Things You Will Need
A Google Nexus 5 A PC running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8 A micro USB cable Approximately 10 minutes
Let’s Get Started
Method 1 – CF Auto-Root
Step 1
Enable Developer mode in your Nexus 5. For this, go to Settings > About Phone.
Step 2
Tap on the “Build Number” 7 times. After this, you’ll see a popup saying “You are now a developer.”
Step 3
Once you get the popup above, you’ll see “Developer Options” in the settings area. Click on Developer Options and tick on “USB Debugging.”
Step 4
Install the appropriate drivers for your device on your PC. You can download the ADB Drivers here. Once downloaded, install the drivers on your PC. Make sure that your device is not connected to your PC, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the drivers.
Step 5
Now you can download the Auto Root software here. Once downloaded, you can extract the zip file on your PC.
Step 6
Turn off your Nexus device.
Step 7
In order to go into “fastboot” mode, press the Power button, the Volume Up button and the Volume Down button simultaneously. Once in fastboot mode, you should see a screen like the one below.
Step 8
Connect the device to your PC using a micro USB cable.
Step 9
Return to the folder where you extracted the Auto Root software before. Open the “root-windows.bat” file. If your PC gives a warning, click on “Run Anyway.”
Step 10
A command prompt windows should now appear. Press any key to begin.
Step 11
Your device now displays a screen asking to “Unlock Bootloader.” Press the Volume Up button to select “Yes” and the Power button to continue the process.
Step 12
After a couple of seconds, your device will restart and you should now be rooted. Check for the “SuperUser” app in your app drawer.
Method 2 – Nexus Root Toolkit
Step 1
Download the Nexus Root Toolkit software for your PC to root your Nexus 5. The file should download within a couple of minutes as it is just under 70 MB.
Step 2
Once you have downloaded the file, you need to run it and set up the software for your device. From the device drop down menu, select Nexus 5 as your device. It will also require you to select your phone’s “build number.” You can check your build number by going to Settings/About Phone.
Step 3
Once you select Nexus 5 as your device, make sure that you are connected to the internet as the software will download additional files for Nexus 5.
Step 5
Follow steps 1, 2 and 3 from the previous method in order to enable “USB debugging” on your device.
Step 4
Once the additional files are downloaded, you should see the main screen of the Nexus Root Toolkit software, similar to the one below. Click on the “Full Installation Driver Guide” in order to install the drivers for your Nexus 5. The process is straightforward, and if the software asks you to restart your PC, make sure that you do restart your PC for the installation to complete.
Step 5
Once the drivers are installed, you should get a “success” popup. Click on “Ok” to continue the process.
Step 6
The Nexus Root Toolkit has a brilliant Backup feature. Create a backup by clicking on “Backup.”
Step 7
You can now create a customized backup while in the Backup menu of the Nexus Root Toolkit. Once you click on any of the backup options, make sure that you accept creating a backup on your device if it displays a popup. Once the backup is complete, it will be saved on your PC.
Step 8
Once you are done with backing up your device, click on “Unlock Bootloader.” This will wipe data off your device, so make sure that you follow Step 7 first.
Step 9
Your Nexus 5 device should now go into “bootloader” mode and you should see a screen similar to the one below. Your device will ask if you want to “Unlock Bootloader.” Press the Volume Up button to select “Yes” and the Power button to continue. Wait a few seconds for the device to reboot.
Step 10
Once your Nexus 5 device reboots, follow Step 5 again to enable “USB debugging” mode.
Step 11
Check the “Custom Recovery” box and click on “Root” in the Nexus Root Toolkit. After the process is complete, your Nexus 5 device should be rooted.
Checking If You Have Root Access
After you root your Nexus 5 using either of the methods above, you can check whether you have root access using Root Checker. Once you install it on your Nexus 5 device, tap on “verify root access” and you should get a “Congratulations” message if the rooting process was successful.
Conclusion
Now it’s your turn to try rooting your Nexus 5. The process is simple enough for every level of user to try it out. Open up different possibilities with your Nexus 5 and get the most for your money. Increase the speed of your phone, find hidden storage space, uncover cool apps and more. Let us know in the comments section if you have any questions about the process of rooting your Nexus 5 Android phone.
