How to Root Motorola Atrix 4G Running Gingerbread 2.3.4

[TrevorCakes]

My phone is 2.3.6

I'm assuming I have to downgrade first?

[johnnythegeek1]

@TrevorCakes There is an updated root method for 2.3.6 but I don't have this phone anymore so I can not make a video on it. sorry. the site that has it is digitaltweaker.

[Bossmanhairston]

how do you know it worked?

the command prompt said success but is there a way to test my phone and see if im done?

[johnnythegeek1]

@Bossmanhairston If there is a new app in your app drawer called Super User, then it should have worked fine. I have a couple of videos on using rooted apps. You can check them out and try them on your phone. Thanks for watching!

[youngday713]

When I type in the adb shell all I get is a $

[YardieGamer]

Heyy Does the steps below to Unlock the bootloader on the website in your link work on Gingerbread 2.3.4

[johnnythegeek1]

@YardieGamer I would say yes but try to contact the people who run that site by creating an account on the top right of the page and then over to the left, there is a contact link. Thanks for watching!

[vengification]

worked great! thanks!

[johnnythegeek1]

@vengification Sweet! Thanks for watching!

[juice7767]

HE IS NOT MENTIONING THAT YOUR PHONE HAS TO BE ROOTED CAUSE IM PRETTY SURE IT DOES OTHERWISE IT WILLL NOT WRK PROPERLY

[johnnythegeek1]

@juice7767 Thanks for sharing!

[luxmansrikantha]

So I've successfully rooted following the directions in the video and website, but now I'm having trouble unlocking the bootloader. When following the instructions on the rootzwiki website, I keep getting an error. I guess my main question, can I still get all the advantages of a rooted phone now such as free tethering even if i don't unlock it? And how would you go about unlocking it in my case?

[johnnythegeek1]

@luxmansrikantha Yes, there are many features and apps to use with just a rooted phone. Unlocking the bootloader would allow you to install a custom ROM.

[phobol]

You CAN paste in cmd. Use right-click - paste. ;)

[Noiser1989]

Hi guys! Im stuck at the part: ''chmod 6755 system/bin/su'' its says no such file or directory! Any Ideas?

[Badboy6124]

Do you have to unlock it?

[johnnythegeek1]

@Badboy6124 I would say yes but others have tried some other rooting methods and it did not have to be unlocked. There have been a few methods since this video so maybe they have gotten better at rooting. I have another video on rooting the SGS2 Skyrocket and that method is suppose to work with the Atrix 4G. If you try it then let us know if it worked. Thanks for watching!

[NovaSazoku]

after I type in adb shell, i just get a dollar sign ($) it doesn't say daemon has started or anything. anyone know what to do? thanks

[johnnythegeek1]

@IntegraGT35R I have a new video on rooting android. I used my SGS2 Skyrocket but the instructions also listed the atrix. Maybe that method will work out for you.

[dontbecruel]

hi johnny,

thanks for putting up this vid.

my phone gets stuck on "Starting Fastboot protocol support" and i think that might me causing me to get stuck with "waiting for device" after i've typed in "fastboot flash preinstall root.img" at the command prompt.

your thoughts?

anybody?

[johnnythegeek1]

@dontbecruel Make sure you are running the commands from the directory on your computer that the adb file is in.

[dontbecruel]

@johnnythegeek1

thanks for replying.

i'm running it from the "c:\root" directory. that's the directory that i have all the adb files in (including 'root.img').

might it be something with my phone?

[dontbecruel]

@johnnythegeek1 i got it. all is rooted and working fine. thanks again.

[RedFredBeardie]

@dontbecruel hey man i had the same problem, just go to the Motorola website and download the installers, works

[manmanbrodude]

@dontbecruel it happened to me too. i installed the driver and that fixed it

[Birdyyisthewordy]

I done all of it , up to the command part , i typed what you said and it said ''The system cannot find the path specified'' the after it said '' FASTBOOT is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable programme or batch file.''

