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[Video Guide] How To Root Galaxy S4 I337 / I337m Easy & User Friendly

Hey folks. It's me again :victory: So I've got another super easy video guide on how to root your shiny new Samsung Galaxy S4 I337 or I337m.
This guide is using djrbliss's Motochopper tool. This tool has made it easier than ever to root a device! So BIG thanks goes out to him!
Links to everything can be found in the video description.
Enjoy

Here is a couple of more. I figure its better to keep them all in one place so people can decide which guide they want to use.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2257039
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2257058
I think there might be a couple more out there but this should help people to answer any possible question about rooting that they could ever have.
If you have the AT&T OTA (MF3) for the SGH-I337 S4, the method in the OP does not work. Here is a method for rooting MF3:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2387577
For Canadian MG1 Firmware, try CF Auto-Root download for the SGH-I337M:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2293800

Just sold my Rogers S2 LTE because I upgraded to the S4. My quick question, if I ROOT and retain the original Samsung Recovery will I be able to still get and do official firmware upgrades? This is the only thing stopping me from going forward with rooting.

You can still get updates, but you will loose your root access with each update.

thanks: im now rooted and sim unlocked for free!

Slade8525 said:
thanks: im now rooted and sim unlocked for free!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, how did you sim unlock it for free, do you mind sharing?

yeah sure!
similar method worked for my GS III; havent tested the GS IV with different sim just yet but GF's old GS III is working just fine for her sister in Canada (Bell i think). GF found it actually, and did it to hers 1st. ill know if it works when we leave for work in Montreal next week or if i bum a t-mobile cell from a friend.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2282683

Stoneyguy said:
You can still get updates, but you will loose your root access with each update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WRONG, I am unable to update my device, it says that my phone has been modified, and yes, I have rooted it with this video.

Whenever I try this method, when it goes to push the exploit, it says error multiple devices or something. when I only have the S4 plugged in. Followed step by step.

Dragosmp said:
WRONG, I am unable to update my device, it says that my phone has been modified, and yes, I have rooted it with this video.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone is rooted and still shows official in phone status. There is a post on how to regain that status while still maintaining your root.

Stoneyguy said:
My phone is rooted and still shows official in phone status. There is a post on how to regain that status while still maintaining your root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you post a link to where it shows how to regain the status will maintaining the root?

rsarwar said:
Could you post a link to where it shows how to regain the status will maintaining the root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The link has already been posted on the first page.

thanks worked great just rooted min in 5 min

Safe to root?
Excuse my ignorance, but on another thread it was suggested that in the absence of recovery and a backup image rooting might be premature. Is the general consensus now that it is safe to root? There seems to be some backup images around thought I don't know if they have been tested, and I haven't heard about recovery.
sblevine

Newbie here... couple of questions
I have the same concern as the member above... is it already possible to restore the phone if something goes bad? Is there instructions anywhere around this forum? where?
Also, once you root the phone you can proceed to download a ROM and install it... when a new ROM version is available and I download and install it, do I lose the root?
What is the best (if more than one is already available) for the ATT S4?
Thank you all and sorry for the "newbieness"....
Cheers:good:

speed2001 said:
I have the same concern as the member above... is it already possible to restore the phone if something goes bad? Is there instructions anywhere around this forum? where?
Also, once you root the phone you can proceed to download a ROM and install it... when a new ROM version is available and I download and install it, do I lose the root?
What is the best (if more than one is already available) for the ATT S4?
Thank you all and sorry for the "newbieness"....
Cheers:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, rooting gives you certain superuser privileges. You can use Titanium Backup to freeze and restore bloatware, AdBlock to block advertisements, etc. Some phone tracking software and remote desktop control software requires root as well.
You cannot modify the basic operating system (ROM) until the bootloader is unlocked. You can overwrite the files, but that will brick your device since the bootloader checks signatures.
There is a bootloader exploit for the ATT S4 that will be released within the next week. The developer was waiting until the Verizon version of the S4 was available so more people would be able to use the exploit before it was patched.
Do not accept an OTA update for your device as that is how they will patch the bootloader exploit.
1. Root your device.
2. Carrier unlock your device.
3. Install custom ROM when bootloader is exploited later this week.

