How to Root your Galaxy S6/Edge without tripping

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are, without a doubt, some of the most powerful and popular smartphones today. However, there are those who feel ‘limited’ by what the device can offer in terms of personalization and customization. The solution? Root your device.

Technically, ‘root’ is the administrator, similar to the admin user account on your computer, which allows you to make changes as you desire. In contrast, the Standard Account on your computer will not permit you to make changes, such as installing programs.

Although there are already root methods available for the Samsung Galaxy S6, these root methods, when used, trip the KNOX counter on the device. For those not familiar with this, KNOX detects system-level changes (such as rooting) on your Samsung Galaxy S6. A tripped KNOX counter on your device means your device’s software has been modified, effectively voiding your warranty.

If you want to root your Samsung Galaxy S6 without tripping KNOX, developer Idler1984 came up with PingPong Root, a new root method that provides root access to almost all variants of the Samsung Galaxy S6 without tripping the KNOX counter.

To root your Galaxy S6, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Ensure that the firmware version of your Samsung Galaxy S6 is supported.

Although PingPong Root is compatible with most variants of the Samsung Galaxy S6, this rooting method only supports certain firmware versions of the handset. To check if you can use PingPong Root to root your handset, take note of your Samsung Galaxy S6’s firmware version by going to Settings > About Device.

Write down your build number because this is what we need to check.

See the supported devices below:

Compare your version with the list above to determine if it is supported. If it is, we can proceed to the next step. If it isn’t, we cannot root it until it becomes supported.

Step 2: Install PingPong Root.

Before installing PingPong Root, ensure that apps can be sideloaded on your Samsung Galaxy S6. To do this, go to Settings > Lock Screen -> Security and enable the “Unknown sources” option.

Once ‘Unknown sources’ has been installed, the next step is to install PingPong Root. To download a copy of the PingPong Root APK installer file, connect your Samsung Galaxy S6 to the internet, open a web browser, and visit this link.

Once the download is complete, tap the “Download complete” notification to launch PingPong Root.

Tap “Install,” and you will see a warning message that PingPong Root “contains code that attempts to bypass Android’s security mechanism.” Don’t worry – this is how PingPong Root works. Place a checkmark next to the box that says “I understand,” and tap “Install Anyway.

Once PingPong Root is installed, tap “Open,” and the installer interface of Android will be launched. This time, it will ask you to install SuperSU, a root management app developed by Chainfire. Tap “Install,” then tap “Done” once SuperSU has finished installing.

Step 3: Root your Samsung Galaxy S6.

Once you have the main menu of PingPong Root open, you have two options – “Get root!” and “Download Data.” Select the “Download Data” option if the firmware version of your Samsung Galaxy S6 is listed in the “Download Data” section from Step 1. If it is not listed, tap “Get Root” to initiate the rooting process.

A ‘Please Wait!’ screen will then appear. This means you should just wait and not do anything on your phone while the root process is taking place. Once the process is completed, reboot your phone.

Step 4: Update the superuser binaries.

Once your Samsung Galaxy S6 has rebooted, you will see the SuperSU app installed in your app drawer.

Launch SuperSU, and it will ask you to update the SuperSU binaries. Tap “Continue” to do this.

The app will then ask you how you want to update your binaries.

Choose the “Normal” option and wait for the binaries to be updated. Once the process is complete, tap “Reboot” to restart your handset.

Step 5: Verify that the root process is successful.

After the second reboot, your Samsung Galaxy S6 should be fully rooted. To check this, download Root Checker from the Google Play Store (the app is free) by clicking HERE. Once Root Checker has been installed on your Samsung Galaxy S6, launch the app, and it will give you a pop-up. Just tap “Agree,” then “Okay,” and proceed to the next step.

You will then see the main menu of Root Checker. Tap the option to “Verify Root” to check if the PingPong Root process was successful.

Root Checker will then access SuperSU – simply tap “Grant” on the popup.

Once the process is completed, Root Checker will inform you that root access is properly installed on your Samsung Galaxy S6.

If, for some reason, the PingPong Root process is not successful, all you have to do is place your Samsung Galaxy S6 in Airplane Mode and run PingPong Root again, starting from Step 3.

Once you gain root access on your Samsung Galaxy S6, you can start customizing your handset like never before. Be cautious, though, that although PingPong Root will not trip your KNOX counter, it will disable OTA updates for your device.