Nothing Android 14 with Nothing OS 2.5 / 3.0 init_boot.img (GKI 2.0)

How to root the Nothing Phone (2), Phone (2a) & Phone (1) with Magisk

Complete rooting guide for Nothing Phone (2), Nothing Phone (2a), and Nothing Phone (1) on Nothing OS. Covers Glyph interface custom modules, payload.bin dumping, and near-AOSP Fastboot root.

At a glance

Device family	Nothing Phone (2), Phone (2a) & Phone (1)
Launch software	Android 14 with Nothing OS 2.5 / 3.0
Chipset	Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 / Dimensity 7200 Pro / Snapdragon 778G+
Root partition	`init_boot.img (Phone 2/2a) or boot.img (Phone 1)`
Firmware format	Official Nothing OS Full OTA Zip (payload.bin)
Bootloader unlock	Standard Fastboot (`fastboot flashing unlock`)
Warranty / security impact	Unlocking the bootloader wipes user data and may disable some hardware-backed features. It can usually be re-locked and re-flashed to stock.

Rooting method

Step 1. Download the stock firmware or factory image that matches your exact build (Official Nothing OS Full OTA Zip (payload.bin)).
Step 2. Extract init_boot.img from the package.
Step 3. Copy init_boot.img to the phone, open the Magisk app, tap Install → Select and Patch a File and choose it. Magisk writes magisk_patched.img to your Download folder.
Step 4. Copy the patched image back to your computer.
Step 5. Reboot to the bootloader and flash it, then reboot the device.

Flash command

fastboot flash init_boot magisk_patched.img fastboot reboot

For the full workflow and prerequisites, see the installation guide and boot image patching guide.

If the device bootloops

Recovery

Hold Power + Volume Down -> Fastboot -> fastboot flash init_boot stock_init_boot.img

More options: fix a Magisk bootloop.

Keeping root across updates

Magisk Inactive Slot OTA Installation

See the OTA survival guide for the full procedure.

Nothing rooting hub

Hub

All Nothing models covered on this site.

Play Integrity Fix

Module

Restore device integrity for Google Wallet and banking apps after rooting.

Shamiko

Module

Hide root from apps that perform detection checks.

Root method checker

Tool

Confirm which partition to patch and generate the flash command.

Independently written from public upstream documentation. Verify every command against the official Magisk documentation and your exact device firmware before flashing. Not affiliated with the Magisk project.