★ |[How-To]| | ROOT NK3 | KEEP KNOX 0x0 | The EffortLess Way | Rooting | 26NOV14 ★

[effortless]

★ |[How-To]| | ROOT NK3 | KEEP KNOX 0x0 | The EffortLess Way | Rooting | 26NOV14 ★

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If you do not care about KNOX and want a custom recovery or custom ROM installed in addition to root- Go to my other thread here! A custom ROM or custom recovery WILL trip your KNOX to 0x1 (this is irreversible and KNOX will cease to function on your phone forever and ever and ever) :crying:
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Welcome to ROOT with KNOX 0x0 the EffortLess Way!!​

This is a quick and easy way to root the N900T T-Mobile Note 3 with the full stock N900TUVUENK3 update installed!​

This guide will assist you in rooting full stock N900TUVUENK3 without tripping KNOX (preserving 0x0)
************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** **************************************************​

NOTE: You will need to be updated to the full stock N900TUVUENK3 firmware before proceeding!

If you need to update to N900TUVUENK3 and are on a stock firmware that has not been rooted yet:

1. Use the built-in Over The Air (OTA) software updater in your phone settings to check for an update then follow the instructions to update.
2. After booting up, check for an update again and confirm there are none and that you are on firmware N900TUVUENK3 before proceeding to the "EffortLess Rooting Guide" below.

If you are updating from any prior rooted stock firmware (basically, you've used this guide before but need to update) you will need to follow these steps:

1. Download EffortLess ROM Prep.zip and Full Stock NK3.zip
   
2. Unzip both files
   
3. Turn off your phone and then hold the Volume Down, Home Button, and Power Button at the same time, when the phone vibrates, let go of Power Button. Press Volume Up to continue past the "Warning!!" screen.
   
4. Open the EffortLess ROM Prep folder and double click on EffortLess Odin.exe
   
5. Connect your phone to the computer via USB cable (one of the boxes under ID:COM in Odin will fill with a com number and turn baby blue meaning it can communicate with your phone.. if it does not, unplug your phone and run EffortLess Odin USB Driver.exe from the EffortLess ROM Prep unzipped folder. Now plug your phone in again and it should load the driver and the box should turn baby blue and display a com number)
   
6. Click the PDA button and navigate to the unzipped Full Stock NK3 folder, click on N900TUVUENK3_N900TTMBENK3_N900TUVUENK3_HOME.tar.md5 and click Open
   
7. Wait for the file to load properly in Odin, it will take a minute and you'll see a check-mark to the left of the PDA button and the system path of the NK3 file to the right.
   
8. Now click start and wait, don't touch anything until after your phone restarts.

Now go to menu, settings, General tab, and click About device and verify the Baseband version AND Build Number are N900TUVUENK3

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EffortLess Rooting Guide
This method will revert the kernel back to the Samsung stock NE6 kernel (that is vulnerable to the towelroot method). Then you will use towelroot to root. Finally, you will flash back the NK3 kernel and enjoy root on your stock NF3 phone!

This process should take approximately 5 minutes and will not erase any files on your phone.


First download and install towelroot on your phone]:
Navigate to towelroot on your phone (once at the site, click the main center logo) and install the downloaded app (do not open the app and click make it ra1n yet).

Then download EffortLessRootPrep.zip on your Windows computer and unzip it.

Flashing NE6 Kernel

1. Turn off your phone and then hold the Volume Down, Home Button, and Power Button at the same time, when the phone vibrates, let go of Power Button. Press Volume Up to continue past the "Warning!!" screen.
2. Open the EffortLess Root Prep folder and double click on EffortLess Odin.exe
3. Connect your phone to the computer via USB cable (one of the boxes under ID:COM in Odin will fill with a com number and turn baby blue meaning it can communicate with your phone.. if it does not, unplug your phone and run EffortLess Odin USB Driver.exe from the EffortLess Root Prep unzipped folder. Now plug your phone in again and it should load the driver and the box should turn baby blue and display a com number)
4. Click the PDA button and navigate to the unzipped EffortLess Root Prep folder, click on N900TUVUDNE6_KERNEL.tar.md5 and click Open
5. Wait for the file to load properly in Odin, it will take a minute and you'll see a check-mark to the left of the PDA button and the system path of the root file to the right.
6. Now click start and wait, don't touch anything until after your phone restarts.

