How to Root Samsung Galaxy Note 5 [T-Mobile, Sprint, etc. working: N920T/P/C/i/W8/K/L/S]

Update (February 24, 2016): Here is our guide on Note 5 Marshmallow root, follow that guide if you ahve updated your Note 5 Marshmallow as the root below is compatible only with Lollipop.

Now that Galaxy Note 5 TWRP recovery is available — even though for just one variant as of today, model no. SM-N920C — you can use the recovery to get root access on the device. And it’s pretty easy procedure to root Galaxy Note 5 using TWRP recovery and we will see below.

Note that while rooting the Galaxy Note 5 using TWRP isn’t a bad thing, but installing TWRP would trigger KNOX security flag of the device, meaning you would lose warranty and won’t be able to install secure enterprise apps, if any, of your company that may require enterprise level security on the device. Credit — and huge applause — developer Manh_IT, a popular figure over at the XDA.

Galaxy Note 5 Root

Let’s discuss the root status of all major Galaxy Note 5 variants here.

→ Update (February 24, 2016): Note 5 Marshmallow root is available for the model no. N920C, for which official 6.0 firmware was also out earlier. Download the official Marshmallow update firmware here.

Update (October 11, 2015): Thanks to garyd9, there is a new stock kernel available that supports root once you install SuperSU.

These kernels are selinux enforcing, and support root, meaning you don’t to worry about warning such as “Recovery is not Seandroid Enforcing” error while using garyd9’s stock kernel for root access. That’s a huge win, right?

Although, this kernels are available only or no. of devices, International models, and no support for US models, for which, the kernel shared below, and made by Manh_IT, would do the job.

Update (August 27, 2015): AVAILABLE! Thanks to Manh_IT, you can root Galaxy Note 5 now. And nearly all of them, except for Note 5 at Verizon, US Cellular and AT&T.

Update (August 26, 2015): It looks like simply flashing the SuperSU file using TWRP recovery won’t do the trick. As it was seen on recent Android 5.1.1 updates from Samsung, you now need a custom kernel installed on your device, that supports SuperSU’s changes to the system. That’s how Galaxy S6 Android 5.1.1 root was achieved too. Let’s hope custom kernel are available soon.

International Galaxy Note 5 (SM-N920C and N920i)

Available. Root is confirmed to be working for both N920C and N920i. If you own one of those two Note 5 sets, feel free to give it a try. You have to install the files given for T-Mobile Note 5 in the download section below. Remember that your KNOX security won’t work after this, and device’s warranty will be void too.

T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5 (SM-N920T)

Available. Root is available for T-Mobile Note 5. Confirmed! Check out the guide below.

Sprint Galaxy Note 5 (SM-N920P)

Available. Root is available for Sprint Galaxy Note 5. Yep. Follow the guide below — be sure to download appropriate files — to root your device now.

Canadian Galaxy Note 5 (SM-N920W8)

Available. Using the T-Mobile’s files, you can root your Canadian Galaxy Note 5 easily.

Korean Galaxy Note 5 (SM-N920K, N920S and N920L)

Available. Use T-Mobile Note 5’s file to install TWRP, and the install the kernel specifically made for your Korean Note 5 (separate file for all three variants), to root your Galaxy Note 5 easily.

Verizon Galaxy Note 5 (SM-N920V)

Not available. Root would not be available anytime soon probably because Verizon locks down the bootloader of the device.

AT&T Galaxy Note 5 (SM-N920A)

Not available. Root would not be available anytime soon probably because AT&T locks down the bootloader of the device.

US Cellular Galaxy Note 5 (SM-N920R4)

Not available. Until a custom kernel supporting root access comes out, wait would continue.

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. Also, this trips KNOX, meaning KNOX would stop working on your device, and thus you won’t be able to Samsung Pay, or install enterprise Apps on your device at Office.

Backup!

Backup important files stored on your device before proceeding with the steps below, so that in case something goes wrong you’ll have backup of all your important files. Sometimes, Odin installation may delete everything on your device!

