How to Root and Flash Custom Recovery on Your Google Pixel and Pixel XL

Introduction

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Welcome back to Unlocker, where we explore the world of customizing your Android device. Today, we're going to take our Google Pixel and Pixel XL to the next level by rooting and flashing a custom recovery, allowing us to install custom ROMs on these devices.

Warranty Disclaimer

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Before we begin, it's essential to note that rooting your device will void its warranty. You should be aware of this before proceeding with the process.

Setting Up ADB

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To follow along with this tutorial, you'll need to have Windows version of ADB installed on your computer. If you're using a Mac or Linux, the steps may vary slightly. To set up ADB, please head over to our how-to setup ADB procedure and follow the instructions.

Required Tools and Software

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Before we start, make sure you have the following tools and software:

* Super SU: Download this from our website.

* TWRP recovery (.img and .zip formats): Save these files to your desktop.

* USB drive: You can purchase an inexpensive one or use the one that came with your Pixel.

* USB OTG to USB-C adapter: This is optional but recommended. If you've lost it, please refer to our link for a replacement.

Enabling USB Debugging

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To enable USB debugging on your device:

1. Go to settings on your phone.

2. Tap "About Phone."

3. Tap "Build Number" until it says "You are a developer."

4. Go back and tap "Developer Options."

5. Turn on USB Debugging.

Plugging in Your Device

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Once you've enabled USB debugging, plug your device into your computer via the USB cable.

Preparing for Rooting (Verizon Users Only)

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If you're using a Verizon version of your Pixel or Pixel XL, you'll need to download and install the dePixel8 program. This will help unlock the boot loader on your device. Please note that this is only required if you have a Verizon device.

Downloading Required Files

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While the above steps are being completed, please ensure that all necessary files are downloaded and saved to your desktop:

* Super SU

* TWRP recovery (.img and .zip formats)

* dePixel8 program (if applicable)

Unlocking Boot Loader (Verizon Users Only)

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For Verizon users only, please copy the dePixel8 program from your desktop into the ADB folder that was installed during our how-to ADB tutorial.

Running Commands

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After completing the above steps, open the command prompt by right-clicking on an empty space in the ADB folder and selecting "Open Command Window Here." Then, type the following commands:

* fastboot oem unlock (for non-Verizon users)

* dePixel8 program is not required for this step

Once you've completed these commands, your device should reboot into boot loader mode.

Flashing Custom Recovery

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Now that we're in boot loader mode, we can proceed with flashing our custom recovery. To do so:

1. Type the following command: `fastboot flash recovery `

2. Replace `` with the actual path to your TWRP recovery file (.img or .zip format).

Reboots and Installing Custom ROMs

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After flashing your custom recovery, your device will reboot. You can now install custom ROMs on your device by following our guide on installing custom ROMs.