Relys said:
No, rooting gives you certain superuser privileges. You can use Titanium Backup to freeze and restore bloatware, AdBlock to block advertisements, etc. Some phone tracking software and remote desktop control software requires root as well.
You cannot modify the basic operating system (ROM) until the bootloader is unlocked. You can overwrite the files, but that will brick your device since the bootloader checks signatures.
There is a bootloader exploit for the ATT S4 that will be released within the next week. The developer was waiting until the Verizon version of the S4 was available so more people would be able to use the exploit before it was patched.
Do not accept an OTA update for your device as that is how they will patch the bootloader exploit.
1. Root your device.
2. Carrier unlock your device.
3. Install custom ROM when bootloader is exploited later this week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, thanks for the reply. I was under the impression that the bootloader was already exploited. Pure BS those protections that always end up broken like the IOS ones. What I would like is to have the S4 as factory released and load a good ROM without any problems and no bloatware. If not for the warranty I would buy an unlocked phone elsewhere.
Well, let's wait for the exploit next week. I don't want to brick my phone and not able to restore it. I will keep checking back.
Cheers and thanks again
Speed

Relys said:
No, rooting gives you certain superuser privileges. You can use Titanium Backup to freeze and restore bloatware, AdBlock to block advertisements, etc. Some phone tracking software and remote desktop control software requires root as well.
You cannot modify the basic operating system (ROM) until the bootloader is unlocked. You can overwrite the files, but that will brick your device since the bootloader checks signatures.
There is a bootloader exploit for the ATT S4 that will be released within the next week. The developer was waiting until the Verizon version of the S4 was available so more people would be able to use the exploit before it was patched.
Do not accept an OTA update for your device as that is how they will patch the bootloader exploit.
1. Root your device.
2. Carrier unlock your device.
3. Install custom ROM when bootloader is exploited later this week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regarding the bold above, I am honestly not that interested in the Custom ROMS right now, only rooting and with this method it does not install any custom recovery, right? As well, if I root via this method will I be able to still do the OTA updates since Samsung recovery is untouched? I know and understand that I will likely loose root, but I can always re-root, right?
I am itching to root and this is the only thing stopping me as there seems to be much confusion about this.
BTW I am on Rogers (Canada) i337M if it makes a difference

rsarwar said:
Regarding the bold above, I am honestly not that interested in the Custom ROMS right now, only rooting and with this method it does not install any custom recovery, right? As well, if I root via this method will I be able to still do the OTA updates since Samsung recovery is untouched? I know and understand that I will likely loose root, but I can always re-root, right?
I am itching to root and this is the only thing stopping me as there seems to be much confusion about this.
BTW I am on Rogers (Canada) i337M if it makes a difference
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been a bit confused as well despite reading hundreds of posts and watching referenced videos (I've also been hesitant to ask questions given the culture of this board). Here is what I hope is accurate, please correct where I am wrong:
We can root I337 now.
Doing a simple root now is reversible, ie, can be un-rooted.
The bootloader unlock is needed primarily for custom roms.
If one does not desire a custom rom, there is no reason to wait to root.
And, a few questions:
Does rooting wipe out apps, settings, and/or data?
Will an AT&T android system update remove the root?
If so, can we just root again?
Thank you for clarifications. I'm sure there are many that are not posting with some of these questions. I will be glad to put together a noobie's guide if I can get a handle on all of this. It is all out there somewhere, but very fragmented, and often one post is contradicted by another.

zekeblue said:
I've been a bit confused as well despite reading hundreds of posts and watching referenced videos (I've also been hesitant to ask questions given the culture of this board). Here is what I hope is accurate, please correct where I am wrong:
We can root I337 now.
Doing a simple root now is reversible, ie, can be un-rooted.
The bootloader unlock is needed primarily for custom roms.
If one does not desire a custom rom, there is no reason to wait to root.
And, a few questions:
Does rooting wipe out apps, settings, and/or data?
Will an AT&T android system update remove the root?
If so, can we just root again?
Thank you for clarifications. I'm sure there are many that are not posting with some of these questions. I will be glad to put together a noobie's guide if I can get a handle on all of this. It is all out there somewhere, but very fragmented, and often one post is contradicted by another.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your assumptions are correct:
1. Yep.
2. Yes, you can delete busybox and su in your system directory to get your phone switch your phone from "Custom" to "Official" status. If you install SuperSu and remove Superuser you can have root while keeping "Official" status.
3. Correct.
4. If you **** up while messing around with root you can recover to stock ROM via Odin or Kies. There is no reason to wait for root.
To answer your questions.
1. No, nothing changes. You just enable superuser privileges.
2. Typically yes. Don't accept OTA's until your know they're safe.
3. It depends if they patch the exploit or not.

