Rooting opens your device to a whole world of customization, including ad blockers, system optimizers, and more. This guide will show you how to root the Galaxy S5 anywhere in the world that contains an unlocked bootloader. Here is a short list of known bootloader unlocked phones from North America:

Canada: All S5s, regardless of carrier

USA: Sprint, T-Mobile (AT&T and Verizon are confirmed locked)

Mexico: All S5s, regardless of carrier

Caution: Do NOT try this on an octa-core Galaxy S5 which only contains the model G900H. Take a look in your battery compartment to make sure it isn’t a G900H.

All other countries, please Google “Galaxy S5 <your carrier name> bootloader” and find out whether it is locked or not.

What you need:

Hardware:

A USB cable

A Windows PC running Windows 7 or later

Software:

Samsung USB Drivers. Download link The S5 Root Files. Download link

Alright, let’s get started. First off, install the Samsung USB drivers. Just install it like a normal application.

Now, extract all the files from the S5 root files archive into a folder. Copy the SuperSU.zip file into the Download folder in your phone’s internal memory:

Now, turn off your phone and put it into Download Mode. In order to do that, turn it off completely. Then, hold Volume DOWN, Home and Power till you get to the following screen

Now, press volume up and you will be at a screen with lots of Verbose text.

Now, connect your phone to your computer and Run ODIN from the ODIN folder. Make sure to Uncheck the “Auto Reboot” option like the following screenshot.

Click “AP” and select TWRP.tar . Then click Start. After it is done, take your battery and USB cable out (it will result in the phone being completely turned off). Leave it for 15 seconds and put it back.

Power your phone on. Then turn it off again. This time, Hold Volume UP, Home and Power button and boot into TWRP recovery.

For some people, it seems that the “Power your phone on. Then turn it off again” step seems redundant, so you could skip it if you can not boot to TWRP.

From TWRP, Select Install, navigate to the Download folder and tap on SuperSU.zip

Slide to install it, and then reboot your phone. After the initial boot, go to your app drawer and open the new app “SuperSU”. If it wants to disable KNOX, let it do it. If it doesn’t, let it be for 15 seconds and reboot your phone. Now go to the SuperSU app again, it will prompt to disable KNOX. Let it disable KNOX. After it is done, you need to reboot your phone.

That’s it! Now you are able to download root apps and work with them!

Sources: Odin 3.09, SuperSU, TWRP