For those of you who have rooted your AT&T or Verizon Galaxy S5, you are probably wondering how in the world you are going to install custom ROMs when the bootloader is still locked.
Thanks to excellent XDA developer Hashcode, we have a solution! You can still install custom ROMs using SafeStrap Recovery (a modded TWRP recovery that works with locked bootloader).
Before we begin, you will need a rooted AT&T or Verizon Galaxy S5.
Step 1. To install SafeStrap recovery, you will need Busybox. You can download the BusyBox app to install BusyBox on your rooted Galaxy S5.
Step 2. Download the appropriate SafeStrap for your AT&T or Verizon Galaxy S5 by going here:
Download:
Download SafeStrap Recovery for AT&T Galaxy S5 on XDA
Download SafeStrap Recovery for Verizon Galaxy S5 on XDA
Make sure you download the correct version for your Bulid number. You can check your Build number under Settings->About device.
Since my Build number ends in “ND3”, I am going to download the ND3 compatible version.
Also download the latest version, version numbers are incremented along the lines of “B01”, “B03”. Just get the one with higher number, use your common sense.
Step 3. Once downloaded, click on the downloaded file to install it.
You may have to go into Settings and check “Unknown Sources” ON to install the file.
Step 4. Once SafeStrap app is installed, run it!
Make sure to hit Grant/Allow when Superuser request window pops up.
Step 5. To install SafeStrap recovery, hit “Install Recovery”. That’s it! Any time you need to uninstall Safestrap recovery, run the app again and hit “Uninstall Recovery”.
Step 6. Reboot your Galaxy S5!
Step 7. You should now see SafeStrap Recovery splash page during boot. You will have 10 seconds to enter into SafeStrap Recovery by pressing on “Recovery”.
Step 8. Once in SafeStrap Recovery, backup your stock ROM by hitting the “Backup” button! This is important as having a backup ROM will allow you to easily restore your S5 when something goes wrong within minutes instead of unrooting your S5 with stock firmware (and losing all your stuff).
Backing up ROM backs up EVERYTHING on your phone including your stock firmware, settings, apps, app data EXCEPT your personal files such as videos, photos, and whatnot.
When backing up ROM, you will have a choice to backup to your internal storage or your microSD card.
Also, you can set a Backup name.
Step 9. If you ever run into bootloops or simply want to restore your phone back to stock ROM, you can always restore ROM easily in SafeStrap recovery.
Step 10. Once you have backed up your ROM, it’s time to actually install a new custom ROM. First, make sure you have downloaded the ROM zip file to your phone.
Then hit “Wipe” from SafeStrap main menu. (You can try skipping this if you are installing same ROM intended for your phone. E.g. You are installing Sprint TouchWiz ROM on Sprint S5. But you need to wipe if you are installing AOSP ROM over TouchWiz ROM or vice-versa.)
Swipe to Factory Reset. This will erase all your data files including your settings, apps, and app data but does not erase your personal files such as videos or photos.
Step 11. Once data wipe/factory reset is done, hit “Install” from main menu.
Step 12. Select Internal Storage or your microSD card (depending on where you downloaded/copied the ROM zip file) then browse your storage/microSD card to find the custom ROM you want to install. In this example I am installing Vision X ROM on my AT&T Galaxy S5.
Note: You can install any SM-G900F or T-Mobile S5 ROMs on the AT&T Galaxy S5. For Verizon S5, only stick with Verizon S5 ROMs unless otherwise noted!!!
Step 13. Once ROM zip file has been selected, simply Swipe to right to install, that’s it!
Step 14. Once done installing, hit “Reboot System” to reboot.
Step 15. You should see your new custom ROM booting within 5-10 minutes at most.
If you see welcome screen, congratulations! You’ve installed your first custom ROM successfully using SafeStrap Recovery on your AT&T or Verizon Galaxy S5!
FAQ
Q: My new custom ROM is NOT booting!!!
