OnePlus Android 13 / 14 init_boot.img (GKI 2.0)

How to root the OnePlus Nord 4, Nord 3 5G, Nord CE 4 & CE 3 Lite with Magisk

Rooting guide for OnePlus Nord family: Nord 4 (all-metal design), Nord 3 5G, Nord CE 4, and Nord CE 3 Lite. Explains payload.bin extraction and Fastboot flashing on modern OxygenOS.

At a glance

Device familyOnePlus Nord 4, Nord 3 5G, Nord CE 4 & CE 3 Lite
Launch softwareAndroid 13 / 14 (OxygenOS)
ChipsetSnapdragon 7+ Gen 3 / Dimensity 9000 / Snapdragon 782G
Root partitioninit_boot.img (inside payload.bin)
Firmware formatFull OTA Zip (payload.bin)
Bootloader unlockDeveloper Options OEM Unlock -> Fastboot (`fastboot flashing unlock`)
Warranty / security impactUnlocking 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

  1. Step 1. Download the stock firmware or factory image that matches your exact build (Full OTA Zip (payload.bin)).
  2. Step 2. Extract init_boot.img from the package.
  3. 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.
  4. Step 4. Copy the patched image back to your computer.
  5. 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

Fastboot -> Flash 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.

Related

OnePlus rooting hub

Hub

All OnePlus 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.