[Galaxy S III Q&A, (US Carriers)] sekigah84:
ROOTING + UNROOTING INFORMATION + COMMON QUESTIONS + PROBLEMS w/ LINKS​

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT OCCURS TO YOUR PHONE. THIS IS A COLLECTION OF INFORMATION I FOUND TO BE USEFUL. I ONLY ORGANIZED IT HERE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO FIND.

Don't forget to thank people who made the ROMs, Root Methods, etc. They put in a lot of work and take a lot of time helping people. All it takes is a click of a button. One for me too! It's a lot of work trying to keep everything updated. =P

This will and always will be a work in progress. If you feel something should be added, clarified, or corrected feel free to PM me. I'm not perfect and I can't read everything so any and all help is appreciated. (Yes of course I will credit you. Just no plagiarism!)

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Preface:

I made this guide to be a collection of information for the latest rooting methods as well as common questions and problems that arise from rooting/flashing/etc. Please read the entire guide if you are new to rooting. Also the common questions and problems are found in posts 2 and 3 of this thread. I hope you find this to be helpful. Happy and safe rooting.

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Latest News:

-CM10 PREVIEW BUILDS READY FOR AT&T, TMOBILE, & SPRINT! Go to the Original Development forum for your carrier.

-You can now reset your flash counter! Check out "Triangle Away 1.70" in the Play Store. http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1494114 HUGE THANKS TO CHAINFIRE!

-VERIZON GALAXY S3 ROOTED!!!!! http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1756885

-Clear your Google Wallet data before you flash a ROM! Doing it in Titanium Backup does not work. Do so by opening Google Wallet, Menu > Settings > Reset Google Wallet.

-If you flashed an international ROM or root method and you were soft bricked, here is how to fix it: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1727443

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Rooting Information

What is rooting and why should/shouldn't I do it?

Rooting is a way of gaining access to the root directory of your phone enabling you to change every aspect of your phones software that the manufacturer has locked. This enables you to do many things with your device that the manufacturer did not intend. Here are some reasons why people root and why people don't.

Reasons to root:

Get the latest versions of Android on your phone before anyone else.

Try faster and more optimized versions of your phone's software.

Overclocking and underclocking your phone.

Longer battery life.

Theme your phone a lot more.

FREE Wireless Tethering.

Remove unwanted Sprint software.

Reasons to NOT Root:

Not comfortable with troubleshooting your phone and phone problems.

Do not have the time to spend going through countless forums to find solutions to problems.

Possibility to break your phone permanently causing you to go back to Sprint (IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE) to get another one or buy another if you don't have insurance.

VOIDS YOUR WARRANTY. (Can be undone)

Very time consuming and addicting.

Do not know what a "driver" is for a computer.

Have no knowledge of DOS.

So how do I root?

Warnings:

-Don't use any method just because the guide says "ROOT METHOD". Make sure its the latest root method used for your situation. Even this guide will get outdated one day (I'll try my best to keep it up to date).

-Rooting will cause all your information to be lost if you did not properly back them up. You will lose anything saved on the phone, such as contacts (not synced to Google) and applications and settings. Anything on your SD card will still be there such as music and pictures and video.

Basic terminology:

If you are new to Android or not comfortable yet, learn the terminology first! Found a great link to almost all the terms you will run into. If you don't understand something, ask! Its better than turning your phone into a paperweight!

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1728824

The SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 QCOM TOOLKITis currently used to ROOT your device. Please read that thread carefully and follow all directions to get it started. Also before you flash ANYTHING, go to your Google Wallet app and clear data in Android. Clearing in Titanium Backup or any other app will not work. You must clear the data before flashing anything or it will not work! You have been warned!

Root Methods per Carrier (Windows)

AT&T:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1746665

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1739426 - Does not trip flash counter

Sprint:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1746680

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1774722 - Does not trip flash counter

T-Mobile

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1746682

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1771687 - Does not trip flash counter

Verizon:

GUIDE TO ROOTING: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1762709 (Thanks droidstyle)

This might be complicated for some users. Please follow all directions CAREFULLY!

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1756885

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What do these methods do?

They root your device and give you the option of installing a custom recovery which is used to flash custom software on your phone! If that was in another language, go up and read through the link on Basic Terminology.

How do I know if I am rooted?

