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Root [Sprint] TowelRoot DOES work! [workaround] (root with no computer)
- Thread starter Thatdad
- Start date
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- Tags
- samsung galaxy s4
What kernel are you on if I may ask?
I've tried towelroot on my s4 and it does not work. My kernel is ng5 dated July 25. As far as I am aware this method of root does not with if you are on ng5 dated any thing past June 3rd
Thatdad
Android Expert
I'll post a screenshot
Yep. You are on nc6 and towelroot works for that. I'm ng5 build so towelroot won't work for me sadly
.Wish I knew how to get to nc6 then I could root with towelroot.
I don't want to trip Knox though so I'm not exactly sure what steps to take that are Knox safe as I not trip it.
I'm not afraid of using odin just want to make doubly sure I don't trip Knox is all
Thatdad
Android Expert
Yep. You are on nc6 and towelroot works for that. I'm ng5 build so towelroot won't work for me sadly
Wish I knew how to get to nc6 then I could root with towelroot.
I don't want to trip Knox though so I'm not exactly sure what steps to take that are Knox safe as I not trip it.
I'm not afraid of using odin just want to make doubly sure I don't trip Knox is all
I went on play store and installed SuperSU by chainfire, which turned it off for me apparently
Thatdad
Android Expert
DaisFlaque
Android Expert
a link to my Odin nc6 stock.... said made Odin nc6 l720t flash in Odin. you'll have like an hour after boot before it asked for update. (give or take 20) as soon as your back on nc6 boot and don't even worried about sign in. you'll replace stock (I assume) and after it boots fully go back and flash twrp.... link to tutorial... http://androidforums.com/sprint-galaxy-s4-all-things-root/852294-easy-way-flash-custom-recovery-rom-720-720t.html
Actually I'm going to do it different.
I'm going to flash nc6, reboot.
Once rebooted in going to turn off data immediately after booted as that should delay or even stop the phone from checking.
Next I'll install towelroot and supersu, use towelroot to get root, run SuperSU to update the bimaries.
Once that's all done l proceed to go into the system folder and rename the auto update file name from SDM.apk to SDM.apk.bak, once that is done it should not do ota. I just gotta find out where that file is located in the system folder is all. I'm gonna guess it's under system/apps.
Flashing twrp will trip Knox as it's a custom recovery, I don't want to trip Knox I simply want just a simple root nothing more.
I thank you all for the assistance and help though it is much appreciated.
I'm going to flash nc6, reboot.
Once rebooted in going to turn off data immediately after booted as that should delay or even stop the phone from checking.
Next I'll install towelroot and supersu, use towelroot to get root, run SuperSU to update the bimaries.
Once that's all done l proceed to go into the system folder and rename the auto update file name from SDM.apk to SDM.apk.bak, once that is done it should not do ota. I just gotta find out where that file is located in the system folder is all. I'm gonna guess it's under system/apps.
Flashing twrp will trip Knox as it's a custom recovery, I don't want to trip Knox I simply want just a simple root nothing more.
I thank you all for the assistance and help though it is much appreciated.
DaisFlaque
Android Expert
location. /cache 
DaisFlaque
Android Expert
and.. an app from xposed can do this too. Notifyclean. Here is the NotifyClean instructions:
1) Start/enter the NotifyClean module in xposed framework.
2) Scroll down and tap on Google Play Services.
3) Tap "System Update Downloaded". It should now be highlighted in red. If you don't see this choice, it means that you did not have NotifyClean installed prior to the upgrade notification firing/appearing. A notification has to fire once for NotifyClean to capture it. If you installed NotifyClean after receiving the update notification, reboot your phone a couple of times. This should cause the notification to re-fire and NotifyClean to capture it. At this point, you should now be able to go back into the module and see the System Update Downloaded under Google Play Services. Don't forget to tap it to highlight it in red. When is in red, it's turned off.
4) Press the back button to back out of module and reboot.
1) Start/enter the NotifyClean module in xposed framework.
2) Scroll down and tap on Google Play Services.
3) Tap "System Update Downloaded". It should now be highlighted in red. If you don't see this choice, it means that you did not have NotifyClean installed prior to the upgrade notification firing/appearing. A notification has to fire once for NotifyClean to capture it. If you installed NotifyClean after receiving the update notification, reboot your phone a couple of times. This should cause the notification to re-fire and NotifyClean to capture it. At this point, you should now be able to go back into the module and see the System Update Downloaded under Google Play Services. Don't forget to tap it to highlight it in red. When is in red, it's turned off.
