Google recently started testing a new SafetyNet check that might spell trouble for rooted Android devices. It cross-checks your SafetyNet status with Google remote servers, making it impossible to fool by normal means. If Magisk shows you pass SafetyNet and you’re still having issues, you might be affected by this change.
Most people will run the SafetyNet test through Magisk Manager, but that’s no longer recommended. Doing so only shows your local status using the old spoofing methods. It may look like you’ve passed successfully, but you could be tripping SafetyNet in the background unknowingly.
If you want to know what’s really going on, you’ll need to download a separate app to test your SafetyNet status. It’s fittingly called SafetyNet Test, and you can grab it from the Play Store below.
- Play Store Link: SafetyNet Test (free)
The process is really quite simple. Once you download the app and open it, all you have to do is press “Run Test.” Within a few seconds, you’ll get to see if you’ve been hit with Google’s new SafetyNet checks or not. When Magisk shows you pass SafetyNet, but this app displays a “Failed” message, you are officially part of the crowd affected by this new change.
If you’re getting the “Failed” message at this point, then you might have some trouble in the future. You’ll eventually lose access to certain apps, such as Google Pay or Pokémon GO, once this all pans out. It’s been a few years in the making already, but it seems like Google is finally getting closer to that reality. However, you can still use your root mods without any issues, so that’s a plus.
Final Notes
- There’s no known method to fool the Google remote servers when it comes to checking your SafetyNet status. The only way to defeat these new SafetyNet checks is to relock your bootloader and run stock like a regular user. That’s likely not a good option for many power users, but it’s the world we live in going forward — until an exploit or workaround can be found.
- Since more apps could start adopting this new remote SafetyNet check, it might be worthwhile to have a secondary device on hand. This allows you to keep one for root access and one for everything else. You can find many affordable mid-range Android devices on the market today, so that’s something to consider if things with SafetyNet get out of control.
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