This is now outdated, click the "EVO Root" link at the top of pocketables.com for a more current version.
Every month, the internet increasingly becomes the dumping ground for more and more outdated and obsolete information about root on the HTC EVO 4G and HTC EVO 3D. So many sites are dead ends due to developer apathy/life/death, old information is left up because it's easier to leave it up than clean it up, and people just forget and move on to newer and better things.
As of today, November 8, 2011, everything you'll find below works. If months have gone by and you're seeing this page, look for a newer one on right here on G&E; we regularly update the site (but not necessarily the old pages) with new information.
My goal here is to provide the absolute basics. I can't include every tool, method, etc. If you see something missing or wrong, just let me know and I will correct it.
Unlocking NAND/S-OFF
Note: "old" means a working method phones that haven't been updated, not a dead link.
EVO 4G: Unrevoked (old) | Revolutionary (new)
EVO 3D: Revolutionary (old) | HTCDev (new)
You can get full root benefits with either phone
Recovery
Recovery is used to flash ROMs and .zips, create Nandroid backups, restore Nandroids, and so on.
EVO 4G: Amon Ra | TeamWIN
EVO 3D: TeamWIN
Additional steps required to have a fully-functional recovery with HTC EVO 3D HBOOT 1.50/S-ON: Hard way | Easy way
Nandroid backups
See this:
Why we root our phones
See this:
Why I rooted my phone (and why you might want to root yours too)
Superuser
Superuser is required on NAND-unlocked phones to give root access to programs.
EVO 4G/EVO 3D: AndroidSU
How to unroot
Radios/HBOOT
Just in case you need to update or roll back.
EVO 4G: Caulkin's thread
EVO 3D: XDA
ADB
EVO 4G/EVO 3D: G&E's ADB basics
EVO 4G/EVO 3D: ADB/Fastboot mini toolkit
Kernels
EVO 4G/EVO 3D: Tiamat
Maintained or recently updated ROMs
There are tons out there, but these are good starters.
EVO 4G: CyanogenMod (AOSP) | Vaelpak (Sense, GB-AOSP) | MIUI (AOSP)
EVO 4G: Smooth 'N' Sexy (Sense) | Swagged Out Stock (Sense) | MikG (Sense)
EVO 3D: Android Revolution HD (Sense) | CyanogenMod (AOSP) | MIUI (AOSP)
EVO 3D: Warm TwoPointThree (Sense) | MikG (Sense)
How-To guides
3D/4G Create a Nandroid backup
3D Root with HBOOT 1.50
4G Unroot your EVO 4G rooted with Unrevoked
3D Unroot your EVO 3D rooted with Revolutionary
4G root with Revolutionary
How about an updated “How-To” root our EVO’s weather it be the OG or the 3D… I know things changed with the release of GB. I want to root mine and I would love a step by step on how to do it.
NICE! Thanks Paul.
It’s Vaelek.com, not Vaelpak.com. And he hasn’t put out a 4G ROM in months. It seems he’s moved onto the 3D.
Maybe link something from KingsROM, MIUI, MikG, Team Nocturnal, etc…
This is a great idea but no CWM under Recovery?
Will fix when I get to a computer. And wait a little bit
Sent from my Warm Smartphone
I just list a couple. Every root method included clock work
Sent from my Warm Smartphone
+1 on linking MIUI
Since this will be something that you intend on updating periodically can a heading be added to the bar at the top of G&E? This is such a helpful article that it really should get a top of the page link for easy access.
Thanks!
when you do that, it becomes that page that never gets updated (see all the dead content out there) – perhaps a link at the top that gives the link to the current bare minimum post.
trying to do this as just the bare minimum starter / not overload people with 200 ROMs… is MIUI something that’s really a starter ROM / without a lot of porting issues? Last time I played with it it was buggy as hell (this has been many moons ago)
I used MIUI off and on and loved it each time, i think for a starter it has lots of easy tweeks. It does lack 4G and GPS is hit or miss, nonetheless I think many will like it like I have once they give it a try. thanks for the write up King!
You typo’d HTCDev (HTV~).
Hi Paul,
Thanks for a great root status update. I rooted my 4G with unrevoked eons ago never flashing a rom so I continue with Froyo and am even an update behind with Froyo. What I am trying to confirm is that I am able to flash a newer gingerbread rom or ICS when it is available with my phone as it is? I assume I don’t have to update or re-root using Revolutionary? Thanks again for your detailed work.
