How To: Root the HTC G1 / Dream (AndRoot Method)

I. Before You Begin

1. This should be the easiest method to root.

2. This should also work on any G1 / Dream on Android 1.6 Build DMD64.

II. Gain Root Access with AndRoot

1. Download AndRoot and save it to your computer.

AndRoot

2. Plug in your phone via USB cable and mount the sd card so we can transfer files to it.

3. Copy the Universal Androot .apk file to the root of the sd card (NOT in any folders, just on the sd card itself).

4. Unplug the phone.

5. Go to the Market on your phone and download Linda File Manager (it’s free, search for Linda).

6. Open Linda and look on the sd card for the Universal Androot .apk file and select it. Follow the prompts to install it.

7. Open Androot and click Root. Wait for it to finish.

8. You now have root access!

9. (Optional) If you want to load custom ROMs then please head to our next procedure; How To Flash a Custom Recovery.

Reported Issues:

Issue: It says I’m rooted but I don’t see superuser permissions.

Solution: Reboot the phone and it should appear.

239 thoughts on “How To: Root the HTC G1 / Dream (AndRoot Method)”

        1. ..,

          Just add the regular G1 Unlimited Data plan for $30/month. If you add it and then remove it the same day, they prorate the charges ($30/ 30 days in a month x 1 day of usage = $1).

    1. Mike and SurgioArmani,

      Thanks for reporting, that is exactly what I had and worked fine. Try this and let me know if anything works:

      1. Head to our How To Unroot procedure and use that to get to a stock DMD64, then try the procedure again. Let me know if that works, if not, we’ll try something else.

    1. Mike and SurgioArmani,

      Thanks for reporting, that is exactly what I had and worked fine. Try this and let me know if anything works:

      1. Head to our How To Unroot procedure and use that to get to a stock DMD64, then try the procedure again. Let me know if that works, if not, we’ll try something else.

  1. Whenever I try to open the .apk file with the Linda file manager I just get a “There is a problem parsing the package” error and can’t do anything else. I have a G1 with v1.6. Any ideas? Thanks.

        1. Am I supposed to have done a factory reset before trying this? or should it work just how my phone is now because I haven’t done a reset.

  2. i got the root access and got the setcpu but does anybody know how to change the kernel? i already have the kernel downloaded and saved to my computer but dont know how to change it on my htc g1

  3. these is what i’m seeing in the zip file using winrar
    assets “folder”
    meta-inf “folder”
    res “folder”
    androidmanifest
    classes.dex
    resources.arsc

  4. yes so i can overclock my g1. so far it will only go up to 576 would like to overclock it even better by going higher like 900 or so

  5. I figured out my problem… something with my anti-virus software was interfering with the download of the .apk file I guess. When I turned off the software and tried it it worked on the first time. Didn’t have the Superuser access though after I rooted the phone, so I downloaded it from the Market. What is the Superuser actually supposed to do though? It seems like it’s just a log for other apps?

  6. as long your g1 has version 1.6 it should work..if you guys want i can post a list of all the cell phones that this program works for

  7. Everything is installed correctly but my G1 is always saying, “Start Tethering, Please wait while starting…”

    Does WiFi have to be on for this to work?

    1. Matt,

      That has nothing to do with the root and more so to do with the Wifi Tethering app (if it gets past the opening of the app without saying root access not found then you have root). Check with the Wifi tethering site by searching for Wifi tether in Google (try a different version of their APK).
      And Wifi must be OFF before you open the Wifi tethering app.

  8. I was able to go through the whole process and dosee the “Superuser Permissions” added to the list of installed apps.

    Whenever I tried to switch over to the “Logs” tab, I’d get “The application Superuser Permissions (process com.noshufou.android.su) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again.” with a “Force close” button.

    I’ve rebooted still the same issue with the “Logs” tab. I’m on 1.6 DMD64.

    Any ideas?

    1. That’s fine, download and install Terminal Emulator. Open it, hold menu for the keyboard to come up, then type su and hit enter. It should ask for permissions, say Allow. Then you should see a # symbol, if you do, you have root!

  9. I cant get AndroidSDK to work on the command prompt …it cant find the path….is there a way to skip this step? androot did work for me. Ive got recovery flasher too. is there a way to get to cyanogen with that tool?

  10. just a quick question, since the dream and the mt3g 3.5 (non slide version) are ruffly the same thing, can i use this format to root my phone?

