How To: Root the HTC Wildfire (Unrevoked Method)

I. Before You Begin

1. This is the easiest method available to root.

2. This method will also flash a custom recovery image so you can start flashing ROMs immediately.

3. On your computer, go to Start > Control Panel > Programs > and Uninstall HTC Sync if it is installed before you continue.

II. Root and Flash a Custom Recovery Image

1. Download the Unrevoked Rooting App

Unrevoked (Updated 09.20.10)

2. Double click the Unrevoked program you downloaded. If using Windows, then click on the file that appears called Hboot Driver and follow it’s instructions to install the modified HBoot drivers OR click here and download the drivers and install them manually.

3. Once the drivers are successfully installed, double click the Reflash program to open it.

4. Once the driver is successfully installed, turn off the phone by taking out the battery and putting it back in. Then push power to turn it on and get it to the normal home screen.

5. On your computer, right click the Reflash file and run as administrator. It should open Unrevoked and say “waiting for device”.

6. On your phone, click Menu > Settings > Applications > Development > and make sure USB Debugging is checked ON.

7. Plug in your phone into your computer via usb cable.

8. It should automatically locate your phone that is plugged in and you can just follow the prompts to continue.

9. Done! You are rooted and have a custom recovery image!

III. (Optional) Load a Custom ROM

1. Head over to our How To Load a Custom ROM procedure.

Big thanks to the Unrevoked Team!

199 thoughts on “How To: Root the HTC Wildfire (Unrevoked Method)”

  1. My unrevoked is still at ‘waiting for device’. I’ve restarted the program a number of times and tried on both an xp and win 7 pcs, still doesnt seem to work…please help.

      1. i too encountered the same problem please help it still hang at the ‘waiting for device’ i followed everyting in the video…..please reply asap

        Thanks

        1. This is rot. It works for Desire but not Wildfire, it just hangs at “Waiting for device” even though the driver is installed. What a waste of time.

        2. Also tried it on windows XP and it failed too (in addition to win7 x32). What a dissapointing waste of time.

  2. Will this method of rooting Wildfire work regardless of the Android version on the Phone ?? I’ve upgraded the phone to Froyo recently.

  3. Hi guys,
    thank you for the tutorial! I want to root my Wildfire, and now I know how to do it properly 🙂
    I just have one question left: is there any risk to absolutely destroy your phone (to make it unusable :p)? 😀

  4. I followed all the steps very carefully, but it doesn’t recognize the phone and keep saying “waiting for device”.
    I installed the drivers successfully. On the device manager there is now : other devices – ADB with a yellow sign. Is that ok?
    Thanks.

  5. Make sure HTC Sync is removed from the phone (it gets put on both the PC and the phone), by looking at Settings->Applications->Manage Applications and searching for HTC Sync. I too had the “waiting for device…” message but didn’t realise the app was still on the phone, confusing unrevoked3.

  6. For me in the first step itself; when i double click the application downloaded; it does not ask for installing the driver; but direct opens the recovery reflash tool and waiting for device.

    what should i do.

  7. If you don’t get past the waiting for device screen, try installing and uninstalling HTC sync. Did the trick for me…

    thanks for the guide!

  8. no luck, tried many times; even removed windows firewall, did remove antivirus, did driver install many times; still waiting for phone.

    is there a way to do custom recovery – can the clockworkMod Recovery image be downloaded separately and then do a custom recovery?

    If possible; can you kindly post that image so that we can download and check? Without wi fi working; this phone is of no use.

    kind regards
    -venugopal

  9. I used this method with my wildfire and have the following problem:
    – I saw now problem during the process and got the unrevoked OK message.
    – Now I got the recovery menu and I try to select nandriod or “reboot now” and all I get is a black screen.
    – The only way I found to get out of this black screen is simply to take out the battery.

    Do you have any idea what went wrong and how can I backup my phone?

    Thanks,
    T.

  10. Success at last..

    One small step that I am not sure if others are doing correctly or not – that was keeping me blocked at – waiting for device.

    When HTC Sync is installed; it does install a Driver Software – HTC Driver Installer – that I was uninstalling when there was mention that HTC Sync need to be removed – THAT WAS CAUSING THIS ISSUE.

    Hence any one new trying to fix this HTC screw up; please note the above.

    It works exactly as in the instruction with no glitch;; wi fi turns on and off with no issue at all…

    thank you for all your kind help.

