[How To] Root Nexus S on Jelly Bean or Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.x)
July 20, 2012 55
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You have updated your Nexus S to Jelly Bean or Ice Cream Sandwich and now you want root access. Who do you call? No one. Just follow this guide and you should have root back on your Android 4.x Nexus S (any variant) in no time.
Disclaimer: This guide is intended as a helpful “how to”. Ashraf and dotTech are not responsible for any gain or loss (including but not limited to bricked devices) incurred as a result of following this guide. Root your device at your own risk. Rooting may void your warranty.
Before We Begin
Before we begin rooting you must have an unlocked bootloader. To unlock your bootloader, do the following:
Note: Unlocking your bootloader will wipe all data on your Nexus S and it may void your warranty. Proceed further at your own risk.
- Make sure Nexus S drivers are installed on your computer.
- Install Fastboot and ADB on your computer, if you haven’t already.
- Shutdown your phone.
- While the Nexus S is turned off hold the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously until the Nexus S turns on and is in Fastboot Mode. You will know your device is in Fastboot Mode when it says FASTBOOT MODE in red text at the top. Also the screen will list a bunch of information such as HW VERSION, BOOTLOADER VERSION, BASEBAND VERSION, etc.
- Connect your Nexus S to your computer.
- Open command prompt on your computer and type “fastboot oem unlock” without the quotes.
- Accept the caution on your Nexus S’s screen.
- Let the device work.
- When it is done boot back into Nexus S until you see the home screen.
Root Nexus S on Jelly Bean or Ice Cream Sandwich
The following root method should work with all Nexus S variants (i9020T, i9020, i9023, i9020A, etc.). This method is specifically for Android 4.x versions, which includes Jelly Bean or Ice Cream Sandwich.
To root your Nexus S do the following:
Note: Rooting may void your warranty. Proceed further at your own risk.
- Make sure Nexus S drivers are installed on your computer.
- Install Fastboot and ADB on your computer, if you haven’t already.
- Download SuperUser app and binary and place it on your Nexus S’ internal storage.
- Download custom recovery img on your computer and place it in the same C:\Android folder you placed Fastboot and ADB in.
- Shutdown your phone.
- While the Nexus S is turned off hold the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously until the Nexus S turns on and is in Fastboot Mode. You will know your device is in Fastboot Mode when it says FASTBOOT MODE in red text at the top. Also the screen will list a bunch of information such as HW VERSION, BOOTLOADER VERSION, BASEBAND VERSION, etc.
- Connect your Nexus S to your computer.
- Open command prompt on your computer and type “fastboot flash recovery C:\Android\recovery-clockwork-6.0.0.6-crespo.img” without the quotes.
- Wait for it to do its thing.
- Unplug your Nexus S from your computer.
- Now turn off your Nexus S (select “Power Off” from Fastboot Mode screen).
- Hold the Volume Up and Power buttons to boot into Fastboot Mode.
- Scroll to RECOVERY and press the Power button to select it.
- At the next screen scroll to install zip from sdcard and press the Power button.
- At the next screen scroll to choose zip from sdcard and press the Power button.
- Find the Superuser-3.2-arm-signed.zip file you placed in your Nexus S internal storage. Make sure it is highlighted and press the Power button.
- Confirm you want to do it.
- Let the Nexus S do its thing.
- Once it is done reboot the device and you will be back at your homescreen.
- Done.
Conclusion
Enjoy Jelly Bean or Ice Cream Sandwich with root access.
About the author: Ashraf View all posts by Ashraf
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55 Comments »
Leave A Response »
Anyone knows how to recover files erased with “fastboot oem unlock”? I tried pandora recover, recuva and didn’t work.
Are Sdcard files impossible to recover?
Thanks!
@Marcelo Damasceno: Come on man, learn to read. I clearly stated in the article: “Note: Unlocking your bootloader will wipe all data on your Nexus S and it may void your warranty. Proceed further at your own risk.”
@Ashraf: Sorry man! I forgot the meaning of wipe. I’m not a english speaker.