Root method yet for VS987?

Hey guys, I just received a complimentary LG G5 (VS987) last week from Verizon as a means of making up for the Marshmallow update continually destroying my LG G3 and its replacements Anyway, it's a great phone, but I've been disappointed so far to find that there's no root method at the moment. At least not one I can find easily. Do you guys know if there's a method hidden away out there or if a particular developer is working on it right now?

I really hope one comes out soon and this doesn't become another crap phone but so far no. I just upgraded to this phone assuming a root would come soon but marshmallow phones on Verizon are death! Can't wait for CyanogenModbut right now you'll have to wait.

I just got the LG G5 Verizon variant as well on Friday. Was a little reluctant because of possibly not being able to root and unlock boot loader. Subscribing to this thread because I hope there will be support for this soon. Kinda hoping there would be a solution like Safestrap was for the galaxy s5, and then installing an LG version of the Samsung_bootloader_unlocker.

Abramelin said:
I just got the LG G5 Verizon variant as well on Friday. Was a little reluctant because of possibly not being able to root and unlock boot loader. Subscribing to this thread because I hope there will be support for this soon. Kinda hoping there would be a solution like Safestrap was for the galaxy s5, and then installing an LG version of the Samsung_bootloader_unlocker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is hope! With the quadrooter exploits being discovered we may have root soon :3

Nathamio said:
There is hope! With the quadrooter exploits being discovered we may have root soon :3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see that at all, since the issue of a locked bootloader remains an obstacle on the G5.

Temp rooting is the solution for that, once we can get temp rooted we can find workarounds to enable unlocking.

Temp rooting has been possible for a many a moon on the G5, but that hasn't enabled anyone to unlock the bootloader

Maybe not yet. But it is plausible that a temp root would grant access to boot loader. If the G5 becomes popular enough LG might do it for us. I heard they've done it for Europe variants but said they don't plan for any other. It might be 3-5 years from now but who knows really. I'm sure someone clever enough will figure out a work around eventually. I work with Arch Linux so I'm not used to being controlled like this. If it weren't for me getting this phone for free, I would definitely have gotten one I *could* root and all.

jpradley said:
Temp rooting has been possible for a many a moon on the G5, but that hasn't enabled anyone to unlock the bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you post that link?

What about this option?
I'm a new user, so I can't post the link, but did a Google search for VS987 custom rom and came up with this: search4roots.com/how-to-easily-root-lg-g5-vs987-marshmallow-6-0-1/

Barook said:
I'm a new user, so I can't post the link, but did a Google search for VS987 custom rom and came up with this: search4roots.com/how-to-easily-root-lg-g5-vs987-marshmallow-6-0-1/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Spam site

andyroidking said:
Spam site
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is how you get the viruses.

Hi. My Nexus dumped, I got a G5. Where's the temp root? I will see what I can do for your boot loader. Few questions about the G series I need answered:
Flashing tools used on other variants
Leaked signing tools?
LG G series boot loader format
Encryption on this boot loader
Get me temp root and answer these questions and ill push the locked image here to work on.

LupineDream said:
Hi. My Nexus dumped, I got a G5. Where's the temp root? I will see what I can do for your boot loader. Few questions about the G series I need answered:
Flashing tools used on other variants
Leaked signing tools?
LG G series boot loader format
Encryption on this boot loader
Get me temp root and answer these questions and ill push the locked image here to work on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You ever get the info you needed? I've heard of people gaining temp root with the 987 but I've never seen the published method or any real evidence of it.

