Failed Critical Init Step 3: Mtk-su

Sometimes the issue lies outside the software entirely. Faulty USB cables or ports can interrupt the ADB connection during the pushing or execution phases. Users have reported that switching to a different microUSB cable or USB port on their PC resolved similar MTK-SU issues.

adb push mtk-su /data/local/tmp/ adb shell cd /data/local/tmp/ chmod 755 mtk-su ./mtk-su Use code with caution. Downgrade Your Firmware

However, as Android security evolved and MediaTek patched vulnerabilities, many users began encountering a frustrating roadblock. After running the command, instead of a # prompt, they were met with a cryptic error message:

Follow these steps in order (assume adb or terminal with root flashing tools available):

adb push mtk-su /data/local/tmp/ adb shell cd /data/local/tmp chmod 755 mtk-su ls -l mtk-su # Should show -rwxr-xr-x mtk-su failed critical init step 3

If the patch date shows March 2020 or later, MTK-SU will likely fail due to the patch blocking the exploit. In such cases, the only viable option is to downgrade to a pre-March 2020 firmware version—though this process carries significant risk, including potential device bricking if bootloaders are incompatible.

adb shell setenforce 0

Download the standalone mtk-su zip file from the official XDA Forums thread.

If you encounter this error while using the MTK Easy SU Android application GUI, it may stem from a corrupted asset cache. Navigate to your device . Tap Clear Data and Clear Cache . Sometimes the issue lies outside the software entirely

Related searches sent.

Download the official MediaTek flashing utility, SP Flash Tool.

Ensure you are using the latest version of mtk-su (typically Release 23 or newer). Some versions fixed specific initialization bugs for certain devices. Verify Execution Environment:

From community reports across XDA and GitHub, here are typical scenarios where step 3 fails: In such cases, the only viable option is

For users who prefer a graphical interface over command-line operations, MTK Easy SU offers a bootless superuser access solution that integrates Magisk with MTK-SU. However, note that the same firmware limitation applies: devices with security patches after March 2020 remain incompatible.

First, verify your device's security patch date. Navigate to . If the date is March 2020 or later, the vulnerability exploited by mtk-su has likely been patched. In this case, mtk-su will not work, and no amount of tweaking will bypass it. You may need to downgrade your device to an older firmware version (if possible) to use the exploit.

Open your terminal or command prompt and push the executable binary to the only writable temporary folder: adb push mtk-su /data/local/tmp/ Use code with caution. Change to the temporary directory and escalate permissions: adb shell cd /data/local/tmp chmod 755 mtk-su Use code with caution. Run the exploit directly via the shell: ./mtk-su Use code with caution. Method 3: Clear Mtk-Easy-SU Assets