Running towelroot

1. Once your phone boots up, open the towelroot app and click "make it ra1n".
2. Wait ten seconds and then reboot your phone. (I know it says reboot is not required, do it anyway)
3. Open SuperSU (if it's not in your app drawer, download it from the play store) and if it asks to update the binary, choose the normal method. (if it says installation failed, just try again or try again after you flash back to NK3, it's normal and it'll be updated)
4. When it mentions disabling KNOX, click ok (this will not trip KNOX, it will simply disable it for the time being.. If you want to use KNOX while rooted, don't disable it in SuperSU). NOTE: if it hangs disabling KNOX don't worry. Turn off your phone and proceed to the next step. After flashing the NK3 Kernel back, open SuperSU and disable KNOX and it should work within a few seconds.

Flashing NK3 Kernel back

1. Turn off your phone and then hold the Volume Down, Home Button, and Power Button at the same time, when the phone vibrates, let go of Power Button. Press Volume Up to continue past the "Warning!!" screen.
2. Open the EffortLess Root Prep folder and double click on EffortLess Odin.exe
3. Connect your phone to the computer via USB cable (one of the boxes under ID:COM in Odin will fill with a com number and turn baby blue meaning it can communicate with your phone.. if it does not, unplug your phone and run EffortLess Odin USB Driver.exe from the EffortLess Root Prep unzipped folder. Now plug your phone in again and it should load the driver and the box should turn baby blue and display a com number)
4. Click the PDA button and navigate to the unzipped EffortLess Root Prep folder, click on N900TUVUENK3_KERNEL.tar.md5 and click Open
5. Wait for the file to load properly in Odin, it will take a minute and you'll see a check-mark to the left of the PDA button and the system path of the root file to the right.
6. Now click start and wait, don't touch anything until after your phone restarts.

You can uninstall the towelroot app after you're are finished.

If this helped, please click the "Thanks" button! :good:

| Let me know you like it :highfive: Donate to show your support |

Thanks to:
@geohot for making towelroot
and special thanks @toastito for getting me the stock Odin flashable kernels!

 

[_bhaves_]

This worked for me! Followed your steps and I now have root with Knox counter 0x0. Thank you for the guide! The only issue I had was while updating the Super SU binaries I received an "installation failed" message after updating and disabling knox, but after flashing back to the NF4 kernel I had root and Super SU works fine. You might want to add something to the guide so people know this is normal. :good:

 

[effortless]

This worked for me! Followed your steps and I now have root with Knox counter 0x0. Thank you for the guide! The only issue I had was while updating the Super SU binaries I received an "installation failed" message after updating and disabling knox, but after flashing back to the NF4 kernel I had root and Super SU works fine. You might want to add something to the guide so people know this is normal. :good:

Thanks for the feedback _bhaves_! I'll be adjusting the guide as I get more feedback. I was only able to test this twice as my phone is already KNOX 0x1 and I had limited time with the KNOX 0x0 phone. I concentrated on ensuring KNOX would stay 0x0 during my testing. I had different results than you regarding installing the binaries. Now I feel that running SuperSU and updating it and disabling KNOX should be done after flashing back to NF4 kernel. I feel the reboot clears stuff up and enables SuperSU to function more fluidly. I'll change it to that and await further feedback.

 

[elosogrande7076]

Thanks for the guide! I was on NF1 and used your guides to successfully go to NF4 with no issues and still have not tripped KNOX...thank you good sir.

 

[MajorTux]

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Welcome to ROOT with KNOX 0x0 the EffortLess Way!!​

This is a quick and easy way to root the N900T T-Mobile Note 3 with the full stock NF4 update installed!
This guide will assist you in rooting NF4 without tripping KNOX (preserving 0x0)​

Only proceed with this guide if you want root and do not want a custom recovery or custom ROM installed!

NOTE: You will need to be updated to the full stock NF4 ROM before proceeding!
If you need to update to NF4, use the EffortLess Guide and stop after the "For full N900TUVUDNF4 stock:" section, steps 1-8. (DO NOT proceed to root or flash a custom recovery in that thread) then come back here.

This method will revert the kernel back to the Samsung stock NE6 kernel (that is vulnerable to the towelroot method). Then you will use towelroot to root. Finally, you will flash back the NF4 kernel and enjoy root on your stock NF4 phone!

This process should take approximately 5 minutes and will not erase any files on your phone.

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First download towelroot (once at the site, click the main center logo) on your phone and install the app (do not click make it ra1n yet).

