yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] mikeinstlouis:
Worked Perfectly

Even with a messed up stock recovery, I was able to flash the new CWM recovery, then the TEAMEPIC.ZIP file and I have root and everything worked out GREAT. Thanks all for the help!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] EnZos_Game:
Just bought a new GS3 and rooted this bad boy with the guide from post 1 (Thanks Skunkape!), But was reading around the forums that you can only flash aosp roms from 9/22 and on... does that apply to 4.3 or 4.2 jellybean or both? Thanks again
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] kngdmond:
Not sure about the date. But I've installed both aosp and aokp ROMs. I recommend installing the GooManager app. It will list all the ROMS compatible with your device.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] EnZos_Game:
Thanks for the info, I was able to successfully boot an aosp rom from 4.2.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] tomace06:
having an issue I think (went through odin, unplugged battery) started in recovery- i read the touch should work ... they don't i have the android robot with his chest open and an "!" options are (using volume keys)

reboot

apply update from adb

apply update from external (is this what I want)

wipe data factory reset

wipe cache partition

apply update from cache
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Sounds like you let the phone reboot. That's stock recovery.

Make sure team epic root from recovery is on your storage.

Make sure auto restart is UNCHECKED in Odin.

Flash the recovery.tar.md5 file in office.

Pull out the battery and unplug the device.

Reinstall battery and boot into recovery.

IF THE PHONE RESTARTS IT WILL RELOAD STOCK RECOVERY.

Once in custom recovery flash team epic root from recovery.

The team epic file must be flashed before the phone starts or stock recovery will be reloaded.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] tomace06:
i agree, it was (noob) i didnt hit start in odin. my question is do i use both cwm and twrp in odin? And how do i know im rooted when I am? When i booted in recovery one time i had a monster looking thing ( said couldnt mount ext sd) and the second time it said flash and reboot and that seemed to work... how do i know I'm rooted?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
You only flash one or the other. Not both.

Put the team epic file on internal and you won't have to deal with the issue of not mounting the external sd which is likely caused by it being formatted with exfat file system.

You can Check to see if you're rooted by installing root checker from the playstore.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Tyrone981:
I need help

Whenever I put my phone in download mode and open Odin, it's recognizing the phone in Odin but it won't let me view any of the files on my phone. It won't show the phone under my computer as a USB plug in.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
The file recovery.tar.md5 is supposed to be on your computer not the phone. Odin flashes files from your computer to your phone. Recovery flashes files from your phone.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Tyrone981:
Right. I can't seem to find to root gs3 folder. Also, which recovery should should I flash if I'm just going to keep the stock OS? I'm sorry, I'm a total noob at this.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Root gs3 folder supposed to be on your computer. Unzip it odin will not recognize the files you need if it's zipped. Copy team epic root from recovery to your phone storage. Either recovery will work fine.

I'm going to bed. So any other questions well have to wait until tomorrow unless someone else wants to answer.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Tyrone981:
Just one more question.

Right, I'm rooted now, so thanks very much for that. My last question is, with the OTA update likely coming sometime later this year, what's the best way to get it? I know you can't get an OTA update while using a custom recovery or being rooted.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
After the ota comes out, someone will post a stock rooted Rom. You will download it to your phone and flash it in recovery just like you did with the team epic root file. It's usually out either the same day or the day after the update its released.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] rock99rock:
I've used this method before multiple times with great success. I actually have slimbean 4.3 installed, but my phone is not rooted for some reason. I've gone back through all the steps (even downloaded the most recently updated version from August), and it will still not be rooted once I reach the OS. Verified when opening superuser 3.1 and trying to update in app, "Gaining root access... fail!" Any suggestions for troubleshooting? Thank you in advance.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
If you have slimbean which is a custom rom you should be already rooted. If you have custom recovery v try just flashing team epic root from recovey.zip in recovery. No need to flash recovery in Odin.

You could also try installing supersu by chainfire in the play store.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] rock99rock:
Thank you for the response Skunk Ape. Its funny! I know I should be rooted, but the device is reporting as not rooted through superuser, root explorer, arliberator, "root checker basic", etc. I have tried (and just tried again) TeamEpic-Root-from-Recovery-v5.zip (8/26/13 version) from cwm touch recovery 6.0.3.1 with the same result. It's very odd.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Did you try installing supersu from chainfire?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] rock99rock:
Thank you again for the prompt reply. The SuperSU app failed to install the binaries after installing from the play store. So I tried installing SuperSU-v1.43.zip from recovery and rebooted. When opening supersu, it says "There is no SU binary installed, and SuperSU cannot install it. This is a problem! If you just upgraded to Android 4.3, you need to manually re-root - consult the relevant forums for your device!"

