Last Updated on July 20, 2022 by Mathew Diekhake
Android has some lovely software versions, including KitKat, Lollipop and now the Android M software. Each of those requires a unique rooting method because the folks out of Mountain View patches the past exploits that were once used. These exploits can last for years, depending on what Android smartphone or tablet we are talking about. Ironically, the Google Nexus devices that they treats as though it’s a cardinal sin to do anything but root, are often the ones to find the most patches issued by Google developers. Sure, they could do it to give us something extra to do or they might genuinely go against their words when they say they don’t care about hackers.
Whatever your view, the latest Android M Developers Preview 2 with the build number of MPZ79M is now available and ready to root thanks to a rather complicated method using a new kernel, SuperSU (in its beta stages) and flashing a custom recovery (TWRP) so you can flash a custom ROM.
There are several reasons as to why one might want to root the newest Developer Preview, even though the Android M software update is surely new enough to satisfy most cravings. People might want to check out which custom ROMs are currently up for grabs on the latest software version. Additionally, they might want to check which root-only apps are working. Then there’s the third-party developers among you who have to make sure all the development work with the next Android software update. It’s a trying time for everybody.
The Android M Developer Preview is now up for grabs to download for those interested in installing Android’s very latest version of operating system that will eventually come out for a proper release later this year. Many people created guides for rooting the new Android M but they didn’t work and left many people stuck in an infinite boot loop they couldn’t get out of unless they flashes recovery. Users need not fret anymore, though, as a new rooting method is made available with SuperSU again and a new Despair kernel that is installed over the SuperSU. The name despair, isn’t since that’s how most people were left after the latest installment of SuperSU but rather because the third-party developer from XDA Developers who made the rooting method work is called the Despair Factor.
You should understand that following this guide is just like following most other rooting guides and does void the warranty. We know Google employees root their devices too (because we see them on our site!), but that doesn’t mean they allow it for a warranty. The OEMs also won’t allow it regardless on what Google and Android thinks.
You should consider installing Android M Developer Preview before starting this guide. We know this rooting guide works on Android M and we assume it will work on Lollipop and KitKat too, however, none of that is proven. Furthermore, the current exploit may be patched in future so it’s best to learn how to root the next Android ROM using a dedicated guide instead of this one.
Those we want to learn more about what to do after installing and rooting the Developer Preview can read what things to do on a rooted Android. The page includes our takes on custom ROMs, overlocking, flashing a custom recovery and more.
Correspondingly, you need to flash TWRP Recovery before starting this guide. You must enter that same custom recovery image and flash the two files during the guide from inside the TWRP Recovery mode.
Details of Note
- Before starting, it’s best practice to back up the data. Using the guide below does not delete data automatically. However, sometimes people find themselves attending to soft-brick scenarios, and if that does happen to you, you will probably wish for a factory reset. It’s the factory resets — otherwise known as hard resets — which do wipe the data. Therefore, if you backup now using a trusty application such as Helium for Android you won’t have anything to worry about later.
- You ought to unlock the Developer Options menu if it is not displaying from the main Settings menu already. You do that by tapping over the build number seven times. That part’s easy enough. Now come back to thew Settings yet again and you’ll find a new menu, namely the Developer Options.
- Enter the Developer Options list and allow permissions for the USB Debugging Mode. It’s that mode, which enables your smartphone or tablet connection to the computer.
- Speaking of computers, you must use a Windows computer or PC to follow this guide. The files we are using during the guide are not made for any other operating system. Do not try this guide using Mac or Linux.
How to root the Google Nexus 9 on the Android M Developer Preview 2 with build number MPZ79M
- Download and set up the Android SDK from the official developers page here.
- Download the fastboot and ADB drivers by learning how to set up ADB on Windows three different ways.
- Download SuperSU 2.49 (beta).
- Download the ElementalX kernel here.
- Download Team Win’s TWRP Recovery that works for your Nexus device.
- Transfer the TWRP recovery to the same folder that has your fastboot and ADB.
- Connect the Nexus 9 to the same Windows computer that you downloaded the files to and transfer both files to the internal SD card. Both packages should still be zipped and not unzipped.
- Open the folder that contains the fastboot, ADB and the TWRP recovery image and look for an empty white space where there is no file. Right-click the mouse and hold down the Shift key to find a new menu popping out. You want to choose the option for opening the command prompt windows here. Now you’re all set to start typing commands.
- Type the command: “fastboot flash recovery twrp-2.8.7.0-flounder.img”.
- Your device will now boot to the fastboot menu where you should find the Recovery option as one of the options from the display.
- Choose to enter the recovery mode now.
- Now that you are in the custom recovery, it’s time to flash the files.
- Browse to the “install” option from the custom recovery menu and browse the internal storage SD card for the ElementalX zip file and upload it.
- Once done, choose the “install” option once again and this time upload the SuperSU beta variant.
- Go back to the main recovery menu and tap on the “reboot system” option.
Your device will reboot to normal mode and you’ll have the custom recovery and root access to the Android M Developer Preview 2. Those who would like to try the root checker application can do so by using the link dropped in the sentence. It is the shortest way to learn if the guide worked for you.
If you are in need of some troubling for the Nexus 9, boot your device into the recovery mode and try wiping the cache partition, as well as the other caching options. If that didn’t work, it’s best to apply a reset. But remember: you must backup taking a NANDroid backup first otherwise you lose the data.