UPDATE: Links to Android 5.1.1 Root for Sprint and US Cellular Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge sets

Original article below:

Finally, yes finally, a simple Android 5.1 root solution is available that works pretty fine in just one click on all Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge sets! The Android 5.1 root access is available via simple Odin flash, but if TWRP is what you love more, you also have a flashable zip available that can installed via custom recovery to gain root access easily. There is a single download for both Odin and TWRP each, and this supports ALL variants of both Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Really handsome work there! The root package comes in the form of UniKernel, and we can’t thank g.lewarne enough for this!

Do note that this kernel doesn’t support Android 5.0 yet. So, if your current Android version is 5.0, don’t use the root solution given here. Rather try CF-Auto-Root. And, we have put together separate installation guide for Odin flashable root package (Method 1) and TWRP flashable root package (Method 2). Choose the method you want, and you shall have root access in no time. By the way, the 5.1.1 root for Sprint Galaxy S6 is also available now, linked in the supported devices section below.

How to Root Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge on Android 5.1 update

Downloads

  • UniKernel for Method 1 – Using Odin:
    • Odin Root package — Link | File: S6_UniKernel_v8-0002-ODIN.tar (24.7 MB)
    • Odin PC software — Link | File: Odin3_v3.10.6.zip (1.6 MB)
  • UniKernel for Method 2 – Using TWRP recovery:
    • Recovery Root package — Link | File: S6_UniKernel_v8-0002-TWRP.zip (18.9 MB)

We would recommend the Method 1, which uses Odin.

We’ve often update the page latest kernel available for download, but if you want, you check that here too. It’s optional, obviously.

Supported devices

  • SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 AND S6 EDGE, all variants! (except US Cellular, Verizon and Sprint S6 and S6 Edge)
  • Don’t try on any other device than S6 and S6 Edge whatsoever!

Sprint and Verizon have locked bootloader of their S6 and S6 Edge sets, hence this root won’t work on these models nos. G920P, G925P, G920V and G925V. This doesn’t works on US Cellular S6 and S6 Edge either!

→ → Here is SPRINT Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge 5.1.1 Root. And here is US CELLULAR Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge 5.1.1 Root.

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.

Method 1: Using Odin

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.

  1. Download the Odin software and UniKernel file for this method from the downloads section above. And keep the device disconnected from PC for now.
  2. Install Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge drivers (method 1 there!) first of all. Double click the .exe file of drivers to begin installation. (Not required if you have already done this.)
  3. Disable Reactivation lock. This is very important! For this:
    1. Go to Settings > Lock screen and security > Find my mobile.
    2. 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.
  4. Enable OEM Unlocking. It’s important and you need this to be able to flash anything on your S6/S6 Edge (not all S6 sets have this, btw) using Odin software after Android 5.1.1 update. Do this:
    1. Go to Settings > About device. Tap on build no. around 7 times until you get ‘You’re now a developer’ message.
    2. Go back to settings, and tap on ‘Developer options’.
    3. Now, find the ‘OEM unlocking’ option, and use its toggle button to enable it. If you don’t find this option, then that’s okay, no need to worry about it, just proceed to next step. Because, only some device, mainly the sets in USA, have got it. It’s good to not have it anyway.
  5. Boot your Galaxy S6 into download mode:
    1. Power off your S6. Wait 6-7 seconds after screen goes off.
    2. Press and hold the three buttons Volume Down + Power + Home together until you see warning screen.
    3. Press Volume Up to continue to download mode.
  6. Extract the Odin file. You should get this file, Odin3 v3.10.6.exe (other files could be hidden, hence not visible).
  7. 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.
    Odin 3.10.6
  8. Connect your Galaxy S6 to PC now using USB cable. Odin should recognize your S6. 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.
      Odin 3.10.6 Added message
  9. Load the UniKernel file into Odin. Click the AP button on Odin and the select the file: S6_UniKernel_v8-0002-ODIN.tar
    Odin TWRP Root
  10. 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.
    Re-partition Remains Off
  11. Click the Start button on Odin now to start flashing the UniKernel on your Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge. 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 4 to 10 again. For this, close Odin, disconnect your device, remove battery, insert it back after 5-6 seconds and then start from step 4 again.
    • Or, if you get FAIL in the top left box, you need to try flashing again, as stated just above.
      Odin 3.10.6 Pass Message Appears
  12. If you face any issues with root access, like apps force closing, then just reboot to recovery mode and wipe cache. Here’s how:
    1. Power off your S6. Wait 6-7 seconds after screen goes off.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.

If you need any help, do let us know about this.

Method 2: Using TWRP recovery

→ Tip: We would recommend you to use the above guide — Method 1 — that uses Odin, and involves just one simple installation of the kernel containing root. you won’t need to flash SuperSU or anything after that one installation. That’s super easy, and much more reliable too.

  1. Make sure you have the TWRP recovery for your device that is compatible with Android 5.1. Otherwise this won’t work.
  2. Download the UniKernel for method 2 from the download section above.
  3. Connect your Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge to PC. Transfer the UniKernel file (S6-UniKernel_v2-0002.zip) to your device. Then disconnect the device.
  4. Reboot your device into recovery mode.
    1. Power off your S6. Wait 6-7 seconds after screen goes off.
    2. 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.
  5. [Optional] Create a backup. Tap on backup, and then select partitions of your choice, preferably all of them, and then do the Swipe action at bottom to start backing up the whole phone! It would always come very handy in case anything bad happens to phone. Go back to TWRP’s main screen by tapping on Home button at bottom left corner.
  6. Now, the Android 5.1 Root. On main screen of TWRP, tap on Install, and then browse and select the 5.1 kernel file (S6_UniKernel_v8-0002-TWRP.zip). On next screen, just do the Swipe action at the bottom to root Galaxy S6 or the Galaxy S6 Edge on Android 5.1 update build.
  7. Tap on Reboot System to restart the device.
  8. Upon restart, if you get Force Closes on Apps or face any issues, just reboot to recovery mode again, and then wipe both Cache and Dalvik cache. In TWRP, tap on Wipe, then select Cache and Dalvik cache, and then do the Swipe action at bottom. GO main to main screen of TWRP, and then tap on Reboot > System to restart the device. You should not face any force close on any apps now.

That’s it. Enjoy root access on Samsung Android 5.1 firmwares, whichever model it is.

To confirm root access, download a root checker app from play store, and open it. Tap on Verify Root to confirm.

If you need any help, sure let us know about this using the comments section below.