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How to Root the HTC Butterfly

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How to Root the HTC Butterfly

Rooting the HTC Butterfly gives you full administrative control over the Android operating system, allowing you to remove bloatware, install custom ROMs, overclock the CPU, and use root-only apps like Titanium Backup. Before you begin, understand that rooting voids your warranty and carries a small risk of bricking the device if steps are missed. This guide covers the standard method using an unlocked bootloader and a custom recovery, which works for most Butterfly variants (including the Butterfly S and Butterfly 2 with compatible builds).

What You’ll Need

  • HTC Butterfly with at least 70% battery charge
  • USB cable and a Windows PC (or a Mac with Android SDK tools installed)
  • HTC Sync Manager installed (for USB drivers) – download from HTC’s official site
  • Minimal ADB and Fastboot tools (or full Android SDK platform-tools)
  • Unlocked bootloader – if not already done, follow HTC’s official unlock guide (requires creating an HTC account)
  • Custom recovery image (TWRP or ClockworkMod) for your exact Butterfly model
  • SuperSU or Magisk ZIP file (latest stable version)
  • Backup of all personal data – rooting wipes the phone

Step-by-Step

  1. Enable Developer Options: On your phone, go to Settings > About > Software Information > More, then tap “Build Number” seven times until you see “You are now a developer.”
  2. Turn on USB Debugging: Go back to Settings > Developer Options, and check “USB Debugging” (and “OEM Unlocking” if present, though HTC uses its own unlock process).
  3. Install USB Drivers: Install HTC Sync Manager on your PC, which includes the necessary drivers. Connect the phone via USB and ensure it is detected (you can check with “adb devices” in a command prompt).
  4. Unlock the Bootloader (if not already): Go to HTC’s developer site, register, and follow the bootloader unlock instructions. This typically involves: enabling “Fastboot” in Settings > Power > Fastboot (uncheck it), then rebooting into bootloader (power off, then hold Volume Down + Power), selecting “Fastboot” with the volume keys, and running “fastboot oem get_identifier_token” to get a token. Paste that token into the HTC site, receive an unlock token file, then run “fastboot oem unlocktoken “. Confirm on the phone screen. This wipes your data.
  5. Download the Correct Recovery: Find the TWRP or CWM image file for your exact Butterfly model (e.g., x920d, 901s, etc.). Do not use a generic image – it will not boot.
  6. Flash the Custom Recovery: With the phone in Fastboot mode and connected, open a command prompt in the folder with the recovery image and run: fastboot flash recovery recovery.img (replace “recovery.img” with your file name). Then run fastboot reboot-bootloader.
  7. Boot into Recovery: From the bootloader screen, use the volume keys to select “Recovery” and press Power. You should see the TWRP/CWM interface.
  8. Copy the Root ZIP: While the phone is in recovery, use the “Mount” option (if available) to mount USB storage, or simply copy the SuperSU/Magisk ZIP to the phone’s internal storage before entering recovery. If you can’t mount, use “adb push SuperSU.zip /sdcard/” from the command prompt.
  9. Install the ZIP: In TWRP, tap “Install”, select the ZIP file, and swipe to confirm. In CWM, select “install zip from sdcard” and choose the file. Wait for the installation to complete.
  10. Wipe Cache and Dalvik: After installation, go to “Wipe” and select “Dalvik Cache” and “Cache” (do NOT wipe data unless you want a factory reset). Swipe to wipe.
  11. Reboot System: Select “Reboot” > “System”. The first boot may take several minutes – be patient.
  12. Verify Root: Once booted, install a root checker app from the Play Store, or open the SuperSU/Magisk app to confirm the binary is installed and updated.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the wrong recovery image for your specific model – always double-check the model number (e.g., x920d vs. 901s).
  • Forgetting to unlock the bootloader first – flashing recovery will fail or result in a boot loop.
  • Skipping the USB driver installation – ADB commands will not work, and the phone won’t be recognized.
  • Not backing up data – unlocking the bootloader wipes everything, so backup first.
  • Flashing a SuperSU version that is too old for your Android version – use the latest stable release.

Tips

  • Always use a high-quality USB cable and a direct USB port on your PC, not a hub.
  • Keep your phone charged above 70% to avoid power loss during flashing.
  • After rooting, install a custom kernel only if you understand the risks – it can cause instability.
  • If you plan to install custom ROMs, make a full Nandroid backup in recovery first.
  • Write down your HTC account credentials – you’ll need them if you ever need to relock the bootloader.

Troubleshooting

Phone not detected by ADB: Reinstall HTC Sync Manager, enable USB Debugging, and try a different USB port. If still failing, manually install the Google USB driver via Device Manager.

Fastboot command hangs or says “waiting for device”: Make sure you’re in Fastboot mode (not Recovery) and that the bootloader screen shows “FASTBOOT USB”. Try running the command as administrator.

Boot loop after flashing recovery: This usually means the recovery image is wrong for your model. Re-download the correct image and re-flash it. If the boot loop persists, you may need to restore a stock recovery via RUU (ROM Update Utility) from HTC.

Root checker says “not rooted”: The SuperSU/Magisk ZIP may not have flashed correctly. Boot back into recovery and re-flash the ZIP, ensuring you select the correct file. Also check that the bootloader is truly unlocked.

Wi-Fi or Bluetooth not working after root: Some custom recoveries or root methods can alter the kernel. Re-flash the stock kernel or restore a backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does rooting void my warranty? Yes, HTC considers rooting as tampering with the device, and it voids the warranty. You can relock the bootloader and restore stock firmware to regain warranty, but it’s not guaranteed.

Will rooting delete my data? Unlocking the bootloader wipes all data, and the rooting process itself does not wipe data, but it’s recommended to backup before starting.

Can I still receive OTA updates after rooting? Usually not, because the system partition is modified. You’ll need to manually install updates or flash a custom ROM that includes them.

Is it possible to unroot my HTC Butterfly? Yes, you can unroot by flashing a stock ROM via RUU and relocking the bootloader. This restores the phone to factory state.

What is the difference between SuperSU and Magisk? SuperSU is the traditional root manager, while Magisk offers systemless root, which allows you to hide root from apps and pass SafetyNet checks. Magisk is now more recommended for newer Android versions.

My phone is stuck in a boot loop after rooting – what do I do? Boot into recovery, wipe cache and Dalvik, and try again. If that fails, restore a Nandroid backup or flash a stock ROM via RUU.

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