    1. They are not the same thing internally at all (the old mytouch without the 3.5mm headphone jack was but the one with the new headphone jack has more RAM and a different motherboard, 32A instead of 32B).
      What does it all mean? Basically that ROMs and rooting procedures on the G1/Old MyTouch do NOT work on the new MyTouch with the 3.5mm headphone jack (aka the MyTouch 1.2).

      BUT this new AndRoot procedure MIGHT work since it does work on the Hero (which is closer to the new MyTouch internally than the G1).

      Go ahead and try it on the MyTouch you have and please let us know if it works or not 🙂 Thanks!
      PS Don’t worry, this procedure cannot mess up your phone if it goes wrong, it simply will say failed on the screen.

        1. i cant get it to open androot.apk whether i have it zipped or not zipped. it just opens it lik a file and as i don’t know which one in the folder actually starts the installation, if any, i can’t get anything to install.

  11. Hi Unlockr,

    About a week ago, I successfully rooted one of my G1 phones and it has been working fine for the past week on 3G until today. Now, the rooted phone is always stuck on EDGE, and when I put the SIM card in my non-rooted G1, 3G works fine. I tried this several times, and the rooted G1 still remains stuck on EDGE, while my non-rooted G1 gets 3G just fine. I haven’t done any flashing or updating since I rooted the phone, nor have I downloaded any new apps. So what could the problem be? All I did was use he rooted phone normally. How come, all of a sudden out of nowhere, my rooted phone is stuck on EDGE? Are there any fixes for this? Please help. Thanks.

    1. Mike,

      Check your settings and male sure you didn’t set it to use 2G only or some other setting etc. Rooting the phone wouldn’t have done anything to the data service on its own. Also what firmware and radio version is it on (you would of had to change these things manually by the way).
      All else fails factory reset then reroot.

      1. Unlockr,

        I have already stated that the “Use only 2G networks” option is not checked. That is not the issue. My rooted phone was working fine for A FULL WEEK before this problem with 3G started happening yesterday. My Radio version is: 2.22.19.26I. My Firmware is 1.6. My HBOOT is 1.33.2005. I would much rather find a simple fix to get 3G back before I go through the process of doing a factory reset and re-rooting the phone again. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

        1. Again sorry, but that isn’t an issue with rooting, it has to be something else. Since it has nothing to do with rooting the phone, only advice I can give is to reset the phone and try again. Otherwise call T-Mobile, Google it, or search forums to see if anyone else has the same issue.
          It is possible that the phone’s hardware is messed up or it could just be a software bug, it’s impossible to tell without having the phone in my hand. Sorry couldn’t be of more help, good luck!

  12. Hello there,
    I have a T-mobile G1, Firmware v. 1.6 and Build number DMD64. I am attempting to root my G1 using Androot. I have successfully followed steps 1-8, and the Androot program assures me that “Woot! Your device is rooted” but I see no evidence that is true. There is no additional application in the Application drawer (except for the Universal Androot ap). I have rebooted several times, I have used the Androot Ap to Unroot and then Root again but nothing changes. If there is no Superuser ap (or whatever is supposed to appear in the Application drawer), then I’m guessing I have actually rooted my G1. How can I tell conclusively that my G1 is rooted so that I can procedd to the next steps of flashing a ROM? Thanks for any advice you can offer.
    Steven

    1. the way to tell if your device is rooted is if it comes with superuser if not reboot your device and then check. Also try download an app from the market that requires root access

      1. I downloaded and installed OverClockWidget which requires root/su status. The program installs but it does not overclock the CPU (even though it temporarily lets me set it as though it does). The changes do not actually take place and the widget shows that I’m back at 384MHZ. I also get an “Operation Failure, please check su command” error message. And I also installed Terminal Emulator and from the screen prompt, when I type “su ” I get the error message “Segmentation Fault”. So I’m reasonably sure my phone isn’t rooted.

        1. Steve,

          I had your same exact setup (v1.6 DMD64, etc.) and problem (Woot! but no root…). After 2-3 hours of countless installing, rebooting, rooting-unrooting, I found out that the app “WI-FI DISABLE” was interfering with the process. The moment I uninstalled it, all worked out (terminal emulator –> su = #) and my G1 is crunching @ 528 now!

  13. i did all the steps good but i don’t c anything changed in my G1, how do i know that it worked or not ???

