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How to Unroot Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport

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How to Unroot Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport

This guide walks you through removing root access from a Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport (SM-G860P), returning it to a fully stock, unrooted state. This is useful if you need to receive OTA updates, use banking apps that detect root, or restore warranty eligibility. You’ll need a Windows PC, the original USB cable, and a few free software tools. The process involves flashing the stock firmware with Odin, which also wipes your data, so back up anything important first.

What You’ll Need

  • A Windows PC (Odin does not run on macOS or Linux).
  • The original Samsung USB cable or a high-quality data cable.
  • Samsung USB drivers installed on your PC (download from Samsung’s website or use Smart Switch).
  • Odin3 software (version 3.10.6 or newer is recommended for the S5 Sport).
  • The stock firmware file for your exact model: SM-G860P. This is a Sprint-specific model, so make sure you download the correct carrier firmware (e.g., from a reliable source like SamMobile or Updato).
  • 7-Zip or WinRAR to extract the firmware from its compressed archive.

Step-by-Step

  1. Back up your data. Flashing stock firmware will erase everything on your phone. Copy photos, contacts, messages, and any other files to your PC or cloud storage. Also, make sure your Google account sync is up to date.
  2. Download and extract the firmware. Download the correct SM-G860P firmware file (usually a .tar.md5 or .tar file inside a .zip). Extract it to a folder on your desktop. You should see files like AP_...tar.md5, BL_...tar.md5, CP_...tar.md5, and CSC_...tar.md5.
  3. Install Samsung USB drivers. If you haven’t already, install the Samsung USB driver on your PC. You can get it from Samsung’s website or by installing Samsung Smart Switch.
  4. Enable USB debugging and OEM unlock (if applicable). Go to Settings > About phone and tap “Build number� 7 times to enable Developer options. Then go to Settings > Developer options and enable “USB debugging� and, if present, “OEM unlock�.
  5. Power off your phone. Turn off the Galaxy S5 Sport completely.
  6. Boot into Download Mode. Press and hold Volume Down + Home + Power simultaneously. When the warning screen appears, press Volume Up to continue into Download Mode.
  7. Open Odin on your PC. Right-click the Odin3 executable and select “Run as administrator�.
  8. Connect your phone. Plug your phone into the PC using the USB cable. Odin should show a blue or yellow box in the “ID:COM� section, indicating the device is detected. If not, reinstall drivers or try a different USB port.
  9. Load the firmware files into Odin. In Odin, click the buttons and select the extracted files:
    • Click BL and select the file starting with BL_.
    • Click AP and select the file starting with AP_.
    • Click CP and select the file starting with CP_.
    • Click CSC and select the file starting with CSC_.

    Do not touch any other options. Leave “Auto Reboot� and “F. Reset Time� checked.

  10. Start the flash. Click the Start button in Odin. The process will take a few minutes. Do not unplug the phone during this time.
  11. Wait for completion. When the flash is complete, Odin will show a green “PASS!� message, and the phone will reboot automatically. The first boot may take longer than usual.
  12. Verify unroot. Once the phone boots, go to Settings > About phone and check that the “Baseband version� and “Build number� match the stock firmware you flashed. You can also install a root checker app from the Play Store to confirm root access is gone.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the wrong firmware. Flashing firmware for a different model (e.g., SM-G900P) will fail or brick your phone. Always verify your exact model number in Settings > About phone.
  • Not extracting the firmware. Trying to flash a .zip file directly will fail. You must extract the .tar.md5 files first.
  • Unplugging the phone during flash. This can permanently damage the device. Be patient and wait for the green PASS.
  • Skipping the driver installation. Odin won’t recognize your phone without proper Samsung USB drivers.
  • Forgetting to back up. The flash wipes all data. If you skip this, you’ll lose everything.

Tips

  • Use a dedicated USB port. Avoid USB hubs; connect directly to your PC’s motherboard port for a stable connection.
  • Disable Windows driver signature enforcement. On some Windows versions, you may need to disable driver signature enforcement to install Samsung drivers. Do this by restarting your PC and pressing F7 when prompted.
  • Check the Kies/Smart Switch connection. If Odin doesn’t detect your phone, open Samsung Smart Switch and let it install any missing drivers, then close it and try Odin again.
  • Keep the phone charged. Ensure your battery is at least 50% before starting to avoid a mid-flash shutdown.

Troubleshooting

  • Odin fails with “FAIL!â€� or “ Complete(Write) operation failedâ€�. This usually indicates a connection issue or a bad firmware file. Try a different USB cable, a different USB port, and re-download the firmware. Also, close any other Samsung software (like Smart Switch) that might interfere.
  • Phone stuck in Download Mode after a failed flash. Simply restart the process from step 6. If Odin still fails, try re-extracting the firmware and running Odin as administrator.
  • Phone stuck in a boot loop. This can happen if the firmware was corrupted or if the CSC file wasn’t flashed. Re-flash the firmware with the correct files. If it persists, try a factory reset from Recovery Mode (Volume Up + Home + Power).
  • Odin doesn’t recognize the phone. Reinstall the Samsung USB drivers, try a different USB cable, and make sure the phone is in Download Mode. Also, try a different PC if possible.
  • Root checker still shows rooted. This is rare if you flashed the full firmware. Re-flash the firmware again, ensuring that all four files (BL, AP, CP, CSC) are selected. If it still shows rooted, you may have a custom recovery installed; flash the stock recovery via Odin as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will unrooting my phone erase my data?

Yes, flashing the stock firmware wipes all user data. That’s why backing up is essential.

Do I need to unlock the bootloader before unrooting?

No, unrooting is the opposite. You’re restoring the stock bootloader and recovery, so no bootloader unlock is needed.

Can I unroot without a PC?

No, the standard method for the Galaxy S5 Sport requires Odin on a Windows PC. There is no reliable on-device method to completely restore stock firmware.

Will this work on other Galaxy S5 variants?

No, this guide is specific to the SM-G860P (Sport). Other variants (like the SM-G900P) have different firmware and may require different steps.

What if I don’t know my exact model number?

Go to Settings > About phone > Model number. It must be SM-G860P for this guide to work.

After unrooting, can I root again?

Yes, you can root again using the same methods you used initially, such as flashing a custom recovery and SuperSU.

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