How to Root (Almost) Any Phone in 2023 | Use Banking Apps on a Rooted Phone

Summary

The video provides a detailed tutorial on rooting Android devices using Magisk, a systemless rooting tool. The process includes unlocking the bootloader, installing custom recovery tools like TWRP or Orange Fox, and flashing Magisk. It also covers steps to bypass issues with banking apps after rooting, using methods like enabling SafetyNet Fix, configuring deny lists, and utilizing the Island app to run banking apps in a sandbox environment. The creator emphasizes responsibility and cautions users about potential risks of rooting their devices.

Takeaways

• 🔧 The video discusses rooting Android devices and running banking apps after rooting.
• 📱 The speaker mentions John Wu, the creator of Magisk, and emphasizes that Magisk isn't gone despite his tweet.
• ⚠️ A disclaimer is provided that rooting is not recommended for everyone and the speaker isn't responsible for any damage caused by following the tutorial.
• 🔓 To begin, the device must have an unlocked bootloader, with Xiaomi and Poco users advised to watch an older tutorial.
• 🛠️ A custom recovery like TWRP or Orange Fox is required for the rooting process, and issues with internal storage decryption on Android 12 or higher are highlighted.
• 📂 Magisk Manager is used to download and rename the APK file to a .zip file, which is then flashed via custom recovery.
• ✅ The process is simplified with an automated Magisk flashing method, removing the need for manually flashing boot images or ramdisk files.
• 🔄 After rooting, many banking apps stop working, but the speaker explains how to bypass this by using Universal SafetyNet Fix and configuring the Magisk deny list.
• 🧑‍💻 The Island app is introduced as a sandbox environment to clone and run banking apps without Magisk being detected.
• 👍 The tutorial concludes by showing how banking apps run smoothly within the sandbox environment, despite the device being rooted.

Q & A

Who is John Wu and why is he significant?

John Wu is the founder of the Magisk project, which introduced systemless rooting for Android devices, allowing users to modify their system without altering the device's system partition.

What is the main purpose of this tutorial video?

The tutorial is designed to guide users on how to root their Android devices in the easiest way possible, while also ensuring they can still run banking applications that typically block access on rooted phones.

What is the first step in the rooting process?

The first step is unlocking the bootloader of the Android device. For Xiaomi or Poco devices, there is a separate video tutorial available to walk users through the process.

What role does a custom recovery like TWRP or Orange Fox play in the rooting process?

A custom recovery is needed to flash the Magisk zip file onto the device, enabling root access. It also helps manage files and backups during the rooting process.

What is the importance of renaming the Magisk APK file to a ZIP file?

Renaming the Magisk APK file to a ZIP file is necessary because custom recoveries like TWRP or Orange Fox can only flash ZIP files. This step allows the recovery to install Magisk properly.

How do you resolve issues with banking apps not working on rooted devices?

To fix banking apps, users must install the Universal SafetyNet Fix module and configure Magisk settings by enabling Zygisk, enforcing the deny list, and configuring the list to include affected apps and Google Play Services.

What is Zygisk and how does it differ from Magisk Hide?

Zygisk is a newer feature in Magisk, designed as an alternative to Magisk Hide. It helps users hide root from applications that typically block rooted devices, such as banking apps.

What is the purpose of the Island app in this tutorial?

The Island app creates a sandbox environment within Android, allowing users to clone applications like banking apps, which will not detect root when running in this isolated environment.

How do you set up the Island app to clone and run banking apps?

After installing the Island app, users need to create a work profile, clone their banking apps within the Island sandbox, and grant root access when prompted. This allows the apps to run without detecting root.

What are the risks associated with rooting a device, as mentioned in the tutorial?

The presenter issues a disclaimer that rooting a device comes with risks, such as voiding warranties or potentially causing harm to the phone if not done correctly. The presenter does not take responsibility for any damage users may cause to their devices.