    G1 – DMD64 – V 1.6

  14. Hi my version is 1.6 and build number DRC92.

    I would like to be able to run apps strait from the SD card, as the phone memory is not sufficient and also I would like to use my phone with any SIM card, as at the moment it is locked to T-Mobile.

    Is running of AndRoot the right way to solve my 2 problems or there is something else I need to do?

      1. Can you plz tell me what must be done so that I can install my apps to SDcard this rooting method worked great I dont wana Flash any new roms so is it posible to do it on a rooted G1 with no custom Rom on it? plz let me know thanks and if you can make a Video about it that would be so awsome 🙂

  15. Same exact problem as Steven. Rebooted several times, factory reset twice, unrooted, rerooted. Superuser will not run. Found the apk in system/apps, but it refuses to run or load. I even tried an earlier version of UA, but no difference.

  16. ok i got passed that the mcafee issue, but now i hav another one. i dont hav a data plan so i had to go through the process of going back to RC29. i followed all the steps and now i’m trying to androot it, but it androot crashes. what am i doing wrong?

  17. after i follow your steps and have my g1 rooted can i save apps to sd card?? and if so can do you have a video on how to do that. hate the 70mb

  18. I am having the same problem as addressed by mike and surgioarmani on Sept 24, steven hare on Sept 30 and codezior on Oct.1. I have a G1 v1.6 DMD64. I get a woot but no superuser installed. I tried rebooting, unrooting, re-rooting with no change. When I enter su on terminal emulator I get “segmentation fault.” so there is no root access. Anyone at Theunlockr contact the Androot developer for feedback? It appears that this is a common problem.

  19. I did it and it worked thanks so much 🙂 and yes I installed Terminal Emulator and it works fine but how do I make my apps install to SD card I dont wana flash any roms only run app of my SD card can you tell me how to do it plz thanks 🙂

  20. This worked great! Thank you. I run the wireless tether app, gave permission with superuser and now I have my Ipad connected with my g1’s 3g….awesome. Thanks!!!

  21. Hello, I have the same problem, I rebooted the phone in some occasions and there is still no superuser permission. i dont what happen.

    1. Because technically its right. The app is a “virus” in one aspect (in the sense that it is trying to get the OS to do something it normally wouldn’t allow.
      Your computer is confused however in thinking that its a virus for your computer and that it is harmful.

      Just ignore it and you’ll be fine (plenty of people have downloaded it without any issues, including myself)

  22. Hi, my g1 is running on DMD64 android 1.6.
    I have tried the root procedure by installing androot, it says that the phone is rooseted but the superuser does not seem to appear. I have rebooted my phone ( turned it off and on agen) but it still did not appear.
    Do u think I should factory reset my fone and then install it agen to see if it works?

  23. So I’m very much a rookie at doing any type of modifications to my phone (G1). I tried following the steps all the way through. When the phone rebooted it got stuck at the boot screen. Does anyone have any ideas of what I should do to remedy this problem? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

  24. So I’m very much a rookie at doing any type of modifications to my phone (G1). I tried following the steps all the way through. When the phone rebooted it got stuck at the boot screen. Does anyone have any ideas of what I should do to remedy this problem? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    1. This drove me crazy for about 45 minutes, too. If you rename it on your compy it will just append the .apk with a .zip extension (so it will be “blahblah.apk.zip”) even though you may not be able to see the zip part.

      What you need to do is rename it with the .apk WITHIN THE LINDA FILE MANAGER. It’s an “oh, of course” moment for many of us, myself included.

  25. I have the same issue as Patrick. I see a Superuser.apk in the System>Apps folder but it won’t work. I don’t have a superuser icon or anything.

  26. I have the same issue as Patrick. I see a Superuser.apk in the System>Apps folder but it won’t work. I don’t have a superuser icon or anything.

  27. I was able to transfer Androot from my pc but when i open it in Linda to install it, it says, “there is a problem parsing the package.” … Now what do I do ….

  28. “Issue: It says I’m rooted but I don’t see superuser permissions.

    Solution: Reboot the phone and it should appear.”

    When I tried to reboot, it can’t find update.zip error takes place.
    Every steps are taken without any problem. What’s wrong????

  29. I am rooted after installing Universal AndRoot, but # cp /sdcard/init.rc /data/ command gives error as cp not found. How do I fix this problem?