You followed the above instructions and have Superuser in your App Drawer. You can also go to the Play Store and download a root checker.

I am rooted now. What can I do?

FIRST MAKE A NANDROID BACKUP! ALWAYS DO THIS BEFORE YOU FLASH SOMETHING. THESE ARE BIG FILES SO TRANSFER THEM TO YOUR COMPUTER TO SAVE SPACE ON YOUR SD!

A nandroid backup basically takes a snapshot of your phone which you can restore. While it will fix most problems, it is not a cure all. It will fix most if not all ROM flashing blunders.

How do I make a Nandroid Backup?

#1 - Go into recovery by powering off your phone first, then holding [Volume Up], [Home Key], and [Power Key] together till you see the Samsung logo flash. Use [Volume Up or Down] to navigate the menus and [Power Key] to select.

#2 - Go to "backup and restore" and hit the [Power Key]

#3 - If you have an SD card, I recommend placing the backup there as it is quite large.

#3a - If you have an SD card, select "backup"

#3b - If you do not have an SD card or don't want to save to your SD card, select "backup to internal sdcard"

#4 - Wait for a very long time till it finishes. Once it does it will bring you back to the menus.

#5 Select "+++++Go back+++++"

#6 Do your business in recovery or "reboot system now"

OK. I made my Nandroid Backup. What can I do now?

You can now flash custom ROMs, kernels, radios, themes, etc. Go to your specific carrier's Development section on the forums. You will find ROMs, radios, kernels, etc there.

For themes and Apps, go to the Themes and Apps section of the forum.

WARNING: For the time being, you MUST flash the ROMs found in your respective carrier's forums. DO NOT FLASH A ROM FOR ANOTHER CARRIERS OR THE INTERNATIONAL VERSIONS GALAXY S3!

AT&T

http://xdaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1633

Sprint

http://xdaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1639

T-Mobile

http://xdaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1645

Verizon

http://xdaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1672

Themes & Apps

http://xdaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1671

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How do I flash a ROM/Kernel/Theme/etc

#-1 - READ THE THREAD FIRST FOR THE INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS! They will usually be a summarized version of this!

#0 - MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AT LEAST 30% BATTERY! IF YOUR PHONE DIES, IT WILL STAY DEAD (most likely). YOU CAN NOT CHARGE WHILE DOING THIS!

#1 - Download the ROM of your choosing from your carrier's forums. It will be in a .zip file format. DO NOT UNZIP IT!

#2 - Save this file to your SD card or internal storage.

#3 - Power off your device.

#4 - Go into recovery by powering off your phone first, then holding [Volume Up], [Home Key], and [Power Key] together till you see the Samsung logo flash. Use [Volume Up or Down] to navigate the menus and [Power Key] to select.

#5 - IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE A NANDROID BACKUP, SEE ABOVE! IF YOU HAVE NOT RESET GOOGLE WALLET AND ARE ON SPRINT! STOP AND GO BACK AND RESET IT!

#6 - Use the volume keys to select "wipe data/factory reset" and hit the power key. Select "Yes -- delete all user data" and hit the power key.

#7 - In the main menu, select "advanced" and then select "Wipe Dalvik Cache" and then select yes.

#8 - Go back to the main menu and use the volume keys to select "install zip from sdcard" and hit the power key.

#9 - What you select next will be based on where you saved it.

#9a - If you saved in the SD card, select "choose zip from sdcard"

#9b - If you saved in the internal storage, select "choose zip from internal sdcard"

#10 - Use the volume keys to select the .zip file you downloaded and hit the power key.

#11 - WAIT FOR IT TO FINISH!

#12 - Congrats! You just performed your first flash. Go back to the main menu and reboot your device.

#13 - Enjoy.

How do I return to stock (unroot)?

AT&T

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1737848

Sprint

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1737859

T-Mobile

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1737855

Verizon

GUIDE TO UNROOTING: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1762709 (Thanks droidstyle)

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1755386

How do I backup my apps?

Use MyBackup. You can use this to backup and restore your apps without the need for rooting. (Thanks teh roxxorz)

Appbrain is good if you are using market only apps. However app data won't be saved.

Titanium Backup is also good if you are rooted.

Credits:

teh roxxorz, noobnl, cypher_zero, qbking77, appdroid, & droidstyle