Then download EffortLessRootPrep.zip on your Windows computer and unzip it.

Rooting NF4 (Flashing NE6 Kernel)

1. Turn off your phone and then hold the Volume Down, Home Button, and Power Button at the same time, when the phone vibrates, let go of Power Button. Press Volume Up to continue past the "Warning!!" screen.
2. Open the EffortLess Root Prep folder and double click on EffortLess Odin.exe
3. Connect your phone to the computer via USB cable (one of the boxes under ID:COM in Odin will fill with a com number and turn baby blue meaning it can communicate with your phone.. if it does not, unplug your phone and run EffortLess Odin USB Driver.exe from the EffortLess Root Prep unzipped folder. Now plug your phone in again and it should load the driver and the box should turn baby blue and display a com number)
4. Click the PDA button and navigate to the unzipped EffortLess Root Prep folder, click on N900TUVUDNE6_KERNEL.tar.md5 and click Open
5. Wait for the file to load properly in Odin, it will take a minute and you'll see a check-mark to the left of the PDA button and the system path of the root file to the right.
6. Now click start and wait, don't touch anything until after your phone restarts.

Rooting NF4 (Running towelroot)

1. Once your phone boots up, open the towelroot app and click "make it ra1n".
2. Wait ten seconds and then reboot your phone. (I know it says reboot is not required, do it anyway)
3. Open SuperSU (if it's not in your app drawer, download it from the play store) and if it asks to update the binary, choose the normal method. (if it says installation failed, just try again or try again after you flash back to NF4, it's normal and it'll be updated)
4. When it mentions disabling KNOX, click ok (this will not trip KNOX, it will simply disable it for the time being.. If you want to use KNOX while rooted, don't disable it in SuperSU). NOTE: if it hangs disabling KNOX don't worry. Turn off your phone and proceed to the next step. After flashing the NF4 Kernel back, open SuperSU and disable KNOX and it should work within a few seconds.

Rooting NF4 (Flashing NF4 Kernel back)

1. Turn off your phone and then hold the Volume Down, Home Button, and Power Button at the same time, when the phone vibrates, let go of Power Button. Press Volume Up to continue past the "Warning!!" screen.
2. Open the EffortLess Root Prep folder and double click on EffortLess Odin.exe
3. Connect your phone to the computer via USB cable (one of the boxes under ID:COM in Odin will fill with a com number and turn baby blue meaning it can communicate with your phone.. if it does not, unplug your phone and run EffortLess Odin USB Driver.exe from the EffortLess Root Prep unzipped folder. Now plug your phone in again and it should load the driver and the box should turn baby blue and display a com number)
4. Click the PDA button and navigate to the unzipped EffortLess Root Prep folder, click on N900TUVUDNF4_KERNEL.tar.md5 and click Open
5. Wait for the file to load properly in Odin, it will take a minute and you'll see a check-mark to the left of the PDA button and the system path of the root file to the right.
6. Now click start and wait, don't touch anything until after your phone restarts.

You can uninstall the towelroot app after you're are finished.

If this helped, please click the "Thanks" button! :good:

| Let me know you like it :highfive: Donate to show your support |

Thanks to:
@geohot for making towelroot
and special thanks @toastito for getting me the stock Odin flashable kernels at short notice while I was away from my workstation!

I really wish this had came out when started rooting my Note. I had to send my phone out to Samsung and had to pay to have it fixed

 

[conchchowder]

N900TUVUDNE6_KERNEL.tar.md5 is not present in the folder. Only a CF root file is there and a recovery file.

Towelroot states the device isn't supported.

Knox Warranty Void 0x1

 

[effortless]

N900TUVUDNE6_KERNEL.tar.md5 is not present in the folder. Only a CF root file is there and a recovery file.

Towelroot states the device isn't supported.

You're mixing my how-to threads and files. You didn't download the EffortLessRootPrep file... you downloaded the EffortLess ROM Prep.zip which is used to install a custom recovery and custom rom (both of which will trip your KNOX if flashed).

Also, the whole purpose of this thread is to downgrade to the NE6 kernel which supports towelroot (before running it). I specifically mention not to run it (until after you downgrade to the NE6 kernel), because it's not compatible with NF4.

 

[conchchowder]

[emoji15]

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

 

[GregL]

worked perfectly for me !!!

