Last Updated on January 5, 2023 by Mathew Diekhake

There is a new root method available for the Nvidia Shield tablet running on the current Android 6.0 Marshmallow software update. Attempting to root the Nvidia Shiled using the older method for Android Lollipop updates is no longer working.

The new method that is tested and working by XDA Developer senior members is making use of the SuperSU and a new boot image file.

Nvidia Shield tablet

Files You Need

  1. Install ADB on your computer. The steps in this guide make use of ADB on Windows. You can install ADB for Mac and Linux but the steps will slightly vary. You will need to know how to use ADB for those operating systems to get those working.
  2. Download the Universal ADB Driver and install lt on your computer before starting the guide.
  3. Download the new boot image for Android 6.0 Marshmallow from this page.

Rooting the Nvidia Shield Tablet running Android 6.0 Marshmallow

  1. Extract the boot image file to the desktop of the computer.
  2. Install the ADB Drivers on the computer by extracting the file and running the executable file for the drivers that is on the desktop.
  3. Open the folder where you have ADB and hold the Shift key and right-click within the folder where it shows a white background.
  4. Choose to open a new command prompt window here from the menu you get and that’s the directory where you can type your adb commands.
  5. Read the thread at XDA Developers to find out how to install the new boot image on your device.
  6. Once you have the new boot image flashed on your device, open the Google Play Store application on the Nvidia Shield Tablet and download the SuperSU by Chainfire.

In conclusion, you should have your Shield tablet successfully rooted and ready to install the root-requiring applications from the Google Play Store like the Titanium Backup app. Titanium is the best way to back up any device running Android, apart from using the NANDroid Backup feature that comes with TWRP Recovery. Titanium also excels at removing the bloatware a device ships with out of the box. The Nvidia Shield isn’t famous for shipping with too much bloatware but you should be able to remove the stock apps just like any other device. Doing so can increase the performance of your Nvidia device.