  30. all im getting when i open the universal androot file, a blank screen that says view archive at the top.. what do i do next

  31. if you are having the parsing error dont save the file to your computer, just open it and then copy the zip file to your sd card then follow the rest of the instructions from 4

    1. Tried SuperOneClick Method and Androot. Both say rooted, but deny superuser access (verified via terminal emulator and superuser app – dnld). Running SuperOneClick it returns “Failed to copy superuser.apk…”

      It appears the system files are read only and can not be altered. Using various Explorer apps, I can access these files but can not alter.

      I am surprised the 1st phone has not been figured out yet. I would think it would be the easiest. I noticed dozens of other users are encountering the same issues. Is there a solution I am missing after trolling for hours?

      Unlocker, thanks for your efforts, hard work, and thorough posts. I’ll be sure to donate once I finally get to Froyo.

      DREA100 PVT 32B
      HBOTT-0.95.0000
      CPLD-4
      RADIO-2.22.23.02
      Sep 2, 2008
      Serial0

      1.6
      62.50sc.20.17h_2.22.23.02
      2.6.29-00479-g3c7df37
      android-build@apa26 #19
      DMD64

  32. I tried this method after trying the oneclick. it said I already had root but I rerooted. it said root was successful but barnacle wifi cant get root permission. this is on a tmobile G1 build # dmd64., what’s the scoop? what should I do now?

    all i want to do is get wireless wifi.

    thanks,

  33. The G1 was rooted a long time ago, the issue is that since it is such an old phone less and less people have it (and more importantly less and less developers have it) and so when it gets updated by T-Mobile or whoever it needs a new rooting method and there isn’t anyone around to create one since they sold their G1s.
    After doing the AndRoot procedure go on immediately to the next one and flash a recovery and custom ROM. That should give you full root access.

  34. I’m running DMD64 1.6 on my G1. Whenever I rooted my G1 and restarted my phone, I saw no superuser.
    Also, when I move onto the “How To Flash A Custom Recovery” I get a “[1] Segmentation fault su”
    I’m guessing this is from the superuser not showing up during this AndRoot method?

    Help please?
    Thanks in advance.

  35. I’m running DMD64 1.6 on my G1. Whenever I rooted my G1 and restarted my phone, I saw no superuser.
    Also, when I move onto the “How To Flash A Custom Recovery” I get a “[1] Segmentation fault su”
    I’m guessing this is from the superuser not showing up during this AndRoot method?

    Help please?
    Thanks in advance.

          1. If you load a 2.2 ROM, it’ll be 2.2. There’s even som 2.3 ROMs. You’d have to look for them (make sure they are for the G1 and not any other phone).

          2. If you load a 2.2 ROM, it’ll be 2.2. There’s even som 2.3 ROMs. You’d have to look for them (make sure they are for the G1 and not any other phone).

  36. message pops up “the application google talk (process com.google.android.talk) has stopped unexpectedly. please try again.

      1. i have the same problem also. i tried installing some other .apk file but i had the same error. cant install anything. if anyone knows something, thanks from advance.

  37. message pops up “the application google talk (process com.google.android.talk) has stopped unexpectedly. please try again.

  38. Edwardmartinez37

    it says im rooted but it wont let me load a custom rom and the optins to partition dont show up when i pull the menu up to reboot

  39. I am lost. when I clock on the androot I copied to my phone it just opens the folder, does not install or any thing. is it me?

  40. I am lost. when I clock on the androot I copied to my phone it just opens the folder, does not install or any thing. is it me?

  41. What if i have a HTC Dream with built-in 1.0 android??? pls how can i root it as easy as this method, this whole thing is just killing me!

  42. What if i have a HTC Dream with built-in 1.0 android??? pls how can i root it as easy as this method, this whole thing is just killing me!

  43. hey wats going on… i have a question about the g1. i was trying to install android 2.2 and they told me i had to downgrade to 1.0 rc29 and then upgrade to cupcake…the thing is i get a error message every time…im really confused and i hate that im stuck on rc29….my g1’s sdcard is formatted to FAT32 and i follow the directions exactly…. help plz

  44. i need help…..when i downloaded it to my computer…it downloaded it as a folder….and i found it on linda manager…..but when i went to it…the download screen doesnt show up….all it shows is 6 file folders and 3 have a yellow badge on the left bottom corner of it…..and i retried the process at least 6 times…..the same thing happens

  45. i need help…..when i downloaded it to my computer…it downloaded it as a folder….and i found it on linda manager…..but when i went to it…the download screen doesnt show up….all it shows is 6 file folders and 3 have a yellow badge on the left bottom corner of it…..and i retried the process at least 6 times…..the same thing happens

  46. I have download the .apk to Linda but when i select it it asks me to complete action with and gives me androzip or view archive.
    Help please?

