What is A/B Partitioning and Why It Matters

Modern Android devices use A/B partitioning. Here's what you need to know.

Traditional (A-only) Partitions

Older devices had single partitions:

Updates required downtime and had failure risks.

A/B (Seamless) Partitions

Modern devices have two sets:

Benefits

How It Affects Custom ROMs

Installation Differences

A-only:

A/B:

Recovery

A/B devices typically:

Commands

Check active slot:

fastboot getvar current-slot

Switch slot:

fastboot set_active a

Virtual A/B

Some devices use Virtual A/B:

Device Examples

A/B Devices:

A-only Devices:

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*Understanding partitions helps you flash without fear.*