Last Updated on July 19, 2022 by Mathew Diekhake

The following guide uses an exploit found in the Samsung Galaxy E to root the Galaxy J5. Once you have root access, you can then install a custom recovery and download extra apps that need root access to work.

Those apps are available from the Google Play Store and other third-party sources. The custom recovery is what you need if you want to install a custom ROM. You can also take a NANDroid backup from the custom recovery. These NANDroid backups are the easiest way to backup your device.

Related Reading: Make sure you do this one job after rooting a Samsung smartphone

Samsung Galaxy J5

The Files You need

  • Download the rooting package from this link.
  • Download the Odin app for your computer. You can use any of the latest versions.
  • Download the Samsung USB Drivers on the computer.
  • These are the steps to root the Samsung Galaxy J5 J500G on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. You should only follow this guide if you do have the J500G model number. You may check your Samsung model number by heading to the Apps > Settings App > About Device.

Rooting The Samsung Galaxy J5 on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

  1. Download the rooting file and the Odin package to the computer.
  2. Click the small arrow on the right side of the files and choose the ‘show in folder’ option.
  3. Now click and drag the files over to the desktop.
  4. You should now have the Odin flashing tool and the rooting file for the J5 on the desktop.
  5. Right-click the mouse over the files and choose the ‘extract here’ option.
  6. Launch the Odin flashing tool by double-clicking over the file.
  7. Long-press the Power button for ten seconds or until you know the Samsung Galaxy J5 is shut down.
  8. Reboot the J5 smartphone holding the Home + Power + Volume Down buttons.
  9. Let go of those buttons when you can see the warning screen.
  10. Press the Volume Up button and you should get past that warning screen and be in download mode.
  11. Connect the J5 to the computer now.
  12. Click the AP button found in Odin. If you don’t see AP you will see PDA. Click either button.
  13. Browse the desktop for the rooting file ending in .img. You only see the file after you extracted the folder.
  14. Click the Start button and Odin will now root the Samsung Galaxy J5 with that rooting file.

Wait until Odin gives you the pass message on the screen of the computer and your smartphone reboots. Now you can unplug from the computer and learn how to install a custom recovery on the Samsung Galaxy J5. Alternatively, you might want to learn how to unroot the Samsung Galaxy J5.