It’s true that once an Android user has enjoyed the privileges of owning a rooted smartphone or tablet, he/she cannot live a single day without root access on it. It was a few months ago that we posted a rooting tutorial for Sprint Galaxy S4 on Android 4.2.2 firmware. And now when this smartphones has already received the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean firmware update, all those users who got it on their phone must have lost root access.
Since the root method for Galaxy S4 SPH-L720 on Android 4.2 is no longer working on the latest Android 4.3 firmware, many users who opted to update their device to the latest L720VPUAMJA OTA lost the root access. If you happen to one such Sprint Galaxy S4 owner, the present rooting tutorial will help you gain root access on your phone again. Since there is no method available currently to bypass KNOX, the procedure of rooting will trip your KNOX warranty counter to 0 x 1.
Warning!
Please be warned that the procedure described below are considered risky and by deciding to follow it, you are ready to face any consequences. The method has been tested successfully but 100% success for all users is not guaranteed. Neither the developer of this method nor DroidViews shall be responsible for any mishap, though we’ll be always here at our end to help you in case you get in any problem.
UPDATE
To root your Sprint Galaxy S4 SPH-L720 on Android 4.4.2 KitKat, use Geohot’s TowelRoot app.
Let’s Get Ready!
So, if you are eager to get root on your Sprint Galaxy S4, be a little patient for a while and do a few things first.
- Download Odin 1.85 (unzip): Odin3_v1.85.zip
- Also download Odin 3.07 and unzip it: Odin3-v3.07.zip
- Download the rooting package and extract it too: CF-Auto-Root-jfltespr-jfltespr-sphl720.zip
- Download CWM Recovery 6.0.4.4: sph-l720-recovery.tar.md5
- Make sure you have Samsung USB Drivers or Kies installed on your computer. If not, do it now: Click Here
- Enable USB Debugging on your Galaxy S4. Click here to know how to do it.
Root Sprint Galaxy S4 Running Android 4.3
- Turn off your Galaxy S4 and boot it into Download Mode. You can do it by holding the Volume Down + Home + Power buttons at the same time for 2-3 seconds. Release the keys when you see the warning screen with a yellow triangle and then press the Volume Up key to enter Download mode.
- Now run Odin 1.85 as administrator and connect your phone to PC using USB.
- When the ID:COM port at Odin turns yellow and you see “Added!!” in the message box, click the PDA button, navigate to the “CF-Auto-Root-jfltespr-jfltespr-sphl720.tar.md5” file and select it.
- Make sure that only “Auto Reboot” and “F. Reset Time” are selected on Odin.
- Now click the Start button and wait till you get PASS !/ RESET! message on Odin and your device reboot automatically.
- You can now disconnect USB cable.
Wait till your phone boots up and then open the app drawer and look for SuperUser app that signals the presence of root permission on your Galaxy S4. In case you do not see SuperUser on your device or have issues with verifying root access, please install the app from Play Store:
To verify root access, install Root Checker from the Play Store and run the app.
Installing CWM Recovery on Galaxy S4 SPH-L720
So, you now have a rooted Sprint Galaxy S4 and if you also plan to install custom ROMs and mods on your phone, you will have to install a custom recovery too. Below you’ll find the steps to install CWM recovery which are pretty much the same as the rooting part.
- Boot the phone into Download mode.
- Launch Odin 3.07 and connect you phone to computer.
- Click the PDA button and select “sph-l720-recovery.tar.md5” file.
- Now click the Start button to install CWM on your phone.
- When the installation is finished, you will get PASS !/ RESET! message followed by device reboot.
Now your phone has a custom recovery and you can now be able to install custom ROMs, mods, backup and restore your ROMs easily.
Unable to Get Root Access While Being Rooted?
Read this Tutorial to Fix the KNOX Issue
After Rooting Your S4, Do Not Miss!
How to Tweak and Customize Samsung Galaxy S4
Things to Do Before and After Installing Custom ROMs
is there any method for the galaxy s3 sprint 4.3 jelly bean?
new to samsung just got my sprint s4 3 days ago will this root work on new phones ones that came with 4.3
.move up from a rooted photon 4g and would like to have root on my s4
thanks trueaho
Yes, it’ll work. Just follow the steps to the word. Good luck! 🙂
having a problem actually loading the Odin3_v1.85 with my laptop…..when you run as admin, an small Odin3 box pops up with the option to select “ok”. once i select “ok”, something larger appears to open but closes immediately after that. is anyone else having this problem? Thanks!
Are you using a virtual machine?
I recently figured it out. when i downloaded the zipped file, i extracted it onto the desktop instead of just opening the file when i unzipped it. when i just unzipped the file and opened “Odin” from there, it worked fine.
Okay. So you got the root?
yeah it was successful! the only problem i was having was a security alert kept showing up at the top of the screen saying it was blocking some apps.
i didn’t know how to stop it so i just selected the box that said this alert will not appear for 30 days.
Hmm. I think it was Knox notification. See this: http://www.droidviews.com/disable-knox-security-service-on-samsung-galaxy-devices/
I rooted the phone right after I updated it and it works perfect. SuperSU was already installed as was Titanium back-up before the update and they work fine after I used this method to re-root, didn’t have to re-download anything.. Thank you very much.
That’s great! We added that note above, one of the users (see his comment below) reported he had to install SuperUser manually. 🙂
Root Method worked for me on sprint model. Just to add though, supersu is not automatically installed. When I would go on titanium backup it would stay on searching for root for a long time. You’ll need to go to the Play Store and download SuperSU for the root to work. After installing SuperSU all my apps have root access now (apps that require root access)
Thanks for taking time to come back and letting us know! I’ll add a note above. 🙂 Did you also start the CWM?
the CWM didnt work for me in odin its saying
” Enter CS for MD5..
Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..
Please wait..
MD5 hash value is invalid
sph-l720-recovery.tar.md5 is invalid.
End…”
Try again after removing the .md5 extension.
Instead of a PASS! I got a RESET!
No, problem. Your S4 should be rooted successfully! 🙂
Thank you!
Now please verify the root and the installation of CWM and let me know.
Mine is failing…
Odin v.3 engine (ID:5)..
Odin v.3 engine (ID:7)..
File analysis..
File analysis..
SetupConnection..
SetupConnection..
Initialzation..
Get PIT for mapping..
Firmware update start..
recovery.img
NAND Write Start!!
Complete(Write) operation failed.
Never mind i fixed it by deleting a previous install of super user.
Glad to know you made it, Kieth! 🙂
Hey just a heads up recovery didn’t work for me until i removed the .md5 extension like you said, then it worked perfectly. Thanks a lot for this, made it easy peasy man.
Really glad for you, Jason. Cheers!
Just a note, initially I removed the “.d5” extension just in the dialog box and it loaded the file next to PDA but failed to pass after pressing start. I then went into windows explorer renamed the file without the .md5 extension and then it passed. Maybe an obvious error, but I scratched my head for a moment.
Okay, all’s well if end is well. 🙂