Develop Bugs

How to Root Galaxy S3 on Mac OSX! U.S./Canadian

Here's how to root your Samsung Galaxy S3. This is ONLY work for U.S or Canadian Galaxy S3. DO NOT TRY ON INTERNATIONAL!
I have tested this process and works flawlessly.
Note: This will only root your phone, it will NOT install ClockworkMod Recovery. If you want ClockworkMod Recovery 1st root your phone and then flash ClocworkMod Recovery using ROM Manager
Download Links & Step by Step Guide: http://ultimatedroid.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-root-galaxy-s3-on-mac-osx.html
Credits:
Zedomax - For the tool!
sparkym3 - For finding the exploit!
As of this post it has only been confirmed working on ICS, I have not tested it on Jelly Bean. I will be testing it on Jelly Bean when it is official released.
Enjoy!!

I thought I was either stuck waiting for the next Heimdall update or I was gonna have to pay someone to root my phone, but I found this link yesterday completely by accident. Worked perfectly for me on OS X Lion. Rooted at last!

Does anybody use this method? Seems pretty easy way to root if you have a Mac...

It works fast and painless. But doesnt seem to work with 4.1.1 which I got an OTA of and lost root. So Im looking for another script method because Heimdall wouldnt work for me. Im going to give it another shot now that Kies is gone maybe it wil work now.

Did it work?

Confirmed. Working. Doesn't seem malicious, either. I also used Triangle Away to flash my counter back to 0 to make it look original

Does this method work with jellybean?
Edit: it doesn't work for jellybean
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

can somebody confirm if this works for 4.1.1 I want to root but afraid that it may not work. Also, on another site they mention about drivers do we have to download something extra for this to work?

I am currently trying to root 4.1 as well with alecsharp over here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2068353
The more help the better I say.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

Any idea what I'm doing wrong? I keep getting this error:
waiting... If you get stuck here, try another USB port.
Start Rooting...
failed to copy 'debugfs' to '/data/local/': Is a directory
failed to copy 'su' to '/data/local/': Is a directory
failed to copy 'debugfsinput' to '/data/local/': Is a directory
failed on /data/local/tmp.bak - Not a directory
link failed Not a directory
reboot #1 - DO NOT DISCONNECT YOUR DEVICE!
Unable to chmod /data/local/debugfs: Not a directory
/system/bin/sh: can't open /data/local/debugfsinput: Not a directory
rm failed for /data/local/tmp, Not a directory
failed on /data/local/tmp - Not a directory
rm failed for /data/local/su, Not a directory
rm failed for /data/local/debugfs, Not a directory
rm failed for /data/local/debugfsinput, Not a directory
reboot #2 - DO NOT DISCONNECT YOUR DEVICE!
All Done rooting Galaxy S3, install SuperUser or SuperSU app from Play Store to get full root!
RootMac.sh: line 40: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `"'
RootMac.sh: line 42: syntax error: unexpected end of file
Winston-OBoogie:GalaxyS3RootUSCanadaMac Coco$

Different Firmware- can I still root?

I would like to root My LT18i Xperia Arc S, just so I can get rid of the bloatware, although if I could upgrade to ICS as well then that would be cool. I've found loads of instructions on how to root, but none for my firmware version, which is 4.0.2.C.0.5. The phone is locked to Three (a UK network operator). A lot of the instructions talk of downgrading the firmware from various versions to 4.0.2.A.0.42, and then rooting from there, although none list my particular firmware. Is this method possible for my firmware version? If it's not and I try anyway will I wreck my phone? I'd like to be as sure as possible before I start. My boot loader is locked.
Thank you.

timswait said:
I would like to root My LT18i Xperia Arc S, just so I can get rid of the bloatware, although if I could upgrade to ICS as well then that would be cool. I've found loads of instructions on how to root, but none for my firmware version, which is 4.0.2.C.0.5. The phone is locked to Three (a UK network operator). A lot of the instructions talk of downgrading the firmware from various versions to 4.0.2.A.0.42, and then rooting from there, although none list my particular firmware. Is this method possible for my firmware version? If it's not and I try anyway will I wreck my phone? I'd like to be as sure as possible before I start. My boot loader is locked.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you run SEUS or PC Companion at all? There's been 5 FW releases since then according to Wotan Server.

