Last Updated on May 13, 2023 by Mathew Diekhake
The following guide teaches you how to become the root user on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 SM-T537R4 tablets when you have it running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software updates. The rooting file in this guide should work well for all firmware that is based on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update and not just the one that Chainfire bases his rooting methods on when he create the CF-Auto-Root file available in this guide.
Chainfire was running on the LMY47X.T537R4TYU1BOG4 firmware build number on his Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 SM-T537R4 device when he figured out how to root it running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop updates. We know that because he tells us the information of the build number that the rooting method is based. However, that does not mean you need to be running that same firmware build number. It means you might find that information useful one day because some of the Samsung devices might not boot images when they become old.
Files You Need
- Download the CF-Auto-Root tool for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 SM-T537R4 when running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software updates from here.
- Download the Samsung USB Drivers for the Windows computer from here.
You will need to have the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 that comes with the SM-T537R4 model number to use this guide. There could be several model numbers all under the same device name, and Chainfire usually has to make a unique rooting file for each model number. Flashing the wrong file on your device could result in it getting bricked so make sure you check out the model number of your device before going ahead with the guide. You can find out the model number of yours by tapping on the Menu > Settings > About Device > Model Number.
You must have a computer that is running versions of the Windows operating system to root the Galaxy Tab 4 with the CF-Auto-Root one-click rooting tool. The reason is that the rooting package is made to be flashed from the Odin flashing tool and does not flash from anything else.
There are two versions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 with the SM-T537R4 model number, and only one of them can use the file in this guide. The difference is in the board number. The board number for this rooting tool is the MSM8226 as seen in the post title. The other board number (MSM8926) will get bricked if you flash the rooting file found in this guide. The quickest way to tell the difference between the two is the device with the MSM8226 board is currently running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop updates, and the other board number (MSM8926) is running on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update at the time of writing this post.
There could be some more Android software update that rolls out for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 tablet that is based on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software update. These updates will continue to keep the CF-Auto-Root tool working because it is usually the new bootloaders that come in updates that stop it from working and we do not often see new bootloaders in update unless you are updating to a new version of Android such as going from Android 4.4.4 KitKat to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Nevertheless, it is not out of the question to find a new bootloader on the Android 5.1.1 updates. When that happen, Chainfire relies on people to post the new recovery image file that is found in the new firmware to the official CF-Auto-Root thread made on the XDA-Developers websites he can see it and then use it to update the file. Once the file is updated to work again, you will automatically see those changes in our guides because we link directly to the CF-Auto-Root repository page.
Rooting the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 SM-T537R4 running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop updates
- Unlock the Developer Options menu on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 so you can turn on the USB Debugging Mode.
- Enable the USB Debugging Mode from the Developer Options Menu so you can do developmental work to the software when it is connected to the computer.
- Extract the CF-Auto-Root package to the desktop of the computer and you will find the rooting file that you can a=use as well as the Odin flashing application available on the desktop.
- Double-click on the Odin flashing tool app and the user interface of your flashing tool opens.
- Run the Samsung USB Drivers on the computer so that when you connect the tablet to the computer the Odin flashing application can detect it.
- Boot the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 device into the download mode and then connects to the computer with the USB cable.
- Check that you do get a yellow or blue color coming from the ID: COM port and the added message also appear from the Odin app.
- Do not make any changes from the default settings that you get with the Odin flashing tool.
- Click the AP button and then browse through to the desktop location and choose to upload the rooting package that is ending in the tar.md5 file extension.
- Click the Start button from the Odin flashing app and the rooting will begin.
- Check that your tablet shows you text rolling down the display and wait until you can see the message that says it is going to reboot in 10 seconds.
- Look back up at the computer and check that you get a new green box with the pass message inside it.
In conclusion, that is how to root the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 SM-T537R4 running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software updates by flashing versions of the CF-Auto-Root one-click rooting tool by Chainfire. The tablet reboots back into the normal mode now, and you see the SuperSU application is available from the app drawer. Since the rooting exploit already enabled SuperSU, there is nothing you technically need to do to it from this point, but you can tap to open it like a regular app and check out the options inside if you prefer.
You can install the root checker application from the Google Play Store if you prefer doing things by the book and making sure that the guide did work before going ahead and installing your root applications. Now that root access is verified by the root checker, it’s time to check out what things there are to do with a rooted Android operating system that you might not already know about.
Furthermore, those looking for troubleshooting tips can find out how to get into the recovery mode manually and do that after the flashing finishes just in case the reason the rooting is failing is that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 is not getting into the recovery mode as needed. Additionally, you can install another version of the Odin flashing application as it comes in many versions and the version that is bundled in with the rooting tool is not necessarily always going to work perfectly for your device.
Those are a couple of the more common ways to troubleshoot issues with the tablet not being rooted after using the guide as above. Anyone wanting to tries something else can open the Sam Mobile website and click on the Firmware tab and check what firmware is available for your model number. Those of you without a device SIM unlocked most install firmware from the same mobile number and phone carrier network. Those with the device SIM unlocked must install firmware from the same model number still, but they have the options of installing firmware from other phone carrier networks. Now that is not always an option because many times there is only one phone carrier network using a model number. However, there are devices–especially if we are talking about outside of the United States–that share the same model number but have arranged of phone carrier networks using it.