How to unlock the bootloader and root the Samsung Galaxy S23

Unlocking the full potential of your Samsung Galaxy S23 is now possible with a comprehensive guide on rooting your device using Magisk. The Galaxy S23 series boasts top-notch features, including Qualcomm’s flagship processor, impressive camera hardware, and stunning displays, making them highly sought-after devices. If you’re keen on enhancing your device’s capabilities and diving into the world of customizations, this guide will teach you how to unlock the bootloader and root the Samsung Galaxy S23, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned enthusiast.

Before delving into the root process, there are some crucial points to bear in mind:

Bootloader Unlock: Rooting necessitates unlocking the device’s bootloader, which is irreversible. This process will void warranties, disable Knox features, and block OTA updates.
Android 13: The Galaxy S23 series runs on Android 13 out of the box, which requires specific modifications due to Google’s guidelines for boot partitions.

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How to root the Samsung Galaxy S23 with Magisk

Many enthusiasts expected that achieving root access on the Galaxy S23 would be easy, just like with the older Samsung Galaxy devices, but that turned out to be just a misconception. Since the phones run Android 13 out of the box, Samsung is bound to follow Google guidelines for generic boot partitions, which means the ramdisk now resides under the “init_boot” partition instead of the plain old “boot” one. But fortunately, the modding seems to be working just fine.

Points To Consider Before You Root

Despite the current stable channel of Magisk not being compatible, XDA Recognized Contributor BlackMesa123 has come to the rescue by providing the essential patch routines. As a result, you can now utilize the most up-to-date bleeding-edge version of Magisk to carry out the essential modifications required for rooting the Galaxy S23 series.

However, there is something that you must note, there is no known method to unlock the North American( Canada and the USA) edition bootloader in the Galaxy S23. Despite the shared hardware foundation, it’s important to keep in mind that you cannot cross-flash the unlockable bootloader from other regional variants to the US models (those ending with ‘U’ and ‘U1’) or the Canadian model (ending with ‘W’). As a result, you won’t be able to root these devices using a Magisk-patched init_boot image.

Now, let’s embark on the journey to root your Samsung Galaxy S23:

Step 1 – Enable OEM Unlocking:

Begin by launching the Settings app.
Navigate to “About phone” and select “Software information.”
To enable Developer options, tap on “Build number” seven times.
Return to the main Settings page.
You’ll find the newly revealed “Developer options” section; open it.
Locate and enable the toggle next to “OEM unlocking.”

Step 2 – Unlock the Bootloader:

Unlocking the bootloader is a significant step with permanent consequences, such as warranty voidance, Knox feature disablement, and OTA update blockage. Proceed with caution.

Turn off your Galaxy S23.
Press and hold both the volume up and volume down buttons while connecting your device to a PC/Mac via USB.
Release the buttons when you see the warning about custom OS.
Press the volume up key to enter Download Mode.
Confirm the bootloader unlocking process.
This step will erase all data, so back up your phone beforehand.
Your device will automatically reboot to the OS upon completion.

Step 3 – Patch the init_boot Image with Magisk:

Begin by downloading the latest firmware for your specific device variant directly from Samsung’s servers.
Extract the firmware archive and copy the AP tar file to your device. The naming scheme should be AP_[build number and other identifiers].tar.md5.
Download and install the latest Magisk bleeding-edge build APK.
Utilize Magisk to patch the init_boot image.
Copy the patched file (named magisk_patched_xxx.tar) to your PC.
Boot your Galaxy S23 into Download Mode and flash the magisk_patched_xxx.tar as AP, together with BL, CP, and CSC from the original firmware package using Odin.
Perform a factory reset if prompted.
Launch the Magisk app and complete the setup.

Step 4 – Maintaining Root Access:

Rooted devices are unable to receive OTA updates. To upgrade your OS:

Manually download the new firmware package.
Replicate the AP patching procedure.
Use HOME_CSC for upgrades without data loss.

By following these steps diligently, you’ll successfully root your Samsung Galaxy S23 using Magisk, opening doors to extensive customization and the full potential of your device.