    Kindest regards
    -venu

  11. Still got message “waiting for device”. Tried many times what you wrote, but still nothing. What it could be?

    “Wait until the screen flashes through an “SD Checking” message before pressing buttons; otherwise, the phone will ignore keypresses.” – I didnt see such message about SD checking. Why????
    I use wildfire

  12. hi
    I followed all the instruction on the video and I have the user permission icon but it doesn’t seem to be doing anything plz any help

      1. I have used unrevoked and I installed the drivers and I went through all the process until the done came up. I tried to use astro and cat file to copy fonts to system/fonts it didn’t accept it.

        1) How do I know if my phone is rooted?(I already have the user permission icon)
        2) How can I add fonts to my fonts folder?

  13. When I get into ClockwordMod recovery and I want to scroll to nandroid, it doesn’t work and then it says: SD card mounted.. Then it automatically boots, and i didnt get the chance to make a backup?
    Anyone knows what to do?

  14. Just got a wildfire. Followed instructions to the letter and the following error comes up

    Device “bee
    ” is not supported at this time

    Thoughts?

  15. I get to the unrevoked stage, and it stays there forever, no matter how many times I disconnect the phone, restart unrevoked.

    I have followed the instructions to the letter, and debugging is on.

    Please help.

  16. I get to the unrevoked stage, and it stays there forever, no matter how many times I disconnect the phone, restart unrevoked.

    I have followed the instructions to the letter, and debugging is on.

    Please help.

  17. Hi guys,
    i have wildfire and i did it this way i first uninstall htc sync and driver and reebot my phone to boot mode and than install driver from android-sdk folder then i reboot my phone and waid for home screen after that i install htc sync again but i just wait only to install driver then i cancel whole instalation. Undervoked recognized my phone and rebooted to boot mode than i press volume down button 4 times and phone rooted in few min

    enjoy!!!

  18. Hi all
    If my phone is locked to SFR France for example, can rooting unlock it ?? , if not can someone advice me with a website to get the unlock code ??

  19. Hi,

    i have HTC wildfire, i used Windows 7 with unrevoked, done your tutorial i.e.
    backup the files (tested restoring), download CM 6.1, everything works

    but when i restart the HTC it or power off after installing CM 6.1 for wildfire,
    it shows CM logo in the begining and keep repeating it
    i waited for few times but i think HTC is hanging again and again and its not initializing the phone

    any reason why its not able to restart properly?and hangs

    1. hi the same problam i a i done and loadad  android bootloder interface
      in my htc whildfire.but whn i run evo during rootin it showing error:
      faild to get root,is your firmware too new?   so what should i do now
      advise me my is is mesujit@yahoo.com
       

  20. I follow the instructions exactly then get the following on unrevoked error after the phone reboots:

    Internal error: am reported error starting service

  21. “the application zysploit (process com.unrevoked.zysploit) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again” This is what it did to me using HTC Desire on android 2.2 FRF91

  22. “the application zysploit (process com.unrevoked.zysploit) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again” This is what it did to me using HTC Desire on android 2.2 FRF91

      1. I also have a htc wildfire android 2.2, and I get the same error, I’ve tried to root my phone twice now, and it still doesn’t work.. does anyone have a solution for this problem?????

      2. I also have a htc wildfire android 2.2, and I get the same error, I’ve tried to root my phone twice now, and it still doesn’t work.. does anyone have a solution for this problem?????

  23. For those of you having the problem

    ‘device bee is not supported at this time’

    i have some bad news.

    I’m not 100% positive, but from what i was told, our ‘bee’ phones aren’t compatable with unrevoked… (yet)…? i had asked in IRC and according to them, the bee isn’t ready yet.

    Hopefully this will save some searching for some of you, i know i put a good amount of time into it before i went straight to the source.

  24. For those of you having the problem

    ‘device bee is not supported at this time’

    i have some bad news.

    I’m not 100% positive, but from what i was told, our ‘bee’ phones aren’t compatable with unrevoked… (yet)…? i had asked in IRC and according to them, the bee isn’t ready yet.

    Hopefully this will save some searching for some of you, i know i put a good amount of time into it before i went straight to the source.

  25. For those of you having the problem

    ‘device bee is not supported at this time’

    i have some bad news.

    I’m not 100% positive, but from what i was told, our ‘bee’ phones aren’t compatable with unrevoked… (yet)…? i had asked in IRC and according to them, the bee isn’t ready yet.

    Hopefully this will save some searching for some of you, i know i put a good amount of time into it before i went straight to the source.

  26. Good to know. I got the HTC Wildfire “Bee” Yesterday from Bluegrass Cellular. Unrevoked is not working as everyone is saying. Super One Click will root it to a point. It will allow for most rooted applications to work like Wifi tether, etc. Only thing is it does’t root deep enough to allow roms or other root required apps. So, hopefully unrevoked will get on it. I doubt there is any difference between Buzz and Bee and it’s probably just a portion of unrevoked that checks compatibility by names that doesn’t say “bee”. I could be wrong but who knows.