A: You can try formatting/wipe /system and re-install ROM. Try 2 or 3 more times and if it doesn’t boot, something may be wrong with the ROM you are installing. Restore back to your previous ROM or stock ROM. OR try another ROM.
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this looks like it confirms what I have read elsewhere, that the slots in safe-mode are not working. Am I correct?
I have been waiting for you to do this to make it sure it is as safe as it gets.
I believe they are working I just don’t recommend it as your storage size on ROM Slots are limited to 2.5GB instead of 32GB.
Thanks! I’ll wait to see how it goes. going to try this after work. thanks!
My att S5 is “ng3”. The only option is the “nd3”. So I can’t go any further than this step. I bought an S5 from eBay and have it in Canada on Rogers. Unlocked it and found a method to root it successfully. Nothing is easy on this version is it?
CWM is not supported any more and twrp doesn`t work because of the locked bootloader. Is that right? You have to use safestrap?
Where do we find the VisionX Rom?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2797336
Thank you Max! Very helpful for this AT&T GS5 owner.
i have been rooting and jailbreaking since my galaxy s2 and ipod touch 2g. i have always thought you could only flash at&t roms on at&t devices and verizon roms on verizon devices. how come at&t galaxy s5’s are compatible with tmobile and international roms. is it just hardware or software?
This is because AT&T S5 has nearly identical hardware specs as T-Mobile and international Qualcomm models. Samsung is NOT going to make a new phone for every carrier, it’s going to cost them millions more. Instead, they just rebrand the phones and put different software, which is why we can flash other models on AT&T S5 and vice versa. This isn’t always the case though, we got lucky with S5.
The process worked like a champ… follow of yours since galaxys3root.com and very appreciative of your websites and your web presence Max. Thanks for all you do for us.
OK cool!
Does this void warranty??
No using SafeStrap doesn’t.
Hi Max,
I rooted my Galaxy Note 10.1 and installed the Tundra ROM, using your help, that was great!. I am, however, a bit confused about what you said regarding the fact that using Safestrap does not void the warranty? I thought that once you go through the whole process of installing that, along with SuperSu, etc. then the device is indeed rooted. Wouldn’t that mean that the Knox tracking code is updated? Also, what else is needed here to get full use of the SD card? Thanks!
Any ROMs you recommend for Verizon S5 yet? Thoughts on the Sly Hyde ROM?
I should have some next week!
I can’t find any roms compatible with verizon… I cant use any other model rom other then SM-G900V?
Maybe This Rom Could Work For Verizon S5? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2716535
You are looking on the wrong section of XDA, try here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/development
Max, after installing a new custom rom do you have to re-install safestrap to be able to get into recovery?
No safestrap is permanent until u uninstall it or unroot ur phone with stock firmware.
How come when I flashed this alliance rom it no longer says lte it just says 4g?
Yes some custom ROMs say 4G or LTE, but both mean same thing. You can check your actual status in Settings->About Phone.
Thanks. It is lte
Do you know why I can’t receive pics but I can send them. I only noticed it on the vision x Rom but if I flash back to stock AT&T I can receive them
Did you set your APNs correctly?
http://highonandroid.com/android-howtos/how-to-fix-3g4g-lte-data-by-manually-setting-apn/
Yes it is set right. But I still can’t receive pics
You set all the MMS settings?
Yes I set all of them according to straight talk
Double-check you have the correct MMS settings, sometimes settings may be for an older StraightTalk phones.
Manage to install safetrap and ellikikat ROM for Verizon. Everything works except that the miscellaneous fle is still 5.65 GB even if I it is debloted. The ROM is 4.17 mb only. Why is the miscellaneous file forlder is so big?