Why? ^^

[johnnythegeek1]

@Birdyyisthewordy I am not sure why that is because I did not get that error. Are all the files where they are suppose to be?

[NikeSBNikka23]

thanks the root works! i guess ima have to buy an unlock from ebay if theres no solution.

[NikeSBNikka23]

if i root my atrix can i unlock it for tmobile? please some reply asap!

[johnnythegeek1]

@NikeSBNikka23 It would help to root the atrix to get it unlocked for t-mobile. You would need an unlock code and to get that the phone needs to be rooted to run an app like sgs unlock to get the unlock code. I don't know off hand what the procedures are for the atrix though. I think if you put a t-mobile gsm sim card in the atrix it will ask for an unlock code. I will try it when I get an active t-mobile sim card. Thanks for asking!

[roshpiansay]

the command prompt says "cannot load root.img"

what exactly did i do wrong? help please!

[johnnythegeek1]

@roshpiansay I am not sure about that error.

[NachoLover53]

hey johnny this worked great thanks so much for the video!!

[johnnythegeek1]

@NachoLover53 Thanks for watching!

[xhayame]

Thank you! you made it really easy to follow!

[j41rp37]

Thanks So Much!!! this work perfectly!! the first i tried i bricked my phone THANKS ALOT this video is awesome!!!!

[johnnythegeek1]

@j41rp37 Thanks for watching!

[ricksilverio]

Hey Johnny! Nice video! Worked fine for me, thank you!!! I have a little tip for you buddy...

To paste lines in the Command Prompt, you just have to right-click on the window title and navigate to Edit-Paste... That's it!

[johnnythegeek1]

@ricksilverio thanks for watching and the tip! I'll add it to the description.

[Pontiac60000]

thanks for this video, worked perfectly for me.

[johnnythegeek1]

@Pontiac60000 Thanks for watching and the comment!

[Pontiac60000]

@johnnythegeek1 No problem !

[GamingWithMVJ]

Dude, thank you so much for this tutorial. I've wanted to root for a while but I've been too scared that something would go wrong, but I just did it through this tutorial with absolutely no issues and it was actually really easy! Thanks again!

[johnnythegeek1]

@GamingWithMVJ I am glad it worked out. I will be making another video over the holidays on some of my favorite reasons why I root. Thanks for watching and stay tuned!

[monkeytime912]

Worked once again. Thanks a lot man.

[mfan981]

so basically, can you explain what advantages rooting has?

[johnnythegeek1]

@mfan981 There are certain applications and feature that you might want to have. Some of those features and application would require to make changes to or have access to important system files. These files may affect other applications and features but hopefully the developers took that into account. An example of an advantage would be tethering. Most carriers will charge you an extra $20 a month. Rooting will allow a third party app to tether your 3G service. Thanks for watching!

[Reseda14]

Do you think you can make a video of how to get HDMI mirroring (landscape) or Webtop? I have been looking around but since my phone is gingerbread, can't seem to find out how to do it...THANKS MAN!

[johnnythegeek1]

@Reseda14 You mean without the dock and using a straight up cable? I will have to look into that. Do you have any resources that addresses that I can take a look at?

[Reseda14]

@johnnythegeek1 I have a link, but can't seem to attach it here. Do you have an e-mail?

[johnnythegeek1]

@Reseda14 I found methods already. There are also lot of other youtube videos on how to do it. I will work on it if I have time. thanks for watching!

[scottMorgan0613]

how do you unroot it?

[johnnythegeek1]

@scottMorgan0613 The only way I know of is to put on the stock ROM.

[scottMorgan0613]

@johnnythegeek1 I'm a noob at this how to you do that

[ARsportsfan14]

Thanks man, awesome video. It worked perfectly on my atrix.

[az1nkidd]

Do you know if this only works on the atrix? I have the HTC vivid running 2.3.4 would this root work for me? or do you know where i would be able to find the root for the vivid?

thanks.

