Samsung Galaxy A20 released to attract the Budget variants with some enhanced features. It has Dual Camera, Finger Print Sensor, and Samsung Best Custom Skin OS One UI Pie 9.0. Due to Samsung’s new security feature, We can’t root like Old method. We should modify the boot image by flashing patched boot. We can achieve this root using Magisk. After this method, you can Install TWRP, when it is released. In my opinion, you don’t need root now. You will receive Two Major upgrades and regular security patch updates. If you are a developer or a regular root app user, you can use this method. You should unlock your bootloader before the boot image flash process.
Why should you Root Samsung Galaxy A20?
You should have a strong reason for rooting. Samsung Already released One UI 9.0 Pie and is already optimized. You have More than Enough 3 GB RAM to use daily apps without Lag for years. Yes, I know, you may think, 3 GB RAM is not enough in this modern Android world. But, Trust me One UI is far better than other Custom Skin OS. You can use this device without lag for years until Samsung mess with some Bloatware. But beyond, this not go reasons, you are addicted to some root apps, or you are a frequent user of some Custom OS, you can proceed further. But if you want to root because everybody is doing, I advise you, don’t root If you didn’t have any experience. For regular users, It can become a Nightmare.
How to Root Samsung Galaxy A20 Pie 9.0 (SM-A205F, SM-A205FN, SM-A205G, SM-A205GN)
First of all, thanks to topjohnwu – this genius is one who discovered and maintaining Magisk. We also thank XDA Developer- physwizz, Who tested and succeeded in this method.
Samsung Galaxy A20 International variants come with a flexible bootloader. This means that the smartphone can be easily rooted. Also, the device can accept to install TWRP recovery or any other custom recovery file/app alike. Don’t try with Snapdragon US Variants like Verizon devices. They come with locked Bootloader.
But In the below method, we are going to Root this device by using Magisk, not TWRP. You can install TWRP using the official App when it is released. TWRP recovery is a custom recovery file which must be installed on Samsung Galaxy devices because you can root them successfully. In this article, we explained the easiest method to follow and install TWRP recovery on Samsung Galaxy A20. However, the tool required for rooting this device is the Magisk App.
With the help of TWRP Recovery, you can quickly flash the latest version of Magisk into your A20 to gain root access. Before sharing the tutorial, you may want to know that, with the TWRP recovery present on your device, you can easily install any custom ROM or firmware. Does it seem complicated? Relax, everything will be explained succinctly in bullets.
Things to check out for;
Check your device model number.
- Install Latest Magisk Manager.
Make sure your device battery is charged above 50%
Backup your current files and data- Full Data Loss Process (save them on external storage).
- You cannot use Samsung Pay, Secured folder, and some official apps from Samsung.
- You can’t update your firmware, to get new firmware you have to follow the below steps with the latest firmware.
- Read full tutorial before the process.
Pre-Requirement Steps
Unlock Bootloader
Enable USB Debugging Mode and OEM Unlock on your mobile. To do this; go to settings >>> about >>> Tap on the “Build Number” 7-10 times consistently to enable “Developer Options,” then go to the “Developer Options” and enable USB Debugging Mode and OEM Unlock. There is no complicated process in the Samsung Galaxy A20.
- Switch off your device. Enter into Download Mode-> Volume Up+Volume Down and Connect your mobile with PC using USB Cable. When Download mode warning screen Appears, Press Volume Up button to unlock Bootloader.
- The above process will wipe your User Data. After Setup your device, Please recheck the OEM Unlock in the settings. Sometimes It Will Lock Again.
Preparing Patched Boot Image file
Download and install the Samsung USB driver to your computer system.
Also, download the ODIN software. Select above Oreo version in the ODIN list. Install ODIN on your PC.
- Download Samsung Galaxy A20Firmware and save it on your PC. Your Current OS version and Downloaded Version AP and CSC should be Same.
- You can use Phone Info to know your firmware version.
- Download 7Zip-ZS and LZ4 Install both on your PC. Extract the files in downloaded firmware using 7Zip-ZS. You will get four files. Click on the AP File and Extract again. You will get some files along with the boot.img.lz4. Copy the boot.img.lz4 to LZ4 Installed folder. Convert lz4 file to .img file. After the convert, Copy boot.img file to your mobile.
- Download Magisk Manager (Download Latest version) or Magisk canary and Install it on your mobile. Open Installed Magisk and Select Install in Magisk, It will ask For zip file and Patch Boot Image File. Select the Boot Image file.
Navigate to your copied Boot Image File and patch the file.
- Wait for the process to complete, In the end, you will get magisk patched .tar file. The .tar file will be in the same folder where you have the Stock firmware file.
- Copy magisk_patched.tar file to your PC.
Flash Patched Boot Image using ODIN
- Switch off your Mobile. Enter into Download mode->Volume Down+ Volume Up Buttons and Connect Your Mobile To PC via USB Cable, After Samsung Logo Appear, Release all keys.
- After entering into Download Mode, it will say Warning, Press Volume Up button to continue.