Hi I got a G900V S5 Verizon but I switched to T-mobile, it works and all but there is a few annoying limitations, No Wifi calling, No tether option (it’s saying i should be on Verizon sim to use this feature not in those exact works of course) I can make foxfi work but I dont like it, it keeps on adding 1 to all my contacts which is weird ( example: it will add 1 to 1626-123-567, it will look like 11626-123-4567) of course it will not connect so I have to remove the 1 on all my contacts. It also does it to my VM short but like when I press 123 or press and hold 1 it wont go cuz it will dial 11626-123-4567. I was hoping there would be a Custom rom that I can fully switch functionality to Tmobile, or atleast open it up so that Verizon stuff wont keep on opening. I saw Alliance has been the rave of Verizon S5 but I dont see it stating that they have taken all the Verizon stuff out. Im already rooted and ready to go but I dont know what Rom would be best for my requirements and of course be able to custom other stuff. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
sorry didnt proof read. I hope it still make sense? lol
You can try install a T-mobile custom ROM, it should work.
Which one do you recommend? X-note or alliance for tmobile? Do you know which one works for sure, or has been tested before? Thank you again.
Try the T-Mobile version of Alliance ROM.
Thanks for the suggestion. Im downloading as we speak. But I so a post that you posted a while back July 13th when someone asked if it would work with Verizon and you said “NO DONT INSTALL” not sure if that was for the old version and now you think or have seen the new version work with Verizon? Please let me know I know the risk of installing custom rom is there but cant afford another phone dont want to kill it if its known to not work. =)
Did it, worked like a champ!!! Thank you. Your site is always helpful and accurate. G900V Confirmed working with Alliance Tmobile. Finally every T-mobile feature is working including Hotspot!!!
Nice, thanks for the feedback. Most T-mobile ROMs should work on Verizon as they share same CPU but not the other way around I think…
If I have a Verizon S5 and unlock it to use on any network, does that mean I can use the international “F” ROMS or still only the verizon based ones?
Still only Verizon ones really but there should be a patch later down the road, which you can use to flash international ROMs.
So if you do as described is Gapps no longer needed or is it incorporated into ROM?
Max, why is this website not updated more often? I suppose there aren’t many custom ROMs for the GS5. I’ve followed your websites since Galaxy S3 Root .com and like a lot of folks, I love your work and appreciate every update. Keep up the good work.
hello Max Lee, I would like to ask your helping if you can find the resolute. i accident cleaning the system, now I turned on the Samsung galaxy icon” unlock custom” stuck logo, can you help me to solute the problem? i have on rooting which is i have G900A ATT Safe strap.. I tried to use Odin 3.9 to do flash for stock firmware. but it is failed. please let me know thanks in advance.
Mira podes recuperarlo con este firmaware que desbloquea el gestor de arranque, porque me lo imagino que se quedó con el logo friziado de samsung es decir no arranca, entonces utiliza este archivo que te sacará de este problema, mira solo te pido que respondas y comentes al respecto si te soluciono o si no para poderte orientar a una solución urgente
el link es el siguiente hola…tengo el mismo comprado en B&H en New York…
El modelo es SM-G900A es de AT&T
Cargale con Odin este firmware: G900A_Downgrade_to_NCE.tar
luego bajate este OTA: G900A_NCE_to_NG3_OTA.zip
y después este: G900A_NG3_to_OA1_OTA.zip
Luego pones el archivo G900A_NCE_to_NG3_OTA.zip y el G900A_NG3_to_OA1_OTA.zip en la tarjeta SD del teléfono e inicia en modo recovery y luego instalas desde la opción upgrade desde SD el archivo G900A_NCE_to_NG3_OTA.zip , cuando termine de instalar y reinicie entras de nuevo en modo recovery e instalas de la misma manera el archivo G900A_NG3_to_OA1_OTA.zip
Y Listo el Celu queda en Android 4.4.4 Original sin perdida de Garantía y podes usar todo inclusive la Zona WI-FI compartida.
PD: No le cargues un firmware que no sea de AT&T si no queres quedarte con un pisapapeles.
