[1]Whether you own the Google Play Edition, the Value Edition or any other of the special editions that come in the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone range, they can all thankfully be rooted with Chainfire’s one-click rooting tool, CF-Auto-Root. Chainfire’s one-click rooting tool is exceptionally easy to use once you know what the correct file is that you are supposed to be flashing. We handle that part for you. All you need to do is unzip the archive and then complete the flashing with Samsung’s convenient flashing tool on a Windows computer.
REQUIREMENTS
- You need to have a Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone that has the Value Edition model number (GT-I9515) to use this guide. The rooting file available in this guide is not going to work on any other model number. Furthermore, it might brick the device if you have another model number. The model number of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Value Edition smartphone can be checked by tapping on the Menu > Settings > About Device > Model Number.
- You need to have a computer that is running a version of the Windows operating system to be able to execute the flashing tool that we are using in the guide to flash the rooting file on the smartphone. That flashing tool is called Odin, and the Samsung developed only made it for Windows. Anyone in need of getting it running on a Mac or Linux computer needs to set up a Windows virtual machine.
BEFORE WE BEGIN
- Install the Samsung USB Drivers on the Windows computer [2] if the computer you are using during the guide does not have the drivers installed already. Some people already have them, but if you have not installed them manually already then chances are the flashing tool does not detect the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone and you need to get the drivers installed before you begin.
- Chainfire was running the LRX22C.I9515XXU1BOJ3 firmware build number on the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9515 Value Edition smartphone when he developed the CF-Auto-Root tool version that is available in this guide. That does not mean anybody else necessarily needs to be running on the same firmware build number as him before they use this guide. The CF-Auto-Root tool version found in this guide should work for all of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Value Edition smartphones that come with the GT-I9515 model number and are running on the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop software updates.
- If the smartphone is not booting after flashing the CF-Auto-Root tool, it is likely because a new bootloader is present in the firmware you are running. Submit the new recovery image found in the firmware to the official CF-Auto-Root tool thread made at the XDA-Developers web forum [3] for Chainfire to see the message. He will then apply the necessary changes. Our guides are always displaying the latest version of Chainfrie’s files because we link directly to the rooting repository where he hosts the files.
HOW TO ROOT SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 VALUE EDITION RUNNING ON ANDROID 5.0.1 LOLLIPOP
- Download the CF-Auto-Root [4] tool for the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9515 on Android 5.0.1 Lollipop software updates.
- Open the downloads folder on the computer and extract the rooting file to the downloads folder.
- Click on the Odin flashing tool executable file that is now available in the downloads folder and the flashing tool opens.
- Boot the Samsung Galaxy S4 Value Edition smartphone into the download mode [5] and then connect it to the computer with the USB cable.
- Check that the Odin flashing app on the computer shows a color coming from the ID: COM port now which is usually a blue or yellow color. (If there is no color from the ID: COM port then it means the Samsung USB Drivers are not yet installed on the computer and therefore the Odin flashing app is unable to detect the smartphone).
- Click the AP button and then browse through to the downloads folder and choose to upload the rooting file to the Odin app.
- Click the Start button from Odin and the rooting begins.
In conclusion, that is how to root Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9515 smartphones when they are running the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop software updates by using Chainfire’s CF-Auto-Root tool that installs and enabled the SuperSU. The SuperSU that CF-Auto-Root flashes are the same kind of SuperSU that people also flash from a custom recovery image when they get root from a custom recovery. Outside of the Samsung range of smartphones and tablet that usually requires unlocking the bootloader and then installing a custom recovery before the SuperSU app flashes from the recovery partition.