Last Updated on May 13, 2023 by Mathew Diekhake

Most of the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone can now be rooted by using the CF-Auto-Root tool. Chainfire develops the CF-Auto-Root tool, and he has been developing these files for many Android versions now. Often they need updating to work on newer versions of Android, but Chainfire does a terrific job of making that happening.

It does not matter what tool you decide to use to become the root user on the Android operating system if all you want to do is install applications that need root access before they run. All of the tools grant the same amount of root access to the apps so there isn’t one app that will work and one that won’t work depending on the way you got the root access. However, there is a difference with customizing your mobile device in general and the way you go about getting root access.

A one-click rooting tool like the CF-Auto-Root tool gets root access without you need to do anything on the device. However, if you go the other route and decide to get root access by flashing the SuperSU manually, you can only get that done if you have installed a custom recovery image on the device first. Many people want to have a custom recovery like TWRP installed because they want to install new ROMs and new kernels and it is required before those things are possible. On the other hand, many people do not want those things and only want the root apps. That is how people make their decisions with what route they will decide to get root access with if there comes a time when you have the chance to choose between the two methods.

Notes:

  • Chainfire was using the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900MD smartphone running on the MMB29M.G900MDUBU1CPG1 firmware build number when he developed the version of the CF-Auto-Root tool that is available in this guide. It does not mean you need to be running that same firmware; that is not what he is suggesting when he hands over that information. You can just use it as an indicator when it becomes relevant information—if at all.
  • You can send Chainfire a message by using the CF-Auto-root tool thread at the XDA-Developers website of you are using the guide and the rooting file is not working. You know it is not working and needs updating if you use it and your smartphone does not boot after you flash the file.
  • The message that you send needs to contain the recovery image file from the firmware that is running on your phone because he uses that file to update the rooting file os that it starts working again.
  • You need to have the SM-G900MD model numbered variant of the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone to use this guide. If you try flashing the rooting file in this guide on any other model number it bricks the device and requires a new stock ROM to be flashed on the phone before it works again.
  • You need a computer that is running on a version of the WInwows operating system to follow this guide. Using another operating system will not run the Odin flashing application, and thus the flashing cannot happen.

Download Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900MD CF-Auto-Root and Drivers

How to Root Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900MD on Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) Using CF-Auto-Root

  1. Unlock the Developer Options menu on the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900MD smartphone so you can use the set of options that are available to developers.
  2. Enable the USB Debugging Mode on the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900MD smartphone from that same Developer Options menu that you had just unlocked so the Android software lets you make changes to it.
  3. Extract the rooting file on the computer to the Downloads folder so that you can then use the flashable version of the rooting file and the Odin flashing tool application.
  4. Install the Samsung USB Drivers on the computer you are using with the flashing tool so that your Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone can be detected by that flashing tool.
  5. Boot the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900MD smartphone into the Download Mode and connect it to the computer with the USB cable.
  6. Run the Odin flashing tool by clicking on its file that is available inside the Downloads folder so that the flashing tool user interface opens up.
  7. Check that Odin is showing a blue or yellow ID: COM port and gives the added message from the Log entry, so you know the smartphone is ready for the flashing and that the Samsung USB Drivers are working.
  8. Do not make changes from the default settings that Odin presents to you from the Odin Options tab next to the Log or you might lose data.
  9. Click on the AP button and then navigate to the Downloads folder and click on the rooting file that is there so that it uploads to the Odin.
  10. Click on the Start button from the Odin app user interface for it to now start rooting the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900MD smartphone.
  11. Look at the display of the smartphone and read everything that is rolling down the screen as it is happening so you now what to expect over the next few minutes.
  12. Wait until the display of the smartphone says that the phone is going to reboot in ten seconds and then check that the Odin flashing app user interface shows a pass message inside a green box.

In conclusion, that is how to root the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900MD smartphones running on the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow software updates by flashing the CF-Auto-Root tool by Chainfire. That is all you need to have installed and enabled the SuperSU on the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone so you can start installing the root applications. The SuperSU app is now an app on the device and found somewhere around where you would expect to find new apps. You can open it up and check out the settings, but none of them need adjusting before you can start installing the root applications that you wanted to try. You can open up the Google Play Store or your preferred web browser and find the apps you want. Once you find them, download them as usually and then go to open the. You then get a message on the phone’s display making you confirm you do want to give the app root access. Once you do that, it officially has access to the root file system and can run just like any other app.

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