[GUIDE] Mac Root (tested)

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klabit87

Senior Member
Jul 11, 2011
3,012
2,279
This guide is for the select few that need to root their Samsung Galaxy S4 via Mac.

This guide only shows how to swap kernels in order for you to run motochopper then swap back to stock kernel.

Please keep in mind this is technical and involves using manual commands for heimdall in terminal.

If you have anything to add or have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

I have tested this method using Heimdall on my Windows 7 machine.

I do not own a Mac to fully test this.

I am not an expert nor do I portray myself to be one.

I am not responsible to any problems from this method including bricking any devices, loss of data, or other issues that may arise with your device or computer. (Just to cover my behind.);)

Things you need:
1. Heimdall
2. prerelease kernel boot.img (MD5: cd49d9c337d624abec5f6f1229e1abf6)
3. stock kernel boot.img (MD5: 3c776b87c2c1390787189e60d311c769)
4. Motochopper Root Exploit Tool
5. Drivers can be installed by installing Kies

First install Heimdall.

And make sure you have the drivers installed.

Make sure you have the prerelease kernel boot.img (MD5: cd49d9c337d624abec5f6f1229e1abf6) in an easy place to find and make sure you keep it seperate from the stock kernel boot.img (MD5: 3c776b87c2c1390787189e60d311c769).


If you have Kies installed, uninstall it.
Then open the heimdall-frontend application that was installed with heimdall.
Use the heimdall-frontend app to detect the device by going to Utilites > Detect.

Next open a terminal type
Code:
sudo heimdall flash --BOOT <full path to prerelease kernel>
Enter your password.
The prerelease kernel will be flashed and your device will reboot.

Go to Settings > More > About phone
and check to make sure your kernel version is 423399.

Then go into Settings > More > About phone > tap "Build number" about 7 times until it unlocks Developer options
Verify in Developer options setting on your device that you have "USB debugging" checked.
Verify in Developer options setting on your device that you have "Verify apps via USB" unchecked.
Verify in Security setting on your device that you have "Unknown sources" checked.
Verify in Security setting on your device that you have "Verify apps" unchecked.
Extract the motochopper.zip file.
Open terminal, navigate to the motochopper folder and type
Code:
sudo chmod +x run.sh
Then type
Code:
sudo ./run.sh
Follow the on screen prompts.
After you are rooted, make sure you update the su binaries.
Otherwise you will lose root later on.
Next boot your phone into download mode in order to put the stock kernel back.

Open the heimdall-frontend application and detect your device once again. (Utilities > Detect)
Next open a terminal and type
Code:
sudo heimdall flash --BOOT <full path to stock kernel>
Then go to Settings > More > About phone
and make sure the stock 562219 kernel is installed.


Credits go to djrbliss, chainsdd, Samsung, creators of Heimdall, and if I missed anybody please let me know and I will add them to it.
Thanks to Doppletronica for confirming the method.

If you found this guide helpful please hit the thanks button ;)

EDIT: If this thread now belongs somewhere else due to its nature, please move it mods.
Also anybody is free to share this guide, just link them to this thread and please give credit where credit is due.
Thanks.
 
Last edited:

BusyPooping

Senior Member
Mar 5, 2009
347
177
I'm not too sure about an unroot method.
I'm sure if I looked at it hard enough I could come up with something.

Are you looking for an unroot method via Mac?

Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2.

yea. i mean, just for testings sake. i dont want to have to go through the whole unroot just to test a root method drama.

i could unroot on my VM and try your root, but what are the possible effects to it going down? does it work with you?
 

klabit87

Senior Member
Jul 11, 2011
3,012
2,279
yea. i mean, just for testings sake. i dont want to have to go through the whole unroot just to test a root method drama.

i could unroot on my VM and try your root, but what are the possible effects to it going down? does it work with you?

Pm sent.

Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2.
 

klabit87

Senior Member
Jul 11, 2011
3,012
2,279
Update:
I tried making an unroot method.
That completely failed.
So I had to use Odin to get running again.
I did however get a chance to test the root method for Mac users.
It worked with no problems for me.
I may continue working on the unroot method but that depends on my own free time.
If anyone is interested in assisting with it that would be great.

Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2.
 

BusyPooping

Senior Member
Mar 5, 2009
347
177
Update:
I tried making an unroot method.
That completely failed.
So I had to use Odin to get running again.
I did however get a chance to test the root method for Mac users.
It worked with no problems for me.
I may continue working on the unroot method but that depends on my own free time.
If anyone is interested in assisting with it that would be great.

Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2.

pm me instructions and i will try it out tonight. i dont mind being a flashaholic tonight
 

klabit87

Senior Member
Jul 11, 2011
3,012
2,279
pm me instructions and i will try it out tonight. i dont mind being a flashaholic tonight

I will finish my write-up and get it to you as soon as I can.
I'm not around a computer at work so it may be later this evening possibly.

Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2.
 

anothamexican

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2010
116
1
Oakland
I was wondering if someone can help me. I keep getting this error message:

patxp:desktop ArmandoOrona$ sudo heimdall detect
Password:
Device detected
patxp:desktop ArmandoOrona$ sudo heimdall flash --BOOT boot.img
Heimdall v1.4.0

Copyright (c) 2010-2013, Benjamin Dobell, Glass Echidna
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/

This software is provided free of charge. Copying and redistribution is
encouraged.

If you appreciate this software and you would like to support future
development please consider donating:
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/donate/

Initialising connection...
Detecting device...
Claiming interface...
libusbx: error [darwin_claim_interface] USBInterfaceOpen: another process has device opened for exclusive access
ERROR: Claiming interface failed!
patxp:desktop ArmandoOrona$

I uninstalled kies and android file transfer and restarted mac. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 

Doppletronica

New member
Feb 2, 2011
2
3
I was wondering if someone can help me. I keep getting this error message:

Initialising connection...
Detecting device...
Claiming interface...
libusbx: error [darwin_claim_interface] USBInterfaceOpen: another process has device opened for exclusive access
ERROR: Claiming interface failed!
patxp:desktop ArmandoOrona$

I uninstalled kies and android file transfer and restarted mac. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I got this same error. What I did was uninstall kies and then open the heimdall-frontend app that was installed with heimdall, and use it to detect the phone. (In Utilities->Detect) From there I could run the command line part successfully. Worked for me.
 

klabit87

Senior Member
Jul 11, 2011
3,012
2,279
I got this same error. What I did was uninstall kies and then open the heimdall-frontend app that was installed with heimdall, and use it to detect the phone. (In Utilities->Detect) From there I could run the command line part successfully. Worked for me.

So just to clarify, are you saying the whole process worked for you?
Whereas you successfully rooted your phone?

Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2.
 
Last edited:

318sugarhill

Senior Member
Aug 31, 2010
813
223
Man.....I wish I saw this yesterday. I spent 2 hours getting my old imac up and running with bootcamp to install windows.....another hour looking for my old XP disc to actually install it on the iMac, another half hour to install XP, then a good 45 minutes or so trying and failing to gett all the samsung drivers to wok (too several installs and unistalls til it finally worked). After all that, I downloaded the all in one root kit and install recovery as well.
 

anothamexican

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2010
116
1
Oakland
I got this same error. What I did was uninstall kies and then open the heimdall-frontend app that was installed with heimdall, and use it to detect the phone. (In Utilities->Detect) From there I could run the command line part successfully. Worked for me.

I got heimdall frontend to detect the device, where do I type in the commands? Under which tab?
 
Last edited:

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  • 2
    This guide is for the select few that need to root their Samsung Galaxy S4 via Mac.

    This guide only shows how to swap kernels in order for you to run motochopper then swap back to stock kernel.

    Please keep in mind this is technical and involves using manual commands for heimdall in terminal.