4) Press the back button to back out of module and reboot.
Awesome thankyou!!
I got flashed back, rooted, and disabled the update.
Just a small question, the notification is hidden but will it update at all in the background even when hidden?
Thatdad
Android Expert
Welcome to the rooted side!
Heh, make that "BACK" to the rooted side.
s2, s3, now this s4. I've done my fair share of rooting and un-rooting, flashing ROMs, recoveries, modems, kernels, etc.
Done it so much I can do it in my sleep now.
Rooting without tripping Knox is a bit more tricky though, as it's not as carefree and easy as normal root is, gotta be careful not to trip Knox, like walking in a minefield, only it's a Knox minefield
. Be careful where you step or boom, your knoxed! Heh
Thatdad
Android Expert
Heh, make that "BACK" to the rooted side.
s2, s3, now this s4. I've done my fair share of rooting and un-rooting, flashing ROMs, recoveries, modems, kernels, etc.
Done it so much I can do it in my sleep now.
Rooting without tripping Knox is a bit more tricky though, as it's not as carefree and easy as normal root is, gotta be careful not to trip Knox, like walking in a minefield, only it's a Knox minefield
I knoxed myself already lol
Yeah I just rooted and that's it. Don't wanna trip Knox just yet. I just started my 2yr contact so don't wanna void anything to quick
DaisFlaque
Android Expert
Hehe i just got off the phone with sprint.. they don't give two bleeps if knox is tripped.. hahah they said they can put the counter right back to 0x0!! "Not a problem sir." Hehehe
Thatdad
Android Expert
How did you word it? Not that I care, cm 11 has actually seemed to improve my phone :thumbup:
Towelroot DOES root NC6, however it does NOT root ng5 as sprint has plugged the root exploit in android that towelroot uses.
NC6 is fine, ng5 is a no go.
Only other option is to use cf-autoroot and trip knox. I know for a fact cf-autoroot works on ng5, that's what I am currently on.
If your on NC6, make sure you install superSU after useing towelroot. Simply using towelroot alone will not give you a rooted phone, not without superSU.
The update that sprint put out plugs the hole he used with android. Only way now is to trip Knox, the easiest way is using cf-autoroot. Its really easy but does trip Knox.
On another note about ng5 it breaks gps using aosp style ROMs. I have tried every single aosp ROM out for this phone and gps is broken. Tw Roms are fine to use, everything works as it should it only is with aosp style ROMs. Good news is, cm12 lollipop gps works as it should, just android 4.x it is broken.
Did some testing with someone that has this exact same phone and he uses aosp just fine without any GPS issues. So I decided to research and found out ng5 firmware or ota updates the bootloader to ng5 as well. He didn't update and I did. He has nc6 bootloader, I have ng5 bootloader. Final result he can use aosp without gps being broke, I cannot.
Moral of this story is, if you want to use aosp ROMs and still have working GPS, do not take the ota or do an ng5 firmware flash.
I have not found a way to downgrade the bootloader because the official firmware files on Sammy mobile don't flash the modem or bootloader, at least not backwards aanyways, because I tried the nc6 and all in had after was nc6 firmware with ng5 bootloader and modem.
The bootloader is I think what messes with the gps working at all, not sure why but that is the only thing different between my phone and the other guys phone.
On another note about ng5 it breaks gps using aosp style ROMs. I have tried every single aosp ROM out for this phone and gps is broken. Tw Roms are fine to use, everything works as it should it only is with aosp style ROMs. Good news is, cm12 lollipop gps works as it should, just android 4.x it is broken.
Did some testing with someone that has this exact same phone and he uses aosp just fine without any GPS issues. So I decided to research and found out ng5 firmware or ota updates the bootloader to ng5 as well. He didn't update and I did. He has nc6 bootloader, I have ng5 bootloader. Final result he can use aosp without gps being broke, I cannot.
Moral of this story is, if you want to use aosp ROMs and still have working GPS, do not take the ota or do an ng5 firmware flash.
I have not found a way to downgrade the bootloader because the official firmware files on Sammy mobile don't flash the modem or bootloader, at least not backwards aanyways, because I tried the nc6 and all in had after was nc6 firmware with ng5 bootloader and modem.
The bootloader is I think what messes with the gps working at all, not sure why but that is the only thing different between my phone and the other guys phone.
Thatdad
Android Expert
I can confirm. GPS thinks I'm 2 hours away if it works at all. Sometimes it'll work but very rarely.