Outlines

00:00

🔧 How to Root Your Android Devices and Install Magisk

In this introductory section, the speaker references a tweet by John Wu, the creator of Magisk, and addresses concerns about whether Magisk would continue to exist. The speaker explains that Magisk is still available and promises a tutorial on rooting Android devices while maintaining the ability to use banking apps. They provide a disclaimer that rooting should be done with caution, as it can lead to damaging the device if not performed correctly. The speaker then outlines the requirements for rooting, such as an unlocked bootloader and a custom recovery like TWRP or OrangeFox, recommending the use of a USB OTG drive for file transfers if needed. They proceed to explain how to download Magisk from its official website and convert the APK file into a ZIP file for flashing through the recovery environment. The emphasis is on automating the rooting process using Magisk without the need to manually handle boot images, providing a seamless experience.

05:02

🏦 Bypassing Root Detection in Banking Apps Using Island

This section focuses on overcoming the problem of banking apps not working on rooted devices. The speaker introduces a workaround by utilizing the Island app, which creates a sandbox or work profile on the Android device. In this profile, cloned banking apps won't detect root, allowing them to function normally. The speaker explains how to install and set up the Island app, emphasizing its legitimacy and popularity. They detail the process of granting root access, cloning apps into the Island environment, and successfully running banking apps without any issues. The speaker concludes with a summary of the steps, acknowledging that while the process may seem complex, it ultimately solves the problem of app incompatibility on rooted phones.

Keywords

💡Magisk

Magisk is a popular tool for rooting Android devices in a systemless manner, meaning it allows users to modify system files without altering the system partition. In the video, the speaker explains how Magisk can be used to root Android phones, making it a central tool in the tutorial for modifying the device while maintaining the ability to run certain apps, like banking applications.

💡Systemless root

Systemless root refers to a method of rooting an Android device without changing the system partition, allowing for modifications without breaking system integrity. This concept is key to the video, as Magisk is a systemless rooting tool that allows users to maintain access to sensitive apps like banking software, which often detect rooted devices.

💡Bootloader unlock

Unlocking the bootloader is a prerequisite for rooting many Android devices. It allows users to modify the operating system and install custom recoveries like TWRP. In the video, the speaker mentions that users must unlock the bootloader before proceeding with the rooting process, especially for Xiaomi or Poco devices.

💡TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project)

TWRP is a custom recovery software that enables Android users to install third-party firmware, make backups, and root their devices. The video mentions using TWRP (or an alternative like OrangeFox) to flash the Magisk ZIP file, making it a crucial tool in the rooting process.

💡Magisk Manager

Magisk Manager is an app that allows users to manage their rooted device, including installing Magisk modules, managing root permissions, and hiding root status from specific apps. In the tutorial, the speaker uses Magisk Manager to install Magisk, configure modules, and enable the 'Deny List' to allow banking apps to function on a rooted device.

💡SafetyNet

SafetyNet is a security feature from Google that detects whether an Android device has been tampered with, such as through rooting. Many banking and payment apps use SafetyNet to block access if a device fails the check. In the video, the speaker introduces a workaround using the 'Universal SafetyNet Fix' module to bypass SafetyNet on rooted devices, allowing sensitive apps to run.

💡Zygisk

Zygisk is a feature in Magisk that allows for system modifications at the Zygote process level, acting as an alternative to Magisk Hide. In the video, the speaker explains enabling Zygisk to hide the root status from banking applications, helping users to use these apps despite having a rooted device.

💡Deny List

The Deny List is a feature in Magisk that allows users to hide root access from specific apps that would otherwise refuse to run on a rooted device. The speaker explains configuring the Deny List by adding banking apps and Google Play services to prevent these apps from detecting root status, allowing them to function normally.

💡OrangeFox

OrangeFox is a custom recovery alternative to TWRP that supports various features, such as better encryption handling and file transfer capabilities. In the video, the speaker uses OrangeFox to flash the Magisk ZIP file and emphasizes its ability to decrypt internal storage, making it easier to manage files during the rooting process.

