With each new Samsung Galaxy release, these tutorials become more and more tricky. The same goes for when you want to root Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. However, we do our best to make these kinds of instructions as simple as they can be. So everyone can understand and succeed by following all the steps given below.
Warning: This tutorial is only for Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra N986B and N9860 models.
Root process will erase device internal storage, so it’s strongly recommended to backup your data to device microSD card or PC before starting this tutorial.
Preparing Root files
You need to patch some files and flash them using Odin to root device.
1. Using PC download stock firmware (Dial *#1234# will give you details of existing firmware, download accordingly):
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra N986B
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra N9860
2. Extract files on PC. From extracted files copy a file with name AP_[device_model_sw_ver].tar.md5 to your device.
3.Download Latest Magisk Manager and Install to your Note 20 Ultra.
4.Open Magisk Manager and click Install then choose Select and Patch file by navigating to file you have copied to device (AP_[device_model_sw_ver].tar.md5).
5.Magisk Manager will patch the whole firmware file and store the output to Internal Storage/Download/magisk_patched.tar
6.Copy patched file magisk_patched.tar to your PC. This is one of the files we’ll be flashing later, now let’s prepare the second – TWRP file. So we can root Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
Patching Kernel
This is required only If you want to root the device without installing custom recovery (TWRP). In case you want to root + have TWRP then skip this step and move to step Preparing TWRP.
1. Open magisk_patched.tar with 7zip and extract boot.img from tar.
2. Copy boot.img to device and patch it using Magisk manager same as you patch AP file in step 4.
3. Now you will have magisk_patched.img file in your device download folder.
4. Copy that file to PC and rename that magisk_patched.img to boot.img.
5. Make sure your PC has 7-zip installed, if not get and install it.
6. Right-click on boot.img and choose 7zip then select add to archive – select archive format as tar and name it Patched_Kernel (it will be Patched_Kernel.tar). Just don’t keep space in name.
This will create an Odin flashable patched kernel and this is the second file you need to flash.
Preparing TWRP
1. Download TWRP for your device from here.
2. Extract recovery.img from TWRP file you have downloaded. Make sure your PC have 7-zip installed, If not get and install it.
3. Right-click on recovery.img and choose 7zip then select add to archive – select archive format as tar and name it TWRP_file (it will be TWRP_file.tar). Just don’t keep space in the name.
This will create an Odin flashable patched custom recovery file and this is the second file you need to flash.
Unlocking Bootloader
USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking must be enabled on the device. To enable it go to Settings/About phone and keep taping on Build number until you see Developer mode has been turned on. After that go to Settings/Developer Options then enable both USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking.
Warning: If you don’t see this option then you may need to wait up to 7 days or more to appear or maybe on some operator you will get it never. Without this option you can’t root your device!)
1. Once you have enabled OEM unlock option, switch off your Note 20 Ultra and reboot to download mode.
To put the device in download mode – press and keep holding both Volume Up and Volume Down buttons then connect the device to the PC via USB cable.
2. When the device starts to download mode, long press Volume Up to unlock the bootloader. This will wipe your data and automatically reboot the device.
3. After setup has finished go to developer options (as said above) and confirm that the OEM Unlocking option is grayed out.
If it’s not then you can’t root the device!
Once you see this option greyed out, you are ready to flash custom binary and root your device.
Flashing custom binaries
1. Download the latest Odin on your PC.
2. Turn off the device and reboot to Download mode (as said earlier) then select Volume Up to continue.
3. Using PC open Odin as administrator.
4. Click AP tab of Odin and navigate to magisk_patched.tar file. A file that you have patched with magisk manager.
5. Here you need to decide, you want to install TWRP or not.
In case you don’t want TWRP – click on UserData tab of Odin and navigate to Patched_Kernel.tar (the one you made in the above Patching Kernel step 6).
OR
In case you want TWRP then navigate to TWRP file (One you made in above Preparing TWRP step 3).
6. In Odin options – uncheck Auto Reboot option.
7. Now start flashing and wait till it finishes. When you see a PASS sign on Odin, disconnect the device.
Factory reset
After disconnecting the device, keep holding Vol down + Side key to exit from download mode.
Important: When you see the device reboot, as soon as the screen turns off immediately press Volume Up + Side Key to boot into the recovery partition. Continue pressing the Volume Up button until you see the recovery screen.
In the stock recovery menu:
1. Use volume buttons to navigate through menus and the power button to select the option. Select Wipe data/factory reset to wipe the data of the device.
2. Then select Reboot system now.
In case of TWRP menu:
1. You need to select WIPE tab then FORMAT DATA. You need to type yes to confirm.
2. After this – select REBOOT – REBOOT to Recovery.
3. Now you have to install two zip files: Magisk and MultiDisabler.
There are two ways to do that:
A) Download files to PC and move them to microSD card, then put microSD into Note 20 Ultra.
After doing this, you have select REBOOT – REBOOT to Recovery. After Recovery boots up tap Install then Select Storage and choose Micro SD Card. You should see two zip files. First, flash MultiDisabler then Magisk file.
B) Push files using the ADB commands. This one is for advanced users.
4. Select Reboot system now.
The device will automatically reboot for the first time it boots. This is a completely normal process. After the device is booted up, do the usual initial setup. You shall see Magisk Manager in your app drawer. If not, Download Magisk Manager and manually install the APK then continue to the next step.
Magisk Manager will ask to do additional setups. Let it do its job and the app will automatically reboot your device. You just need to be connected to the internet.
Important: Once you succeeded to root Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, it is highly recommended to immediately make an EFS IMEI backup of the device and keep it in a safer place other than the device itself.
