How to Root the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (WiFi)
The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (WiFi) comes from the Samsung’s latest tablet series that has created quite a buzz around the web. If you happen to have this device and would like to root it to unlock its true potential, here’s how you can go about doing that.
Rooting is the process of gaining administrative rights on your Android device. Once we root our Android device, we can then make changes to it to customize it well beyond what it normally can do.
Once you have root access on your Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (WiFi), you’ll be able to:
- Remove apps that were preinstalled by your carrier/manufacturer from your device.
- Free up storage space (because of the above benefit).
- Increase battery life (apps that might have been running constantly can be removed).
- Increase performance (after removing apps that are always running, the device will be less bogged down and run smoother).
- Update to a new version of Android (by flashing a custom recovery/ROM, see the end of this procedure for more info on that).
- Tons of other customizations when you use your new found administrative rights to flash a custom ROM (again, see the end of this procedure for more info on that).
Interested? Here’s how to root your Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (WiFi):
I. Before You Begin
1. This will void the warranty of your device. We won’t be held responsible if you end-up bricking or damaging your device. Do it at your own risk.
2. This only works for the SM-T700 variant of the device. Please do not try this on any other device.
3. This should only work on Windows based PCs.
4. You should’ve appropriate drivers installed on your PC. If you haven’t, you can download and install the latest drivers from here.
5. This should flash a custom recovery as well.
II. Downloading Required Files
1. Download Odin and save it to your desktop.
2. Download CF-Root and save it to your desktop.
CF-Root (Download link’s given in the first post)
3. Download CWM Recovery Image and save it to your desktop.
CWM Recovery Image (Download link’s given in the first post)
III. Rooting the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (WiFi)
1. Extract files from Odin and CF-Root to your desktop by right-clicking on each of them and selecting Extract here.
2. Double-click on Odin executable and it’ll launch.
3. Click on PDA and choose the CF-Root file that you just extracted to your desktop. Make sure to choose the extracted file and not the archive itself.
4. Make sure Repartition is unchecked in the Odin.
5. Checkmark the boxes that say Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time.
6. Turn OFF your device.
7. Turn it back on by holding down Volume DOWN and Power buttons together.
8. Press Volume UP and you should be in Download mode.
9. Plug in your device to your PC via USB cable.
10. Hit Start in the Odin and it’ll start flashing the root file on your device.
11. When the file’s flashed, your device should automatically reboot.
12 And you’re done!
Congrats! Your Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (WiFi variant) is now rooted and you can confirm the same by installing Root Checker from the Google Play store.
Want to have more than just root-access on your device? Flash a custom recovery and then a custom ROM to enjoy more on your device. Here’s how:
IV. Flashing a Custom Recovery on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (WiFi)
1. Connect your device to your PC via USB cable.
2. Copy CWM Recovery Image from your desktop over to the root of your SD card. It’s the topmost folder on your SD card.
3. Disconnect the device from your PC when the file’s been copied.
4. Head over to the Google Play store and download and install Terminal Emulator on your device.
5. Launch it from your App Drawer.
6. Type in following command into the Terminal Emulator window. Make sure to replace filename.img with the actual name of the recovery image you have downloaded.
su
dd if=/sdcard/filename.img of=/dev/block/platform/dw_mmc.0/by-name/RECOVERY
7. It should flash the recovery on your device.
8. When the recovery’s flashed, reboot your device.
9. And you’re all set!
Wonderful! Your device now has root-access as well as CWM Recovery to help you manage root permissions and to flash custom ROMs.
You can click here to find all of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (WiFi) How To’s.
You can also find all of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (WiFi) ROMs we have here.
Can you install the custom recovery before gaining root access to make a nandroid backup of the stock unroofed device? Or do you have to be rooted in order for custom recoveries to work?
On most devices, custom recoveries can be flashed without root. But in order to use all of the features that the recovery has to offer, you need root.
As for your question, you’ll want to find an Odin flashable custom recovery, flash it on your device, and then do the backup. The above method of flashing custom recovery won’t work for you as it involves using the “su” command that isn’t permitted to be used without root-access.
Hope this helps!
Well, I’ve tried to install the custom recovery a number of times, but all I get is “the directory doesn’t exist/can’t read the file”. My tablet rooted just fine (thanks for that). Any tips? Thanks, Wolf
WIll this process given in this post unlock the device 1st & then root? or i need to unlock 1st before following the instructions in this post.
Is there any way to get adhoc wifi to work (to connect to e.g. Joikuspot) on a Galaxy S 8″ ? I have just rooted it OK but cannot find anything that works. All the adhoc apps in the store don’t work.
I’ve rooted the device, but now its just switching on and off. I’ve tried to get it into download mode but won’t let me, shall I wait for the battery to die. or is there another way.
Help much appreciated,
ningun otro metodo de roteo me funciono ni siquiera el kingo root
Just did the root, everything went smooth, however, after I downloaded Root Checker and ran the app, it notified me that “Root access is not properly installed on this device,” think you can help?