Last Updated on May 13, 2023 by Mathew Diekhake

The CF-Auto-Root tool in this guide is created when Chainfire was running the LMY47X.A710MUBU1APB4 firmware build number on the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 smartphone with the SM-A710M model number. That firmware build number is a part of the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop Software update that rolled out at least one region in the world.

It does not matter what area exactly because you do not need to be running the same firmware build number on your smartphone before you get started with the guide. In fact, this guide works as long as you have the right model number and it is running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop–that means any firmware that is on Android 5.1.1 works.

Samsung-Galaxy-Galaxy-A7-2016-8282389

Here is everything you need to root the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 smartphone that comes with the SM-A710M model number when it is running on any versions of the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software updates.

Files You Need

  • Download the CF-Auto-Root tool for the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 SM-A710M when it is running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software updates from here.
  • Download the Samsung USB Drivers for the Windows computer from here.

Notes:

  • You must have a computer that is running a version of the Windows operating system before you can follow this guide because Windows is the only OS that the Samsung developers made the Odin flashing application compatible for to use. That means anyone using a MacOS or Linux version does not get the flashing application running. There are some workaround like running a virtual Windows machine if you are desperate.
  • You need the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 smartphone that comes with the SM-A710M model number to use this guide. Any other model number will get bricked if you follow this guide. Chainfire usually makes new versions of the CF-Auto-Root tool for each model number for that very reason.
  • There might be some Android software updates that roll out over the air that is still based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop for this device. All of those updates should not present a problem for the CF-Auto-Root tool that is found in this guide because most of the new bootloaders arrive with newer versions of Android. With that said, it is not impossible to see a new bootloader coming in smaller software updates that are still based on the same Android version (in this case that is Android 5.1.1), and when that happens, Chainfire needs to update the files, so they start working again. Problems you might face if a file is not working include a device that does not boot after flashing the rooting tool and a device that does not flash it, to begin with using Odin. These problems can be easily fixed, and they will not hard brick a device. Moreover, Chainfire needs everyone who finds a problem to let him know on the CF-Auto-Root thread made over at the XDA-Developers website so he can see it. All he need is for you to post a new message along with the new recovery image file that is found in the new firmware which you can download from the Sam Mobile website, and he then uses that recovery image file and updates the rooting tool on his end. Those changes that he makes always update in our guides real time because we link directly back to his pages.

Rooting the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 SM-A710M smartphone running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software updates

  1. Log into the computer using a Windows administrator’s account so you can get the Odin flahsing application working during the guide.
  2. Unlock the Developer Options menu on the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 smartphone so you can open it up and use the set of options available inside.
  3. Turn on the USB Debugging Mode from inside the Developer Options menu so that you connect it to the computer and the software allows for you to make changes to it with developing.
  4. Extract the rooting file to the desktop of the computer so you get the Odin flashing application and the rooting file that you can use.
  5. Run the Samsung USB Drivers on the computer so when you do connect the Galaxy A7 smartphone to the computer, the flashing application allows for it to run.
    Boot the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 smartphone into the download mode and then connect it to the computer with the USB cable that it would usually use to charge the battery on the device.
  6. Double-click and run the Odin executable file that is on the desktop of the computer and you should see the flashing tool user interface open up.
  7. Check that you get a yellow or blue color coming from the ID: COM port and the added message is appearing both from the Odin user interface on the computer. (No color coming from the ID: COM port and no added message means that your Samsung USB Drivers are either not installed or not working. They should always work, so check that you are logged into the Windows operating system using the administrator’s account. That could be the reason why the drivers are not working. Additionally, you can install the universal Windows ADB Driver from Koushik Dutta if you need to try something else).
  8. Click the Ap button from the Odin user interface and the browser desktop for the rooting file that will root your device.
    Do not make any changes from the default settings that you get from the Odin flashing tool user interface or else you might accidentally wipe data or do something even worse.
  9. Click the Start button when you can see the rooting file extension is =visible from the AP area.
  10. Pick up the Galaxy A7 2016 device while keeping it plugged into the computer with the USB cable still and watched for the text rolling down the display.
  11. Wait until you see the text say that your phone is rebooting in ten seconds and then focus back up at the computer.
  12. Wait until you get a green box appearing that says a pass message inside and then you can unplug from the computer.

In conclusion, that is how to root the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 SM-A710M smartphones when they are running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop updates by using Chainfire’s CF-Auto-Root tool. The versions of the CF-Auto-Root tool that we have here needs to modify the /system partition, flash a different recovery, use that recovery to install land enable the SuperSu and then reflash the same stock recovery that was on the device before, leaving you with root access and the stock recovery. It is smart to work that results in a device as close to stock Android as possible and leaves you as the root user who can install anything they want. That includes any of the root applications from the Google Play Store that you might be itching to use such as the Titanium Backup app.

CF-Auto-Root on XDA-Developers

Chainfire, the developer of the CF-Auto-Root tool available in this guide, has created a CF-Auto-Root tool thread on the XDA-Develoeprs website. You can use the CF-Auto-Root thread on the XDA-Developers site for requesting new root methods for devices that are not currently available.

Encryption

Note that flashing a CF-Auto-Root file (regardless of the device) wipes the data if the device storage is encrypted. For everyone else, there should be no data loss when rooting with the CF-Auto-Root tool.

Samsung’s Knox security

Some smartphones and tablets in the Samsung range come with Samsung’s Knox security. The CF-Auto-Root tool trips Knox which prevents you from unrooting and using the warranty again.

Flash counters

Any device with a target flash counter is triggered when using the CF-Auto-Root tool. Chainfire’s Triangle Away supports many devices for this problem.