    1. go on to unrevockted and download the desire 1 i tryed wildfire 1 loads of times and tryed desire by chance and it workes

    2. go on to unrevockted and download the desire 1 i tryed wildfire 1 loads of times and tryed desire by chance and it workes

  27. I got to step 4, and I manually installed the hboot drivers as per the unrevoked link, and got all the screens that the link said I was supposed to have.

    However, after taking the battery out of the phone and plugging it back in, I get a message “Windows needs to install driver software for your My HTC”.

    What mode should I be in for the PC connection – charge only, HTC Sync, disk drive?

    I tried doing “Locate and install device drivers”, then it comes up with a prompt to insert a disc, and I selected “I don’t have the disc”, and manually navigated to the folder into which I’d downloaded hboot drivers, and then got a message “Windows was unable to install your device”, could not find driver software etc…

    Any suggestions, please?

  28. I got to step 4, and I manually installed the hboot drivers as per the unrevoked link, and got all the screens that the link said I was supposed to have.

    However, after taking the battery out of the phone and plugging it back in, I get a message “Windows needs to install driver software for your My HTC”.

    What mode should I be in for the PC connection – charge only, HTC Sync, disk drive?

    I tried doing “Locate and install device drivers”, then it comes up with a prompt to insert a disc, and I selected “I don’t have the disc”, and manually navigated to the folder into which I’d downloaded hboot drivers, and then got a message “Windows was unable to install your device”, could not find driver software etc…

    Any suggestions, please?

    1. hey..u need to unzip that file…it will be in zipped file..unzip it & then it will work…same had happened with me..cheers…

  29. thank that was ace it worked the end bit so click on the nandroid on the htc wildfire its the rond button on the bottem of the screen

  30. thank that was ace it worked the end bit so click on the nandroid on the htc wildfire its the rond button on the bottem of the screen

  31. i have installed Hboot. But when i connect the phone with the computer again, it keeps forcing to intall program for ADB… What’s going on? It sucks!!!

  32. Is Unrevoked aware of a bug which when the phone is rooted the green fully charged light doesn’t show, it shows the same yellow charging light? Has this bug been fixed yet?

  33. Some questions :
    – Can this break your phone ?
    – Is there a way to backup the entire thing before you do anything so you can remove it all again ?
    – Does this all still work after the Froyo (2.2) update ?
    I don’t know a lot about these things but i’d love some extra features like live wallpapers with a custom ROM 🙂

  34. hi i might be a bit silly here but i cant get my wildfire to root it restarts and unrevoked says communications with phone unexpectedly interrupted try again well after the 10th try its just not working plz help i am pulling my hair out

  35. I was annoyed by this issue to! It’s easy to solve. You need to install HTC sync first. It will install some sort of driver that you need. After the installation you need to delete HTC sync but let the htc drivers stay on you computer. Now your’e ready to root!

    Excuse me for the bad English!

  36. Hi i just did turtiol from the video before. but i did not have my sd card in. it so it did not make backup what shall i do to do back up ???

  37. I’ve HTC Wildfire (Firmware 2.2.1) which I’m Unable to root with unrevoked. Have done some searching and found that new version of unrevoked will resolve this. So, does anybody knows when is that comin out?

  38. I have a Wildfire that I bought in China (are there any specific instructions for Chinese units?).

    I’m trying to install the Android USB Driver and when I restart my phone in HBOOT mode there is no option for HBOOT USB.

    What I see are options for FASTBOOT, RECOVERY, CLEAR STORAGE, SIMLOCK, and IMAGE CRC.

    Is this an issue with Chinese units? I *think* I’m in the right area and trying to do the right thing, dunno.

  39. Unrevoked wasn’t detecting the device, it was because i needed to install the the USB drivers.
    So i downloaded HTC sync, started the installation, said ok to the part where it asks me to install certain drivers, and then quit the installation when it asked if i wanted to proceed with installing HTC sync.

    And then i connected my phone again and unrevoked detected it 🙂

  40. If your having trouble finding Hboot Then, Providing your on Windows 7, just open the Windows Menu (Start button) and type in Hboot in the Search Bar.

    This pulled me back so i dont know if it will have for you guys.

    Hope I helped.

  41. i always get stuck at the unrevoked part they cant scan my device it keeps saying waiting for device pls help!!!!!!

