This week I spent a few nights uncovering how to properly root the OnePlus 7T Tmobile cell phone. It was difficult due to the poor documentation and various locations that data resides. I hope this post helps people Root the Tmobile OnePlus 7t.
OnePlus 7T Versions
There are multiple versions of the OnePlus 7T. Because of this, some of those versions are easier to root than others. Unfortunately for Tmobile users, it appears that the Tmobile variant doesn’t always play nice with the rules for rooting all versions of the OnePlus 7t.
The Tmobile Oneplus 7T variant that I have is the HD1907 . You can find the version of your OnePlus 7T in the settings -> About area.
The OnePlus 7T variant I rooted and own is HD 1907 with a software version that ends in HD63CB.
If you go to the oneplus website, software is not offered for the HD63CB, and is only available for the HD65AA. For this reason, some of the root instructions online will not work for the HD63CB variant.
Set up your computer for the OnePlus 7T Root
Install Android Platform tools
You need to include the platform tools that include ADB and Fastboot. ADB and fastboot are commands that you will use from the command line. The official google link is here: https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools?hl=fr
Unlock Developer Options On your Phone
Unlock Developer Options on your phone by going to Settings -> About and clicking the version 5-10 times. After developer mode is unlocked Enable the following two settings:
- Enable USB Debugging
- Enable OEM Unlock
Download TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project)
Download TWRP from https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=14943124697586347482
After downloading TWRP, Place the Files from TWRP in your platform-tools directory from the initial step
Enter Fastboot Mode by doing the following
- Press and hold the Power button to bring up the Power Menu.
- Tap the Power Off option and wait for the OnePlus 7 to completely shut down.
- Once off, press and hold the Power, Volume Up, and Volume Down buttons at the same time.
Unlock the OnePlus 7T Bootloader
After in fastboot, connect your phone to your computers USB port.
- Open a command prompt window in the platform-tools directory
- Type the following command: fastboot oem unlock
- Select “unlock bootloader”
Now your phone will wipe and reboot.
Copy your boot image by utilizing TWRP
- Manually enter fastboot (same as we did above)
- Boot into TWRP by opening an administrator command prompt in your platform-tools directory on your computer and typing “fastboot.exe boot TWRP-3.5.1-guacamole-Nebrassy-3.img“
- OPTIONAL STEP (I had to do this to get ADB working): Once your phone boots into TWRP, click the button that says “ADB Sideoload” and then go back to the TWRP main screen
- Open an administrator command prompt in your platform-tools directory and type the following commands:
adb shell dd if=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/boot_a of=boot_a.img
adb shell dd if=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/boot_b of=boot_b.img
adb pull /boot_a.img
adb pull /boot_b.img
This will copy your boot.img file’s to wherever adb is running on your computer. Manually Confirm files boot_a.img and boot_b.img are in the directory.
Now we have to determine which partition the phone is using to determine which boot image is valid (A or B).
- Type adb reboot bootloader
- Once in fastboot, type fastboot getvar all
- Look for the following variable: (bootloader) current-slot in which current-slot will show either A or B. In my case, it returned B.
This tells me to use the boot_b.img (your case may vary) - Reboot your phone
Your phone will be wiped again
Do a minimal setup, enough to where you can:
- enable developer options
- enable usb debugging
- enable usb file transfer
Modify the boot image file and prepare for rooting
- Using Windows File transfer, copy over boot_X.img to your phone (boot_b.img in my case)
- Copy over the magisk app install file (Download Magisk from XDA)
- Using your phone, install magisk
- Open Magisk and do the following: Select the “Install” button from the regular Magisk option and choose “Select and Patch a File “. Find your boot.img file and Magisk Manager will created a patched .img file.
- Copy the patched boot.img file (I called mine magisk_boot_b.img) back to your PC in your platform_tools directory where adb is located
Root your OnePlus 7T
- Open up an administrator command prompt and type the following command: adb reboot bootloader
- Once in fastboot type the following: fastboot boot magisk_boot_b.img (or whatever the name of the file you copied over is from the previous step)
- When your phone boots, open up Magisk Manager again and simply choose the same Install option, but instead select “Direct Install”. Magisk will now flash that .img file, ultimately granting permanent root privileges.
- Reboot
- Update Magisk app (if available)
- Update Direct Install (if Magisk was updated, do another direct install)
- Reboot
- Download Root checker from play store to verify root
How to maintain root with OTA updates
The following steps are untested, I have put them below for archival purposes.
- Install the Update but do not allow the phone to reboot.
- Open Magisk Manager and repeat the previous step, but this time select the Install to Inactive Slot (After OTA) instead. Root should be preserved and the OTA update should be installed. Note that you only need to flash one of the A/B on each OTA update, and root will persist even after reboots.
- On this reboot it might take a long time (30+ spins for minor versions, 100+ for major versions). Take a shower, go for a walk, play a game of chess on classical time control. Whatever you do DON’T POWEROFF YOUR PHONE!!
For reference Step 21)Now you can install Magisk (use the INSTALL button beside Magisk is up to date). Tap INSTALL, Direct Install (Recommended), and watch your phone enter hacking mode (You might have to ALLOW access to your device). Tap Reboot, and your phone should now be rooted!