- Launch Odin Application.
- It Will Show the message added.
- If you did not get this message Repeat the above steps.
- After Getting Added Message Select, AP/PDA Button then Browse for the magisk patched file selects it. Un-Tick the Auto-Reboot. You should only flash the patched image file.
- Press Start wait for the tasks to complete. After the process complete, Press Volume Down+ Power button to exit Download mode. When the screen goes off, Immediately Press Volume Up + Power buttons to boot into Recovery mode.
- After entering into Stock recovery mode, Go to Wipe Data/Factory Reset and Select Yes to wipe data. It will erase your saved data in your device. Don’t Boot into OS, Read below Boot stages before booting.
Boot into Rooted OS
- Press and Hold Volume Up + Power buttons, release all the keys once the Bootloader warning appears. You have to set up your device like a new device. You can select the root status using Root Checker.
- Stock Recovery Boot – Press and Hold Volume Up + Power buttons, release keys while you hold the Volume Up key.
- You will see Magisk Manager in your App drawer. If you can’t find the app, you can install Magisk Manager in your mobile.
What More?
In my opinion, you don’t need rooting for your Samsung Galaxy A20. If you thought, you could Improve Performance By root; With the Exynos 7884 Octa-Core processor and 3 GB RAM, your device can perform well. If you don’t know how much RAM you need, You will never use this much RAM. You should not Boot into Normal OS Booting, by pressing the power button, after firmware flash. It will boot you to Non-Rooted environment. If you accidentally urged and boot frequently, Don’t panic, after setup everything, switch off your device and boot into Rooted OS using above mentioned keys. If you root your device, because of the battery drain issues, you can optimize your battery without root.
Selva Kumar is an Android Devices Enthusiast, Who Can Talk and Write About Anything If You Give a Hint About the respective devices. He is a Computer Science Graduate, Making His Career towards this Technology. He is always eager to try new Android devices — not only Software level but Hardware-level Also. Beyond this, He is a Good Swimmer, Guitarist.
Hi, just a question for clarity. This article is about rooting the device running Android Pie 9.0. But your instructions state that Odin Oreo version should be downloaded. Are there any reasons for this, or is it just a typo?
Thanks
No. You can Select Oreo version ODIN or above Oreo Version. Sometimes the Latest Version making Unresponsive Error in Low-End PCs. So, We Suggest the Minimum requirement.
perfect.. thank u so much
aii whow bro am not working the root procedure
I need to root my A20 to start using the root app. Is there any app that can allow me to block system apps from using the internet without root access??
You can do this without Unlocking Bootloader. Yes, the TWRP can support Up to Pie. Means, Oreo version can also rooted.
I need to use kingroot
After the Marshmallow version, none of the devices can be rooted without PC. After Pie 9.0 version, you should modify firmware files.
Hi sir, in the last part when i patched the magisk.tar it says no success just stop in here is it done ? Then I will proceed in the previous section? Am I right?
Added!!
Odin engine v(ID:3.1207).
File analysis.
SetupConnection..
Initialization…
Get PIT for mapping.
Firmware update start.
NAND Write Start!!
SingleDownload.
magisk_patched.img
Don’t have to do all the steps. Flash the patched magisk.tar file again. Did you properly boot into Download mode?
Greetings Sir,
I have followed your method and steps to root my Samsung Galaxy A20.
And it was working fine for more than two months…but now it can not boot.
When power on it shows the “Samsung Galaxy A20” and bootloader unlocked warning message (which was normal). Still, after two months, suddenly, it starts to show “only official released binaries are allowed to flash” on the top of the screen and shuts down immediately.
Is there any way that could solve this problem?
I appreciate your positive response.
It boots to recovery…and I have tried “Wipe data/factory reset” and “Wipe cache partition”…It still doesn’t work.
I Think You updated your mobile. You should do the same process for the latest firmware version.
Is there any possible way to know the firmware version that has been updated on my phone without booting to OS?
Try with Samsung SmartSwitch. IF you can’t no problem, flash the latest version by following the root method.
Tanq bro, it works now with excellent root access…I’m blocking my phone to not auto-update system…BTW can I allow security policy updates?… Wouldn’t it interfere the same way as the system update?
No. You should not allow those updates also. If you update, It will remove root access again.
I am stuck on the LZ4. I’m not sure what to do after placing it in the folder.
Use LZ4 software to convert .lz4 file to .img file. Copy this .img file to your mobile and patch using magisk.
Thanks, worked like a charm.
Thank you for your feedback…:)
After patching using the Magisk app, I received .img file but not .tar. What to do?
You can use 7zip to convert the file to .tar.
-Device platform: arm64-v8a
-Copying image to cache
-unpacking boot image
-checking ramdisk status
-stock boot image detected
-patching ramdisk
! Unable to repack boot image!
! Installation failed.
Where did you get this error? In Magisk or ODIN?
My photos were accidentally deleted. I want to know if they can recover with no root.
You can try some recovery software if your photos are on the SD card. When you deleted photos in Internal storage, Root is required for efficient recovery.