In this guide, we will show you the detailed steps to hide the root from numerous banking and payment apps on your Android device. The Android ecosystem has witnessed some massive changes in recent years, especially in the technical domain. In this regard, the Silicon Valley giant is doing its absolute best to enhance the privacy and security of its OS, unfortunately, though, the measures that it ends up taking tend to work against the tech enthusiasts’s favor more often than not.
Initially, it was the SafetyNet flag that got triggered as soon as a user obtained administrative privileges by rooting their device via Magisk. While we did manage to find a workaround to pass this test, there came a much more concerning litmus test- the Play Integrity. In this test, you’ll have to pass the Meets Device Integrity and Meets Basic Integrity tests [you cannot pass the Strong Integrity on an unlocked bootloader].
However, passing this test is easier said than done. Whenever a user tends to find a working custom build.prop fingerprint file, Google tends to patch it straightaway. We then have to find a new fingerprint which is then again patched by the tech giants and this cat-and-mouse game tends to go on.
The repercussions of this fiasco is the inability of the users to run many types of banking and payment apps on their rooted Android devices. If you are also facing the same issue, then this guide is here to help you out. Follow along for the fix.
How to Hide Root from Banking and Payment Apps on Android
Before starting, please take a backup of all the data on your device, just to be on the safer side. Thedroidwin will not be held responsible if something happens to your device and data after performing the below steps.
- Launch Magisk, tap on the settings icon, and enable the toggle next to Zygisk.
- Now tap on Hide the Magisk App > Enable the toggle next to Allow apps from this source.
- Give it any random name of your choice [which does not have any traces of root] and hit OK.
- It will now ask for a home-screen shortcut, reply according to your needs.
- Now download the Play Integrity Fix module from GitHub onto your device.
- Then from Magisk, go to Modules, tap on Install from Storage, select the module, and hit OK.
- The module will now be flashed. Once done, tap Reboot. Your device will boot with the module enabled.
- Again launch Magisk, go to Settings, and enable the toggle next to Enforce Denylist.
- Now tap on Configure Denylist, tap on the overflow icon, and select Show System/OS.
- Then select the following apps [tap on them to expand and then checkmark all their associated services]
Google Play Service Google Play Store Google Service Framework Google Play Protect Service [if present]
- Now do the same for the desired banking and payment apps of your choice.
- Once done, delete the data of all the apps from which you have hidden root [Google apps plus banking apps].
- Finally, restart your device and then check out the results. You’ll now be able to use the apps without issues.
How to Check if your Device is Passing the Test?
The most obvious way of checking if your device is passing the Play Integrity Test or not is to simply run the desired banking and payment app. If you could run it, then you are passing the test. However, let’s still take a more concrete approach of performing this test. For that, download and install the Play Integrity API Checker from the Play Store. Then launch it and make sure that you are passing the Basic and Device Integrity Tests.
As already mentioned before, you wouldn’t be able to pass the Strong Integrity on an unlocked bootloader. The only way to pass that test is to relock the bootloader which is currently not possible for us as the device is rooted. Fortunately, failing this test is not a concern as it doesn’t tend to conflict or cause any issues with the running of banking apps on a rooted device.
Now that you are passing both the SafeyNet and Play Integrity tests and have hidden the root as well, you’ll be able to run any banking and payment apps on your Android without issues. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution as soon as possible.
