Rooting the Google Pixel C
Yesterday, I found myself scouring the web searching for instructions on rooting my Pixel C tablet. What I found was a myriad of guides and how-to’s so I began my endeavor. I knew the risks as it was not my first time rooting an Android device. As I dove in, I encountered quite a few problems that resulted in this process taking several hours to complete with very few, obscure and incomplete fixes based on ignorant conjecture scattered throughout the web. Hence, this post. This is where I will share my own findings, issues and fixes while making a thorough attempt at being very specific and detailed while also trying to keep the process as simple as possible. Before proceeding, please not that unlocking the bootloader for your device WILL WIPE YOUR DEVICE. Make any necessary back-ups now.
You will need the following:
Google USB Drivers http://www4.zippyshare.com/v/FcDsEFHS/file.html Android SDK Platform Tools http://www4.zippyshare.com/v/WbCFwmxP/file.html Universal ADB Drivers http://www4.zippyshare.com/v/UHVAyKcC/file.html SuperSU 2.82 http://www4.zippyshare.com/v/AEYxbb3c/file.html TWRP Custom Recovery http://www4.zippyshare.com/v/ysf8vB0r/file.html Standard USB to USB-C Cable
All the above downloads are the exact copies of what I used to successfully complete the rooting task. If at some point the links above die and you have to source the files elsewhere then you will have to modify the Google USB Drivers to include the Pixel C hardware. Using the above link that will be done for you already. Root was completed using Windows 10 64-bit with Pixel C running Android 7.1.2.
Step 1. Enable Developer mode on your Pixel C. To do this, go to the Settings app. Navigate all the way to the bottom and click on the About section. At this point, tap the build number 7 times to unlock Developer mode.
Step 2. Back out of the about section and right above you should see the new Developer menu option. Click into the developer menu.
Step 3. You will need to enable two options in this menu. First enable USB debugging and then OEM unlocking.
Step 4. Unzip the Android SDK Platform Tools in to its own folder. Place TWRP inside the same folder. TWRP.img should be in the same root directory as adb.exe and fastboot.exe
Step 5. Install the Universal ADB drivers.
Step 6. Plug your Pixel C in to your PC and make sure your computer recognizes it properly. Check Device Manager and make sure there are no issues.
Step 7. Open a command prompt with administrative privileges. CD to the directory where you installed Android SDK Platform tools. This is the directory that will have adb.exe and fastboot.exe.
Step 8. Type in adb.exe reboot bootloader. This will reboot your tablet in to fastboot mode.
Step 9. At this point, check device manager and make sure the Pixel C is recognized properly. If it says Unknown Device with the yellow triangle, you will need to right click, then Update Driver. The Windows Update search will not work for this, you will need to point it to the unzipped copy of the Google USB Drivers that I provided.
Step 9a. If for some reason the Google USB Drivers I provided do not work, then open android_winusb.inf. This file should be in the root directory of where you installed the Google USB Drivers. Navigate down to the Pixel C section. Now open Device Manager. Right click on the Unknown Device, goto Properties and then the Event tab. Make sure the VID and PID numbers in the event tab match what is in android_winusb.inf. If they don’t, change them to match and repeat Step 9.
Step 10. Type in fastboot.exe oem unlock. This will initiate the unlocking of your bootloader. THIS IS THE STEP THAT WILL WIPE YOUR DATA. Once the unlocking process is finished, the tablet will reboot and you will see a whitish circle notifying you that your data is being erased. You cannot circumvent this. Trying will result in not being able to use fastboot to flash TWRP. You must allow it to complete. Go watch some Netflix.
Step 11. Once your device has been wiped, you should be back in fastboot mode. If this is the case, hold down power and volume down until you are presented with a menu. Press power once when the menu is displayed. This will boot into Android. Please note in some cases after Step 10, Android will automatically boot. This is ok. Check that Step 1-3 will need repeated. At this point, only USB debugging is required. Now transfer SuperSU to your device. There are several ways to do this. Pick your poison. If your all set, repeat Step 8.
Step 12. At this point we will flash TWRP Custom Recovery. Type in fastboot.exe flash recovery twrp.img. Once completed type in fastboot.exe reboot.
Step 13. When the screen goes black, hold down the power and volume down buttons until you are presented with a menu. Use the volume down key to navigate to Android Recovery. Press power to select the menu item.
Step 14. You should now be in TWRP Custom Recovery. You will be presented with the option of making TWRP permanent. DO NOT DO THIS. DOING THIS WILL RESULT IN A BOOTLOOP. CHOOSE THE NON-PERMANENT OPTION. I tried several versions of TWRP and could not find a version that would allow a permanent solution. At any point, if presented with an option to install the TWRP app, decline the option.
Step 15. Choose the Install option from the main menu. Find the SuperSU zip file and allow it to be installed. Once installed navigate back to the main menu and choose the Reboot option. In the reboot menu, choose System. You will be rebooted back in to Android and TWRP will be erased. You will now have a rooted system.