I put it under “EVO Root” in the top bar. Not sure about the wording, though. Maybe just plain old “root” would be better?
I vote for “Scary Root Underworld.” But that might not fit ;P
Paul, some suggestions for ROMs for the EVO 4G that really belong here.
Smooth N Sexy is based off the OTA and only has so many tweaks made to it. G&E covered it here: http://www.goodandevo.net/2011/09/rom-pick-smooth-n-sexy-v16-htc-evo-4g.html
And Swagged Out Stock (yeah, I know, my ROM, right? lol). Which is found in our forums here: http://forum.pocketables.com/showthread.php?t=10513
Other than that, this is a great idea and I think this would be worthy of monthly updates
it appears someone caught it for me…
Between typing htvdev and calling Vaelek.com valpak.com this was not so good for me on the spellings…
I rooted at froyo w revolutionary, went the RUU route to go back to stock Froyo but left s-off. updated via OTA to gingerbread (checked for updates about 6 times). The only thing you have to do is reflash a recovery (I used the pc36img version of twrp) after you get an OTA as they wipe out your custom recovery.
After recovery was installed, installed superuser, have a fully rooted stock gingerbread OTA.
I’m trying to figure out how to do this going forward. My idea was to provide a bare minimum of things that work this month, something for the new-to-root user (or even the user who’s rooted but doesn’t care so much about keeping up with things).
The old to root users are probably going to not be as overwhelmed with info / have been keeping up with what is going on. I’ll add another ROM or two (those) in there in a couple of hours, coffee has to happen first.
You know… Rev is Such a good company, and they are very clear …. but you would think they would include a step by step…
Frustrating. My older evo finally stopped working and they sent me a new one which I am having a Bitch of a time finding a step by step to root. I have a beta key, I have the .exe for the drivers – not that it installs or anything – tried to update drivers then flash the .zip – i am pretty sure im missing a step or two – as I get the Triangle ! when I try to boot into recovery to flash the zip…
any suggestions? if so, please email me at tim.wards.evo@gmail.com
Thanks.
Jenn, Thank you for adding it.
Paul, I understand what you are saying, but I am assuming as you stated in the article that you will be updating this as much as possible to keep it from becoming a page that never gets updated. It is such a great idea to have all of this information available rather than having to wade through the dead content to find the updated and good content. Maybe adding a line at the top stating when it was last updated would help to show people how current the info is.
Again, thank you for taking the time to post this article and if you plan on doing so, taking the time to keep it current.
Missing a great rom that is maintained. The mik roms. Both for the 4G and 3D.
http://themikmik.com/content.php
I rooted with Revolutionary and using the 2.6.35.10-g6fe11b3-dirtyAgrabren@Poonsense kernel.
Things I like:
Rooted (yay!) so I can run tethering apps…although it’d be great if Sprint’s data speeds weren’t sucking so hard!
I can have full HDMI mirroring
got rid of bloatware which has increased my internal memory and available RAM
Things I don’t like:
My Evo isn’t always recognized by my iMac. Sometimes I have to restart and then plug it in again (minor annoyance)
I’m pretty sure my battery has gotten worse (I tried CPUtuner for underclocking but I don’t think it’s made a difference)
What can I do to help improve power consumption? If anything, I would expect it to be better since I have less bloatware crap running.
any ideas?
Oh, and Paul E King…THANK YOU for all your help w/ the rooting process. I had some weird glitchy stuff when I initially rooted but you walked me through it and everything seems to be working fine (aside from said battery issues)
I think that you should list Synergy by Myn and others as a Sense ROM for the 4g. IMO, it is still the best and most stable Sense ROM out there.
ok, here’s the problem I forsee with editing this page at all in the future. You see all the comments below here talking about various ROMs that are current that I did not include?
Those are the first comments anyone is going to see after reading this page. I can put “Last edited xx/xx/xx” but the first comments are always going to be about “try this rom” and if “this rom” is dead, this page becomes utterly useless.
Any conversations in this format will get buried under the weight of a ton of non-current information. We’ll have a piece on rooting tat’s current at the top and the bottom will start with nothing but non-current information.
I think what I am going to do is just have this same general page cut and paste with updates every couple of months and a link at the top that reflects the current one.
Yes, each time you write a new “state of root” piece, I’ll update the navbar link so that it directs to the new article.
