How to Root Samsung Galaxy Note 8 snapdragon variants

Good news for all the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 users. Root access has been gained on all of the Note 8 variants including the Snapdragon or Exynos processors. The Galaxy Note 8 runs the latest Samsung Experience 8.5 based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat. Root not only comes to the unlocked variants but also the carrier bound variants like AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, and much more with model numbers SM-N950U. We have already seen root for Exynos variants of Note 8 SM-N950F/FD which is Samsungโ€™s very own processors. Today, developers have successfully deployed root for the USA Snapdragon models and the procedure is calledย SamFAIL.

SamFAILย root for Note 8 has several benefits. The most important is that it does notย trip the โ€œKnox Flagโ€ or counter. This means you may still be able to retain Samsung warranty after root. It does not require custom TWRP recovery. It comes with a simple procedure of extracting and flashing pre-rooted system files, CSC files, and eventually installing the bug fixing binaries onto your Note 8.

Root for Note 8 goes through the usual procedure of flashing custom firmware files using Odin tool. As the custom TWRP recovery is not available for Snapdragon variants, you will simply need to flash pre-rooted system and firmware file. This is the first root for Samsungโ€™s Android 7.1.1 Nougat firmware update.

Warning: Although this procedure has been tested on other Note 8 devices, it is still in beta state. So it may or may not work with you device. Also, do not try this on Exynos devices. You are taking a risk by rooting your device. We wonโ€™t be responsible.

Tools required to root Galaxy Note 8 Snapdragon variants:

  • SamFAIL Note 8 Pre-Rooted System.tar/PIT File Zip.
  • SamFAIL Note 8 part 2 Firmware Zip.
  • Comsey ODIN and latest regular ODIN tool.
  • You will need a windows PC with Odin installed.
  • The CSC file for your phone firmware. (NOTE: You MUST use the CSC matching your device or your network will not function correctly. If your CSC is not in the downloads section you must download your devices firmware and extract the CSC from it and use that one.)
  • fsck.ext4 for fixing system afterward.

Note 8 Snapdragon rooting files:

Main files:

CSC DOWNLOADS:

How to root Note 8 SM-N950U USA Snapdragon variant?

Step 1: Make sure to go through the pre-requisites from above.

Step 2: Extract SamFAIL Note 8 Pre-Rooted System.tar and PIT File to your PC.

Step 3: Runย Comsey ODIN as administrator.

Step 4: Add theย Pre-Rooted system.tar using [AP] slot.

Root note 8 snapdragon usa variant sm n950u1

Step 5: Go to PIT tab and add the PIT file to it.

Step 6: Select options likeย Auto Reboot, F. Reset Time, NAND ERASE ALL, and Re-Partition.

Root note 8 snapdragon usa variant sm n950u

Step 7: Reboot Note 8 to Download mode or Odin mode and connect to PC.

Step 8: Hit start to flash the system file.

Step 9: Once finished, reboot back into Download mode.

Step 10: Similarly, extract theย SamFAIL Note 8 Part 2 Firmware Zip and your CSC to your PC.

Step 11: Again runย Comsey ODIN and by closing it and restarting.

Step 12: Now add the firmware files: BL to BL, AP to AP, CP to CP and CSC to CSC.

Root note 8 snapdragon usa variant sm n950u2

Step 13: Before you begin, note that, we are not selectingย PIT file. Just select Auto Reboot and F. Reset.

Step 14: Hits start.

Root note 8 snapdragon usa variant sm n950u3

Quote from developer:ย 

The phone will reboot to recovery. THIS IS WHERE THE ONLY ISSUE WILL HAPPEN. If you see ANYWHERE ON THE SCREEN โ€œFailed to mount /system(Invalid Argument)โ€ You need to start over from the beginning, but you SHOULDNโ€™T get the error if you followed the directions properly(There are a couple ways to do this. If you have to try again try flashing the BL and the System with the same flags HOWEVER add the Flash bootloader update flag too. then for step 2 only flash the ap,cp and csc with the same flags then also add the flash bootloader update flag.). From there push the power button to select โ€œReboot to systemโ€.

Step 15: Reboot device into system.

If anything goes wrong: Restore Note 8 to complete stock.

Run the SuperSU app and update binaries using Normal method.

Bug fixes:

  • Sometimes, the system partition may not close during installation. To fix any possibles, simply add the fsck.ext4 file to the /tmp/ directory using adb method (Setup ADB on PC).ย Issue the following code:

su
chmod 755 /tmp/fsck.ext4
mount -o ro,remount /system
/tmp/fsck.ext4 -f $(find /dev -name system)

  • Screen sometimes will be bugged out. Fix by turning screen off and back on. Caused by Factory boot files.
  • SuperSU will ask you to update it multiple times.

Follow us on social media.ย Visit source for more information and detailed tutorial.


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