    If you have anything to add or have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

    I have tested this method using Heimdall on my Windows 7 machine.

    I do not own a Mac to fully test this.

    I am not an expert nor do I portray myself to be one.

    I am not responsible to any problems from this method including bricking any devices, loss of data, or other issues that may arise with your device or computer. (Just to cover my behind.);)

    Things you need:
    1. Heimdall
    2. prerelease kernel boot.img (MD5: cd49d9c337d624abec5f6f1229e1abf6)
    3. stock kernel boot.img (MD5: 3c776b87c2c1390787189e60d311c769)
    4. Motochopper Root Exploit Tool
    5. Drivers can be installed by installing Kies

    First install Heimdall.

    And make sure you have the drivers installed.

    Make sure you have the prerelease kernel boot.img (MD5: cd49d9c337d624abec5f6f1229e1abf6) in an easy place to find and make sure you keep it seperate from the stock kernel boot.img (MD5: 3c776b87c2c1390787189e60d311c769).


    If you have Kies installed, uninstall it.
    Then open the heimdall-frontend application that was installed with heimdall.
    Use the heimdall-frontend app to detect the device by going to Utilites > Detect.

    Next open a terminal type
    Code:
    sudo heimdall flash --BOOT <full path to prerelease kernel>
    Enter your password.
    The prerelease kernel will be flashed and your device will reboot.

    Go to Settings > More > About phone
    and check to make sure your kernel version is 423399.

    Then go into Settings > More > About phone > tap "Build number" about 7 times until it unlocks Developer options
    Verify in Developer options setting on your device that you have "USB debugging" checked.
    Verify in Developer options setting on your device that you have "Verify apps via USB" unchecked.
    Verify in Security setting on your device that you have "Unknown sources" checked.
    Verify in Security setting on your device that you have "Verify apps" unchecked.
    Extract the motochopper.zip file.
    Open terminal, navigate to the motochopper folder and type
    Code:
    sudo chmod +x run.sh
    Then type
    Code:
    sudo ./run.sh
    Follow the on screen prompts.
    After you are rooted, make sure you update the su binaries.
    Otherwise you will lose root later on.
    Next boot your phone into download mode in order to put the stock kernel back.

    Open the heimdall-frontend application and detect your device once again. (Utilities > Detect)
    Next open a terminal and type
    Code:
    sudo heimdall flash --BOOT <full path to stock kernel>
    Then go to Settings > More > About phone
    and make sure the stock 562219 kernel is installed.


    Credits go to djrbliss, chainsdd, Samsung, creators of Heimdall, and if I missed anybody please let me know and I will add them to it.
    Thanks to Doppletronica for confirming the method.

    If you found this guide helpful please hit the thanks button ;)

    EDIT: If this thread now belongs somewhere else due to its nature, please move it mods.
    Also anybody is free to share this guide, just link them to this thread and please give credit where credit is due.
    Thanks.
    2
    I was wondering if someone can help me. I keep getting this error message:

    Initialising connection...
    Detecting device...
    Claiming interface...
    libusbx: error [darwin_claim_interface] USBInterfaceOpen: another process has device opened for exclusive access
    ERROR: Claiming interface failed!
    patxp:desktop ArmandoOrona$

    I uninstalled kies and android file transfer and restarted mac. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    I got this same error. What I did was uninstall kies and then open the heimdall-frontend app that was installed with heimdall, and use it to detect the phone. (In Utilities->Detect) From there I could run the command line part successfully. Worked for me.
    1
    You can unroot it the same way you root. Use Heimdall.
    1
    You can unroot it the same way you root. Use Heimdall.

    Thanks. I knew I was making it harder than it was supposed to be.

    I was really only interested in the root guide since a good few people were asking about it.

    Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2.
    1
    So just to clarify, are you saying the whole process worked for you?
    Whereas you successfully rooted your phone?

    Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2.

    Yep. Once I got the kernel to flash okay, The rooting process worked flawlessly.