Model Manual Android 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream) Compatibility → Verified Working

Nothing Phone (2), Phone (2a) & Phone (1) Root Guide

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.

Hardware & Partition Specifications

Before flashing, confirm your device matches these exact kernel and partition specifications:

Hardware Parameter	Target Specification	Engineering Details
SoC / Chipset	`Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 / Dimensity 7200 Pro / Snapdragon 778G+`	Hardware processing platform and architecture
Target Partition	init_boot.img (Phone 2/2a) or boot.img (Phone 1)	The exact partition image that must be patched in Magisk
OS Compatibility Layer	Android 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream) Layer →	Kernel specifications, SEPolicy patching & 16KB memory page rules
RAM Page Alignment	`4KB Page Standard`	Virtual memory kernel standard (Android 15/16 compatibility)
Firmware Package	`Official Nothing OS Full OTA Zip (payload.bin)`	Official OEM stock ROM packaging format
Unlocking Method	Standard Fastboot (`fastboot flashing unlock`)	Bootloader unlocking requirement and tool
AVB / dm-verity	Standard AVB 2.0 (No vbmeta patch needed)	Android Verified Boot verification enforcement

Step-by-Step Rooting Procedure

Phase 1

Unlock the Nothing Phone (2), Phone (2a) & Phone (1) Bootloader

Enable Developer Options by tapping Build Number 7 times in Settings → About Phone. Navigate to Settings → System → Developer Options and toggle on OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging.

Unlocking Method: Nothing

Standard Fastboot (`fastboot flashing unlock`)

Phase 2

Extract the Stock Partition Image

Obtain the official stock firmware archive matching your exact software build number. Extract the required partition image:

Extraction Command

$payload-dumper-go -p init_boot payload.bin

Phase 3

Patch Partition in the Magisk App

1. Download and install the latest official Magisk v30.7 APK onto your Nothing Phone (2), Phone (2a) & Phone (1).
2. Transfer the extracted stock init_boot.img (Phone 2/2a) or boot.img (Phone 1) to your device's Download folder.
3. Open Magisk, tap Install on the top card, and choose Select and Patch a File.
4. Select your file. Magisk will patch the ramdisk and output magisk_patched_[random].img to your Download directory.
5. Transfer the patched image back to your PC via USB.

Phase 4

Flash Patched Image

Connect your device to your computer in bootloader/download mode and execute the verified flashing command:

Flashing Command

#fastboot flash init_boot magisk_patched.img

Emergency Recovery & Bootloop Prevention

If your device fails to boot after installing an incompatible module, use this model-specific hardware recovery procedure:

Hardware Safe Mode Keycombo

Recovery Action: Hold Power + Volume Down -> Fastboot -> fastboot flash init_boot stock_init_boot.img
OTA Maintenance: Magisk Inactive Slot OTA Installation

Related Guides & Next Steps

Continue setting up your rooted Nothing Phone (2), Phone (2a) & Phone (1) with essential modules and protection:

Android 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream) Layer

OS Layer

Deep dive into 16KB kernels, init_boot partitioning, and Play Integrity bypass rules.

Next Step: Read OS Guide →

Nothing Rooting Hub

OEM Hub

Browse all supported Nothing smartphones, firmware guides, and OEM tools.

Next Step: View OEM Hub →

Play Integrity Fix (PIF)

Module

Pass MEETS_DEVICE_INTEGRITY attestation and unblock Google Wallet on Nothing Phone (2), Phone (2a) & Phone (1).

Next Step: Setup PIF →

Fix Magisk Bootloops

Recovery

Emergency safe mode and ADB module wipe tutorial without data loss.

Next Step: Learn Safe Mode →

Technical Verification Notice: This guide has been verified against Magisk v30.7 and stock Nothing Phone (2), Phone (2a) & Phone (1) firmware partitions on 2022-2024.