Last Updated on May 13, 2023 by Mathew Diekhake
These are the instructions you need to root the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 tablet with the SM-T535 model number when you have it running on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat software updates by flashing Chainfire’s CF-Auto-Root tool. The CF-Auto-Root tool is one of the most famous one-click rooting exploits in the world, and it works by flashing its unique version of recovery which then allows for the installation of SuperSU before it reflashes the stock recovery again. You find that the rooting file in this guide works for all versions of the Android 4.4.2 KitKat software updates and not just one or two particularity firmware build numbers.
Chainfire creates different files of the CF-Auto-Root tool for each device, and he bases them on the original firmware that is running on each of the devices. In this case for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 with the SM-T535 model number, that is the KOT49H.T535XXU1AND9 firmware build number. However,m he says that you do not need to be running the same firmware builds number on your Tab 4 devices before using this guide. He just gives people that information about the build number he was using because sometimes a Samsung device will not boot old images and that is when it can come in handy. The CF-Auto-Root rooting file in this guide should work regardless of the firmware build number that is running on your device as long as you have it on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat software updates.
Files You Need
- Download the CF-Auto-Root tool for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T535 when you have it running on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat software updates from here.
- Download the Samsung USB Drivers for the Window computer from here.
You must have the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 device that comes with the SM-T535 model number before you can flash the rooting file in this guide. You can check what the model number of your device is by pointing to the Menu > Settings > About Device > Model Number.
You must have a computer that is running the Windows operating system to use the Odin flashing application found in this guide. The Odin flashing app is the only way you can flash the CF-Auto-Rot tool, and they do not make it for MacOS or Linux computer. However, if you are desperate, you should be able to set up a Windows virtual machine from the MacOS or Linux operating systems and get the computer up and running on Windows that way.
There are two different versions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 tablet with the SM-T535 model number. The rooting file in this guide is made to work on the Tab 4 SM-T535 with the MSM8926 board number. The other version has the MSM8226 board number, and it will get bricked if you follow this guide. The quickest way to tell the difference is the MSM8926 version is running on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update at the time of writing this post whereas the other version is running on the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop update.
Note that installing the CF-Auto-Root tool on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 will result in Knox security being tripped if your device does come with Knox security. Knox is always tripped by the CF-Auto-Root tool, and that means there is no way to get the warranty working again once you flash the rooting file.
There could be some more Android software updates that roll out over the air for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 devices that are based on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat software updates. Usually, all of those updates will not stop the rooting file from working because they do not bring new bootloaders with them. A new bootloader usually comes with new versions of Android. Nonetheless, if a new bootloader does come in an update that is based on Android 4.4.2 KitKat, it can stop the CF-Auto-Root tool from working. You know it has stopped by observing a device that refuses to boot or a device that does not flash. Both of these issues can be fixed. Moreover, the CF-Auto-Root tool can be fixed so that it starts working again too! For Chainfire to get the rooting file working again, he relies on people to post the new recovery image files found in the new firmware to the official CF-Auto-Root tool found at the XDA-Developers web forum. Chainfire notices your messages and then apply the necessary changes to the rooting file on his end. As soon as he does update the file, you can start using our guides again because we link directly to the repository page, and the updates are real-time for this website.
Rooting the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T535 running on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat software updates
- Unlock the Developer Options menu on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 tablet so you can turn on the USB Debugging Mode.
- Enable the USB Debugging Mode from the Developer Options menu so that you can connect it to the computer and do some developments to the software.
- Extract the rooting file to the desktop of the computer so you can see the Odin flashing application and the CF-Auto-Root too.
- Double-click and run the Odin flashing tool on the computer so that the user interface is open on the desktop.
- Do not make any changes to the default settings and buttons that you can see from the Odin flashing application on the computer.
- Run the Samsung USB Drivers on the computer so your tablet can connect to the computer and then quickly be detected by the flashing application and the rooting can work.
- Boot the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 tablet into the download mode and the connect it to the computer with the USB cable.
- Check that you can see a blue or yellow ID: COM port from the Odin user interface and then also look for the “added” message. (No message or light coming from the ID: COM port means that you still need to get the drivers working. If the Samsung drivers do not continue to work, try checking that you are logged into the computer using an administrators account. If that does not work, try installing the universal Windows ADB Driver and see if that helps).
- Click the AP button from the Odin user interface and then browse through to the desktop of the computer and upload the rooting file that is ending in the tar.md5 file extension.
- Cluck the Start button and the rooting now takes place.
- Wait until you get a message on the display of the tablet letting you know that it is going to reboot in ten seconds and then check the computer for a green box giving you the pass message inside.
In conclusion, that is how to root the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T535 tablet when it is running on any versions of the Android 4.4.2 KitKat software updates. You find that the SuperSU applications are available from the app drawer, and it is enabled correctly. That means you can open the Google Play Store immediately and start installing the apps that need root access to run, and it gives you a message on the display asking whether or not you would like to grant the application root access. Always say yes to the apps that you just installed and always so no to anything that you do not remember installing.
Anyone looking to unroot the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T535 needs to do it from the SuperSU application or by flashing a stock ROM. You get the stock ROMs available from the Sam Mobile website by clicking the firmware buttons and then inputting your devices model number. You can flash firmware for the same model number and phone carrier network. Furthermore, people who have the device SIM unlocked can install firmware for the same mobile number, but other phone carrier networks too!
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.