So I'm assuming this is not legit?
http://www.androidinfotech.com/2016/06/root-lg-g5-verizon-vs987-601-marshmallow.html?m=1

LupineDream said:
Hi. My Nexus dumped, I got a G5. Where's the temp root? I will see what I can do for your boot loader. Few questions about the G series I need answered:
Flashing tools used on other variants
Leaked signing tools?
LG G series boot loader format
Encryption on this boot loader
Get me temp root and answer these questions and ill push the locked image here to work on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Artimis said:
So I'm assuming this is not legit?
http://www.androidinfotech.com/2016/06/root-lg-g5-verizon-vs987-601-marshmallow.html?m=1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried it? I assume if there is root, it'd be placed on XDA dev for sure.

donjo19 said:
Have you tried it? I assume if there is root, it'd be placed on XDA dev for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I don't have a G5 yet. I plan on ordering one in 8 days when my contract is eligible for renewal but I've never owned a phone I couldn't root and don't know how I feel about it. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case with pretty much all VZW phones now.
The ones that can be rooted, I'll need to make other sacrifices on like non-removable storage, non-replaceable battery, no IR blaster, etc. Makes me really appreciate my G3

Artimis said:
No, I don't have a G5 yet. I plan on ordering one in 8 days when my contract is eligible for renewal but I've never owned a phone I couldn't root and don't know how I feel about it. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case with pretty much all VZW phones now.
The ones that can be rooted, I'll need to make other sacrifices on like non-removable storage, non-replaceable battery, no IR blaster, etc. Makes me really appreciate my G3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The G3 is still by far my favorite Android phone. If I could go back to it, I would in a heartbeat. I eventually had mine brick. But this phone has been nothing but a disappointment...mainly for lack of root.

None of the files from that site seem to be infested with a virus, however their instructions are not very clear on how to use it all. Unless I am just not reading it correctly.

Wow, this is sad news indeed. I too have loved my G3, but this is due in large part to me having root. I was considering upgrading to the G5 simply because I expect to see deep discounts on Black Friday, but no root means no thank you. I will have to find another "root" to the future.

Bootloader Unlock for Cricket Variant?

Ok, here's my story so far:
The first day that I got this phone, approximately two weeks ago, I rooted my phone, softbricked it, then flashed the KDZ and rooted again (all in 9 long hours of frustration and tears). Now I'm using the phone, everything is stable, and I'm having no problems.
Anyways, at this point, unlocking my bootloader is a must. All I want is to do that so I can flash TWRP and install Xposed framework.
Does anyone know of a way to unlock the bootloader on this phone? I've been told that you really can't, but I know that someone out there knows of a way. If not, I plan on finding away to do it myself.

I would like to know know well. I originally thought that rooting it unlocked the bootloader but I was wrong lol. Learning slowly but surely. I am trying to get xposed. So having a custom recovery would make that a lot easier. I am using the Cricket Variant LG Stylo H634 Lollipop 5.1.1

iHeaRTShaRK said:
I would like to know know well. I originally thought that rooting it unlocked the bootloader but I was wrong lol. Learning slowly but surely. I am trying to get xposed. So having a custom recovery would make that a lot easier. I am using the Cricket Variant LG Stylo H634 Lollipop 5.1.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it looks like we're running the same firmware on the same device, so maybe we can figure something out.
I think I may be able to make a custom recovery by extracting the stock recovery partition, building a custom recovery from that image, then signing it with the same signature used to sign the original image. Maybe this will work. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure, but you never know.
I'll contact a few developers to see if there's any way we can breathe life into this phone.
Sent from my LG-H634 using XDA Labs

Root, unlock, s-off on marshmallow

I am new on this phone and I have a doubt, my phone is in marshmallow and the company verizon, as I can do root and unlock the bootloader ? I have understood that I need to pay 25 dollars to make the s -off but I just want to do root and unlock the bootloader. Thank you.
Sorry for my English

The only way to do it with Verizon branded m8 is to use sunshine. And that will get you an unlocked bootloader and s-off. After that you can flash twrp recovery through adb (get yourself familiar with and, it'll help you greatly. You can search around here and find some good reads on it.) After you get tarp flashed then you can flash supersu in twrp, then you'll be rooted.
Sent from my HTC One M8 using XDA Labs

jurington said:
The only way to do it with Verizon branded m8 is to use sunshine. And that will get you an unlocked bootloader and s-off. After that you can flash twrp recovery through adb (get yourself familiar with and, it'll help you greatly. You can search around here and find some good reads on it.) After you get tarp flashed then you can flash supersu in twrp, then you'll be rooted.
Sent from my HTC One M8 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This comment pretty much guided me through how to root for my m8. Thanks for taking the time to post this, even if it was a few months back. I was about to give up until I saw it, so thanks again!

