Root T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II [S2] Via ODIN [Guide]
Finally there is some great news for T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II owners looking to root their phones. It has been a really slow root achievement because Samsung didn’t release the kernel source until recently. The method to root T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II is pretty identical to gaining root privileges on Samsung Galaxy S II generic version and AT&T Galaxy S II [S2]. You will need ODIN for root method and unlike full recovery and root kernel flash, you will first install recovery followed by SuperUser.zip to gain root rights on your device. If you’ve been using ODIN before or know regarding flashing kernel Tar files, then this will be a piece of cake for you.
So let’s cut the rant short and root your T-Mobile Galaxy S II:
Disclaimer: Please follow this guide at your own risk. AddictiveTips will not be liable if your device gets damaged or bricked during the process.
- The first step is to download T-Mobile Galaxy S II drivers from here and install them on your PC.
![Galaxy-S2-TMobile-Root]( "Galaxy-S2-TMobile-Root")
- Once you have the drivers up and running on your PC, download ODIN from here, make a new folder on your Desktop called ODIN, and extract the Odin zip file to this new folder.
- After this download SuperUser.zip file (https://goo-inside.me/superuser/su-3.0.5-efgh-signed.zip) from here, connect your phone to the computer, mount SD Card as flash drive and copy this zip file to SD Card root.
- Now power off your phone, remove the back cover and pull out the battery,
- After you have pulled the battery out, place it back in, connect the USB cable and reboot your phone while holding Volume Up + Volume Down buttons and while plugging the USB cable in PC. This process will boot your phone in Download Mode.
- After you are in the download mode, open the ODIN folder on your desktop and double click to launch ODIN application.
- Now you should be seeing a com port highlighted yellow that proves your phone’s connection with PC.
- Download ClockworkMod Recovery for T-Mobile Galaxy S2 and place the .tar file in ODIN folder.
- After this, click on PDA tab on ODIN and select ClockworkMod Recovery Tar file you earlier copied to ODIN folder on your desktop.
- Now click on Start and wait for ODIN to complete the flashing process.
- After the flashing is complete, your phone will automatically reboot.
- Let your phone reboot into system and once you can see the launcher, power off your phone again and take the battery out.
- Now place the battery back in and reboot your phone into recovery. In order to boot into recovery, you will need to hold Volume Up button simultaneously with Volume Down and power keys.
- Once you are in recovery mode, make a Nandroid backup using onscreen option.
- Now go to recovery main menu, navigate to Install Zip from Sd Card option via Volume up and Down key and select SuperUzer.zip to install.
- Once you are done installing Super User flashable zip file, reboot your phone.
And there you go! Once your phone is back in action, you will be able to see Super User app present on your phone. You can also verify root by installing Root Checker app available for free in Market. All credit for this guide goes to Melvin at XDA Forums. In case you are stuck or need more information, please head to the official XDA root thread by Melvin posted here.
I did step 9 alright then step 10 up to that point my phone was working now it says… “Firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select recovery mode in kies & try again”
Please help!
keep getting an error after installung super user zip
same here. it says installation aborted
Thank you! Followed this guide and it works fine!
simply awesome
Worked like a charm. Thanks a million for this excellent guide.
I just purchased the Galaxy s2. followed the steps carefully, after selecting the .tar file and clicking on start, flash does not complete (1 hour I waited). Phone displays Downloading do not turn off target!!
Screen shows OODIN MODE
product SHG-T989
CUSTOM BINARY DOWNLOAD: NO
CURRENT BINARY: SAMSUNG OFFICIAL
Since I am new at this, any suggestions??
igot the same issue what did you do
Did you ever figure this out? I’m having the same issue. Thanks!
Excelente!!! Super facil
I’m stuck on step 13, the recovery mode won’t open. I’ve tried it many times with the USB mounted and unmounted. What should I do now? Please help 🙁 thanks!!!
Oh, got it. I was pressing the buttons wrong. Press the Up and Down Volume at the same time, then press the power button simultaneously for 2 seconds. Release the power button, keep pressing the Up and Down volume until you get to the recovery screen. Just in case another noob experienced a similar prob.
You
need to hold down the “Volume Up/Down” button
(press it right in the middle) simultaneously with the Power Key. As soon as
you feel the phone vibrates, release the Power Key, and then in about two
seconds release the Volume Up/Down button. That should open the recovery mode.
It must work for you if do it right!
The previous person (Abidbodal) is correct. You
need to disconnect the USB cord from the phone, coz an average person would
just follow the instructions with the cord still connected. Besides that, it
worked just fine for me! As a much easier alternative, you can always try using
this site http://unlockroot.com/ (just download the application, it’ll do
everything for you) to root your phone. However, the Unlock Root v2.1 you
get from that site, only worked with the original Firmware (Android Version)
2.3.5
When I upgraded to 2.3.6 it
gave me an error.
One more thing, the SuperUser.zip file can be
also installed form the Android Market on your phone.
One thing I would add is after step 11, the user should remove the USB cord, otherwise you don’t get the recovery mode screen. Otherwise it’s a great tutorial
what does it mean to root your phone??
Is there anyway to do this from a Mac.
Awesome! Picked up my phone yesterday at the t-mobile store and it’s already rooted with Cyanogen running on it. Thanks to you and for making this guide.
Step #14 – making the Nandroid backup – didn’t work though. I kept getting the error “cannot mount sdcard”. So I backed it up using Titanium instead.
u the best dude u save my life tks alot good job
it works perfec 100% from las vegas nevada