Rooting your smartphone opens tons of new possibilities such as installing new custom ROMs, kernels and other similar customization files that are created with the sole purpose of experiencing a better Android operating system. Using this guide will help you get rid of all Samsung and T-Mobile bloatware, but for that to happen you will also have to install a custom ROM.
In order to make sure that you successfully flash the rooting files for your T-Mobile Galaxy S4, you will first have to take a look at the preparation guide below:
- use this tutorial only with the T-Mobile variant of Samsung Galaxy S4 model number M919. Don’t try to use this tutorial with any other Android device.
- the computer that you’re about to use should have the Samsung USB drivers installed on it. Download link here.
- the tutorial doesn’t contain any Factory Reset steps, but you should still backup some of your most important data. If the phone doesn’t want to boot after root is applied, then you will be forced to boot into Recovery mode and apply Factory Reset process yourself.
- For this guide to be completed successfully you need to know how to boot into Download Mode and use Odin program to flash the required files.
- enable USB debugging option from the Android’s Developer Options menu. If this section doesn’t show up in Settings, then you should open About Phone menu and then tap 7 times on the Build Number area, the Developer Options will appear now.
- disable the Samsung KIES software from running on your PC, as this might interfere with the rooting process.
- disable all running Anti-virus applications.
- make sure that the phone’s battery has enough power left before it completely drains. If the phone powers off in the middle of the rooting process, then you will be forced to repeat the entire tutorial.
- rooting your phone will increase the binary flash counter, which means that you will lose warranty. The warranty can be restored only by installing stock T-Mobile and Samsung branded Android firmware.
- use this post only if you’re an advanced Android user who knows how to use ODIN and Download Mode.
- in case you’re a novice, then I strongly advise you to carefully apply all these changes and ask for extra help in comments if you cannot understand some of the steps you have to take.
- note that we cannot be blamed in case you lose any important data nor in case you brick the phone.
- read the entire post and don’t skip any steps that I have listed below.
Root Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean for Samsung Galaxy S4 T-mobile using CF Auto-Root tool:
- Download the CF Auto Root zip for TMO Galaxy S4 from here. Save the file on your PC.
- Extract its contents and save them to a folder that’s placed on your computer’s desktop for easy access. You should get a file with the .tar.md5 extension, don’t extract any further than that.
- Download Odin 3.07 from here. Extract its contents.
- Power off the Galaxy S4 TMO completely by removing its battery. Re-insert the battery after 5 seconds have passed.
- Now, boot your device into Download Mode.
- Launch ODIN exe on your PC.
- Connect the phone to your computer via USB cable. ODIN should display a confirmation message that says ‘Added!!’. Continue to the next step.
> if Odin doesn’t recognize the phone, then you will need to change USB ports or re-install the Samsung USB drivers, a download link is listed above in the preparation guide. - Next, click the PDA button in Odin and find the ‘CF-Auto-Root-jfltetmo-jfltetmo-sghm919.tar.md5′. Load it into ODIN.
> don’t change any default settings of ODIN, just make sure that the Re-Partition one is disabled. - Click the START button when you’re ready for the installation to begin.
- After the flash is complete and the CF Auto Root tar.md5 file is installed, ODIN will say PASS and the device will restart to normal mode.
- Unplug the phone from PC and wait for the first boot process to complete.
- Check the App drawer for the SuperSU icon, which confirms that the root has been completed.
If the tutorial was completed, then you can close this post and start testing your new rooted ROM. Remember that you will also have to flash a custom Recovery for your device. Here you can find a guide that teaches you how to install CWM or TWRP Recovery using Google Play Store.
NOTE2: In case ODIN says that the process has been completed, but the phone is unable to go past the Samsung boot animation logo, you will be forced to boot into Recovery mode and factory reset the device. This means that you will lose the contents stored on your device’s system partition and possible the ones stored on the internal SDcard. Here’s how to use the stock Recovery and factory reset your T-Mobile Galaxy S4:
- power off your smartphone completely.
- boot into Recovery Mode by pressing Volume Up, Home and Power buttons simultaneously.
- release the buttons when the Recovery menu appears.
- select ‘wipe data/ factory reset’ and confirm.
- get back to the main Recovery menu and select ‘reboot system now’.
- wait for the Galaxy S4 to boot into normal mode and then take control over all of its functions.
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