How to Root the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III Running Android 4.1.2

After the OTA, it seems it’s a bit trickier to root the Verizon version of the Samsung Galaxy S III. Have no fear though, thanks to developers over at XDA, it’s now possibly and pretty easy in fact. Here’s a step by step guide for rooting your Verizon Galaxy S III running Android 4.1.2 (the latest version for the device at the time of writing this).

I. Install the Toolkit and Drivers

1. Make sure your Verizon Galaxy S III is on 4.1.2 under Settings > About Phone > Android Version.

2. Download the drivers and save them to your desktop

Drivers

3. Install the drivers on your computer by double clicking the driver installer.

4. On the phone, pull down the notification shade and click on Settings, then click on Developer Options.

5. Toggle Developer Options on.

6. Turn on USB Debugging.

7. Once done, plug in your Samsung Galaxy S III via USB cable to your computer.

8. Download the SuperSU and Unlocked Bootloader File and save it to your desktop.

9. Copy the .zip file to your device’s internal storage (do NOT extract the zip file, leave it as a zip file).

10. Turn off your device and then turn it back on by holding down Volume Down, the Home button, and power button simultaneously and keep holding them until the disclaimer comes up.

11. Push Volume Up and then Power to accept the disclaimer.

12. Download the ODIN Flasher Tool and then open it.

13. Once it is open, download the VRALEC Bootchain file and save it to your desktop.

14. In the ODIN program, click the PDA button on the right side and select the VRALEC Bootchain file you just downloaded and select Open.

15. Click Start to flash that to your device.

16. Once the device reboots, turn it back off and then turn it back on by holding down Volume Down, the Home button, and power button simultaneously and keep holding them until the disclaimer comes up then hit Volume Up to continue.

17. Close ODIN and then open it back up.

18. Uncheck the Auto Reboot check box in ODIN.

19. Download the ClockworkMod Recovery and save it to your desktop.

20. In the ODIN program, click the PDA button on the right side and select the ClockworkMod Recovery file you just downloaded and select Open.

21. Click Start to flash that to your device.

22. Once it is done flashing, unplug the device and remove the battery and then put the battery back in.

23. While the phone is off, hold down Volume Up, Home, and Power and as soon as the phone vibrates, let go of the Power button but continue to hold the Volume Up and Home buttons until you see the recovery screen.

24. Once in recovery, select Install Zip from SD.

25. Select Choose Zip from SD.

26. Select the SuperSU and Unlocked Bootloader file and then select Yes to confirm.

27. Select Go Back.

28. Select Reboot System Now (if asked to Disable Recovery Flash, select YES).

29.  Once the device reboots, turn it back off and then turn it back on by holding down Volume Down, the Home button, and power button simultaneously and keep holding them until the disclaimer comes up then hit Volume Up to continue.

30. Download the 4.1.2 Bootchain and save it to your desktop

31. Close ODIN and then open it back up.

32. In the ODIN program, click the PDA button on the right side and select the 4.1.2 Bootchain file you just downloaded and select Open.

33. Click Start to flash that to your device.

34. Once it is done flashing, it should reboot.

35 (Optional) Feel free to head to our ROM repository to start flashing ROMs on your new rooted Verizon Galaxy S III.