How to Root the LG G3 (All Versions) (PurpleDrake Method) (Video)

The LG G3 is probably one of the top Android devices out at the moment, I have to agree. But just because it may have a sick QHD display, fast processor, and sleek design, doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. Namely, rooting the LG G3 to try and make some changes to LG’s software for starters. Rooting, aka gaining administrative rights on an Android device, is a way to be able to make a ton of customization options for your device that you previously wouldn’t have been able to do.

One good example of this is the new G3Tweaksbox app (powered by XposedMod). After rooting, you can follow this How to Customize the LG G3 UI tutorial I have to use the app to control tons of options, from the status bar, to the launcher, to the LED light color even, there’s a lot to play with. But, before we get to that, you need to root the bad boy. Don’t worry, it’s actually pretty easy. Here’s how.

I. Before You Begin

1. This will work on Windows and Mac.

II. Install the Drivers and the Rooting Toolkit

1. Download the drivers, save them to your desktop and install them:

Verizon Drivers

All Other Varieties’ Drivers

2. After installing them, download the toolkit from the developers here (and consider donating to them for their efforts):

PurpleDrake Lite Toolkit (for Windows)

PurpleDrake Lite Toolkit (for Mac)

3. Extract the .zip (or .tar.gz for Mac) to your desktop.

III. Root the LG G3

1. Enable USB Debugging on the device by following this tutorial below:

How to Enable USB Debugging on an Android Device

2. Plug the device in via USB cable.

3. Open the newly extracted PurpleDrake folder on the computer.

4. Double-click the purpledrake_windows.bat file inside (or the .command for Mac) and follow the prompts (hitting enter a few times).

5. Open the Play Store.

6. Search for and install SuperSU.

7. Open SuperSU and click Continue to update the binaries.

8. Tap Normal.

9. Should say successful.

IV. Confirm You Have Root Access (Optional)

1. Open the Play Store.

2. Search for and install Root Checker.

3. Open Root Checker.

4. Tap Agree.

5. Tap Okay.

6. Tap Verify Root.

7. Tap Grant.

8. If it says Congrats, then you are rooted.

Now, with this new-found root access, what should you do? Well, for starters, I’d head to our How to Customize the UI on the LG G3 Using G3 Tweaksbox tutorial and use that to make some fun changes to the UI and customize the G3 to your heart’s content. Just sayin’.

Head to our LG G3 How To’s section for more tips and tricks for the LG G3.

131 thoughts on “How to Root the LG G3 (All Versions) (PurpleDrake Method) (Video)”

      1. Michael Grandy

        No dice on Sprint version of LG G3! Thank you for the info and your efforts, I’m sure a solve is right around the corner

      2. I can’t get my g3 to be recognized on my mac within the purple drake mac command window. I’ve already installed drivers and have tried everything. Help!

  1. Mesha Michael Savio

    I’ve followed all the steps, and it all worked. Now it’s giving me the 3 options:
    1) Install TWRP and a modded boot (disable LG security)
    2) Install TWRP only
    3) Quit PurpleDrake

    How do I actually go about “choosing” the first option? I can’t click on it obviously, and typing in “1” or the entire line doesn’t work.

  2. it says my device is vulnerable and the software isnt compatible im using a Sprint G3

    Your phone is not running a compatible software version. No vulnerable mode detected, rebooting phone.

    We tried to temproot you, and it didn’t work. This phone isn’t vulnerable, it would appear.

    Please post on XDA with your phone model, carrier, and SW version in the PurpleDrake thread and someone will take a look.

    Your phone has been rebooted back to normal system mode, no changes have been made. Thanks for trying!

    logout

  3. Using Verizon LG G3. Plugged in the phone and successfully did the update. After hitting enter on the .bat file, the warning never came up on the phone and the software was continually waiting for device.

  4. Lorenzo Cecchini

    Hi, i have updated my g3 to lollipop. Can I use this method anyway? This worked with the last version 4.4.2

  5. LG G3, Sprint, android 4.4.2… ERROR: Your phone is not running a compatible software version. No vulnerable mode detected, rebooting phone.

    We tried to temproot you, and it didn’t work. This phone isn’t vulnerable, it would appear.

    Please post on XDA with your phone model, carrier, and SW version in the PurpleDrake thread and someone will take a look.