EDIT: I then rerooted, and installed the latest SuperSU from http://download.chainfire.eu/supersu and it worked without issue! Thank you for the suggestion. Was there something wrong with my particular installation, or is the superuser app included in your zip not compatible with 4.3? Regardless, thank you for everything.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] LightRider_:
Thanks :)
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] guero380:
I have a few noob questions if you don't mind. 1. Will I be able to unroot if I needed to? 2. I assume custom roms are the OS, right? If so, where would I get one & which is the best? 3. Will Google Play still work? 4. This one is because mostly I want to root to use the hot spot for free. Do I need to download a wifi tether app? Sorry if this was a lot & thank you in advance for answering
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Yes you are able to unroot and return to stock if needed.

Custom roms are available in the development sections of the forum. I can't say which is best you will just have to try them and judge for yourself. There are many to choose from.

Most of the roms include the native tethering unlocked already, for those roms no separate app is needed.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] eldobeldo:
Incoming Calls not Ringing anymore

Hello. Thank you for the great instructions.

I just rooted my phone and now whenever a friend calls my phone they don't hear a ringtone of any sort. Is there any way to fix this? Has anyone experienced a similar problem?

Cheers.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
That isn't something that would be caused by rooting. Flash a Rom?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] eldobeldo:
Just used the instructions here. I am on CM10.1 right now, but the issue persisted even prior to flashing CM. My thought was the same and I figured it was a network/tower issue.

Thanks.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] hebejebe:
this may sound stupid but...... i want to root my wifes S3 so i can change her PRL. at the same time, she doesnt want me to but has agreed to let me. if i use this root method, will i lose any data on the phone? i have rooting experience with MY other phones but i dont want to lose all of her current data and stuff on her phone.

Thanks in advance!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Unless something messes up you shouldn't.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] hebejebe:
Ok. I wasnt sure. I usually root my phones within minutes of their first battery charge lol.

Thanks.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] guero380:
Thank you Skunk Ape for the fast reply. I will give this a go!!!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] sinfony78:
just got a replacement s3...got the kit and odin'd and rebooted into recovery...however, right at the beginning of recovery, it asks for a password, so i just hit cancel...then there are other buttons available, install, reboot, etc...i hit install, and there are two radio buttons, one for external and internal, and i can't even switch to external by tapping on it...if i muck around elsewhere in recovery and go back, sometimes the external radio button is checked, but the teamepicrootfromrecovery.zip i put in there is missing

this is a new phone, just picked up today...any ideas?

---------- Post added at 03:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:59 AM ----------

btw, tried other ways to root..CWM, chainfire's method, other odin flashes...all to no avail
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Go to the recovery thread for which recovery you are using. There shouldn't be a password...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] pietroxda:
Skunk you stink

Sent you a dollar buy some soap
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] bad_mamajama_:
Noob here very new to the android scene and very interested in rooting, now this may have been previously answered somewhere in this thread but I currently am on the Virgin Mobile Galaxy S III and would just like to know if this method will be compatibility with my device?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
It pretty plainly states that this is for the sprint variant.

I know others have used it on different phones with differing levels of success. And their results are littered throughout the thread. I pretty much read and forget about them. As I only actively support phones I have or had.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] bad_mamajama_:
I realize that this thread clearly states Sprint variant, just thought I would ask. I haven't found a Virgin Galaxy S III subcategory on here yet so I thought they may be one in the same. I was really hoping to use your guide, you make it look quite simple. Thanks for the quick responce though!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
My only suggestion would be read through this thread or try to search this thread for vigin mobile. I'm pretty sure someone has tried it but not sure if it worked out not.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
This may help you, I found this on page 51 of this thread....

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=45953781&postcount=504

According to this person it works on virgin mobile...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] bad_mamajama_:
Thank you so much for all of your help! I found another guide on a different site that is tailored to virgin mobile that I'm going to try but again I appreciate all of your help!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] syco123:
Edit Sorry NM, I was using the file from the Android central thread thinking it was the same one. Same user's support thread, same file name, but not the same file.

I've linked from that thread to this one but the OP could use an updated link to the new root kit file

http://forums.androidcentral.com/sp...e-updated-how-root-your-sprint-galaxy-s3.html

Appreciate the effort skunkape!

Thanks

/edit

I'm having the same issue

CWM no mounted SD Card internal or external

TWRP asks for password, hit cancel, can't access any files on internal or external.

Phone bought a couple of weeks ago activated a couple of days ago

CF method failed

Toolkit no longer available

I'm not sure which thread or place to begin asking for help with the recoveries. Is there a Sprint SG3 CWM or TWRP recovery support thread, or are you saying to ask for help in a main support thread for CWM or TWRP? I'm pretty sure a general help from either recovery support people will kick it right back.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
All question about twrp are asked here.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1809307
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] syco123:
Thanks for the link mate. Just edited the post above. Looks like your thread at Android Central is still the old version.

