Root Samsung Galaxy M21 SM-M215F Android 10 using Magisk

Posted on August 18th, 2020 by Selva Ganesh

Those are the days that exist where you have to Root your mobile after one year to get back your mobile performance by optimizing manually. But the new Android Mobiles are high in specs, and they can last long for years without degrading in performance with the help of regular software updates. The improvement in security in Android makes it hard to achieve the root process. It needs additional steps. Samsung Galaxy M21 comes with already optimized One UI 2.0 based on the Android 10 version. So, in the term for Performance improvement, you don’t need rooting. But When you are a regular Root user, and you need root for a specific purpose, You can use the below method to Root your Samsung Galaxy M21 Android 10 version.
Samsung Galaxy M21 Unlocked Screen on the Table

After root, you will lose official updates. You have to update your mobile manually. So, Before proceeding with the process, you should know why you need to do it. So, If you are a regular user, you can try some alternatives for your purpose that doesn’t require root. When you are a regular root apps user and developer, you can follow the below guide to achieve root on your mobile.

Should you need to Root your Samsung Galaxy M21 Android 10 version?

You should have a strong reason for rooting. Samsung M21 already comes with One UI 2.0 based on Android 10 and is already optimized. You have More than Enough 4-6 GB RAM to use daily apps without lag for years. Yes, I Know, RAM maybe looks like not enough because of the Samsung Heavily customized OS. 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 M21 Android 10 One UI 2.0 (SM-M215F)

First of all, thanks to the developer for the Root method. topjohnwu – this genius is a one who discovered and maintaining Magisk. Samsung Galaxy M21 International variants come with a flexible bootloader. It 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 a locked Bootloader.

But In the below method, we are going to Root this device by using Magisk. You can install Official TWRP using the official app when it is released. TWRP recovery is a custom recovery file that must be installed on your devices because you can root them successfully. In this article, we explained the easiest method to follow and install Magisk on Samsung Galaxy M21. However, the tool required for rooting this device is the Magisk App.

You can flash TWRP once it is available. With the help of TWRP Recovery, you can quickly flash the Custom ROMs into your Samsung Galaxy M21. Before sharing the tutorial, you may want to know that, with the Magisk present on your device, you can easily install any root apps. Does it seem complicated? Relax, everything will be explained succinctly in bullets.

Things to check out for;

  • Check your device model number.

  • You should Backup your current files and data- Full Data Loss Process (save them on external storage).
  • Install Latest Magisk Manager.

  • Make sure your device battery is above 50%

  • 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 the full tutorial before the process.

1. Unlock Bootloader

Enabling developer option

  • 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 M21.

Samsung Galaxy M21 Download Mode

  • Switch off your device. Enter into Download Mode-> Volume Down+ Volume Up and Connect your mobile with PC using USB Cable. When Download mode warning screen Appears, Press Volume Up button to unlock Bootloader.

Samsung Galaxy Bootloader Warning Screen

  • 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.

2. Preparing Patched Boot Image file

  • Download and install the Samsung USB driver to your computer system.

  • Also, download the ODIN software. Select the above Oreo version in the ODIN list. Install ODIN on your PC.

  • You can use Phone Info to know your firmware version.

Samsung AP Extracted files

  • Download 7Zip-ZS, LZ4, and 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 data along with the boot.img.lz4 and vmbeta.img.lz4.

Convert lz4 file to img

  • Copy the boot.img.lz4 and  vmbeta.img.lz4 to LZ4 Installed folder. Convert lz4 file to .img file by dragging the .img file to the lz4 application file. You have to drag the file to that application. The script will automatically convert the file to .img format. After the convert, Copy boot and Vbmeta — 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.

Magisk Boot Image File

  • Navigate to your copied Boot Image File and patch the file.

Magisk Firmware Patch Process

  • 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. If you didn’t get the .tar and you got .img file. No problem. Copy this file to your PC. We can convert the data there.

Convert magisk patched tar file

  • When you get .img file, Open the installed 7zip app. Navigate the magisk patched img file and select Add, Choose .tar format and choose ok. Convert only boot.img file. After you got boot.tar, Drag the Patched Vbmeta.img into boot.tar. Now we got ODIN flashable boot.tar file. In the .tar there are two files-boot.img and Vbmeta.img.