    Your phone has been rebooted back to normal system mode, no changes have been made. Thanks for trying!

    logout… Idk what happen

  6. Hi, my LG G3 D855 running 5.0 Lollipop, build number: LRX21R.A1419207951, Europe (Belgium), the cmd window closed when my phone starts up again. It doesnt work

  7. There was a rumor going around that this works for the LG G Pad 7.0. This (unfortunately for me) is not true. 🙁

    1. Jaime Castellanos

      i actually just did this for my Att LG G Pad 7.0 like 5 minutes ago and it worked!!! so easy man, give it another shot, i was looking for hours before i finally found this method. very easy

  8. tootallforthis94

    i have the unlocked LG G3 D722 (beat) Android Version 4.4.2 and used root checker basic and keeps stating “Sorry! This Device does not have root access”
    help please!!!! D:

      1. Tried multiple times on 4.4.2.
        It temp roots then continues to attempt the perm root… then a lot of text flashes in the app and it closes. The phone is not rooted. SuperSU does not install and Rootchecker shows unrooted.

          1. Same exact thing happened to me just now, I tried a few times and it did the same thing. build number: KVT49L.D85110r
            I fear it was patched in a little update they pushed out a month or so ago :/

  9. im from middle east and i’ve rooted my phone using your guide… but after the lollipop update a couple of days ago… it says no su binary update supersu cannot install it and says i have to reroot my phone… how to reroot it? should i just follow this guide again… will it work on lollipop… thank you in advance…

  10. Yolanda Fernandez

    i get a message saying that my device is vulnerable and the software isn’t compatible
    Your phone is not running a compatible software version. No vulnerable mode detected, rebooting phone.
    We tried to temproot you, and it didn’t work. This phone isn’t vulnerable, it would appear.
    Please post on XDA with your phone model, carrier, and SW version in the PurpleDrake thread and someone will take a look.
    Your phone has been rebooted back to normal system mode, no changes have been made. Thanks for trying!
    logout
    I am using a LG-G3 From Sprint

    MODEL #- LGLS990,
    SW VERSION- LS990ZV6
    please help

  11. It wont work on my LG G3 V98512B…. GRRR Why are the phone companies so against us rooting our devices to further customize them????

    1. John Michael Webb

      did you ever get your phone rooted? i got the same phone LG G3 V98512B and hoping you found what works to root our phone. I appreciate your feedback

      1. I did not. I tried various tools over 2 days and nothing worked. I’m going back to HTC. At least they support my right to mod my phone how I like.

  12. Is it compatible with LG G3 Beat? towelroot and stumproot doesnt work with it and i
    was wondering if itll work. and if i try to root while using this and fails, what could be the possible defects?

          1. Correct. All versions of the LG G3 as in all the variants of that device (the Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile versions for example). The LG G3 Beat is a different phone that came out after the LG G3. Similar to the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S5 Active. Similar names but different phones.

        1. mine is the original LG G3 I have not got the 5.0 update I have 4.4.2 but stays stuck on waiting for device as well. Any suggestions?

  13. I keep getting “windows cannot find ‘.assetswindowsbinmintty.exe’. Make sure you typed the name correctly and then try again.” when I open the purpledrake_windows.bat

      1. I am having the same problem and I tried running it as admin but I still got the same error msg. Any ideas what I can do? I have an LG Optimus l90. Thanks.

    1. If I don’t run as administrator, it works but keeps saying it’s waiting for the device and adding periods. if I try running as administrator, windows can’t find it and I’ve tried virtually everything.

  14. I tried this on the D851 with android version 4.4.2 and it does not work, or at least when I check with “Root Checker” it says that the phone is not rooted.

  15. Supersu wont update binary it says if i just downloaded 4.3 that i need to manually re-root consult forum for my devise any idea what that means ?

