yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] goku2778:
option 3 in your pic but you look like you don't have a custom recovery installed...looks stock, probably not gonna work, what firmware you on, 4.3?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] brentkhack:
Good catch on the custom recovery not being on the phone. Let me take care of that and yes it is on 4.3.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] goku2778:
no problem dude, fyi this guide isn't gonna work for you cause it's outdated and not for 4.3...use my guide in my signature, thank me in my guide when done lol guarantee you'll root it 1St attempt with mine
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Mr. Struck:
That looks like the stock recovery, definitely not Philz Touch. You will want to push Philz again with Odin, make sure the reboot option in Odin is unchecked.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] goku2778:
lol better late than never huh?? don't read more recent posts I see ;)
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Mr. Struck:
Yeah just saw those; I'm on my tablet and for some reason it was showing me the post I replied to as the most recent, then when I replied all the other ones popped up! Browser issue apparently, it isn't refreshing correctly. Oh well, lol buddy!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] goku2778:
hate when that happens...kinda why I made sure my wise cracking was light and fun lol
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Mr. Struck:
Picked up on that for sure! Looks like the thread is going well by the way, congratulations; still hoping it gets stickied, this is valuable info.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] goku2778:
thanks man I appreciate the comment, we'll see if they sticky it on here
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Ignorance1:
does this get past knox?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Do not use this method to root if you are on 4.3 android.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] goku2778:
um...ok??
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
This method is not for phones on 4.3 android. I no longer have the phone and can't test. I am going by what I'm told.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Quoted the wrong post. :D
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] goku2778:
all good, that's why I was confused, I've told so many it doesn't work on 4.3 lol
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Danielhammons1:
Sorry to post here but I cannot for the life of me find any sure fire way to root my phone and I feel like I'm not nearly using my phone to its full potential, every phone I've had I've rooted fairly easy, anyway I have a Galaxy s3, it's the altell one the R-530X I know there are a few tutorials for other variants of the R530 for other carriers but I'd really like to know there's a completely safe way to do this. It please help :( I know someone has to know something,.

Thanks guys
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] lrenae86:
Is a Sprint based phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The sch-s960l is a spring variant used through straight talk, others have flashed sprint roms no problem, but it i hard to find anywhere that you can get how they do it. they post they did it and then run off...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] aenews:
Again, SafeRoot is the easiest way to get it rooted. It just takes a click. Then you can just ODIN CWM if needed.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Danielhammons1:
Thanks!

Dude that looks so promising and no bad outcomes apparently lol I will try this ASAP, and you said if I have any problems rootingto remo ve knox with cwm? Sorry to sound like a noob over here but things are a lot different on the newer phones but can you get cwm without being rooted? I have the safe root link saved but do you have a link for the I install of cwm? If you don't mind of course. I'll be sure to hit the thanks button!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] goku2778:
I used saferoot twice just recently, both s4's on 4.3 from Verizon and at&t...easy, run the .bat file and follow along, supersu will disable Knox upon detection
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] syco123:
Rooted replacement phone on 4.1.2 no problems. Thanks again SkunkApe1

Been looking around ROMS and a lot seem abandoned. I wanted to improve call quality but so far the wipe of cache/factory reset has given a big improvement. Important as I use my phone for work, and I work for myself. Consequently I don't have time to read hundreds of pages of threads, wading through only to find ROM after ROM is no longer in dev.

Any recommendations on a current ROM with good reliability, call quality & roaming.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Danielhammons1:
Your an amazing person, worked like a charm, great program also, I need to thank the dev also. You said I can odin cwm? Can I use the mobile odin? I have purchased it and haven't got to use it in a while
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] aenews:
You can use Skunkape's method to ODIN CWM if neccessary.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Danielhammons1:
My xda app will not work it keeps FCing man, I Googled Skunkape and cwm and the only thing that came up was this thread where exactly can I find that man? Thanks for the reply
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] aenews:
Well you can ODIN CWM like it shows on the first post of this thread, though you don't need the EpicRoot obviously. What I'm not sure about though is if ROM Manager can still install CWM for you after the 4.3 OTA. I switched to CyanogenMod more than a year ago, so my experience with the OTA is limited to my friend's phone. Why use the app? I'm using the browser right now.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Danielhammons1:
Thanks!

I got tired of waiting and figured it was safe to use odin to install cwm, I opened up odin and did as it said and had success within 10 minutes, thanks to Skunkape for making this amazing thread. Everything I needed right here, though I had to use a different root method. This is written beautifully.

Now have a backup and everything, thanks again to everyone.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Danielhammons1:
I have the file and understand completely what to do, I've used odin before so I'm familiar with it. Just to double check, just skip the rooting step flash the recovery of my choice through odin?

