Google Pixel 8a (Android version 14) is rootable using Magisk by patching init_boot.img and flashing the patched image file to Pixel 8a.

0. Preparation

• adb is required for Android app development (see details in Section 3).
• fastboot is needed to unlock the device bootloader and flash it with a new system image (see details in Section 3).
• Download factory image from Images: Click on corresponding Link based on your build number on your phone.
• Extract init_boot.img from the downloaded zip file. Save and remember this file.
• Download Magisk-v27.0.apk

1. Enable Developer Options

Go to: Settings > About phone > Tap on “Build number” for 7 times to enable Developer Options.

2. Enable OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging

Go to: Settings > System > Developer options > Enable OEM unlocking and USB debugging.

3. Setup adb and fastboot

1. Go to Tools, and download platform-tools (it’s a folder named platform-tools, including tools like adb, fastboot).
2. Set environment variables (optional):
   1. Open a terminal on Mac;
   2. Type sudo nano ~/.zshrc;
   3. Type export PATH=$PATH:/Users/xxx/.../platform-tools to the last line;
   4. Ctrl + o to write out;
   5. Ctrl + x to exit;
   6. Type source ~/.zshrc on the terminal;
   7. Check the availability of adb and fastboot: adb --version and fastboot --version. If the version number are showed, then you are good with adb and fastboot.

4. Unlock The Bootloader

1. Reboot into the bootloader: adb reboot bootloader.
2. Unlock the bootloader: fastboot flashing unlock.
3. Reboot: fastboot reboot.

5. Re-Enable The Developer Options

1. Tap on Build number for 7 times
2. Enable Usb-debugging.
3. OEM unlocking should state: Bootloader is already unlocked. If not, go back to previous steps to double check those details.

6. Transfer init_boot.img from Mac to Phone

1. Open a terminal on Mac.
2. adb devices to check if the phone is connected to the Mac.
3. adb push <init_boot>.img /sdcard/Download/.
4. To check the transfer, use adb shell to access the directory of the phone, and then direct to /sdcard/Download/ to check.
5. exit to exit adb shell.

7. Transfer The Magisk from Mac to Pixel 8a and Installation

1. adb push /PATH/TO/YOUR/Magisk-xx.apk /sdcard/Download.
2. Find the transferred Magisk.xx.apk in the app Files and tap on it, it will be installed on the phone.

8. Patch The init_boot.img

1. Open the Magisk app.
2. Select Magis install and Select and Patch a File.
3. Select the init_boot.img and then click on LET'S GO.

9. Transfer The patched init_boot.img Back to Mac

adb pull <patched_init_boot_image>.img /PATH/ON/YOUR/MAC

10. Flash Patched Image

1. adb reboot bootloader.
2. fastboot flash init_boot <patched_init_boot_image>.img (not fastboot flash boot <patched_init_boot_image>.img).
3. fastboot reboot.

11. Verification

Download app named Root Check (since Root Checker is not available in Android 14).

12. Troubles and Solutions

1. If you want to restart the process or have no idea what is going wrong, go to FactoryReset: Click on the corresponding Flash to factory reset your phone based on your build number on your phone.
2. Remember it’s init_boot.img, rather than boot.img.