unlock your bootloader, I don't recommend relocking the bootloader, as in the worst case scenario you might get completely locked out of your device.

This guide is provided as is, I take no responsibility for any damage that might be done to your device, mental health, etc.

Use at your own discretion and risk. ♡

Table of Contents

• Initial setup
• (Download and install drivers)
• Download and install Android SDK Platform-Tools
• Unlock OEM
• Install Magisk APK
• Download and patch the boot image
• Flash the Magisk patched image
• Finalize
• Troubleshooting

Let's root!

Initial setup

• Request access to the official Stock Firmwares on their Google Drive.
  If the link is old, check on Reddit, or contact Unihertz support.
• Plug your device into your computer (if it doesn't connect, see: Download and install drivers)
• Enable Developer options (Settings -> System -> Advanced -> Tap "About phone" 7 times)
• Enter Developer options (Settings -> System -> Advanced -> Developer options)
• Allow OEM unlocking
• Enable USB debugging

(Download and install drivers)

• USB drivers
  • If your computer can recognise your device (and you can transfer files when using usb transfer mode) you're all set.
  • If your OS can't automatically recognise your device, then you can try these instructions/ drivers:
  • https://developer.android.com/studio/run/win-usb
  • OR try to get the drivers directly from Unihertz
  • If you already installed Android SDK Platform-Tools, you might need to run adb kill-server and adb start-server after installing the drivers.
• Bootloader / Fastboot related drivers
  • (If your device isn't recognised after booting to bootloader)
  • Try: Mediatek SP Driver v5.1632
  • Or: Older version of the driver

Download and install Android SDK Platform-Tools

https://developer.android.com/tools/releases/platform-tools#downloads

NOTE! For Windows users:

As a precaution, unzip platform-tools so that the path doesn't contain spaces.

For example, unzip them in C:\android-platform-tools

Then open Powershell as Administrator:

• run cd C:\android-platform-tools
• All commands should be run from this directory, replacing adb and fastboot with .\adb.exe and .\fastboot.exe respectively.

Unlock OEM

• run adb reboot bootloader
• run fastboot flashing unlock
• run fastboot reboot

If your run into < waiting for any device >, read Troubleshooting.

After rebooting the device will have reset, so go through basic setup. After that re-enable USB debugging with the steps provided in Initial setup. Notice that "OEM unlocking" should now be grayed out with the text "Bootloader is already unlocked".

Install Magisk APK

• Download APK from: https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/releases
• run adb install [PATH]/Magisk-v[VERSION].apk (replace with your file PATH and the correct VERSION)
• ALTERNATIVELY switch USB-mode to file transfer.
  • .... and then run adb push [PATH]/Magisk-v[VERSION].apk /sdcard/Download/Magisk-v[VERSION].apk (replace with your file PATH and the correct VERSION)
  • Then install manually.

These instruction should be enough, but you can also read the full instructions here: https://topjohnwu.github.io/Magisk/install.html

Download and patch the boot image

• After you have gained access to official Stock Firmwares:
  • https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1piehydSoEqf05Y7zHxAT_EJSLa6BXhwy
    • If the above link is old, you'll need to navigate the Google Drive structure to Unihertz Atom's folder.
  • Check your Build number first. (MENU: Settings->System->Advanced->About phone->Build number)
  • If your build number includes EEA open EEA_ATEU-01 else None_EEA.
  • Download the latest zip-file. Unzipping might produce some errors, but as long as boot-verified.img unzips, we're set.
  • If you're interested, read more on Reddit.
• Run adb push [PATH]/boot-verified.img /sdcard/Download/boot-verified.img (replace file PATH)
• Open Magisk on your Atom (or other android device) and tap Install beside Magisk.
• Tick Preserve force encryption, untick Recovery Mode. on the boot-verified.img (tick Preserve force encryption, untick Recovery Mode)
• Select NEXT and Select and Patch a File and LET'S GO → (navigate to boot-verified.img).
• Magisk will output the generated filename magisk_patched-[VERSION]_[HASH].img
• run adb pull /sdcard/Download/magisk_patched-[VERSION]_[HASH].img (replace with your file PATH, VERSION and HASH)

Flash the Magisk patched image

• run adb reboot bootloader
• run fastboot flash boot [PATH]/magisk_patched-[VERSION]_[HASH].img (replace with your file PATH, VERSION and HASH)
• run fastboot reboot

Finalize

Open the Magisk app, it should ask you to restart your device.

After reboot check the Magisk app. At the top (below Magisk) it should say Installed followed by your version number. The Superuser tab should now be accessible.

And now you're finished :) Happy tweaking!

Troubleshooting

• The device (phone) might not be plugged in(to the computer).
• USB debugging might be disabled on the device (phone).
• You might have a driver issue.
• You might need to run adb kill-server and adb start-server.
• Check the output of adb devices -l (after restarting the server).
• Check Reddit, or contact Unihertz support.

Excellent guide - many many thanks

Thanks for sharing this guide mate, it's very well put together, much appreciated!