💡Island App

Island is an Android app that creates a sandbox environment for apps, isolating them from the main system. The speaker recommends using Island to clone banking apps in a separate environment, which hides the device’s rooted status from those apps, allowing them to function normally. The app is particularly useful for rooted devices where certain apps refuse to run.

Highlights

Introduction of John Wu, founder of Magisk, and the concept of systemless rooting.

Initial reaction to the tweet from John Wu, with reassurance that Magisk isn't gone for good.

Introduction to the tutorial for rooting Android devices while maintaining functionality for banking apps.

Disclaimer: Responsibility for any damage to phones during rooting is on the user.

Instructions on unlocking the bootloader for Xiaomi and Poco devices, with reference to other tutorials for different brands.

Recommendation of using custom recoveries like TWRP or Orange Fox for easier rooting.

Tip: If internal storage isn't decrypted, use a USB OTG thumb drive to transfer files.

Step-by-step guide on downloading Magisk from magismanager.com and converting the APK file to a zip file.

Automated process of flashing Magisk onto the phone, with no need to manually patch the boot image.

Solution for running banking apps on rooted devices: Installing the Universal SafetyNet Fix module.

Enabling Zygisk and Systemless Hosts to bypass Magisk detection in certain apps.

Creating a deny list in Magisk for apps that shouldn't detect root access, including Google Play Services.

Using the Island app to create a sandbox environment for banking apps, preventing them from detecting root access.

Assurance of the Island app's safety, citing over 1 million downloads and the developer's credibility.

Demonstration of running banking apps inside the Island sandbox, ensuring full functionality despite rooting.

