How to root the Fairphone 3?

[sm01man]

Yes, I had unlocked my Fairphone 3 from the factory so I forgot to include this step.
Its basically as simple as booting into fastboot and running:
‘fastboot oem unlock’

(THIS WILL ERASE ALL DATA)

[fracgeol]

Well I do not want to start a discussion based on opinions only.
So to the facts:
“how to root android” on google ==> loads of competing instructions
“how to install arch linux” on google ==> super clear step-by-step instructions on wiki.archlinux.org

So all I was asking was wether there was an equivalent high quality tutorial for rooting an android phone.

So if you think instructions are clear, I’m happy for you, but perhaps next time just share a direct link to those instructions you mention.

[JeroenH]

Arch Linux (A Linux distribution) wiki is not at all clear for me as non-Arch Linux user, and it forces to do a lot of redundant things which could be automated.

The instructions as mentioned were crystal clear, except for the addendum regarding unlocked bootloader. If you feel it can be written better, feel free to improve it. The forum here allows for such (even allows wiki posts). Keep in mind that the findings on how to root have been recent. On any wiki, a new entry is often an incomplete stub as well.

[amers]

Please keep in mind that different Android phones run different flavours of Android, sometimes highly costumized by the vendors. Rooting procedures can and will be different between phones, as will be risks and consequences going along with it. (Even between Fairphone 2 and Fairphone 3 there are differences.)

You may think of it as different Linux distributions: Debian, Fedora, Slackware, Gentoo, Arch Linux all have their own way of managing details, configurations, etc. There’s lots of distribution-specific documentation.
If you wanna master one of those distributions on a system administrator’s level (which is what root is all about), you need to dive into the specific flavour accordingly.

[mgfp]

@fracgeol

how to root android” on google ==> loads of competing instructions
“how to install arch linux” on google ==> super clear step-by-step instructions on

This comparison in my opinion makes no sense - for two reasons.

1. The first question is very general, the second with highly limited scope . “how to install linux” would be closer and would result in “loads of competing instructions” too. But still there is a difference because there are not only many flavors of android (like Linux distros) but also much more relevant differences on the side of the devices (fewer open standards like BIOS).

2. Google delivers highly personalized results - so the fact, that you are getting these results does not mean anything. Maybe Google knows what kind of information you prefer about arch linux, but does not know this yet concerning Android. Its a sort of oxymoron to offer personalized search results as “facts” and as a counterexample for a “discussion based on opinions”.

[NicoM]

Thank you so much!!!

Perfectly working so far.

We may be turn your message into a guide? It might be too soon, as it is still a bit experimental…

[edwin]

Hi everybody,

i’ve got a problem. In your line 4, it says me “failed: unlock device to use this command”
i’ve tried “fastboot oem unlock” but it says “oem unlock is not allowed”.

Could you help me ?

thanks

[Ingo]

As far as I know it must be enabled in the developer settings first.

[BertG]

Just in case enabling it at developer settings isn’t the reason.
Have you seen this thread:

Oem unlock "input verify code"

I’m trying to unlock my bootloader, according to the instructions here: FP3: unlock the bootloader When changing the “OEM unlocking” toggle, I get asked for a password. After putting that in, a popup appears asking me to “Input verify code”, as seen in the screenshot. How do I find out what that is? (Edited to add: it’s not my password). This happens after a factory reset. I have not put a sim card in my phone. [Screenshot_20190101-225319]

There is a FP-page with a tool to create the verification code. And on this page (in the source code, there is an error-message: "data-error-disabled=“Unlocking the bootloader is disabled for this device. Sorry about that.” So maybe your phone is one of the devices, where unlocking is disabled? Is it a company phone?

[autra]

@sm01man thanks for the guide! @k4y0z thanks for the root!

Can we flash this TWRP image onto recovery? Or will it work only with fastboot boot? Thanks!

[AnotherElk]

Welcome to the community forum.

@autra

Can we flash this TWRP image onto recovery?

Used to the Fairphone 2? Don't do these Fairphone 2 things on the Fairphone 3!

It’s not uncommon that users switch over from the Fairphone 2 to the Fairphone 3. The Fairphone 3 got some things which resemble things many users know how to deal with on the Fairphone 2, examples: TWRP is available. Installing a stock version of Fairphone OS is possible (Fairphone way / community way). Custom ROMs are available, e.g. /e/, LineageOS or GSIs. The Fairphone 3 is different from the Fairphone 2, however, and so not every prior knowledge carries over well to the new device. He…

[autra]

Thanks @AnotherElk, your post links to this thread that answers this question, and also a lot of others

[fai8753]

Maybe you should insert a step to unlock the bootloader.

[Jona]

Thanks for this solution guide!
But I have one question: After step 7 I want to lock the bootloader again.

When I do this, I can’t boot anymore, because Android says “Your device is corrrupt”.
I guess, this is, because I changed the boot partition with these steps. But how can I solve this problem?

[AnotherElk]

@Jona

When I do this, I can’t boot anymore, because Android says “Your device is corrrupt”.

Do you mean this screen (sorry, low resolution image grabbed from the internet)? …

@Jona

But how can I solve this problem?

If it is this screen in your case … just press the power button to continue booting (before the phone gets rebooted automatically after 30 seconds).
If you want to get rid of this screen, you can do it with ADB once Android or TWRP are booted …

@pigpig

If you see the warning that shuts down the phone after the 30 seconds :
adb reboot "dm-verity enforcing"

[Jona]

No, that’s the message, I get, when I unlocked the bootloader.
But now, I know, what I did wrong. It is impossible to lock the bootloader, again after installing magisk. Am I right?

[AnotherElk]

@Jona

It is impossible to lock the bootloader, again after installing magisk. Am I right?

I don’t use Magisk, but …

@lost_geographer

I corrupted the system by locking back the bootloader (sometimes I do stupid things). But it’s quite easy to solve this problem : just flash everything back, following again the install instructions of /e/ .

[EricaR]

Personally, I’m afraid of rooting and technically it maker our smartphones vulnerable. So, I staretd to use VirtualXposed APK sometimes ago. It can run some of Xposed modules and helps to customize some apps. Honestly, it doesn’t offer all the root benefits.But, enough to have what I want from my device.Hope my personal experience will be useful for someone else here

[dupdup]

After installing Magisk and locking the phone again something went wrong and I was back in the google-environment. I flashed twrp and lineage again, but now I can’t connect to my computer, because it says ‘waiting for debugger’ in developer options. I tried to find a solution, but I couldn’t find one which could help me. Maybe somebody knows how to fix this?

[AnotherElk]

@dupdup

After installing Magisk and locking the phone again something went wrong

No, this already is what went wrong. Don’t lock the bootloader.

I bricked my FP3 and i hated it

Just for information : I explained here, step by step, how to root /e/ (no need of twrp). Of course, as many already said that, leaving the bootloader unlocked is essential.

I bricked my FP3 and i hated it

Installing Magisk also modifies the boot.img so locking the phone with Magisk installed will have the same effect.