Root [International] Confused about rooting and Knox

darthlinux · Dec 10, 2013

Hi All,

I have just recently brought a Samsung Galaxy S4, I used too root and flash custom roms on my S3 but had a Nexus 4 for a while and stopped rooting and flashing.
I need some more information when it comes to rooting an S4, is it still to dangerous with this new Knox thing that Samsung so kindly installed with 4.3, is there a way to by pass the knox counter?
I know when you root phones there is always a chance of messing the phone up but I have heard its alot easier with knox.

sntaylor · Dec 10, 2013

Hi Darth,

If you have a wee read up on this very for guide by the gorgeous Mr ass, it should clear up any thoughts your unsure of

http://androidforums.com/internatio...security-locked-bootloader-new-firmwares.html

It, to me(I'm not on Knox though....) seems reasonably safe enough to root a Knox enabled firmware, however adding a custom recovery will trip the Knox counter, as far as I'm aware this does not impede the use of your phone in the normal sense, just that Knox will not work as designed!

ironass · Dec 10, 2013

santaylor is spot on! :thumbup:

As per post #1 of Knox Security & locked bootloader on new firmwares, you have not got Knox on your phone... only the prerequisites, a locked bootloader and a Knox warranty flag. Knox Security is a separate, downloadable, app.

You can easily root your Knox enabled phone using the Rooting Galaxy S4 - Dummies Guide, the same as a non Knox phone. However, the custom recovery will trip the Knox flag. This may, or may not, affect your warranty but thus far it seems, it has not for a lot of posters, see here. In fact, it would seem that Samsung are very laissez faire about the whole warranty and Knox flag situation. So much so, that I have, today, re-worded some of my advice posts concerning this.

darthlinux · Dec 11, 2013

So rooting the phone should be ok just flashing a custom recovery could trigger the counter and then my phone would be ******

ironass · Dec 11, 2013

darthlinux said:
So rooting the phone should be ok just flashing a custom recovery could trigger the counter and then my phone would be ******

Nobody has said it would be, "******"! Your Knox counter would be tripped... that's all. Judging from the latest missive from Samsung on the subject, at long last, posted just now by CafeKampuchia, it won't even affect your warranty. So, unless you require a secure BYOD for work, it doesn't matter if you do trip the Knox flag.

darthlinux · Dec 11, 2013

So in short if I root and flash away and I trip the knox counter my phone will still work will it just die and need to be sent back to be repaired.

ironass · Dec 11, 2013

darthlinux said:
So in short if I root and flash away and I trip the knox counter my phone will still work will it just die and need to be sent back to be repaired.

No one has said that! :thinking:

Obviously, even I cant allow for I.D. ten T. errors.

darthlinux · Dec 11, 2013

Sorry what I meant was if the knox counter is tripped with the phone still work fine.

dynomot · Dec 14, 2013

darthlinux said:
Sorry what I meant was if the knox counter is tripped with the phone still work fine.

In a nutshell, yes it will work fine. The Knox counter (with apologies to Mr. Ironass) should rightly be called a Knox flag. Tripping it tells a Samsung service centre that it is tripped. Unless you are going to use your phone for work no problems, unless you count the usual risk of flashing root to any device, will occur.

Knox is a Samsung secure security method which allows company IT departments to send work email and documents to your phone using the Knox application you would need to download to your device if they wanted to use it. Tripping the knox flag for a normal everyday private individual has no effect. All it is is a marker showing that root access has or was gained in the phone and the phone can no longer be regarded as secure for corporate use.

Edited to add

As already mentioned above your warranty may or may not be voided by tripping the Knox flag. It is still ambiguous, but as mentioned it is possible if not probable that Samsung would honour a warranty, in the event your phone developed a warranty covered fault.

Root [International] Confused about rooting and Knox

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