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Root Motorola Moto G4 Plus: Full Guide

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Root Motorola Moto G4 Plus: Full Guide

Rooting a Motorola Moto G4 Plus gives you full administrative control over the Android operating system, letting you remove bloatware, install custom ROMs, and use root-only apps. This guide explains what rooting means for this specific phone, the risks involved, and the exact steps you need to follow, including unlocking the bootloader and flashing Magisk.

What Rooting Means for the Moto G4 Plus

The Moto G4 Plus runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box and was later updated to Android 7.0 Nougat. Like most phones, its stock firmware restricts access to system files and settings. Rooting replaces the stock recovery with a custom one and installs a root manager (usually Magisk) that grants superuser permissions. With root, you can:

  • Uninstall or freeze pre-installed apps that you can’t normally remove.
  • Use apps like Titanium Backup to back up app data and system settings.
  • Install custom kernels for better battery life or performance.
  • Flash custom ROMs such as LineageOS to get newer Android versions.
  • Use ad-blockers that modify the hosts file at a system level.

For the Moto G4 Plus specifically, rooting is often the first step toward installing a custom ROM because the official software updates stopped at Android 7.0. Custom ROMs can bring Android 9 or 10, but they all require an unlocked bootloader first.

Unlocking the Bootloader

Before you can root a Moto G4 Plus, you must unlock its bootloader. Motorola is one of the few manufacturers that officially allows this, but the process wipes your phone and voids the warranty. Here’s how it works:

  1. On your phone, go to Settings > About Phone and tap Build Number seven times to enable Developer Options.
  2. In Settings > Developer Options, enable OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging.
  3. Install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your computer (ADB and Fastboot).
  4. Connect your phone to the computer via USB and run adb reboot bootloader to enter fastboot mode.
  5. Run fastboot oem get_unlock_data – this returns a long string of characters.
  6. Go to Motorola’s official unlock website, sign in with your Motorola account, and paste that string. Motorola will email you an unlock code.
  7. Run fastboot oem unlock UNIQUE_CODE (replace UNIQUE_CODE with the code from the email).
  8. Your phone will wipe itself and reboot. The bootloader is now unlocked.

Important: The unlock code is tied to your device’s IMEI and cannot be reused. If you skip the OEM Unlocking toggle, the unlock command will fail.

Installing TWRP Custom Recovery

Once the bootloader is unlocked, you need a custom recovery to flash root files. TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is the most common choice for the Moto G4 Plus. To install it:

  1. Download the TWRP image file (usually named twrp-3.x.x-x-athene.img) from the official TWRP website – the Moto G4 Plus codename is athene.
  2. Boot your phone into fastboot mode again (adb reboot bootloader).
  3. Run fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.x.x-x-athene.img.
  4. After flashing, use the volume keys to select Recovery Mode and press the power button to boot into TWRP.
  5. If TWRP asks to keep the system read-only, swipe to allow modifications – this is required for rooting.

Do not let the phone boot normally before entering recovery, or the stock recovery will overwrite TWRP. If that happens, just reflash TWRP.

Flashing Magisk for Root

Magisk is the current standard for rooting because it provides systemless root – it doesn’t modify the system partition, which makes it easier to hide root from banking apps and pass SafetyNet (though not always). To root with Magisk:

  1. Download the latest Magisk APK from the official Magisk GitHub repository and rename it to Magisk.zip.
  2. Transfer the file to your phone’s internal storage.
  3. Boot into TWRP recovery.
  4. Tap Install, select the Magisk.zip file, and swipe to flash it.
  5. Reboot your phone. After boot, install the Magisk Manager app (the APK you downloaded) to manage root permissions.

