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I am changing the question because my original question is a duplicate of "Does rooting require a custom ROM? ". The answer is apparently "Yes, in fact you need root to load a Custom ROM"

So then the obvious question, since searching for rooting my phone keeps on taking me to instructions for installing a custom ROM, is "How do I just root my phone without installing a custom ROM".

FWIW this is for a Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500, which, surprisingly, is not listed on "How do I root my Android device?"

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Johan
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  • possible duplicate of Does rooting require a custom ROM? – Dan Hulme Jul 03 '14 at 10:17
  • What phone? Rooting does NOT require any custom ROM. You COULD install a pre-rooted ROM as a way of rooting but there is NO NECESSITY whatsoever to install a custom ROM. I have 3 phones here rooted running stock firmware just fine. Just google rooting your specific device, chances are there's loads of info out there on XDA and other sites, and see the answer to this question that was already posted on here – RossC Jul 03 '14 at 10:39
  • Also see this question which answers this And for some general reading on the terminology see this post for information. I would emphasise reading up on this from decent sources not the misinformed stuff you must have read! Keep reading, don't go and brick an expensive device, read and read and read again! – RossC Jul 03 '14 at 10:41
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    The question you linked says clearly "nothing about rooting requires a custom ROM" and is definitly a duplicate, you just misread it. Just go to XDA for the S4 there's LOADS of root methods there or even easier Google search "Root GT-i9500". Like this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2663663 and http://androidxda.com/how-to-root-samsung-galaxy-s4-i9500 and this http://www.droidreport.com/how-root-samsungs-galaxy-s4-gt-i9500-running-android-43-jelly-bean-2254 and this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292615 There's LOADS of info there, no ROMs needed. – RossC Jul 03 '14 at 11:46
  • http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/56678/do-you-need-root-to-flash-a-custom-recovery You do not need root to flash a custom rom, but many custom roms come PRE rooted for you. You may need to root to enable the ability to flash ROMs however, but in theory NO you don't. Here's how to install CyanogenMod withOUT root: http://www.howtouncle.com/2013/11/how-to-install-cyanogenmod-rom-on.html My real concern is that if you don't read these things you will totally brick your device. http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/37877/why-is-root-access-required-for-a-custom-rom – RossC Jul 03 '14 at 11:57
  • You might want to try this search: http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/samsung-galaxy-s-4+rooting – ale Jul 04 '14 at 01:34

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You don't need a custom ROM to get root.

Geohot's towelroot works for all S4 variants except your I9500 which has a different chipset. So if your firmware is I9500XXUFNB3 or older, then try:

1) Go and Download the " philz_touch_6.12.8-i9500.tar.md5 " located on this website http://goo.im/devs/philz_touch/CWM_Advanced_Edition/i9500

2) Download and extract Odin 1.85 to a folder, from: http://www.datafilehost.com/d/138bbdea or here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=581913

3) Put your phone in Download mode (turn off phone, then press power + home + volume down at the same time until it goes to download mode, then proceed according to the screen instructions) - video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5KMYhWs2fFI

4) Download Deknox Removal Script from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2365214&d=1383345163 Put the zip to your phone memory

5) Now go to the Philz recovery you just installed (turn off device, press power+home+volume up button until it goes into philz recovery) and flash the deknox removal zip

6) After you flash the Knox removal script you are ready to go rooting your device:

-in Philz touch, go to Philz Options / Choose Re-root system / Choose Yes Apply (SuperSu) -Wait until it finish, Reboot and install SuperSu from playstore -Once installed, Open SuperSu app / It will ask you to update binaries click on Update as normal (NOT TWRP) -Once binaries are installed reboot your device -Root done.

Or find a guide on XDA to your exact version of your ROM, which you can find in settings > info about your device.

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