How to UN-root Google Pixel 8: A Comprehensive Guide

Rooting your Google Pixel 8 can unlock a world of customization and control, but it can also introduce instability, security risks, and issues with software updates. If you’ve decided that the benefits of rooting no longer outweigh the drawbacks, or if you’re experiencing problems due to a faulty root, unrooting your device is the way to go. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step walkthrough of how to unroot your Google Pixel 8, ensuring a smooth and successful transition back to a stock Android experience. We at Magisk Modules understand the needs of our community, and provide clear, concise information to ensure a hassle free experience. You can also find valuable modules at our Magisk Module Repository.

Understanding the Unrooting Process for Pixel 8

Unrooting essentially reverses the rooting process, restoring your Pixel 8 to its original, factory state. This involves removing the root access, restoring the stock recovery image, and potentially reflashing the original firmware. The exact steps required will depend on the method you used to root your device and the tools you employed.

Before you begin, it’s crucial to understand the potential risks involved. Incorrectly following these steps could lead to a bricked device, meaning your Pixel 8 becomes unusable. Therefore, read the instructions carefully and ensure you have a complete understanding of each step before proceeding.

Prerequisites Before Unrooting

Before you begin the unrooting process, there are several crucial steps you must take to ensure a smooth and successful outcome.

• Backup Your Data: This is arguably the most important step. Unrooting your Pixel 8 will erase all data on the device, including photos, videos, documents, and app data. Back up everything you want to keep to your computer, a cloud storage service, or an external hard drive.
• Check Battery Level: Ensure your Pixel 8 has at least 60% battery charge. This will prevent the device from shutting down unexpectedly during the process, which could cause serious problems.
• Download Necessary Files: Depending on your unrooting method, you’ll need to download specific files, including the stock firmware for your Pixel 8 model and build number (BP31.250610.004 in this case), the Android SDK Platform Tools (ADB and Fastboot), and potentially the Magisk uninstaller (if you used Magisk for rooting).
• Enable USB Debugging: Enable USB debugging in Developer Options. To do this, go to Settings > About Phone and tap the Build Number seven times to unlock Developer Options. Then, go to Settings > System > Developer Options and enable USB Debugging.
• Unlock Bootloader (If Applicable): If you locked the bootloader after rooting, you’ll need to unlock it again. Keep in mind that unlocking the bootloader will also wipe your data.
• Familiarize Yourself with ADB and Fastboot: ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and Fastboot are command-line tools used to communicate with your Android device in different modes. Make sure you have these tools installed and configured on your computer.

Method 1: Unrooting with Magisk (If Magisk Was Used to Root)

If you used Magisk to root your Pixel 8, unrooting is relatively straightforward. Magisk provides a built-in uninstaller that can remove the root access without requiring you to reflash the entire firmware.

Step 1: Uninstall Magisk Manager

Open the Magisk Manager app on your Pixel 8. If you can’t find it, it’s likely that Magisk wasn’t used to root your device.

Step 2: Restore Images

Within the Magisk Manager app, tap on “Uninstall”. A prompt will appear with several options. Choose the “Restore Images” option. This will restore your Pixel 8’s boot image to its original state, removing Magisk’s modifications. Once restoration is complete, reboot your device.

Step 3: Check Unroot Status

After your Pixel 8 restarts, check if root access has been removed. You can use a root checker app from the Google Play Store to verify this. If the root checker app indicates that your device is no longer rooted, congratulations, you’ve successfully unrooted your Pixel 8 using Magisk.

Step 4: Remove Magisk Manager App

After confirming successful unrooting, uninstall the Magisk Manager app from your device.

Method 2: Unrooting by Flashing Stock Firmware (Universal Method)

This method involves flashing the original stock firmware for your Google Pixel 8. This is a more involved process, but it’s the most reliable way to completely unroot your device and restore it to its factory state. This method works regardless of how your device was initially rooted.

Step 1: Download the Stock Firmware

Download the stock firmware for your Google Pixel 8 from the official Google Developers website. It is CRUCIAL to download the firmware that matches your exact build number (BP31.250610.004). Downloading the wrong firmware can cause serious issues with your device.

• Navigate to Google’s Factory Images for Nexus and Pixel Devices: Find the official Google Developers website that hosts factory images. The exact URL might change, so use a search engine like Google to find the latest link.
• Locate Your Specific Pixel 8 Build: Carefully scroll through the list of devices and builds until you find the exact match for your Pixel 8, including the build number BP31.250610.004.
• Download the Factory Image: Once you’ve located the correct build, download the corresponding factory image ZIP file. This file will contain all the necessary files to restore your Pixel 8 to its original state.

Step 2: Extract the Firmware Files

Once you’ve downloaded the stock firmware ZIP file, extract its contents to a folder on your computer. This folder will contain several files, including:

• bootloader-[device name]-[version].img (Bootloader image)
• radio-[device name]-[version].img (Radio image)
• image-[device name]-[build number].zip (System image)

Step 3: Prepare ADB and Fastboot

Ensure you have the Android SDK Platform Tools (ADB and Fastboot) installed and configured on your computer. You can download the Platform Tools from the official Android Developers website. Extract the contents of the Platform Tools ZIP file to a folder on your computer.

Step 4: Boot into Fastboot Mode

• Power off your Pixel 8.
• Press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button simultaneously until you see the Fastboot mode screen.

Step 5: Unlock the Bootloader (If Locked)

If your bootloader is locked, you’ll need to unlock it before you can flash the stock firmware. Keep in mind that unlocking the bootloader will erase all data on your device.

