How to Root the Samsung Galaxy Nexus [Video Walkthrough]

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The wait is over for The Droid Demos’ guide for how to root the Galaxy Nexus. Its simple, its straight forward, and it will help guide you down the yellow brick road of rooting. Enjoy!

A big thanks to WugFresh and his initial thread for rooting the Galaxy Nexus, off which I created this guide and anyone else that has helped make this happen.

I try to make my guides simple and straightforward so that the average user can root their device. I show every detail and walk you through the process. This guide is a complete video walkthrough on how to root the Samsung Galaxy Nexus with edits based on the issues that some may run into with previous guides. Without further ado, let’s get started!

REQUIRED DOWNLOADS

Just download, do not install or run anything yet.

• Nexus Root Toolkit

Instructions

This process will erase all the data on your phone. This includes apps, downloads, pictures, and anything else on the internal storage. If you want to keep any of that, be sure to back them up. The easiest way to do this is by connecting the phone to your computer and using drag and drop to move everything to a folder on your computer. Make sure to do this before starting.

Initial Setup

1. Download the Nexus Root Toolkit
2. Right click on the Toolkit exe file and select Run as Administrator.
3. If it asks you if you want to run it, click Run.
4. If it requests permissions to run, click yes.
5. When the program opens, select which version of the Nexus you have: CDMA or GSM.

Install and Configure Drivers

1. Click the “Drivers” button to initiate the configuration.
2. The program will remind you to have your phone unplugged. Make sure yours is unplugged and then click OK.
3. The program will initiate the driver install and then open up a terminal window. This will explain how to check to make sure there are no old drivers installed.
4. Click any key to open up a new window. Look for 04e8 and 18d1 under the VendorID. If they show up anywhere, right click on them and select “Uninstall selected devices.” You can select more than one at once.”
5. Once complete, you can close that window and go back to the terminal window. Click any key to continue.
6. It will now run a script to configure the drivers for adb access. Click any key to continue. Click any key to continue again at the next screen
7. Enable USB Debugging on your phone. Go to Settings>Developer Options and check USB Debugging.
8. You can now plug in your phone to the computer.
9. Wait about 20 seconds and then in the terminal window on your computer, click any key to continue.
10. It will then ask if you see your device listed (it will show a bunch of letters and numbers). If you type 1 and click Enter and move to the next step. If you don’t, click 2 and Enter. It will remind you of what you need to do for the phone to connect. Make sure that these things are done and type 1 and hit Enter. Confirm that your phone now shows up and hit 1 and Enter
11. It will now reboot your phone to the bootloader and check for fastboot access. If you see your phone listed (a bunch of letters and numbers) type 1 and hit Enter and move to the next step. If not, type 2 and hit Enter. It will explain how to manually install the drivers. You will have to open Device Manager (Start Button > Type “device manager” and select if from the list. You will see “Android 1.0″ or something similar listed towards the bottom under a “USB devices” header. Right click on Android 1.0 and click “Update driver software.” Click “Browse my computer for software” and direct it to the drivers (C:\\Wugs_GnexRootToolkit\data\drivers) and click next and let it install the drivers. Once complete go back to the terminal window and hit any key to continue. Confirm that you see your device listed and type 1 and hit Enter.
12. Your drivers are now all setup. It will reboot your device. You can click any key to close the window.

Unlock the Phone

1. If your drivers are configured, go ahead and click the “Unlock” button in the program.
2. Another reminder, all of the data on your phone will be wiped. If you want anything, be sure to back it up to your computer before doing anything else.
3. Enable USB Debugging on your phone. Go to Settings>Developer Options and check USB Debugging.
4. Make sure that your phone is plugged in to the computer.
5. Hit any key to continue
6. It will then ask if you see your device listed (it will show a bunch of letters and numbers). If you type 1 and click Enter and move to the next step. If you don’t, click 2 and Enter. It will remind you of what you need to do for the phone to connect. Make sure that these things are done and type 1 and hit Enter. Confirm that your phone now shows up and hit 1 and Enter
7. It will now reboot your phone to the bootloader and check for fastboot access. If you see your phone listed (a bunch of letters and numbers) type 1 and hit Enter and move to the next step. If you don’t see it, you most likely did not install your drivers. You will need to select 2 and follow the instructions.
8. You will now see a screen that says “Unlock bootloader?” on your phone’s screen. Hit the Volume Up button to highlight “Yes” and press the power button on your phone to select it.
9. After a few seconds, it will start to reboot. When the program says to do so, click any key to continue. Your phone will boot up after a few minutes.

Root the Phone

1. On your phone, you can skip through the setup process or go through to get to the homescreen.
2. In the Toolkit program on your computer, click the “Root” button.
3. Enable USB Debugging on your phone. Go to Settings>Developer Options and check USB Debugging.
4. Make sure that your phone is plugged in to the computer.
5. Click any key to continue
6. It will then ask if you see your device listed (it will show a bunch of letters and numbers). If you type 1 and click Enter and move to the next step. If you don’t, click 2 and Enter. It will remind you of what you need to do for the phone to connect. Make sure that these things are done and type 1 and hit Enter. Confirm that your phone now shows up and hit 1 and Enter
7. It will push the root file to your phone, reboot to the bootloader, and check for fastboot access. If you see your phone listed (a bunch of letters and numbers) type 1 and hit Enter and move to the next step. If you don’t see it, you most likely did not install your drivers. You will need to select 2 and follow the instructions.
8. It will send the recovery file to your phone. Click any key to continue when it prompts.
9. It will now give instructions to boot into recovery and flash the root file. On your phone, click the Volume Up button until your phone displays “Recovery mode” and hit the power button to select it.
10. Once it reboots to recovery, use the Volume buttons to navigate to “Install zip from sdcard” and hit the power button to select it.
11. Hit the power button to select “Choose zip from sdcard”
12. Use the Volume buttons to navigate to “su.zip” and hit the power button to select it.
13. Use the Volume buttons to navigate to “Yes – install sup.zip” and hit the power button to select it.
14. It should flash the zip file and then say “Install from sdcard complete. You can now use the Volume buttons to navigate to “Go back” and hit the power button to select it.
15. Hit the power button to select “Reboot system now”
16. Your phone will reboot. Keep it plugged in. Once it reboots, confirm that USB Debugging is turned on by going to Settings>Developer Options and make sure USB Debugging is checked.
17. In the terminal window on the computer, hit any key to continue.
18. It will say that it will run a script to make the recovery permanent. Press any key to launch the script.
19. Once it is complete, hit Enter.
20. It will then remind you to install ROM Manager to re-flash recovery for you. Hit any key to exit.

Install ROM Manager and Re-Flash Recovery

1. On your phone, open up the Market. Sign in if you need to.
2. Search for ROM Manager and install it
3. Open ROM Manager and click “Flash ClockworkMod Recovery.” Select your device (CDMA or GSM) and it will flash the recovery. Click Allow on superuser if it prompts you.

You’re now rooted!