Most likely, if you are an Android user, you have wondered about how to root your phone. It’s a great way to get out of carrier restrictions, access new OS versions, and improve device performance. Rooting is tricky, but not hard to do, and if you follow the instructions carefully and prepare your device, there aren’t many downsides.
Here’s how to root your phone safely and how to make the most of your newfound freedom.
The following instructions should apply no matter who made your Android phone: Samsung, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.
phone preparation
Just like major surgery, rooting requires some preparation before you do it all. Before starting the process, make sure to backup all data on your phone. You can back up your stuff to Google servers or use a third-party app like Helium.
The rooting process
Next, you need to choose the type of software you want to use to root your device. There are several programs that you can use to root your phone, but each of them varies when it comes to compatibility. The most popular are KingRoot, KingoRoot and Towelroot. The XDA Developers Forum is a great resource for help and instructions.
Alternatively, you can install a custom ROM like LineageOS or Paranoid Android, which are alternative versions of the Android operating system. The actual rooting process will vary depending on the software or custom ROM you use. The software may require unlocking the bootloader, which controls the apps running on the phone, and installing a root management app to protect security and privacy. If you opt for an APK, you’ll want to download a root checker to make sure the process was successful. If you install a custom ROM, it is not necessary. Once again, the XDA Developers Forum has a lot of information based on the device and OS version you have.
All about custom ROMs
Two of the most popular custom ROMs are LineageOS and Paranoid Android. LineageOS allows your device to access new features before non-rooted devices can. This custom ROM also gives you a ton of customization options (we know androids love that) for everything from home screen, screen lock and much more.
Paranoid Android also offers several additional features and customizations, including Immersive Mode, which hides distractions like system bars, date and time, and software buttons, so you can focus on the game, video, or other content at hand. using.
Since custom ROMs are open source and regularly updated, you will find several versions available for download. Releases fall into one of four categories: nightly, milestone snapshot, release candidate, and stable. Nightly releases, as you might guess, are released every night and tend to be buggy and milestone snapshots are a bit more stable, but still prone to issues. The release candidate is self-explanatory: it is stable, but may have minor issues while stable releases are almost perfect. If you’re not technical or don’t want to deal with bugs, it’s best to do it with the stable or release candidate versions. On the other hand, if you like to play, nightly snapshot or milestone versions are good options; you can even help by reporting any bugs you find.
Benefits of rooting
Rooting has many benefits, including better customization and more control of the device. You can access features that may be restricted by your carrier, such as pairing and updating your operating system on your timeline, instead of waiting for your carrier or manufacturer to ship them over the air. There are also a myriad of powerful apps you can use, like Titanium Backup, which offers scheduled backups, cloud storage integration, and much more. Greenify helps you save battery life and improve performance by using a hibernate mode on select apps.
Disadvantages of rooting
The advantages outweigh the disadvantages of rooting. That said, there are some risks, including a small chance of bricking the phone (also known as “bricking”, rendering it useless). It’s also possible that rooting could break your device’s warranty, though if your phone is a year or two old, it might already be out of warranty anyway. Lastly, your device could be prone to security issues, so it’s worth downloading a robust security app, such as 360 Mobile Security or Avast! to stay on the safe side.
phone uprooting
What if you change your mind? Or do you want to sell your device? No problem, rooting is reversible. If you have rooted your phone without flashing a custom ROM, you can use the SuperSU app to unroot. The app has a section called cleanup, which has a full unroot option. Touch that will guide you through the unrooting process. If this doesn’t work, you may need to manually unroot your device. If you have flashed a custom ROM, you will need to factory reset your device. The methodology for this is different for each manufacturer. How-To Geek has a helpful guide that outlines where to find instructions based on the device manufacturer and the operating system you’re running. Uprooting is a tricky thing, so again,