How to root the Google Nexus 6 on Windows and Mac easily

The Google Nexus 6 has been around for more than enough time to make the countless Android developers gather around the Motorola-made Nexus 6 in a virtual way and tinker with almost all software and firmware aspects of the phablet. One of the usually most-anticipated exploits for each and every new Android device is the root access, a door to numerous possibilities.

We can't even scratch the surface of all the benefits that root access provides -  all we can say is that if youwant to make full use of your 'Droid, then rooting it is one of the prerequisites.

That's why we decided to make a round-up of several guides on how to gain root access on the Google Nexus 6. As usual, a number of XDA developers have figured it all out, with one of the more noteworthy methods being developed by the well-known Chainfire. Let's check them out. 

Note: It goes without saying that by acquiring root access, you're automatically voiding your warranty.

Rooting the Google Nexus 6 on Windows

The most simplified and user-friendly way to root your Nexus 6 that we stumbled upon is by using the Nexus Root Toolkit, developed by XDA's WugFresh, which is compatible with a wide range of Nexus devices, including the more popular Nexus 5, 6, and 9. It's a simple Windows program that allows you to do several things:

• root your phablet
• flash a custom recovery
• factory unlock your device
• backup/restore all of your data
• re-apply factory OEM settings
• fully unroot and flash stock recovery
• flash various 3rd-party ROMs, modems, kernels, recoveries from ZIP archives
• sideload apps
• push/pull apps, etc. 

These extensive functionalities make this tool a must-have for all those who want to tinker with their Nexus 6, but are quite reluctant to manually input complex ADB-related commands. This tool suite does not make use of an exploit. on the contrary, it "relies upon the low-level access gained from unlocking the bootloader", as its developer puts it. This tool suite automatically injects Chainfire's SuperSU after the root access process has successfully completed, as well as Stericson's BusyBox UNIX-based applets. Oh, if you get lost, fret not - the Nexus Root Toolkit will provide you with information about each and every one of its functions!

Here's how to use it:





You can get the Nexus Root Toolkit from here. You can also check this XDA thread for additional information.

Rooting the Google Nexus 6 on Mac

Meet the Nexus 6 One-Click Mac Root Toolkit. This is another useful one-click tool that allows you to root the Nexus 6 if you're a fan of Apple's Mac OS. It's a pretty streamlined application that unlocks the bootloader, gains root access, injects the TWRP recovery afterwards, and... that's about it. While it's nowhere near as useful as the Nexus Root Toolkit for Windows described above, it does what's it's supposed to do, i.e. root your new 6" behemoth. Oh, it allows you to also unroot the Nexus 6. 

Here's how to use it:



For downloading and learning more about the Nexus 6 One-Click Mac Root Toolkit, head on to this XDA thread.