How to Unroot Your Galaxy Note 5: A Comprehensive Guide

Unrooting your Samsung Galaxy Note 5 can seem daunting, but it’s a process many users choose to undertake for various reasons. Whether you’re looking to receive official over-the-air (OTA) updates, improve device stability, sell your phone, or simply revert to the stock Android experience, this guide will walk you through the necessary steps. We’ll explore different methods, from using Odin to utilizing dedicated unrooting apps, ensuring you have the knowledge to successfully unroot your device.

Table of Contents

Why Unroot Your Galaxy Note 5?

Rooting your Android device provides significant control over the operating system, allowing for customizations and tweaks unavailable on stock devices. However, this freedom comes with potential drawbacks. Unrooting becomes necessary when you experience issues like inability to receive official updates, decreased security, and potential instability. Samsung, like other manufacturers, provides official updates to patched vulnerabilities, and rooting often interferes with this update process. Moreover, some apps and services may not function correctly on rooted devices due to security concerns. Finally, a rooted device might experience system instability or bootloops if customizations are not implemented correctly. Therefore, returning to a stock, unrooted state is sometimes the best course of action.

Before You Begin: Essential Preparations

Before starting the unrooting process, it’s crucial to take certain precautions and gather the necessary resources. This will minimize potential issues and ensure a smooth transition back to the stock ROM.

Backing Up Your Data: A Critical Step

The unrooting process will often involve flashing new firmware, which will wipe all data from your device. Therefore, backing up your data is absolutely essential. Several methods can be used for backing up your data, including:

Google Account Backup: Ensure your contacts, calendar, and other Google-related data are synced to your Google account.
Samsung Cloud: If you have a Samsung account, you can use Samsung Cloud to back up your settings, apps, and personal data.
Local Backup to PC: Connect your phone to your computer via USB and transfer important files, photos, videos, and documents.
Third-Party Backup Apps: Apps like Titanium Backup (if you still have root access) or Helium can back up your apps and data.

Choose the method or combination of methods that best suits your needs, and verify that your backup is complete and accessible before proceeding.

Downloading Necessary Files

Depending on the unrooting method you choose, you’ll need to download specific files. This typically includes the stock firmware for your Galaxy Note 5 model.

Stock Firmware: Download the correct stock firmware for your Galaxy Note 5 model (e.g., SM-N920C, SM-N920G, etc.) from a reputable source like SamMobile or Samsung Firmware Science. Make sure to download the firmware that matches your device’s model number and carrier. Downloading the wrong firmware can brick your device.
Odin: Odin is a flashing tool used to install firmware on Samsung devices. Download the latest version of Odin from a trusted source.
Samsung USB Drivers: Install the Samsung USB drivers on your computer to ensure your device is properly recognized when connected via USB.

Having these files readily available will streamline the unrooting process.

Ensuring Battery Life And USB Connection

Before starting, ensure your Galaxy Note 5 has at least 50% battery charge. This will prevent unexpected shutdowns during the flashing process, which could potentially damage your device. Also, use a high-quality USB cable to connect your phone to your computer. A poor connection can interrupt the flashing process and lead to errors. Avoid using cheap or damaged USB cables.

Method 1: Using Odin To Flash Stock Firmware

This is the most reliable and recommended method for unrooting your Galaxy Note 5. It involves flashing the stock firmware using Odin, which completely replaces the existing ROM with the original factory software.

Step-by-Step Guide To Flashing Stock Firmware With Odin

Boot your Galaxy Note 5 into Download Mode: Power off your phone completely. Then, press and hold the Volume Down, Home, and Power buttons simultaneously until you see a warning screen. Press the Volume Up button to enter Download Mode.
Launch Odin on your computer: Extract the Odin ZIP file you downloaded earlier and run the Odin executable file as an administrator.
Connect your Galaxy Note 5 to your computer: Using the USB cable, connect your phone to your computer. Odin should recognize your device, and you’ll see a “COM” port highlighted in blue or yellow.
Load the firmware files into Odin: The stock firmware you downloaded will likely be in a ZIP file containing multiple files. Extract the contents of the ZIP file. In Odin, you’ll see several slots: BL, AP (or PDA), CP (or Phone), and CSC.
- Click the BL button and select the file starting with “BL” from the extracted firmware files.
- Click the AP (or PDA) button and select the file starting with “AP” from the extracted firmware files. This is the largest file and may take some time to load.
- Click the CP (or Phone) button and select the file starting with “CP” from the extracted firmware files.
- Click the CSC button and select the file starting with “CSC” from the extracted firmware files. Important: If you want to perform a clean install and wipe all data, use the file starting with “CSC”. If you want to keep your data (not recommended for unrooting), use the file starting with “HOME_CSC”.
Configure Odin settings: In Odin, make sure the “Auto Reboot” and “F. Reset Time” options are checked. Leave all other settings at their default values. Do not check the “Re-Partition” option unless you know what you are doing. Incorrect partitioning can brick your device.
Start the flashing process: Once you’ve loaded the files and configured the settings, click the “Start” button in Odin. The flashing process will begin, and you’ll see a progress bar on both Odin and your phone.
Wait for the process to complete: The flashing process can take several minutes. Do not disconnect your phone from your computer during this process.
Confirmation and reboot: Once the flashing process is complete, Odin will display a “PASS!” message in green. Your phone will automatically reboot. The first boot after flashing a new ROM can take longer than usual, so be patient.
Verify unrooting: After your phone has booted up, it should be unrooted. You can verify this by checking for the SuperSU app (it should be gone) or by using a root checker app from the Google Play Store.

