Root Nexus 5 on Android 5.0 Lollipop

The Android 5.0 Lollipop glue has not even set on the Nexus 5 yet, but there is already an exploit out to provide you with beautiful root privileges. Here's how to root the Nexus 5 on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Get rooted on your Nexus 5 with Android 5.0 Lollipop! © AndroidPIT

Note: This procedure wipes all data from your device, so make a backup before you get started. Also, as with all root-related processes, there are inherent risks involved. Make sure you are OK with them before proceeding, as neither AndroidPIT not myself assume any responsibility for nasty eventuations that occur through your indulgence in the directives forthcoming. This tutorial is for the Nexus 5 with an unlocked bootloader running stock Android 5.0 Lollipop (build number LRX21O).

How to root Nexus 5 on Android 5.0 Lollipop

1. Make sure your phone has USB Debugging enabled in Developer Options. If you don't have this option in Settings already, go to Settings > About Phone and tap Build Number until the notification that Developer Options have been enabled pops up. Then back out a step and you'll see it at the bottom of your Settings menu.
2. Make sure you have the Nexus 5 USB Drivers installed on your PC.
3. Double check your Nexus 5 battery is charged, and if not, charge that bad boy!
4. Open the ADB Tools folder on your PC. If you don't have it installed already download ADB Tools here.

Make sure Fastboot is in your ADB Tools folder. © AndroidPIT

5. Ensure Fastboot lives in the ADB Tools folder once you're done installing. If it doesn't, download Fastboot for Windows.
6. Download SuperSU on your PC too.
7. Copy the SuperSU zip file to the root directory of your Nexus 5. To do this, connect your Nexus 5 to your PC with a USB cable and copy the file to the place where all the root folders are: not in a folder.
8. Download ClockworkMod custom recovery to your PC and put it in the Platform Tools directory also.
9. Restart your Nexus 5 in Fastboot. Turn it off, then press and hold Power and Volume Down until you see the Fastboot menu. You should still be connected to the PC with a USB cable.
10. Open a Windows Explorer window and head to the Platform Tools folder.

This is the Command prompt window. © AndroidPIT

11. In a blank space in the window, hold Shift and right click your mouse. You'll want to click on Open Command Window Here.
12. Type in the following command:

fastboot flash recovery recovery-clockwork-touch-6.0.4.5-hammerhead.img

13. You'll now be rocking ClockworkMod recovery. Use the volume keys to select Recovery Mode on your Nexus 5 and hit Power to enter it.

This is Fastboot on the Nexus 5: hit Power to enter Recovery Mode. © ANDROIDPIT

14. From CWM, use the volume keys to select ''flash zip from SD card'' and hit Power to confirm, then select ''choose zip from SD card'' – no prizes for guessing what comes next.
15. Scroll to the SuperSU zip you copied over earlier and press power to confirm your selection and got through the installation process.
16. Back out to main menu and reboot your Nexus 5.
17. The first boot will take ages (this is why you charged your battery) – don't freak out. Go have a cup of tea and let it do its thing. Do NOT unplug your phone from your PC or winged monkeys will fly through the window and do all kinds of terrible things to you.
Once your Nexus 5 has rebooted, that's it. You're rooted and ready to roll. Install RootChecker from the Play Store to confirm your root status and if you get stuck in a bootloop (meaning after a long time your phone still hasn't booted up normally), you can switch it off, reboot into Fastboot, go to Recovery and wipe data, wipe cache partition and reboot again. That should do the trick.

Root Checker INSTALL

What's the first thing you're going to do with root on the Nexus 5 running Android 5.0 Lollipop!