Not every smartphone is lucky enough to be blessed with a Custom ROM. For those smartphones, a Generic System Image (GSI ROM) will be more than enough for check-marking their requirements.
These system images make it possible for older or less popular smartphones to enjoy the features as they offer all the features that the latest custom ROMs have to offer. However, there is a difference between how such ROMs work.
From the flashing steps to getting administrative access, things are quite different. For instance, in custom ROMs, you will need to extract the boot.img, then patch it using Magisk, and lastly flash it using Fastboot commands. However, things do not work this way with GSI ROMs as they do not have any boot.img file.
You shouldn’t worry as there is a nifty workaround that allows you to root the GSI ROM using Magisk. In this guide, you will get to know how to root any GSI ROM using Magisk.
Steps to root any GSI ROM using Magisk
- First, you should download and extract the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC
- Download the latest Magisk APK before sending it to your device
- Get the TWRP (only img file and not the ZIP file) from the official website or XDA
- Send it to the platform-tools folder, renaming it to “twrp.img”
- Enable USB debugging on your smartphone and connect it to your PC using a USB cable
- Launch CMD inside the platform-tools folder before typing in the below command to boot your smartphone to fastboot mode –
adb reboot bootloader
- Type the following command to temporarily boot your smartphone to TWRP Recovery –
fastboot boot twrp.img
- From TWRP, head over to Install -> Select Magisk.apk and then flash it
- Once it is done, head over to Reboot and select System as your device will be booted to the OS
- Install the Magisk app and launch it
- You will get a prompt to complete additional setup and tap on the “OK” option
- Select “Direct Install” and tap on the “Let’s Go” option
- Once it is done, tap Reboot
- Your smartphone will be rebooted to the rooted OS and you would have rooted the GSI ROM
