[Video Guide] How To Root Galaxy S4 I337 / I337m Easy & User Friendly

[TheSmokingAndroid]

Hey folks. It's me again :victory: So I've got another super easy video guide on how to root your shiny new Samsung Galaxy S4 I337 or I337m.

This guide is using djrbliss's Motochopper tool. This tool has made it easier than ever to root a device! So BIG thanks goes out to him!

Links to everything can be found in the video description.

Enjoy

 

[scott14719]

Here is a couple of more. I figure its better to keep them all in one place so people can decide which guide they want to use.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2257039

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2257058

I think there might be a couple more out there but this should help people to answer any possible question about rooting that they could ever have.

If you have the AT&T OTA (MF3) for the SGH-I337 S4, the method in the OP does not work. Here is a method for rooting MF3:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2387577

For Canadian MG1 Firmware, try CF Auto-Root download for the SGH-I337M:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2293800

 

[rsarwar]

Just sold my Rogers S2 LTE because I upgraded to the S4. My quick question, if I ROOT and retain the original Samsung Recovery will I be able to still get and do official firmware upgrades? This is the only thing stopping me from going forward with rooting.

 

[Stoneyguy]

You can still get updates, but you will loose your root access with each update.

 

[Slade8525]

thanks: im now rooted and sim unlocked for free!

 

[dh2225]

thanks: im now rooted and sim unlocked for free!

Hey, how did you sim unlock it for free, do you mind sharing?

 

[Slade8525]

yeah sure!

similar method worked for my GS III; havent tested the GS IV with different sim just yet but GF's old GS III is working just fine for her sister in Canada (Bell i think). GF found it actually, and did it to hers 1st. ill know if it works when we leave for work in Montreal next week or if i bum a t-mobile cell from a friend.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2282683

 

[Dragosmp]

You can still get updates, but you will loose your root access with each update.

WRONG, I am unable to update my device, it says that my phone has been modified, and yes, I have rooted it with this video.

 

[MaliciousIntent69]

Whenever I try this method, when it goes to push the exploit, it says error multiple devices or something. when I only have the S4 plugged in. Followed step by step.

 

[Stoneyguy]

WRONG, I am unable to update my device, it says that my phone has been modified, and yes, I have rooted it with this video.

My phone is rooted and still shows official in phone status. There is a post on how to regain that status while still maintaining your root.

 

[rsarwar]

My phone is rooted and still shows official in phone status. There is a post on how to regain that status while still maintaining your root.

Could you post a link to where it shows how to regain the status will maintaining the root?

 

[scott14719]

Could you post a link to where it shows how to regain the status will maintaining the root?

The link has already been posted on the first page.

 

[tony1208]

thanks worked great just rooted min in 5 min

 

[sblevine]

Safe to root?

Excuse my ignorance, but on another thread it was suggested that in the absence of recovery and a backup image rooting might be premature. Is the general consensus now that it is safe to root? There seems to be some backup images around thought I don't know if they have been tested, and I haven't heard about recovery.

sblevine

 

[speed2001]

Newbie here... couple of questions

I have the same concern as the member above... is it already possible to restore the phone if something goes bad? Is there instructions anywhere around this forum? where?

Also, once you root the phone you can proceed to download a ROM and install it... when a new ROM version is available and I download and install it, do I lose the root?

What is the best (if more than one is already available) for the ATT S4?

Thank you all and sorry for the "newbieness"....

Cheers:good:

 

[Relys]

I have the same concern as the member above... is it already possible to restore the phone if something goes bad? Is there instructions anywhere around this forum? where?

Also, once you root the phone you can proceed to download a ROM and install it... when a new ROM version is available and I download and install it, do I lose the root?

What is the best (if more than one is already available) for the ATT S4?

Thank you all and sorry for the "newbieness"....

Cheers:good:

No, rooting gives you certain superuser privileges. You can use Titanium Backup to freeze and restore bloatware, AdBlock to block advertisements, etc. Some phone tracking software and remote desktop control software requires root as well.

You cannot modify the basic operating system (ROM) until the bootloader is unlocked. You can overwrite the files, but that will brick your device since the bootloader checks signatures.

There is a bootloader exploit for the ATT S4 that will be released within the next week. The developer was waiting until the Verizon version of the S4 was available so more people would be able to use the exploit before it was patched.

Do not accept an OTA update for your device as that is how they will patch the bootloader exploit.

1. Root your device.
2. Carrier unlock your device.
3. Install custom ROM when bootloader is exploited later this week.

 

[speed2001]

No, rooting gives you certain superuser privileges. You can use Titanium Backup to freeze and restore bloatware, AdBlock to block advertisements, etc. Some phone tracking software and remote desktop control software requires root as well.

