How to Root the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

Chainfire’s known for coming up with easiest root methods for the Android Devices and recently, he developed a root method for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. The device in talk runs the Android Ice Cream Sandwich and is upgradable to Android Jelly Bean, a big relief for those of you seeking to get their hands on the Google’s latest innovation. Some of the developers have already customized the Jelly Bean for the device in the form of custom ROMs and if you install them on your device, you can have a bit different experience than the ones using pure JB. First step towards installing custom ROMs is root the device and the following guide explains how you can root your Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 device.

I. Before You Begin:

1. This should void the warranty of your device. However, you can reinstate the warranty by unrooting the device if there’s any unrooting procedure available.

2. Make sure your device’s charged fully or has at least 60% of battery life left.

3. The following procedure is intended to work on P5100, P5110 and P5113 models only.

II. Downloading Required Files:

1. Root Package (Download link’s given next to your model no. in the third post)

2. Odin (It’s attached in the second post)

III. Rooting the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1:

1. Place both the archives you downloaded to your Desktop.

2. Extract files from both the archives to your Desktop.

3. Double-click on the Odin executable file and it’ll launch.

4. In the Odin, click on PDA and select the Root File (.tar.md5) you extracted to your Desktop.

5. Turn OFF your device.

6. Reboot the device into Download mode. This can be done by pressing and holding Volume DOWN+Power buttons together.

7. Once inside the Download mode, connect the device to your PC via USB cable.

8. Uncheck the Repartition box if it’s checked.

9. Hit the Start button and it’ll begin rooting the device.

10. It should take some time to root the device, so be patient.

11. And you’re rooted now!

Brilliant! Your device has been successfully rooted and you now have the ability to install root-only apps on your device.

IV. Flash a Custom Recovery Image (Optional):

1. If you would like to flash a custom recovery image in order to flash custom ROMs, head to the How To Flash a Custom Recovery Image on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 to learn how to do that.

If this procedure helped you please thank/donate to the original developers here.

If you need help with this procedure, please ask in the comments below or in the forum.

This is part of our Android How To’s. We have how to’s on rooting, loading ROMs, and tons of other tips and tricks for your specific device or for Android devices in general! For all of our Android How To’s, head here.

43 thoughts on “How to Root the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1”

      1. Mahesh Makvana

        You have to have a Windows based machine to do this as Odin supports only Windows PCs at the moment.

    1. Same for me after much frustration trying vol down. I have to do pwr + vol up then vol down after the next screen appears

    2. entropicsinkhole

      Thanks for this — I couldn’t figure out why the Vol Down + Power wasn’t working for me too, but this was why

  1. how much battery does it take during this process,
    it doesnt charge wile plugged into the computer,
    how much battery life does it take wile rooting?

    1. Mahesh Makvana

      It should take a few minutes (~6) to finish the root procedure. So, you’re suggested to have at least 60% of battery life left on your device. In some circumstances, it can take more time, so be prepared for it.

      Thanks!

  2. also what does this rooting file do exactly, im kinda scared to do it,
    i dont want a screwed up system, will this rooting change my system in anyway

    other then make it able to run root apps?

    HELP!!! does it change the system at all befor i do it!

    1. Mahesh Makvana

      Nop, it doesn’t change your system in any way. All it does is just inject the “su” binaries as well as Superuser app to your device, so you can grant root level access to Apps/Games on your device.

      Thanks!

  3. I just did this, it took about a minute and then said fail.

    Added!!

    Enter CS for MD5..

    Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

    Please wait..

    CF-Auto-Root-espresso10wifi-espresso10wifibby-gtp5113.tar.md5 is valid.

    Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

    Leave CS..

    Odin v.3 engine (ID:5)..

    File analysis..

    SetupConnection..

    Can’t open the serial(COM) port.

    All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

  4. Enter CS for MD5..
    Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..
    Please wait..
    CF-Auto-Root-espresso10rf-espresso10rfxx-gtp5100.tar.md5 is valid.
    Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..
    Leave CS..
    All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 0)
    Is This Ok?

    1. Tom Prendergast

      i had the same problem – you need to hit power and volume UP (not volume down – this takes you to a different menu). you will see it register in Odin in the first box on the left, it will turn yellow and have something like “0:[COM6]” written in it.

      1. Jailton Leite

        I tried to hit power and volume Up and appeared “Firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies & try again”. What can I do now?

    1. Mahesh Makvana

      Nop, it doesn’t erase the data stored on the device. However, to be in safe-side, we’d suggest you to take a backup of all your important files in case something goes wrong and you lose them.

      Thanks!

  5. Im kinda a noob to rooting and like others im scared of rooting my tablet in fear that it will brick. ive looked up on ho to do it and all but my only doubt is on how do i know if the models listed a model that i have. I have an AT&T Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 with 4g lte and an ir blaster… i hope some one can help me with this soon. thanks much 🙂

    1. Go to settings on your Tab
      Scroll to the bottom
      There should be a Blue circle and next to that it should read: About Device
      Click that and it should tell you what Model number you should have.

  6. charlotte rowberry

    I’m battling upload my cv to a website as when i want upload my cv it gives me the option to browse but it’s only the pic gallery and voice recorder and not my documents is there a setting that will enable me to browse my documents?

  7. Just rooted my GT-P5110 Android 4.1.2. Thanks so much for this very easy “how-to”, much simpler than the one described on xda-developers. Now I can start to clean up and install Titanium backup, Thank You!!

  8. that didnt work..i have samsung gt2 10.1 running on jellybean 4.1.2..what i did is power+volume up..than a warning sign will appear then i press volume down to go to odin mode

  9. Brilliant, worked perfectly on my Samsung tablet 2 P-5110. But the download mode is started by pressing Volume UP and Power on my device.

  10. So I followed all the steps to a T, not even sure if it rooted my tablet, but it did wipe all the data away. I certainly do hope there is some way to restore all lost data

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