Last Updated on May 13, 2023 by Mathew Diekhake

You can often find two ways to get root access to the lower levels of the system on smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 handset. The people who want to start installing custom ROMs and have root access on the ROMs that don’t come preinstalled with root access want to get root access by installing a custom recovery image and then finding a version of the SuperSU that works and flash it from the custom recovery partition. The other way that makes more sense for people who are only interested in installing root applications is by leaving the stock recovery partition the same and just using a one-click rooting tool like CF-Auto-Root.

The CF-Auto-Root tool is made by the same developer (Chainfire) as the guy who develops all versions of the SuperSU app. Both methods of getting root access result in SuperSU being installed and enabled on the smartphone so that you can start installing any of the root applications that need permissions granted by the root user account before they can run.

The CF-Auto-Root tool works by installing Odin on the computer (Samsung’s routine flashing app) and then when you flash it the program installs a modified cache and modified recovery which the allows for the installations and enabling of the SuperSU app. That is why you cannot just install the SuperSU app from the Google Play Store and expect for it to give you root access. Most of the work in these tools such as CF-Auto-Root are about getting it enabled on the device correctly.

At the end of the day, it does not matter what way you choose to get root access on the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone if all you are doing is wanting root apps; both end up with the chance to install the same root apps. The difference is what else you wanted to install to help enhance your customizing experiences such as custom ROMs or kernels. You cannot do those things by using the CF-Auto-Root tool.

Notes:

  • Chainfire had the MMB29M.G906KKTU1CPF2 firmware build number running on the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G906K smartphone when he managed to develop the version of the rooting file that you are about to flash this guide. When he lets you know the firmware he was running he is not suggesting you need to be running on the same. You can use it as an indicator if it ever becomes relevant information for you to do so.
  • There is a thread set up for the XDA-Developers web forum made for the CF-Auto-Root tool that you are about to flash using the Odin flashing tool. You can use that forum thread to write message and Chainfire can see them. Most people leave messages when they flash a rooting file, and the device does not boot afterward because those are the times when the rooting files need updating, so they start working again.
  • You need to use the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone that has the SM-G906K model number before you flash the rooting file in this guide. The rooting files for the CF-Auto-root tool are only made for one model number each and flashing the wrong ones often results in that device that you flashed it on getting bricked.
  • You need to have a computer that is running on a version of the Windows operating system if you are going to be able to use this guide because the Odin flashing application only runs on a Windows environment. Any of the other operating systems cannot get the flashing tool working and thus the flashing of the rooting file will not work on them either.

Download Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G906K CF-Auto-Root and Drivers

How to Root Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G906K on Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) Using CF-Auto-Root

  1. Unlock the Developer Options menu on the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G906K smartphone so you can use the options that are available to developers from the menu.
  2. Turn on the USB Debugging Mode on the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G906K phone so you can make the changes you need to make from the Android software which then allows for the rooting of the operating system to work.
  3. Install the Samsung USB Drivers on the computer before you get started with the flashing of the rooting file so that your device can be detected by the flashing tool.
  4. Extract the rooting file to the Downloads folder that is the default folder for your downloads on the computer, and then you get to see the flashable version of the rooting file and the flashing tool executable file.
  5. Run the Odin flashing tool application by clicking on that executable file that is available from the Downloads folder.
  6. Boot the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G906K smartphone into the Download Mode and then connect it to the computer with the USB cable that is used for charging the battery.
  7. Check that Odin is showing you a color coming from the ID: COM port and the added message is appearing, so you know that the Samsung USB Drivers are working and the smartphone is ready for the flashing.
  8. Don’t make any changes from the Options tab on the Odin user interface or you might end up losing data.
  9. Click on the AP button and then browse to the Downloads folder and click on the rooting file so that it uploads to the Odin.
  10. Click on the Start button when you are ready to get the rooting file flashed onto the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G906K smartphone and the rooting then begins.
  11. Read the writing that is rolling down the display as the smartphone gets rooted, so you know what to expect and what is happening.
  12. Wait until the screen of the smartphone tells you that it is going to reboot the phone in ten seconds and then check that Odin shows a pass message inside a green box.

In conclusion, that is all you need to root the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G906K smartphone running on the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow software updates by flashing the CF-Auto-root tool by Chainfire. You know the rooting worked when you get the same pass message from the Odin user interface; if it did not pass then, it would give the fail message instead. The passing of the rooting means that you now have new apps called SuperSU on the smartphone. That is the application that you always need on the smartphone if you are going to continue to have root access. You do not need to make any changes from the SuperSU app because it has already been installed and enabled correctly during the rooting process. All you need to do is head over the Google Play Store or a web browser and find the root apps that you wanted to run. Once you download and install the root apps, run them and then accept giving them root access when you get to the message for that on the display of the smartphone.

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