How to Root Galaxy S4 I9505 on Android Firmware

The new official firmware is currently available as an Over-The-Air (OTA) update as well as through Samsung KIES.

The tutorial uses Odin and CF-Auto-Root file by Senior Recognized XDA-Developers.  Also need to install the Samsung USB drivers listed below.   Download from the links then follow instructions and like i did successfully rooted my smartphone.

Note: this guide is tested on an international LTE Galaxy S4 (i9505), and while everything possible has been done to ensure accuracy, we take no responsibility for bricked devices etc. Also beware that rooting your device may void your warranty. 

Files Required

Odin3 v3.09. This is the PC programme that will install the rooted kernel to your phone. Unzip the file and run Odin3 v3.09. Download, here.

Samsung Kies. This is a PC Suite for the Samsung. Download and install to your PC as you will require the drivers that come bundled with it, to connect your phone to the PC and Odin3.

Download for Windows, here.

When you have downloaded and installed Kies, connect your phone via the USB lead to ensure that it is working.

To root your phone you will need to replace the stock kernel with a modified root kernel that will allow you Super User access. 

Download the CF-Auto-Root kernel for the Samsung Galaxy S4, GT-i9505, quad core...

CF-Auto-Root-jflte-jfltexx-gti9505.zip

or 

Download the CF-Auto-Root kernel for the Samsung Galaxy S4, GT-i9500, octa core...

CF-Auto-Root-ja3g-ja3gxx-gti9500.zip


Download the .zip file to your desktop and unzip it. To extract the file, just right click on it and select 7-Zip/WinRAR/Winzip and, "Extract here". This extracted .tar file is the one you will need. This is the .tar file that contains the kernel that will root your phone. To avoid confusion you can now delete the original .zip file that it came with.

Pre-requisites

1. Ensure you've got the Samsung drivers installed on your computer -- if necessary, download and install them from here.

2. Enable USB Debugging Mode on the phone by navigating to Settings >> Developer Options.

3. Make a backup of all your important data before following the guide.

4. Ensure the battery of the phone is charged more than 80 percent.

Steps to Root Galaxy S4 I9505 quad core

Step 1: Extract CF-Auto-Root and Odin 3.07 files using WinRAR/7-Zip/WinZip or any other extracting tool.

Step 2:Put your phone into 'download' mode. This involves turning it off, then holding the volume down, power and home buttons simultaneously. You'll get a warning message, which you have to press the volume up button to get past, and then your phone is in download mode, its soul bared naked to your PC. Connect it to your computer at this point.

Step 3:- Run 'Odin' (one of the files extracted from the .zip).  Click on the 'PDA' button, and select the CF-Auto-Root-asjf;klasjdf;lkasjdf;alskjdf;.tar.md5 file. Ensure your device is being seen (there'll be a little message saying something like "IDE;00034 added!"), and hit start. Your phone will do some Matrix-style scrolling text, and then it'll reboot, fully rooted.

Step 4:- To check it's rooted, go to your app drawer -- there should now be an app called 'SuperSU' in there, which controls which apps are allowed root permission.

Note: If the Added message does not appear, then use a different USB port on the computer.  I had to change USB and this worked for me.

You may install any app that requires root permission.  Get SuperUser app that allows more functions on phone.

Using an app i managed to remove some pre-installed apps that i never used.

You shouldnt need to  verify the root status ,  but there are apps that will check and give details.

Thank's to all fellas at XDA who first tried out this rooting technique. This method was originally posted via XDA-Developers original thread.