Once you have finished our guides for unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recovery on the Huawei Mate 8, you can follow this guide and learn how to get root access to that internal system you need unchained to start installing your apps.

I often say apps after rooting because it’s what I like to do, but the fact of the matter is root access is far more valuable than juts installing your apps. Those of you wanting to completely alter the UI on the Huawei Mate 8 will also want root access to install many of the custom ROMs that I’m sure will eventually become available for this popular device.

Huawei Mate 8

The following tutorial demonstrates how to root the Huawei Mate 8 smartphone.

Files You Need

  1. Download the SuperSU for the Mate 8 smartphone from this page.
  2. You must have unlocked the bootloader on the Huawei Mate 8 smartphone before following this guide.
  3. You must have a custom recovery installed on the Huawei Mate 8 before following this guide. Our guide teaches you how to install the TWRP recovery version, but you are welcome to have any other recovery that is a custom version. As of today, it’s the TWRP that is available only.

Rooting the Huawei Mate 8

  1. Download the SuperSU package from the link above directly to the computer and have it on the desktop.
  2. Connect the Mate 8 smartphone to the same computer where you have the SuperSU on the desktop.
  3. Copy the SuperSU over to the root of the Mate 8’s internal storage SD card.
  4. Unplug your Mate 8 device from the computer once you are happy the SuperSU file is on the SD card.
  5. Boot the Huawei Mate 8 up in the custom recovery mode so you can use its features.
  6. Tap on the ‘Install’ option from the main recovery menu.
  7. Browse the SD card for your SuperSU package.
  8. Swipe the bottom of the display where it says “swipe to confirm” on the screen.
    – those of you using a different custom recovery will need to confirm the installation by following your prompts on the display.
  9. Go back to the main recovery menu and tap on the reboot system option.
  10. Now your mate 8 device will reboot back in normal mode and be ready to start installing your root-requiring apps from the Google Play Store if that’s what you wanted.

The SuperSU you just installed is going to grant the rooting permissions to the apps you want to install. It’s also going to keep your Huawei device safe from any malware that wants to prompt your device for root access. Think of your SuperSU as the gatekeeper to your device. Always remember you manually have the ability to open the gate and overall what SuperSU does, so make sure you do not grant root access to any untrusted apps you do not know.

That’s all.

This article was last updated on June 1, 2019.