How to Root Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus Snapdragon variant?

Samsung devices like any other OEM’s smartphone comes with a locked bootloader. And if you are into rooting then, you should know that for rooting and gaining...

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar

Last updated on March 12, 2020

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar

Author

My work has been published on Android Authority, Android Police, Android Central, BGR, Gadgets360, GSMArena, and more. A Six Sigma and Google Certified Digital Marketer who likes to play guitar, travel, and sip coffee. Entrepreneur and Blogger.

Samsung devices like any other OEM’s smartphone comes with a locked bootloader. And if you are into rooting then, you should know that for rooting and gaining admin privileges, you need to have an unlocked bootloader. In this post, we will guide you on how to root Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus Snapdragon variant via the new EDL method which is developed by XDA Developer jrkruse. Supported models that can be rooted by this method are SM-G950U/U1 and SM-G955U/U1 models in the US, and SM-G950W and SM-G955W models in Canada.

But there is a catch that you need to be on a certain version of Android OS in order to root your device. This method is working for Snapdragon S8 and S8 Plus variants. Moreover, with this method, you will also be able to root the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus with V5 and V6 Bootloaders. We would advise you to follow the guide carefully as the regular method of flashing TWRP via ODIN and then rooting ahead with Magisk would fail. So, that being said, let us get straight into the article itself:

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus

Supported Devices

Samsung Galaxy S8 with model number SM-G950U, SM-G950U1, and SM-G950W.
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus with model number SM-G955U, SM-G955U1, and SM-G955W.

To know the bootloader version of your phone, head over to Settings>>About phone>>Software information>>Baseband Version. If your baseband version is G955U1UEU6DSJ4 then, it means that your bootloader version is V6 (because of U6).

Pre-requisites

Before we go ahead and root our Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus devices with V5 and V6 bootloaders, let us take a look at the list of things that you need to take care of:

Note that this method is only for devices with V5 and V6 Bootloaders.
This procedure requires you to first installing the Android Pie Safestrap ROM as rooting the normal Android 9 Pie is not possible.
If you want to root on your phone then, you are also required to flash a pre-rooted Nougat system image on your Snapdragon Galaxy S8/S8 Plus.
You need a Windows desktop/laptop.
Make sure to charge your device to at least 50% or more.
Take a complete backup of your data.
A USB cable.

Downloads

ADB and Fastboot Tools
Samsung USB Drivers
Download ODIN Flash Tool
Galaxy S8
- V5 Bootloader
  – COMBINATION_FA70_G950USQU5ARG4.rar
  – G950U_Full_EDL_V5_Pie_Safestrap.rar
- V6 Bootloader
  – COMBINATION_FA70_G950USQU6ASG1_CL13344735_QB24644554_REV00_user_mid_noship_MULTI_CERT.tar.rar
  – G950U_Full_EDL_V6_Pie_Safestrap_Fixed.rar
Galaxy S8 Plus
- V5 Bootloader
  – COMBINATION_FA70_G955USQU5ARH8.zip
  – G955U_Full_EDL_V5_Pie_Safestrap.rar
- V6 Bootloader
  – COMBINATION_FA70_G955USQU6ASG1_CL12542406_QB24669289_REV00_user_mid_noship_MULTI_CERT.rar
  – G955U_Full_EDL_V6_Pie_Safestrap.rar

Steps to Root Samsung Galaxy S8/S8 Plus

Flash the combination file

Firstly, download the Combination Firmware package corresponding to the bootloader version of your Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8 Plus.

Now you need to extract the RAR file on your PC.

Then, launch the Odin Tool on the PC.

Once the Odin tool is opened, click on the ‘AP‘ button in Odin.

Select the extracted Combination Firmware file.

Ensure that “F.Reset Time” and “Auto Reboot” is checked under the “Options” tab of Odin tool.

Now you need to turn off your Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.

Boot your device into Download Mode.

– To do so, hold the Volume Down + Bixby + Power button simultaneously until you see the warning screen.
– Then tap the Volume Up button to enter Download Mode.

While your Galaxy S8/S8 Plus is in the Download Mode, connect your phone to the PC using the USB cable.

The ‘ID: COM‘ port in the Odin window will light up.

Click on the Start button to flash the combination file.

Your device will boot into the test OS.

Boot Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus into EDL Mode

Once your device is in the test OS, head over to the Settings menu.

Enable USB Debugging on your phone.
– Go to Settings>>About Phone>>tap on the Build Number 7 times till you see a toast message “You are now a developer”.