 

[pete4k]

I would like to thank OP and other developers for all their efforts, it worked like a charm.
But I do have a quick question: I stayed on 4.3 until now due to SD card access being broken and fix requiring root access, that trip Knox.
Of course this solution solved Knox worry and therefore I went ahead updating, however I don't seem to have any SD card issues yet, even before I applied the fix. I just would like to know why?
1. Is it because Google or Samsung fix it in later release?
2. Is it because all the apps I use were already updated?
3. is it because ROMs were somehow fixed either by rooting, or by the people posting the ROM.
Or maybe it's not fixed? When I use ES explorer, I see the folders, but many appear empty, like titanium backup for example.
Now this would be the most stupid thing, if all those folders showing empty weren't, since I always delete empty folders as a rule.
So are SD Card access restrictions fixed in NF4 or not and if not which fix is working well, since I came across some posts that claim broken BT, after applying the fix.
TIA

 

[effortless]

I would like to thank OP and other developers for all their efforts, it worked like a charm.
But I do have a quick question: I stayed on 4.3 until now due to SD card access being broken and fix requiring root access, that trip Knox.
Of course this solution solved Knox worry and therefore I went ahead updating, however I don't seem to have any SD card issues yet, even before I applied the fix. I just would like to know why?
1. Is it because Google or Samsung fix it in later release?
2. Is it because all the apps I use were already updated?
3. is it because ROMs were somehow fixed either by rooting, or by the people posting the ROM.
Or maybe it's not fixed? When I use ES explorer, I see the folders, but many appear empty, like titanium backup for example.
Now this would be the most stupid thing, if all those folders showing empty weren't, since I always delete empty folders as a rule.
So are SD Card access restrictions fixed in NF4 or not and if not which fix is working well, since I came across some posts that claim broken BT, after applying the fix.
TIA

This is a copy and paste of a previous statement I've made about this topic:

A lot of people are very confused on the SD card changes. YOU DO NOT LOSE SD CARD access! The change was that if an app created a folder on your SD card to store stuff, another app cannot access and make changes to it (Which is how it should have been from the beginning). There are many reasons as to why this is the better way (many security related as well as programming related scenarios).

This means that each app can create and write changes to SD card folders it creates and no other folder. The app has to be the creator of the folder it's making changes to.. that makes sense right?! You can still put all the music and pictures and documents you want on the SD card and they will still work like in the past. A few apps had to be updated because they were doing things the old way, but that's been done and you shouldn't have any issues that people had when the change first was done.

4.4 adds a host of new features, bug fixes, network efficiency enhancements and security patches (some are very serious and if you're still on 4.3, your phone is at risk daily). I highly suggest everyone upgrade. If you have any particular issue, private message me and I will help you address it!

To address your current questions though, the change wasn't something that was broken by Google. It shouldn't have been called an SD Card Fix either (like I said, it didn't break), but there were changes in the way Android Apps interacted with the SD card. You can still do this SD Card Fix manually or just use an app in the play store to make the changes for you. There are still certain situations where the "SD Card Fix" is useful, but if it's working for you, then leave it the way it is. Most problems initially were due to needing updates for apps at the time.

 

[pete4k]

This is a copy and paste of a previous statement I've made about this topic:

A lot of people are very confused on the SD card changes. YOU DO NOT LOSE SD CARD access! The change was that if an app created a folder on your SD card to store stuff, another app cannot access and make changes to it (Which is how it should have been from the beginning). There are many reasons as to why this is the better way (many security related as well as programming related scenarios).

This means that each app can create and write changes to SD card folders it creates and no other folder. The app has to be the creator of the folder it's making changes to.. that makes sense right?! You can still put all the music and pictures and documents you want on the SD card and they will still work like in the past. A few apps had to be updated because they were doing things the old way, but that's been done and you shouldn't have any issues that people had when the change first was done.

4.4 adds a host of new features, bug fixes, network efficiency enhancements and security patches (some are very serious and if you're still on 4.3, your phone is at risk daily). I highly suggest everyone upgrade. If you have any particular issue, private message me and I will help you address it!

To address your current questions though, the change wasn't something that was broken by Google. It shouldn't have been called an SD Card Fix either (like I said, it didn't break), but there were changes in the way Android Apps interacted with the SD card. You can still do this SD Card Fix manually or just use an app in the play store to make the changes for you. There are still certain situations where the "SD Card Fix" is useful, but if it's working for you, then leave it the way it is. Most problems initially were due to needing updates for apps at the time.

