Recently Google released the new Android 4.2.2 JDQ39 for Nexus 4 devices, with some improvement and bug fix release. You can see our post here how to manually update your nexus 4 to Android 4.2.2 JDQ39. If you are on Nexus 4 Android 4.2.2 JDQ39 update and want to root your phone and install CWM recovery on it, below the complete guide which helps you to root your nexus 4 and install CWM recovery. Why should you root? Read: Benefits of rooting an Android device.
The guide is simple to use and easy, before proceeding to the guide take the full backup of your nexus 4 with these free android backup application.
NOTE:- Use these instructions at your own risk. We shall not hold any responsibility or liability. We or the developers are not to be held responsible if you damage or brick your device. This root method is only for Android 4.2.2 (JDQ39) installed on Nexus 4 and your Nexus 4 bootloader should be unlocked.
How to Root Android 4.2.2 JDQ39 on Nexus 4
Step 1. Download Android SDK from here and setup ADB and fastboot on Windows.
Step 2. Enable USB Debugging mode in your Nexus 4.
Step 3. Download fastboot-win32.zip and extract all these file on android-sdk-windows/platform-tools directory on your PC. If you cannot find platform-tools directory in it, create it.
Step 4. Download SuperSU for Nexus 4 and copy/paste into your Nexus 4 SD card.
Step 5. Download CWM Recovery: recovery-clockwork-touch-6.0.2.3-mako.img and copy the file android-sdk-windows\platform-tools directory on your PC.
Step 6. Now boot your phone in fastboot mode. To do this turn your device off and press & hold Volume down + Power buttons till the screen appears.
Step 7. Connect your device with USB cable and navigate to android-sdk-windows\platform-tools directory and launch Command Prompt there (Shift + Right-click > Open Command Prompt).
Step 8. After launching the command prom windows type this command and hit enter:-
fastboot flash recovery recovery-clockwork-touch-6.0.2.3-mako.img
Step 9. Once the process is complete on your Nexus 4 device, choose RECOVERY from the Fastboot menu and enter Recovery Mode.
Step 10. Now you are in CWM Recovery, from here select option “install zip from sdcard” then select “choose zip from sdcard”, select the UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.04.zip file file that you saved on nexus from Step 4.
Step 11. After the installation completes, navigate back to main CWM recovery screen and select “Reboot system now” option.
Now your device will reboot and when it boots up you will have CWM Recovery with SuperSU installed. That’s it now you have the Rooted nexus 4 with CWM Recovery