[Verizon HTC One (M8)] MultiDev:
How to Achieve Permanent Root and S-Off:​

To get permanent root, you need to S-Off. So lets start with that first. This process will NOT wipe your device. It also works for OS X users. This guide will work on software version 1.55.605.2 (which as of 04/19/2014 is the latest OTA) and below.

--- S-OFF Instructions ---​

First, you'll need to download adb, enable its use and setup debugging.

adb is part of the android SDK. You can download it here (OS X users must scroll down and download the OS X version). It does not need to be installed, just unzip it into its own folder. You can also download a zip that contain only adb and fastboot.

once you have adb, you'll need to download the drive for your M8, which can be had from HTC's driver page:

http://www.htc.com/us/software/htc-sync-manager/.

Then install it. It will install the driver necessary for adb to work. After the installation is finished, uninstall HTC Sync immediately (do this regardless of whether or not you need it; you can reinstall it later if you still want it). This will leave the driver package installed, but remove HTC sync.

Now, back to the phone. Disable all security you have on, including PINs, Pattern Locks, passwords, etc. If you have an exchange forced security policy, you will need to disable the account. You can readd it later.

Enable access to developer options. Jump into the Settings. Then you’re going to scroll down to the bottom and tap on ‘About’, next tap on ‘Software Information’. Now you’ll need to tap on ‘More’, which will give you a new menu. Now just tap on the build number 9 times and you’ll enable Developer options.

Go into developer options menu and enable USB Debugging.

Next, go to Security page and enable "Unknown sources".

Now install weaksauce from here:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2699089

If you followed the directions correctly, you should have SuperSU installed and root access. (You can use superuser as well).

Plug in your phone into your computer. Its best to use the factory cable provided with the phone. Use a USB 2.0 type port if possible (USB3.0 ports typically have a blue tab; I have personally used a USB 3.0 Device on Windows 8.1u to perform this without any problems, but your mileage may vary).

Your phone will ask if you if you trust your computer (RSA). Choose "Always Allow".

Ensure adb is working by opening a command prompt (terminal on OS X), navigate to the adt-bundle-[XXXXX]/sdk/platform-tools and typing "adb devices" without quotes. Your phone should show up. Ensure the working directory is the directory that adb is in. Otherwise, transferring firewater may fail. On Windows, you can shift-right-click inside the folder adb is in and click open command prompt to open a cmd in that directory.

Now go download firewater from here:

http://firewater-soff.com/instructions/ Make sure to use the weaksauce method (second method). Do NOT use the temproot method.

The firewater file should be called "firewater" without any quotes or extensions (like .bin). Ensure your browser did not partially download or corrupt it.** Make sure its in the same folder as adb. Then follow directions on the firewater site. Be aware the yes/no prompt is case sensitive, so make sure to answer it with an uppercase Y as in "Yes" not "yes". During the process, you will need to enable adb shell to get root. Make sure your phone screen is on so you can see the root request. Grant it and the S-Off process will continue. Otherwise, it will hang there and eventually time out. Sometimes, the process will fail and the phone will reboot. This is okay. Just restart the process. It can sometimes take multiple tries.

When completely successfully, you now have S-OFF. Your phone's bootloader is also unlocked in the process; you do NOT need to perform any additional steps to unlock the bootloader. However, you do not have permanent root. The root that weaksuace provides goes away on reboot and must be reapplied again on startup.

**The filesize seems to vary depending on what OS/browser is used to download it. It should be around 4,519,496 (on disk) in size. If you can't execute firewater, try redownloading it.

Getting permanent root:

-Flash a custom recovery and flash a zip with su.

-[Optional] Return to stock recovery This option is for people who don't want a custom recovery.

Be aware, once rooted and S-Off'ed, you do NOT need the kernel module that enables system write access*. All system changes will survive hard reboots (adb reboot).

-- Recovery Rooting: --​

Move the supersu zip onto your internal sdcard. It can be downloaded here:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1538053

You can use Superuser as well. Its your preference, but this guide uses SuperSU.

Uninstall weaksauce. It's no longer needed.

Uninstall SuperSU. It will be reinstalled when you flash the supersu zip. If you have SuperSU Pro installed, you can leave that in place, as that app only holds a key.

From adb, type:

adb reboot bootloader

Flash a custom recovery. CWM and TWRP are available. Use the fastboot method. Follow the directions here:

TWRP - http://teamw.in/project/twrp2/226

CWM - http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2708520

Reboot into Recovery

Flash the supersu zip you downloaded.

Reboot and you're done. You have s-off and permanent root.

You can delete the downloaded supersu zip off your internal sdcard; its not longer needed.

-- Manual Root --​

Perform all steps noted in section "Recovery Rooting" above.

-Download the stock recovery:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2723112

-Ensure the stock recovery img file is in the same folder as fastboot.

-Run the following command from command line: "fastboot flash recovery stockrecovery.img" without the quotes.

-Wait for the process to finish

-Reboot the phone. You now have the stock recovery along with root. With the stock recovery installed, you can now accept OTAs provided you haven't modified/deleted any stock system files. Any new OTAs you take will remove any files/folders you added to the system partition and will remove your root. However, with S-off, this can be undone. If you lost loot after taking an OTA, simply start from the beginning of the section "Recovery Rooting".

-- Common Tweaks --

All of these are optional and are NOT required. However, you may find some benefit to them.​

-- Wifi Tether Enabled --​

This is unnecessary if you are on a More Everything plan or are paying for hotspot/tethering. You can force enable the native tethering application:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2708548

-- Device Wipe after ten attempts --​

I really dislike this "feature". Here is how to disable it. This works regardless if you enabled the security or its mandated by an exchange policy.

I use Root Explorer to make this change, but you can use any text editor. Make sure to mount system as R/W. Root explorer can do this from within the app.

Edit this file:

/system/customize/ACC/default.xml

change this:

<item type="integer" name="devicepolicy_max_fail_passwords_for_wipe">10</item>

to this

<item type="integer" name="devicepolicy_max_fail_passwords_for_wipe">0</item>

Reboot and its disabled.

-- Power Saver Mode --​

Enable "Power Saver" mode using these directions. It's disabled and hidden by default.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2701909

-- *Unsecured Kernel --​

By default, the stock kernel prevents write access to /system. S-off and root should allow you to makes changes to system. However, some people have reported difficulties using ROM toolbox and other mods (like changing boot animations). In some cases, these issues can be resolved by flashing an insecure kernel:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2708686

-- HTC Sense Broswer --​

The stock ROM now includes Chrome as the default browser and omits the Sense Browser. Users who prefer the Sense Browser can download it here:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2708597

-- HTC Flashlight --​

The stock HTC flashlight app.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2697025

-- Disable HTC Sync Virtual CDROM --​

This disables the virtual CD-ROM from mounting.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2709386

-- Donations --​

Don't forget to donate to the developers involved in getting you here. Donations for firecracker go to firewaterdevs@gmail.com (paypal). Donations for weaksuace go to HTCWeakSauce@gmail.com (paypal). If I missed anyone, let me know.