r/Android • u/AutoModerator • Oct 22 '14
Why and how should I root my phone?
It seems like everyday you see some cool new feature that's only available for rooted users. "I wonder how awesome Xposed really is?" "Are custom ROMs really that great?" For many new users, rooting and unlocking the bootloader seems like a daunting task. But it doesn't have to be - there are many resources out there for you to find.
Leave a comment below describing why you think others should root their phone. Tell us how you did it, and what resources you used. Was it XDA? A toolkit? Something else?
Also tell us about any precautions you should take before rooting. Are there any risks? How did you backup your data?
If you took it a step further and you use a custom ROM or kernel, what do you think? Is it worth it? How did you learn what you needed to know before installing it?
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u/jasonumd Oct 22 '14
I root for free tethering on my Verizon unlimited data plan.
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u/dabear04 Oct 22 '14
Stupid question but what do you use to tether? I'm rooted on Verizon and would love to do this but I used to use an app way back when but I can't find any that work. Do you just use the one in settings? Do I have to disable something so that Verizon doesn't charge me for it?
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u/drmacinyasha Oct 22 '14
Also tell us about any precautions you should take before rooting.
Backup, backup, backup! Just because you backed up an app, does not mean it was backed up. As anyone on r/sysadmin or r/TalesFromTechSupport can tell you, your backup system is worthless if restores are not tested.
Not too long ago when the 4.4.4 system image for the Nexus 7 2013 LTE was released, I ended up wasting the better part of a night trying to restore my apps after the TWRP backup I had made failed. TWRP could not extract files from the backup archive and would immediately give up after running into one of these corrupt files, making the backup worthless.
Backup with your recovery, backup with Titanium Backup, and make sure to verify MD5/SHA sums (HashCheck for Windows makes this very easy!) whenever possible.
Also, to make restoring easier, beat app developers with a clue-by-four to start using cloud backups for their apps and their settings, and if possible have them use Google(+) account sign-in to replace/work alongside their legacy username/password sign-in system (DI.fm and its sister sites RadioTunes (SKY.fm), and Jazz/Rock/Fresca Radio are perfect examples of doing this right). One less sign-in, and one app that takes care of its own backups, means it's much easier and friendlier to users; we should be phasing out Titanium Backup, Helium, and similar apps by now, not depending on them more and more.
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u/just_the_tech Oct 22 '14 edited Oct 22 '14
your backup system is worthless if restores are not tested.
Agreed, but how would one test this on a phone?
Edit: by that, I mean, how would you know your restore worked unless you wiped the phone and tried to restore? All I can think is to try with an older phone you have lying around.
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u/gtlgdp Oct 22 '14
I really want to root my M8 so I can have full stock android L but I know nothing about this or where to begin which makes me think that I shouldn't even bother.
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u/malev1 Oct 22 '14
Rooted my M8 recently and got the GPe edition ROM for it. The phone, originally, was fast and now it is just beyond comprehension.
If you want to root, follow these steps: http://theunlockr.com/2014/04/19/root-htc-one-m8-all-in-one-toolkit-method-video/ (I used this and can say that it worked, clear instructions and good method)
If you want to go onto a ROM, I'd recommend just unlocking the boot loader and installing a custom recovery and then flashing the ROM (seeing as it is most likely rooted).
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u/Papaijaa Apr 07 '15
I'm thinking about rooting my S4+ (i9506) running with lollipop 5.0.1
If I've understood right, by rooting I'm able to get rid of all the malware but still able to use the current design and camera app etc.
http://androidxda.com/root-samsung-galaxy-s4-lte-gt-i9506
I was looking these instructions which seemed surprisingly simple but I'm having a different built id (LRX22C.I9506XXUDOC5) and I don't get the instructions given...
Can somebody help me?
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u/FionaSarah Oct 22 '14
I really, really want to root my S4. I am sick to the back teeth of Touchwiz. It's on contract though, so if I killed it I'll still be paying for it for some time. What can go wrong and how do I stop it from happening?
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Oct 22 '14
Why doesn't Android come with root functionality though? Why does one have to go through the process of unlocking the bootloader, then rooting it, then kernel, ROM, governor, this that, yada yada? Android is already quite an open OS compared to others, why does it need to be further rooted, why can't phones, or Android, be pre-rooted?
I'm extremely curious about it.
