Samsung fans will still believe the Sammy S6 is the best smartphone out there today — that’s understandable. While that might be true, it’s still awesome to crack and hack open the system internals with root access so you can get back to installing your custom ROMs. Samsung are one of the worst culprits for what we like to refer to as “bloatware” whereby you are exposed to umpteen stock apps available. Of course, there’s much more appeal to gaining root access on the Samsung Galaxy S6 apart from installing custom ROMs. You might like to overclock the CPU, increase the battery lifetime, install Google Play apps for root-only devices and more.

As you probably know, Sammy continually pushs out software updates based on Android Lollipop for months and this latest version of 5.1.1 Lollipop is no different. If you have installed the software update, you won’t have root access anymore because flashing firmware always revokes the root access. You need to look up the guide for the new software update and how to root it instead. The reason for that is because the old exploit you used last time probably is patched — like is the case with this latest S6 5.1.1 update.

Samsung Galaxy S6

The following guide to root UVU2COF6 firmware is a new custom kernel complete with Team Win’s TWRP custom recovery image. It’s a unique guide that we have tested and we do know it does officially work.

As usual, it’s time to quickly run through tasks before you begin the guide. Start by backing up the data and syncing your Google contacts with Gmail accounts. You can get access to this account from any computer later and see where your contacts are. If there’s something you don’t want to risk losing it’s probably your contacts for most people. Most other aspects can be backed up from third-party applications available from Google Play. We are still recommending the Helium app for Android for those looking to back up the apps and other data.

You should be an advanced Android user to follow this guide so you don’t get stuck in a boot loop and don’t know what to do. Most of the time that requires flashing official stock software updates again using Odin or Samsung Kies.

Downloading the Samsung Kies Mini file from above will also be your gateway to installing the correct Samsung USB Drivers from the menu. It won’t automatically install them for you, but if you open up the Kies utility after downloading, you’ll see the option from the menu inside. Moreover, most problems during the guide will be a result of not having the up to date USB drivers. Therefore, download the drivers, reboot your Windows PC and start the guide again to see if that’s the solution. Those with boot loop or obvious problems will be better off looking toward unbrick guides. The word “brick” gets thrown around very loosely these days and pretty much refers to any problem that you don’t want to have. If you hear the word “soft” in front of the brick then it means you are capable of fixing it. If you hear the word “hard” it means you can throw that device in the trash.

How to Root the Samsung Galaxy S5 G920T running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and UVU2COF6 firmware

  1. Make sure you head to the About Device section of your smartphone and double-check you have the correct model number.
  2. Enable the USB Debugging Mode from inside the Settings app. Those without the Developer Options menu must unlock it. Do that now by tapping the firmware build number close to ten times until it tells you on the display that you’ve unlocked the new menu. You’ll see it available from the Settings.
  3. Download the new rooting kernel here.
  4. Download Odin 3.09 version from our page here. You’ll find the link at the bottom of the page. Once you have the file, come back here and continue this guide.
  5. Extract the rooting file to the desktop. You’ll need to download software to unzip files if you haven’t already. I’m using WinRAR. With WinRAR, right click over the file and choose the “extract here” option. Others such as 7 zip will vary slightly.
  6. Extract the Odin tool just like you did the rooting tool, only this time you want to double-click and run the executable Odin file so the program starts running on the desktop.
  7. Completely Power off the S6 smartphone. Boot it up in Download Mode. Hold in the Home + Power + Volume Down keys together and the display will change.
  8. Release the three button combination and press the Volume Up key and you’ll enter the download mode we are after.
  9. Connect the S6 to the same Windows computer where you have Odin and the rooting file.
  10. Watch the Odin ID: COM port change color. If it doesn’t do that, you probably need the USB drivers.
  11. Click the AP button (formally known as PDA in older versions) and upload the rooting kernel from the desktop.
  12. Leave the default Settings the same.
  13. Click the Start button and wait for the flashing to finish before unplugging and taking control of your Google account once more.

Download the root checker app from Google Play now and it will let you know how things went. If you are interested in future reading about all things rooting, try out this post regarding what things you can do with a rooted Android.