Previously rooted Galaxy S5 Active now it's not

[Androidian1]

I had previously rooted my S5 Active about 4 months ago. Used towelroot, checked it at the time with a root checker and I had root access super user. I haven't done anything root necessary since. Today while attempting to use my phone requiring root access, in the super user pop up it said something was missing and access was not allowed. When pulling up the towelroot app again to see what the deal was when attempting to "make it rain" it said the phone was not supported. Uninstalled the towelroot, super user. Reinstalled towelroot and same thing keeps happening. Went through the method for manually attempting to root using the 3 codes towelroot provides and nothing. Please help. I'd really like to re-root the phone again if possible without doing any type of reset.

 

[Jeffrey]

Pull the battery for 10 minutes and try it again.

 

[Androidian1]

when I try to download from towelroot.com it won't, it just keeps opening page after page. I did download it off of a android file host site. It loads and everything, but still says "this phone isn't currently supported" when I hit the make it ra1n button

 

[grenefroggie]

Have there been any firmware updates recently to that phone that you have accepted?

I have been out of the Samsung game for a bit, and it seems it has completely changed, so I am not sure if a firmware update would be the cause.

 

[Androidian1]

most likely yes, but I can't be sure or remember

 

[grenefroggie]

If you have done a firmware update recently, then there is a good chance it broke root access. I don't know this for sure, but it might be able to give you a direction to look in.

 

[Androidian1]

ok, so I have factory reset and the same problem keeps happening, "this phone isn't currently supported", is there something that was put in the root directory or something else that is keeping this from installing?

 

[Ollie]

What is the model number of this phone? AT&T, Verizon, etc?

 

[Androidian1]

Samsung-sm-g870a

 

[Androidian1]

att

 

[Ollie]

Edit: See my next post!

 

[Androidian1]

?

 

[Ollie]

It's your kernel that is preventing Towelroot from working. (you are on NG3 by the way)

What you will have to do is:
1. Downgrade your kernel to the stock NE4 kernel using Odin on your PC.
2. Root with Towelroot.
3. Upgrade your kernel back to the stock NG3 kernel using Odin on your PC.

The kernels and links to Odin and the flashing instructions are here: How-To Root G870AUCU1ANG3 GS5 Active AT T Samsung Galaxy S 5 XDA Forums

If you have any questions just ask!

 

[Ollie]

And... Make sure you have your Software Updates disabled in Settings, About, Software Updates. This way it won't update again until you want to.

 

[Androidian1]

I've downloaded odin, the NE4 and NG3 files to my computer, is there a quick tutorial on using odin to flash (how to) or a more simple noob step by step? (like which boxes to check or uncheck in odin program)