From what I have heard, the regular root method for GB, 4.0.2.A.0.58 and lower, should work also on 4.0.2.C.0.5 firmware. Give it a try, you got nothing to lose there.

OK, so I really am a total numpty, I was assuming that all updates could come OTA, and because I didn't have any updates available when I checked on the phone I must have the latest version, I hadn't realised that updating it from a PC did a full update. :silly:
So I'm now updated to ICS, although in a way my original question remains... Now my build number is 4.1.L.0.8, so can I follow the root guides for 4.1.A.0.562, for example the guide here: androidauthority.com/xperia-arc-s-lt18i-root-android-4-0-ics-80266 ? And equally importantly, if I try to follow the guide and it doesn't work on my firmware will it simply do nothing, or will it wreck the phone?
Thank you guys, I thought I had done a lot of reading up on rooting and flashing and unlocking boot loaders, but missed the obvious and a simple comment like "Have you tried SEUS" can make all the difference!

timswait said:
OK, so I really am a total numpty, I was assuming that all updates could come OTA, and because I didn't have any updates available when I checked on the phone I must have the latest version, I hadn't realised that updating it from a PC did a full update. :silly:
So I'm now updated to ICS, although in a way my original question remains... Now my build number is 4.1.L.0.8, so can I follow the root guides for 4.1.A.0.562, for example the guide here: androidauthority.com/xperia-arc-s-lt18i-root-android-4-0-ics-80266 ? And equally importantly, if I try to follow the guide and it doesn't work on my firmware will it simply do nothing, or will it wreck the phone?
Thank you guys, I thought I had done a lot of reading up on rooting and flashing and unlocking boot loaders, but missed the obvious and a simple comment like "Have you tried SEUS" can make all the difference!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it doesnt work, your phone should be fine. But that also means that you've been doing something wrong. Give it a go
Sent from Xperia Arc S

I followed the instructions here for rooting:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1601038&nocache=1
It seemed to go through all the stages, the phone rebooted several times and it came up "All done" at the end. The good news is that the phone still works fine, the bad news is that it doesn't seem to be rooted. I've installed Titanium Backup and it comes up with "could not acquire root privileges, please check that your phone is rooted", so I assume this means it hasn't worked? Is there any other way to see if it's rooted? This is the output from running the rooting batch script:
Code:
--- STARTING ----
--- WAITING FOR DEVICE
* daemon not running. starting it now *
* daemon started successfully *
--- creating temporary directory
mkdir failed for tmp, File exists
--- cleaning
rm failed for *, No such file or directory
--- symlinking tmp directory
failed on '/data/local/tmp' - Permission denied
link failed File exists
--- Rebooting
--- WAITING FOR DEVICE TO RECONNECT
--- PLEASE WAIT, THIS MAY TAKE A WHILE
if it gets stuck over here for a long time then try:
disconnect usb cable and reconnect it
toggle "USB DEBUGGING" (first disable it then enable it)
--- DEVICE FOUND
--- enabling emulator hack
/system/bin/sh: cannot create /data/local.prop: Permission denied
--- Rebooting
--- WAITING FOR DEVICE TO RECONNECT
--- PLEASE WAIT, THIS MAY TAKE A WHILE
if it gets stuck over here for a long time then try:
disconnect usb cable and reconnect it
toggle "USB DEBUGGING" (first disable it then enable it)
--- DEVICE FOUND
--- pushing busybox
3059 KB/s (1075144 bytes in 0.343s)
--- correcting permissions
--- remounting /system
mount: permission denied (are you root?)
--- checking free space on /system
0 KB/s (439 bytes in 1.000s)
--- Free space on /system : 56068 bytes
--- no cleanup required
--- copying busybox to /system/xbin/
/system/xbin/busybox: cannot open for write: Read-only file system
--- correcting ownership
Unable to chmod /system/xbin/busybox: No such file or directory
--- correcting permissions
Unable to chmod /system/xbin/busybox: No such file or directory
--- installing busybox
/system/bin/sh: /system/xbin/busybox: not found
--- pushing SU binary
failed to copy 'files\su' to '/system/bin/su': Read-only file system
--- correcting ownership
Unable to chmod /system/bin/su: No such file or directory
--- correcting permissions
Unable to chmod /system/bin/su: No such file or directory
--- correcting symlinks
rm failed for /system/xbin/su, Read-only file system
link failed Read-only file system
--- pushing Superuser app
failed to copy 'files\Superuser.apk' to '/system/app/./Superuser.apk': Read-only
file system
--- cleaning
rm failed for /data/local.prop, No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/local/tmp, Permission denied
failed on '/data/local/tmp.bak' - No such file or directory
--- rebooting
ALL DONE!!!
Press any key to continue . . .

