This guide will show you how to root the popular Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C phone from Samsung.

Disclaimer: Digital Endpoint is not responsible for rooting the Android device in any way. Before performing any of these steps make sure you back up your Android device completely.

Rooting is done entirely by you at your own risk.

This guide only works for devices manufacturer after August 2014 whose baseband ends in H2.

This guide will show you how to downgrade to a compatible H1 baseband version that can be rooted and then how to root the device.

To check the baseband on the device first go to Apps > Settings > About Device

If the baseband version listed ends in H1 use this guide.

If it ends in H1 use the guide here.

What is needed to root the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C?

In order to root the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C you will need the following.

• The Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C you want to root in your hand.
  
• A PC.
  

Step 1 – Download the USB drivers for the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C for your PC

In order for your PC to recognise the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C as part of the rooting process you first must download and install the USB drivers on to your PC.

You can download the USB drivers for the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C from here.

Once you have downloaded them run the main program file to make sure the drivers are installed.

Step 2 – Download the Samsung Galaxy S3 SC-S969C root files

You will need to downgrade the baseband of the device to a compatible version before you can root the device.

You can download the baseband downgrade file from here. Save it to your PC in an easy to find location such as the desktop.

You can download Odin and the root file from here.

Once downloaded extract the file to a convenient location such as the desktop.

 Step 3 – Enable USB debugging on the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C

In order for your PC to recognise the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C when you plug it in to perform rooting you must first enable USB debugging on the phone itself. This is done by doing the following.

1. Tap the Settings option.
   
2. Tap the About Phone option.
   
3. Keep tapping the Build Number option (seven times) until it says you are a developer.
   
4. Tap the new Developer Options menu that appears.
   
5. Make sure that the USB Debugging option is checked.
   

Step 4 – Downgrade the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C baseband

Now that we have all we need it is time to downgrade the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C baseband. You must first put the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C in to Download mode which can be done using the following steps.

1. Make sure the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C is powered off completely.
   
2. Hold down the Volume down key and the Home key and the power button and keep all three buttons pressed until the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C powers up.
   
3. Providing you have done it correctly it should boot in to Download mode and you press the Volume up key to start Download mode.
   
4. Connect the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C now to your PC.
   
5. Run the Odin software you downloaded in step 2.
   
6. Inside Odin click the AP option and browse on your computer to the baseband downgrade file (.md5 file) you downloaded in step 2.
   
7. Inside Odin click Start to begin the root process.
   

The process will take a few moments after which the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C will restart itself and complete the rooting process – Do not remove the Samsung Galaxy Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C PC during this time.

Once the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C starts up properly it is time to root the device now that you are running the H1 baseband (go to Apps > Settings > About Device to check this).

Step 5 – Download the Cydia Impactor rooting program

In order to root the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C now that you are running the H1 baseband you must first download the Cydia Impactor program which you can get from here.

Once you have downloaded it save it in an easy to find location such as your desktop and extract the file to its own folder.

Step 6 – Root the Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-S968C

Now that we have downloaded the Cydia Impactor tool and enabled USB debugging it is time to root the device. 

First, connect the device to your computer using the USB cable it came with and then run the Cydia Impactor program you downloaded in step 5.

Inside the Cydia Impactor program, in the text window, type this:

# drop SuperSU su to /system/xbin/su

Then click the Start button and wait.

When it has finished, on the device itself, open up Google Play Store and download and install SuperSU.

Once you have done that, restart the phone and then you should see the newly downloaded and installed SuperSU program which means that you have successfully managed to root the device.