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How to Root OnePlus X: Full Guide

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How to Root OnePlus X: Full Guide

Rooting your OnePlus X gives you full administrative control over Android, letting you remove bloatware, install root-only apps like Titanium Backup or Magisk modules, and customize the system at a deep level. This guide walks you through unlocking the bootloader, installing a custom recovery, and flashing Magisk to root your device. Before starting, back up all important data, as unlocking the bootloader wipes your phone completely.

What You’ll Need

  • A OnePlus X (model E1003, E1001, or E1005) with at least 50% battery
  • A Windows, macOS, or Linux computer
  • A USB cable that supports data transfer
  • ADB and Fastboot tools installed on your computer (platform-tools from Google)
  • OnePlus X USB drivers (for Windows; macOS and Linux usually work without)
  • The latest Magisk ZIP file (download from the official Magisk GitHub releases)
  • An unlocked bootloader (required; the process is included below)

Step-by-Step

  1. Enable Developer Options and USB Debugging: On your OnePlus X, go to Settings > About phone and tap Build number seven times until you see “You are now a developer!�. Then go to Settings > Developer options and enable USB debugging and OEM unlocking (if available).
  2. Install ADB and Fastboot: Download the platform-tools ZIP from the Android developer site and extract it to a folder (e.g., C:\platform-tools). On Windows, you may need to install the OnePlus USB drivers separately.
  3. Connect your phone and test ADB: Connect your OnePlus X to the computer via USB. Open a command prompt (or terminal) in the platform-tools folder. Type adb devices and press Enter. On your phone, accept the RSA fingerprint prompt. You should see your device listed as “device�.
  4. Back up your data: Unlocking the bootloader will wipe your phone. Copy any photos, contacts, or files you need to your computer or cloud storage.
  5. Reboot to bootloader: Type adb reboot bootloader and press Enter. Your phone will restart into fastboot mode (a black screen with a fastboot logo).
  6. Unlock the bootloader: In the command prompt, type fastboot oem unlock and press Enter. On the phone, use the volume keys to highlight “Unlock bootloader� and press the power button to confirm. This will wipe your data and reboot your phone. Set up your phone again (skip signing in to Google for now) and re-enable USB debugging.
  7. Install a custom recovery (TWRP): Download the TWRP image for OnePlus X (twrp-3.x.x-x-onyx.img) from the official TWRP website. Place it in the platform-tools folder. Reboot to bootloader again with adb reboot bootloader. Then type fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.x.x-x-onyx.img and press Enter. After it flashes, use the volume keys to select “Recovery� and press power to boot into TWRP.
  8. Boot into TWRP (first time): The first time you boot TWRP, it may ask if you want to keep the system read-only. Swipe to allow modifications. TWRP will now be installed permanently.
  9. Transfer Magisk ZIP: While in TWRP, go to Mount and ensure Data is checked. Then go to Advanced > ADB Sideload and swipe to start sideload. On your computer, type adb sideload Magisk-vXX.X.zip (replace with the actual filename) and press Enter. The ZIP will transfer and install automatically.
  10. Reboot and verify root: After installation, go back to the main TWRP menu and select Reboot > System. Your phone will boot normally. Install the Magisk Manager app (now called “Magisk�) from the Play Store or the Magisk GitHub, open it, and you should see “Magisk installed� and “SafetyNet� status (if supported). You can also install a root checker app to confirm.

Common Mistakes

  • Not enabling OEM unlocking: If the option is missing or grayed out, you may be on a carrier-locked variant. Unlocking may be impossible or require a different method.
  • Using the wrong TWRP image: Ensure you download the “onyxâ€� variant for OnePlus X. Using another model’s recovery can brick your device.
  • Skipping the data backup: Unlocking the bootloader wipes everything. Forgetting to back up is the most common and painful mistake.
  • Flashing the wrong Magisk ZIP: Always download the latest stable Magisk from the official GitHub. Older versions may not support your Android version.
  • Not accepting the RSA prompt: If you don’t accept the USB debugging prompt, ADB commands will fail with “unauthorizedâ€�.

Tips

  • Keep your phone charged above 50% to avoid shutdown during critical steps.
  • After unlocking, you can re-lock the bootloader (via fastboot oem lock) to restore full security, but this will wipe data again and may cause issues with OTA updates.
  • Use a USB port directly on your computer, not a hub, to avoid connection drops.
  • If you ever need to unroot, simply open Magisk Manager and tap “Uninstallâ€� – it will restore the original boot image.
  • Consider installing a custom kernel or ROM after rooting, but always back up your current setup first.

Troubleshooting

  • “fastbootâ€� is not recognized: Ensure you’re in the correct folder where fastboot.exe is located, or add the platform-tools path to your system’s PATH variable.
  • Device not showing in ADB: Try a different USB cable, reinstall drivers, or restart the ADB server with adb kill-server then adb start-server.
  • Bootloop after flashing Magisk: Boot into TWRP (hold power + volume down) and flash the Magisk uninstaller ZIP, or restore your boot backup if you made one. If not, reflash the stock boot image from the official firmware.
  • TWRP not sticking: Some devices overwrite recovery on boot. After flashing TWRP, immediately boot into recovery (as described) and then flash Magisk – this prevents the system from replacing TWRP.
  • SafetyNet fails: Magisk includes a built-in SafetyNet check. If it fails, try enabling “MagiskHideâ€� in settings (if available) or update Magisk. Note that SafetyNet is being deprecated; use a root checker app for verification.
  • Phone stuck on boot logo: Wait 10 minutes – first boot after unlocking can be slow. If still stuck, boot to TWRP and wipe cache/dalvik, or restore your backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will rooting void my warranty?

Yes, unlocking the bootloader and rooting typically voids the manufacturer warranty. However, you can usually restore the phone to stock (by re-locking the bootloader and flashing stock firmware) to regain warranty, but it’s not guaranteed.

Can I still receive OTA updates after rooting?

No, OTA updates will fail because the system partition is modified. You can update manually by downloading the full firmware and flashing it via TWRP, then reinstall Magisk.

Is it safe to root my OnePlus X?

Rooting itself is safe if you follow the steps correctly. The risk is in making mistakes, which can lead to a soft brick. Always have a backup and be patient.

What is Magisk and why use it instead of SuperSU?

Magisk is a systemless root method that modifies the boot image rather than the system partition, allowing you to pass SafetyNet and hide root from certain apps. SuperSU is older and no longer actively maintained.

How do I unroot my OnePlus X?

Open Magisk Manager, go to “Uninstall� and choose “Complete Uninstall�. This will restore the original boot image and remove root. You can also flash the Magisk uninstaller ZIP via TWRP.

Will rooting improve battery life?

Not automatically. Rooting gives you the ability to use apps like Greenify or custom kernels that can improve battery life, but it’s not a guarantee. Sometimes root can cause battery drain if you install aggressive mods.

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