Under the Developer Options, you need to enable the USB Debugging option as well.
– To do that again head to the Settings>>Developer Options>>enable USB Debugging.

Connect your phone to the PC.

Now download the file from the above download section with the name ‘G95*U_Full_EDL_V*_Pie_Safestrap.rar’ as per your device’s model number and bootloader version.

Extract the contents of the file and open it.

Tap on OK if there is a USB Debugging prompt on your phone.

That’s it! your phone is now in the EDL Mode.

Install Android Pie Safestrap ROM

Make sure that your devices have been detected by your PC as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008. Note the COM number.

Now you need to open the previously extracted ‘G95*U_Full_EDL_V*_Pie_Safestrap’ folder and double-click on the ‘G95*U*_Recovery.bat’ file.

Enter the COM# (where “#” is the number) port number for your Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus.

Android Pie Safestrap ROM will be installed on your device.

Install Android Pie BL and CSC using Odin

Force-reboot your Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus Snapdragon variant into Download Mode.
– Hold the Volume Down, Bixby, and Power buttons. Once the warning screen appears, press the Volume Up key to enter Download Mode.

Make sure that your phone is connected to the PC.

Open the Odin Flash Tool.

You will notice that the COM port in the Odin window should light up.

Ensure that “F.Reset Time” and “Auto Reboot” are selected under the Options tab in Odin.

Now you need to click on the “BL” button and select the Android Pie BL file (BL_G95*U******.tar.md5).

Then, click on the “CSC” button and select the Android Pie CSC file (HOME_CSC_OYN_G95*U_CACHE_V*.tar.md5).

Press the Start button to install the Android Pie BL and CSC file.

You will also be asked to do a factory reset. Press the Volume keys of your device to select the ‘Wipe data/factory reset’ option and press the Power button to select it.

Boot Galaxy S8/S8 Plus Snapdragon into Safestrap Recovery

Now in this process, we will flash the Safestrap Recovery file to the Galaxy S8’s BL slot using ODIN tool.

Firstly, power off your device.

Now press and hold the Volume Down, Bixby, and Power buttons together until you see a blue-colored warning screen.

Tap the Volume Up button to enter Download Mode.

Now, connect your device to the PC.

Launch the modded Odin Tool.

Click on the “BL” button and select the “BL_ENG_BOOTLOADERS_SAFESTRAP_G95*U_V*.tar.md5” file.

Ensure that “F.Reset Time” and “Auto Reboot” are selected under the Options tab in Odin.

Press the Start button.

You can either stick with this Safestrap Android 9 Pie OS with a more recent security patch and enjoy the One UI on your phone and do modifications using the Safestrap recovery. Or you can go ahead with step 6 to gain root access, the downside is you will be stuck with the Android 7 Nougat and an older security patch. So, the choice is totally yours.

Install Pre-Rooted Nougat System Image

Download the below files as per your smartphone:
– Galaxy S8: Rooted_G950USQS2BRB1.rar
– Galaxy S8 Plus: Rooted_G955USQS2BRB1.rar
– Safestrap-4.10-B03-DREAMQLTE-NOUGAT.zip
– Galaxy S8: BL_G950_FINGERPRINT_FIX_V6.tar.md5
– Galaxy S8 Plus: BL_G955_FINGERPRINT_FIX_V6.tar.md5

Extract the Rooted_G95*USQS2BRB1.rar.

Now transfer “system.img” and “Safestrap-4.10-B03-DREAMQLTE-NOUGAT.zip” on your phone’s internal storage.

Boot your device into Safestrap recovery as shown in Boot Galaxy S8/S8 Plus Snapdragon into Safestrap Recovery step. How to Root Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus Snapdragon variant?

How to Root Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus Snapdragon variant?

Under the Safestrap, tap on the Install>>Install Image.

Select the system.img file from your phone’s internal memory.

Swipe at the bottom to flash the image file.

Now go back to the home screen and press the Install button.

Select the “Safestrap-4.10-B03-DREAMQLTE-NOUGAT.zip” file and flash it.

You need to go to the Reboot menu in Safestrap and tap on Download to reboot your device into Download Mode.

Connect your phone to the PC.

Launch the modded Odin tool and select the BL_G95*_FINGERPRINT_FIX_V6.tar.md5 file in the “BL” slot.

Click the Start button to flash the file.

It is important to do a factory reset. Press the Volume keys of your device to select the ‘Wipe data/factory reset’ option and press the Power button to select it.