• Open a command prompt or terminal window on your computer.

• Navigate to the directory where you extracted the Android SDK Platform Tools.

• Type the following command and press Enter:

  fastboot flashing unlock
  

• On your Pixel 8, use the Volume Up/Down buttons to select “Unlock the bootloader” and press the Power button to confirm.

Step 6: Flash the Stock Firmware

• In the folder where you extracted the stock firmware files, locate the file named flash-all.bat (on Windows) or flash-all.sh (on macOS/Linux).

• Double-click the flash-all.bat file (on Windows) or run the flash-all.sh file in your terminal (on macOS/Linux). This script will automatically flash all the necessary files to your Pixel 8.

  Important: The flash-all.bat or flash-all.sh script may contain the -w flag, which wipes data. If you want to keep your data, you can edit the script and remove the -w flag. However, removing the -w flag may result in a less clean unroot and potential issues with system stability. If you choose to remove the -w flag, it is highly recommended that you perform a factory reset after flashing the firmware.

• The script will automatically flash the bootloader, radio, and system images to your Pixel 8. The process may take several minutes. Do not disconnect your device or interrupt the process.

Step 7: Reboot Your Device

Once the script has finished running, your Pixel 8 will automatically reboot. The first boot may take longer than usual as the system rebuilds the cache.

Step 8: Verify Unroot

After your Pixel 8 restarts, verify that it is no longer rooted. You can use a root checker app from the Google Play Store to confirm this.

Method 3: Using the Android Flash Tool (Web-Based Flashing)

The Android Flash Tool is a web-based tool that simplifies the process of flashing stock firmware to Pixel devices. It eliminates the need to manually download and flash files using ADB and Fastboot.

Step 1: Prepare Your Computer and Device

• Use a Compatible Browser: The Android Flash Tool requires a compatible web browser, such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
• Enable USB Debugging: Ensure USB debugging is enabled on your Pixel 8.
• Connect Your Device: Connect your Pixel 8 to your computer using a USB cable.
• Install ADB Drivers (If Necessary): If your computer doesn’t recognize your device, you may need to install ADB drivers.

Step 2: Access the Android Flash Tool

• Open a compatible web browser and navigate to the official Android Flash Tool website. The exact URL might change, so use a search engine to find the latest link.

Step 3: Select Your Device and Build

• The Android Flash Tool will detect your connected Pixel 8. Select your device from the list.
• The tool will display a list of available builds for your device. Choose the build number BP31.250610.004 matching your device’s current firmware version.

Step 4: Configure Flashing Options

• The Android Flash Tool provides several flashing options. You can choose to:

  • Wipe data: This option will erase all data on your device, similar to a factory reset.
  • Lock bootloader: This option will lock the bootloader after flashing the firmware.
  • Force flash all partitions: This option will force the tool to flash all partitions, even if they are already up to date.

  Choose the options that best suit your needs. If you want to perform a clean unroot, select the “Wipe data” option.

Step 5: Start the Flashing Process

• Click the “Flash” button to start the flashing process.
• The Android Flash Tool will guide you through the remaining steps, including confirming your choices and authorizing the process on your device.
• The tool will automatically download the necessary files and flash them to your Pixel 8. The process may take several minutes. Do not disconnect your device or interrupt the process.

Step 6: Reboot Your Device

Once the flashing process is complete, your Pixel 8 will automatically reboot. The first boot may take longer than usual.

Step 7: Verify Unroot

After your Pixel 8 restarts, verify that it is no longer rooted. You can use a root checker app from the Google Play Store to confirm this.

Troubleshooting Common Unrooting Issues

Unrooting can sometimes be a complex process, and you may encounter issues along the way. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

• Device Stuck in Bootloop: If your Pixel 8 gets stuck in a bootloop after unrooting, try wiping the cache partition in recovery mode. To access recovery mode, power off your device, then press and hold the Power button and Volume Up button simultaneously until you see the recovery mode menu. Use the Volume buttons to navigate to “Wipe cache partition” and press the Power button to select it.
• Device Not Recognized by ADB/Fastboot: Ensure you have the correct ADB drivers installed on your computer. You can download the latest ADB drivers from the official Android Developers website or from your device manufacturer’s website. Also, make sure USB debugging is enabled on your device and that you have authorized your computer for USB debugging.
• Flashing Errors: If you encounter errors during the flashing process, double-check that you have downloaded the correct firmware for your device and that you are using the latest version of ADB and Fastboot. Also, make sure your device is properly connected to your computer and that there are no interruptions during the flashing process.
• Bootloader Relocked and Device Unresponsive: If you accidentally relocked the bootloader before flashing the stock firmware, your device may become unresponsive. In this case, you may need to use a specialized tool or seek professional help to recover your device.

Post-Unrooting Considerations

After successfully unrooting your Google Pixel 8, there are a few additional steps you may want to take:

• Factory Reset (If Not Already Done): If you didn’t wipe data during the unrooting process, consider performing a factory reset to ensure a clean system. This can help resolve any lingering issues caused by the previous root.
• Check for Software Updates: After unrooting, check for software updates in Settings > System > System update. Install any available updates to ensure your device has the latest security patches and bug fixes.
• Reinstall Apps: Reinstall the apps you want to use from the Google Play Store.

By following these steps, you can successfully unroot your Google Pixel 8 and restore it to its original, factory state. Remember to always back up your data before making any changes to your device, and proceed with caution.