[How To] Unlock Bootloader & Root Galaxy Nexus

[dezymond]

Well I'm at the initial setup so everything seems to be good. Totally forgot about root, had the phone the way I liked it too darn it....

 

[sbenson]

rebooting now...I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. Double checked all my steps 3 times before going to the next

You think you were nervous? I was my own guinea pig

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using DroidForums

 

[NewAge]

That's weird....what app you using to tether?

Thought I'd be golden with wifi tether

No app. Its stock in Bluetooth settings. I have the wireless tether app, but I like options :happy3:

 

[dezymond]

You think you were nervous? I was my own guinea pig

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using DroidForums

Your work is much appreciated.You are definitely a brave soul :hail::hail:

 

[dezymond]

No app. Its stock in Bluetooth settings. I have the wireless tether app, but I like options :happy3:

gotcha. I've always used wifi tether and never had a problem, then again the only phone I ever used it on was my Inc...

 

[sbenson]

Here is a more clear set of directions:

1. Download and install Samsung_USB_Driver_for_Moblie_Phones_v1_4_6_0.
2. Connect phone to PC via USB.
3. Enable USB debugging.
4. Download and install Pdanet on both your computer and phone. Windows 32-bit or Windows 64-bit
5. Download and extract superboot folder, place it on C:/ and rename it to "root". Download Superboot
6. Power down phone.
7. Boot into bootloader(press and hole volume +/- simultaneously and power).
7a. Go to Start>Run and type "cmd" and hit enter.
7b. Type "cd.."(repeat until your at C:/)
7c. Type "cd root"
8. Type "fastboot-windows oem unlock" to unlockbootloader.
9. You'll receive warning about unlocking. Use volume + to highlight and power to confirm.
10. Click "install-superboot-windows.bat" that is in your "root" folder on C:/.
11. You should now have unlocked bootloader and root access.

Note: Phone will reboot and may take up to 5 minutes. If you get stuck at Google screen past 5 minutes
do a battery pull. After it's booted check for Superuser app and update(even if it says it's up to date).
Reboot after updating Superuser app.

Done.

This is good. I'll update my op with a bit more clarification when I get some spare time.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using DroidForums

 

[dezymond]

Everything seems good to go. Oh man it's like getting this phone all over again:hail::biggrin:
All hail the mighty sbenson:hail:

 

[jntdroid]

sb did you try the full blown manual method before yours? just curious... real helpful in learning what's going on... I ended up doing it manually, but using the superboot.img from your method b/c the original unsecure boot.img evidently doesn't work on .0.2.

 

[BL4Z3D247]

This is good. I'll update my op with a bit more clarification when I get some spare time.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using DroidForums

Thanks. I reworded 7a. to make it clear that this part is on the PC and not the phone since the bootloader also says start when you're in it.

 

[choklitcow]

Everything went fine with the unlocking process, but now the phone has no reception. Eventually it will give up searching for service in the activation screen and let me turn on wi-fi. Re-locking has done nothing, even did a factory reset. Any tips?

Nevermind. After panicking for about 3 hours, the phone decided to find signal again. Nothing I did including full re-flash to stock did anything...but then it just randomly decided to fix itself? This phone is so magical it just fixes itself!

 

[jntdroid]

nevermind. After panicking for about 3 hours, the phone decided to find signal again. Nothing i did including full re-flash to stock did anything...but then it just randomly decided to fix itself? This phone is so magical it just fixes itself!

lte ftw!

 

[tgyberg]

You think you were nervous? I was my own guinea pig

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using DroidForums

Nice (and brave) work man!!

 

[dezymond]

I'm rooted and everything is back to the way I like it. Gonna do a Titanium backup and try to figure out wireless tether. Thanks again sbenson!:hail::hail:

 

[yakitori]

Just wanted to add a comment.

If u flash cwm recovery don't delete recover from boot p file in system with root explorer just simply add .bak to the end of it and remove all permissions.

This makes returning the stock recovery as simple as a reboot if ever needed.



sent from unlocked gnex

 

[sbenson]

sb did you try the full blown manual method before yours? just curious... real helpful in learning what's going on... I ended up doing it manually, but using the superboot.img from your method b/c the original unsecure boot.img evidently doesn't work on .0.2.

No, I didn't feel like messing with the full root method. I'm not new to this stuff so I have a good grasp of what's going on. If I was just starting out, there's no doubt that I'd probably want to do it the hard way to wrap my head around everything.

I'm just glad this worked for a lot of you, and my hats off to those of you here providing support and ideas to those running into issues. Good work everyone.



Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using DroidForums