Rooting Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and installing CWM Recovery

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 is still stuck on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and while there’s no word yet on a potential KitKat rollout for the device, users can at least root their tablets and install a custom recovery tool.

This how-to guide will show you how to root your Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and install CWM Recovery. Rooting your Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 will have a number of benefits, such as allowing for the installation of third-party root apps, performance tweaks and custom ROMs. However, rooting will activate Samsung’s KNOX system and void the warranty.

As always, DroidReport assumes no liability for this root guide. Proceed with caution.

Before Getting Started

This guide is for the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 only. Attempting to root any other device with this guide will most likely result in a bricked phone.

As always, you want to backup your device and charge it to at least 80 percent. Finally, enable USB Debugging mode by navigating to Settings -> Developer Options.

How To Root Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 (Android 4.3)

1) Download CWM Recovery, the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 root package, as well as Odin3 v3.07, which can be found here, here and here.

2) Put your Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 in Download mode by holding the Volume Down, Home and Power buttons. When a warning prompt appears, press Volume Up to navigate to Download mode.

3) Unzip Odin. Right click on Odin and run the application as an administrator.

4) Using your USB cable, connect your Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 to your computer. You should see a yellow box with the message “Added!” If this does not occur, reinstall your computer’s USB drivers.

5) Within Odin, press the PDA button and select the CWM file downloaded earlier.

6) Select Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time while leaving all other boxes unchecked.

7) Click start and wait until the installation process completes. Any interruption may result in a bricked device.

8) After a PASS message appears, your phone will reboot automatically.

9) Boot into Recovery mode by holding down Volume Up, Home and Power keys together.

10) In CWM, navigate to “install zip from sdcard” and select the root package downloaded earlier.

11) After the installation completes, navigate back to the main menu and hit “reboot system now.”

12) Once your device restarts, you will be rooted with CWM Recovery installed. Kudos.