There's four links to root threads now in my guide, give them a read.

Thanks, that guide was very useful. I've actually used a combination of the techniques, and it seems to have worked Here's what I did, might be useful to someone, also please if anyone who knows better than me can see any problems then please let me know if I'm going to have problems in the future
1. Backed up my firmware using the instructions from 100rabh791 here:
http://talk.sonymobile.com/message/178992
2. Flashed back to 4.1.A.0.562 Kernel using Nabeel's instructions here:
http://talk.sonymobile.com/thread/41119?start=0&tstart=0
3. Rooted using DooMLoRD's root kit here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1601038
At this point I seemed to have a fully working and rooted phone, however I thought it was best to go back to my original build version (4.1.L.0.8), so I re-flashed my backed up firmware, However this lost my root privileges, so I was back to the start. So I re-did steps 1-3 and then:
4. Re-flashed back to my original firmware, but checked the options "Exclude system", "Exclude baseband", "Exclude Fota" and "Exclude TA" (in other words just left Kernel unchecked).
So as I understand it (which I possibly don't), I should be back on my original, most up to date build version, but now have root access, please correct me if there's anything wrong with what I've done.

timswait said:
So as I understand it (which I possibly don't), I should be back on my original, most up to date build version, but now have root access, please correct me if there's anything wrong with what I've done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice one, doesn't look like you'll have any issues, but the main thing is you've got root. What does it say in your Settings/About Phone/Build Number?

XperienceD said:
Nice one, doesn't look like you'll have any issues, but the main thing is you've got root. What does it say in your Settings/About Phone/Build Number?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4.1.L.0.8 which is what it was on after the official upgrades before I started the rooting process.

ADB not working

Hi, I just got my replacement S3 and I am attempting to root it. I've tried doing it on my own and with toolkits but nothing seems to work.
When putting the phone in debugging mode it technically won't go in. The little jellybean guy no longer shows up on the top and it says connected as a media device but 5 times out of 10 it will show up in ./adb devices.
I am attempting to transfer the root files but every time it gives me permission denied, what can I do?
failed to copy 'debugfs' to '/data/local//debugfs': Permission denied
failed to copy 'su' to '/data/local//su': Permission denied
failed to copy 'debugfsinput' to '/data/local//debugfsinput': Permission denied
failed on '/data/local/tmp' - Permission denied
link failed File exists
reboot #1 - DO NOT DISCONNECT YOUR DEVICE!
Unable to chmod /data/local/debugfs: No such file or directory
/system/bin/sh: can't open /data/local/debugfsinput: No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/local/tmp, Permission denied
failed on '/data/local/tmp.bak' - No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/local/su, No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/local/debugfs, No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/local/debugfsinput, No such file or directory
reboot #2 - DO NOT DISCONNECT YOUR DEVICE!
All Done rooting Galaxy S3, install SuperUser or SuperSU app from Play Store to get full root!
RootMac.sh: line 40: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `"'
RootMac.sh: line 42: syntax error: unexpected end of file

Try uninstalling your Samung USB drivers and installing the most up to date ones instead. If they are up to date try doing that anyway. Also make sure your using your factory cable. And lastly try another USB port on or PC or another PC all together
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

I'm using a mac. Everything worked with the old device

I had trouble with this also. My replacement phone had Jelly Bean.
I just put it into Download mode and flashed a rooted stock ROM instead.

CZ Eddie said:
I had trouble with this also. My replacement phone had Jelly Bean.
I just put it into Download mode and flashed a rooted stock ROM instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tried that but the device doesn't show up in adb in download mode. Why is this so hard? My first phone was a 1-2 thing.

jliehr said:
Just tried that but the device doesn't show up in adb in download mode. Why is this so hard? My first phone was a 1-2 thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are you using ADB in download mode?
Use Odin.

