Obtaining superuser rights (root) opens up unlimited possibilities for the smartphone owner for customization and deep system settings. However, this process involves a number of technical difficulties and risks that must be taken into account in advance. The traditional and one of the most reliable tools for managing these privileges has long been the application SuperSUdeveloped by Chainfire.
It is worth noting right away that in recent years the development of the project SuperSU has stopped, and the community has moved to more modern solutions such as Magisk. However, on older devices or in specific use cases, installation remains a popular task. This article examines in detail the process of obtaining root access through this tool, considering both software methods and working with the bootloader. SuperSU remains a popular task. This article examines in detail the process of obtaining root access through this tool, considering both software methods and working with the bootloader.
Before taking active steps, you need to understand the responsibility. Any tampering with system partitions may result in loss of warranty or the device being turned into a brick. You act at your own peril and risk, so creating a full backup of your data is a mandatory preparation step. We will look at all the nuances, from unlocking the bootloader to checking the final rights.
Preparing the device and unlocking the bootloader
The foundation for installing any root access management tool is an unlocked bootloader. By default, manufacturers lock this area to protect the integrity of the operating system. Without completing this step, installing a custom recovery or a modified kernel will not be possible.
The procedure differs depending on the brand. Devices Xiaomi require the official Mi Unlock utility and account linking for up to 7 days. Owners Samsung should toggle the switch OEM Unlock in the developer menu and use the button combination to enter download mode. Devices Pixel and OnePlus often allow you to do this through the command fastboot oem unlock or fastboot flashing unlock.
⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader on most smartphones leads to a complete reset of all user data (Factory Reset). Be sure to save photos, contacts and files to external media or cloud storage before starting the procedure.
After successful unlocking, the device will reboot with a warning about an unprotected state. This is a normal situation and confirms that the phone is ready to install modified software. Next, you will need to activate the USB debugging mode in the menu For developersso that the computer can interact with the hardware via the ADB protocol.
Installing custom TWRP recovery
The standard recovery menu (Stock Recovery) has limited functionality and does not allow install third-party zip archives with access rights. To implement SuperSU you need to replace it with a custom solution, which is popular TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project). It provides a graphical interface and support for file systems.
The recovery image is selected strictly for the specific device model and its encoding. The wrong version may not start or damage the recovery partition. Download the file with the extension .img from the official project website or thematic forum XDA Developers. Connect the phone to the PC in Fastboot mode.
☑️ Check before flashing TWRP
For flashing, use a command through the terminal on the computer. Make sure your phone is detected by the system by checking the device list. Then send the command to write the image to the appropriate section:
fastboot flash recovery twrp_image_name.imgImportant nuance: after flashing the firmware, do not allow the phone to boot into the regular system immediately. Many stock firmware automatically replace the custom recovery with the original one when launched for the first time. You need to immediately hold down a combination of buttons (usually Volume Down + Power or Volume Up + Power) to enter TWRP.
SuperSU installation process via Recovery
After successfully logging into the environment TWRP the main task is to find and install the archive with the firmware SuperSU. Since the official Chainfire website is no longer updated, current and safe versions should be found in the archives of reliable resources, such as AndroidFileHost or verified threads on the forums.
Copy the downloaded zip file to the internal memory of your smartphone or to an SD card. In the recovery menu, select Install (Install), find the archive and confirm the action with a swipe. The process will take a few seconds, during which the script will make changes to the system libraries and install the control application.
If the installation is interrupted with an error, try first executing wipe cache/dalvik in the Wipe menu, but under no circumstances do a full Data reset if you do not want to lose the data again.
When the installation is complete, a message will appear in the log Done. Now you need to reboot the system by pressing the Reboot Systembutton. When you first turn on the device, it may take longer to boot than usual - this is because the system rebuilds optimized application files (ART/Dalvik cache) taking into account new access rights.
⚠️ Attention: Do not interrupt the first boot process after installing root. If the phone is stuck on the logo for more than 10-15 minutes, there may be a conflict between the versions of Android and SuperSU, which will require re-flashing or installing a newer/older version of the archive.
Alternative methods for obtaining root access without a PC
Not all users have access to a computer or want to use complex ADB commands. There are methods that allow you to gain root access directly from your phone, using kernel vulnerabilities or special exploit applications. However, these methods do not work on all versions of Android.
