How to Root the Galaxy Nexus and the LG Nexus 4 running Android 4.3 OS

If you have updated to the enticingly new Android 4.3 OS that Google recently rolled out on your Galaxy Nexus or the Nexus 4, chances are that you will have lost your root privileges.  The guide below aims to remedy that and also install a custom recovery (TWRP Recovery in this case) in the process.

I.  Before You Begin

1.  Make sure that you are updated to Android 4.3 (version JWR66V) before you start.

2.  Ensure that you have the proper fastboot and ADB drivers installed; if not, our guide should help you to do it.

3.  Back up everything you feel is important as there is a chance that you might lose all the data you have on your device.

4.  Charge your device to 75% or more to prevent unwanted shutdowns.

II.  Necessary Downloads

1.  openrecovery-twrp-2.6.0.0-maguro.img [or the latest version available for the Galaxy Nexus GSM Unlocked version]

2.  openrecovery-twrp-2.6.0.0-mako.img [or the latest version available for the Nexus 4]

3.  UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.50.zip

4.  Android.zip

III.  Flashing Custom Recovery

1.  Put your device into fastboot mode.  To do this, with the device powered off, press and hold the Volume Down + Volume + Power buttons until you see a green Start text.

2.  Connect your device to your PC.  If drivers are installed at this point, let them do so and continue afterwards.

3.  Extract Android.zip to a folder on your desktop.

4.  Copy openrecovery-twrp-2.6.0.0-maguro.img [or openrecovery-twrp-2.6.0.0-mako.img depending your device type] to the extracted Android folder.

5.  Open up a command prompt on the Android folder [hold shift, right click on the folder and select ‘Open Command Prompt Window here‘]

6.  Run the following command [the below command is for Galaxy Nexus; if you are rooting the Nexus 4, change the filename at the end of the command to openrecovery-twrp-2.6.0.0-mako.img]

fastboot flash recovery openrecovery-twrp-2.6.0.0-maguro.img

7.  Reboot your device.

IV.  Rooting the Galaxy Nexus/Nexus 4

1.  Connect your device to your PC and copy UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.50.zip to your device’s SD card.

2.  Power down your device and boot into TWRP Recovery.  To do this, with the device powered down, press and hold the Power + Volume Up + Volume Down buttons until you see Start highlighted.  Now press the Volume Down button twice to highlight Recovery mode and press the Power button to boot into recovery.

3.  Once in TWRP, tap on Install and navigate to the location of UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.50.zip and tap on it to add to the flash queue.

4.  Swipe from let to right where it says Swipe to Confirm Flash to begin the process.

5.  Go back to the main menu and tap on Reboot, then System to reboot your device.

Once your device reboots, your Samsung Galaxy Nexus or the LG Nexus 4 should be completely rooted!