Galaxy Note 4 is rocking all around the world at the moment and the lucky owners are just loving the device. Galaxy Note 4’s stock features are good enough to overcome all the needs of an ordinary Android user, but just in case you don’t happen to be an ordinary Android user and you like doing something out of the way in order to get the maximum out of your device and unleash it’s real power, you will have to flash some custom firmwares, mods and apply some tweaks in order to check out what your device is actually capable of. The very thing that will let you open the waste and powerful world of Android on your Galaxy Note 4 and help you to become an Android power user, is the use of a custom recovery, either CWM or TWRP and having the root access.
Guides to root the Galaxy Note 4 have already been posted on our site, so far we’ve been missing the CWM recovery for the snapdragon variants of this device. The recoveries are up, all you need is, you need a method on how to install them and that’s what we are here for at the moment. As you move forward, you will come across a comprehensive guide that will help you to install ClockworkMod [CWM] 6.0.5.1 custom recovery on your Galaxy Note 4 SM-N910S, N910F and N910G running Android 4.4.4 KitKat. All these are snapdragon variants of the device and sport same specifications / features. You need to follow this guide being very careful in order to get it done successfully. Just in case you’ve no idea about what a custom recovery is, let’s go through a brief introduction of it and then head towards the early preparations and the installation guide.
A custom recovery allows you to install custom roms, mods etc. Along with these, you can make a Nandroid backup, this helps you a lot as you can move back to the previous working state of your phone at any time you want if you have backed up your current system. In some cases, to root the phone you need to flash SuperSu.zip file in the custom recovery, having installed the recovery may help you while in some cases to install the recovery easily, you need to have the phone rooted. You can also wipe cache and dalvik cache of your phone using a custom recovery.
1. This guide is only for Samsung Galaxy Note 4 SM-N910S, N910F and N910G
Make sure that your device is exactly as mentioned above. To check out what device you have, go to Settings > More/General > About Device or Settings > About Device and match the model number. Be careful about the device model number, flashing a file on a device not listed here might result in bricking it up. In that case, we may not be held responsible.
2. Battery should be charged at least 60%
Your device’s battery shouldn’t be weak. In case your device goes dead during the flashing process, your device may get soft bricked and you might be in need of flashing stock firmware and that will ultimately result in wiping up your data as well. So, make sure that you charge your device before you start the flashing process.
3. Enable USB Debugging Mode
USB debugging mode should enabled on your device in order to avoid any connection issues. To enable USB debugging mode, go to settings > developer options > check “Allow/Enable USB Debugging”. In case you can’t find the developer options in settings, you will have to activate the options by going into settings > about device > tap the build number for 7 times and you should get the developer options under settings, and then you can enable USB debugging mode.
4. Use the OEM datacable to establish connection!
Always use the original data cable to establish connection between your Android device and your computer / laptop. Using ordinary data cables might interrupt the flashing process, so to avoid any mishap, you need to meet this requirement as well.
5. Backup everything!
Just to be on the safe side, you may consider backing up each and everything from your Android device. This is highly recommended so that in case anything goes wrong, you still have the access to all of your data and you can restore it immediately. You may backup everything as listed below.
Backup SMS Messages
Backup Call Logs
Backup Contacts
Backup Media – Copy your files manually to your PC or Laptop.
6. Turn off Samsung Kies and other softwares while using Odin3!
Make sure that you turn off Samsung Kies while using Odin3 flashtool. Samsung Kies will interrupt Odin3 and will result in causing errors and may not let you flash your desired recovery or root file. Also, make sure that you turn off any antivirus software you’ve installed and also disable firewall to avoid any connection and flashing issues.
7. Disclaimer
The methods involved in flashing custom recoveries, ROMs and rooting your phone are highly custom and may result in bricking your device, and has nothing to do with Google or the device manufacturer that is SAMSUNG in our case. Also rooting your device will void its warranty and you will be no longer eligible for any kind of free device services by the manufacturers/warranty providers. Galaxy Note 4 comes with Knox counter on the bootloader, once tripped you won’t be able to reset it again. In case of any mishap we may not be held responsible. Follow these instructions to the letter to avoid any mishap or bricking. Make sure that whatever you do, you are doing it at your own responsibility.
Downloads Required
- Download and extract Odin3 v3.09.
- Download and Install Samsung USB drivers.
- Download the CWM Recovery For Your Device
- English version N910g-cwm-recovery-6.0.5.1 [N910G – CWMRecovery.tar]
- English version N910s-CWM Recovery-6.0.5.1 [N910S – CWMRecovery.tar]
- English version N910f-CWM Recovery-6.0.5.1 [N910F – CWMRecovery.tar]
How To Install CWM Recovery On Samsung Galaxy Note 4 SM-N910S, N910F & N910G
- Download CWM Recovery.tar file.
- Open Odin3.exe.
- Put your Galaxy Note 4 in download mode. To do so, turn it off and wait for 10 seconds. Turn it on by pressing and holding Volume Down + Home Button + Power Key simultaneously, You should see a warning, press Volume Up to continue. In case this method doesn’t work for you, try one from this guide.
- Connect your device to your PC.
- As soon as Odin detects your phone, the ID:COM box should turn blue. Make sure that you’ve installed Samsung USB drivers before connecting.
- For Odin 3.09 hit the AP tab. Select the recovery.tar.md5 or recovery.tar, that you downloaded above.
- If you’re using Odin 3.07, you will select “PDA” tab instead of the AP tab, rest of the options remain untouched.
- Make sure that the options selected in your Odin are exactly as shown in the pic.
- Hit start and wait till the recovery flashing is complete, as soon as your device restarts, remove it from PC.
- You can now boot into recovery mode by turning off your device, and then turning it on by pressing and holding Volume Up + Home + Power Key.
- That’s all!
Root The Galaxy Note 4 SM-N910S, N910F, N910G
- Download the Root Package.zip file [ UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.16.zip ]
- Copy the downloaded Root Package.zip file to your Galaxy Note 4’s SD card.
- Boot into recovery mode on your Galaxy Note 4, use step 11 in the recovery installation guide.
- Now Select “Install > Choose Zip from SD card > Root Package.zip > Yes / Confirm”.
- This will flash the Root Package and quickly gain the root access on your Galaxy Note 4.
- Reboot your device.
- Find SuperSu in the App Drawer.
How to check if the device is properly rooted or not?
- To do so, go to Google Play Store on your Galaxy Note 4.
- Find “Root Checker” and install it.
- Open Root Checker.
- Tap “Verify Root”.
- It will ask you for SuperSu rights, tap “Grant”.
- It should show you Root Access Verified Now!
Now make sure that you backup your EFS Partition and Nandroid.
That’s all. We hope that you found this guide helpful. If you’re stuck with anything or got any queries, make sure that you use the comment box below and reach us. Thank you all.
