Last Updated on July 17, 2022 by Mathew Diekhake

There are many reasons as to why people root the Android operating system, and some of those reasons can come with a paradox or two. Ask people why they root Android and they might tell you to remove system apps to increase the performance. Ask another person and they might say so they can install more apps. It is true that apps — whether you want to delete or install more — play a major role in why people root the Android operating system. Apps are the primary reason for many, and if anyone is choosing to root the Android OS for a different reason, it is usually so they can install a custom recovery and find some aftermarket ROMs to install over the stock ROM. You do not need a custom recovery to start installing your root apps like the Titanium Backup or Triangle Away app, but you will need root and a recovery if you are wanting to start installing some custom ROMs like what the CyanogenMod team have been working on lately.

Getting back to basics, removing the system apps is what you want if you want to keep the stock ROM but have it completely debloated so your battery lasts longer, and the hardware can offer you better performance. There are a few ways in which one can remove the system apps. The way I usually do it is by using the Titanium Backup app, but the other viable way is to install the dedicated System App Remover application. Both offer you the chance to remove all system apps. Titanium is great because it provides you backing up and removal of apps you do not want all on the one app, so you do not have to use up additional storage space in another app to do two jobs. The Titanium app gives users the option to free apps and not completely uninstall them, which means you do not have to have excellent knowledge with which apps can be removed. Only freeze them instead and if your system is not responding well, unfreeze them again and remember you need to have that one running. The only catch is the free version of the Titanium Backup app is what you can use to uninstall while the paid version is the only way to freeze apps.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

The CF-Auto-Root file in this guide is based on the LRX21V.N9007ZHU3APC2 firmware which is part of an Android 5.0 Lollipop software update for some regions around the world. It does not mean you need to flash the LRX21V.N9007ZHU3APC2 firmware on your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 device at all. It is just there for you to use as an indicator. Some of the older Samsung devices do not boot old images.

Files You Need

  • Download the newer CF-Auto-Root tool for the Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9007 running Android 5.0 Lollipop from here.
  • Download the Samsung USB Drivers for the Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9007 phone on the computer from here.

There will be some Android software updates for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9007 that bring new bootloader with them along for the ride. The bootloaders are usually only going to come with larger Android updates that update the device to new numbers like the jump from Android 4.4.4 KitKat to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Anyhow, if a new bootloader is present, Chainfire needs to apply updates to the files before they start to work for users. Common issues people face with a file that has not yet been updated by Chainfire include getting a device that does not boot after the flashing and getting a device that will not flash the file to begin. To fix these issues, Chainfire relies on people submitting the new recovery image that comes with the new firmware files that were part of the software updates that causes the issues. You can give him what he wants by submitting the updated recovery image to the official CF-Auto-Root thread made by Chainfire that sits on the XDA-Developers website. He will see your message and apply the necessary changes to get the rooting tool working again. Those changes that Chainfire makes will be automatically reflected in our guides so you do not have to worry about ours not being up to date. Our files are linking directly to Chainfire, so the updates are available as soon as Chainfire applies the updates.
Android 5.0 Lollipop

Rooting the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9007 running on the Android 5.0 Lollipop software updates

  1. The rooting exploit in this guide is for the htdltezh version of the SM-N9007 device. Do not flash it on the htdltedi version or else it will brick the device.
  2. Enable the USB Debugging Mode from your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 smartphone so it can connect to the computer during the guide and use the flashing tool without any problems.
  3. Extract the rooting package to the desktop of the computer so you can see the flashing tool and the rooting exploit you are going to use.
  4. Install the Samsung USB Drivers on the computer so your Note 3 handset can be detected by the flashing tool.
  5. Boot the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9007 phone into the download mode and then connect it to the computer running Windows with the USB cable you would usually use to charge the battery.
  6. Wait for some seconds for the drivers to start working and then check the Odin flashing tool’s user interface for the yellow or blue ID: COM port letting you know that the drivers are now working.
  7. Do not adjust any of the default settings from the Odin user interface after you open the flashing tool on your computer for the first time.
  8. Click the AP button from the Odin user interface and the browse the desktop location for the updated version of the CF-Auto-Root application.
  9. Click the Start button from the Odin user interface and the rooting of the Note 3 smartphone swill begin.
  10. After a few seconds, check the display of your smartphone for some text rolling down the screen that says it is installing the SuperSU application, cleaning up the cache partition and then flashing the stock recovery.
  11. Look back up at the display of the computer for the “pass” message coming from a green box which is letting you know that your device is now rooted, and the guide worked.

In conclusion, that is how to root the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 smartphone running on the Android 5.0 Lollipop software update by using an updated versions of the CF-Auto-Root tool by Chainfire. The guide will work for all of the SM-N9007 model number running on the Android 5.0 Lollipop updates. Check if your Note 3 is rooted correctly by installing the root checker application from Google’s Play Store app on your smartphone once it reboots back into the normal mode.

There will be a few people who are suffering from some issues, and they can be fixed with some common troubleshooting techniques. The first thing you should try is using another version of the Odin flashing application because some people are reporting the CF-Auto-Root tool flashing for some devices on a particular version of the Odin flashing tool while other devices will not flash on that version. You can try installing an older version of the Odin flashing tool and seeing if that fixed your problem. Another common problem that arises with the CF-Auto-Root tool is from devices not getting into the recovery mode after the flashing completes. The developer of the rooting method states that each Samsung device must get into the recovery mode after the flashing or else you cannot expect that device to be rooted. Seeing a device get into the recovery mode is hard because the flashing happens so quickly. However, try booting into the recovery mode after the flashing manually just in case that is your problem.