  42. hi all
    i found the solution
    its still in waiting for device
    you should install htc sync and uninstall it

  43. hi all
    i found the solution
    its still in waiting for device
    you should install htc sync and uninstall it

  44. Hi,

    The “Unrevoked 3” keeps waiting and waiting, my device (wildfire) is never recognized,
    My official firmware is 2.2.1, i’m using Windows 7.
    Please advice.

    Jacob.

  45. Dear TheUNLOCKR,

    Do you have any news regarding the next release of the rEVOcked that will set our Wildfires free?!?!

    Best regards,

    Dionysis
    HTC Wildfire (Android 2.2.1)

  46. It does NOT work. I have Android 2.2.1 and HTC Wildfire and Windows XP. I did everything and got to the Android Bootloader Device but the UnRevoked still is stuck at the Waiting for Device. Unplug and replug no difference.

    1. This is because the current version of Unrevoked Rooting App does not work for Android 2.2 and above. You should have read the comments! 😉

  47. i tried several times bt it always says” is your firmware too new?”
    how can i solve it?please help.

    1. There is nothing you can do, but wait for the next release of the Unrevocked. The current version does not work for Android 2.2 and above. I had the same problem myself.

  48. i also didnt get HBOOT usb option when i start phone with volume button pressing down.i have android 2.2.

    1. This is because the current version of Unrevoked Rooting App does not work for Android 2.2 and above.

  49. Oliver Dudgeon

     I am having trouble because when my HTC wildfire first reboots I dont have a Hboot usb option so i leave it then it says Error: Failed to get root. Is your firmware too new? Can anyone help

    1. hi the same problam i a i done and loadad  android bootloder interface in my htc whildfire.but whn i run evo during rootin it showing error: faild to get root,is your firmware too new?   so what should i do now advise me my is is mesujit@yahoo.com

  50. people i have sth to say but i might be wrong
    it does not work on wildfire official 2.2.1 update
    it tells me “is your firmware too new?”

  51. Just so nobody wastes their time with this: if you have a Wildfire running android 2.2, your hboot version will be too new, and you will receive an error about that when the reflash program tries to root it. It seems the only way to root a wildfire with android 2.2 is to use some kind of physical device called ‘xtc clip’ i have no idea how it works or if it works.

    1. I just tried rooting my HTC wildfire with updated android 2.2.1. unrevoked stopped functioning with the message ” waiting for root… (may restart if this doesn’t work)” what’s next? how long should this normally take? Thanks.

  52. Just so nobody wastes their time with this: if you have a Wildfire running android 2.2, your hboot version will be too new, and you will receive an error about that when the reflash program tries to root it. It seems the only way to root a wildfire with android 2.2 is to use some kind of physical device called ‘xtc clip’ i have no idea how it works or if it works.

  53. when is the new update for unrevoked coming out any 1 know i have just tried again to root me htc wildfire with no luck  2.2.1

  54. i have tyd lot of things and nothing work gold card doesn’t work and unrevoket even doesn’t work help me i got a htc wildfire 
    ps: unrevoked say wating for root…   ? what now ?????

    1. hi the same problam i a i done and loadad  android bootloder interface
      in my htc whildfire.but whn i run evo during rootin it showing error:
      faild to get root,is your firmware too new?   so what should i do now
      advise me my is is mesujit@yahoo.com

  55. To all those having issues with being unable to detect phone: On the computer needs to be HTC Driver Installer it appears, which is downloaded with HTC Sync. So if you download HTC Sync (on your computer), uninstall it, then run Unrevoked, it should work. Good luck 🙂

  56. This method won’t work for android 2.2.1, 2.2.1 was released to stop rooting, unrevoked are working on 3.33 which will hopefully support 2.2.1…untill then we wait…

  57. Amalvajdan123

    revoked setup not completing on htc wildfire… 🙁 . says “rooting…”  “rooting..”  “rooting.” . and then says “error: failed to get root. is your firmware too new?” .. please help me . i’m dying to get cynogenmod… 🙁 🙁

    1. hi.the problem here is regarding unrevoked version.you must have used unrevoked 3.32version.instead you use this version.you wont get any errorhttp://www.filefactory.com/file/b4171fg/n/unrEVOked-3-2-Windoze.exe

    2. @c4f3fe308f3d2d2ec7e05d87e23560d1:disqus check first your hec shows S-OFF..then try only XP..
       first open the Unrekoved 3.3.2 then attache your HTC then automatically it install boot-loader on xp then it shows error ..your firmware new.then go to xda developers forum and download superone click and click on root..or watch my video on youtube ..search pappu8815 on youtube you will get my video.. 