[johnnythegeek1]

@az1nkidd Yes this specific method only works for the Atrix.

[DaneCanMakeAMess]

Stupid question but I just did everything in this video and everything went just right and I'm rooted. I'm just wondering if my bootloader is unlocked now? I'm trying to get some custom roms and they all say I need to have my bootloader unlocked and I'm not sure if mine is, lol. Thanks!

[johnnythegeek1]

@DaneCanMakeAMess Rooting does not unlock the bootloader, it does allow you to unlock it yourself. The easiest way to check is when you bootup the phone the top left corner on the Motorola boot screen will say "unlocked". I have another video on how to unlock the bootloader and many have been successful after watching my video.

[DaneCanMakeAMess]

@johnnythegeek1 Awesome. Thanks a lot man. Your videos make this so much easier/less stressful, haha.

[johnnythegeek1]

@DaneCanMakeAMess Thanks for watching!

[henilp89]

thanks mare. everything went very smoothly on my old windows xp

[johnnythegeek1]

@henilp89 Nice! Thanks for watching!

[zachery1496]

do you have to unlock it before you root it?

[johnnythegeek1]

@zachery1496 You do not have to unlock it before rooting it but you do need to root it before unlocking it. Thanks for watching!

[javier7432]

When i root my Atrix will i be able to use the mobile hotspot for free instead of paying at&t extra money to use the feature?

[johnnythegeek1]

@javier7432 yes.

[diggerheadus]

do you know if it matters if I have a PC or Mac?

[johnnythegeek1]

@diggerheadus hmmm....I am not sure actually. It would depend on the drivers for the phone on macs and the command lines working in terminal. I can't say that it would work on a mac. I would stick to windows. You could also try installing windows on your mac as a virtual machine using virtual box.

[ricardor87]

hey, how are you? i have this question, do you know if there is any way to know if my phone is froyo or gingerbread? thanks

[johnnythegeek1]

@ricardor87 Go to Settings>About Phone>Android Version. If it says 2.3.4 then it is Gingerbread, if it says 2.2, then it is froyo.

[ricardor87]

@johnnythegeek1 I believe it worked great on my phone, i´m now rebooting it a couple of times, just in case. Thanks a lot!

[johnnythegeek1]

@ricardor87 Sweet. Thanks for watching!

[joebmxx]

nevermind my cable wasnt in properly thanks for the tutorial helped alot!

[joebmxx]

nice tutorial but on the first fastboot preinstall on cmd after i press enter it just says waiting for device?

[tavodelgado]

hi man... with my phone rooted and bootloader unlocked... how can i install the gingerblur rom... i have being reading a lot of forums... and all the time i get that is problems with this "Stock AT&T 4.5.91 (2.3.4 Gingerbread)" version... can u help me?

and by the way... nice tutorial ! thanks a lot! (Y)

[johnnythegeek1]

@tavodelgado Gingerblur ROM was made for phones running on 2.2. If you try putting Gingerblur on to your 2.3.4 it will be bricked. It is up to the makers of Gingerblur to make a version for the 2.3.4. Thanks for watching!

[tavodelgado]

@johnnythegeek1 ok thx! its nice to know that! xD man... and you dont know if there is another rom (like alien or dark side) that works for me? or in the worst case... how can i delete the stock apps from motoblur and use the webtop without the dock? thx again man!

[johnnythegeek1]

@tavodelgado In the Rom Manager with Clockwork Mod, there are a couple of ROMs that gets rid of the bloat ware but I don't know about the webtop without the dock feature. I have been trying to make a video on how to get custom ROMs but I have been busy. Hopefully this weekend I get it going?

[tavodelgado]

@johnnythegeek1 thx dude!! for all your help ! (Y) u are the man!

[tavodelgado]

@johnnythegeek1 hey! i follow the video u told me... and it works ! thx a lot ! its pretty easy... (i have the 2.3.4 gingerbread OTA - 4.5.91) now... to use the rom manager i have to unlock the bootloader ? and its safe to do the Flash ClockWorkMod with this version? and with de 2.2 stock froyo too? thx again..