Saludos
Podes a traves del odin cargarle el primer archivo y recuperas el movil, yo no lo he probado subirle al 4.4.4 porque la verdad se me puede malograr el gestor de arranque pero si voz lo haces es bajo tu propia responsabilidad
I’ve noticed that when using safestrap to install a custom ROM that has a AROMA installer that safestrap freezes. It does this with any ROM that uses the AROMA installer. Any thoughts or solutions for this?
AROMA doesn’t work with Safestrap unfortunately.
But there’s a way to remove AROMA I should have a tutorial as soon as I have some free time.
I was able to successfully install Alliance on Rom Slot 1. It did give me a message about something being damaged, but after removing the battery and activating the partition, it worked fine. I could then toggle back and forth between the stock and Allicance. I did howerver just flash the stock slot to see if that resolves the issue with Allicance settings stop working error when i click on some customization options in the settings. I’m using AT&T Galaxy s5.
That did appear to resolve 2 issues. Issue 1: when trying to reboot, it would just hang and i would have to remove the battery. issue 2: That also did resolve the issue with Allicance settings not responding from what i can tell. I will now delete the Slot 1 ROM. Still having an issue with installing the Dialer though. I can install the stock modded one, but not the Black Glass theme…
FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY! SO EASY TO DO! Thanks for this amazing and easy to understand way to do this. This was so easy to do!!!!! I been trying forever and found this. Thanks so much!!!!
Rooted my At&t GS5 per your instructions using towelroot, then installed safestrap and made a backup. Worked like a charm! The whole thing took less than ten minutes, and now I’m waiting for some good TW based ROMS to try.
I always used your guides for my GS3 also, never had a problem.
Thanks for posting such helpful guides!!
So I rooted my AT&T Galaxy S5 SM-G900A and aside from the ROM you used in this current video, I can’t seem to find any other ROMs. However, I noticed you said that T-Mobile ROMs can be used. That being said, the website has CM11 ROM that is compatible with T-Mobile’s SM-G900T yet says it doesn’t work with SafeStrap recovery so I am a little confused lol. Please clarify and I apologize for being a noob. Haven’t rooted any of my devices since my S3.
Any Touchwiz based roms but aosp roms like cm11 cannot be installed using safestrap.
I have an AT&T Galaxy s5 and want to know if it is possible to flash it with a Verizon ROM … I would like to use a Verizon SIM in this S5… is this doable? If so which Verizon ROM would you reccomend?
Hi Max Lee!
I’m trying to find this custom rom the days and I can not. My machine pe one S5 G990A, but has no language in PORTUGUESE. I know that the ROM has G900F that language! You could show me a link to download this I realize CUSTOM ROM being used in the video?
I need the same!
Hello, I have installed this rom and its very smooth and fast, but now the computer does not recognize the cellphone when I connect it… Do you have any solution for this problem?
hey max…first thankyou soooo much for your help with all of the rooting methods/ flashing…especially for me..i have the 900a att s5 and flashed bobcatrom well everything was cool..i could not use data though..the wifi works…but no data without wifi connection..i also noticed when making a call it puts 179 before the persons phone number..unless i click on there exact number it doesnt dial out without these dang numbers in front of the persons number..so i cant just click the phone button and call..must hit the persons actual number…these are the only things keeping me from using bobcatrom as a everyday driver..if you could please tell me whats going on here? ive tried everything..i currently use visx without a glitch..i want to use bobcat! lol any help would be awsome!!!
-No data issue –
I had that issue before, try installing a widget from Play Store that turns your data “on” and “off”? That was the fix in my case. I flicked it on and 4G was enabled.
I have a Verizon s5. I have tried to make towel root work but have had no luck. Is there another way to root my s5 without using towelroot?
I have a Verizon galaxy s5 fully downgraded back to complete stock NCG kernel and 4.4.2. I have root and still can’t get safe strap to work.I have the files from xda that claim to be for the ncg kernel.