And can anyone verify this is okay for my version? I mean I'm sure the version of my phone doesn't Matter since it's not the rooting I need it's just the install of cwm..
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] aenews:
Sweet! Glad to see you got it sorted out.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Danielhammons1:
Hey if you can help I seen to have an issue here, on cwm it says it failed to mount SD card but my SD card is fine, I also tried to backup to SD it said the Same thing on that menu It couldn't mount path or something, any ideas? :/
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] aenews:
What is the microSD formatted as? ExFat might cause issues, especially with older versions of CWM. Again, not sure if it works, but I would use ROM Manager to get the latest CWM if it is safe.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Danielhammons1:
I was wondering if that may be the problem I'll check and see though, and I had to flash cwm in odin because my device isn't supported on Rom manager.

Anyway does anyone know where my cwm backups are at? I know they are usually in clockworkmod/backup but there's not even a backup folder and I've looked all over. I know it's been backed up and it says it's saving to sdcard/cwm/backup but it's nonexistent.. Where else should I look??
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] xstefen:
great tut, thanks!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] aenews:
That's weird. Maybe try flashing the latest CWM in CWM (6.0.4.5). And try TWRP if that doesn't work.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2151476
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Danielhammons1:
I thought so too, I actually found them though they were in

Data/nedia/clockworkmod

so that's fine with me lol
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] eankk:
hey man, i have a huge question...my step-dad has a GS3 and it was rooted.. it bricked. so i had to put the stock 4.3 update on it cause nothing ealse would work. and the 4.3 has KNOX, how the heck do i root this thing and get rid of KNOX. i have tried about 20 different rooting ways and non work
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] aenews:
Again, Again, SafeRoot is the easiest way to get it rooted. It just takes a click. Install SuperSU, and it should disable Knox for you. Then you can just ODIN CWM if needed.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] eankk:
sweet thanks, ya everytime i would try to ODIN it would fail so i kind of gave up for now
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] 74Eldo:
Coming from 4.3. Tried the method in the op. CWM ok but no root. Tried SafeRoot and got rooted. Keeps reverting tho. Seems upon leaving CWM I get warned about revert to stock recovery and the loss of root. I answer yes to disable stock flash and yes to fix root loss, but still lose root. CWM remains. Ideas on how to prevent losing root? Thx
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] aenews:
After rooting with SafeRoot, did you go to SuperUser and disable KNOX? Are you losing root upon reboot, using CWM, or only when you try to fix root? Do you still lose root if you ignore the message?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] 74Eldo:
Indeed the SafeRoot process told me to open SuperSU at the end of the root process, I did, and as I recall it then disables knox via adb. I didn't think I needed to do this manually. I think I only lose root thereafter if I go into then return from CWM at reboot system now. I actually thought I had it licked, went into CWM, did a nandroid backup to prepare for a ROM flash, which seemed to go well, but after rebooting, lost root again and couldn't find the backup. Still can't.

---------- Post added at 09:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 PM ----------

So I re-rooted again w SafeRoot no prob. Then, tried Odin CWM again via op pkg here. Went well. Removed batt, rebooted into CWM, went to reboot sys now, again the "Rom may flash stock recovery" message. There I just hit "go back", but screen then blacks into reboot. Phone comes up fine. Went to SuperSU and appears I still have root. So, not sure what the soln is here, think I'll prob get burned again sooner or later and lose root. Thinking about trying to Odin TWRP instead...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] aenews:
Seems weird. You can try flashing a newer version of CWM or TWRP in recovery.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2151476
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] 74Eldo:
So far so good w TWRP.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Mod's....

Please lock this thread...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] KennyG123:
Closed at OPs request due to no longer valid
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] dscatto:
Thanks again! I've had TB Pro since my Transform days. I'll give it a shot. I always have my backup in case things get messy.

While we're on the subject, what apps have frozen/deleted? Also, are any of the Samsung apps worth using or keeping? I've opened them & used the Kies Air, & while it's neat to use on my computer I didn't see a real use for it because I couldn't do something as simple as copying/pasting. Plus, it's not that hard to just plug my phone in via USB.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] brownhornet:
Got the whole process the first try, like a boss.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Starvin_Marvin:
Very simple to use and do. Only issue i have is it wont let me select ______

"-----INFO-----The Recovery that you installed is a touch screen recovery. You will not need use the buttons to navigate through the recovery menus.

3. Once in recovery tap on "install zip from sdcard".

4. Now you will tap either "choose zip from sdcard" or "choose zip from external sdcard"

5. Scroll by swyping up and down on screen. Tap on "TeamEpic-Root-from-Recovery-v5.zip.

6. Tap on "- Yes - Install TeamEpic-Root-from-Recovery -v5.

Once complete, tap the "go back" button once and then tap "reboot system now".

You Are now fully rooted with custom recovery installed."

