Root Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean for Google Nexus 4 with CF-Auto-Root

Chainfire is one of the most popular hackers and developers at XDA, and now he managed to create and release a working tool that allows you to root the Nexus 4 with a single click of a mouse. Use all the instructions that I have listed here and you’ll manage to root your phone without risking to brick the phone.

This guide requires an unlocked bootloader which means that all the data will be deleted. However, users whose Nexus 4 device is already running an unlocked bootloader. If you wish to root correctly your device, then you should follow all the preparation guide instructions. Rooting your device will open all the sub-system settings of your device allowing you to install custom ROMs, themes and other customization files.

Follow the pre-requisites guide below and only after that you should flash the root Nexus 4 using Chainfire’s CF Auto Root utility:

• Use this tutorial only with the Google Nexus 4 smartphone. Do not attempt to flash the root files on any other devices as that will brick them.
• Your device should be on an unlocked bootloader. Without this you cannot apply the root. Use this guide here to unlock the Nexus 4 bootrom. Remember to backup all the data that is stored on your device, as that guide will remove all data from it. In case your device’s bootloader is unlocked, then you should skip the data backup.
• Install the Android SDK files on your computer ( download link here ). This will install all the adb drivers for your smartphone.
• Disable all the antivirus applications that are running on your PC. This will prevent such programs from blocking the CF Auto Root tool for Nexus 4.
• Enable the USB debugging option from the Developer Options menu. If your device doesn’t have these options shown, then you should open Settings, then About phone and after that you should tap 7 times on the Build number option; it will make the Developer Options menu visible.
• Charge the phone’s battery so that it won’t power off during the installation. Make sure to apply all the steps listed in the tutorial and don’t skip any of them as that will result in a failed attempt of rooting your device.
• Note that we cannot be held responsible in case your device gets bricked in the process. This is a guide that should be used by advanced Android users.

These are all the guidelines you had to read prior to moving to the how-to tutorial.

How to root the Google Nexus 4 with CF-Auto-Root by Chainfire:

1. Download the rooting tool zip from here.
2. After the download is complete you should extract the zip contents.
3. Power off the smartphone now. Boot it into Fastboot Mode by pressing at the same time the following buttons: volume down and power. When the screen powers on and you see ‘Start’ text you can release the buttons.
4. Connect the phone to computer using the USB cable. Now Windows will install the drivers for your computer. Now you can move to the next step.
5. Go to the folder that you created at step 2. Launch the ‘root-windows’ file executable. Remember that before you move to the next step you should make sure that you have a backup of the most important files.
6. Now, press any button to launch the Root installation.
7. During the install, you should see the Nexus 4 restarting to a screen that shows a red Android logo. When the root is complete, you will see the phone booting up into normal mode.
8. Now you can disconnect the Nexus 4 from computer.
9. Check to see if the SuperSU application has been installed. Its icon should show up in the Settings app drawer. If this doesn’t show up, then you should go to Google Play Store and install it from there.
10. That’s it, you’ve successfully flashed all the files required to root your device.

These were all the steps that you had to follow and now you should be able to flash new custom ROMs and any other files that you think that will improve the overall performance of your device.

If you think that the root wasn’t applied correctly, then you should repeat the entire root again until you manage to flash all the required files.