[1]These are the guidelines to root Google Nexus 5 on Android 6.0 MRA58K Marshmallow. That’s the model number of the build that comes with the official factory image; not a developer preview that we have known for the last few months. Since Google is known to frequently block these exploits on the Nexus devices, we are giving you that build number so you can be sure when this guide works. While it’s possible you can root Google Nexus 5 on Android 6.0 Marshmallow builds in the future, we cannot be sure the files in this guide will work for those future builds.
REQUIREMENTS
- The guide is made for the Google Nexus 5 smartphone. If you install the file on a different Nexus device, you will brick the device. Suffice to say, you should only use this guide to root Nexus 5 on Android 6.0 MRA58K Marshmallow and no other device.
- The guide is made to work with the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow factory image just released. The factory image comes with the build number KRA58K.
BEFORE WE BEGIN
- Download the universal drivers [2] direct to your Windows PC. The driver is made by Koush — the same guy who made ClockworkMod recovery — and works for all devices.
- Check that you have the Developer Options unlocked and the USB Debugging Mode enabled. If you already know those two things, then you can skip ahead to the guide. for all of those who don’t know any better, head to the Settings > Developer Options > USB Debugging and make sure that box is checked with a mark so it’s on. Those who cannot see any Developer Options menu must go to the Settings > About Device and tap the build number until the screen lets you know that it’s unlocked.
- You do void the warranty by following this guide. Since the Google Nexus 5 wasn’t made anytime lately, most of you probably don’t have any warranty left anyway. Nevertheless, if you do and you don’t want to revoke that warranty, you should not follow through with this guide.
HOW TO ROOT THE GOOGLE NEXUS 9 ON ANDROID 6.0 MARSHMALLOW
- Download the Despair kernel from this [3] p [3]age [3].
- Download the SuperSU file that’s updated to work for your smartphone from here [4].
- Download both of the files — Despair kernel and SuperSU — directly to the computer desktop. Do not unzip the files.
- Connect the Google nexus 5 to the computer.
- Transfer both of the files you downloaded above to the internal SD card of the Google Nexus 5 smartphone.
- Now follow the guide for installing a custom recovery on the Google Nexus 5 [5] running the Android 6.0 Marshmallow. You must have the custom recovery installed before you can finish the rooting guide.
- Once you have the custom recovery installed, boot it up and navigate to the install button from the main recovery menu.
- Click over the install zip from SD card.
- Browse the SD card for the Despair kernel first and agree to install that custom kernel.
- Go back to the main recovery menu again and choose the install option again.
- Browse the SD card again and this time upload the SuperSU file. Confirm you want to install the SuperSU file like you did the kernel.
- Now your Google Nexus 5 should have both the custom kernel and the SuperSU granting you the root access.
- All you need to do now is go back to the main recovery menu and choose the reboot system option.