  47. When I go to the Superuser, and click the “log” tab on the top of the screen, the screen pops up a message saying, “The application Superuser Permissions (process com.noshufo.android.su) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again”. And it makes me force close. Can some help me out?

  48. will this work on a U.K. G1 with build number drc92? and is there any chance of it bricking or otherwise buggering up my new phone!

  49. will this work on a U.K. G1 with build number drc92? and is there any chance of it bricking or otherwise buggering up my new phone?

  50. EboniePrincess1972

    I guess I’ll remain unrooted forever :_(( , androot says I’m rooted but I’m not…1.6 build dmd64, down graded to 1.0 and upgraded back 1.6

  51. Michelesfriend2003

    I have an updated G1 with antivirus etc. So, it took a couple more steps. But, the patience was totally worth it!!!!! Yeah!!!!!

  52. I rooted my phone and everything worked great, but I unrooted it because my apps kept saying “force quite”. I also did a factory reset and now i’m stuck at the activation screen and my data plan doesn’t work anymore(it says “Can’t establish a reliable data connection to server”) even though I have a data plan? Please reply.

  53. alright so everything worked and i download but then when i go to open superuser and go to “LOG” it force closes everytime

  54. Ok I’ve got it rooted and everything now what do I do with it? I was reading somewhere that you can install your apps to your sd card and stuff. How do I go about doing that? Thanks.

    -Daniel

  55. i think i messed up, i did the other method. and i need help unbricking my g1. i think i did brick it because it says update terminate and then the rainbow screen pops up and a white box that says “serial0” comes up. So, if anyone can help fix my problem it would be very appreciated.

  56. Gorgeous, gorgeous, simply gorgeous!! I have an original T-Mobile (HTC + Google) G1, Firmware 1.6, Build DMD64 (Kernel 2.6.29-00479-g3c7df37, if anyone cares) and this procedure worked FLAWLESSLY. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I am off to cyanogen my brains out! =)

  57. I have the 1.6 Build number DRC83, does it still work for this build? If not, how can I get an update for the DMD64 build?

  58. M Paluchowski

    Ok so I rooted and I got superuser permissions. I want to update to 1.6 or 2.1. How would I do that? Do you need to do a flash recovery or something? I’m confused. Idk what to do after I rooted. I just want to upgrade from darn cupcake (1.5)

  59. Dudes all you gotta do is download AndRoot onto your phone and click and install it. No need to use a computer. No need to use Linda File. 

  60. TX CHL Instructor

    I guess it *was* too easy. I got superuser access, but when I installed the wifi tethering package and tried to run it, I got the message that there was a missing feature that prevented the wifi tether from working. From what I can tell, I need a custom ROM for my G1. Unfortunately, all of the the instructions I could find for doing a custom ROM either 1) assume you know exactly what you are doing AND  understand all of the hacker jargon AND know how what all of the internal revision and version numbers mean, or 2) contain dire warnings that the G1 is the only known model on which the procedure won’t work.

    So, now I have a rooted G1 (radio 2.22.02.23 — which I found with the “fast boot”, but the only way I could get out of the initial “fast boot” screen was to pull the battery), but I have been unable to accomplish my primary goal, to enable my G1 to wifi-tether to my laptop and my new Acer A500.

  61. i cant even open the AndRoot file, im just getting a box asking me what i want to use the internet to search for a solution or search for an installed programme, none of which can open it

  62. Dude light bulb big time. LOL I hhad been trying to figure through it for about 10 minutes never  thinking I had to rename it in the linda file system. Duh duh duh. Thanks a million

  63. For those of you having issues with this method, I am running DMD64 and did it this way:

    Navigate to this page ON your G1 and click the download link
    When the download finishes, select it from the Notification bar and the native installer will install it.
    When it finishes installing, click open and then Root.
    When it’s finished rooting and says “Woot!  Your rooted” or something to that affect (or is it effect?), REBOOT immediately before doing ANYTHING else.  When your phone boots up, you should have root.  At least this is how I did it, and it is working fine so far.

    Good luck!

  64. eu quero atualizar justamente porque não tenho acesso ao Market, e você diz que tenho que acessá-lo para poder atualizar????????
    palhaçada!!!!

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