Lenovo Tab A3500-FL

Device Information

  • Model: Lenovo A3500-FL
  • Android Version: 4.4.2 (KitKat)
  • Kernel Version: 3.4.67
  • Build Number: A3500FL_A442_01_25_140823_SE
  • Chipset: MediaTek MT8121

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  1. A Windows PC
  2. USB debugging enabled on your device
  3. At least 50% battery charge
  4. A backup of all important data

Required Files

  1. SP Flash Tool
  2. Lenovo A7-40 USB Drivers
  3. SuperSU v2.46 or later
  4. Custom Recovery (CWM) for Lenovo A3500-FL

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Install Drivers

  1. Download and extract the Lenovo A7-40 USB drivers.
  2. On your PC, go to Device Manager.
  3. Right-click on your computer name at the top and select "Add Legacy Hardware".
  4. Click "Next", then "Install the hardware that I manually select from a list".
  5. Choose "Show All Devices" > "Have Disk" > Browse to the extracted driver folder.
  6. Select the appropriate driver (e.g., Windows 7 64-bit version) and install all devices.

2. Prepare SP Flash Tool

  1. Download and extract SP Flash Tool.
  2. Extract the Custom Recovery (CWM) package.
  3. Run Flash_tool.exe as Administrator.
  4. Click "Scatter-Loading" and select "MT8121_Android_scatter.txt" from the extracted CWM folder.
  5. In the tool, only check the box next to "recovery".

3. Flash Custom Recovery

  1. Power off your Lenovo A3500-FL.
  2. Click "Download" in SP Flash Tool.
  3. Connect your device to the PC via USB.
  4. Wait for the flashing process to complete (you'll see a green circle).
  5. Disconnect your device from the PC.

4. Root the Device

  1. Copy the SuperSU zip file to your device's SD card.
  2. Boot into Recovery Mode:
    • Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power buttons for about 7 seconds.
  3. In Custom Recovery, use volume buttons to navigate and power button to select:
    • Select "Install zip from SDcard"
    • Choose "zip from SDcard"
    • Select the SuperSU zip file
    • Confirm the installation
  4. After installation, select "Reboot system now"

Troubleshooting

  • If SuperSU fails to install, try disabling signature verification:
    • In CWM, go to "install zip from SDcard" > "toggle signature verification"
  • You may need to flash CWM recovery each time before booting into recovery mode to prevent reverting to stock recovery.

Notes

  • This method has been tested on Lenovo A7-40 3500-FL with KitKat update, build number A3500FL_A442_01_25_140823_SE.
  • Always ensure you're using the correct files for your specific device model and build number.
  • Rooting your device may void your warranty and can potentially brick your device if not done correctly.

You've now successfully rooted your Lenovo A3500-FL and installed a custom recovery. This allows you to install custom ROMs, perform full backups, and use root-only apps. Remember to use these new capabilities responsibly and always backup your data before making significant changes to your device.