Vbmeta and Boot Image files in one .tar file

3. Flash Patched Boot and Vbmeta Image.tar using ODIN

  • Due to Samsung’s new security restrictions, we can’t flash TWRP with Stock Boot on your mobile. So, we have to flash a patched boot using ODIN.
  • Unlock your screen lock. There should be no fingerprint, PIN Lock, Wipe. Set No lock in the settings.
  • 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.

Samsung J4 Plus Warning screen

  • After entering into Download Mode, it will say Warning, Press Volume Up button to continue.
  • Launch Odin Application.

ODIN Added Message

  • It Will Show the message added.
  • If you did not get this message, Repeat the above steps.

ODIN software screenshot

  • After Getting Added Message Select, AP/PDA Button, then Browse for the patched Magisk .tar file select it. Along with this file, you should select and flash the other three non-patched firmware files. We have to flash only the magisk patched boot image file. Un-Tick the Auto-Reboot.

Odin Auto Reboot

  • 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+ Volume Down + Power buttons to boot into Recovery mode.

Samsung Galaxy M21 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.

Samsung Galaxy M10 Recovery Mode Warning Screen

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 the 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 on your mobile.

What More?

In my opinion, you don’t need to root your Samsung Galaxy M21. If you thought you could Improve Performance By root; With the Exynos 9611 Octa-Core processor and 4-6 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 a Non-Rooted environment. When 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. Beyond this, if your purpose is to Disable Bloatware apps, you can do that without using this method. When you have any suggestions or doubts, comment below.

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23 thoughts on “Root Samsung Galaxy M21 SM-M215F Android 10 using Magisk”

  1. Bro, will it work because I tried two days back the same method, but it shows an error that this is not original Samsung firmware. I just wanted to root my m21. I rooted many devices, but without twrp, it’s trying, so will this work please reply.

    Reply

  2. You said after extracting a particular AP file, we have to select boot file and vbmeta and copy it to lz4 after that we have to drag so that it will become an image file, so we have “boot image file” and “vbmeta image file.” Here I did not understand one thing, so, in magisk, what we have to patch???? is that the firmware named “AP” file or these two files??? please reply to me

    Reply

    • Instead of flashing two separate files, We are adding it into a single .tar file. You don’t have to flash the entire AP file. Flash boot, Vbmeta bundle.

      Reply

  3. Thanks for your reply, bro; actually, what I need is we have a boot image file as well as a vb meta image file.. so you said we have to copy these into our mobile. Here what I need is after copying it to our mobile, we have to open magisk, so we have to select patch file.. the main doubt is what should be chosen in magisk, whether it is boot image or vb meta image. I know that after selecting in magisk we will get tar file, but I don’t know what to choose in magisk to get tar file.. my confusion is in these two image files which should be selected in magisk

    Reply

  4. I tried patching boot/vbmeta bundle and flashing it… ended up getting the typical bootloader vbmeta error.
    When only patching boot.img and bundling it with the original vbmeta… it can get into recovery, but that’s it… if you boot it up with power & vol+ for root os… it just got into a boot loop.
    Can’t get it to work!

    Reply

    • Can you mention your current build number? Both your current firmware and your patch firmware should match with each other, including the region.

      Reply

      • I got M215FXXS2ATG3 (Region LUX).
        I tried every step, but seem to fail at booting my device.
        When I press vol+ and power button before bootloader message appears… I boot straight into recovery, over & over.
        If I restart the phone from recovery without pressing any keys… it gets stuck into a boot loop.

        Reply

        • This method is not TWRP based. After the flash, you have to boot into recovery. You are doing correctly.
          After booting into recovery, clear data.
          You can’t install custom ROMs. You can use only Root apps.

          Reply

          • Always after clear data and powering off the device… I run into a boot loop or get into recovery every time…

          • You have to factory reset in stock recovery during the first boot and set up like a new device after the flash.

    • Instead of putting the file in the same .tar the first flash patched vbmeta then flash boot.tar. Both times, you should not let your mobile boot into the regular OS.

      Reply

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