Don’t know if that comment went through. I have a Verizon galaxy s5 fully downgraded to ncg kernel and 4.4.2 kit Kat. I cannot get safe strap to work. I have used towel root and installed busybox but no matter what safestrap no worky
Hi, Can I install in the same way that described below – the CM12 rom (Nightly) of CyanogenMod on the SM-G900A?
Thank you very much and have a nice day 🙂
wi this work if you have the samsung retail mode stuck on it?
this is a great guide, but I’m wondering about something. When you install safestrap and a custom rom, what happens to the original samsung rom? does it still stay on the phone staking up space? I’ve been trying to get a clear understanding of this, because from what I have read the original samsung bloated rom takes up about 8-9gb. I’ll admit I don’t fully understand how exactly safestrap works, so I’m not sure if any custom rom installed would ‘sit’ alongside the original rom, or if you can erase the original rom and regain that storage space.
hi Max please help……I have viewed all your tutorials and practiced it on my s5 ……when i come to install custom rom i am unable to make calls .Roms I Tried were : 1. X-Note
2. Aliance
3.Cynagenmod
4. Twisted Lollipop
5.Sixperience
6. blisspop and Many more……
And finally i have to switch back to my stock rom…..please help ……..
hi Max please help……I have viewed all your tutorials and practiced it on my s5 ……when i come to install custom rom i am unable to make calls .Roms I Tried were : 1. X-Note
2. Aliance
3.Cynagenmod
4. Twisted Lollipop
5.Sixperience
6. blisspop and Many more……
And finally i have to switch back to my stock rom…..please help ……
Dear Max,
I have a Verizon Galaxy S5 build number (G900VVRU2BPE1) and I would like to root it but I don’t want to risk using old root methods. Can you please help me with the root process, I understand Verizon and AT&T have locked bootloaders.
Thank you
Hi all
Iv install thats safstrabing root >> Its good but when i had update the phone its just do restart , show thats rooting theam and restat to the offical recovery
Now How I can let it working .. Help pleas I dont want to install thats ofical rom or do with odin
Hello there, where can i find the SS version for my AT&T Galaxy S5 BUILD G900AUCU2AOA1 ? Does the ND3 worlks? THXss
Greeting Sir… I really need your help on this one. First, my phone is SAMSUNG-SM-G900A. Andriod version 4.4.4
baseband version G900AUCU2AOA1. Kernel version 3.4.0-3116194 (dpi@SWDD5519 #1) Fri Jan 9 19:01:27 KST 2015.
Build number KTU84P.G900AUCU2AOA1. SE for Andriod status(Enforing SEPF_ SAMSUNG-SM-G900A_4.4.4_0033
Fri Jan 9 19:01:02 2015. Security Software version MDF v1.0 Release 3 VPN v1.4 Release 2. So these are the informations, that appears when I click on about device. QUESTION IS… I WANT TO UPDATE TO LOLLIPOP …SO HOW CAN DO IT?
THANK YOU
I AM WAITING FOR AN ANSWER….
My build number is G900AUCU2AOA1 , can i install it???
Hi, can this ROM work..?? Thanks in advance!!!!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/development/rom-ane4-kitkat-4-4-2-multi-csc-t2813628
Sorry, the phone is the SM-G900A with AT&T stock ROM…
Max! I know this is an old post but there’s a lot of us out there who have att s5’s that were unfortunately upgraded to lollipop. You are the mad root genius and we need you! My beloved g3’s screen busted yesterday and I’m working with this s5 until maybe the axon 7 comes out.
I WILL DIE IF I DON’T GET ROOT!
Also my wife might kill me if I waste any more time searching for a way.
Please please help us! I specifically have the active, g870a on 5.0 with a 5.1.1 Ota pending. Att has further locked the bootloader since lollipop and we cannot use Odin to rollback even.