Downloads

Custom Kernel:
- garyd9’s kernel for International Note 5 sets:
  - N920C, build N920CXXU1AOH6 — Link | File: newbootimage_N920CXXU1AOH6.tar.zip (11.31 MB)
  - N920i, build N920IDVU1AOH6 — Link | File: newbootimage_N920IDVU1AOH6.tar.zip (11.32 MB)
  - N920C, build N920W8VLU1AOI1 — Link | File: newbootimage_N920W8VLU1AOI1.tar.zip (11.31 MB)
  - N920C, build N920CXXU1AOH6 — Link | File: newbootimage_N9208ZTU1AOH4.tar.zip (11.28 MB)
- For T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5 — Link | File: Noble_Kernel_v0.3_Dev_N920T.zip (22.1 MB)
  → The above file belongs to T-Mobile Note 5 (N920T), but is confirmed to work well for international Note 5 (N920C and N920i), and Canadian Note 5 (N920W8).
- For Sprint Galaxy Note 5 — Link | File: Noble_Kernel_Auto-Root_N920P_v0.1_Alpha.zip (9.3 MB)
- For Korean Galaxy Note 5:
  - G920K — Link | File: Noble-Kernel-N920K_Alpha1.zip (9.1 MB)
  - N920S — Link | File: Noble-Kernel-N920S_Alpha1.zip (9.1 MB)
  - N920L — Link | File: Noble-Kernel-N920L_Alpha1.zip (9.2 MB)
Odin PC software — Link | File: Odin-3-10-7.zip (1.03 MB)

Supported devices

Various Galaxy Note 5 sets: T-Mobile (N920T), Sprint (N920P), international (N920C and N920i), Korean (N920K, N920S and N920L) and Canadian N920W8.
Don’t try this on other Note 5 variants at AT&T, Verizon, US Cellular, etc. whose model no. is not given above.
Don’t try on any other device whatsoever!

Important: Check your device’s model no. on its packaging box, or in Settings > About device.

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1. Download Odin and Noble Kernel file from above.

For International Note 5, you can use garyd9’s kernel, which is a bit better, but make sure that you have the exact build no. installed on your device for that.

For example, in case of Note 5 set with model no. N920C, you need to have build N920CXXU1AOH6 running to be able to use the kernel provided above because it’s based on that particular build and is thus compatible only with that build.

Step 2. Install Galaxy Note 5 driver (method 1 there!) first of all. Double click the .exe file of drivers to begin installation. (Not required if you have already done this.)

Step 3. Extract the Odin file. You should get this file, Odin3 v3.10.7.exe (other files could be hidden, hence not visible).

Step 4. Extract the kernel’s zip file to get its .tar.md5 file, which we will be using in step 9 below. Also, disconnect your Galaxy Note 5 from PC if it is connected.

Step 5. Enable OEM unlock on your device.

Go to Settings > About device. And then tap on build no. 7 times or until your get the message ‘You’re now a developer’.
Go back to Settings, scroll down, and tap on ‘Developer options’.
Look for ‘Enable OEM unlock’ and use its toggle to enable it. Accept the warning by tapping on OK button.

Step 6. Boot Galaxy Note 5 into download mode:

Power off your Galaxy Note 5. Wait 6-7 seconds after screen goes off.
Press and hold the three buttons Power + Home + Volume down together until you see warning screen.
Press Volume Up to continue to download mode.

Step 7. Double click on extracted file of Odin, Odin3 v3.10.7.exe, to open the Odin window, as shown below. Be careful with Odin, and do just as said to prevent problems.

Step 8. Connect your Galaxy Note 5 to PC now using USB cable. Odin should recognize your Galaxy Note 5. 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 the device. Mostly, drivers are the problem (look at step 2 above).
You can try different USB ports on your PC too, btw.

Step 9. Load the Noble Kernel file into Odin. For this, click the AP button on Odin and the select the kernel file in .tar.md5 format.

Step 10. Make sure Re-partition checkbox is NOT selected, under the Options tab. Don’t use PIT tab either. Go back to Log tab btw, it will show the progress when you hit start button in next step.

Step 11. Click the Start button on Odin now to start flashing the firmware on your Galaxy Note 5. Wait till installation is finished, after which your Galaxy Note 5 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 this all again. Disconnect your device, close Odin, boot device into download mode again, open Odin, and then select the firmware and flash it again as said above.
If you get FAIL in the top left box, then also you need to flash the firmware again as stated just above.