Im stuck at the downloading screen with the little android dude... i have gone through the whole process 3 times and now the binary download says Yes (3 counts). All 3 times i get stuck at this point. Am i missing something? Everything else was very simple up untill this point... Thanks
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Yes you are missing something. Re-read the tips and notes on how to get into download and recovery mode. You continue to go into download mode by pressing volume down, power and home. When you should be going into recovery mode which is VOLUME UP, power and home.

-----NOTE-----

Download mode is achieved by turning off the phone. Then pressing and holding volume DOWN, power button and the (physical) home button simultaneously. You will continue to hold all 3 buttons until you see a warning. Then press the volume up button and you will be in download mode.

-----TIP-----

Recovery mode is a bit trickier. If you're a second too early or too late, your phone will skip going into recovery and boot normally. If this happens you will have to repeat the Odin process in it's entirety. So unless you are familiar with this, I would give it a few practice runs before starting Odin

Recovery mode is achieved pressing and holding volume UP, power button and the (physical) home button simultaneously. Watching the screen closely, release all 3 buttons as soon as you see the word Samsung. If timed correctly it will boot into recovery in about 10-20 seconds (after releasing). Remember if you are too early or late the phone will boot normally and skip recovery.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Devtodi:
Hi Skunk, thanks for all the great support. I am looking for a list of bloat I can safely freeze or delete. There are many but I trust you. Thanks again.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
I know this isn't a complete list but these I know are safe to remove..
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] cburnette:
ODIN PDA button issue

Hey Skunk Ape, i'm getting stuck on step #5 above. When i click the PDA button in ODIN, I do not get the prompt to select the recovery.tar file. Nothing happens. I've tried just selecting the file in explorer and clicking start in ODIN. No faith that would work, but it was a process of elimination at that point. Needless to say i'm stuck until i can figure this out. Have you seen this before?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Starvin_Marvin:
Lol thank you, I realized that the other day after watching multiple YouTube videos... thank you tho for the response, much appreciated....
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Sorry I missed this question. I think you may just be clicking in the wrong place. Move your mouse a bit to the right...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Fuhcue:
Effect on Google Wallet

Hi,

I apologize if this has been answered elsewhere - I just want to make sure I understand what I've read so far. I've rooted my old EVO 4G and Nexus S 4G with no problems, but a few posts I've seen about this Galaxy S III make me a bit worried.

At least for now, I'm only interested in rooting the phone. I'm plenty happy with the stock ROM and don't see any reason to rock the boat yet.

I've been using the phone for a few days and have already set up Google Wallet. From what I understand in this thread so far is that if I apply the steps as listed this will just root my phone and NOT wipe any data. Is that right? Ie - all my apps, settings, (progress in angry birds :p) will be in tact?

Assuming that's the case - the one thing I'm not clear on here is Google Wallet. Should I reset Google Wallet before I root my phone using this method? It looks like from the GW thread in the General area that I should, but this method seems to be newer than that post so I want to double check.

To be clear, I have set up a pin in GW and added a card to it, but have never made a purchase with it. Doubt that would make a difference, but thought I'd mention it just in case.

I never had any issues with rooting/flashing on my Nexus S 4G with GW (other than the standard message it gives when you are on a rooted device) - I've just seen some posts around about peope somehow locking themselves out of the secure element on this phone and I don't want that to happen.

Thanks for taking the time to put this method together. You guys on this site rock. I just hope I don't look too noobish here.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
This method will not wipe any data or apps. I do not use Google wallet. I do knot that being rooted will cause a warning (like you said ) but from what I hear it still works. As for if you should reset it I wouldn't know. I would just to be safe.

This method really isn't new. It is the original way. The only difference is this guide spells everything out step by step. The only files that have changed are the drivers (updated for Windows 8) and the cwm updated to 6.0.1.2 touch. Neither of these items should effect wallet one way or the other. So if it takes a reset on other root methods, it will most likely be required with this one.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] dscatto:
I use Google wallet all the time. Rooting it makes it display that " Device Not Supported" message. However, it will still work. Just make sure you are clearing the wallet data in between flashes or you can break the secure element of the phone.

*UPDATE * You do not need to reset Google wallet if you're just rooting it.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] CyberGmonster:
Is there anyway to root from my phone without using a pc?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Fuhcue:
Sweet

Sweet, thanks for the help, guys.

I didn't see the one post that it may not be necessary to clear Google Wallet if I'm just rooting until I had already cleared it using the built-in feature in the settings menu, but it didn't appear to hurt me.

Everything seems to be working fine. I was able to re-access my Wallet account, it still had my card in there and after a 30-second or so re-activation of the card it seems to all be working well (aside from the expected 'incompatible device' message). I haven't tried to buy anything with it yet, but since it was able to re-add the card and set a pin, I'd think the Secure Element is ok. I'll definitely post a warning if I do run into any problems, though, just in case some other scared-ish people come across this in the future.

