Root OnePlus Nord using Magisk (without TWRP) & Install OTA Updates after Rooting

In this guide, we will show you how to root OnePlus Nord using Magisk, without having to install TWRP recovery at all. Further, we will also show you how to install OxygenOS OTA updates on your rooted phone. These instructions will work on any OnePlus Nord running Android 10 (OxygenOS 10).

Rooting your phone with Magisk not only allows you to use root applications but also enables you to apply modifications to your phone’s software systemless-ly. That is without actually mounting or altering the system partition. We have already covered a detailed tutorial on how to install TWRP on OnePlus Nord and root the phone using it.

However, if you do not plan on flashing custom ROMs and just want to root your phone, then installing TWRP isn’t even necessary. Moreover, you can always boot TWRP temporarily (using the fastboot boot command) and use it to flash custom ROMs, mods, take NANDroid backups, etc.

For those who do not know – it is possible to install Magisk and root your phone without installing TWRP at all. This could be done using what we call the “Magisk Patched Boot method“. This alternate rooting method involves patching the phone’s stock boot image file through Magisk Manager and then flashing the resultant patched boot image to the phone via Fastboot.

This simply makes the whole rooting process much more straightforward, less time-consuming, and also enables you to easily take OTA updates on your OnePlus Nord after rooting.

So now, without any further ado, let us begin with the instructions. 

Requirements

• A Windows, Linux, or Mac computer.
• A compatible USB cable, preferably the one that came in the box.
• Take a backup of all the important data stored on your phone. Although performing the instructions in this guide will not erase any data, it’s a good practice to safeguard it in case anything unusual happens. If you need, take a look at our detailed tutorial on how to take a backup of different types of data on an Android device.
• In order to root, your OnePlus Nord’s bootloader must be unlocked. If it’s not, then unlock your phone’s bootloader by following the instructions in this tutorial and come back here once done.
• If you’re using a Windows computer, install the latest OnePlus USB drivers on it.

Instructions to Root OnePlus Nord using Magisk

We have split the instructions into six major steps so that it’s easier for you to understand the whole procedure. These steps will take you through the process of rooting the OnePlus Nord using Magisk, without having to install or use TWRP at all.

Step 1: Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on Computer

The rooting process involves using the fastboot tool to flash the patched boot image. So, the first step is to download the Android SDK platform-tools (which includes fastboot) and install them on your computer.

To do this, download the latest version of the tools according to your PC’s operating system:

• Windows
• Linux
• Mac

Once the platform-tools package has been downloaded, extract its contents on your computer. The extracted ‘platform-tools’ folder should contain the ADB, Fastboot, and other binary files.

For easier access, we suggest that you move the ‘platform-tools’ folder to the C:\ drive on your Windows computer, or to the ‘Documents’ directory on a Linux/Mac machine.

Step 2: Launch the Command-line Inside ‘platform-tools’ Folder

With the required tools now installed, you need to launch the PowerShell/Terminal window on your PC inside the ‘platform-tools’ folder. To do this:

• On Windows: Go to C:\platform-tools. Hold the SHIFT key on the keyboard and right-click on any empty space inside the folder. Then select the ‘Open PowerShell window here’ option.
  
• On Linux/Mac: Launch the Terminal and use the cd command to change its directory to the ‘platform-tools’ folder. For example: If you moved the folder inside the ‘Documents’ directory, then the command should be:

  cd Document/platform-tools

  

At this point, you have everything ready and set up on your computer for carrying out the flashing later during the steps. Keep the PowerShell/Terminal window open as you’ll need it later during the instructions.

Step 3: Download the Stock Boot Image

Now, you have to download the stock boot image for the OxygenOS version currently installed on your OnePlus Nord. You can download boot images for all models and OxygenOS versions from this page.

Each boot image is packed inside a compressed ZIP package. So, make sure that you extract the ZIP to get the boot image file. Once extracted, copy the boot.img file inside the “Download” folder of your phone’s internal storage. Although you can place the file anywhere on the internal storage, we prefer the Download folder so that it’s easier to locate.

Step 4: Patch the Stock Boot Image via Magisk Manager

With the boot image now transferred to your phone, it’s time to patch it via Magisk Manager.

So, download the APK file of the latest Magisk Manager from the official Github page. Once downloaded, install the APK on your phone (Not sure how? See: How to Install an APK file).

Next, go to the app drawer and launch the Magisk Manager application on your OnePlus Nord. Then press the settings icon (cogwheel) on the top-right of the app’s window and press the ‘Update channel‘ option. Select ‘Beta‘ from the list and go back to the app’s main screen. Not needed anymore as Magisk v21.x has been published to the stable channel as well.

Next, launch the Magisk Manager app on your phone. Press the “Install” button in Magisk Manager and select “Select and Patch a File” from the list of available installation methods. This should instantly open the file selection window for you to choose the file you want to patch with Magisk. So, navigate to the location where you transferred the boot image (‘Download’ folder) and select it.