Thank you for response and again great job on the root.
The reason I used word "broken" was because originally it broke many programs. I would hate not to be able to access DCIM directory created by camera, to view or delete pics with my favorite third party view program, just to give an example, of why limiting access to SD card could create major issues, but it seems to be working fine so far, so I leave it alone for now.
Another quick question: phone status says official, so do I need to worry about future updates breaking the root, or is OTA updates not possible despite official status.

 

[effortless]

Thank you for response and again great job on the root.
The reason I used word "broken" was because originally it broke many programs. I would hate not to be able to access DCIM directory created by camera, to view or delete pics with my favorite third party view program, just to give an example, of why limiting access to SD card could create major issues, but it seems to be working fine so far, so I leave it alone for now.
Another quick question: phone status says official, so do I need to worry about future updates breaking the root, or is OTA updates not possible despite official status.

Don't accept the OTA updates (you can be notified even when rooted). They will most likely result in a softbrick.

Wait for someone to test it or you might have to unroot and take the update and then perform a similar method to get root back. It depends on what they do to prevent things like this in the future (if anything).

 

[pete4k]

thanks for your quick reply, on my previous root phone status was custom, so no OTA there. I guess I just freeze the update app to be on safe side, kids play my phone sometimes and could update by accident, I remember from the time before root how pesky those update reminders can be and how easy it is to press accept instead of cancel.

 

[lanwarrior]

Quick question: I am already at NE6, rooted with TowelRoot and KNOX is NOT tripped. Which steps I need to follow to upgrade to NF4?

Or is the steps shown here is not applicable in my case?

 

[effortless]

Quick question: I am already at NE6, rooted with TowelRoot and KNOX is NOT tripped. Which steps I need to follow to upgrade to NF4?

Or is the steps shown here is not applicable in my case?

This guide will work for you. However, you should start from fresh stock NF4 unrooted. Odin stock NF4 and proceed.

It's a lot harder to update a rooted NE6 to all the NF4 files then it is to root NF4 using the NE6 kernel.

 

[lanwarrior]

This guide will work for you. However, you should start from fresh stock NF4 unrooted. Odin stock NF4 and proceed.

It's a lot harder to update a rooted NE6 to all the NF4 files then it is to root NF4 using the NE6 kernel.

I just did an upgrade from NE6 to NF4 following the thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/not...udnf4-extracted-stock-firmware-t2834398/page3

But my phone is now hosed - cannot use keyboard ("Unfortunately, Samsung Keyboard has stopped" error) and APN is gone from SIM card. So I am trying to salvage this.

If I Odin NF4 (add the NF4 file to "AP" in Odin), wouldn't this trip KNOX?

 

[effortless]

I just did an upgrade from NE6 to NF4 following the thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/not...udnf4-extracted-stock-firmware-t2834398/page3

But my phone is now hosed - cannot use keyboard ("Unfortunately, Samsung Keyboard has stopped" error) and APN is gone from SIM card. So I am trying to salvage this.

If I Odin NF4 (add the NF4 file to "AP" in Odin), wouldn't this trip KNOX?

No.. Knox is only tripped with custom kernel or custom recovery. Flashing stock NF4 in Odin will not trip Knox. Just flash NF4 in Odin and reset your phone through the settings and it will be working fine again.

Don't continue to flash the recovery or root your phone through my other guide as it will trip Knox (If that is something you are avoiding).

 

[lanwarrior]

Don't continue to flash the recovery or root your phone through this guide as it will trip Knox (If that is something you are avoiding).

Oh, I thought this guide refer to rooting NF4? I was reading through the steps and it talks about "downgrading" to NE6 kernel if one already have NF4.

If needed to, I can flash stock NE6, do a system update to NF4, then follow this guide.

Err.. I just realized that my phone still have SU and root still working, even after hard reset. That means system update won't work. I guess flashing stock will wipe out root?

 

[effortless]

Oh, I thought this guide refer to rooting NF4? I was reading through the steps and it talks about "downgrading" to NE6 kernel if one already have NF4.

If needed to, I can flash stock NE6, do a system update to NF4, then follow this guide.

Err.. I just realized that my phone still have SU and root still working, even after hard reset. That means system update won't work. I guess flashing stock will wipe out root?

Sorry for the confusion. I edited it to say my other guide (my other guide is for custom recovery and custom rom).. through this guide is fine. Don't root through Odin, root using the NE6 kernel and towelroot like it says and you'll be ok with Knox.