[johnnythegeek1]

@tavodelgado Sweet. Yes you have to unlock the bootloader to put a custom ROM. Yes you can flash ClockWorkMod with this version but I don't remember about the 2.2.I think you can if it is rooted and unlocked.

[gerson250991]

works flawlessly!

[johnnythegeek1]

@gerson250991 Sweet! Thanks for watching!

[godrilla]

Hey, How do I "unroot" this phone? I unlocked my Atrix using the method you used in the video. I have a faulty LED camera light that flickers after 20 seconds of use.

[johnnythegeek1]

@godrilla The only way I know of is to replace the OS with the stock firmware. So for example if you are on the offifical 2.3.4 Gingerbread from motorola, the you can find the original and install it back on to your phone. That would wipe out the root. There might be some other way but that is the only way I know of. Are you trying to do a RMA with it? I don't think they will void your warranty for a rooted phone but they will for an unlocked one.

[godrilla]

@johnnythegeek1 I'm running on official 2.3.4 and I meant I "rooted" my phone by using this video not "unlocked." I unlocked the phone by buying an unlock code on eBay for $3. The phone is only a month old, I should be able to get a RMA. I heard they only void warranty if you rooted your phone. Unlock is fine from what I heard, it's just that they don't like it when you unlock your phone.

[Thelaxman97]

nvm dude i fixed it thank you worked perfectly do you know how to install darkside rom? cuz that is the whole reason i rooted was to get that

[Thelaxman97]

ok when I typed fastboot flash preinstall root.img it said 'fastboot' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file

[johnnythegeek1]

@Thelaxman97 can you give me the timecode of what part of the video you are referring to? I don't remember every step.

[HiImSuan]

@johnnythegeek1 um. at 3:54, when i do that it doesnt do anything. command prompt says "waiting for device" and nothing happens

[grandmayolli]

Alright thanks. I already figured it out though im on the darkside rom right now haha

[Thelaxman97]

do you have to unlock it before you root it?

[johnnythegeek1]

@Thelaxman97 Apparently not. I have read other peoples comments on my videos saying that they were able to root it without unlocking it.

[godrilla]

My computer can't find my Atrix's driver. What do I need to download?

[johnnythegeek1]

@godrilla I added links in the description.

[godrilla]

@johnnythegeek1 Thanks, I found it anyways. I remember I had to download drivers for my Galaxy S.

[grandmayolli]

Roms* not rims haha

[grandmayolli]

Ok I unlocked and rooted following your videos. But now I don't know what to do. I don't know how to install custom roms I was trying to get the darkside one. Can you do a video on how to get rims? Hopefully you read this soon haha

[johnnythegeek1]

@grandmayolli Yeah I plan on making a video on installing some custom ROMS. I will work on it tomorrow.

[mczul007]

i have done it as it was spossed to be but cynogenmod and custom rom doesnt seem to be working. help will be appreciated

TEAM ANDROID

[tramsamoht]

nice! both the bootloader unlock and this root video helped me to release the beast. thanks

[johnnythegeek1]

@tramsamoht Sweet! Thanks for watching!

[sierrafoothill]

I noticed that the procedure (Root Method #1 - Works on Stock AT&T 4.5.91 (2.3.4 Gingerbread) unrooted...) implicitly assumes that the phone is connected to the computer prior to fastboot commands. Not a big deal unless perhaps this is your first root.

[johnnythegeek1]

@sierrafoothill Thanks for the info!

[justinnv00]

my atrix keeps saying waiting for device..? on command prompt after fastboot flash preinstall root.img

[johnnythegeek1]

@justinnv00 have you installed the drivers? have you plugged in the phone to the computer so that the computer recognizes the phone? is the phone in usb debugging mode or mass storage?

[bjybhs8]

Hey Johnny, what are some purposes of rooting your phone?

[takeshiabdul]

Awesome guide it worked 100% thanks a lot!