Thanks again, appreciate the efforts you guys put in.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Thanks for reminding me I will try to remember to update that thread tonight.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] jwitt418:
Skunkape, I recently rooted using your method. Its possible it was dl from the android central forum. Dont quite remember. Anyways, it gave me root and I could access the sd cards but attempted to flash multiple roms and the all lead to an infinte boot logo soft brick. I can get out of the brick and back to stock root. But just wondering if this is a by product of the old method and should I unroot and re root using this current method. Thanks in advance
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
If you have a newer phone then the root kit on android central will not work. It's not the method but the files. I will update the files at android central tonight. The root kit on this thread should work. At least using the twrp recover.

I will update both kits tonight with the most current recoveries.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] jwitt418:
Ok. Thanks for the quick response. And just so were on the same page. I DO have root...and TWRP does let me access both storages. I just can't flash roms without softbricking. So would advise that unrooting and then using the root method found on here should work?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
There is no reason to unroot. Flash the twrp in the root kit in this op with Odin and you should be able to flash roms without a soft brick. The recoveries in the root kit on android central will do that on new phones.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Creepz_1:
New recoveries for new phone

I also have a new phone & couldn't mount to anything when I was on recovery. I searched around & found

this

for the new phones. Once I flashed it with Odin my recovery was back to normal & can mount to storages.

If this has nothing to do with it I'm sorry, but I think it does :)
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] jwitt418:
Well my problem isn't really the storage. That works fine. Right now I'm rooted with twrp running stock rom. When I try to flash a custom rom I get a soft brick bootloop. I haven't tried the recovery from this thread but I will odin it and try a custom rom on the weekend. My only concern is that yes this is a newer s3 but I'm not sure if its the recovery that's not allowing for the flash or if its an issue with the bootloader. More clever minds then mine might know the answer.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
The twrp will definitely work.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Petronoid:
Nmn

Zr
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] velocity250:
Don't know if it's any help at this point, but I have the Boost S3 and bought it 6 weeks ago and this process worked perfectly with CWM. My buddy bought the Virgin S3 a few days later and used my computer since it had all the files already on it and it worked just as smoothly and both of us had multiple roms already. I was told after rooting, nandroid of course, then full wipe and flash stock rooted Sprint MD4 rom and also flash the package floating around with the updated bootloader, radio, and can't remember 3rd thing for MD4. That gets everything basically converted to sprint format and updates everything and both my boost and his virgin GS3's haven't had any issues as of yet. Hope this helps....
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Ragnar:
The new S3's have a problem flashing AOSP roms it will stop at the boot logo. There are a few roms out there running the new updates that correct this but not all AOSP style roms are running the new mods. This might be what some of you are experiencing. It has nothing to do with root or which recovery you are on. The only difference on the new modded recoveries which are also the ones supplied with this method is that they correct the issue with new S3's being able to mount storage.

I hope this clears it up for many of you. All TW roms will flash but not so with AOSP roms.

Have a great day!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] jwitt418:
Ahhhh...ok. great info. Do you know which aosp roms are currently compatible. And can you explains what the "new updates" or "mods" are or called so u know what to look for when browsing the rom threads. Thanks in advance...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Ragnar:
Nope the commit hasn't been included in the tree I think, so unless the developers themselves don't incorporate it there's no way of knowing. You need to find the thread which says 'new modded recoveries for new S3's' there's more info in there.

I believe any new nightly CM based after a specific date will work.

Have a great day!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] krzykwa:
Help section problem no mounting of storage while in cwm.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Try the twrp recovery.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] thewind730:
Just used your guide to root my wife's replacement and it couldn't have been easier thanks for this!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] omgitzsars:
Crazy-easy process. Thanks for the step-by-step guide. Took less than 15 minutes and even that was because I'd forgotten I already had the Samsung Mobile Drivers installed from my SPH-D700. Missed Samsung's ease of root / recovery, coming from an Evo LTE.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] stevek1:
thanks!

Thanks Skunk Ape -- I just received my GIII and rooted it following your instructions. It's been about 2 years since I've messed with this (I had an older Samsung Epic4G), and your procedure was very straightforward.

A couple probably silly questions?

1) Probably stupid, but I'm not sure what the 'Odin' step did -- is this, in conjunction with the recovery.tar.md5 file, what allowed me to boot into a 'recovery' mode? With the Epic4G I vaguely remember something called "clockworkmod" that handled this...