Do you know if there is a way to recover it?
Plz tell me what is the meaning of rooting our android and what are its use ?
Plz tell me what is the meaning of rooting our android and what are its uses ? I have come across this term for the first time
from the time i have upgraded my nexus s from ice-cream sandwich to jelly bean software my phone has started to black out on me.. it suddenly hangs up in the middle of a call and the reboots itself… can any one help??
Thanks a lot for giving great steps and file download locations. These worked fantastically without losing any data. Now I’m enjoying JellyBean with root access.
I’m getting an error when trying to do the “fastboot flash recovery C:Androidrecovery-clockwork-6.0.0.6-crespo.img” (no quotes, of course)… it’s telling me to use fastboot oem unlock since it cannot write on my phone (I can see my phone using “fastboot devices”) and on the screen of my phone it reads FASTBOOT STATUS – FAILBootloader Locked. Mine is a I9020 from T-mobile. I’m using Jelly Bean.
@foxluthor: You need to unlock your bootloader. I’ve provided directions above under the “Before You Begin” category on how to unlock your bootloader.
@Vardhan: You are welcome!
@Firas:
Yep..same here…Root doesnt survive a reboot
@jf: Thanks a lot to jf for the drivers link!!
@Dylon: I had the same issue… just follow these steps: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=875580
Solved my “Waiting for device” problem and unlocked bootloader succesfully!!
How can I save the superuser zip into the internal storage?
I put the SuperUser zip into DCIM folder and when I selected “RECOVERY” in Fastboot mode, I got a droid lying down with a red triangle with an exclamation mark.
Can anyone help me with this?
my phone stuck at “waiting for device”
I have enabled USB debug mode, what is wrong ?
guy, my comp not recognize my nexus as at the fastboot screen but it recognize my phone at normal screen, is it normal?
@greenism3:
flash it again, i mean do from the first step of rooting again ( only root process ) it happen to me and i flaash it again, it work!
it worked for me, only I had to install the pdanet from http://junefabrics.com/android/index.php b/c the nexus driver didn’t work
Thanks you so much!
@Ashraf:
My bootloader is already unlocked. Will the rooting process itself wipe data?
Make sure Nexus S drivers are installed on your computer.
Install Fastboot and ADB on your computer, if you haven’t already.
Download SuperUser app and binary and place it on your Nexus S’ internal storage.
Download custom recovery img on your computer and place it in the same C:\Android folder you placed Fastboot and ADB in.
Shutdown your phone.
While the Nexus S is turned off hold the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously until the Nexus S turns on and is in Fastboot Mode. You will know your device is in Fastboot Mode when it says FASTBOOT MODE in red text at the top. Also the screen will list a bunch of information such as HW VERSION, BOOTLOADER VERSION, BASEBAND VERSION, etc.
Connect your Nexus S to your computer.
Open command prompt on your computer and type “fastboot flash recovery C:\Android\recovery-clockwork-6.0.0.6-crespo.img” without the quotes.
Wait for it to do its thing.
Unplug your Nexus S from your computer.
Now turn off your Nexus S (select “Power Off” from Fastboot Mode screen……………….
after i did all these steps over and tried to go forward by restarting in Tastboot mode, nothing happened, my phone was DEAD……..
Solution pls…??
hi Ashraf, I followed the procedure and got my phone rooted with 4.1.1 few days ago. But, there is now 4.1.2 out. How can I upgrade it and remain root and not erase data again?
My boot loader is unlocked, will the installation of the 4.1.2 image from https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images erase and un-root my phone?
wen i root my phone n finish will my usb data be cleared??????????????
@ivor: No.
@vlad: The procedure should be the same — rooting itself doesn’t wipe data, unlocking bootloader does. If you already rooted that means your bootloader is already unlocked so you shouldn’t wipe your data.
@numaan: No.
I have been facing some problem. mt system says that “fastboot is not recognised as external or internal command. help please!!!
thank you, i tried your way and it worked perfectly
thank you again