Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 has received the official Android 5.0.1 Lollipop firmware update in February. But as you know that installing the official/stock firmware will remove the root access. So you might have not updated your Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 to Android Lollipop for the fear of losing root access and not sure if you would be able to root the device on the new version but those who have already updated their Galaxy S4 to Lollipop via OTA or flashed the firmware using Odin and are seeking root access then here is a good news for those people who would like to gain root without tripping Knox warranty. Follow the given step by step guide to root Galaxy S4 i9505 running official Android 5.0.1 Lollipop Firmware.
Thanks to Tyxerakias (XDA Member) for sharing a procedure to install rooted stock Android Lollipop firmware without tripping Knox warranty void counter. Follow the given instructions carefully as it is a bit complicated but will keep KNOX counter at 0 x 0. In this guide we’ll use the bootloader .tar file for Android Lollipop firmware, Mobile Odin Pro app and Odin v3.09 for Windows.
Note:
This guide containing the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop Official firmware is only working with Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 model. Do not try to install this firmware on any other device or incorrect variant. Verify the model number of your device first.
Warning:
AndroidBlog will not be held responsible for any kind of damage occurred to your Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 during or after the installation of this rooted official Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. Proceed at your own risk.
Pre-Requirements:
- Make sure that the battery level of your Galaxy S4 is charged at least upto 80% before proceeding to the installation guide.
- Download and install proper USB Drivers for the Note 3 on PC.
- It is highly recommended to take a proper back up of your important data and settings on the phone using a custom recovery such as CWM or TWRP. In case anything goes wrong then you’ll be able to restore your data.
- Enable USB Debugging Mode on Galaxy S4 from Settings > Developer Options.
Required Files:
- Download Official Rooted Android 5.0.1 Firmware for Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505)
- Download SuperSU v2.46
- Download Bootloader
- Download Odin 3.09
- Download and Install Mobile Odin Pro on Galaxy S4.
Steps to Install Rooted Android 5.0.1 Lollipop Official Firmware on Galaxy S4 I9505 without Tripping Knox Warranty:
Follow the given instructions to install rooted Android 5.0.1 Lollipop firmware on Galaxy S4 I9505:
1:- First, download the required files from the given links on the desktop of your PC and extract the firmware file to .tar.md5 extension (If the firmware file is zipped).
2:- Transfer the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.xx.zip files to the root folder of your SD card of the phone.
3:- Navigate to Settings > Backup and Reset and perform Factory Reset on the Galaxy S4.
4:- Run Mobile Odin Pro, accept the download of the required file, once done then press OTA > Update ZIP and find the UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.46.zip file that you’ve already transferred to the root folder of your external SD Card.
5:- Next, tap on Open File and select the .tar.md5 firmware file. Mobile Odin will show you the separate different parts of the firmware.
6:- Make sure that the Enable EverRoot is checked and leave other options unchecked.
7:- Tap the Flash firmware option and install the firmware file.
8:- Click Yes if you see the prompt about md5 check. Mobile Odin will automatically start flashing the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop firmware on the Galaxy S4 GT-I9505.
9:- Galaxy S4 will be automatically rebooted and it may take about 5 minutes to boots up after installation.
10:- Turn off the device and boot it while pressing and holding Volume Down + Home + Power keys at the same time to enter into Download Mode after the device reboots.
10:- Now, connect the Galaxy S4 to the PC and run Odin 3.09 as an Administrator.
12:- In Odin, click on the BL button and choose the Bootloader file (BL_I9505XXXX.tar.md5).
13:- Install the Bootloader by pressing Start button in Odin, wait for the Pass message.
14:- Perform another Factory Reset once the device reboots.
15:- Finally, re-download SuperSU app from Play Store after initial setup
Done! You’ve successfully rooted Galaxy S4 on Android 5.0.1 Lollipop without tripping KNOX Warranty showing 0 x 0.
Thank you for this beautifully written piece. I have a Galaxy S5 G900H (International Exynos Model) which I have updated to 5.0 Lollipop. As part of the process of updating to Lollipop, I had to upgrade the bootloader as well as the modem. The problem I have is that I can no longer root the phone. I have tried several methods – Odin, heimdall, ADB, KingoRoot, Android Rootkit, SRS one click etc – to no avail. I read somewhere that the updated bootloader can cause this.
My questions are:
Can this be true? If it is, Can I revert back to the former bootloader while still on Lollipop.
NB: I re-installed Kitkat, but I was still unable to root. Also, I had enjoyed root before changing to Lollipop.
Thank you
on the below you state do a reset but if you just reset your phone the moble odin wont be on your phone how can you do that if you reset your phone and if you download if from playstore it states it needs root access ?
Step No 3:- Navigate to Settings > Backup and Reset and perform Factory Reset on the Galaxy S4.
Step No 4:- Run Mobile Odin Pro, accept the download of the required file, once done then press OTA > Update ZIP and find the UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.46.zip file that you’ve already transferred to the root folder of your external SD Card.
i9505 some time hang how to do……….
There is something wrong here, and that might be why the only comment on this tutorial has really nothing to do with the tutorial.
Near the top we can read clearly
“those who have already updated their Galaxy S4 to Lollipop via OTA or flashed the firmware using Odin and are seeking root access then here is a good news for those people who would like to gain root without tripping Knox warranty. Follow the given step by step guide to root Galaxy S4 i9505 running official Android 5.0.1 Lollipop Firmware.”
However, when we get to Step 4 it says “Run Mobile Odin Pro, accept the download of the required file…”
How can this be possible if everyone know that Mobile Odin Pro runs ONLY on rooted phones and the phone is not yet rooted? Because that is precisely what this tutorial is supposed to do. So, it is impossible to go beyond Step 3.
Am I wrong and missing something or is this a mistake? Can you clarify, please?
Thank you very much for your expected kind help.
@Straydog your absolutely right ;),
the guide did give me a idea though.
I did a fresh reinstall over Odin, run the default updates off the pre-installed apps . Then a upgrade off firmware what came up for me.
At stap 4 i used Odin 3.10.6, and uploaded twrp-2.8.6.0-jfltexx
then start in the TWRP recovery (volume up , center & power)
first upgraded to 2.8.7.0 (select img in right corner to install this).
Can grab the two files and put them on a “small” sd card (twrp couldnt read my 32gb) https://dl.twrp.me/jfltexx/
(twrp will offer you to install supersu, DO NOT DO IT locked my phone on boot, NEITHER use the fixing permission)
Now go to reboot and select repair to boot into twrp again.
Install SuperSu 2.46 zip
Reboot again in setup/download mode (volume down, home & power)
Now install the bootloader file over Odin pc software
Reboot and finger crossed!
Root checker app see if it worked out for you.
I can’t say what this dues with the KNOK counter thing, first time reading about it here.
But this is the first rooting 5.0.1 firmware that worked for me :).
Installed a tripping-knox warranty app and it did trigger it 🙁 .
But then again, warranty was already gone duo to the age.
More importer for me that I can customize with root the phone again to boost it’s lack off memory.
Link2sd autoboots and get rid off memory wasters and such.