How to root Samsung Galaxy Note 4 ?
For those of you who want to root your Galaxy Note 4 or Note Edge on Android 5.1.1, you will need to flash a custom kernel on top of regular root method, otherwise you may end up in a bootloop. This is because Samsung has updated Android 5.1.1 with root block and the only way to get around it is to install custom kernel before installing SuperSU.
Here’s how to do it:
Step 1. Go to Settings->About device and check your Model number and your Android version. Make sure you are using Android 5.1.1, if you have older 5.0.2, 5.0.1, or 5.0, followour root guide here instead.
Step 2. Hit the “Build number” a bunch of times until it says, “Developer mode has been turned on.”
Step 3. Hit the back button and go into “Developer options”. If you see “OEM Unlocking” option, turn it ON. If not, you can skip this step.
Step 4. Connect a micro-USB cable from your phone to your computer.
Step 5. Next, go to our Note 4 5.1.1 Kernels page or Note Edge 5.1.1 kernels page and download the appropriate kernel for your model you found in Step 1. Also make sure to download SuperSU zip file, ODIN, drivers, and TWRP recovery.
You should have downloaded a total of 5 files like shown below:
Step 6. Next copy the kernel file and the SuperSU zip file to your phone’s storage.
Step 7. Next, unzip the ODIN zip file and run the ODIN exe program by double-clicking on it.
Step 8. Power off your phone, unplug the microUSB cable then hold down Volume Down, Center Home, and Power button together until you see a warning screen like below:
Step 9. Reconnect the micro-USB cable from phone to your computer.
Step 10. Make sure you see a blue-highlighted box with a random COM number. If you don’t see this, run the Samsung USB driver exe file you downloaded earlier and that will install the proper Windows drivers. You should be able to see it after that.
Step 11. Choose AP, then choose the TWRP tar file you downloaded earlier.
Before you hit Start button, make sure you are ready to press the Volume Up, Center Home, and Power buttons together when your phone reboots. Hit the Start button and when your phone’s screen turns off to reboot, immediately hold down those buttons to get into TWRP recovery.
Step 12. Once in TWRP recovery, you may want to backup your stock kernel before installing the new custom kernel. So, choose “Backup”, then backup the boot image only.
Step 13. Choose “Install” from main menu.
Step 14. Choose the kernel zip file you copied over to your phone earlier and swipe to flash.
Step 15. Next, choose “Install” again then choose the SuperSU zip file and swipe to flash.
Step 16. Tap on “Reboot system” to reboot.
Step 17. Once rebooted, you should find a new app called “SuperSU”. Tap on it to open and if you don’t get any errors, you are 100% rooted! Also, if it asks you to update the binaries, say yes and choose “normal”. If it hangs, just reboot and try again.
Step 18. Install Titanium Backup app and run it to verify you have full root. You should see Superuser window request window pop-up like below. Congratulations! You have successfully rooted your Note 4 or Note Edge on latest Android 5.1.1!
