Android is getting securer with each new release and is increasingly posing a challenge for developers to gain root access on Android devices and alter system files.

Last year when Chainfire released systemless root with SuperSU, it was welcomed by the Android community with great enthusiasm. Systemless root by Chainfire allowed users to get root access without modifying the system partition, allowing uninterrupted installation for OTA updates even when the device is rooted.

Now come to August 2016, and we’ve an entire interface built upon systemless principles which is aimed to make custom MOD (even ROMs) available for Android device to go systemless. This new systemless interface is developed by topjohnwu over at xda and is being called Magisk — The Universal Systemless Interface.

Magisk is a systemless interface that developers can use to build custom MODs for Android devices without altering the system files. Check out the full feature log of Magisk:

  • Magic Mount: This feature will not only allow you to replace existing file and directories, but also support adding new files and directories into system!
    └ What this means is that all existing mods should all be possible to work systemless-ly!
  • Multiple Entry Points: If “Magic Mount” itself is still not powerful enough to accomplish your goal, Magisk provides several entry points for developers to run scripts at different boot times, making developers to do what ever they want at any time. It reliably blocks the boot process to continue before your scripts are done.
  • Remove verity / forceencrypt (both are configurable through .magisk file, same as SuperSU), patches sepolicy (to run scripts and support multiple root methods).
  • This means developers won’t need to worry about boot image modifications in the future!
  • Important mods like Root, Xposed etc. can all depend on the Magisk interface.
  • magisk.img (the place to store all your systemless mods) will resize automatically to support large mods, and reclaim the space after removing contents.

Download Magisk

Grab the Magisk installer zip from the download link below. Since Magisk is a developing project, newer versions will be releasing every then & now. Keep an eye over at this xda thread.

[icon name=”cloud-download” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Download Magisk v9 (.zip)

How to Install Magisk via TWRP Recovery

  1. Download and transfer the Magisk zip file from the download link above to your device’s storage.
  2. Boot your device into TWRP recovery.
  3. Tap on Install and select the Magisk zip file that you transferred to your device in Step 1.
  4. After selecting the .zip file, do Swipe to Confirm Flash on the bottom of screen to begin the flashing process.
  5. Once Magisk is flashed, you’ll get Reboot System option, select it.
  6. Now if you want systemless root through Magisk so you can use Android Pay and Play Pokemon Go while rooted, follow the link below:

[icon name=”hand-o-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””]  How to Get Systemless Root with Magisk on Android

That’s all. Once you’ve Magisk systemless interface installed on your device, you can use several MODs build upon it without interfering with the system files on your Android device.

Happy Androiding!