This is a step-by-step guide to root Verizon Google Galaxy Nexus devices running the Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich update.

REQUIREMENTS

• The rooting exploit found in this guide is based on Android 4.0.2 Ice Cream Sandwich and ICL53F firmware. The firmware Chainfire mentions in the description is only an indicator for you to use and does not mean you should be running that same firmware on your device before you start rooting. Some of the older Samsung devices
• The guide is made for the Verizon variant of the Google Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone only and should not be used if you are running the Sprint or any other version. they require unique files and flashing the incorrect file will probably brick your device.

BEFORE WE BEGIN

• Download the Samsung USB Drivers for mobile phones from our page and have that installed on your computer before you start using the guide.

HOW TO ROOT VERIZON GOOGLE GALAXY NEXUS RUNNING ON ANDROID 4.0.2

1. Download the CF-Auto-Root for the Galaxy Nexus (toro) for 4.0.2 from this link.
2. Download the Odin 1.85 flash tool from this link.
3. Right-click over each of the files when you get them on the desktop and then choose the “extract here” option from the menu so you can use them.
4. Long-press the Power button on your Google Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone by Verizon and then wait until it’s powered off completely.
5. Boot the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the download mode so it’s ready to connect to the computer and start having files flashed.
6. Connect the Samsung Galaxy Nexus to the computer with the USB cable once you are happy the device is definitely in the download mode.
7. Click the PDA or the AP button which you can see the from the Odin user-interface and then browse the desktop of the rooting exploit file with the tar.md5 extension — you see this once you extract the file like you did in the beginning. Do not extract it a second time or else it will not work.
8. Click the Start button without changing any of the default settings from the Odin user-interface.
9. Soon the Odin user-interface will give a pass message and the device will reboot in recovery mode; you know it’s about to do that when it tells you it’s going to reboot in 10 seconds on the device’s display.
10. Make sure the Galaxy Nexus does reboot in recovery mode or the rooting is not completed and it will not have the SuperSU installed properly.

On the odd chance the device doesn’t reboot in recovery mode you should do that manually by pressing the Volume Up + Home + Power buttons simultaneously during start-up. It only works if the device starts completely off.