X
Android How To: Root the T-Mobile US LG G2 on Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Android How To: Root the T-Mobile US LG G2 on Android 4.4.2 KitKat

By Alexander Maxham
May 03, 2014

Most of you know that the LG G2 is able to be rooted on Android 4.4.2 KitKat using ioroot 25. However, the T-Mobile variant can’t be rooted on Android 4.4.2 with ioroot25. But don’t worry there is a way to root it, it’s a bit of a workaround, which I spent last night doing to my own LG G2. For the record this is the D801 model, for T-Mobile US. Today, I’m going to walk you through how to root the D801 variant of the LG G2. It’s a long process, so be sure to stick with me, and if you have any questions be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Background information

Basically what we are doing here is downgrading to Android 4.2.2 with some trickery. Then rooting Android 4.2.2 and flashing a KitKat ROM. Not the best way to root a phone, but it does work.

Downloads

First you’ll need to download a few files. The Android 4.2.2 file, as well as the R&D Flash Tool and LGMOBILEAX. If you don’t already have the drivers installed, you’ll need those too.

That’s the first part, just downgrading to Jelly Bean, now here are the files you’ll need to root, which is ioroot25 and SuperSU.

Now that you’ve rooted, you’ll need to flash TWRP (or another recovery, but I recommend TWRP as that’s what I used and I know it works). If you have issues with ADB, you can download the ADB drivers here. Now if you don’t want to mess with ADB and sideloading the recovery onto your device, you can always use Flashify from the Play Store to flash TWRP as your new recovery, it’s real simple, you don’t even need to download TWRP as it’ll do it for you.

Now root is done, custom recovery is done, now it’s time to flash a custom ROM, which we are going to use this rooted stock ROM here.

Instructions

  1. Make sure to backup your device.
  2. Now open up the LG Mobile Support Tool, it’ll be in the LGMOBILEAX folder.
  3. Put your LG G2 into download mode (power off. Now hold Volume Up only and plug the device into your computer. Don’t let go until you see “Download Mode” on the screen).
  4. Wait for the LG Mobile Support Tool to recognize your device. Now go to ‘Options’ and choose ‘Upgrade Recovery’.
  5. What you’re going to do now is let it download the recovery file, and as soon as it hits 100% unplug your LG G2. It should be fine, I’ve done it about three times with no issues.
  6. Now navigate to C:\ProgramData\LGMOBILEAX and jump into the “Phone” folder, which is a hidden folder, so you’ll need to enable hidden folders. You’re going to copy over the Android 4.2.2 .kdz file into that folder and rename it as the recovery file that’s in there.
  7. Now that you’ve moved the Android 4.2.2 .kdz file over, plug your phone back in and hit “retry” on the LG Mobile Support Tool.
  8. Let it do its thing and let it reboot. If you are stuck in a boot loop, hold down the power button til it shuts off, then press Power and Volume Down together to get into the stock recovery and do a factory reset.
  9. Congrats, now you are back on Android 4.2.2. Now it’s time to root Android 4.2.2.
  10. Extract the ioroot25 folder, tap on root.bat and let it do it’s thing.
  11. Make sure that you’ve accepted the connection from your PC to the LG G2, it’s a new ADB feature in Android 4.2.2.
  12. Now you are rooted. Next we’re going to install TWRP.
  13. I’m going to take you through the easiest way, which is to download Flashify from the Play Store. In the app you’re going to select “Recovery Image” and then TWRP.
  14. Let it flash TWRP then Choose yes on rebooting it.
  15. Now we have a custom recovery and root. Now time to install KitKat.
  16. The KitKat ROM you downloaded above will need to be put onto your internal storage, as well as the SuperSU.zip.
  17. Next, reboot into recovery (Power off, then Power + Volume Down til the LG logo and let go for a second then press and hold again)
  18. Tap on Install, choose both the ROM and SuperSU.zip (you must flash the SuperSU.zip or else you just wasted all this time and you’ll need to start over.
  19. Tap on Flash
  20. Once that’s complete, go into Wipe and do a factory reset.
  21. Now reboot

It’s important to note that TWRP doesn’t stick as a recovery on KitKat for some strange reason. So we’ll need to download the D801_AutoRec.apk to auto flash the recovery onto your device. It’s pretty much self explanatory as well. Additionally, you may see that you’ve lost SuperSU after flashing TWRP again. Don’t worry, just jump into the Play Store and install SuperSU or SuperUser. And you’ll be all rooted again.

Like I said, it’s a pretty long process, and it took me hours to learn how to do this. So I thought I’d share a very detailed post about how to root the LG G2 on T-Mobile. Hopefully they find an exploit soon though.