Geohot’s towelroot features one-click root for many KitKat devices

Geohot is back into the exploit scene! This time round, he ventured into the Android domain and released an easy one-click root tool called Towelroot that easily root Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy S5, Nexus and many others with locked bootloader.

Like his iconic iOS jailbreaks, his tool just require you to click on the “make it ra1n” button to root the Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S4 or other (supported) Android devices with locked bootloader. The beauty of Geohot’s towelroot is that it exploits a vulnerability in the Linux kernel instead of something specific to Samsung phones, and can therefore theoretically root any Android device that has a kernel with a build date prior to 3rd June 2014. The best part for Samsung phones? It does not trip the dreaded flash or KNOX counters.

Installing and executing the exploit is pretty easy.

1. Ensure you have a supported Android device with KitKat.
2. Enable installation of apps from unknown sources (Under Settings –> Security).
3. Surf to Towelroot.com.
4. Download and install the Towelroot APK.
5. Execute Towelroot and wait for the good news.
6. Verify that you attained root using Root Checker (from PlayStore).
7. (Optional) Install SDFix: KitKat Writable MicroSD to enable writing to MicroSD.

P.S.: I upgraded my Samsung Galaxy S4 (I9505) to KitKat 4.4.2 stock through Samsung Kies and rooted using Towelroot. I managed to preserve the KNOX (0x0) and Warranty (0x0) flag.

Users around the Internet has reported success for the following phones:

• Samsung Galaxy S2 4G I9210T Android 4.0.4
• Samsung Galaxy S3 (SGH-T999L)
• Samsung Galaxy S3 (GT-I9300I)
• Samsung Galaxy S3 (SCH-I535)
• Samsung Galaxy S3 (SGH-i747)
• Samsung Galaxy S4 – 4.4.3
• Samsung Galaxy S4 – 4.2.2
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (SCH-I545L) – 4.4.2
• Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE (GT-I9505) – 4.4.2
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (GT-I9506) – 4.3
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (SCH-I545)
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (SGH-I337)
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (SGH-1337M)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900F) – 4.4.2
• Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900W8)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G870A)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 (G900F)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 (G900M)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900V)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900A)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-N900V)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900P)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900W8)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
• Samsung Galaxy Note – 4.4.2
• Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (GT-7100)
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N9005) – 4.3
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – 4.4
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N9005) – 4.4.2
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N900A)
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N9005) – 4.4.2
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 – 4.1.2
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition (P-607T)
• Samsung Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 (SM-P905)
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (T217S) – 4.4.2
• Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 LTE (SM-T325) – 4.4.2
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 2014
• Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.1
• Samsung Galaxy Trend 2 (SCH-I739)
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
• AT&T Galaxy Note 3
• Verizon Galaxy Note 3
• T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3
• Galaxy Rugby Pro (SGH-I547)
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE 2014 edition (SM-P605)
• Nexus 4 – 4.4.3
• Nexus 5 (D821) – 4.4.3
• Nexus 7 2013 WiFi – 4.4.3
• Sony Xperia M – 4.1.2/ 4.2.2/ 4.3/ 4.3.2
• Sony Xperia M Dual
• Sony Xperia E1 Dual
• Sony Xperia SP201
• Sony Xperia ZR – 4.4
• Sony Xperia Z1 Tablet – 4.3
• Sony Xperia TX
• Sony Xperia V – 4.3
• Sony Xperia ZL – 4.3
• Sony Xperia ZL – 4.4.2
• Sony Xperia SP – 4.3 [205]
• Sony Xperia UltraZ
• Sony Xperia T – 4.1.2 /4.3
• Sony Xperia Z C606 – 4.4
• Sony Xperia Z C6603 – 4.4.2
• Sony Xperia Z1
• Sony Xperia Z1C
• Sony Xperia Z1S
• Sony Xperia Tablet Z SGP351 – 4.4.2
• LG Optimus F5 (P875) non-camera
• LG Optimus G – 4.1
• LG Optimus G3
• LG Optimus G2 Mini
• LG Optimus G Pro
• LG Optimus G Pro 2
• LG Optimus G Pad
• LG Optimus L70
• LG Optimus L80
• LG Optimus L90
• LG L90 (D410) – 4.4.2
• LG G Flex – 4.2.2
• LG G2 (D802) – 4.4.2
• LG G2 (TMO D801) – 4.4.2
• LG G2 (AT&T)
• LG G2 (Sprint)
• Huawei G535-L11
• Huawei C8816 – 4.3
• Huawei Ascend G6
• Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD – 4.4.2
• Motorola Razr HD – 4.4.2
• Verizon DROID RAZR M XT907 (4.4.2)
• Verizon DROID RAZR HD XT926 (4.4.2)
• HTC ONE
• HTC One M8 2014 (HTC6525LVW)
• HTC Desire 601 – 4.4.2
• Htc One M7
• ZTE Grand S Flex
• Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 Mini S(6036Y)
• Asus Memopad 10 (ME301T)
• Lenovo IdeaTab 2107A
• Lenovo Yoga 10 HD+ (B8080)
• HP SlateBook 10 x2
• Apollo 14.3.2.2.
• Kindle Fire HDX 7
• Kindle Fire HDX 8.9
• Amazon FireTV
• ZTE Nubia X6 – 4.4.2

If your device is not listed above, Towelroot might still work for you but proceed at your own risk.