How to Root the HTC One Max

HTC One Max is the successor of the widely popular HTC One smartphone. With great new features, including the fingerprint scanner, the One Max has really created a buzz around the smartphone markets and it really deserves some developer love. To show their love, the devs have developed a root method for this newly launched device allowing users to get the most out of their device. Having root-access on an Android device has always been a great thing as it lets you remove system apps (if you don’t need them), install root-only apps, flash custom ROMs and a lot more. Here’s how you can go about rooting your HTC One Max:

I. Before You Begin:

1. This will void the warranty of your device. However, you can reinstate the warranty by unrooting your device if there’s any unrooting procedure available.

2. You must have unlocked bootloader of your device. You can unlock your device’s bootloader by visiting the HTCDev website.

3. This only works on Windows based PCs.

II. Downloading Required Files:

1. ClockworkMod Recovery Image (Download the appropriate Recovery Image for your device from the first post)

2. Fastboot

3. SuperSU (Download link’s given in the first post)

III. Flashing a Custom Recovery on the HTC One Max:

1. Place all three files you’ve downloaded onto your Desktop.

2. Extract files from Fastboot archive over to your Desktop.

3. Turn ON the USB debugging option on your device by going to Menu>>Settings>>Developer options>>USB debugging.

4. Plug in your device to your PC via USB cable.

5. Launch a Command Prompt Window on your Desktop. To do that, simply hold down the Shift button and right-click on any blank area on your screen and select Open command window here.

6. Type in following command into the Command Prompt Window:

adb reboot bootloader

7. Your device should reboot into the Fastboot mode.

8. Once in Fastboot, type in following command into the Command Prompt Window. Make sure to replace recoveryname.img with the actual name of the Recovery Image file you have downloaded:

fastboot flash recovery recoveryname.img

9. It should flash the recovery on your device, shouldn’t take too long to finish.

10. Once the recovery’s been flashed, reboot your device.

11. You’re done!

Awesome! You’ve successfully flashed a custom recovery on your device, let’s see how you can root your device!

IV. Rooting the HTC One Max:

1. Ensure your device is connected to your PC.

2. Copy the SuperSU zip from your Desktop over to the root of your SD card.

3. Open a Command Prompt Window on your Desktop. To do that, hold down the Shift button and right-click on any blank area on your screen and select Open command window here.

4. Type in following command into the Command Prompt Window:

adb reboot recovery

5. Your device should reboot into the CWM Recovery mode.

6. Once in Recovery, select install zip from sdcard followed by choose zip from sdcard.

7. Choose the SuperSU zip you copied earlier to be flashed on your device.

8. It’ll begin flashing the zip on your device.

9. Once it’s been flashed, reboot your device.

10. You’re now rooted!

Brilliant! Your HTC One Max has been successfully rooted and equipped with a custom recovery. You’re all set to enjoy the world of custom ROMs!

V. Flash a Custom ROM (Optional):

1. If you are ready to flash custom ROMs on your device, head to the How To Flash a Custom ROM on the HTC One Max to learn how to do that.

11 thoughts on “How to Root the HTC One Max”

  1. When I type cmd and then the fastboot oem get_identifier_token it it gives me this message; fastbook is not recognized as internal or external command, operaable program or batch file. I’m using Windows 7

    1. Hi Joey,

      Did you have the fastboot.exe file where you launched the Command Prompt Window, i.e., your desktop?

      If not, extract the files from the Fastboot archive to your desktop and make sure that the fastboot.exe file is there on your desktop and not in any subfolders.

      Hope that helps!

      1. I took the phone to a shop nearby and they said they cannot root my phone because there’s no rooting software for KitKat for HTC One Max, is this true?

  2. at IV. Rooting the HTC One Max, and i try to get into recovery mode (part 4.), I get a picture of a mobile phone with a red triangle and exclamation mark in the middle. Does that mean I flashed the wrong recovery image? I’m using an Australian/Telstra HTC One Max and i flashed the “GSM Stock” recovery image from the XDA forum link provided

    1. A custom recovery usually has a number of options. Since you’re only getting an exclamation mark and nothing beyond that, you’ve probably flashed the wrong recovery image.

      Please reflash the recovery that is for your device and you should be good to go. Thanks!

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