Installation

Preparations

Ensure your device's bootloader is unlocked before rooting.
[ROOT REQUIRED] You can execute the command zcat /proc/config.gz | grep CONFIG_KALLSYMS in the terminal to ensure your kernel supports the patch. If using ADB, first switch to terminal mode by entering adb shell.
Click here to get the latest stable version of APatch Manager.
Extract the boot.img from your ROM or from another source containing the stock boot.img of your device. You will need it later for patching.
Backup the boot.img you extracted to a computer, USB drive, or another device. If any issues occur, you can flash your original boot.img via fastboot to recover your device from a dump.

TIP

Ensure to use the latest ADB and fastboot tools and have knowledge about them to proceed to the next step. If you haven't learned about them yet, we recommend researching to learn about them first.
APatch always patch the boot.img of any device. Don't attempt to patch or flash the init_boot or other partition image files. The APatch developers aren't responsible for the failure of resulting patch and boot.
Avoid using the boot.img file that has been patched by other managers to avoid unexpected situations.

Install requirements

APatch installation requirements are mainly reflected in the kernel configuration. Here are the requirements of kernel:

txt

CONFIG_KALLSYMS=y
CONFIG_KALLSYMS_ALL=y

or:

txt

CONFIG_KALLSYMS=y
CONFIG_KALLSYMS_ALL=n (Initial support)

or:

txt

CONFIG_KALLSYMS=y

TIP

You can execute the command zcat /proc/config.gz | grep -w CONFIG_KALLSYMS in the terminal to ensure your kernel supports the patch (root required).

WARNING

Only supports ARM64 architecture.

Only supports Android kernel versions 3.18 - 6.6.

NOTE ON KERNEL 6.6 COMPATIBILITY

Kernel 6.6 has only been tested on Xiaomi and OnePlus devices. For devices from other brands, please refer to actual usage conditions.

Patch

There are several ways to patch APatch.

Automatically patching

Download the latest version of APatch Manager from GitHub.
Click on the button at the top right corner, and click Select a boot image to patch.
Select your boot.img.
Set a SuperKey at "SuperKey" card. The SuperKey should be 8-63 characters long and include numbers and letters, but no special characters. It will be used later to unlock root privileges.

WARNING

It's strictly prohibited to set weak keys like 12345678. The latest versions of APatch require the use of strong keys.

Click on "Start" and wait for a minute. After the patch is successful, the patched boot.img path will be displayed. For example: /storage/emulated/0/Download/apatch_version_version_randomletter.img.

Finally, you can Flash as needed.

Manually patching

When the KernelPatch is updated and APatch Manager remains unchanged, you can choose to manually patch the kernel.

You can go to KernelPatch project to get the latest KP files.

Windows

Download kptools-win.zip, kpimg-android and magiskboot. Extract them into the same directory for use.
Execute this command:

cmd

magiskboot.exe unpack boot.img

To unpack the boot.img to get the kernel file. Rename the kernel to kernel-b. (kernel-b can be any third-party kernel, but third-party kernels come with no guarantees and won't be supported).

Windows users can patch using CMD or PowerShell.

Execute this command to patch:

cmd

kptools-x86_64-win.exe -p --image kernel-b --skey "YourKey" --kpimg kpimg-android --out kernel

Alternatively, it's recommended to use WSL with Linux for patching:

cmd

./kptools-linux -p --image kernel-b --skey "YourKey" --kpimg kpimg-android --out kernel

If no errors were reported during patching, execute this command:

cmd

magiskboot.exe repack boot.img

To pack and generate the image. The generated new-boot.img is the patched image.

Linux

Download kptools-linux, kpimg-android and magiskboot.
Execute this command:

magiskboot unpack boot.img

To unpack the boot.img to get the kernel file. Rename the kernel to kernel-b (Say again, kernel-b can be any third-party kernel, but third-party kernels come with no guarantees and won't be supported).

Execute this command to patch:

./kptools-linux -p --image kernel-b --skey "YourKey" --kpimg kpimg-android --out kernel

If no errors were reported during patching, execute this command:

magiskboot repack boot.img

To pack and generate the image. The generated new-boot.img is the patched image.

INFO

You can also try online patching.

TIP

You can type the --help parameter, that is, kptools --help, to get all available parameters.

KP commands and comments:

INFO

You can click here to try it out.

