There are plenty of applications out there waiting to be installed from the Google Play Store that cannot run on your Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone unless they can be granted access to the root file system. Some apps require access to the root file system because it is within the root file system that allows them to make the necessary changes for them to work. With the Android operating system locking them out, they are blocked and therefore cannot work.

Android automatically blocks apps that require access to the root file system because having access to the root file system can be dangerous if what you were installing was malware. It is because of that reason that Android developers have no choice but to spoil the fun for everybody and lock down the operating system so nothing, including any app, can access it by default. It makes a ton of sense for the Android developers to do that because it isn’t practical to think that the entire world will be able to use something like SuperSU without making plenty of mistakes along the way. What does make sense though is to give people the chance to install SuperSU if they should choose, and you will find that most of those people will know how it works and understand how to use it.

SuperSU is installed and appears just like any other application on your Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone once you have rooted it with the guide below by using the CF-Auto-Root tool. The SuperSU will be the thing that allows root apps to run on your system. It’s also what is going to be blocking all potential threats should you ever come across them. What SuperSU doesn’t do is continue to block threats if you allow them in. The SuperSU itself doesn’t come with a brain that can do anything apart from blocking everything in its path incredibly efficiently. It relies on your eyes to choose what is going to be allowed the root access, and that is where people who are not experienced Android users will get into trouble.

REQUIREMENTS

• The following guide is made for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini that comes with the SHV E370K model number (LTE) only. Do not flash the CF-Auto-Root file in this guide on any other model number or you will find that device bricked.
• You will need to use a computer that is running a version of Windows operating system to flash the CF-Auto-Root tool using the Odin flashing application. The Odin app will not run on the likes of MacOS or Linux computers.

BEFORE WE BEGIN

• You will need to unlock the Developer Options menu on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone so you can turn on the USB Debugging Mode and get your handset connected to the computer in the right mode. You can do that by tapping on the S4 Mini’s Menu > Settings > About Device > Build Number seven or so times.
• Enable the USB Debugging Mode on the S4 Mini smartphone by tapping on the Menu > Settings > Developer Options > USB Debugging Mode and then exit the Developer Options menu and it will remember your settings.
• Download and install the Samsung USB Drivers on the Windows computer before you start with the rooting guide otherwise you will probably find your smartphone does not get detected by the Odin flashing application.

HOW TO ROOT SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 MINI SHV E370K LTE RUNNING ANDROID 4.4.4 KITKAT

1. Download the updated CF-Auto-Root tool for the Galaxy S4 Mini SHV E370K LTE running Android 4.4.4 KitKat updates from here.
2. Extract the rooting file to the desktop of the computer so you can see the Odin app and the CF-Auto-Root file on the desktop.
3. Double-click the Odin flashing application executable file on the desktop and leave the Odin user interface open.
4. Boot the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone into the download mode and then connect it to the computer with the USB cable.
5. Check that you can see a yellow or blue ID: COM port and the “added” message coming from the Odin app on the computer letting you know the Samsung drivers you installed working for your device.
6. Do not change any of the default settings you get from the Odin user interface.
7. Click the AP button from the Odin user interface and browse the desktop of the rooting package for the Galaxy S4 Mini ending in the tar.md5 file extension.
8. Click the Start button from the Odin app on the computer and your phone will now get rooted.

In conclusion, that is how to root Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini SHV E370K LTE smartphone running on the Android 4.4.4 KitKat software updates by using a fresh version of Chainfire’s CF-Auto-Root tool that is made to work for this device. You will get a pass message inside a green box coming from the Odin user interface, and that is when you are safe to unplug from the PC and start using your new root apps. The Galaxy S4 Mini will reboot automatically, and you can head to the Google Play Store and install one of the root checker applications if you would like to check your root status.