  16. Success with my Korean 32GB version – 4.4.2 – Kernel ver 3.4.0 – Build number KVT49L.A1414630487 – Software version V10k-SEA-XX. the important info seems to be the ‘V10k’ part. [I tried towelroot and stump root before this]

  17. my lg g3 ls990zv6 4.4.2 doesnt work with this method. tried stumproot and didnt work…tried purple drake and it says my device isnt compatible. really want to root and get cygn md12. little help please…sprint

  18. lg g3 sprint. I’ve tried everything but can’t get the root.
    android 4.4.2
    baseband MPSS.DI.2.0.1.13-00018-M8974AAAAANPZM-1.01651016.3717.1
    kernal 3.4.0
    build number KVT49L.LS990ZV6
    software LS990ZV6

  19. Mr Dontknowanything

    Mines still saying ” waiting for device ” Its plugged in, its on USB debugging mode. Its been like this for the past 27 miutes. Help please

    1. Unplug the USB, Disable and reable the USB Debugging. Close down purpledrake. plug USB back in, start windows_purpledrake.bat by right clicking on .bat file, run as administrator, it will find your device.

      1. For what it’s worth, and if you’re still having an issue, I (for no good reason other than I hadn’t attempted it) changed the connection type from MTP to PTP. Worked once for a friend, didn’t for the next. Was I watching an anomoly the first time and the norm is failure, or would the USB DB Con have mattered?

  20. Hey. I have a LG G3 VS985
    Version 4.4.2
    I am stuck on the waiting for device. I downloaded drivers ect everything is set up correctly. My question is I saw in a previous comment about being patched. Before I found this I tried StumpRoot, it didnt work and said my device is patched. Factory Data Reset, was still patched. Is this why PurpleDrake isn’t working? Is there a way to unpatch it? If not what phone can i get that will work?

  21. hey i got lg t3 d855 i try yo do the root and all the steps go well untill i downlod the supresu app
    the app say i dont have a binary su file the app say its realy importent and my phone got alot of problems now plzz help

          1. man..i cant click the “update the binaries” because the app always say there is no SU binary insr=talled, and Super SU cannot install it. This is a problem!

            if you just upgraded to android 4.3, youneed to manually re-root – consult the relevant forums for your device.

  22. hey i got a problem with the root i do all steps and in go well now i downlod the supersu app and its say thet i dont have a biany su file plzz help me i got alot of problem now with my phone

    1. Seems like it’s not working for people on lollipop but go ahead and try it, it’ll just error out if not. Let me know if it doesn’t work and I’ll see if I can update the tutorial (even though I no longer have the device).

  23. it says “there is no SU binary insr=talled, and Super SU cannot install it. This is a problem!

    if you just upgraded to android 4.3, youneed to manually re-root – consult the relevant forums for your device.”

    man.,. how can i fix this? :'(

  24. Lionely De La Torre

    I tried with my LG G pad F7.0 kernel ver 3.10.49 build # LRX21Y software ver
    LK430ZV3. It gave me and Error. can you help?

  25. Rency Aguilar Ramos

    thank you very much….
    It rooted my lg phone just for seconds..!!!
    I tried many root application…
    but this is the best!!!!!

  26. champaroni parpah

    i got to the .bat and and permarooted it the bat closed and i unplugged i forgot to do the superSU app step so i plugged it back in and it installed it and it keeps saying “there is no superSU binary installed” got any ideas how i can fix this?

  27. I have the D850 model(AT&T), running 5.0.1. Will this method work for me on a Mac? I was going to buy a Windows 7 disc, and partition my hard drive. Is that a better alternative? Thanks.

    1. You have to delete the directory .android under you home directory and download LG G3 Drivers for Mac OSX. Once done, connect you device, put the USB mode on MTP and activate Debug mode. Execute the PurpleDrake script and on the phone you should see a message asking you to trust USB debugging on this computer. Say yes, checking the “remember this decision for this computer” and everything should go ahead.

  28. “ERROR: Your phone is not running a compatible software version. No vulnerable mode detected, rebooting phone.

    We tried to temproot you, and it didn’t work. This phone isn’t vulnerable, it would appear.

    Please post on XDA with your phone model, carrier, and SW version in the PurpleDrake thread and someone will take a look.”

    My LG G3 985 Build number LRX21Y CARRIER IS VERIZON ANY HELP???

  29. Hello,i have problem to Root my LG G3 with android 5.0 , i followed your steps to Root,but here gives mi error..

  30. i did the same thing but then i had the same warning at the guy who posted a pic of it.. i tried to root it using Stump but then it says that my device is patched ?? how to get over this patch and root it ?

  31. How long does PurpleDrake take to do its thing? I’ve been at “Waiting for device… ……………………………” for quite a while, the only change being the occasional addition of a dot.

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