Troubleshooting Common Odin Errors

Odin can sometimes throw errors during the flashing process. Here are some common issues and how to resolve them:

“Failed” or “Error” message: This can be caused by several factors, including incorrect firmware, USB connectivity issues, or driver problems. Make sure you’ve downloaded the correct firmware for your device model and that your USB connection is stable. Reinstall the Samsung USB drivers.
“Stuck” at a certain percentage: This can also be caused by a USB connectivity issue. Try using a different USB port or cable. You can also try restarting your computer and phone and starting the process again.
Device not recognized by Odin: Make sure you have installed the Samsung USB drivers correctly. Try restarting your computer and phone. You can also try booting your phone into Download Mode again.

Method 2: Using Unrooting Apps (If Root Access Is Still Available)

If your device still has root access and is functioning relatively normally, you might be able to use a dedicated unrooting app to remove root. However, this method is less reliable than flashing stock firmware and may not completely remove all traces of root.

Using SuperSU To Unroot

If you rooted your device using SuperSU, it has a built-in unrooting function.

Open the SuperSU app: Find the SuperSU app in your app drawer and open it.
Go to Settings: Look for the “Settings” tab or option within the SuperSU app.
Select “Full Unroot”: Scroll down in the settings menu until you find the “Full Unroot” option. Tap on it.
Confirm your choice: SuperSU will ask you to confirm that you want to unroot your device. Read the warning message carefully and tap “Continue” or “Confirm” to proceed.
Wait for the process to complete: SuperSU will now begin the unrooting process. This may take a few minutes. Your device may reboot automatically during the process.
Verify unrooting: After your phone has rebooted, SuperSU should be gone. You can verify that your device is unrooted using a root checker app from the Google Play Store.

Limitations Of Unrooting Apps

While unrooting apps can be convenient, they have limitations. They may not remove all traces of root from your device, and they may not be effective if the root method used was not compatible with the app. In some cases, using an unrooting app can even lead to instability or bootloops. For a completely clean unroot, flashing the stock firmware with Odin is the recommended method.

After Unrooting: What To Do Next

Once you’ve successfully unrooted your Galaxy Note 5, there are a few things you should do to ensure your device is functioning properly and securely.

Checking For Software Updates

After unrooting, you should be able to receive official OTA updates from Samsung.

Go to Settings: Open the Settings app on your phone.
Select “Software Update”: Scroll down and tap on “Software Update” or “About Device,” then “Software Update.”
Check for updates: Tap on “Download and install” or a similar option to check for available updates.
Install any available updates: If there are updates available, download and install them. This will ensure your device has the latest security patches and features.

Resetting To Factory Settings (Optional)

If you want to start with a completely clean slate, you can perform a factory reset after unrooting. However, this will erase all data from your device, so make sure you have backed up everything you want to keep.

Go to Settings: Open the Settings app on your phone.
Select “General Management”: Scroll down and tap on “General Management.”
Select “Reset”: Tap on “Reset.”
Select “Factory Data Reset”: Tap on “Factory Data Reset.”
Confirm your choice: Read the warning message carefully and tap “Reset” to proceed.
Wait for the process to complete: Your phone will now erase all data and reset to its factory settings. This may take a few minutes.

Reinstalling Your Apps And Restoring Your Data

After unrooting and potentially performing a factory reset, you’ll need to reinstall your apps and restore your data.

Reinstall apps from the Google Play Store: Go to the Google Play Store and reinstall the apps you want to use.
Restore data from your backups: Restore your data from the backups you created before unrooting. This may involve restoring from your Google account, Samsung Cloud, or local backups on your computer.

