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How to Root the HTC One: Full Guide

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How to Root the HTC One: Full Guide

Rooting your HTC One gives you full administrative control over the Android operating system, allowing you to remove bloatware, install custom ROMs, use root-only apps, and tweak system settings that are normally locked. This guide walks you through the entire process safely, from unlocking the bootloader to flashing a custom recovery and finally rooting with SuperSU. Before you begin, back up all important data, charge your phone to at least 80%, and understand that rooting voids your warranty and carries a small risk of bricking the device.

What You’ll Need

  • An HTC One (M7, M8, or M9 – the steps are the same, but download the correct files for your exact model)
  • A Windows PC (Mac and Linux are possible but more complicated; this guide assumes Windows)
  • A USB cable that can transfer data
  • HTC Sync Manager installed on your PC (to install proper USB drivers) – or the standalone HTC USB driver
  • HTC One bootloader unlock token (you’ll get this from HTC’s developer site)
  • Custom recovery image (TWRP is recommended)
  • SuperSU ZIP file (or Magisk ZIP if you prefer systemless root)
  • Minimal ADB and Fastboot tool (or full Android SDK platform-tools)

Step-by-Step

  1. Back up everything. Rooting wipes your phone. Use HTC Sync Manager or Google backup to save contacts, photos, and app data.
  2. Enable Developer Options. Go to Settings > About > Software Information > More, and tap “Build number� 7 times. Then go back to Settings > Developer Options and enable “USB debugging� and “OEM unlocking� (if available).
  3. Install HTC Sync Manager on your PC. This installs the necessary USB drivers. After installation, you can uninstall Sync Manager but keep the drivers.
  4. Download the required files. Get the TWRP image and SuperSU ZIP (or Magisk ZIP) for your specific HTC One model. Save them in a folder like C:\htc_root.
  5. Get your unlock token. Go to HTC’s official developer website (htcdev.com), register, and follow the bootloader unlock process. You’ll need to provide your device’s ID (see next step).
  6. Boot into fastboot mode. Turn off your phone. Press and hold Volume Down + Power for about 10 seconds. You’ll see a screen with a bootloader menu. Use volume keys to navigate, select “FASTBOOTâ€� with the power button.
  7. Connect your phone to the PC. Use a USB cable. On your PC, open a command prompt in the folder with ADB/fastboot (Shift+Right-click > “Open command window hereâ€�). Type fastboot devices – your phone’s serial number should appear.
  8. Get your device ID. In the same command window, type fastboot oem get_identifier_token. A long string of text will appear. Copy it exactly, including all lines, and paste it into the HTC dev website form to get your unlock token.
  9. Unlock the bootloader. HTC will email you a token file (or a code). Save it as Unlock_code.bin in your folder. In fastboot, type fastboot flash unlocktoken Unlock_code.bin. On the phone, a prompt will appear – select “Yes� to confirm. This wipes your phone and reboots. Set up your phone minimally again, re-enable USB debugging.
  10. Flash TWRP recovery. Boot back into fastboot (same as step 6). Type fastboot flash recovery twrp.img (replace twrp.img with the actual filename). Then type fastboot reboot-bootloader to reboot into the bootloader.
  11. Boot into TWRP. In the bootloader menu, select “RECOVERY�. TWRP will load. If asked to keep system read-only, swipe to allow modifications.
  12. Install SuperSU. In TWRP, tap “Install�, navigate to the SuperSU ZIP file you downloaded, select it, and swipe to flash. If using Magisk, flash that ZIP instead.
  13. Reboot. After flashing, tap “Reboot System�. The first boot may take longer than usual. Once booted, check for the SuperSU or Magisk app in your app drawer.
  14. Verify root. Install a root checker app from the Play Store to confirm root access is working properly.

Common Mistakes

  • Wrong files for your model. The HTC One M7, M8, and M9 have different hardware. Flashing an M8 recovery onto an M7 can brick it. Always double-check the model number in Settings > About.
  • Skipping the unlock token. Some guides say you can skip the token. On most HTC One variants, you cannot – you’ll get an error like “FAILED (remote: not allowed)â€�.
  • Using the wrong fastboot command. Typing fastboot flash recovery when you meant fastboot flash boot can overwrite the wrong partition. Read each command carefully.
  • Not backing up. Unlocking the bootloader wipes all data. If you skip the backup, you lose everything.
  • Battery too low. If the phone dies during flashing, you could end up with a brick. Keep it above 80%.

Tips

  • Use the original USB cable that came with your phone – cheap cables often cause connection drops.
  • If you’re not comfortable with command lines, consider using a one-click root tool, but research it thoroughly – many are outdated or contain malware.
  • After rooting, install a backup app like Titanium Backup to save app data before you start removing system apps.
  • Keep a copy of your stock recovery and boot image on your PC. If you ever want to unroot, you can restore them.
  • If you plan to install custom ROMs, you’ll need to flash a custom kernel that matches the ROM – TWRP can help with that.

Troubleshooting

  • “FAILED (remote: not allowed)â€� when unlocking. This usually means you haven’t entered fastboot mode correctly or the token is invalid. Reboot into fastboot and try again, ensuring the token is copied exactly.
  • Phone stuck on boot logo after rooting. This is often a bad SuperSU version. Boot into TWRP (hold Volume Down + Power, select Recovery) and flash a different SuperSU version (try 2.82 or the latest stable). If that fails, restore a nandroid backup you made earlier (if you made one – always make one!).
  • ADB/fastboot not recognizing the device. Reinstall HTC Sync Manager, restart your PC, and try a different USB port. Also, make sure USB debugging is enabled.
  • TWRP doesn’t respond to touches. Some TWRP versions have touch issues on certain HTC One models. Try the official TWRP for your exact model, or use the volume/power buttons to navigate if the recovery supports it.
  • Root checker says “not rootedâ€�. Re-flash SuperSU in TWRP, or try a different root method like Magisk. Also, make sure you’re using the latest version of SuperSU – older versions may not work with newer Android versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does rooting void my warranty?

Yes, unlocking the bootloader and rooting typically voids the manufacturer warranty. Some carriers may still cover hardware defects, but software support will be refused.

Can I unroot later?

Yes. You can flash the stock recovery and boot image, then relock the bootloader using fastboot oem lock. However, the bootloader will show as “RELOCKED�, which may indicate tampering.

Will I still get OTA updates after rooting?

No, OTA updates usually fail on rooted devices. You’ll need to manually flash updates or install custom ROMs that include the latest security patches.

What’s the difference between SuperSU and Magisk?

SuperSU is the traditional root manager. Magisk is systemless, meaning it modifies the system less, allows you to hide root from apps (like banking apps), and supports modules for extra features. Magisk is now the more popular choice.

Can I root without a PC?

Some one-click apps claim to root without a PC, but they are unreliable and often contain malware. For the HTC One, a PC is strongly recommended.

What if I brick my phone?

If you can still access fastboot or recovery, you can often recover by flashing a stock RUU (ROM Update Utility) from HTC. If the phone is completely dead, you may need professional repair. Always follow the steps carefully to minimize risk.

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