You will learn now how to root any firmware version installed on the Galaxy Nexus device model, including (International GSM, Verizon editions and Sprint.
You’ll be able to root your devices using new Android firmware filesthat means the root will be compatible with all Galaxy Nexus versions (Verizon or the Europe/ Asia/ USA GSM editions, Sprint edition).
When you’ll rooting your device, your warranty as the smartphones will be void and you will need to unlock the bootloader. If you want to restore your warranty, you’ll have a need to unroot the smartphone and to reloock the bootloader. This tutorial is compatible with Mac OS X, Linux and Windows computers
A preparation instructions are required and below we will teach you how you can properly prepare your smartphone for the rooting process. After that, you’ll get the root access on your Galaxy Nexus device, you can enjoy with your Ice Cream Sandwich options and experience. Enable the USB debugging mode, for that you need to open Settings, find the Developer Options, check the options where you find USB Debugging.
- Verify your power level for your battery device, make sure that your battery level is at least 80%.
- Make a backup for your critical and important data, during the rooting process is possible some data may be erased. You should know to make a synchronisation for your contacts with your Gmail account.
- Note down your Internet settings configuration and save the MMS settings, in case something is not working it will not be available to use your internet connection after the rooting is completed.
- Create a full backup for your smartphone, we will unlock the smartphone bootloader.
- Save your SMS with the SMS Backup & Restore applicationInstall TWRP Recovery tools or ClockworkMod on your smartphone, the needed Filles you can find in the zip file which you’ll download at the first step from our tutorial.
Disclaimer:
This post is only for the educational purpose. So if, anything happens to your device the android.sc team is not responsible for that.
How to root the Samsung Galaxy Nexus running on any firmware version:
- Download the Galaxy Nexus root archive from this linkand save this file on your PC (on desktop).
Extract the downloaded zip file in a folder named ‘GalaxyNexusRootNew’ and then move this folder on your PC’s C partition(drive), and USERS and select your current user profile name folder, create a new folder named ‘Downloads’, - Place the downloaded zip file there.
Put the smartphone into fastboot mode, for this take the back cover OFF, and remove the battery wait a moment and then reinsert battery back in. - Now, when the smartphone is powered off press and keep holding the volume up and volume down buttons in the same time and with this buttons pressed you need to press and hold the Pwer button, a vibration bleap you’ll hear then the fastbootmode will load.
- In fastboot mode, connect your Gnex to your computer using the original USB cable. Note: for the Windows OS you need to have the USB drivers for your device installed on your PC, if you don’t have the compatible drivers, download the drivers from this link.
- Open a CMD (command prompt), or a terminal window in the downloads folder you made it at the 2 step, and there enter the next commands:
- cd GalaxyNexusRootNew
- fastboot oem unlock
For MAC PC, you should change ‘fastboot’ with ‘./fastboot-mac‘
For the Linux users should write this: ‘ ./fastboot-linux‘
- After running the commands, your Galaxy Nexus display shows you a message where, you need to confirm for unlocking the bootloader. There you must select Yes and press POWER.
On your PC, leave the CMD opened and now wait until the process will unlock your bootloader.
- Install the ClockworkMod Recovery for the International GSM / Verizon editions and the TWRP Recovery for the Sprint model.
For the International GSM Gnex model, you’ll need to enter this commands in the CMD:
- fastboot flash recovery optimus_prime-touch-v5.5.0.4-6-GSM.img
For the Verizon Gnex model you need to enter this command line in the CMD :
- fastboot flash recovery optimus_prime-touch-v5.5.0.4-6-toro-VERIZON.img
For the Sprint Gnex edition, you’ll need to enter this command line:
- fastboot flash recovery twrp-toroplus-2.1.2-SPRINT.img
For the MAC users, they need to replace the ‘fastboot’ with /fastboot-mac
For the Linux users, they need to replace with this /fastboot-linux
- Restart your Galaxy Nexus device and when main display opens, select the ‘CWM-SuperSU-vo.87.zip’ and place this file on your smartphone’s internal SD card storage drive. After you copied the file power off the smartphone for entering Clockworkmod recovery.
- Now, when your Google Nexus device is stopped, you need to press and keep holding Volume Up and Down buttons along with Power buttons. Keep pressed these buttons until appears Fastboot mode and there the ‘LOCK STATE’ says ‘UNLOCKED’.
- With the volume buttons, you can navigate in the fastboot menu and select ‘Recovery mode’. After you selected press Power button to start the recovery mode, and wait until the CWM, or TWRP is totally loaded.
We will divide the tutorial in two parts to install the SuperSU app:
- For the International GSM and Verizon Galaxy Nexus, the owners need to select the following option ‘install zip from sdcard’ and then chose ‘choose zip from sdcard’ and after that select the copied file at step 9 on your smartphone’s SD card memory. This file should be “CWM-SuperSU-vo.87.zip” after the file selection confirms the installation and be patient until the process is complete.
- For the Sprint Google Nexus users, they need to choose ‘Install’ and then select ‘CWM-SuperSU-vo.87.zip’ zip file, hit to approve the installation of the SuperSU app and then you need to wait until this process is complete.
Now the SuperSU tool has been flashed on your Galaxy Nexus smartphone, and now your Samsung Galaxy Nexus has been rooted.
The final step is to restart your smartphone from the Recovery Menu, and after that you need to wait until the first boot will be done.
With the root access, you will can install any custom ROM firmware available for your device. Now you successfully learnt how to root the Samsung Galaxy Nexus running on any firmware version.