All my data and everything appears in tact and all is well. I don't plan on running any custom ROMs so I should be all set until the next time they put out an OTA update and as usual, I'll do my homework before I try to apply it.

Thanks again for the help. A++++ to the OP for the guide. Everything I needed in one place, easy to follow and quicker than I expected.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
As far as I know there isn't...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] brianando:
Thanks again Skunk ape. Rooted the phone with no problems. You made the process super easy. Great work!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
No problem... :D
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] HoDawg:
Thanks

Just got my S3 and I was coming from the OG EVO. The directions were great and I got it rooted on the first try! THANK YOU!!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] DigiM4x:
So easy, Thanks.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] snowpunter:
Does this mean applying OTA updates do not remove root assuming one correctly does the initial root?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
This has nothing to do with updates received through ota. As a matter of fact, if you have custom recovery, you will not be able to accept the ota until you go back to stock recovery 1st.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
You may have to go into recovery and do a factory reset. When you go into recovery are you in stock or cwm?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Hubb330:
I registered just to thank you for the easy peasy guide :good:

I am off and running, thank you sir
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] pbp776:
Thanks for awesome step by step rooting guide. I rooted my phone less than 10 minutes. Mainly rooted so I can install app that required rooted phone.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] udayse:
Rooting with twrp

I wish a similar guide existed for rooting with twrp instead of clockworks recovery.

Can someone tell me what steps I would have to replace with twrp?

Thanks

Uday
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] rick57:
years ooasor

hey guys, tryed , it gets ti the point, getting pit mapping , then comes up failed? thanks
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Just put the following file on your sdcard and flash in cwm (no wipes required). You will be on the most recent version of twrp.

TWRP v2.3.1.0
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Sorry I missed your post earlier. Someone else had this same problem on another forum. He did this and fixed it.

Heres what you should do...

remove your drivers and Samsung Kies (if you have Kies installed)

1. go to your computers control panel / add and remove software (win xp) or programs and features (windows 7).

2. Uninstall Kies and Samsung drivers.

3. When complete, restart computer and phone.

GS3 Drivers "]Download these Drivers

4. Install the drivers on your computer but do not plug in your phone until it has completed.

5. plug in your (already started) phone. It should now recognize your phone and at the bottom right corner say it is installing the software for your phone. click on view details. 4 drivers should load and as it progresses green checks will appear when successful.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Updated OP for those that prefer TWRP over CWM. You can find the tar file in the op in the beginning of the "Using Odin Section of the OP.

Or if you have already rooted with CWM and would like to change to TWRP here is a .zip that can be flashed from CWM.

TWRP v2.3.1.0
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] RN-Dude:
Root with a Mac?

This will be my first time rooting a Samsung, after having done it with HTC devices in the past. I take it this can't be done with a Mac, right? The last functioning PC in the house just died.

Does this procedure wipe the phone? Does it flash a stock, rooted ROM?

Also, I read on other threads about certain root methods preserving the flash count or not. How does this one affect the flash count?

Thanks for clarifying!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
This method doesn't flash a rooted rom. It roots the rom you are on so you won't loose any data or wipe your phone. Odin will flash clockworkmod or twrp recovery onto your device. Then you will flash Team_Epic_Root_From_Recovery from either cwm or twrp. The team epic zip flashes supersuser, busybox and removes two files so your phone won't reflash stock recovery at reboot.

As for adding to the flash count, it does do that but really who cares. My phone currently shows over 30 custom flashes. and just had the charging port replaced by sprint. Unless the rooting is what broke your phone it will not void your sprint warranty. If you have software issues, sprint is going to want you to remove root before you go in. they will not try to fix software issues on a rooted phone.

If you use my return to stock guide before taking your phone into sprint, you will also be resetting your flash count to "0" anyway.

[UPDATED][Sprint Only]UnRoot and Return to stock
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] disneytoy:
Just to verify, the files in the very first post are upto date for a new (2 day old) Sprint S3 which came with 4.1.1? I ask because a youtube tut had several viewer Fails because it was for 4.0.1?

Thanks!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Skunk Ape1:
Yes this will work with any version. This is the best way because it isn't loading a prerooted image that requires you to be up to date.

This root method simply uses Odin to inject cwm or twrp recovery on your phone so you can use custom recovery to flash Team_Epic_Root_From_Recovery. Team epic root from recovery installed everything you need for root. It includes superuser, busybox and it removes a couple of files that Samsung added that will reinstall stock recovery at every boot.

This will work on any Sprint GS3 without wiping data or apps.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] disneytoy:
I want to root with the TWRP-recovery-2.3.1. I downloaded it. should I copy it to my ext SD card? Leave it as a .zip, or do I need to extract it as an recovery.img?