One of the nice things about the Galaxy Nexus is the ability to unlock the bootloader and install custom ROMS and modifications.
I showed you how to unlock the Galaxy Nexus already, but I found a much easier method for unlocking and rooting the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon.
Read: Galaxy Nexus Review
This guide will show you how to unlock and root the Galaxy Nexus on a Windows PC or a Mac, and takes significantly less time and effort.
Before you unlock and rot your Galaxy Nexus, know that it does void your warranty and there is a possibility of breaking your phone. If that happens we are not responsible.
What You Need
- Verizon Galaxy Nexus
- SuperBoot
- Samsung Driver
- Additional USB Drivers
- A Backup of your files
This process will erase everything on your phone. Before you unlock your phone, be sure to backup your photos and files to your computer. If you are on a Mac, you’ll need this guide to connect the Galaxy Nexus to a Mac.
How to Unlock and Root the Galaxy Nexus
Before we start, turn on USB Debugging on your Galaxy Nexus by going to Settings – > Developer Options -> Turn on USB Debugging.
1. Unzip Superboot.
2. Open the folder and copy all of those files by pressing Ctrl+A and then Ctrl+C.
3. Go to My Computer, Go to Your C: drive and create a folder called root.
4. Paste those files in this new folder.
5. While in your root folder hold shift and right-click. Choose Open Command Here.
On MAC
– Open Terminal.
– Type cd C:/ and press enter.
– Type cd root.
6. Turn your phone off.
7. Plug it into your computer.
8. Hold Volume Up, Volume Down and Power until it boots into bootloader mode. You’ll see a screen shown above.
9. If the drivers do not install correctly, you will need to open up Device Manager on your computer and choose the Samsung USB drivers.
- Unzip the Samsung Drivers you downloaded to somewhere you can find, the Desktop is a good place.
- Click Start and choose Control Panel.
- Click on System and Security
- Choose Device Manager
Once in Device Manager, look for an entry that says Android 1.0 with a yellow exclamation point next to it.
- Double click to open it up.
- Click on Update Driver.
- Choose Browse my computer for driver software.
- Navigate to the driver folder on your desktop and click Open.
- This should install the file and allow your computer to connect to your Galaxy Nexus.
10. Go back to the Command Prompt you opened up earlier.
11. type fastboot-windows oem unlock and hit Enter.
On Mac – ./fastboot-mac oem unlock in Terminal
12. When your phone asks if you want to “Unlock Bootloader?” use the volume button to choose yes and press power to select.
13. You’ll be back at the Bootloader screen, but should see unlocked at the bottom of your phone’s screen.
Don’t unplug or restart your phone yet
14. Open up your root folder on your computer and double click on install-superboot-windows.bat.
15. Your phone should root and go to the Black Google Screen shown below.
16. Your phone will stay on this screen for 5 to 15 minutes. Do not pull the battery until at least fifteen minutes have passed or you could break your phone. I had to wait 15 minutes and pull the battery to get this to work.
If your phone gets stuck in the boot sequence, flashing the Google startup color sequence, do not pull the battery. Wait the 10 – 15 minutes and try to turn off the phone by holding the power button. If all else fails, you can try pulling the battery, but only after you have waited 10 t 15 minutes.
You are now unlocked and rooted. If you want to know what to do next, I suggest you check out Chris’s Custom Galaxy Nexus setup.
Thanks to Cyber Warrior on Android Central for the base of this Guide.
Very nice post even i would say that whole blog is awesome. I keep learning new things every day from post like these. Good stuff!
Thanks
Will this work on a GSM Galaxy Nexus?
Also, I bought the phone in China so when I first powered up the phone, the menus were in Chinese. Do you know if this will happen whent he phone boots up after the unlocking/rooting?
Thanks
works great, fast and easy. definitely back up everything first because it ERASES everything back to factory fresh. Thanks!
Thanks
Thank you! Beautiful this is going to be way more fun than the Bionic, unlocked boot loader FTW :D
I thought this was also for Mac? Looks like a Windows version. Where is a Mac version?
Who cares.. Go buy an iphone4s
Shut up? Some Mac users are die hard Android fans since the beginning like me ? Go get a Windows phone and some malware ;) or better yet, defrag your hdd :D
ha ha good response
I doubt you know what defragging your HD is.
Yeah, go buy a phone half as powerful with a tiny 3.5 inch screen. Go buy an iCrap
You don’t need the drivers on the mac just use the scripts in the folder and execute the scripts from the terminal pre-cursing them with “./” without quotes. to open terminal go to spotlight and type in terminal.
Does anyone know if after rooting the nexus will auto answer apps work ?
I used auto answer on thunderbolt and it worked great until update 2.3.4
Really need to get it working.
thanks
@POI “If you are on a Mac, you’ll need this guide to connect the Galaxy Nexus to a Mac.” Please read before commenting next time.
could you show how to re-lock and un-root when you get a chance? Just in case I need to return my phone :) By the way is it my imagination or is performance a TINY bit slowed down now that I’m rooted? It probably is my imagination as I thought rooting didn’t affect performance in any way.
Thanks!
Some one know if the Galaxy Nexus can be activated on Page Plus Cellular and where its the cheapest place to get one without a contract THANKS
i had to do a battery pull since it stayed on the google screen for about 20minutes. after rebooting, it still doesnt read my sim card. (the phone is verizon lte and i have a rogers microsim) i checked the bootloader and the lock state is unlocked.
any ideas of what i should do now>
i have the same problem my GN doesnt read my sim card help please
Hey! Thank you for that, it is cool. I have a question that can I use it after unlocking in Turkey?
any new link for the superboot? no longer works :[
Hi I recently visted my bro in America and he gave me a nexus but as I’m back in England the network is on Verizon which does not work in this country can anyone give me any advice about changing the network to an English one if this is possible pls help
Can you actually use the phone for t-mobile and other carriers if you unlock it this way?
samsung drivers download gave me files that are corrupt and cannot be opened