Transcripts

all right how many of you guys remember

this tweet from John Wu for those of you

who don't know him he's basically the

founder of the entire concept of magisk

and systemless routing so it's needless

to say that whenever we found his post

we kind of felt heartbroken

but you guys didn't really think that

matches would be gone for good did you

so I've been hearing lately that you

guys want a tutorial on how to root your

Android devices in the easiest way

possible and also be able to run banking

applications on your phones well I'm

here to help you out with that today so

let's not waste any more time and Jump

Right In shall we but before that here's

a quick disclaimer that I'm just here

for the tutorial and in no ways am I

saying that you guys should or must go

ahead and start rooting your devices so

I'll not be held responsible if you do

end up doing something stupid to your

phones okay now let's talk about what

you'll need to get started with the

routing process now first up you need to

have an unlock Bootloader if you happen

to own any of the devices from xiaomi or

Poco you can watch this particular video

of mine I made this quite a while back

and it should walk you through the

process quite easily if you happen to

own any other devices there are plenty

of other tutorials here on YouTube and

they should be able to get the job done

quite easily as well so the next thing

that you'll need is a custom recovery

like TWRP or orange fox now if you're

running Android 12 or later chances are

that your internal storage might not get

decrypted properly and in order to

transfer files between your phone or

other devices I suggest using a usb OTG

thumb drive like this one not sponsored

by SanDisk by the way and you should be

good to go alright so with that being

said let's hop on to our phones and

we'll be straight away navigating to

magismanager.com which is the official

website for downloading magisk scroll

down a bit to where it says download

matches cap and then tap on the button

to start downloading the APK file once

the download has completed head over to

your file manager app and inside the

downloads folder select the APK file you

just downloaded hit rename and replace

the extension of the file from dot APK

to dot zip perfect alrighty now let's

reboot our phones and head to our

recovery which is orange fox in this

case now the version of orange Fox that

I have right here can decrypt our

internal storage quite well so we can

easily access the zip file from our

downloads folder but like I mentioned

earlier if your recovery can't decrypt

your internal storage you can always use

a USB thumb drive like this one to save

the magisk APK or zip file and you can

always access it through TWRP or orange

Fox by changing the storage option like

so okay so now let's tap to select the

magic zip file that we have right here

and we are going to swipe the bar down

below to start flashing matches onto our

phones now I've watched countless videos

here on YouTube that tell you guys to

manually pair action Flash the ram disk

file aka the boot image file or the

recovery or stuff like that but the way

we are doing this here in this tutorial

you don't need to worry about any of

those things because it's all automated

the zip file will take care of

everything so sit back and relax let the

zip file do its thing and once the

flashing is completed you can simply go

ahead and reboot your phones so once you

have been rebooted you'll see this

generic matches cap icon in your app

drawer so go ahead and tap on it and it

will open up a prompt like so to which

we'll go ahead and tap ok then tap on

settings select allow from this source

and then tap on update to install the

magiscap onto your phones after the

installation has been done you can

verify if you have root access Through

The Root Checker application and as you

can see right here our phone is indeed

rooted successfully alright so now that

you've rooted your devices you'll soon

find out that many of your applications

especially the banking applications have

completely stopped working on your phone

so how do we take care of that you ask

let's find out so first of all we are

going to take care of safety net and to

do that download the universal safety

net fix module from the link in the

description below and then head over to

the Magis cap go to the modules Tab and

tap on install from Storage then select

the safety net fix zip file to have it

flashed onto our phones but don't just

tap on reboot right now hit the back

button like so then tap on home and tap

on the settings icon up here scroll down

to where it's labeled magisk and here is

where you'll find the familiar toggle

for systemless hosts so let's tap on it

to have this enabled then we have this

functionality called zygisk which is

essentially an alternate to magisk

height so let's tap on it to have it

enabled like so and also tap to enable

enforce deny list then go ahead and

reboot your system once you have been

booted back head over to the magiscap

once again and tap on settings scroll

down once again to the part where it

says magisk and now we are going to tap

to configure our deny list from the list

right here make sure that you have

selected all the applications that have

not working after rooting your devices

and also don't forget to include Google

Play services from the list of system

applications just to avoid further

issues in the future once that has been

completed go ahead and reboot your phone

once more and I promise that this is the

last time we are doing this but once

you're back online this time open up the

Play Store and search for this app

called Island and go ahead and simply

install it to your phones alright so let

me explain what we are doing right here

the Island app that we just downloaded

is basically used to create a Sandbox

environment within our Android system

more like a work profile you can say and

how it will be helpful to us is

basically we can clone all of our

downloaded applications over there

especially the banking applications and

in that environment Magis will not be

detected at all or in other words you

can say that our banking applications

will not find out that our phones have

been rooted now I know this is a pretty

weird workaround but trust me this is

the only application that we'll ever

need to get banking applications running

perfectly fine on our rooted devices and

for those of you who are concerned about

the authenticity of the app let me tell

you guys that this app has over 1

million downloads in the Google Play

Store and it's also from the same

developer who designed greenify an app

that is very popular among the Android

community so you should not be having

any second thoughts regarding this

application all right so now let's open

up the Island app and the first page

you'll be greeted with is this

agreements page to which we are going to

click on accept and this will create a

work profile on our phones let's

navigate through the steps like so and

then you'll be greeted with this page

right here now here notice these two

tabs Island and Mainland the mainland is

basically your phone system and here is

where you'll find all your applications

so let's start by selecting our very

first app right here access mobile and

here at the bottom tap on this add

button and select Island to create a

copy of access mobile onto our work

environment you'll get this prompt to

Grant root access so make sure that you

accept and you should be good to go with

the next app let's continue with a few

more applications like HDFC and phone

all right now heading back to our app

drawer you'll find a walk tab has been

created for you and in that tab are all

the applications that are running inside

the island sandbox and now if you try to

open up any of the banking applications

from this tab you'll see that they run

perfectly fine without any issues

alright so that was pretty much it for

this tutorial a bit weird and complex I

would say but overall rewarding so I

hope you guys enjoyed watching this

video and if you did definitely hit that

like button it really helps me out a lot

and if you're new to the channel

definitely subscribe and turn on

notifications so that you don't miss out

on a single upload so this is me Rohit

signing off I'll see you guys in my next

video and thank you so much for watching

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