As soon as we get a longer navbar…
Sounds as reasonable as possible. Thanks for this page, by the way. Gonna root my 3D today… Hopefully
Paul,
I see what you are saying, and you are correct. If it is going to be updated every couple of months and Jenn is going to update the link in the Nav bar, then that would work out perfectly. I just want to avoid having this great information getting buried on the site by all the other articles.
Jenn,
I clicked on the Nav bar link and it just leads to a blank page. I don’t know if it is my browser (it’s been screwy today) or if something isn’t right, but just wanted to give a heads up.
Thanks, it should be fixed now.
Thanks for your response, Paul. I wasn’t very clear with my question. As I am currently rooted thru unrevoked and running the original stock froyo rom which I had on the phone prior to rooting, if I want to flash a rooted rom that is gingerbread or ICS when available (for instance Synergy) am I okay to do so with my current set-up? Because you are terming unrevoked an old working method that has not been updated, I am uncertain if this means I have to re-root thru revolutionary to be able to flash a new rooted rom. Thank you again.
You will be fine. UN revoked gave you soff, no update will turn it back on.
Sent from my Warm Smartphone
Thanks again, Paul, just wanted to make sure.
yeah, you’ll be fine however you go… if you somehow lost S-OFF you’d got revolutionary.io
Nothing at the moment is going to keep you away from root on an EVO 4G short of yet another OTA that does something weird.
Thanks. I haven’t done an over the air since i rooted.
quick note – I wrote that wrong up there… I rooted at Froyo with Unrevoked, not revolutionary. Either way you do it S-OFF is S-OFF and nothing so far has come out to change it.
Sorry, just saw this..
Going to say try changing your kernel – it’s generally the answer to those problems..
what ROM and Kernel are you using currently?
I didn’t use a custom ROM. Just rooted with revolutionary. The kernel I’m using is the 2.6.35.10-g6fe11b3-dirtyAgrabren@Poonsense kernel. I do like it b/c it offers the full HDMI mirroring, but if there is another kernel that offers this, w/out the battery suckage, I’m all for it!
Thanks
Try Netarchy Toastmod CFS – it’s a discontinued kernel, but was the best Sense kernel I ever played with… keep a copy / nandroid of your old setup though in case it messes up.
Sweet, thanks!
Does it matter if all the Netarchy Toastmod CFS kernels are meant for Android 2.2? I have 2.3.3. I’m using Kernel Manager.
ok so the simple question for a 1st time EVO 3D user, whats really the pros and cons of factory vs rooting the phone besides being able to take the unnessary factory sludge software off?
About time this was created!
Why haven’t you added Synergy to your ROM’s?
Give me some links, Im not at a computer
Sent from my Warm Smartphone
Thanks, Paul. I was surprised when I read that the first time.
there’s a link on there called Why We Root – I think it has some pretty decent reasons as to why you might want to.
it might, I keep forgetting the GB thing… I was so far in the root world that when GB came to Sprint I didn’t notice it…
Just grab something else with kernel manager after nandroiding your phone and try it… use battery monitor widget after the kernel’s been installed for a day to measure power
besides EVOs, I’ve been working on TABs and other devices as a side project… I have too many root methods in my head and have been mixing up the ancient early root days…
I am trying to root my Evo using Revolutionary on Windows so I need the fastboot drivers, but the link does not work on their website is there somewhere else I can get this downloaded from. I looked at using Unrevoked and the required Windows driver link fails there as well.
I have rooted WinMo 6.x in the past, but I am new to rooting on Android so I really appreciate this page and any help that you can offer.
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I just downloaded them from http://downloads.unrevoked.com/HTCDriver3.0.0.007.exeSo, if they were down, they’re back up as of 12:35cst
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Whoops, that was hboot drivers, fastboot can be found in the Android SDK or there’s http://www.goodandevo.net/2011/10/how-to-flash-from-recovery-mode-on-evo-3d-hboot-150-son.html go to step 1 with “download the basic tools here” that should include adb and fastboot
Thank you for the post, I’m getting ready to root my ol’ 4G and had a quick question. I am still running 2.2, but have had problems getting unrevoked to recognize my phone, it gets stuck on “waiting for device.” Since there is now a way to get s-off for the latest OTA with Revolutionary, should I go ahead and update, then attempt Revolutionary, or keep trying my luck with unrevoked?
Many Thanks!
