How to Root the Samsung Galaxy xCover GT-S5690
A quick quide on how to root your xCover Android (os ver. 2.3.6)
Last edited: 2012-09-26
[Note. If you root, you do it on your own risk. I'm not responsible if you brick your phone]
That said, let's go!
- Get the file 'Universal_GB_ROOT_v5_patched_for_S5690.zip'. Just Google around to find it.(*
- Copy it to your device SD-card
- Shutdown and start the device by holding House+Volume up+Power (release power first, keep holding the first two)
- When Recovery menu pops-up, release the buttons
- Select 'apply update from sdcard' (use volume keys to scroll, House to enter)
- Select file 'Universal_GB_ROOT_v5_patched_for_S5690.zip'
- ...Done.
- After reboot, you should see a new program called 'Superuser' in the menu.
It's just something that sits in the background and helps you do root things with other programs.
Next?
- Check that you really have root access. Download 'Root Checker' from Google Play
- You also want to get a stronger file manager. Get 'Root Browser Lite'.
- To delete bloatware from system storage, get 'Root App Delete'
About 'Root App Delete'
- Click on 'SysApp' button to display stuff on system storage
- Leave the red coloured lines in peace, focus on greens and yellows (safer)
- Uninstall is two phased:
- First you 'Disable' an app (internally, the .apk will be renamed as .bak)
- Optional: Reboot and check if your phone still works
- Optional: Make a copy of the .bak file to SD Card (with Root Browser)
- Next, click on 'Recycler' button and 'Uninstall' the app (this will delete the .bak, and free space)
What I removed (and survived)
- Swype
- Samsung Apps
- Youtube
- Themes..
etc
..Oh, I almost forgot, the question: Why?
- Well, Samsung in it's greed, decided to leave the system storage very small, only to get a few cents more profit per sold phone. (This is unforgivable)
- The lack of space causes serious issues.
- Updates start to fail (Maps, Twitter): 'Update failed. Insufficient System Storage'
- You can't really use the great Offline Maps feature in Maps
- You can't install applications
- System instability
Note that rooting is not the cure, but at least it provides a bit more breathing space.
Well, that's all folks. Hope that this quide helps someone.
Br,
Niclas
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[Update 2013]
I installed 2.3.6 "LL1" firmware update with Kies and it went fine. I had to re-root my device though, but that went fine as well.
(I think I had LC1 version previously).
(* - In case you can't find the zip from the net, here is a local copy
This page was written manually using Notepad++