Root I9505XXUEML9 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on Galaxy S4 LTE

The Galaxy S4 LTE GT-I9505 recently received the latest official Jelly Bean firmware, I9505XXUEML9 Android 4.3, via Over-The-Air (OTA) as well as through Samsung KIES. The new Jelly Bean firmware brings a handful of bug-fixes and UI tweaks as part of the regular maintenance update.

Those who have already updated their Galaxy S4 I9505 to the latest official firmware can now root the same via CF-Auto-Root with Odin flash tool.

NOTE: Rooting is essential to install third-party root apps, custom ROMs and latest system tweaks on your device. Though rooting a device will void its warranty, you can reclaim warranty status of device by reinstalling the latest official firmware or by resetting the flash counter using Triangle Away app.

IBTimes UK reminds its readers that it will not be held liable for any device damage during or after root installation. Users are advised to proceed at their own risk.

Pre-requisites

1. Install necessary USB Drivers for Galaxy S4 (LTE) on the computer.
2. USB Debugging Mode should be enabled on the phone by navigating to Settings >> Developer Options.
3. Back up your important data before you proceed to avoid potential data loss during firmware installation.
4. Make sure the phone is factory unlocked (not locked to any specific carrier).
5. Ensure the phone's battery charge exceeds 80 percent.
6. Verify that the phone is already running the latest Jelly Bean official firmware, I9505XXUEML9 Android 4.3, with ClockworkMod recovery installed.
7. The CF-Auto-Root tool provided in this guide is compatible with Galaxy S4 LTE I9505 only. Do not attempt installing it on incorrect variants as it may brick the device. Verify the model number of the Galaxy S4 by navigating to Settings >> About Phone.

Downloads Required

1. CF-Auto-Root for Galaxy S4 I9505 (CF-Auto-Root-jflte-jfltexx-gti9505.zip)
2. Odin 3.07

Steps to Root I9505XXUEML9 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Official Firmware on Galaxy S4 LTE

Step 1: Extract CF-Auto-Root and Odin 3.07 files using winrar/7zip or winzip.
Step 2: Switch off the Galaxy S4 and then boot it into Download Mode. To do so, press and hold Volume Down, Homeand Powerbuttons together until a construction Android robot icon with a warning triangle appears on screen. Now tap Volume Up button to enter Download Mode.
Step 3: Open Odin on computer as an Administrator.
Step 4: Connect Galaxy S4 to computer via USB cable while the phone is still in Download Mode. Wait until Odin detects the device and when the device connects successfully, the ID: COM box will turn yellow with the COM port number.

Note: At this moment, if the Added message fails to appear, then try re-installing USB drivers or changing the port on the computer.

Step 5: In Odin, click PDA button and choose the CF-Auto-Root-jflte-jfltexx-gti9505.zip file.
Step 6: Verify that Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time options are enabled in Odin. But, the Re-Partition option must be unchecked.
Step 7: Verify step 5 and 6, and then hit Start in Odin. The root installation process will now begin.
Step 8: After the root installation is done, your phone will reboot and a PASS message with green background appears in the left-most box at the top of Odin. Finally, when the Home screen appears, just unplug the USB cable and disconnect the phone from computer.

Troubleshooting

a) Sometimes, the device may fail to boot into Recovery Mode automatically (see step 8) or root the device. In such cases, just repeat the entire procedure again.

b) If the issue still persists, just disable the Auto Reboot option and then repeat the tutorial from scratch. After the root installation completes try the following steps:

• Remove the phone's battery to forcibly shutdown the device.
• Then boot the device into Recovery mode manually by pressing and holding Volume Up, Home and Power buttons until the root installation process starts again.

Your Galaxy S4 (LTE) GT-I9505 is now rooted on I9505XXUEML9 Android 4.3 latest official firmware. It is now possible to install any app that requires root permission. Root status of your phone can be verified by downloading Root Checker app from Google Play Store.

[Source: XDA]