Hello and welcome to Android Central
NewToRootin!
Lets see if we can answer your questions and ask a few of our own.
APOLOGIES AHEAD OF TIME IF I USE INCORRECT TERMS (if my phrasing confuses you, please ask and I will try to clarify) AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVICE AND PATIENCE!!
Good Day.
As my name suggests, I am new to rooting, flashing, etc. I have a G900A and, with AT&T getting rid of phone subsidization, I plan to keep it for years to come. I have read many threads on this site and across the interwebs and appreciate the great info you all have shared already! I believe my phone is a candidate for rooting but, if this is not possible, please set me straight.
My primary goals through rooting are to remove/disable bloatware and to increase performance (i.e. get rid of the lag I have when typing, scrolling, loading an app, etc). I am open to running any OS/ROM that will work on my phone (and would appreciate recommendations for ones with good performance as well as any apps). I believe I need to root my phone to do this but is there another way that I haven't come across yet?
My G900A:
AP: G900AUCU2ANG3
CP: G900AUCU2ANG3
CSC: G900AATT2ANG3
Android Version: 4.4.2 (I believe that upgraded to this over the air, not through Kies. I bought the phone in April of 2014).
Bootloader: G900AUCU2ANG3
Kernel Version: 3.4.0-2178781 (G900AUCU2ANG3)
Kernel Date: Jul 22, 2014
Root Access: No
Processor: Qualcomm MSM 8974 (not sure if this matters)
So, you have the carrier minority variant,
G900A, for
AT&T, that is still on
Android 4.4.2 firmware,
NG3. See
#1.6 of
42 Galaxy S5 models - Dummies Guide
The firmware breakdown above, is very precise but how did you retrieve this information from your phone or did you copy and paste it from another source?
How have you managed, thus far, to escape the numerous
AT&T updates for
Android 4.4.4,
Android 5.0 and
Android 5.1.1? Normally, there are only two methods of avoiding AT&T's forced updates. 1) By rooting your phone. 2) Not being registered on the AT&T network.
Have you owned this phone from new, out-of-the-box?
(1) Is there a lower-risk way to root my phone? I believe the linked video below, which includes the steps that need to be taken with ODIN (to flash to an older kernel or something?) so that I can use Towelroot, is a solution but I'm not sure if this is what I am looking for (I can't yet post links so you'll have to search for this - sorry!).
***YouTube video posted by "MrW0lf" titled: "How to Root Galaxy S5, S4, Note 3 on [NF+] Android 4.4.2 (TowelRoot)"***
Also, in post #6 of this linked forum thread, a user states there is a way to root the firmware version I have - any idea if this will work (I can't yet post links so you'll have to search for this - sorry!)?
***AndroidCentral thread titled "Accidentally updated my rooted AT&T SM-G900A S5. What do I do?".***
Worst case, as I am pre-Lollipop, can my phone's firmware be downgraded to a point that will allow me to use Towelroot?
All rooting carries a degree of risk and I am often asked this question, to which I answer that it depends on how good you are at reading, researching and following instructions!
ironass motto... "
Flash in haste... repent at leisure!"
Unfortunately, both the AT&T and Verizon models are the most difficult and dangerous to root because, quite simply, those two carriers do not want you to. Unlike the stock Samsung models that do not have locked bootloaders and can be rooted in about 30 seconds, your model is now only rootable on Android 4.4.2 and then only by downgrading your kernel back to
ND3, temporarily, to use TowelRoot. The step-by-step process for doing this is described in this tutorial...
[How-To] Root G900AUCU2ANG3
Prior to embarking on this you should make 2 or 3 different backups of your phone as described in
Backup! Backup! Backup! NOW!
(2) Is there a step-by-step guide you can recommend?
See, above.
(3) If I root, what is the most recent OS I can upgrade to (Lollipop, Kit Kat, etc)? Will I be able to upgrade to future versions of Android and how? Are these moot questions depending on the recommendation I follow from #1?
The only way to update a rooted
G900A and keep root, is by flashing custom AT&T firmware that retains your original bootloader as you will not be able to update OTA via AT&T once you are rooted. See this step-by-step guide...
[How-To] Update to G900A_OI5 - 5.1 (Unrooted Stock ROM)
(4) Do I need to freeze OTA updates or do anything to protect my phone from getting bricked by AT&T's/Samsung's automatic update actions?
Once rooted you will no longer receive OTA updates.
(5) Can I run AOSP firmware or only stock firmware?
Because of the locked bootloader, AOSP ROMs are not an option and you will only be able to use TouchWiz based ROMs.
(6) Any other advice / questions I should be aware of? Any limitations that I will impose on myself by rooting now?
Things you will need to do are... read, read, read and backup, backup, backup.
Once you have successfully rooted your future firmware updates are in your hands. By staying on Android 4.4.2 you are missing not only Lollipop but also all the bug fixes and, more importantly, all the security updates that have been included in the latest releases for exploits such as
Stagefright. You will have to wait until a developer brings out a custom AT&T ROM for rooted users, each time there is an AT&T update.There is also the possibility that in future, AT&T may bring out firmware that prevents rooted users from updating as they are totally against it.
(7) Can I even root my phone or has venturing down this rabbit hole just been a futile exercise?
Yes, you can root your phone by carefully and thoroughly reading the above links before embarking on rooting.
Grab a coffee or something stronger, and start reading.