[LifeCompiled]

The tutorial that you linked to is for a "Stock AT&T 4.5.91 (2.3.4 Gingerbread) unrooted w/ locked bootloader." It says "locked bootloader". Does this mean we don't need an unlocked bootloader?

[jaseehomer09]

@LifeCompiled I have the same question as you do. Have you found the answer yet? thanks

[LifeCompiled]

@jaseehomer09 Yes, I successfully rooted my Atrix without unlocking the bootloader. For whatever reason, fastboot won't unlock my device. So while I can now do everything a root user can, I can't flash any custom roms because the bootloader is still locked. Let me know if fastboot is giving you trouble too and if you find something that fixes it.

[jcanotabares]

Great guide!!...worked prefect on my new unlock AT&T 4.5.91 (2.3.4 Gingerbread) atrix, I bought the phone on Amazon as unlocked so I could used in South America (Colombia). I was very nervous because didnt want to brick my new phne..but work great.

THANKS!

[johnnythegeek1]

@jcanotabares Thanks for watching!

[TheMokafan]

I had to type in "moto-fastboot" instead of "fastboot" for it to work.

[robinxcool]

what does it suppose to do

[aqib14]

Thanks mate for showing that source, its great! I tried using a different website which was similar, but the set of commands were not entirely correct... but this worked flawlessly!

[FranciscoCaval]

worked, thaks a lot. Im quite noob at this and the steps are easy and well described. Thumbs UP !

[johnnythegeek1]

@FranciscoCaval Thanks for watching. I am glad it worked. Did you also use my unlocking the bootloader video or did you just used this root method to root? I am curious because this is not suppose to work without the bootloader being unlocked first...at least that is what I thought.

[FranciscoCaval]

@johnnythegeek1 I used the steps from "Root Method #1 - Works on Stock AT&T 4.5.91 (2.3.4 Gingerbread) unrooted w/ locked bootloader". I bought this phone on ebay as unlocked (so it could work with my carrier). Im not sure if the seller did this on it. I was very nervous because I'm not familiar with this method and I'm happy I didnt brick it, lol

[johnnythegeek1]

@FranciscoCaval oh ok thanks for letting me know.

[FranciscoCaval]

@FranciscoCaval Since we are chatting, let me ask you a question :) I went through this root installation because wifi tether was not working after 2.3.4. I installed wifi-tether and it's working like a charm. So.. now that I have root, do you have any other videos showing what else can I do with the phone ? I fell that I have a ferrari at hand now and I don't know how to drive, lol.

[klogavirus]

BIG thanks!

[edogspowder]

U noe how to get free n64 emulators ...

[LittleNinja08]

can you find a method of unrooting the atrix 2.3

[johnnythegeek1]

@LittleNinja08 only thing I can think of is upgrading it to 2.3.4 that should un root it. but do the research first.

[LittleNinja08]

@johnnythegeek1 ok im on 2.3.4 and i checked everywhere and could find an unroot method other than sbf

[kaiDGAF808]

Gingerbreak don't work on gingerbread on atrix?

[sonypower159]

Whats the point of rooting?.. Couldnt u get free apps and themes withought root.

[johnnythegeek1]

@sonypower159 Can you suggest some themes for me to download? I can't seem to find any on the market place for my atrix or any android device. Thanks.

[sonypower159]

@johnnythegeek1 Oh. Now i get it its like complete themes to completely change the look of ur phone right.. Is there any other advanages?

[SkinShot24]

will there be a root for the captivate gingerbread 2.3.3?

[johnnythegeek1]

@SkinShot24 Great question. I attemted to root my 2.3.4 but I screwed it up because I think the root file was for 2.3.3. Now I am trying to find a root file for 2.3.4 but if i can't then I will have to flashback to 2.3.3 and use the rooting method I found.

[SkinShot24]

@johnnythegeek1 alright. thanks :D

i still have 2.3.3 so i won't go to 2.3.4 until you upload the video.