Conclusion

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Congratulations! You've successfully rooted and flashed a custom recovery on your Google Pixel and Pixel XL. With this custom recovery in place, you can now explore the world of custom ROMs and take your device to the next level.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Hey guys, it's Davidfrom the Unlocker dot comand today I'm gonna showyou how you can rootand flash a custom recoveryand be able to flashcustom romson your Google Pixel and Pixel XL.(hip hop music)First off is the warranty for your device.You won't be responsiblefor anything that happens,obviously.Also this version is written keeping theWindows version of ADB in mind.If you have Mac or Linux,the steps will slightly vary.Before we begin, please head over to ourhow to set up ADB procedure,follow that tutorial,install ADB on your computerand then come back to this one.This is also going to eraseeverything on the phoneso keep that in mind.And also we'll flash customrecovery while doing this,and this should only bedone on a Pixel or Pixel XL,not any other phone.Now something I learnedwhile doing this isthat you will also need a USB driveand a USB OTG to USB C adapter.One of those came with your Pixelso you can use that unless you've lost it,then I've linked below for aUSB drive that's inexpensiveand also a OTG adapterthat is inexpensive.Okay, so first we're gonnadownload the files that we need.We need to download Super SUand save that to our desktopyou can click the link below to get that.Then download TWRP recovery in boththe dot IMG and the dot zip formatsand also save that toyour desktop as well.Now if you have a Verizonversion of the Pixel or Pixel XLyou'll also need the dePixel8 programin order to unlock the boot loader,so download that as well ifyou're a Verizon user only.So while those are downloading,regardless of whetheryou have Verizon or not,we're gonna enable USBdebugging on the phoneand plug it in.So to do that, you're gonna go tosettingsin the phone,then about phone,tap on build number untilit says you are a developer,then we hit back and tapon developer options,then turn on USB debugging.After that, plug the device invia the USB.Now if you have Verizon,you're gonna copy that dePixel8from your desktop over to the ADB folderthat's located in the C drivewhich was installed when you did myhow to ADB tutorial.Then you can open that folder,hold shift on the keyboardand right click anywherethat's blank in there and selectopen command window here,and then you're gonna putin the following commandswhich you can clickbelow for a list of them.Once you've done those commands,your device should rebootinto boot loader mode.Once it does,you can then type \"fast boot OEM unlock\"and hit enter,and follow the onscreeninstructions on the phonefor unlocking the bootloader on the Verizon Pixelor Pixel XL.Now if you have any otherversion of the Pixel,you're going to, instead of using dePixel,just skip directly togoing into the ADB folderinside the C drive on the PC, again itshould be there if you did my tutorial onhow to set up ADB.Hold shift on the keyboard,right click anywhere in thereand select \"open command window here\".Then you're gonna type in,\"ADB reboot boot loader\"and hit enter.The device should rebootinto boot loader mode,and then we can type\"fast boot OEM unlock\"and follow the onscreeninstructions to unlockthe boot loader.Now that the boot loader is unlocked,we need to connect the USBstick that I mentioned beforeto the computer,then we're gonna copy the dotzip version of TWRP recoveryover to the USB drive,make sure it's not in any foldersjust on the root of the storage.We're gonna do the same thing with thatsuper SU dot zip file.Again,move to the USB drive,not any folders on the root of the storageand we're gonna copy thedot IMG version of WRPinto that ADB folder on the C driveand we're gonna rename it to TWRP,this way it's TWRP dotIMG is the final name.After that, you're gonna have topull down the notification shadeand go into settings again.Go to \"about phone\", keeptapping on build numberuntil it tells you youare a developer againbecause all of this gotreset when we unlockedthe boot loader,then we're gonna go back,go into developer options and again,enable USB debugging.After that we can unplug theUSB drive from the computer,plug in the phone to the computer insteadand then open the ADB folder on your PC,pull down shift on yourkeyboard and right clickanywhere on the screen that is blankand select open command window here.Then we're gonna type\"ADB reboot boot loader\"and hit enter.When your device enters boot loader mode,we're then gonna type\"fast boot boot\"TWRP dot IMG.\"It'll then reboot yourdevice into TWRP recoverywhich is what we justloaded into the ADB foldera minute ago.Once it does,unplug the phone from the computerand plug in the USB driveinto that OTG adapterand then plug that intothe bottom of the phone.In TWRP on the phone, you're gonna tapcancel to get past theencryption menu if that comes up,then we can tap mountand tap the OTG optionthat should be there now.Tap select storage and tapon the OTG option again,tap back to get back tothe main menu in recovery,tap install,then we're gonna selectthat TWRP dot zip file,and swipe to confirm and let that flash.When it's done,we're gonna tap back,then tap reboot and select recovery.This will actually boot us intothat newly flashed recoveryinstead of the one that webooted from the computer.When the phone enters the recovery mode,tap on mount,tap the OTG option again,then we're gonna tap select storageand also tap the OTG option again,hit back to get to the recovery menu,tap install, and thistime we're gonna selectthe super SU dot zip file.Again, swipe to confirm flashand let it flash.When super SU is done,and it may take a while,it may also reboot yourphone a couple of times,you're gonna reboot thedevice by tapping on rebootif it hasn't already booted up normally,to get it to boot up normally.Once you do that, you can unplug the USBand OTG from the bottom of the phoneand you should see super SUin your app drawer.There you go,you now are rooted andhave a custom recovery.You can go onto flashing custom roms,if you want more info onthat you can click the linkbelow to be taken to mytutorial on how to do thatand also I have a romrepository on my sitethat's full of roms for these devicesthat you can check out.Also, if you guys are havingany issues with this tutorial,please don't comment here on YouTube.Click the link in the description belowto be taken to the article on my siteand comment there instead.This way it notifies me when you do thatand it's much easier for me to help.Now if you like this video,please thumbs up it or share it,it is greatly appreciatedand if you want more videoslike this, pleasecheck out the YouTube channel.I do a bunch of otherstuff besides just rooting.Go check it out, you might like it.If you do,please subscribe.And as always,thanks for watching.(hip hop music)\n"