One of the popular solutions in the past was the application KingRoot or Towelroot. They try to exploit kernel vulnerabilities to inject a binary file su. If this method works, the application often suggests replacing its root manager with SuperSU for more stable operation. To do this, in the KingRoot settings there is a “Replace SU” function.
It is worth understanding that there are practically no universal “one-click” solutions for modern versions of Android (11, 12, 13 and higher) due to the increased security of SELinux and bootloader verification. Owners of new devices most often have to use the method of flashing a patched kernel image via Magiskwhich can then manage rights, emulating the work of classic tools.
Checking rights and setting up access
After the first boot, make sure that the application SuperSU appears in the menu. Run it: if the rights are obtained successfully, the app will offer to update the binary file su. Agree to this action by choosing the installation method Normal. This is a critical step, since without the updated binary, other applications will not be able to request privileges.
To verify the status, use the utility Root Checker from the Google Play store. It will execute a simple script and display a success or failure message. You can also install a terminal emulator and enter the command su. If the permission request is successful, the command line prompt character will change from $ to #.
| Parameter | Value on success | Value on error |
|---|---|---|
| Status binary | Installed correctly | Missing or not executable |
| Access to /system | Read/Write (RW) | Read only (RO) |
| Requesting permissions in applications | A pop-up window appears | The application crashes or hangs |
| Command in the terminal | Change $ to # | Error permission denied |
In the settings itself SuperSU you can flexibly configure the behavior of the system. For example, enable notification mode instead of pop-ups or set up automatic refusal for suspicious applications. The “Settings” tab also allows you to temporarily completely disable root access, which can be useful for running banking applications or games with anti-cheat.
Possible problems and their solutions
The rooting process rarely goes perfectly smoothly on all devices. One of the common problems is “bootlap” (cyclic reboot). This can happen if version SuperSU is incompatible with the Android version or if the boot partition has been damaged. In this case, you need to log into TWRP again and try to install an older or, conversely, experimental version of the archive.
Another common situation is the lack of Internet or network operation after obtaining root access. This is due to changes in system configuration files. This is usually solved by flashing the stock image of the modem or resetting the network settings. Also, antiviruses and banking applications can block the operation of the device, seeing the presence of superuser rights.
How to hide root from applications?
To hide the fact of obtaining root access, you must use isolation functions. In SuperSU this is the "SU Hide" setting, but it is unstable on newer Androids. A more reliable method is to use Magisk Hide or Zygisk, which spoof system calls for specific applications, making them think that there is no root.
⚠️ Attention: Menu interfaces and item names may vary depending on the version of TWRP and the smartphone model. If you do not find the described buttons, check the documentation specifically for your device on the relevant forums, as implementation details may change.
If nothing helps and the phone stops turning on, the only option is to return to the factory state. To do this, you will need to download the full image of the stock firmware (Stock ROM) and flash it through the Download mode (for Samsung) or Fastboot (for others), using official utilities like Odin or SP Flash Tool.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to install SuperSU on modern Android 12/13?
Using classic SuperSU on Android versions newer than 9-10 is not recommended. The system uses dynamic partitions and enhanced verification, which older software cannot handle. It is better to use Magisk, which supports the system without changes (systemless root).
Will the warranty be void after installing superuser rights?
In most cases, the fact of unlocking the bootloader and obtaining root access will void the manufacturer's warranty obligations. In addition, the Knox flag is triggered on Samsung devices, which irreversibly blocks the operation of some proprietary functions even after returning to stock.
Is it possible to remove SuperSU and lose root?
Simply deleting the application will not deprive you of access rights, since the binary file su remains on the system. To completely remove root, you need to go to the SuperSU settings and select “Full Unroot”, which will restore the original files.
Why does the Root Checker application write that there is no root?
You may not have confirmed the request to grant rights in the SuperSU pop-up window when you first started the check. It is also worth checking in the SuperSU settings whether there is a global access ban for all applications.
Will the phone be updated over the air (OTA) with SuperSU installed?
As a rule, official updates over the air do not come to modified devices or are not installed, since the system integrity check does not pass. To update, you will have to manually download the firmware and install it through recovery, re-gaining root access.