2) I assume I would repeat the same steps to load a custom ROM? Ie, boot to recovery but instead of choosing 'TeamEpic-Root-from-Recovery-v5" choose something else?

Thx!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] running_the_dream:
Oh my god. That was so unbelievably easy! Thanks Skunk!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Yes. Odin flashes cwm recovery to your phone.

Then you flash team epic root from recovery in cwm. With the epic you flashed superuser. Team epic root from recovery also installs superuser but it does other tasks as well. Such as installing busybox and deleting 2 files that need to be deleted to keep custom recovery Samsung added 2 files that will automatically reinstall stock recovery. So team epic root from recovery deletes them so custom recovery will stick.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Lake56:
Thanks for the easy instructions on rooting. Now I just have to decide which ROMs to play with.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] kuroyoma:
Very easy to follow, did this for my families phones, one fell right after another. Thank you very much.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Hockeytown1970:
Just switched from an HTC Evo and this was really easy to root. Thanks for the great guide.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] dscatto:
Thanks Skunk Ape1! Worked great! Are you the same Skunk Ape from the NS4G Forums?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
One and the same... :D
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] dscatto:
Awesome! Can you tell me some noteworthy ROMs & Kernels for the SGS3?

*UPDATE* Preferably, one with native USB Tethering.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
If you like themed roms you have to try

Wicked Sensations

Odexed Blue

JellyBomb

If you like the stock look try

TeamSonic FreeGs3

I don't know any with native tethering as tethering for jellybean requires a hacked Wi-Fi tethering. Wicked Sensations has it built in to the settings menu.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] dscatto:
That's no good. No native USB Tethering on any of them? I don't use WiFi tethering much, because I'll use my phone to get WiFi & then tether it to my laptop via USB at school. For some reason my laptop will not connect to my school's WiFi, but my phone will.

But thanks for the ROM suggestions. Are the first three ROMs TW ones?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
All of them are TW. I don't do the cm or AOSP roms any more. So I can't very well recommend any of them. As far as I'm concerned cm10 and aosp just turn my phone into my nexus s4g. If I wanted that I would have just kept it as they are no different than cm on the nexus.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] baodong:
Followed the instructions, it works as expected.

Just came to android from iPhone. It took me a while to figure how to transfer file from computer to android phone.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] dscatto:
Really? I see your point, but since the phone is better wouldn't that make the AOSP ROMs run better? Just curious, because everyone else I've asked suggested CM10.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Tw it's just as fast as any aosp rom out there. Throw nova launcher on there and forget about it.

I hate to say it and will probably pay for it but AOSP fans are just as hard core as the iPhone fanboy. If it isn't AOSP they are bias. I do not simply want a faster nexus. AOSP stripps all the cool features out of the gs3 and turns it into my old boring assed nexus.

Try something different and flash wicked sensations.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] dscatto:
Will do. I just don't like the bloatware & no music controls on the lock screen with Play Music. Would that be under themes?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
There is aosp lock-screen options with wicked sensations but I think there's only a few shortcuts. I know music isn't one of them. But since I don't run the aosp lock screen I can't tell you for sure. Go to the wicked thread I know there was a conversation going on about it. I do know there are issues with certain shortcuts breaking other things...

As for bloat. You can remove anything you want since you're rooted. I find that a pretty ridiculous comment. ;)
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] dscatto:
I didn't want to cause any trouble by just removing things. I know on my old Transform I would have to be careful. I guess it's different now.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
The best way it's too install titanium backup pro and freeze them first. After a, week or so without issues, it should be safe to delete.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] soze416:
Where are the links to the files I need to root my phone?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] metalfan78:
In the OP
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] unlimitedsol77:
SkunkApe,

HELP ME SKUNKAPE1! YOU'RE MY ONLY HOPE!

I have a quick question.

I would like to install the upcoming 4.3 OTA update coming this month. I have CWM installed and used your method to root. I know I need the stock recovery installed to make use of the OTA, but I have been unable to find the SCH-S960L version recovery.tar file.

Do you think with this phone essentially being the same as the Sprint L710 and being able to utilize it's root methods thst I could install the L710 stock recovery.tar file with Odin and be able to accept and install the 4.3 OTA?

Your knowledge of the matter would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
RETURN TO STOCK
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Ma}{imus:
I just wanted to send a big thanks to Skunk Ape for providing such an easy way to root this device. It sure beats copying and pasting code through ADB.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] unlimitedsol77:
I can't for whatever reason open the link you posted... When I do as the page fully loads, it goes blank.

Let me ask you this...

Since Kies recognizes the S960L and apparently will allow me to reinstall the factory firmware, could I wait until Samsung posts the new updated firmware package and use Kies to update and not worry about the stock recovery and OTA issue?