Root Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500 on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean (Cofface CWM Recovery Install Guide Included)

Galaxy S4 I9500 has been launched and now you can learn how to successfully root its stock Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean firmware using this guide.  Read this entire post and you should be able to apply all changes successfully without bricking the device.
This is a guide for advanced Android users and you shouldn’t attempt to use in case you don’t know what you’re doing. Rooting your device should be easy in theory, but if you don’t know what a custom Recovery is and how to use ODIN, then it would be best not to try to apply any changes to your phone.
Rooting your device is easy and after applying these changes you will be able to flash new custom ROMs and other customization files that will enhance your overall experience of Jelly Bean operating system for your Galaxy S4. In order to successfully flash all the required files you should first read the guidelines below:

• use this guide only with the Samsung Galaxy S4 model number I9500. This is the Exynos 5 Octa variant. Don’t try to root any other Android device with this tutorial, as you will end up bricking it.
• this guide shouldn’t wipe any files from your device, but you should still create backups of some of your most important files.
• it has to be running the stock Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean firmware.
• before rooting the phone you will need to flash the CWM Recovery by Cofface. Without this you cannot root the phone.
• enable USB Debugging from the Android Developer Options menu. In case the Developer Options menu is not shown in Settings, you will have to open the ‘About device’ menu and tap 7 times on the ‘Build Number’ section, as that will enable the development options for your Galaxy S4.
• make sure that you have the Samsung USB drivers installed on your PC, as without these you cannot connect the phone with your PC. If your PC doesn’t have them installed, then you can try to download them from here.
• disable the Samsung KIES software from running on your PC before starting the installation.
• disable all running antivirus applications.
• make sure that there is enough battery power left, so that your phone won’t switch off in the middle of the updating process.
• use this tutorial only if you’re an advanced Android user.
• don’t blame us in case you brick your phone or you lose any important data in the process.

These were all the preparation tips you had to go over before getting to the tutorial. If you cannot complete the root, then you should ask for extra help in comments.
Now, you’ll learn how to flash the CWM Recovery image first. After you install this custom recovery on your phone, move on to the next part of this post to learn how to root the smartphone.
This custom Recovery by Cofface contains both the recovery image and the Root file for your device. It is based on ClockworkMod – CWM Recovery and you should be able to complete the tutorial in under 5 minutes with success.

How to flash Cofface’s CWM Recovery for Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500 with ODIN:

1. Download the Cofface CWM Recovery and Root file from HERE. Save the file on your PC.
   
2. Extract the contents of the zip, put them in a folder and place it on your computer’s desktop screen.
3. Download Odin 3.07 from HERE. Save it on PC and extract the contents to a single folder.
4. Power off your Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500 device completely.
5. Boot it into Download Mode like this:
   > Plug the USB cable into PC.
   > Press and hold Volume Up and Volume Down buttons. Don’t release them.
   > While your keeping the buttons pressed, plug in the USB data cable to your phone.
   > Release the buttons when the Download Mode loads and you see a yellow triangle screen.
6. Next, launch the ODIN 3.07 executable on your computer.
7. ODIN will detect the phone and it confirm this by displaying the ‘Added!!’ message. Get to the next step now. NOTE: If the ‘added!!’ message doesn’t show up, then you will have to try and change the USB ports on your PC or re-install the Samsung USB drivers, which means that you will have to restart the tutorial from step 1.
8. Click the ‘PDA’ ODIN button now.
9. Browse your PC for the “cofface_samsungI9500_recovery_en_0503.tar” file, the one extracted in step 2. Load it into ODIN. Don’t change any default settings and make sure that the ‘Re-partition’ option is disabled.
10. Press START when you’re ready to flash the new custom Recovery for your Galaxy S4.
11. After the Cofface CWM Recovery image is installed the smartphone will restart.
12. Disconnect the phone from PC when you see the Samsung Galaxy S4 boot animation.
13. Wait for it to boot into normal mode and after that Power it off completely.

Now you’ll learn how to use Cofface CWM Recovery to apply root for your phone.

How to Root the Samsung Galaxy S4 using Cofface’s CWM Recovery:

1. Since your device is powered off, you can boot into CWM Recovery mode like this: press and hold Volume Up, Home and Power buttons simultaneously.
2. Release the buttons when the CWM Recovery mode appears and don’t select any options.
3. Select the ‘root your phone’ option.
4. You will now see two methods that you can choose from. Select any of them and wait for the CWM Recovery image to be installed.
5. Return to the first screen of CWM Recovery mode when you’re told that the installation has been completed.
6. Select ‘reboot system now’ and wait until the device powers into normal mode.
7. Now, since the phone has loaded the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean home screen, open the App Drawer.
8. Check to see if the SuperUser app is listed. If it is, the root has been completed successfully and you’re done with this tutorial.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Don’t update the SuperUser / SU binaries after applying root.
These were all the steps that you had to take in order to apply root for your Samsung Galaxy S4 model number I9500. In case you cannot complete the tutorials, then you should ask for more help in comments. Make sure to leave a detailed comment telling us exactly which steps you took and where you got stuck while trying to apply root.
Now that your Samsung Galaxy S4 is rooted, you can start searching for custom ROMs such as CyanogenMod, Paranoid Android, AOKP or any other titles based on these.