Update (July 27, 2015): Android 5.1.1 Root for Sprint Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge is available via UniKernel now, the first kernel to bring root on Galaxy S6 sets. Hence, use UniKernel files from downloads section below to root your device. The guide has been updated below for the same effect. Btw, this is very good news, as UniKernel is updated with new firmware versions quite quickly, and developer djvoleur will be taking care to port over all the changes.
Update (July 9, 2015): Root is available for Sprint Galaxy S6 Edge too. This page has been updated accordingly.
Root has been achieved on Sprint Galaxy S6 Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update finally, and all you need to do is flash a modified kernel using Odin PC software. This will set the KNOX flag in download mode from 0x0 to 0x1, meaning, your warranty will be void because of the tripping of KNOX. If you want to preserve warranty, you better stay away from this, at least for now.
Be sure to prepare the phone as said in the instructions below, because Odin won’t be flash until you allow it from phone. Yes, that’s new. Earlier, you could just flash anything using Odin, but now, you need enable the Odin flash. By the way, credit for the Sprint S6 Root goes to datajosh, djvoleur (lead) and g.lewarne (from international and T-Mobile S6 Root) for figuring the way out, and crating the custom kernel that simplifies it all for us mortal users!
By the way, this doesn’t works on Sprint S6 Edge, for which a custom kernel of its own should be available real soon. For now, DON’T TRY ON SPRINT S6 EDGE !!
Update (July 9, 2015): Root is available for Sprint Galaxy S6 Edge too. This page has been updated accordingly.
How to Root Sprint S6 and S6 Edge on Android 5.1.1 update OF7
Downloads
→ Now that UniKernel is available as root solution, it’s highly recommend that you use UniKernel to root your Sprint S6 and S6 Edge. While the old root kernel would most probably be still working, and there was nothing wrong with it either, but because UniKernel is latest and will be more updated, we’d go with UniKernel.
- Odin PC software | File: Odin3_v3.10.6.zip (1.6 MB)
- UniKernel Root kernel:
To download latest files available for installation, check the official page here: for Galaxy S6, and for Galaxy S6 Edge.
Supported devices
- SPRINT GALAXY S6 & S6 EDGE, model no. SM-G920P and SM0G925P
- Don’t try on any other device than S6 and S6 Edge set from T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, international, etc. or any other Android device whatsoever!
Instructions
Warning: Warranty may be void of your device if you follow the procedures given on this page. You only are responsible for your device. We won’t be liable if any damage occurs to your device and/or its components.
Backup necessary stuff. In case your device is wiped off while following the guide below, it’s good to have a backup of contacts, photos, videos and other files already saved on PC.
Here’s a video that will guide you to rooting Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge on Android 5.1 update. Device used in video is international Galaxy S6, SM-G925i, but the video applies for every Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge set out there. Oh, in case you were wondering how come we have 5.1 on G925i when Samsung didn’t release for it, well, there’s a page for that guides you to install 5.1 update on G925i Galaxy S6.
- Download the Odin software and UniKernel Root file for your S6 or S6 Edge from the downloads section above. And keep the device disconnected from PC for now.
- Install Sprint Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge drivers (method 1 there!). Double click the .exe file of drivers to begin installation. (Skip this step if you have already done this.)
- Disable Reactivation lock. This is very important! For this:
- Go to Settings > Lock screen and security > Find my mobile.
- Disable the Reactivation lock if it’s enabled, using the toggle button.
Tip: If you haven’t added a Samsung account on your device ever, you would find it disabled by default. But if you did add a Samsung account anytime, it would be enabled most probably, so take care to disable it. If you are unable to this on phone, you can use Samsung’s website for this, just sign-in, go to Find my mobile section, and then disable from there. If you still can’t do this, do ask me via comments section below.
- Enable OEM Unlocking. It’s important and you need this to be able to flash anything on you Sprint S6 using Odin software after Android 5.1.1 update. Do this:
- Go to Settings > About device. Tap on build no. around 7 times until you get ‘You’re now a developer’ message.
- Go back to settings, and tap on ‘Developer options’.
- Now, find the ‘OEM unlocking’ option, and use its toggle button to enable it.
- Boot your Sprint S6 into download mode:
- Power off your Sprint S6. Wait 6-7 seconds after screen goes off.
- Press and hold the three buttons Volume Down + Power + Home together until you see warning screen.
- Press Volume Up to continue to download mode of S6.
- Extract the Odin file. You should get this file, Odin3 v3.10.6.exe (other files could be hidden, hence not visible).
- Double click on extracted file of Odin, Odin3 v3.10.6.exe, to open the Odin window, as shown below. Be careful with Odin, and do just as said to prevent problems.
- Connect your Sprint Galaxy S6 to PC now using USB cable. Odin should recognize your device. It’s a must. When it recognizes, you will see Added!! message appearing in the Log box in bottom left, and the first box under ID:COM will also show a no. and turn its background blue. Look at the pic below.
- You cannot proceed until you get the Added!! message, which confirms that Odin has recognized your device.
- If you don’t get Added!! message, you need to install/re-install drivers again, and use the original cable that came with device. Mostly, drivers are the problem (look at step 2 above).
- You can try different USB ports on your PC too, btw.
- Load the custom kernel file into Odin. Click the AP button on Odin and the select the custom kernel file: UniKernel-v5-920P-072715.tar (for S6) OR UniKernel-v5-925P-072715.tar (for S6 Edge).
- Make sure Re-Partition checkbox is NOT selected under the Options tab. Don’t use PIT tab either. Go back to Log tab now, it will show the progress when you hit start button in next step.
- Click the Start button on Odin now to start flashing the custom kernel, which includes root, on your Sprint S6. Wait till installation is finished, after which your S6 will reboot automatically. You’ll get PASS message as show below upon successful installation from Odin.
- If Odin gets stuck at setup connection, then you need to do steps 5 to 11 again. For this, close Odin, disconnect your device, reboot it to download mode and then start again.
- Or, if you get FAIL in the top left box, you need to try flashing again, as stated just above.
- You should have root access when device reboots. If you get nagging notifications about security issues, kernel being permissive or like, then to fix this, disable the SecurityLogAgent service on your device using, what else, root access. For this, install Titanium Backup, open the app and provide it root access, and then search for this on the all apps screen, then tap on it, and select Freeze. That will do the trick.
- If you face any issues with root access, like apps force closing, then just reboot to recovery mode and wipe cache. Here’s how:
- Power off your Sprint S6. Wait 6-7 seconds after screen goes off.
- Press and hold the three buttons Power + Home + Volume up together until you see Samsung’s logo. Then let go of the buttons. You will soon see TWRP recovery.
- Move the selection highlight to wipe cache using volume buttons, and then tap on power button to select it. Once wiping off cache is done, select ‘reboot system now’ to restart the device. Shouldn’t face any force close now.
That’s it.
To confirm root access, download a root checker app from play store, and open it. Tap on Verify Root to confirm that our Sprint S6 is as root access, and SuperSU working fine.
If you need any help, do let us know about this.
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