Root Android 4.2.2 XXUDMH8 Jelly Bean for the Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505

The official XXUDMH8 OTA Update build of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean has been released for the Galaxy S4 LTE variant. Now, users who want to root their device can use this post and learn how to do it without bricking their smartphone.
Rooting the Galaxy S4 will open tons of new possibilities for your device such as installing custom Recovery images, custom ROMs, Android apps that require root and tons of other customizations.
In order to be able to successfully root your smartphone, you will first have to read the guidelines listed below:

• Use this guide only for the Samsung Galaxy S4 model number I9505. This is the Exynos 5 Octa variant.
• Do not try to root any other devices using the info listed in this post.
• If you root the phone, then you should know that the warranty will be revoked. In order to restore warranty you will need to flash a new official Jelly Bean OTA Update.
• Backup all your important data files before starting the root process.
• Download and install Samsung USB Drivers for your computer. This will make sure that your smartphone will be recognized by your PC allowing you to successfully flash all the required root files.
• Enable USB Debugging from Developer Options menu in Settings.
  - if this menu doesn’t appear, then you will need to enable it by opening About Phone section. Scroll Down to Build Number and tap on it seven times for the Developer Options to appear.
• Make sure that Samsung KIES is not enabled. You can choose to uninstall it.
• Disable all antivirus applications from running on your PC.
• Check the phone’s battery charge level and make sure that it is over 50%. If the phone powers off in the middle of the rooting process then you will be forced to repeat the entire tutorial once again.
• Note that this is a guide for more advanced users and you shouldn’t attempt to use it in case you’re a novice when it comes to rooting firmware.
• We cannot be blamed in case you lose data or your brick the phone.
• Read the entire tutorial and make sure that you won’t skip any steps in the process.
• If you cannot complete the root or you cannot understand how some of the listed steps should be applied, then you should ask for more help in comments.

Now that you know all of the above, you should continue to the next part of this post and learn how to root your device.

How to root Galaxy S4 I9505 running Android 4.2.2 XXUDMH8 Firmware:

1. Download the CF-Auto-Root zip tool from here.
   - save the file on your PC.
2. Extract the contents of the Root package and save the .tar.md5 file on your computer.
3. Download Odin v3.07 from here.
   - save the files on computer and extract all contents to a single folder.
4. Switch off your smartphone now.
5. Boot the device into Download Mode.
   - it can be done if you press Volume Down, Home and Power all at the same time. When a warning screen appears you should release the buttons.
   - confirm that you want to boot the SGS4 into Download Mode by pressing Volume Up.
6. Run ODIN executable on your PC.
7. Connect your smartphone with your computer now using the USB cable.
   - wait for ODIN to detect the smartphone.
   - if the ‘added’ alert doesn’t show up, then you will need to switch between USB ports or re-install the Samsung USB Drivers using the download link listed in the preparation guide.
8. Now, in ODIN you need to click on the PDA button.
9. Browse your computer for the file you’ve extracted in step 2. That’s the .tar.md5 file and you should load it into ODIN.
   - make sure not to change any default ODIN settings.
   - the Re-Partition option should be disabled, while Auto Reboot and F Reset Time settings need to be enabled.
10. When you’re ready for the rooting process you should press the START button.
    - The root should take only several minutes to complete, don’t press any buttons. When the Root is finished you will see the PASS message and Odin will reboot the phone.
11. When the Samsung boot animation appears you can disconnect the phone from PC.
    - wait for the phone to boot into normal mode.
12. Go to Google Play Store and download / install the Root Checker tool. Launch this app and then hit the Verify button to receive confirmation that the root has been achieved for your Galaxy S4.

In case the root isn’t applied at your first attempt, then you should repeat the entire tutorial once again. Make sure not to skip any steps that I have listed above. Note that ODIN might freeze and not flash any files which is why you should make sure that all the Samsung USB Drivers are installed on your computer.
Use the comments section if you’re having problems completing this tutorial.
In case your device doesn’t go past the Samsung boot animation, then you might be forced to apply a ‘factory reset’ for your device using the Stock Recovery mode. Note that this ‘factory reset’ will indeed force your phone to boot into normal mode but you will lose all contents stored on your device’s system partition. Here’s how to apply factory reset:

• power off the phone completely.
• Boot the Galaxy S4 I9505 into Recovery Mode.
  - if you don’t know how to do it, then you should use this info here.
• select the ‘wipe data/ factory reset’ option.
• confirm the process.
• When the factory reset is complete you should return to the main Recovery screen and select ‘reboot system now’.
• Wait for your Galaxy S4 to boot into normal mode.

Now that your Galaxy S4 I9505 is running on a rooted Android 4.2.2 XXUDMH8 firmware you can start looking for applications that require root to run. Also, you can begin to look for custom ROMs and test some of the latest Android 4.3 Jelly Bean custom builds on your S4.
Remember that this root process didn’t install any Custom Recovery images on your device, that’s why you can choose to use the following tutorial, here, and learn how to flash a custom Recovery Mode such as CWM or TWRP for your Galaxy S4 I9505 device. If you have any other questions, use the comments section below.