Dismayed/Encouraged
I'm surprised that there are not any viable options for the Verizon HTC One(M8). I figured since my warranty was up I would try and root to get more freedom from the consuming Verizon bloatware and needless/redundant processes.
I know I did the same thing with my Samsung Galaxy S years ago and it became a very speedy and efficient phone. I really haven't been in the Android scene since so everything I did learn along with the methods and processes have all faded from memory.
Now I'm just reading up on a ton of stuff to get reacquainted. I was wanting to flash TWRP, SuperSU, and the ViperOneM8 6.1.0 rom. My wife and I both have a Verizon HTC One(M8) (running Marshmallow) which are out of warranty and wanted to give them a face-lift and boost in performance.
It is looking like the only feasible option is with Sunshine. . . . . . I hope. (?)
A $50 investment would be cheaper than buying 2 newer phones.
Any ideas, input, or pointers would be very much appreciated.
Regards,
wantin2mod

Buying an S8+ And Hoping to Root; Any Questions I Should ask a Seller Before?

I had an HTC 10 w/Sprint and it's getting old and full, but I liked how easy it was to unlock the bootloader. I enjoy having a rooted phone and I'm seeing that the S8+ (US Version) can be rooted, but I'm assuming there's prerequisites that used phones might/might not have to do so. So I'm just wondering if there's any questions I should ask the sellers of an S8+ on Swappa or eBay to make sure that root is possible when I decide to buy one? I don't wanna wind up w/a LS997 situation, where I got the phone but it was too upgraded that the methods to root were patched up. Thanks for any help.

Brian23MAC said:
I had an HTC 10 w/Sprint and it's getting old and full, but I liked how easy it was to unlock the bootloader. I enjoy having a rooted phone and I'm seeing that the S8+ (US Version) can be rooted, but I'm assuming there's prerequisites that used phones might/might not have to do so. So I'm just wondering if there's any questions I should ask the sellers of an S8+ on Swappa or eBay to make sure that root is possible when I decide to buy one? I don't wanna wind up w/a LS997 situation, where I got the phone but it was too upgraded that the methods to root were patched up. Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No boot loader unlock. There is a method for root. It's system only root and only on nougat.
Coming from LG you've seen anti roll back we have the same. But they're is a method to downgrade the system only even on the latest boot loader to have rooted nougat https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/development/root-t3909782/post79500078#post79500078
Safestrap is like fish on the lg g4. once safe strap is in place you can then flash a older system image from older boot loader revisions.
Even on the latest boot loader we're have Samsung's test firmware called combination files. Which include a nougat bootloader that is a permissive kernel and allows for root.
I ran lg all the way back from g2 to g5. So I've been in your shoes too. that's pretty much how I ended up here. From a sprint g2 g4 and g5

So even if the phone is upgraded, there's a method to roll back to an environment to root an S8+? So I can basically just cop an S8 w/no worries then and not ask any prerequisite questions?. That's good to see. I appreciate the assist.

Brian23MAC said:
So even if the phone is upgraded, there's a method to roll back to an environment to root an S8+? So I can basically just cop an S8 w/no worries then and not ask any prerequisite questions?. That's good to see. I appreciate the assist.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea pretty much the bootloader must remain the same increment but the system does not
obviously newer pie and even oreo where all bit 5 BLs but the firmware needed for root is also bit 5 but a nougat bootloader
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/development/root-t3904613
is the perquisite to rooting
this allows a type of twrp for locked bl
we can flash pretty much all but boot img and non stock based custom roms
Bl6 hasnt been released yet so as long as you get it soon your good as
since this is edl I doubt it can be patched but always a possibility