Last Updated on July 23, 2022 by Mathew Diekhake

The Google Nexus 5 can now be rooted without any trouble thanks to using the nifty SuperSU package. We know Android 5.0 is out in SDK form under the build number of LPX13D for the Developer Preview and this will result in a successful unchaining attempt following that update. Furthermore, users who update to Lollipop in the future from the official OTA release that is coming for the Nexus list in November can also use the same steps listed below.

By unlocking the hardware we are ensuring access to the Android internal system that is otherwise blocked off by factory restrictions. The manufacturers do this to keep us stuck in their business plan. However, we know that smartphones and many tablets have much more power and ability locked away. They say if you do not open up the OS of your Google-owned and operated Nexus handset you are not doing it right. That is since they are heavily customizable and we know even the Android employees love tinkering with the operating system and opening it up to all its grandeur.

Lollipop Nexus 5

Details of Note

  • The technique we are using to get this done today is with ChainFire’s SuperSu with the CF-Root tool. We love this tool the best out of all of them since it delivers as near the stock Android experience as possible. ChainFire is an awesome developer and his work extends far outside of this tool. You can install this with confidence knowing that you are taking some of the easiest steps you’ll find and the most reliable too.
  • Once root is complete, users can improve the battery life, speed up the smartphone, get to the bottom of lag, heat and bug issues and much more. Some applications to help you with these tasks include Orange backup, Greenify, DataSync, BusyBox Installer, Samba FileSharing, Pimp My ROM, Trickster MOD kernel, CatLog and more.
  • Nevertheless, before we get into it, we must run you through the essentials so that you are prepared. If you don’t have any experience with SDK we advise you find a family member or friend who does to help. The steps are for advanced users only and shouldn’t be touched unless you grasp what you are doing.
  • We advise taking a NANDroid backup where applicable. Otherwise try using the Titanium backup application available from the Google Play store. If you are running stock software and firmware at the moment, you want to try using Helium instead. Make copies of the phone contacts, EFS folder, videos, pictures, music, SMS texts and all other data stored on your phone after you opened it out of the box. Use SMS backup+ from the Play Store to help you store those important text messages you revived.
  • You can use a laptop, notebook or desktop computer so long as it has a fully operational USB slot for connecting. Moreover, the OS is flexible this time and we can use Mac OS X and Linux coupled with Microsoft Windows. Nevertheless, with flashing in general using tools such as Odin we only use Windows, so that’s something to think about when purchasing your next computer. I always say it makes life a great deal easier if you shop for Windows-based operating system if you are an Android enthusiast.
  • Turn the phone on and stop any security program running such as virus protection, spyware protection and malware protection. Do the same for the computer.
  • Correspondingly, you must have USB Debugging Mode switched to the “on’ position from the Developer options menu available from the Settings panel on the phone.

How To Root The Google Nexus 5 On Android 5.0 Lollipop Using SuperSU

1. Download the SuperSU root file here.

2. Download the adapted hammerhead boot image here.

Extract the contents.

Note: You must have Android SDK already pre-installed before starting.

3. Use the extracted file from the boot image folder and copy it over to the same folder that the SDK is sitting.

4. Fetch the USB cable.

Look at the wire connecting the charger.

5. Connect the nexus 5 to the computer with the USB wire.

6. Have the SDK folder open and right click the mouse and hold the “Shift” key on the keyboard.

Now you have the command line open and ready for us to type some commands.

7. Type “ADB Devices” and make sure the device is connected.

8. Type the second command: “adb reboot bootloader”.

You are running in bootloader mode.

9. Now once inside the bootloader type “fastboot oem unlock”

Waring: it will erase all the contents on your phone and unlock the bootloader.

10. Flash the custom recovery by navigating to the folder where you have the TWRP.

11. Type “fastboot flash recovery openrecovery-twrp-2.8.1.0-hammerhead.img” with the latter being the file extension from the TWRP recovery file.

12. The custom recovery is now flashing.

13. Type the next command: “fastboot reboot”.

14. You are now back in the OS.

15. Transfer the kernel and the SuperUser zip to the devices internal storage. (Do this from the open files on the computer with the mouse).

16. Type in “ADB reboot recovery” from the command prompt.

17. Select the recovery option from bootloader mode.

18. Choose the “install” option from the main menu.

19. Locate the root file from earlier and upload the file to the Nexus.

Confirm the process and do not touch any keys until it finishes flashing once more.

20. Flash the Superuser zip file.

21. Go back to the main screen of recovery and select “Reboot System Now”.

22. The initial boot process can take minutes longer for the first time.

23. Disconnect the handset from the computer properly by stopping over at the “safely remove hardware” icon from the system tray.

That’s it.

Related Tutorials