#su TryNotToBreakAnything.sh
We've talked a lot about root and Android in the past five years. We've discussed the good, we've discussed the bad. We'll keep talking about both, because root on Android, like Android itself, is a constantly evolving thing.
As Android matures, the wide-open style of root access we may have grown used to with legacy versions has gone away. Because Android is designed for mobile devices, the focus is on security — specifically the security of your life's data you might have stored away on that screen in your pocket. We've seen Android go from the wild-west days of unfettered Superuser access, to locked down and tamper-proof (well, they try to be) devices meant for folks who need the extra level for their business details. For some of us, this is a hinderance and we don't want Google or the folks who made our phone trying to protect us from ourselves. But for each person who needs — or thinks they need — unfettered root access there are thousands, if not tens of thousands, who just want their data to stay safe. Those people are who our phones get built for, and we're left to exploit as best we can.
Root itself is just a user with elevated permissions, who can do anything to any file or folder in the system. It's often dangerous, always powerful, and an integral part of Linux. Android is the most popular "version" of Linux in the world (as well as the most popular computing system), but as we discussed above superuser access is more restricted than it is on other Linux systems. We don't have to like this, but there is little we can do to change it other than build our own from the AOSP. While I think anyone and everyone interested in building Android themselves should look into it, for now we have to stay in the limits that Security Enhanced kernels and Knox have given us.
If you've read this far, congratulations. Enough talk. It's time to root that device, and we've got the links you need to get started.
Top devices
Here you'll find links to tutorials for the devices that are hot right now. Don't worry if yours isn't here, we've got a big list of archives further down the page.
Galaxy S6
Galaxy S6 edge
LG G4
- coming soon
Galaxy Note 4
- coming soon
HTC One M9
- coming soon
Galaxy S5
- International, Korean, Canadian, USCC, and T-Mobile US models
- Verizon and AT&T models (including GS5 Active)
Galaxy Note 3
LG G3
Galaxy S4
HTC One M8
Nexus
Current devices
Here you'll find the tried and true Android favorites that are still current and popular, but not the newest models. If you're shopping for a phone just to root, these are the models you'll want to look at, while developers and hackers work on the latest hot devices to open their secrets.
Nexus
Samsung phones
- Verizon Galaxy S3
- AT&T Galaxy S3
- Sprint Galaxy S3
- T-Mobile Galaxy S3
- Unlocked Galaxy S3
- Verizon Galaxy Note 2
- AT&T Galaxy Note 2
- Sprint Galaxy Note 2
- T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2
- Unlocked Galaxy Note 2
- Galaxy Round (If you have successfully rooted your Samsung Galaxy Round, please contact jerry@androidcentral.com)
HTC phones
- Verizon HTC One M7
- AT&T HTC One M7
- Sprint HTC One M7
- T-Mobile HTC One M7
- Unlocked HTC One M7
- Verizon HTC Droid DNA
- Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE
- HTC One X (Qualcomm)
- HTC One X (Tegra)
- HTC First
Motorola phones
- Verizon Moto X
- AT&T Moto X
- Sprint Moto X
- Unlocked Moto X
- Moto G
- Verizon Droid Ultra
- Verizon Droid MAXX
- Verizon Droid Mini
- Verizon Droid RAZR HD
- Verizon RAZR MAXX HD
LG G2
Other LG phones
Sony phones
- Sony Xperia Z Ultra
- Sony Xperia Z1
- Sony Xperia Z1s — currently unavailable
Android tablets
- Nexus 7 (2013)
- Nexus 10
- Amazon Kindle Fire HDX This is a work in progress
- LG G Pad 8.3
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4
- Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1
- Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2
- Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2
Legacy devices
Androids that work too well to just ignore. Some of our favorite devices are in this section, and rooting helps give them life a little longer than the manufacturer provides.
If your device isn't listed here, we suggest you visit the Android Central forums and ask some of the root-savvy users you'll find there. This is your best bet at finding root for devices that are no longer as popular, but still very serviceable.