Are you one of the lucky ones to bring home a shiny new Google Nexus 7 tablet? It's really an impressive tablet if you consider amazing specs for its price, not to mention that it features Google's newest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system.

Google's Nexus 7 sports some nifty and handy specs for the users to tinker with. However, many are not contented with what a stock OS can give. Though Android already provides ample customization options, there are users who still crave more, resulting in the inevitable fate that Android devices cannot escape: rooting, even with Android 4.1 running on it.

Though the tablet is still quite fresh, the ever hardworking devs on XDA Developers have already come up with a way to unlock the bootloader, install ClockworkMod Recovery, and gain root access on the device.  This method is quite long, but it's an all-in-one way to unlock the bootloader, install ClockworkMod Recovery, and gain root access.

Warning

• The instructions in this guide are intended for use with the Google Nexus 7. 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

• Google Nexus 7
• A Windows PC
• Download and install the USB drivers for the Google Nexus 7 on your PC. You can get the drivers by installing the Android SDK on your PC.
• Enable USB Debugging on your tablet. Go to Settings > Developer Options.
• You must have the Android Software Development Kit (SDK), the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), and Fastboot binaries installed on your computer.
  • Check out these guides on how to install Android SDK and how to perform and use ADB commands on your computer.
• Backup all personal data on your tablet 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.
• Charge your tablet to at least 50% to avoid interruption due to power loss.
• Download the following files to your PC:
  • ClockworkMod Recovery image (CWM-grouper-recovery.img, md5sum: b8f7d52c8c2b2f76820ddfd7a772666e)
  • Rooting Package (JB-SuperSU.zip, 562 kB)

Instructions

Unlocking the bootloader

1. Open a command prompt and type the command adb devices. Your tablet's serial number should appear on the list. If it doesn't appear, make sure you have properly installed the device's USB drivers on your computer.
2. Type the command adb reboot bootloader to boot the tablet into Bootloader Mode.
3. Navigate the command prompt window to the folder where fastboot.exe is located. You can find fastboot.exe in the platform-tools directory inside the Android SDK folder.
   • NOTE: For Windows 7 users, you can easily open a command prompt in a folder by pressing the Shift and clicking the right mouse button on any vacant part of the folder. A menu will appear. Select Open Command Window Here and a command prompt will appear within the location of the selected folder.
4. Enter this command and press Enter. Follow the on-screen instructions provided by the command.
   • fastboot oem unlock
5. When it's done, your tablet's bootloader will be unlocked. Enter this command to reboot your tablet back into Bootloader Mode:
   • fastboot reboot-bootloader

Flashing ClockworkMod Recovery

1. On your PC, copy CWM-grouper-recovery.img into the same the folder where fastboot.exe is located. You can find fastboot.exe in the platform-tools directory inside the Android SDK folder.
2. Open a command terminal and navigate it to where fastboot.exe is located. Type this command and press Enter:
   • fastboot flash recovery CWM-grouper-recovery.img
3. After a successful flash, type this command:
   • fastboot reboot-bootloader
4. Select Recovery from the bootloader menu on your tablet to boot it into Recovery Mode.
5. On the recovery menu, go to Mounts and Storage and select Mount /system on the next screen.
6. Open a command prompt on your computer and navigate it to where adb.exe is located. It is located in the platform-tools directory inside the Android SDK folder.
7. Type the following commands. Press Enter after each command:
   • adb shell
   • cd /system
   • mv recovery-from-boot.p recovery-from-boot.bak
8. Reboot your tablet.

Gaining root access

1. Copy the JB-SuperSU.zip file to the SD card of your tablet.
2. Open a command prompt window and type the following commands:
   • adb devices
   • adb reboot recovery
3. From the main recovery menu, go to Install ZIP From SD Card and select Choose ZIP From SD Card. Choose the JB-SuperSU.zip to flash the file.
4. Go back to the main menu then select Reboot System Now to reboot your tablet.

Great! You have now rooted your Nexus 7! Once you get your hands on one, root it right away to enjoy more modifications for your tablet. Enjoy!