Root Galaxy S5: The benefits, risks and rooting instructions (for all variants)

What’s Rooting Galaxy S5?

Rooting simply means having root access on your phone. It’s having system-level privileges on your Galaxy S5. You don’t get these privileges by default on your phone because if misused or used without caution these privileges can easily make useless (brick) an otherwise fine device.

The benefits of rooting Galaxy S5?

There many benefits to rooting in general, but to keep it short, I’ll stick to the immediate benefits regarding Galaxy S5 only:

  • Remove bloatware (completely): With root access you can completely remove any app that came pre-installed on your phone. Use it with caution though, if you remove an app that’s integral part of the system, chances are that you’ll soft-brick your phone.
  • Enable WiFi Hotspot: Android devices support WiFi and USB tethering by default, but some carriers block this feature. With root access you’d be able to bypass any carrier limitation and use your Galaxy S5 as WiFi HotSpot.
  • Performance Boost: Removing bloatware alone should give you good performance boost and increased battery life. But if you’re looking for more, you can manually profile your phone’s CPU to your liking using the SetCPU app with root access.
  • Backup and Restore apps with data: With root you can easily backup and restore apps/games along with data using TitaniumBackup (and other similar apps).
  • Flash Firmware updates without PC using Mobile ODIN: With root access you can easily flash official/leaked unofficial firmwares on your phone using the Mobile ODIN app by Chainfire.
  • Use Xposed Modules: Xposed modules lets you tweak your device like anything. WanamXposed is one of the most popular module for Samsung phones. But there are more cool modules available for the Xposed framework, which basically every rooted Android user can use.

I hope the list above gave you a pretty good idea of benefits of rooting your Galaxy S5. And like I said before, there are a lot more things you could do with root access on your phone. To start with, have a look at the link below:

→ Essential Root apps for every rooted Android user

Risks involved with rooting?

Yes! Rooting involves some risks (serious? that depends on you):

  • Voids Warranty: Rooting will void the warranty on your Samsung Galaxy S5.
  • Could soft-brick your Galaxy S5: This is serious. And it totally depends on you. If you don’t follow proper instructions (or you be ignorant) with anything regarding rooting or root apps in general, chances are that you’ll end up soft-bricking your Galaxy S5.

If you’ve any other doubts regarding rooting, feel free to ask us in the comments section below.

HOW TO ROOT GALAXY S5

Although rooting process is similar for all variants of the Samsung Galaxy S5, the cf-auto-root file is different for each. So we’ve published different posts for each variant of Galaxy S5, select your variant from the links below:

NOTE: Root for Verizon and AT&T variants of Galaxy S5 isn’t available yet. We’ll update this page as soon as we find a working method for those two variants.

Posted by
Shivam

Shivam is our resident designer and web developer who also enjoys writing. He loves to meditate, drive on the freeways and hunt for snipers during his Call Of Duty playtime. Email: [email protected]

20 Comments

  1. If I root it i’ll also lose OTA updates? Pleaase answer!
    Thanks!

    1. Yes, you would then need to use KIES to update the device (in the case of Samsung phones at least)

  2. If I root it i’ll also lose OTA updates? Pleaase answer!
    Thanks!

    1. Yes, you would then need to use KIES to update the device (in the case of Samsung phones at least)

    2. Yes, you would then need to use KIES to update the device (in the case of Samsung phones at least)

  3. If I root it i’ll also lose OTA updates? Pleaase answer!
    Thanks!

    1. Yes, you would then need to use KIES to update the device (in the case of Samsung phones at least)

  4. How do I avoid soft bricking the phone if I decide to root my s5?

    1. Follow the instructions carefully and accurately, always. Even if you soft-brick your device, recovery is easy. Let us know if you need help.

  5. How do I avoid soft bricking the phone if I decide to root my s5?

    1. Follow the instructions carefully and accurately, always. Even if you soft-brick your device, recovery is easy. Let us know if you need help.

  6. on other websites there are files to root the g900az model, and this website says “Root for Verizon and AT&T variants of Galaxy S5 isn’t available yet.” The g900az is the cricket provider version– cricket used to be a part of at&t

  7. on other websites there are files to root the g900az model, and this website says “Root for Verizon and AT&T variants of Galaxy S5 isn’t available yet.” The g900az is the cricket provider version– cricket used to be a part of at&t

  8. Will u lose all ur apps after rootung

  9. My variant is SMG900I

  10. Will u lose all ur apps after rootung

  11. My variant is SMG900I

  12. so there is still no verizon s5 root available even after the release of the s6

  13. so there is still no verizon s5 root available even after the release of the s6

  14. For all the talk and instructions, there was no procedure for Samsung Galaxy SM-G900V. LOL

Comments are closed.