You can verify root by installing a root checker app from the Play Store, or by opening a terminal app and typing su. If a prompt appears asking for permission, root is working.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Rooting the Moto G4 Plus is generally smooth, but a few issues can pop up:

  • Bootloop after flashing: If the phone keeps restarting, boot back into TWRP and wipe the cache/dalvik cache. If that doesn’t help, you may need to flash a stock ROM via fastboot.
  • TWRP not sticking: As mentioned, boot directly into recovery after flashing. If it still doesn’t stick, reflash TWRP and immediately boot to recovery.
  • Magisk not showing in app drawer: The Magisk Manager app is not automatically installed from the zip. Manually install the APK you downloaded.
  • OTA updates fail: Once rooted, you can’t install official OTA updates. You’ll need to unroot or flash a custom ROM to get updates.
  • SafetyNet fails: Some apps detect root. Magisk has a built-in MagiskHide feature (in older versions) or DenyList (in newer versions) to hide root from specific apps. Enable it for the apps that complain.

If you ever want to unroot, simply flash the stock firmware using the fastboot flash commands for each partition (boot, system, recovery, etc.) – this restores the phone to its original state.

Risks and Warranty Considerations

Rooting carries several risks that you should understand before proceeding:

  • Warranty void: Unlocking the bootloader voids your Motorola warranty. It cannot be restored by relocking the bootloader, because Motorola keeps a record of the unlock.
  • Security: Rooting removes some of Android’s built-in security barriers. Malicious apps that gain root access can read anything on your phone. Only grant root to apps you trust.
  • Bricking: If you flash the wrong file or interrupt the process, the phone can become unresponsive (a “brickâ€�). Most bricks are recoverable by flashing stock firmware, but a bad bootloader unlock can be permanent.
  • Data loss: Unlocking the bootloader wipes your phone completely. Back up all important data beforehand.

If you are not comfortable with command-line tools or the possibility of losing your phone, rooting is not recommended. Consider whether the benefits (custom ROMs, ad-blocking) outweigh the risks for your daily driver.

Alternative: Install a Custom ROM Without Root

If your main goal is to get a newer Android version, you don’t actually need root. Many custom ROMs (like LineageOS) work fine without root. The process is similar – unlock the bootloader, install TWRP, then flash the ROM zip. You just skip the Magisk step. This gives you a clean, up-to-date Android experience while keeping the phone unrooted, which is more secure and allows you to use banking apps without hiding root.

Some popular ROMs for the Moto G4 Plus include LineageOS (based on Android 9), Pixel Experience (based on Android 10), and crDroid. Each has its own installation instructions, but they all require an unlocked bootloader and TWRP. Rooting is only necessary if you want to modify the system itself – for example, to install a custom kernel or use Xposed modules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does rooting the Moto G4 Plus improve performance?

Not automatically. Rooting itself doesn’t make the phone faster. You can install custom kernels or use apps like Greenify to improve battery life and performance, but the stock software is already optimized. Most users root to remove bloatware or install custom ROMs, which can feel faster because they are lighter than stock.

Will I still get OTA updates after rooting?

No. Official OTA updates will fail on a rooted device because the system partition is modified. You can unroot and relock the bootloader (if you have the original stock firmware) to receive updates again, but relocking the bootloader usually wipes the phone again.

Can I root without unlocking the bootloader?

No. The Moto G4 Plus, like most modern Motorola phones, requires an unlocked bootloader to flash TWRP and Magisk. There is no one-click root exploit for this device. Unlocking the bootloader is the first and mandatory step.

Is it safe to use banking apps after rooting?

Many banking apps detect root and refuse to run. Magisk’s DenyList (or MagiskHide in older versions) can hide root from specific apps, but it’s not guaranteed to work with every app. Some banks use stronger detection that can still see root. If banking apps are critical, consider not rooting or using a custom ROM without root.

What is the difference between rooting and unlocking the bootloader?

Unlocking the bootloader allows you to flash custom recovery and custom ROMs – it’s like opening the door. Rooting gives you superuser access within the Android system – it’s like getting the keys to the house. Unlocking the bootloader is required for rooting, but you can unlock the bootloader and not root.

Can I relock the bootloader after rooting?

Yes, but it’s not recommended. You can flash the stock firmware and then run fastboot oem lock to relock the bootloader. This wipes the phone again. However, Motorola’s warranty is not restored, and relocking can sometimes cause issues if the stock firmware isn’t an exact match. It’s safer to leave the bootloader unlocked.

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