Step-by-Step Guide to Rooting and Customizing Your HTC One Series for Advanced Users
Rooting your HTC One series device allows you to gain administrative access to your Android device, giving you complete freedom to customize and optimize its performance. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of rooting and customizing your HTC One series device.
Disclaimer: Rooting your Android device voids the warranty and may also cause potential risks if not done correctly. Proceed at your own risk, and make sure to understand the implications before proceeding.
Requirements:
1. An HTC One series device (such as HTC One M7 or M8).
2. A Windows computer.
3. A USB cable.
4. Enable USB debugging on your phone (Go to Settings > Developer options > enable USB debugging).
Step 1: Backup Your Data
Before starting any modification process, it is crucial to back up all important data on your HTC One series device. This ensures that even if something goes wrong during the rooting process, you won't lose any valuable information.
You can backup your data using various methods such as:
- Using a dedicated backup app from the Google Play Store.
- Manually copying files such as photos, videos, and documents onto a computer or external storage device.
Step 2: Install ADB Drivers
ADB (Android Debug Bridge) drivers allow communication between your computer and Android devices via USB cable. To install these drivers:
1. Download the latest version of "Minimal ADB and Fastboot" from XDA Developers website.
2. Run the downloaded executable file and follow on-screen instructions to complete installation.
3. Connect your HTC One series phone to the computer using a USB cable.
Step 3: Unlock Bootloader
Unlocking bootloader is necessary before rooting an Android device in most cases since it allows unsigned firmware modifications like custom recoveries or ROMs installation.
To unlock bootloader:
1. Visit HTC's official website (htcdev.com/bootloader) and create an account or sign in if you already have one.
2. Follow the instructions provided on the website to unlock your phone's bootloader. This process will wipe all data from your device, so make sure to backup everything important.
Step 4: Download Custom Recovery
A custom recovery like TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) or CWM (ClockworkMod Recovery) is required to install custom ROMs and other modifications.
To download a custom recovery for your HTC One series:
1. Visit the official TWRP or CWM websites.
2. Look for the correct version compatible with your HTC One series device.
3. Download the recovery image file (.img).
Step 5: Flash Custom Recovery
Flashing a custom recovery replaces the stock recovery installed on your device, allowing advanced modifications.
To flash custom recovery on HTC One series:
1. Copy the downloaded .img file of the custom recovery into "Minimal ADB and Fastboot" installation folder (usually located at C:\Program Files\Minimal ADB and Fastboot).
2. Open a command prompt window by typing "cmd" into Windows search, then launching Command Prompt as administrator.
3. In Command Prompt, navigate to "Minimal ADB and Fastboot" installation folder using 'cd' command (e.g., cd C:\Program Files\Minimal ADB and Fastboot).
4. Connect your HTC One series phone to the computer via USB cable.
5. Type "adb devices" command in Command Prompt to check if your device is detected correctly; it should display its serial number.
6. Enter "adb reboot bootloader" command to reboot your phone into fastboot mode.
7a.For TWRP: Enter command "fastboot flash recovery twrp.img", replacing 'twrp.img' with the actual name of downloaded TWRP image file.
7b.For CWM: Enter command "fastboot flash recovery cwm.img", replacing 'cwm.img' with the actual name of downloaded CWM image file.
8. After successful flashing, enter "fastboot reboot" command to reboot your device.
Step 6: Root Your Device
Now that you have a custom recovery installed on your HTC One series, it's time to root your device.
To root HTC One series:
1. Download the latest version of Magisk or SuperSU (popular rooting tools) from respective official websites or trusted sources.
2. Copy the downloaded .zip file into your phone's internal storage or SD card.
3. Reboot into recovery mode by turning off your phone and then pressing and holding Volume Down + Power buttons simultaneously until the bootloader screen appears. Use volume keys to navigate and Power button to select options.
4a.If using TWRP: Select "Install," locate and select the Magisk/SuperSU .zip file, then swipe right to confirm flash.
4b.If using CWM: Select "Install zip from sdcard" (or similar option), locate and select the Magisk/SuperSU .zip file, then confirm installation when prompted.
5. Once flashing is complete, go back to main menu in recovery mode and choose "Reboot system now."
Congratulations! You have successfully rooted and customized your HTC One series device.
Note: With root access comes great responsibility; exercise caution while making system-level modifications as they can potentially harm your device's functionality if not done correctly. Always double-check instructions for specific modifications before proceeding.
Remember that rooting voids warranty, so proceed carefully with any software updates or official support decisions made by HTC or your carrier after rooting.
Enjoy exploring the vast possibilities of customization available for advanced users with a rooted HTC One series!