Build a Shed

For those of you who want to root your Nexus 4 Android smartphone, here’s a step-by-step tutorial showing you how to root a Nexus 4 on Windows, Linux/Ubuntu, or Mac OSX computer.


This works for all Android versions including Android 4.2.1 and 4.2.2.

This rooting guide will allow you to also backup and restore your apps/settings.

Before we begin, please BACK UP EVERYTHING on your internal storage of Nexus 4 to your hard disk (you can do this by connecting it to your computer via USB cable or use AirDroid app).

This zip package contains everything you need including drivers for Windows and rooting files for all Windows, Mac, and Linux.  Please download and unzip.

Download Nexus4Root.zip
 

Step 1. 

Go to Settings->About Phone on your Nexus 4.

Step 2.

Hit the “Build Number” couple times until your phone says, “You are now a developer”.  Hit the back button.

Step 3.

You will now see extra menu called “Developer options”, hit it.

Step 4.

Make sure Developer options is ON and USB debugging is also checked then connect a micro-USB cable from your Nexus 4 to your computer. 

Step 5.

For Windows, you will need to install drivers. If you have Linux/Ubuntu or Mac OSX, skip to Step 7.

Step 6.

Open Device Manager on your computer and update the Nexus 4 with exclamation mark with drivers provided in Nexus4Root.zip.

If you see something like “Android ADB Interface” you are ready for the next step.

Step 7.

Open a command prompt (or terminal for Linux/Ubuntu or Mac) and type:

For Windows:
cd Downloads
cd Nexus4Root
adb backup -apk -all -f backup.ab
 
For Linux/Ubuntu:
sudo -i
cd /home/UserName/Downloads/Nexus4Root
chmod 755 *
./adb-linux backup -apk -all -f backup.ab
 
For Mac OSX:
cd Downloads
cd Nexus4Root
chmod 755 *
./adb-mac backup -apk -all -f backup.ab

Step 8.

Go to your phone and you should see a Pop-up window asking you if you want to backup your data, hit “Back up my data”.  This will backup all of your settings, apps, app data, wifi passwords, etc…etc…  It will NOT BACKUP contents of your internal storage such as your personal videos/photos (you should have done that before following this guide!!!).

Step 9.

Once backup is done, go ahead and turn your Nexus 4 power off.  Then hold down the Volume Down and Power buttons together for about 5 seconds. 

Step 10.

Once in bootloader menu, connect a micro-USB cable from your Nexus 4 to your computer.

Step 11.

Open up Device Manager again, if you don’t see “Android ADB Interface” you will have to install drivers again.  Repeat Step 5 to install drivers.  For Ubuntu/Linux or Mac OSX, skip to Step 12, no drivers required!

Step 12.

Next go back to command prompt/terminal and type:

For Windows:
adb oem unlock
 
For Linux/Ubuntu:
./adb-linux oem unlock
 
For Mac OSX:
./adb-mac oem unlock

Step 13.

Go to your Nexus 4, hit the Volume Up button to select “Yes” and hit the Power button.  Then hit the Power button again to re-boot your phone

Step 14.

Once re-booted, your Nexus 4 will be like the day you got it, everything wiped and starting from scratch. Go ahead and sign in. 

Step 15.

Connect your Nexus 4 to your computer and copy the file CWM-SuperSU-v0.99.zip to anywhere on your Nexus 4.

If you have trouble on Mac OSX connecting to your Nexus 4, download and install Android File Transfer.
Also, if you have more trouble, you can download this file with your Nexus 4′s browser at DownloadAndroidROM.com. (It will be saved in your Downloads folder btw.)

Step 16.

Re-boot into the bootloader like you did in Step 9 and connect a micro-USB cable from your Nexus 4 to your computer. 

Step 17.

Go back to your command prompt/terminal and type:

For Windows:
fastboot flash recovery recovery-clockwork-touch-6.0.2.3-mako.img
 
For Linux/Ubuntu:
./fastboot-linux flash recovery recovery-clockwork-touch-6.0.2.3-mako.img
 
For Mac/OSX:
./fastboot-mac flash recovery recovery-clockwork-touch-6.0.2.3-mako.img

Step 18.