CZ Eddie said:
I had trouble with this also. My replacement phone had Jelly Bean.
I just put it into Download mode and flashed a rooted stock ROM instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CZ Eddie said:
Why are you using ADB in download mode?
Use Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm trying everything I can.
I have a windows/mac machine. The device doesn't show up on the PC (drivers/kies both installed) but it does in my mac but I get the permission denied errors for everything as mentioned in OP.

Sounds like ADB is requesting super user permissions from or Mac. Or best bet would be Odin on a PC. See if it sees the device. If it doesn't try it with debugging on and off
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

Have you updated the SDK to the latest? There were recent (in the last month or so) updates.

[Q] Can't get rooted

I have a mac computer and am trying to root my galaxy s III and tried using terminal to do it this is what I getlocalhost:~ Tim$ cd desktop
localhost:desktop Tim$ cd galaxys3rootuscanadamac
localhost:galaxys3rootuscanadamac Tim$ sh rootmac.sh
***************************************************************
*
* One-Click Root Script for Galaxy S3!
*
* brought to you by Ultimatedroid.blogspot.com
*
* Credit goes to XDA user sparkym3 for exploit & Max Lee.
*
***************************************************************
This script will give you
1. Root !
Please read full tutorial at Ultimatedroid.blogspot.com
***************************************************************
waiting... If you get stuck here, try another USB port.
Start Rooting...
failed to copy 'debugfs' to '/data/local//debugfs': Permission denied
failed to copy 'su' to '/data/local//su': Permission denied
failed to copy 'debugfsinput' to '/data/local//debugfsinput': Permission denied
failed on '/data/local/tmp' - Permission denied
link failed File exists
reboot #1 - DO NOT DISCONNECT YOUR DEVICE!
Unable to chmod /data/local/debugfs: No such file or directory
/system/bin/sh: can't open /data/local/debugfsinput: No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/local/tmp, Permission denied
failed on '/data/local/tmp.bak' - No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/local/su, No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/local/debugfs, No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/local/debugfsinput, No such file or directory
reboot #2 - DO NOT DISCONNECT YOUR DEVICE!
All Done rooting Galaxy S3, install SuperUser or SuperSU app from Play Store to get full root!
rootmac.sh: line 40: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `"'
rootmac.sh: line 42: syntax error: unexpected end of file
can anyone help me out?
Thanks in advance

I forgot to say I'm on 4.1.2

BRICK0044 said:
I forgot to say I'm on 4.1.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know there used to be no way to root s3 with mac, but there may be a newer solution that I haven't heard of

Ya the exploit your trying to do was plugged with jelly bean. Normally would recommend heimdall here since youre on a mac however I do not believe it currently works on this s3.i recommend you go and grab Oracle virtualbox and run windows through that. (Xp should suffice). Then download cf auto root (in the original dev section) and you'll have root in 30 seconds

billard412 said:
Ya the exploit your trying to do was plugged with jelly bean. Normally would recommend heimdall here since youre on a mac however I do not believe it currently works on this s3.i recommend you go and grab Oracle virtualbox and run windows through that. (Xp should suffice). Then download cf auto root (in the original dev section) and you'll have root in 30 seconds
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd recommend that as well, or if wanted to do it old school, use the team epic method.

That works too although I'm not a huge fan of a custom recovery if u only want root and have no plans of flashing stuff. Plus the team epic zip installs busybox which I don't think should be installed unless it's needed. It all depends on what u plan on using root for.

billard412 said:
Ya the exploit your trying to do was plugged with jelly bean. Normally would recommend heimdall here since youre on a mac however I do not believe it currently works on this s3.i recommend you go and grab Oracle virtualbox and run windows through that. (Xp should suffice). Then download cf auto root (in the original dev section) and you'll have root in 30 seconds
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i got xp on virtual box but it doesnt see my phone, I used toolbox to install drivers but no help

Got it, I used my sons pc. Thanks for your help

Awesome, now go get a rom on there :thumbup:

[Q] Rooting problems - Please help!

