[Galaxy Note 3 General] CitizenM:
Guide to Root N9002 to Maintain Warranty (0x0 Knox Count) and Install Google Apps

Last things first, please his "thanks" if this posting is helpful so I know others are benefitting from this too!

Purpose

Gain root access to N9002 without tripping Knox

Install Google Apps and gain access to Google Play

Remove Chinese bloatware

Downloads

File 1--Copy of original out-of-the-box firmware N9002ZNUBMI7 for N9002 (hosted by sammobile--join if not already registered): http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/3/?download=19466

File 1--Universal Root de la Vega (URDLV) rooting files (as created by [MENTION=2348906]designgears[/MENTION] and provided from link on xda-developers): https://mega.co.nz/#!co1jRKYY!p94iENAmHkqd9wD3c0T1qC_dz03o7n8xmmkuIiVxCLQ

File 2--Google Apps (goo.im link, but can also be found elsewhere on web) 20130813 (signed) for Android 4.3.0: http://goo.im/gapps/gapps-jb-20130813-signed.zip

Prerequisites

1. Familiarize yourself with and then apply the URDLV rooting process, including the required bootloader version parameters for maintaining Knox 0x0. For those of us with the N9002, this will (currently) involve not updating past the current out-of-the-box firmware version N9002ZNUBMI7 (as downloaded). Here is the link on xda-developers with instructions on how to use URDLV*: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2498850

*best to copy the URDLV folder directly onto c:\ and work within there when creating the URDLV odin file (to help avoid any sub-directory confusions); when rooting, the instructions say to load the patched odin file into the AP/CSC slots, however, load only into the AP slot

2. Under “Settings > General > Security” ensure that “Reactivation lock” is NOT checked.

3. Under "Settings > General > Developer options" ensure USB debugging in enabled (if Developer Options is not already visible, go to "Settings > General > About device" and at the bottom, click on "Build number" 7 times or so; then, exit and go into "Developer options")

4. Under "Settings > General > Security" ensure "Unknown sources" in enabled (this will be necessary after rooting get Google Apps onto the device)

Rooting the Device

1. For the sake of not replicating the process as outlined in detail on the URDLV thread referred to above, follow the process to patch the odin file and root (same instructions link as above): http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2498850

2. If followed correctly, the rooting process should be relatively painless, just pay attention to instructions and be patient; you should now have a rooted N9002 with a Knox 0x0 count in tact. If you want to confirm, you can re-enter bootloader mode to see Knox 0x0

Installing Google Apps

This was the tricker part, since to maintain Knox 0x0 after using URDLV to root, CWM and other custom recovery systems cannot be added to allow for flashing the the Google Apps .zip file. For most of the other Note 3 versions this isn't a huge issue, since Goggle Apps is already installed, but for the N9002, we know that Google Apps is specifically excluded, which presents us with an issue of how to get Google apps onto phone without being able to use CWM to flash the .zip file. Here are the steps:

1. Unzip the Google Apps .zip file on your computer and copy the folder "/system/app" onto your device (either internal or external SD card), you will use shortly

2. Now that your phone is rooted, you need to install the a file explore that will allow you root editing access to your file system so you can install the Google Apps files. I recommend ES File Explorer. You will need to get the ES File Explorer .apk file to put onto your device (e.g., via SD card or USB). I found a link somewhere on xda for the .apk file, but this version must have been an older one that isn't compatible with 4.3. So I downloaded the app Apk Extractor from Play onto my Note 2 and extracted the .apk from the latest version of ES File Explorer that is on my Note 2, then moved that .apk to my Note 3 and installed...it worked fine. If you don't have another device to do this, I'm sure you can find the .apk somewhere out there on the web, you'll just need to hunt around. The current ES File Explorer version is 3.0.6.0.

3. Now you will want to move the necessary Google Apps files onto your device, but before doing this, you will need to permission ES File Explorer root explorer access. Within the app, hit the left device button and turn "Root Explorer" on. Then click on "Root Explorer" and hit "Mount R/W" and ensure "/system" falls under the category "RW".

4. Within ES File Explorer, copy the following files from the Google Apps folder you copied over earlier onto the root system of your device at "/system/app":

GoogleOneTimeInitializer.apk

GoogleLoginService.apk

GoogleServicesFramework.apk

SetupWizard.apk

Gmail.apk

5. Now, within ES File Explorer, long press on each of these files that have been copied over and hit the soft key "More" then "Properties" then hit "Change" related to the "Permissions" category. Make sure that only the following are checked:

Owner: Read and Write

Group: Read

Other: Read

When you hit "Okay" and it exits that screen, the permissions should look as follows: rw- r-- r--

Repeat for each file copied over earlier.

6. Reboot device and login to Gmail

7. Copy the following file to the same location in Steps 4 and repeat the process in Step 5 for the file:

Phonesky.apk

This is your Google Play file. Once this is loaded reboot.

8. Now you should be able to start loading up all your files from Play; however, we still need to copy some files over to allow for syncing of contacts, calendar, etc. Copy and repeat the same process above (Steps 4 and 5) on the following files:

GoogleContactSyncAdaptor.apk

GoogleCalendarSyncAdaptor.apk

Reboot

9. You should have complete functionality of your system now with Google Apps. There are a number of other files from the original Google Apps .zip file, but I cannot tell you which are actually critical or not--I haven't loaded them and my device seems to work fine. I believe once Play is installed, some of these files may actually be installed as updates anyway and/or be loaded as apps from Play (e.g., Google Search, etc.). Also, you will want to load any other desired Google applications, such as Maps, through Play.

10. Enjoy Google Apps! Let me know if you have any issues and I will try to back-step through what I did to help you or see if I overlooked a step. Just be patient and know if you haven't gotten there yet, there is always a way!

Removing Chinese Bloatware

I would just follow the same instructions as outlined by Marrk Daviid under Part 3 of his page: http://marrkdaviid.com/2013/10/install-google-play-on-the-samsung-galaxy-note-3-n9002/#.UoxXtNNp7WV

Follow Up

Let's provide necessary feedback to each other here. Those of us with these locked down systems need to support each other! This took a while for me to figure out, but I hope it can help others. Please his "thanks" if this posting is helpful!