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I would try to get Unrevoked to work – just because it’s a 1-click root that installs a recovery and superuser. But, if it won’t, go for Revo… it’s only a couple of more steps afterward to take.
Is there a step by step somewhere for a current stock EVO???
This should work: http://www.goodandevo.net/2011/08/how-to-gain-s-off-and-then-root-the-latest-gingerbread-ota-for-htc-evo-4g.html
Pardon my ignorance but wouldn’t using HTCDev for unlocking NAND/S-OFF officially flag you as being a rooted user there for negating any tech support where as using revolutionary you would be able to root and also be able to turn NAND/S-ON to still get official tech support.
yup.
Root with Revo, unroot and restore nand, what do you think the logs look like on that phone – think there’re months worth of stats on the phone, or does it look like an image was flashed, nothing has ever been done to the phone, and it was returned?
If you can use Revo, great. If someone wants to deny your claim, the usage logs are right there. “You say you’ve been using this for months and the power button just fell out? really, it looks like you powered it up for the first time ever this morning”
however, just read a story about a guy who returned a phone unrooted with htcdev method no questions asked – your mileage may vary
+1 to this- not too late to update the original article with a link to mikG hint hint
Thanks for the guide. Good to have spelled out what is current.
Revolutionary doesn’t have a Mac version?? What can I do?
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Assuming you still have an HBOOT before 1.50, while if you’ve accepted OTAs you probably don’tOption 1) vmware / other Windows emulationOption 2) Linux / linux emulatorOption 3) HTCDEV.comOr walk over and steal a friend’s PC, you’ll only need it for ~8 minutes
Seriously consider checking out MikG v. 2.59 Sense 2.1 + 3.0. Fantastic! Here are some vids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3124qQ6XCM
One Dumb question
If I root my HTC EVO phone and flash a new ROM, what happens to my contract with Sprint and my existing mobile number? Will I be able to use it after rooting as well? How does the new ROM automatically get the old mobile number?
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Your existing mobile and carrier information are stored in a part of the phone called the MEID if I remember correctly. Nothing changes that. Phone number always the same unless you do something I’ve never heard of. Still billed through sprint… basically the graphics and performance change but the rest stays the same.Rooted, used ~50 roms now, never had any issue with phone number, billing, or sprint except when someone stole my account information months before I rooted…
Thanks a lot Paul.. tonight is rooting night for me
If I Root with HTC Dev will I still likely get ICS. I’m getting really impatient waiting for a 1.50 S-OFF.. THIS SUCKS!!!
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I do not think the REVO crowd is searching any more, they got what they wanted. Not dissing them, but I gather from reading people’s comments about their IRC they are not too worried about devices that have fully functional root.Of course, that could be entirely wrong.. I’m HBOOT 1.5 S-ON, unlocked and rooted through HTCDev…
I have an EVO 4g design..I can’t seem to get to hboot screen..have tried holding down volume and power..does this work with my phone?
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I actually do not know. If you’re on gingerbread you may have to disable Fast Boot, which I believe is menu, settings, applications, fast boot. FB, when enabled, stops the 4g and 3d from reaching bootloader (unless you yank the battery first)Have never touched a design personally though
Disabled fastboot already…what are the steps with the battery removal?
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On the 3d and 4G it’s generally pop out battery, put battery in, boot with power + vol down.I’ll check and see if there’s a different way, report back in a bit
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I have looked high and low, can’t find any faq on the Design, will look more a bit later. Might want to try power + vol up booting, see if that gets you there.
That worked..thanks man
The battery thing worked..I installed the drivers..but now when I try unrevoked, it can’t find my device..also, when i check device manager now, its back to no drvier installed and it just says android not android 1.0..???
Waiting for device…I have even reinstalled the drivers..hmmmm
Hi, I just rooted my Evo 4G! Awesome tool!
can someone tell me the difference between root, ROM, and kernel. How do they all relate?
take a look up at the glossary in the bar at the top of G&E – should have a pretty decent list there… however:
root: for purposes of a quick explanation, it means your phone is now not locked down so tightly you can’t do anything custom to it.
ROM: also a quick exp: a set of programs, config files, launchers and apps. They’re usually themed. There are ROMs that look like the iPhone (MIUI), there are roms that look next to no different than your phone currently looks except that they have things unlocked, or have changed the kernel.
