How To Root Your AT&T Samsung Galaxy S3

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The wait is finally over and the initial rush has died. You finally got that coveted Samsung Galaxy S 3 from AT&T! I have had mine now for around 2 weeks and I am totally in love! It’s no wonder many people say that this little guy is slotted to be an iPhone killer. With its 1.5 GHz dual processor, 2 GB of RAM, and 4.8” Super AMOLED display capable of 1280×720 (306ppi) and 16 million colors it’s no wonder this phone is considered one of the hottest phones in years! But now that you got it, how do you get the most of it and how do you root your Galaxy S 3 for more control?

One of the first things I did went out of my way to do was root this guy. It literally took me all of maybe 5 minutes. And there are a lot of different advantages of rooting your Android device. Some include running custom ROMs that can modify performance and appearance of your phone, the ability of removing that bloatware and other pre-installed software from your carrier, and running special applications such as those that allow you to use your phone as a hotspot without paying the extra fee.

As with all things, there is a balance. There is no up without a down, no left without a right, no PC without a MAC, etc. By rooting your phone you MAY instantly void your phones warrantee. That means if anything occurs from there on out, your carrier and Samsung may tell you, you are on your own.  In addition there is a chance that you could “brick” your phone. This is exactly what it sounds like. You have a gorgeous and sleek quarter pound paper weight with Gorilla Glass. In all fairness, I have never had this happen and I have never seen it irreversible when it has occurred to my techie and gadget loving friends. Only you can decide if this risk is worth it for the ability to do almost anything you want with your new toy.

With all of that being said, here is a simple to follow instruction list on how to root your new Galaxy S 3. DISCLAIMER: I take no responsibility for any undesired results. These instructions are ONLY for the Samsung Galaxy S, stock, from AT&T. Your mileage may vary if you proceed with another carrier’s version. As a tip, please read through everything before beginning to attempt this.

First and foremost make sure you have at least a 75% charge on your battery. You don’t want it dying mid-process and in some cases the phone won’t even let you proceed with a lower charge. You will also want to make sure all of your information is backed up. This can be done using several various apps and services.  Next, make sure you have installed ClockworkMod Recovery. This is also quick and painless. If you are unsure how to do this, be not afraid! You can find instructions on how to install Clockworkmod Recovery here.

Now, let’s begin the rooting process and let the games begin!

 

  1. Download this package here. It contains the software needed to root your phone.
  2. You want to place the file on your phone’s internal SD card.
  3. Go ahead and shit the phone off.
  4. Press the Volume Up, Home, and Power button at once. Keep them held until the screen on the phone turns back on. This will make your phone boot in to Clockworkmod Recovry.
  5. Using the volume keys to navigate, select the option “Install Zip from SD Card.” Then select Choose Zip from SD Card.” Select the file CWM_Superser_V3.0.7.zip, from the previous steps, and then confirm once asked.
  6. Once it finishes, back on out to the main menu and select “Reboot System Now.”

 

Your next move is installing BusyBox. This is all but required for rooting your phone as it contains many drivers and binaries needed.

  1. Download and install BusyBox free from the Google Play Store.
  2. Once it finishes installing it, go ahead and run the application.
  3. Next it will ask for “Root Access.” You want to select “Allow” (get used to this as many applications will as for this that require root access). A dialog box will then pop up, which yu can just click the red X for.
  4. BusyBox will then scan your phone. This may take a few moments, so don’t panic. When prompted you want to select the “Install” option. Another few moments may be necessary. You can exit it once this finishes up.

And VIOLA! Your phone is now rooted! You can now begin to remove that pesky bloatware, experiment with various apps and ROMs, change your phone’s performance, and more! I went straight for that software that I know I will never need. I suggest researching which apps can be safely removed and which you should leave be. Some people just rename them to experiment before removing them. What about you? What’s the first thing you plan to do with your newly rooted Galaxy S 3? Be sure and let us know!

We are influencers and brand affiliates.  This post contains affiliate links, most which go to Amazon and are Geo-Affiliate links to nearest Amazon store.