How to Root and Install Custom Recovery on the Samsung Nexus S/Nexus S 4G (One-Click Method)

The Nexus S 4G was the Sprint CDMA variant of the Nexus S, a member of the Nexus series directly endorsed and supported by Google itself.  While it did not make as big a splash as the Nexus One did when it was released, the Nexus S 4G was well liked for its 4-inch touchscreen display, 1GHz processor and for running Gingerbread 2.3 when it was initially released (currently runs Jelly Bean 4.1.2 officially).  The guide below will show you how to root this device and install ClockworkMod Recovery (or TWRP Recovery, if you’d prefer that).  Read on to know how.

I.  Before You Begin

1.  Back up everything that you feel is important before you proceed as following this guide will wipe everything on your device!

2.  Make sure that you have at least 75% of battery charged before you begin.

3.  This procedure should work on any Nexus S/Nexus S 4G running Android 2.3 to the latest Android 4.1.2.

4.  This procedure is designed on work on Windows operating systems (preferably Windows 7); sorry Mac/Linux users!

II.  Necessary Downloads

One-Click-Nexus-7.2.zip [Download link available at the end of this post]

III.  Rooting and Installing ClockworkMod Recovery/TWRP Touch Recovery

1.  Enable USB Debugging on your device.  To do this, if you are on Gingerbread, go to Settings > Applications > Development and tick the USB Debugging checkbox; if you are on Ice-Cream Sandwich or newer firmware, go to Settings > Development and tick the USB Debugging checkbox.

2.  Extract the One-Click-Nexus-7.2.zip you downloaded above to a folder on your desktop.

3.  If you haven’t installed drivers already, go into the extracted folder and double-click on the Samsung_Mobile_USB_Driver.V5.16._V1.2.2200.0.msi to install them.

4.  Connect your device to your PC using the microUSB cable that came with your device.  If Windows 7 installs any drivers at this point, let it do so.

5.  From the extracted folder, double-click on One-Click-Nexus.bat.

6.  Follow the on-screen instructions.

7.  When you get to the Unlock bootloader? screen, use the Volume Up button to select Yes and the Power button to confirm the selection.  The device is now bootloader unlocked but you have lost all your data.

8.  After the device reboots, go back to Settings and enable USB Debugging again.

9.  Continue with the on-screen instructions.

10.  On the Please Choose Your Phone Model screen, type in the relevant number for the Nexus S or the Nexus S 4G and hit the Enter key.  (This guide will follow through with the option for Nexus S 4G but the rest of the instructions should work with the Nexus S too).

11.  On the next screen, type in 1 if you want to root and install CWM or 2 if you want to root and install TWRP touch recovery and hit the Enter key.

12.  Use the Volume Down button to select RECOVERY when asked and press the Power button to select it.

13.  Follow on-screen instructions.

You should be bootloader unlocked, rooted and have custom recovery installed on your Nexus S/Nexus S 4G at the end of it all!

IV.  Flashing Custom ROMs (Optional)

If you are ready to flash custom ROMs on your device, head to the next procedure 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.