Planning on rooting Galaxy S4 Active. What steps/precautions should I take?

[DL2000820]

Hello, I am going to root my phone but I don't want to get bricked.
First off I want to know more about the bootloader and whether or not I should unlock it before rooting.
Second, I am gonna try to stay away from custom OS but I would like to have the OS I have now but I want to update it whenever a new update comes out so how would I go about doing that.

I just don't want my phone to get bricked
Oh and I'm rooting it like how the rooted from this guy's video
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...zNWh8LdGv3qsioY4A&sig2=xSCL6drIOG48rxcL36wT9A

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[UJ95x]

Re: Planning on rooting S4 active. What steps/precautions should I take?

Welcome to Android Central
What Android version are you currently on and what is your phone's carrier?

 

[DL2000820]

Re: Planning on rooting S4 active. What steps/precautions should I take?

My android version is 4.3
And my phone's carrier is AT&T

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[xceeder]

Re: Planning on rooting S4 active. What steps/precautions should I take?

My android version is 4.3
And my phone's carrier is AT&T

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Rooting is quite easy, the first time might seem a bit scary but don't worry just make sure you follow every step as said in the instructions, just out of curiosity why do want to root?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[DL2000820]

Re: Planning on rooting S4 active. What steps/precautions should I take?

For CIH and a bunch of other apps

But isn't there like a boot loader that I need to unlock or something or does the video just does it all?
PS I don't think it's gonna work cuz my build number is different since I updated my firmware

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[xceeder]

Re: Planning on rooting S4 active. What steps/precautions should I take?

For CIH and a bunch of other apps

But isn't there like a boot loader that I need to unlock or something or does the video just does it all?
PS I don't think it's gonna work cuz my build number is different since I updated my firmware

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Well if I was you i would look at a few more videos or type in active root in Google and see if build numbers are listed to see if yours is compatible and sorry I'm not sure about the bootloader because every device has different root methods the guy in the video didn't mention it but don't just go of one video check a few more out

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[UJ95x]

Re: Planning on rooting S4 active. What steps/precautions should I take?

For CIH and a bunch of other apps

But isn't there like a boot loader that I need to unlock or something or does the video just does it all?
PS I don't think it's gonna work cuz my build number is different since I updated my firmware

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

I think the 4.3 update made it so that you do have to unlock the bootloader. Knox has brought all kinds of headaches

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[DL2000820]

What about kringo? Will that work?

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[UJ95x]

What about kringo? Will that work?

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Sorry for the late reply. Yes, Kingo and CF Auto root should both work. I think the Kingo method doesn't trip the Knox counter though

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[DL2000820]

What is a Knox counter?

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[UJ95x]

What is a Knox counter?

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It keeps track of how many times you have flashed something onto your phone. If it's tripped, your warranty becomes void.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[DL2000820]

Well I'm not really going to flash anything

To be clear, flashing is like custom OS, right? Or does it include something else?

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[UJ95x]

Well I'm not really going to flash anything

To be clear, flashing is like custom OS, right? Or does it include something else?

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Custom kernels, recoveries, ROMs and rooting all trip the Knox counter. I know Kingo root doesn't trip it, but only on some phones.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[DL2000820]

OK thanks. So kingo doesn't unlock the bootloader does it. But since I won't be using custom OS I don't think I'll need it, will I? So with the kingo will I be able to use CIH and freedom?

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[DL2000820]

Thank you. So does kingo unlock the bootloader? Well I guess that doesn't matter since I won't be using custom OS. But if I use kingo could I use CIH and the Freedom app?

 

[UJ95x]

Thank you. So does kingo unlock the bootloader? Well I guess that doesn't matter since I won't be using custom OS. But if I use kingo could I use CIH and the Freedom app?

It doesn't unlock the bootloader. Not sure what CIH is, but if it's a root only app it should work

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[DL2000820]

One last question,
Kringo will void my warranty, right?
OK one last, last question
What are the chances of my phone bricking from Kringo?

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[UJ95x]

One last question,
Kringo will void my warranty, right?
OK one last, last question
What are the chances of my phone bricking from Kringo?

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If it doesn't trip the flash counter, then it won't void the warranty.
As long as you follow instructions closely you shouldn't have any issues with the process.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[DL2000820]

If it doesn't trip the flash counter, then it won't void the warranty.
As long as you follow instructions closely you shouldn't have any issues with the process.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

Thank you, you're very helpful

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[UJ95x]

Thank you, you're very helpful

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No problem

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2