How to Root the Samsung Galaxy S5 (TowelRoot Method)(Video)
Thanks to Geohot, that kid who first jailbroke an iPhone a long time ago, we have a root method for the Samsung Galaxy S5. After his long history of working in the jailbreaking community for iOS, he decided a few days ago to release an app that can allow you to gain root access on a ton of Android Kitkat devices, the most impressive of which being the Galaxy S5 for AT&T and Verizon (since we had issues with this before this new tool). In this video, I’ll show you how to install the TowelRoot app (as he calls it) and what else to do once you have root to protect the device by managing what apps can use this new found root access.
Curious about rooting before you get started, check out our Rooting page.
If this method doesn’t work for you, please try the Chainfire method given here.
Here goes:
I. Before You Begin
1. You must be using a KitKat device. There are a bunch of ones that work, but nowhere has a good list of them all so I’d suggest giving this a go and if it doesn’t work, there’s no harm done (it’ll just fail). We DO know, though, that (at least at the time of writing this) it for sure works on any Galaxy S5 from AT&T and Verizon. Please let us know any other device it does work for in the comments quickly to help others out.
II. Root the Samsung Galaxy S5
1. Go to Settings > Security > and check Unknown Sources ON to allow us to install third-party apps.
2. On your phone, head to http://towelroot.com.
3. Tap on the Lambda (the big red letter looking icon in the middle of the site).
4. Save the tr.apk file to your device.
5. Pull down the notification shade by pulling down from the top of the device.
6. Tap on the Download Complete notification.
7. Tap Install.
8. Pull down the notification shade by pulling down from the top of the device.
9. Tap on Installation Complete to open the app.
10. Tap on the Make it Ra1n button and wait for it to do its thing.
11. You should get a success notice, that’s it, you’re rooted.
III. Install SuperSU
To stop unauthorized apps from using the new found root access, we’ll install SuperSU.
1. Go to the Play Store on your device.
2. Search for SuperSU.
3. Tap on the one by Chainfire and install it.
4. Once done, tap the Open button.
5. Allow it to update it’s binaries and anything else it prompts you to do.
IV. Test Root Access
1. Go to the Play Store on your device.
2. Search for Root Checker.
3. Tap on the result and install it.
4. Once done, tap the Open button.
5. Tap Run and make sure it says you are rooted.
Enjoy!
V. Flash a Custom Recovery
1. Download Odin and .tar version of TWRP Recovery for your model and save both of them to your desktop.
2. Extract files from Odin by right-clicking on it and selecting Extract here.
3. Double-click on Odin executable and it’ll launch.
4. When Odin launches, click on the PDA button and select TWRP Recovery .tar available on your desktop.
5. Make sure only Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time checkboxes are checked. Leave the others unchecked.
6. Turn off your phone.
7. Turn your phone back on in download mode by holding down Volume Down, Home, and Power buttons together for a few seconds.
8. Press Volume Up when a prompt appears on your screen and you’ll enter the download mode.
9. Plug in your phone to your PC using a USB cable.
10. Click on Start in the Odin and it’ll start flashing TWRP Recovery on your phone.
11. When TWRP’s flashed, your phone will automatically reboot.
You have successfully flashed a custom recovery on your Samsung Galaxy S5.
If this procedure helped you, please consider donating to Geohot at his site here.
After that, you can head to our how to section and sort by your device to see all the other things to do with your device once rooted.
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It does not work it says my phone is not supported. I’m using the S5 tho.
As of 4 days ago or so, they updated the software, unrooting any currently rooted phones, and it doesn’t work anymore. Hopefully there’ll be a new solution soon, I had just decided to finally root my phone today.
Same Idk y it may be because of 5.0 lollipop
It looks like towelroot doesn’t work with the latest Samsung Galaxy S5 software. I used it on this phone previously (several months ago) and it worked just fine, but today when my S5 updated to the latest version it un-rooted my phone and now towelroot won’t work anymore.
Thanks for reporting this! If you find a procedure that does work for the latest version, link to it here and I’ll see if can do another video on it and simplify the procedure for everyone.
s5 from brazil don’t please help me how make work
Towel Root didn’t work with my Samsung Galaxy s5 from Verizon. SM-G900V. Other tutorials state you need to change the mod strings on Towel Root by tapping “welcome” on the top. The 3 mod strings available didn’t work. I tried several tutorials and nothing seems to be able to root my phone. Maybe Verizon has outsmarted us all because they made this particular s5 unrootable.
Unfortunately, the developer of TowelRoot won’t update it to work on newer versions of Android is the issue. What version of Android are you on exactly (you can find it in Settings > About Phone > Software)
We’re on galaxy s5 6.0.1
Just updated the tutorial. Try it now.
I’m on 6.0.1. my phone model is Samsung-sm-g900v
Try it now as it was just updated
I just tried it again and still unsupported. Oh well.