Kernel: the master scheduler of all things. The HTC kernel that ships with the EVOs is great, stable, but not fast or feature filled. Replacement kernels can overclock, underclock, supply full HDMI out, work as a master for USB devices (this is called USB host mode), dim the capacitive buttons, speed up write and read operations, etc.
Without an unlocked bootloader (one term for root) we can’t install ROMs or kernels.
Without superuser, a program that provides root level access, we can’t run root programs. We can’t install superuser without an unlocked bootloader
Without an unlocked bootloader we can’t flash roms.
Need help!!! I have rooted once before, got a new evo 4g with 2.3.3 and now keep getting stuck on “waiting for fastboot” on revolutionary with s-on. Have tried everything from deleting all root files and reinstalling drivers and uninstalling interfereing programs. Fastboot option is turned off and usb debugging is on. Made sure drive wasnt mounted while running revolutionary.
I must have run it 30 times. I am getting so irritated. You can also email me at slsfuentes@gmail.com, thanks so much!
if you accepted the OTA that was released this week, that’s potentially your issue. People are reporting left and right the new OTA can’t be Revoed.
Not having a 4G at the moment in working condition, I can’t test that.
Can you let us know if you took the OTA?
wow im looking at half these things u want good speed form the kernel try the infected anthrax kernel and the infected eternity rom check us out at http://www.ifectedroms.com u will se great results and we have the best developers around from xda and let them know vegeto999 sent u and throw me a thanks while u there trust me its worth going to
I have htc evo 3d with hboot 1.49.0018 while Revolutionary support hboot 1.49.0008 and 1.49.0007 what should i do so i can root my evo any idea?
not working on evo 4g 2.3.5
there are like 147 things above, what are you saying is not working?
I’m in desperate need of some help, I rooted my phone and i am running twrp 2.o recovery. I installed superuser and titanium backup and both of them is giving me an error. basically it does not read my root access. any suggestions?
trying not to sound snarky, but you have to provide more information or the trolls are going to come out in force.
What error are you getting? We might be able to solve this in one message by knowing this bit of info. What you’ve said is basically “my car doesn’t move”
What phone are you running this on? TWRP 2 works on at least 2 EVOs
Did you flash the superuser binary or just install it from the market? If you installed it from the market, you have to flash the superuser binary from recovery in order for the application to be able to talk to it.
FYI, on some Evo 3D ICS ROMs. I’ve used both new Cyanogen 9 ICS by Joel and the Beta ICS (AOSP) along with MIU ICS. I don’t like the MIU UI personally. The Cyanogen 9 is great but battery drain is bad. The ICS (AOSP) also by Joel is running fast and without the battery issue. I would recommend it as best option for ICS ROM on Evo 3D. Joel has also recently put out a ICS with Sense but I haven’t tried it yet. The bug log shows too many issues right now for everyday use.
that was it exactly, I didnt flash the superuser. I found this site that broke everything down for me. http://www.thedroiddemos.com/2011/08/14/how-to-root-the-htc-evo-3d-video-walkthrough/. I appreciate your help and your fast response.
Time for an update- the “state of the root world” changed recently, at least for the 4G. If you took an OTA or got a refurb or somehow ended up with an Evo that has HBOOT 2.18, you can’t use the links recommended above, at least not until you have taken a few additional steps first. Check out http://androidforums.com/evo-4g-all-things-root/488901-revised-rooting-gingerbread-2-3-5-dummies-guide.html
Ah never mind, I see you’re on it: http://www.goodandevo.net/2012/03/how-to-root-an-htc-evo-4g-with-hboot-2180001.html
yup, the company I work for went insane for the past couple of months (we released a movie, our mail server died and the backup server with it, and we got a new phone system installed during a tornado that killed 30 people in a 500 mile radius (last Friday)) and I also was without a 4G for a while
I’ve been wanting to update the State of Root for about 2 months now, but the above has been killing me and I wanted to get 4 things done:
1) rooting the new 4g ota
2) obtaining s-off for the new OTA
3) updating your EVO 3D firmware when you’re on hboot 1.5 S-ON rooted and on another rom
4) guide for recovering from TWRP 2.0 on the 4G
looks like 4 is not going to happen as the guy who managed to get it fixed for me isn’t talking… (no idea why)
Anyway, going to get the piece #3 written tonight or tomorrow, write a new state of root with current ROMs and a new section of “stuff that don’t work” hopefully this week