I bet some of you lucky Nexus 4 owners out there are itching to install custom ROMs like AOKP, XYLON, Slim Bean, JellyTime, and CyanogenMod 10. But, before you can install your favorite custom ROM, you need to have your phone rooted first.

If this is the first time to root your phone then proceed with caution. Making one wrong move may brick your phone. You may even lose your warranty. You don't need to be a developer to root your phone successfully. XDA Developers member and root specialist Chainfire has just the fix for you.

Say good-bye to all the complicated commands and scripts. With Chainfire's CF-Auto-Root your phone will be rooted in no time. CF-Auto-Root is a rooting tool for newbies that installs the SuperSU binary and APK to the phone. This in turn gives you access to third-party root-based apps. Using CF-Auto-Root is relatively easier and safer than other rooting procedures.

This guide shows you how to root the Nexus 4 E960 using CF-Auto-Root.

Warning

• The instructions in this guide are intended for use with the LG Nexus 4, model number E960. Applying these instructions on another device or model may produce undesired outcomes.
• The information in this guide is provided for instructional and educational purposes only. There is no guarantee that these instructions will work under your specific and unique circumstances.
• Use these instructions at your own risk. We shall not hold any responsibility or liability for whatever happens to you or your device arising from your use of the info in this guide.
• Read and understand the whole guide first before actually performing the instructions.

Requirements

• LG Nexus 4 E960
• Windows PC
• A file extraction tool like WinRAR or 7-Zip
• CF-Auto-Root for the Nexus 4 (CF-Auto-Root-mako-occam-nexus4.zip, 7.6 MB)
• Backup all personal data on your phone to make sure you have a copy of your personal data (e.g., contacts, SMS, MMS, Internet settings, Wi-Fi passwords, and the like) in case the procedure in this guide erases such data.
  • For backup tips, check our guides on how to sync your data to the cloud and how to create local backups of your mobile data.
• Make sure that your phone's battery power is at least 50% to avoid interruption due to power loss that may cause damage to your phone.

Instructions

1. Extract the CF Auto Root ZIP package, preferably to your C:\ drive.
2. Turn off your LG Nexus 4.
3. Reboot to Fastboot Mode by holding down the Volume Up, Volume Down, and Power buttons until your screen turns on.
4. Connect your LG Nexus 4 to your computer using a USB cable and wait until Windows is done installing the drivers automatically.
5. Go to the folder where you extracted the CF-Auto-Root files on your computer and launch the root-windows.bat file by double-clicking it.
6. Press any key to initiate the rooting process. Your phone will reboot in the middle of the process.
7. Once the procedure is done, your phone will boot into Normal Mode.
8. If you want to confirm that your phone has been rooted successfully, check if the SuperSU app is installed. If not, just install the app from the Google Play Store and you'll be good to go. You can also install a root check app to verify successful root.
9. If you so desire, you can flash a custom recovery like TWRP Recovery on your Nexus 4. See our guide on how to flash TWRP Recovery for the Nexus 4 E960.

Video Tutorial

You might want to watch our video tutorial about bootloader unlocking, rooting, and flashing TWRP Recovery on the Google Nexus 4 E960:

Nicely done! Your LG Nexus 4 E960 is now rooted. You are now on your way to customizing your phone according to your needs.