Final Thoughts

Unrooting your Galaxy Note 5 is a process that requires careful attention and preparation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully revert your device to its stock, unrooted state. Remember to back up your data, download the necessary files, and follow the instructions carefully. If you encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to seek help from online forums or communities.

What Does “unrooting” My Galaxy Note 5 Mean?

Unrooting refers to the process of reversing the root access you previously granted to your Galaxy Note 5. Rooting essentially unlocks the core operating system, giving you deeper control over your device’s software. Unrooting restores your device to its original, factory state, effectively locking down the operating system again.

This means you’ll lose the ability to use root-requiring apps, custom ROMs, and other modifications you made while rooted. However, it will also restore your device’s warranty (if it was voided by rooting), allow you to receive official over-the-air (OTA) updates from Samsung, and enhance security by removing any potential vulnerabilities introduced by the rooting process.

Why Would I Want To Unroot My Galaxy Note 5?

There are several reasons why you might choose to unroot your Galaxy Note 5. The most common reason is to receive official software updates from Samsung. Rooting typically prevents OTA updates, so unrooting is necessary to install the latest version of Android and any security patches.

Another significant reason is to restore your device’s warranty. Rooting often voids the manufacturer’s warranty, and unrooting it brings the device back to its original, warrantied state. Additionally, some users find that unrooting improves the overall stability and performance of their device, especially if they’ve experienced issues related to custom ROMs or modifications. Security concerns can also be a motivator, as root access can potentially expose your device to vulnerabilities if not managed carefully.

What Are The Risks Involved In Unrooting My Galaxy Note 5?

While unrooting is generally a safe process, there are potential risks involved if not done correctly. The biggest risk is the possibility of “bricking” your device, rendering it unusable. This typically occurs if the unrooting process is interrupted or if the wrong files are used.

Another potential risk is data loss. The unrooting process often involves flashing your device with a stock firmware, which can erase all the data on your device. Therefore, it’s crucial to back up all your important data before proceeding with the unrooting process to avoid losing valuable photos, videos, contacts, and other files.

What Are The Prerequisites Before I Start The Unrooting Process?

Before you begin the unrooting process, there are several essential prerequisites to ensure a smooth and successful operation. First and foremost, back up all your important data, including contacts, photos, videos, and documents. This can be done using Samsung Smart Switch, Google Drive, or any other backup method of your preference.

Next, ensure that your Galaxy Note 5 is at least 50% charged to prevent the device from powering off during the process, which could lead to complications. You’ll also need to download the correct stock firmware for your specific Galaxy Note 5 model number. Finally, download and install the necessary drivers for your device on your computer, as well as the Odin flashing tool, which will be used to flash the stock firmware.

How Do I Find The Correct Stock Firmware For My Galaxy Note 5 Model?

Finding the correct stock firmware for your Galaxy Note 5 model is crucial for a successful unrooting process. Using the wrong firmware can potentially brick your device. The most reliable way to find the correct firmware is to visit websites like SamMobile or Sammfw. These websites host a vast database of stock firmwares for Samsung devices.

Before downloading, make sure to identify your exact Galaxy Note 5 model number. This can usually be found in the “About phone” section of your device’s settings or on the device’s packaging. Once you know your model number, search for the corresponding firmware on these websites, ensuring it matches your region and carrier. Download the firmware, and you’re ready to proceed with flashing it using Odin.

Can I Relock The Bootloader After Unrooting?

Yes, in most cases, unrooting your Galaxy Note 5 will automatically relock the bootloader, restoring it to its original state. The bootloader is a piece of software that loads the operating system, and rooting often involves unlocking it to allow for custom ROMs and other modifications. When you flash the stock firmware using Odin, it typically includes the original bootloader.

However, depending on the method you used to root your device and the specific firmware you’re flashing, there might be instances where the bootloader doesn’t relock automatically. In such cases, you might need to use specific Odin settings or commands to manually relock the bootloader. Relocking the bootloader is important for security and to ensure that your device functions as intended with the official software.

What Should I Do If I Encounter An Error During The Unrooting Process?

If you encounter an error during the unrooting process, the first step is to carefully note the error message and the stage at which it occurred. This information will be crucial for troubleshooting. Restart your computer and your Galaxy Note 5, then try the process again, ensuring that you’ve followed all the steps precisely.

If the error persists, research the specific error message online, as it’s likely that other users have encountered the same issue and found solutions. Check forums like XDA Developers or Android Central for relevant threads. You can also try using a different USB cable or USB port, or reinstalling the USB drivers for your device. As a last resort, consider seeking assistance from experienced users or technicians who are familiar with the unrooting process.