COMMAND:
  -h, --help                       Print this message.
  -v, --version                    Print version number. Print kpimg version if -k specified.
  -p, --patch                      Patch or Update patch of kernel image(-i) with specified kpimg(-k) and superkey(-s).
  -u, --unpatch                    Unpatch patched kernel image(-i).
  -r, --reset-skey                 Reset superkey of patched image(-i).
  -d, --dump                       Dump kallsyms infomations of kernel image(-i).
  -l, --list                       Print all patch informations of kernel image if (-i) specified.
                                   Print extra item informations if (-M) specified.
                                   Print KernelPatch image informations if (-k) specified.
Options:
  -i, --image PATH                 Kernel image path.
  -k, --kpimg PATH                 KernelPatch image path.
  -s, --skey KEY                   Set the superkey and save it directly in the boot.img.
  -S, --root-skey KEY              Set the root-superkey that uses hash verification, and the superkey can be changed dynamically.
  -o, --out PATH                   Patched image path.
  -a  --addition KEY=VALUE         Add additional information.
  -K, --kpatch PATH                Embed kpatch executable binary into patches.
  -M, --embed-extra-path PATH      Embed new extra item.
  -E, --embeded-extra-name NAME    Preserve and modifiy embedded extra item.
  -T, --extra-type TYPE            Set type of previous extra item.
  -N, --extra-name NAME            Set name of previous extra item.
  -V, --extra-event EVENT          Set trigger event of previous extra item.
  -A, --extra-args ARGS            Set arguments of previous extra item.
  -D, --extra-detach               Detach previous extra item from patches.

Flash

Using fastboot

INFO

Fastboot commands are convenient, stable, and easy to recover from in case of errors. We strongly recommend using this method to flash.

Connect your device using ADB and execute the following command to enter the fastboot mode:

adb reboot bootloader

When entering fastboot mode, execute this command:

fastboot flash boot boot.img

TIP

If your device supports command fastboot boot, you can use fastboot boot boot.img command to boot the system before you flash the image. If any unexpected issues arise, simply restart the device, and it should boot correctly.

When complete, reboot your device:

fastboot reboot

Directly flashing

The latest version of APatch Manager supports directly flashing via third-party Recovery, such as TWRP.

WARNING

Directly flashing was first introduced in version 10888, and earlier versions of APatch Manager DO NOT support this method.

Change the APatch Manager file suffix from .apk to .zip. For example:

[username@localhost Demo] $ ls
APatch-10888-release.apk
[username@localhost Demo] $ mv APatch-10888-release.apk APatch-10888-release.zip
[username@localhost Demo] $ ls
APatch-10888-release.zip
[username@localhost Demo] $

After doing this, you can flash this .zip file via third-party Recovery's Flash function. APatch will be automatically installed, just like Magisk.

TIP

Just like the Flash function, the adb sideload command used by Recovery provided by third-party AOSP-based ROMs is also supported.

WARNING

Directly flashing DOES NOT support SuperKey customization! Instead, the SuperKey will be set to a random combination of numbers and letters. If you need to customize the SuperKey, go to APatch Manager after booting and repatch to reset it.

Uninstall

Automatically uninstall

WARNING

Automatically uninstall was first introduced in version 10888, and earlier versions of APatch Manager DO NOT support this method.

Change the APatch Manager file suffix from .apk to .zip and add modify file name to anything with uninstall. For example:

[username@localhost Demo] $ ls
APatch-10888-release.apk
[username@localhost Demo] $ mv APatch-10888-release.apk APatch-10888-release-uninstall.zip
[username@localhost Demo] $ ls
APatch-10888-release-uninstall.zip
[username@localhost Demo] $

After doing this, you can flash this .zip file via third-party Recovery's Flash function. APatch will be automatically removed, just like Magisk.

TIP

Just like the Flash function, the adb sideload command used by Recovery provided by third-party AOSP-based ROMs is also supported.

Manually uninstall

Flash your stock boot.img in bootloader mode.

fastboot flash boot PATH/TO/boot.img

WARNING

DO NOT use init_boot!

Installation ​

Preparations ​

Install requirements ​

Patch ​

Automatically patching ​

Manually patching ​

Windows ​

Linux ​

KP commands and comments: ​

Flash ​

Using fastboot ​

Directly flashing ​

Uninstall ​

Automatically uninstall ​

Manually uninstall ​

Installation

Preparations

Install requirements

Patch

Automatically patching

Manually patching

Windows

Linux

KP commands and comments:

Flash

Using fastboot

Directly flashing

Uninstall

Automatically uninstall

Manually uninstall