Last Updated on May 13, 2023 by Mathew Diekhake

Here is everything that you need to root the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 smartphone that comes with the SM-A710F model number running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software updates by using the CF-Auto-Root tool.

Chainfire always bases the rooting exploit on a build number for each device, and that ends up being the build number that he was running on his device at the time of rooting the device. For the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 SM-A710F smartphone, that ended up being the LMY47X.A710FXXU1AOLF firmware build number. You do not need to be running that same firmware build number on your Galaxy A7 smartphone before you start with the guide below. That information is given to us just in case we need to work out roughly how old the string method is because some of the Samsung smartphones will not boot all images.

galaxy-a7-2016-783838

Files You Need

  • Download the CF-Auto-Root tool for the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 SM-A710F smartphone when it is running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software updates from here.
  • Download the Samsung USB Drivers for the Windows computer from here.

Notes:

  • You can only flash the rooting package found in this guide on the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 smartphone with the SM-A710F model number or else you risk bricking the device. In fact, the chances of you bricking the device by flashing the file on another model number are very high, so make sure you double-check you have the right one before starting. You can find out the model number of your A7 handset by tapping on the Menu > Settings > About Device > Model Number.
  • You must have a computer that is running Windows to follow this guide or else the flashing tool not works. The reason being that the flashing tool is made to work on Windows only, and therefore any other operating system such as macOS or Linux does not run.
  • The following guide works for the second generation Samsung Galaxy A7 smartphone when it is running on any versions of the Android 5.1.1 software update regardless of the exact firmware build number. However, there may be some Android Software updates that roll out over the air that brings new bootloaders with them, and the new bootloaders can cause the files to stop working temporarily until the developer updates them. These cases are very rare in our guides because usually the new bootloaders come with new versions of Android, and since we only recommend following this for Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, there is no new version of Android here. However, that does not mean it is impossible. For Chainfire to be able to update the files so that they are working again, he relies on people to submit the recovery image files found in the new firmware that is causing the issues to the official CF-Auto-Root thread made over at the XDA-Developers website. Chainfire sees your messages, and he uses the files you leave to work his magic on the rooting scripts. As soon as he updates the files, the changes will be automatically reflected in our guides because we link directly to the Chainfire rooting repository pages.

Rooting the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 SM-A710F running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software updates

  1. Unlock the Developer Options menu on the second generation Samsung Galaxy A7 smartphone os you can use the set of options available inside.
  2. Enable the USB Debugging Mode option from the second generation Samsung Galaxy S7 Developer Options menu that you just unlocked, and it then allows for you to make changes to the software when it is plugged into the computer with the USB cable.
  3. Extract the rooting file to the desktop of the computer so you can see the CF-Auto-Root tool executable and the Odin flashing application on the desktop.
  4. Run the Samsung USB Drivers on the Windows computer so that when you do connect the second generation Galaxy A7 to the computer with the USB cable it will be detected by the Odin flashing application and allow for the rooting it happens.
  5. Boot the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 smartphone into the download mode that is available on the smartphone and then connect it to the computer with the USB cable that you usually use to charge the battery.
  6. Double-click on the Odin flashing tool’s executable file that is on the desktop and the flashing tool opens so you can see the user interface and all of its buttons.
  7. Check that you can see a yellow or even blue color coming from the Odin flashing tool ID: COM port which is visible on the top left side of the box.
  8. Check that you get the “added” message from the Odin application on the computer also. (Both the added message and the color coming from the ID: COM are both letting you know that your device is connected securely. The drivers will not be working if you have not installed them yet or if you are not logged into the computer using an administrators account. Those who are still unable to get the drivers working can try installing the universal Windows ADB Driver from Koushik Dutta, and that acts as the Samsung USB Driver instead. However, try the official Samsung drivers first, because they are compatible with more versions of Windows and has a higher success rate of operating on your computer).
  9. Do not make any changes from the default settings you get from the Odin application on the computer or else you might have data deleted from your phone or something worse.
  10. Click the AP button from the Odin flashing application once you have the phone connected and then browse through to the desktop location and upload the CF-Auto-Root tool file that is ending in the tar.md5 file extension.
  11. Click the Start button from the Odin flashing applications and the rooting begins.
  12. Wait until you get a message displaying on the phone that says it is about to reboot in ten seconds.
  13. Check that you then get a pass message inside a green box from the Odin application user interface on the computer.

In conclusion, that is how to root the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 SM-A710F smartphone running on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software updates by using the traditional versions of the CF-AUto-Root tool by Chainfire. The versions of the rooting exploit for Lollipop still modifies the /system partition and requires a new recovery made by Chainfire to flashed which then allows for the SuperSU to be enabled and installed. Once that is done, Chainfire’s brilliance then removes his recovery and reflashes the stock recovery, so your device never knew anything happened. The result is you being the root user with the SuperSu application being available to form the app drawer. Not only that but it is enabled correctly and allows you to run now any of the apps that require you to be a root user. All of that is done while you still have a stock recovery but you can also choose to flash a custom recovery now if you wish. You should find versions of TWRP Recovery available of the Samsung Galaxy A7 smartphone sooner or later.

CF-Auto-Root on XDA-Developers

Chainfire, the developer of the CF-Auto-Root tool available in this guide, has created a CF-Auto-Root tool thread on the XDA-Develoeprs website. You can use the CF-Auto-Root thread on the XDA-Developers site for requesting new root methods for devices that are not currently available.

Encryption

Note that flashing a CF-Auto-Root file (regardless of the device) wipes the data if the device storage is encrypted. For everyone else, there should be no data loss when rooting with the CF-Auto-Root tool.

Samsung’s Knox security

Some smartphones and tablets in the Samsung range come with Samsung’s Knox security. The CF-Auto-Root tool trips Knox which prevents you from unrooting and using the warranty again.

Flash counters

Any device with a target flash counter is triggered when using the CF-Auto-Root tool. Chainfire’s Triangle Away supports many devices for this problem.