You cannot modify the basic operating system (ROM) until the bootloader is unlocked. You can overwrite the files, but that will brick your device since the bootloader checks signatures.

There is a bootloader exploit for the ATT S4 that will be released within the next week. The developer was waiting until the Verizon version of the S4 was available so more people would be able to use the exploit before it was patched.

Do not accept an OTA update for your device as that is how they will patch the bootloader exploit.

1. Root your device.
2. Carrier unlock your device.
3. Install custom ROM when bootloader is exploited later this week.

Cool, thanks for the reply. I was under the impression that the bootloader was already exploited. Pure BS those protections that always end up broken like the IOS ones. What I would like is to have the S4 as factory released and load a good ROM without any problems and no bloatware. If not for the warranty I would buy an unlocked phone elsewhere.

Well, let's wait for the exploit next week. I don't want to brick my phone and not able to restore it. I will keep checking back.

Cheers and thanks again

Speed

 

[rsarwar]

No, rooting gives you certain superuser privileges. You can use Titanium Backup to freeze and restore bloatware, AdBlock to block advertisements, etc. Some phone tracking software and remote desktop control software requires root as well.

You cannot modify the basic operating system (ROM) until the bootloader is unlocked. You can overwrite the files, but that will brick your device since the bootloader checks signatures.

There is a bootloader exploit for the ATT S4 that will be released within the next week. The developer was waiting until the Verizon version of the S4 was available so more people would be able to use the exploit before it was patched.

Do not accept an OTA update for your device as that is how they will patch the bootloader exploit.

1. Root your device.
2. Carrier unlock your device.
3. Install custom ROM when bootloader is exploited later this week.

Regarding the bold above, I am honestly not that interested in the Custom ROMS right now, only rooting and with this method it does not install any custom recovery, right? As well, if I root via this method will I be able to still do the OTA updates since Samsung recovery is untouched? I know and understand that I will likely loose root, but I can always re-root, right?

I am itching to root and this is the only thing stopping me as there seems to be much confusion about this.

BTW I am on Rogers (Canada) i337M if it makes a difference

 

[zekeblue]

Regarding the bold above, I am honestly not that interested in the Custom ROMS right now, only rooting and with this method it does not install any custom recovery, right? As well, if I root via this method will I be able to still do the OTA updates since Samsung recovery is untouched? I know and understand that I will likely loose root, but I can always re-root, right?

I am itching to root and this is the only thing stopping me as there seems to be much confusion about this.

BTW I am on Rogers (Canada) i337M if it makes a difference

I've been a bit confused as well despite reading hundreds of posts and watching referenced videos (I've also been hesitant to ask questions given the culture of this board). Here is what I hope is accurate, please correct where I am wrong:

1. We can root I337 now.
2. Doing a simple root now is reversible, ie, can be un-rooted.
3. The bootloader unlock is needed primarily for custom roms.
4. If one does not desire a custom rom, there is no reason to wait to root.

And, a few questions:

1. Does rooting wipe out apps, settings, and/or data?
2. Will an AT&T android system update remove the root?
3. If so, can we just root again?

Thank you for clarifications. I'm sure there are many that are not posting with some of these questions. I will be glad to put together a noobie's guide if I can get a handle on all of this. It is all out there somewhere, but very fragmented, and often one post is contradicted by another.

 

[Relys]

I've been a bit confused as well despite reading hundreds of posts and watching referenced videos (I've also been hesitant to ask questions given the culture of this board). Here is what I hope is accurate, please correct where I am wrong:

1. We can root I337 now.
2. Doing a simple root now is reversible, ie, can be un-rooted.
3. The bootloader unlock is needed primarily for custom roms.
4. If one does not desire a custom rom, there is no reason to wait to root.

And, a few questions:

1. Does rooting wipe out apps, settings, and/or data?
2. Will an AT&T android system update remove the root?
3. If so, can we just root again?

Thank you for clarifications. I'm sure there are many that are not posting with some of these questions. I will be glad to put together a noobie's guide if I can get a handle on all of this. It is all out there somewhere, but very fragmented, and often one post is contradicted by another.

Your assumptions are correct:
1. Yep.
2. Yes, you can delete busybox and su in your system directory to get your phone switch your phone from "Custom" to "Official" status. If you install SuperSu and remove Superuser you can have root while keeping "Official" status.
3. Correct.
4. If you **** up while messing around with root you can recover to stock ROM via Odin or Kies. There is no reason to wait for root.

To answer your questions.
1. No, nothing changes. You just enable superuser privileges.
2. Typically yes. Don't accept OTA's until your know they're safe.
3. It depends if they patch the exploit or not.