Last Updated on August 10, 2022 by Mathew Diekhake
If you’re lucky enough to own one of these device and haven’t yet rooted it to take full advantage of all that the Galaxy Nexus has to offer then you need to read this how to root Galaxy Nexus Universal guide. When we say universal, we mean it. It doesn’t matter if your device is from Asia/ Europe or even the USA, whether it’s a GSM Galaxy Nexus, Sprint or Verizon. If you own one, you can follow this process on how to Root Galaxy Nexus. Keep reading after the jump to learn how to root Galaxy Nexus universal guide.
The Guide also holds no discrimination when it comes of the OS your running on your PC and works on Windows, Mac and Linux computers. Windows does have some fantastic one click methods for their users; however you don’t get to explore the Galaxy Nexus’s inner-workings that way.
Details of Note
- You will also need to have USB debugging mode enabled in order to complete this guide. This helps to connect your Android phone with the PC.
- You will need to make sure you have the Samsung Galaxy USB drivers. This is necessary for when you connect the device to the computer. You have to connect it to the computer in order to root the device.
How to Galaxy Nexus Using Universal Guide
Step 1. First off you will need to put your device into fastboot mode. To do this, remove the back cover of your Galaxy Nexus and take out the battery then re insert it. Hold down ‘Volume Up’ + ‘Volume Down’ + ‘Power’ simultaneously until the phone vibrates and makes a small beep.
Step 2. Once in fastboot mode you need to connect your device to your PC using the micro cable. Done be alarmed when you see “LOCKED STATE – LOCKED”.
Step 3. Download the following file:
- GalaxyNexusRootNew.zip HERE
Then unzip to the files directory.
Step 4. USB Drivers installed are a must for windows users (if you are using Mac or Linux you can skip this step), make sure you have them by checking in Device Manager for ‘Samsung Android ADB Interface’. If for whatever reason it is not there, you will need to download and run the following Samsung USB drivers program:
- Samsung USB Drivers HERE
If you still can’t see ‘Samsung Android ADB Interface’ after installing the drivers but you have ‘Android 1.0!’ or something along these lines, manually update it.
Step 5. Launch the Terminal/ Command Prompt and enter the following:
For Windows:
cd Downloads
cd GalaxyNexusRootNew
fastboot oem unlock
For Mac:
cd Downloads
cd GalaxyNexusRootNew
./fastboot-mac oem unlock
For Linux:
cd Downloads
cd GalaxyNexusRootNew
./fastboot-linux oem unlock
Step 6. From you device, press the ‘Volume Up’ button to select YES, then press the ‘Power’ button to confirm.
Step 7. For the GSM/Verizon Galaxy Nexus we now need to flash ClockworkMod Recovery and for Sprint we will flash TWRP recovery. Enter the following:
For Windows:
GSM
fastboot flash recovery optimus_prime-touch-v5.5.0.4-6-GSM.img
Verizon
fastboot flash recovery optimus_prime-touch-v5.5.0.4-6-toro-VERIZON.img
Sprint
fastboot flash recovery twrp-toroplus-2.1.2-SPRINT.img
For Mac:
GSM
./fastboot-mac flash recovery optimus_prime-touch-v5.5.0.4-6-GSM.img
Verizon
./fastboot-mac flash recovery optimus_prime-touch-v5.5.0.4-6-toro-VERIZON.img
Sprint
./fastboot-mac flash recovery twrp-toroplus-2.1.2-SPRINT.img
For Linux:
GSM
./fastboot-linux flash recovery optimus_prime-touch-v5.5.0.4-6-GSM.img
Verizon
./fastboot-linux flash recovery optimus_prime-touch-v5.5.0.4-6-toro-VERIZON.img
Sprint
./fastboot-linux flash recovery twrp-toroplus-2.1.2-SPRINT.img
Step 8. Once flashing is complete you will need to reboot your device and then using the USB cable, connect it to your PC. Select t the ‘CWM-SuperSU-v0.87.zip’ file then copy to your Galaxy Nexus internal storage.
Step 9. Once you have double checked it has saved to your devices internal storage you can reboot your device into Recovery. To achieve this, once again remove the back cover and take out the battery than re insert it. Then hold down the ‘Volume Up’ + ‘Volume Down’ + ‘Power’ buttons simultaneously. You will see the ‘LOCKED STATE – UNLOCKED’ this time.
Step 10. Using the volume buttons to navigate, select ‘Recovery Mode’ then confirm by pressing the ‘Power’ button. For GSM and Verizon users this will take you to ClockworkMod Recovery and TWRP Recovery for Sprint users.
Step 11. The next few steps are for GSM and Verizon Galaxy Nexus (Sprint users can skip forward to step 13). Navigate through the following ‘Install zip from sdcard’ > ‘choose zip from sdcard’ > ‘CWM-SuperSU-v0.87.zip’ .
Step 12. A message will appear advising you that you have successfully installed SuperSU.
Step 13. For Sprint users select ‘Install’ then ‘CWM-SuperSU-v0.87.zip’.
Step 14. Then simply swipe to install. You should then be presented with a message telling you that you have been successful.
Step 15. Finally reboot your device.
Now that your device is rooted, you can instantly download rooted apps. Furthermore, you may be interested in checking our custom ROMs.