  58. David? Did you know that this DOESN’T work for wildfire with android 2.2.1?? unrevoked says: “Error: fail to get root. Is firmware too new?” I’ve tried 10 times with unrevoked and it keep saying that. Please send me an e-mail to zupersaleh@hotmail.com If you have a solution to it. Please :)Thx for helping 🙂

  59. Guys! I’m with HTC Wildfire and Android 2.2.1 . I followed all steps and when I got to the unrevoked3, it only says waiting for device… I run it with administrator but the same issue… Help, please ;[[

  60. unrevoked says “error: failed to get root. is your firmware too new?” please help me out of this . is ther any other way to root the updated 2.2 wildfire

  61. Hey I have 2.2.1 and i understand that unrevoked is not compatible with that right now and downgrading to 2.1 is no use because the driver is too new………is there any way that i can downgrade the driver?if so please explain how…..

    Thanks

  62. For all of those having problems with shown above, I recommend installing again  HTC sync (cause it will install again all the drivers you need), then uninstalling only HTC sync with ADD/Remove probgrams in Control Panel. I also had problems then with rooting my phone with unrEVOked, cause I didn’t have the option HSBOOT, so I finally managed to root my phone after using advices from these address

    http://www.amarjit.info/2011/04/how-to-root-htc-wildfire-android.html. Good luck

  63. Thanks to you I was able to get S Off and root my htc wildfire, The guide and the video are very easy to follow.
    Speacial thanks to 3xeno from xda-developers for directing to your thread

  64. Followed instructions EXACTLY but always get the error message ‘Internal error: installing package failed’

    Cant see why I would get that error

  65. to be honest i would wait for a new version of revoc to come out because i tried factory reset and it didnt  do anything but i heard you have to get it unlocked unluky for us who bought the wildfire ill report here if i have any sucses peace

  66. hi the same problam i a i done and loadad  android bootloder interfacein my htc wildfire.but whn i run evo during rootin it showing error:faild to get root,is your firmware too new?   so what should i do nowadvise me my email add is pratikmache@gmail.com

  67. my androind version is 2.2 and it shoes to me error asked me if the firmware is to new ..What shall i do .Thanks! 

  68. According to all the comments this method obviously does not work:(
    I just knew this easy to follow tutorial was to good to be true..

  69. I had some problems, but finally managed to get this done:
    1. Make sure you do a factory reset. Otherwise you’ll get some errors.
    2. Make sure nothing is sync-ing. This means turn off background sync, set your USB connection to Disk Drive
    3. Set the USB debug as mentioned in the article.

    Thanks for the walkthrough. I’m pimpin now. 

  70. after usb debuggin n connectin it to charge mode unrevokes says waitin for device….i even triesd closin it and again openin it it says d same :(….i hav wildfire s!!

  71. Does this only work if your wildfire is s-off? Mine is s-on, and it only says hboot usb at the top, and doesnt have an option for it.

  72. Please helpI get to the unrevoked stage, and it stays there forever, no matter how many times I disconnect the phone, restart unrevoked.

    I have followed the instructions to the letter, and debugging is on.

    1. actually an addition to this posting, ( now that i have a bit more time ) it’s a funny thing, I can set my htc wildfire s as a hard drive and can see the memory installed. I just couldn’t get htc sync to work at all, htc tech support wasn’t much help. i was hoping that this might help somehow to solve some of my problems with the phone. Can someone please help me here?

      Thanx,

      Ronjie

  73. At first Unrekoved 3.3.2 didn’t work on my htc wildfire.
    After installing HTc sync. with his usb driver and stuff. Everything worked with windows 7 (64bit) (you only have to uninstall the HTC sync sotware (not the drivers)

    1. @Sjors check out your devise shows S-OFF ..Try on Xp only not on windows 7..First..on the xp first open the Unrekoved 3.3.2 then attache your HTC then automatically it install boot-loader on xp then it shows error ..your firmware new.then go to xda developers forum and download superone click and click on root..or watch my video on youtube ..search pappu8815 on youtube you will get my video.. 

  74. Evo 4G won’t root –Starts zerging root>sends in caroline see the following 
    Zerging Root… this might take a minute oSending in Caroline…Retrieving Caroline from certain doom…Retrying Caroline…Caroline failed, but had this to say: An error occured while writing the partitionErrors (if any):-mtd: not writing bad block at 0x00040000mtd: not writing bad block at 0x00040000mtd: not writing bad block at 0x00040000mtd: not writing bad block at 0x00040000mtd: not writing bad block at 0x00040000mtd: not writing bad block at 0x00040000Press (almost) any key to exit.

  75. Darthbraindrain

    im getting the same msg so its gota be cos we are all running the 2.2.1 which ive heard cant be flashed yet so we just gota wait lol

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