Go back to your Nexus 4, choose “Recovery mode” using Volume buttons and hit the Power button. 

Step 19.

Once in ClockworkMod(CWM) Recovery, choose “install zip from sdcard”.

Step 20.

Next, choose “choose zip from sdcard”. 

Step 21.

Choose “0/”.

Step 22.

Choose “CWM-SuperSU-v0.99.zip” and hit “Yes”.  This is the actual rooting file, which included su binaries and SuperSU app, giving your phone root.  This is the only part of this tutorial that actually roots your Nexus 4.  We only did all the other steps to unlock the bootloader and install CWM Recovery which allows us to install this file on our phone. 

Step 23.

Choose “Reboot” from the main menu, if you see the following screen, make sure to choose “Yes – Disable recovery flash”.  This is so you will have permanent CWM recovery as stock Android operating system overwrites it on re-boot if you don’t say yes here.

Step 24.

Once rebooted you should find an extra app in the app drawer called “SuperSU”.  Congratulations!  You’ve successfully rooted your Nexus 4!  You can download rooted apps like Titanium Backup app (which I highly recommend you to run once) and verify you have full root. 

Step 25.

Now, let’s try to restore some of your settings, apps, and app data.  If you did make a backup of your internal storage before you started rooting, go ahead and copy all your files back into Nexus 4 internal storage.

Next, go back to command prompt/terminal and type:

For Windows:
adb restore backup.ab
 
For Linux/Ubuntu:
./adb-linux restore backup.ab
 
For Mac OSX:
./adb-mac restore backup.ab

Once that’s done, you should find your Nexus 4 fully restore with all of your settings, apps, app data, and your photos/videos plus rooted phone.  Congrats! 

Nexus 10 users who have already updated their devices with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, may root their devices using the tutorial below.

This tutorial uses CF-Auto-Root file released by recognised XDA Developers, Chainfire. The CF-Auto-Root file allowing Nexus 10 users to root their devices easily without depending on the firmware. It completely supports Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and future firmware as well. Head over to the CF-Auto-Root main thread to learn more about the root method.

Disclaimer: Rooting voids the warranty of your device. We and the developer of this rooting procedures shall not be held responsible if any undesirable outcomes may happen to your device. use of this root guide is solely at your own risk!

Pre-requisites
1. Make a backup of all your important data before following the guide.
2. Enable USB Debugging Mode on the phone.
3. The Nexus 10 should be factory unlocked.
4. Ensure the battery of the phone is charged more than 80 per cent.
5. The CF-Auto-Root file works only on Nexus 10. Applying this on any incorrect variant might brick the device. Verify the model number of the Nexus 10 by navigating to Settings >> About Phone.

File Required
1. Android SDK
2. CF-Auto-Root for Nexus 10 (CF-Auto-Root-manta-mantaray-nexus10.zip)

Steps to Root Nexus 10 on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Firmware
Step 1: Install the Android SDK. The package includes the necessary drivers for connecting your Nexus phone to the computer, which is mandatory for the rooting process.
Step 2: Extract CF-Auto-Root file using winrar/7zip/winzip or any other extracting tool.
Step 3: Switch off the Nexus 10. Then boot the device into fastboot mode by pressing and holding Volume Up, Volume Down, and Power buttons together.
Step 4: Connect the Nexus 10 to the computer using USB cable, then wait until Windows finished installing the drivers.
Step 5: Navigate to the folder where you extracted the CF-Auto-Root files, then run the following command:

• Windows: Run root-windows.bat
• Linux: chmod +x root-linux.sh, Run root-linux.sh
• Mac OS X: chmod +x root-mac.sh, Run root-mac.sh

Step 6: Follow the on-screen instructions. Once the rooting procedure completes, the phone will boot into normal mode. You can now unplug the USB cable to disconnect your device from computer.

Nexus 10 running on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean firmware is now rooted successfully. Open the app drawer of the Nexus 10 and look for an app called SuperSU. Verify the root status of the device by downloading Root Checker app from Google Play Store.

Note: If SuperSU does not appear after Step-6, then you can install it manually from the Google Play Store.

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