Once the file has been selected, press “LET’S GO!” to patch the file. Magisk Manager will download the latest version of Magisk and patch the boot image with it.

After the process finishes, the patched boot image (magisk_patched.img) will be stored inside the ‘Download‘ folder of your phone’s internal storage. Connect your phone to the computer and copy the patched boot image inside the ‘platform-tools‘ folder.

Step 5: Boot your OnePlus Nord into Fastboot Mode

In order for fastboot to recognize your phone and flash the patched boot image, it must be booted into Fastboot Mode.

To do this, hold the Power key of your OnePlus Nord to bring up the Power menu and select ‘Power off’. Once the phone is completely turned off, hold the Volume Up, Volume Down, and Power keys together until you see the Fastboot screen.

• How to Enter Fastboot and Recovery Modes on OnePlus Nord

Here’s what it will look like:

With your OnePlus Nord in Fastboot Mode, connect it to the computer using the USB cable.

Step 6: Flash the Patched Boot Image to root OnePlus Nord

With everything now ready, it’s time to flash the patched boot image and root your OnePlus Nord with Magisk.

First, enter the following command in the PowerShell/Terminal window to ensure that your PC can communicate with the phone over the fastboot interface.

fastboot devices

The command should return your phone’s unique ID. In case it doesn’t, then make sure that you have the required USB drivers installed and restart your PC.

Finally, enter the following fastboot command to flash the Magisk patched boot image and root your OnePlus Nord.

fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img

Once the file has been flashed, reboot the phone back into the system (OS) using the following command.

fastboot reboot

That’s it! Your phone is now rooted with Magisk. To verify this, simply launch the ‘Magisk Manager’ app and check the installation status. You can further check if your rooted OnePlus Nord passes SafetyNet by pressing the ‘Check SafetyNet’ button in Magisk Manager.

SafetyNet fails and shows ‘Hardware’ evalType? It means that Google’s new hardware-backed attestation is now in effect on your phone.

Now go ahead and start using root applications like Titanium Backup. You could also hide root from banking and security apps that might generally not work on a rooted device. From Magisk v20.4 onwards, Magisk Hide is turned off by default on new installations. So, you will need to turn it ON manually by going to Magisk Manager settings.

You could install some famous mods like ViPER4Android, EdXposed Framework, and more. With Magisk, you also have the ability to apply modifications to the software systemless-ly using modules, like OnePlus Sans Font, FOSSAPPS, etc.

Installing OxygenOS OTA Updates on Rooted OnePlus Nord

Now that we are done with the rooting part, let’s talk about something that’s a major concern for every user after rooting their phone, i.e. OTA updates. On a traditional A-only device, installing OTA updates would require completely unrooting first.

However, with the new A/B partition system, it is possible to easily install OxygenOS OTA updates on your OnePlus Nord after rooting it, using Magisk. This also allows your phone to stay rooted even after installing the update so you wouldn’t need to go through the trouble of rooting your phone again. A more detailed explanation could be found on this page.

To install OTA updates on your rooted OnePlus Nord:

1. First, enable the Developer Options screen on your phone.
2. Go to “Settings” → “Developer options” and disable the “Automatic system updates” option. This will prevent your OnePlus Nord from automatically installing OTA updates in the background.
   
3. Next, open the Magisk Manager application, select “Uninstall”, and choose the “Restore Images” option. Magisk will restore your phone’s stock boot image that was backed up during the rooting process.
   
4. Now go to “Settings” → “System” → “System updates” and select “Download and Install Now” to install the OxygenOS OTA update on your rooted OnePlus Nord.
   
5. After the update finishes, DO NOT REBOOT the phone. Since you restored the stock boot image, the root access will be lost if your reboot right now.
6. Now open Magisk Manager again, press “Install” and select “Install to Inactive Slot (After OTA)” from the list of available methods.
   
7. Finally, select “Let’s Go” to confirm and install Magisk to the inactive slot (where the OxygenOS OTA has been installed).
   
8. After Magisk is installed, reboot your phone by pressing the ‘Reboot’ button.

Tip: In case the OTA installation fails at step #4 above and shows an error, you could alternatively download the latest OxyenOS full ROM from here and install it using Local Upgrade. Once done, follow step #5 and onwards.

That’s it! Your OnePlus Nord will now boot into the updated OxygenOS software with Magisk root still intact. You can repeat this same process every time a new OxygenOS OTA update is available for your phone.

So by now, you have learned how to root the OnePlus Nord using Magisk (without TWRP), and also how to install OTA updates after rooting. You can always unroot and restore the stock OxygenOS software on your Nord by following the instructions here. On the other hand, if your phone ever gets bricked (or shows the Qualcomm Crashdump mode screen), then you can easily unbrick the OnePlus Nord using MSMDownload tool.

If you have any questions or feel stuck while performing the instructions, let us know. Please make sure that you mention your device name, model number, and the installed OxygenOS version.