How to Root the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (T-Mobile & Sprint Versions)
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is the latest large-screened device to come out of Samsung’s, seemingly constant, churring out of cell phones throughout the year. The Note 5 is the anticipated replacement to the popular Note 4 that came out last year and, like a good successor, it improves upon the last model in every way.
The only thing, that hasn’t gotten much better in my opinion, is the software. If you know me, you know I’m not the biggest fan of the custom UIs that all the manufacturers put on their device and, even though I understand why they do it, I’d just prefer to use plain stock Android instead.
If you’re like me and want that same experience (and happen to have a T-Mobile or Sprint version of the device), you’re in luck. Thanks to those carriers’ much more lax attitude to rooting their devices and developers over at XDA, you can root the devices using Samsung’s own flashing software called Odin.
Once you’ve flashed the custom kernel and the custom recovery, you can flash SuperSU to finish off the process and have a totally rooted Galaxy Note 5 with a custom recovery that’ll allow you to flash custom ROMs to change the OS to plain Android (always my end-goal). If you don’t want to go all the way to stock Android there are still plenty of ROMs out there that keep TouchWiz -Samsung’s UI – but enhance the performance of it –a welcomed addition.
If this interests you, here’s how to root the Samsung Galaxy Note 5.
I. Before You Begin
1. This could void the warranty of your device. We won’t be held responsible for anything that happens from doing this tutorial so please proceed at your own risk.
2. This procedure should only work on Windows based PCs.
3. Make sure that Samsung USB drivers are installed on your PC. If they aren’t, please install those first.
4. This procedure only works for the T-Mobile (N920T) and Sprint (N920P) variants of the device.
5. This should also flash a custom recovery on your device.
How to Root the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (T-Mobile)(Sprint)
To root the device, you’ll flash a custom rooted kernel using Odin on your device. After that, you’ll flash a custom recovery to be able to enjoy many of the great custom ROMs on your device. Here’s how:
II. Downloading Required Files
1. Download Odin and save it to your desktop.
2. Download Noble Kernel and save it to your desktop.
Noble Kernel (download the one that is for your specific variant of the device)
3. Download TWRP Recovery and save it to your desktop.
TWRP Recovery (download link’s given in the third post)
III. Rooting the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (T-Mobile)(Sprint)
1. Extract files from both Noble Kernel and Odin over to your desktop by right-clicking on each of them and selecting Extract here.
2. Double-click on Odin executable and it’ll launch.
3. When Odin launches, click on PDA and select Noble Kernel available on your desktop. Make sure to select the extracted kernel file and not the archive itself.
4. Uncheck Repartition in the Odin.
5. Checkmark both Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time options in the Odin.
6. On your device, head to Menu > Settings > About phone and tap on Build number for 8 times and it’ll say you’re a developer.
7. Head to Menu > Settings > Developer options on your device and turn on Enable OEM unlock.
8. Head to Menu > Settings > Developer options and turn on USB debugging.
9. Turn off your device.
10. Turn your device back on in download mode. To do so, hold down Volume DOWN, Home, and Power buttons together for a few seconds.
11. Hit Volume UP when a prompt appears on your screen.
12. Your device should now be in download mode.
13. Plug in your device to your PC using a USB cable.
14. Click on Start in the Odin and it’ll start flashing the kernel on your device.
15. When Odin’s done flashing the kernel, your device should automatically reboot.
16. When your device reboots, head over to the Google Play store and download and install SuperSU on your device.
17. Launch SuperSU from your app drawer.
18. Allow the app to update the binaries.
19. Your device is now rooted!
And there you go.
Your Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is now rooted, and here’s how you can flash a custom recovery on it:
IV. Flashing a Custom Recovery on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (T-Mobile)(Sprint)
1. Double-click on Odin executable and it’ll launch.
2. Click on PDA in the Odin and select TWRP Recovery available on your desktop.
3. Uncheck Repartition in the Odin.
4. Checkmark both Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time options in the Odin.
5. Turn off your device.
6. Reboot your device into download mode. To do that, hold down Volume DOWN, Home, and Power buttons together for a few seconds.
7. Press Volume UP when a prompt appears on your screen.
8. Your device should now be in download mode.
9. Connect your device to your PC via a USB cable.
10. Hit Start in the Odin and it’ll start flashing TWRP Recovery on your device.
11. When Odin’s done flashing TWRP Recovery, your device should automatically reboot.
You are now rooted and have a custom recovery. Head to my how to flash a custom ROM tutorial and use that to flash ROMs from my ROM repository until you find one you like. Or just use this tutorial on how to remove bloatware if you’d rather just do that.
Let me know if this worked for you in the comments below!
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Mine is at the setup connection.. is it normal for that section to take an extended amount of time?
Try reopening the program without running as administrator and sometimes that helps.
im trying to root so that i may use other networks instead of sprint. such as straight talk is it a waste of my time or am i on the right path here
Wrong path. Rooting only lets you put custom software on the phone not use another carrier. You’d need to unlock the phone for that. You can check this site out for help with that – http://www.unlockmyphone.io
ok so i rebooted to original home screen and checked developer settings and realized debugging was off fixed that and now its saying it is failing unable to write what am i doing wrong here can someone help me out i did this to my note 3 effortlessly but the 5 is giving me fits 🙁
Added!!
Enter CS for MD5..
Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..
Please wait..
Noble_Kernel_Auto-Root_N920P_v0.1_Alpha.tar.md5 is valid.
Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..
Leave CS..
Odin v.3 engine (ID:6)..
File analysis..
SetupConnection..
Added!!
Enter CS for MD5..
Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..
Please wait..
Noble_Kernel_Auto-Root_N920P_v0.1_Alpha.tar.md5 is valid.
Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..
Leave CS..
Odin v.3 engine (ID:6)..
File analysis..
SetupConnection..
Initialzation..
Get PIT for mapping..
Firmware update start..
boot.img
NAND Write Start!!
Complete(Write) operation failed.
All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)
I have an updated tutorial coming out next week. Check back then if you want the video tutorial, otherwise here is the new kernel to flash if you want to try now – http://forum.xda-developers.com/note5/development/dev-pre-root-firmware-twrp-testing-t3183877
I cannot find a proper SpaceX download for my 920p
What SpaceX are you talking about, Jeremy?
Does this work with latest update?
Should work. Thanks!
Will I be able to use my mobile data on hotspot after rooting?
Just rooting won’t do that on its own. But after you are rooted you an find root required apps that will let you do that.
Makes sense. Thanks
Is this stilL working for current tmobile note 5 on 6.0.1 ?
Should work. Thanks!
Does this clear the memory on the phone?
Nope, it doesn’t. Thanks!
It did the same thing to me but I wasn’t using this person’s method. I had to reinstall the firmware for my phone specific to the phone provider. So it’s important to know the model of your phone in the event you brick your phone in the process.
Flashed SpaceX Kernel, now my Note is stuck on Samsung logo, I’m trying with too many ways but I can’t fix it. I do not recomend this method, there are simpler methods around the web.
Did you follow the procedure properly? It’s a stable kernel and it shouldn’t cause any issues as long as you follow the procedure correctly.