Hello everyone,
I've had my LG Nitro HD for about a year and a half. I've recently been disappointed with it's performance and battery live. I read rooting and adding a new rom really helps free up the phone's natural performance. I've unlocked a few phones in the past. This one seems to be giving me a lot of fits.
I downloaded a zip file called 'P930_v20e_ROOT". I do not want to share any external linking as it's usually frowned upon. Nevertheless I unzipped the folder and copied the file "LG_SystemBackupTest" to the root of my sd card. I downloaded a file manager app to execute the file. Once installed I enabled the option for unverified sources, and the option for USB under development mode. I also installed the OEM LG driver off of their website for the P930 model phone. I then ran the LG_SystemBackupTest file that was in my applications. While it ran it simply states "hello world". I powered off/restarted the phone as instructed.
Once the phone booted up I plugged in the usb cable to my Windows 8 PC. I then ran the "root_p880" file. Below is the error I get repeatedly.
DON'T TOUCH THE DEVICE OR UNPLUG WHILE ROOTING!
PUSH FILES
failed to copy 'busybox' to '/data/local/busybox': Permission denied
failed to copy 'su' to '/data/local/su': Permission denied
failed to copy 'Superuser.apk' to '/data/local/Superuser.apk': Permissio
Unable to chmod /data/local/busybox: No such file or directory
Unable to chmod /data/local/su: No such file or directory
Unable to chmod /data/local/Superuser.apk: No such file or directory
failed on '/data/local/tmp' - Permission denied
link failed File exists
REBOOT
/system/bin/sh: cannot create /data/local.prop: Permission denied
AGAIN REBOOT
AGAIN!?
mount: Operation not permitted
mount: Operation not permitted
/system/bin/sh: cannot create /system/xbin/busybox: Read-only file syste
Unable to chmod /system/xbin/busybox: No such file or directory
/system/bin/sh: /system/xbin/busybox: not found
/system/bin/sh: busybox: not found
/system/bin/sh: busybox: not found
Unable to chmod /system/xbin/su: No such file or directory
Unable to chmod /system/xbin/su: No such file or directory
Unable to chmod /system/app/Superuser.apk: No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/local.prop, No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/local/tmp, Permission denied
failed on '/data/local/tmp.bak' - No such file or directory
I've tried every possible combination I can think of. I even booted up one of my old Windows XP machines, performed all the steps above, and still the same. Just now I finally reset the phone to it's factory defaults. Only to get the same results. Can anyone provide any guidance?
Kind regards,
Jeremy

Just getting root isn't going to allow you to flash a new or custom rom. You need to install cwm using the P930 unbricking guide.

Re: Rooting problems - Please help!
audit13 said:
Just getting root isn't going to allow you to flash a new or custom rom. You need to install cwm using the P930 unbricking guide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the prompt reply. I do have another guide I was following to install a custom rom. However it states I first need to root. It provided no instructions and stated to google how to do it.

LilLowEK said:
Thank you for the prompt reply. I do have another guide I was following to install a custom rom. However it states I first need to root. It provided no instructions and stated to google how to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try both guides in this forum? I believe this is the guide I used: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1784709
You need to brick the phone, revive it, root, and install cwm.

audit13 said:
Did you try both guides in this forum? I believe this is the guide I used: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1784709
You need to brick the phone, revive it, root, and install cwm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I didn't use that guide. I'll read through it. It sound kind of odd that I first need to brick the phone just to un-brick it. If anyone else has any experience or used a different guide please feel free to share.
Best,
Jeremy

LilLowEK said:
Thanks. I didn't use that guide. I'll read through it. It sound kind of odd that I first need to brick the phone just to un-brick it. If anyone else has any experience or used a different guide please feel free to share.
Best,
Jeremy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What room are you using? You need to unlock the boot loader and this needs gingerbread, not ICS. This is the guide I have used on two different phones.

audit13 said:
What room are you using? You need to unlock the boot loader and this needs gingerbread, not ICS. This is the guide I have used on two different phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I sent you a PM with some details on what I was using.

Re: Rooting problems - Please help!
audit13 said:
What room are you using? You need to unlock the boot loader and this needs gingerbread, not ICS. This is the guide I have used on two different phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LilLowEK said:
Thanks. I sent you a PM with some details on what I was using.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem seems to be solved. I rooted the phone with the help of the following thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1886460
Thanks everyone! Now off to hopefully get a rom installed.