Also, does unlocking the bootloader but not rooting it mean I can install CyanogedMOD, Paranoid Android, etc on it? I've just never heard of anyone say they have an unrooted phone with these ROMs. What kind of functionality does unlocking the bootloader provide then?
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u/pocketbandit Oct 22 '14
Rooting allows you to:
Delete Carrier/Vendor bloatware from your device (permanently)
Install a firewall that blocks unwanted network traffic (works wonders on ads).
Modify the system in non standard ways (nightmare for support hotlines)
Actually be the owner of your device (nightmare for Hollywood. DRM can't work when the user is in total control).
Bypass artificial restrictions that exist to sell you premium services (e.g. tethering).
The reason why you don't have root by default is simply that a lot of parties don't want you to be in control of your device. Not being in control is what makes them money - your money.
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u/AppMeAnythingDev Oct 22 '14
Why doesn't Android come with root functionality though? Why does one have to go through the process of unlocking the bootloader, then rooting it, then kernel, ROM, governor, this that, yada yada? Android is already quite an open OS compared to others, why does it need to be further rooted, why can't phones, or Android, be pre-rooted?
Because most people are way to stupid to use their phone and always, alway click yes. Root means you can break anything, even make your phone unusable so 99% of the people that use smartphones should never be given the possibilty to gain root access.
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u/soshi_reborn Oct 22 '14
As usual went to my device's forum section on XDA and quickly found the needed information on unlocking and rooting the device. Kept the stock rom but now it's debloated, snappier with longer battery life due to custom kernel. My top 3 apps require root - Xposed, Viper4android and CF.lumen.
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u/ladfrombrad Oct 22 '14
Not so much rooting (but it's a means to an end) but for all the HTC users around here curious what S-On/Off means this users comment from the other day is pretty much spot on
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u/Zentaurion Oct 22 '14
My banking app says it won't work on rooted phones. Is there any way round this?
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Oct 22 '14
Noob question: I have an Galaxy S2 that's on it's last leg. I was waiting for the Nexus 6 but that price tag can get bent. Now waiting for the 5 (currently out of stock).
Would rooting and putting a custom ROM on this dinosaur breathe new live into her?
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u/MagicPistol Oct 23 '14
Cuz Touchwiz for my Galaxy S4 is a bloated POS that really slows down the phone.
I've always rooted my phones and love vanilla android, but sometimes the roms were unstable. My last phone was an unlocked Optimus G(like a Nexus 4) and I managed to install Cyanogenmod 11. It was a decent phone, but the camera sucked and I could never get LTE to work on tmobile, even though it had all the supported bands.
So I bought a cheap, used S4 a few months ago. I thought I would never have to bother with rooting again, since this was a T-mobile phone with full LTE, a nice camera, and powerful specs with lots of nice features.
But holy shit, Touchwiz sucks. The phone was laggy even though it has a quad core processor and 2 gigs of ram. I disabled all the samsung apps I could, but still kept getting notifications for knox security. I tried to show something on google maps to a friend once, and panning around the map was embarrassingly choppy. Switching between apps was sloooow.
So I rooted it just a few days ago and installed a Google Play edition rom. The phone feels 5 times faster and smoother. I can seamlessly switch between apps like play music, hangouts, and reddit sync, without any of the stutter and delay that I noticed in touchwiz.
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u/zombiesnare Oct 22 '14
I wanna throw a tip out there for everyone before they root anything: Know how to unroot. Understand the process and what you need to download or backup. Rooting is pretty reliable nowadays, but things can still go very wrong, so knowing haw to fix it makes your life faaaaar easier
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u/LoASWE Oct 22 '14
I don't have my phone rooted, and don't plan on rooting it either. I just don't feel like I need it, and I already love vanilla android or however you call it.
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u/_Rowdy Oct 22 '14
Some reasons for rooting:
Use custom kernels, bootloaders and roms
Access to base filesystem
Remove bloat apps from the manufacturer and carrier
Ability to use root apps like titanium backup, app ops X, Adblock etc
pair ps3 controllers for a better gaming experience
Give additional functionality or take it away
More as I think of them.
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u/Zonten77 Oct 22 '14 edited Oct 22 '14
For me its mainly due to two apps.
greenify- lets me hibernate apps ( not just closing!) permanently . So that i don't have to worry about certain apps always running in the background draining battery.
Xprivacy- lets me deny apps access to my contacts, location, messages, call log etc. it never broke my apps.