How to Root your Android Phone

If you are an Android user, you have probably heard or read on the internet of rooting your smartphone. Back in the days, Android users could not fully use their phones potential. From several default apps that you would never use and just drained the battery and ram of your mobile to a horrible operative system are just a couple of reasons that led various Android users to search for a solution to this problem. And they found it indeed, the answer was Root.

Keep reading this article if you want to know more details about Android Rooting and how to Root your smartphone.

What is Root?

When you purchase a brand new mobile phone from any store and you start to use it, from the first moment you turn it on, you are signing into the system as an user with certain permissions. All the apps you download also grant you permission to do certain things. The Root is a method that allows you to have complete control on your mobile’s operating system. In other words, is a way to get granted higher permissions over your phone’s system to do whatever you want in your phone, for instance: uninstall pre installed apps. Rooting your phone grants you superuser permissions, so you can do anything you want in the system.

What is the difference between a rooted and an unrooted Android System?

When you root your smartphone is placed in the system something called SU (Switched User). What this file does is switching your smartphone’s permissions to change your status from a normal user to a superuser. This gives you access to do things you couldn’t before when your system was unrooted.

Should I root my smartphone?

This depends on what you want to do with your cell phone. If you want to have control over every function of the system, delete forced applications that come from fabric and improve certain aspects of your phone, then you should go ahead and root your device. When you root it basically gives you the power to do anything you want in your phone without any limits.

However, if you are not sure about losing determined functions or you’re just simply not sure about doing it, then you should first know the pros and cons of rooting your Android.

Pros of Rooting your Android

Access to special apps

After rooting your Android you will be granted access to run special applications that help you enhance your device’s features that you could not get access to with an unrooted device.

You can remove unused apps

Having superuser access enables you to modify every aspect of your phone. One of these features is removing apps that phones usually come with and do not allow you to uninstall them.

Cleaning up space on your Android

When using your Android as a normal user, your phone’s system does not allow you to move certain files to free up space. As a root user you can move them from your system storage to a SD memory, and not only apps, but also files and others.

You are Allowed to Customize ROMs

ROM (which stands for Read-Only Memory) are firmwares or files that come installed on your smartphone that make your phone that modify the base Android System. Customized ROMs are alternative versions created by independent developers to add features to Android to extend your control over your phone.

Remove bloatware apps

Phones generally come with preinstalled bloatware apps. One of most useful advantages of Rooting Android is that you have access to where these are stored and erase them.

Disadvantages of Rooting your Android

Your Device Can Get Bricked

When rooting a smartphone you must have knowledge on how to root your device according to your model and brand. Each Android model has its own rooting method, and if you root your device incorrectly, you run the risk of bricking your cell phone. If you are not completely sure of how to root your phone, leave it or take to someone who has more experience on this.

Your Phone is More Likely to get Viruses or Malware

As you have read before, rooting grants you all permissions you need to install and customize any app that you want. Therefore, you must be aware of each file you download and app you install. Note that if rooting grants you permission to have control over all your phone system, that means that certain apps will gain control over anything on your smartphone. Some apps might have malware which can lead you to lose all your personal data like passwords or financial data.

How do I Root my Android Phone?

As you may have read above, there are different ways of rooting Android. Each model of phone has a way of getting rooted. However, the next step-by-step guide is the easiest and most effective way of Rooting an Android smartphone.

• Back up everything you need: before you start rooting you should back up everything on your phone you consider indispensable.
• Make sure your smartphone is completely charged: this is vital. If you don�t charge it, your phone runs the risk of getting bricked.
• Turn on USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking: to activate both
  • Go and tap on “About the Phone”, then go to “Build Number”.
  • When you have found “Build Number” you have to tap on it seven times. After this, the “Developer Options” will show up.
  • Afterwards, tap on Back to see the “Developer Options”.
  • Tap-on-“Developer-Options”.
  • If you have followed all the previous steps, you must have done everything okay. Finally, check if USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking are enabled.
• Download and install the Android SDK platform tools: you can download this app from Google’s Developer Site.
• Install Device Drivers: you must install the correct USB driver according to your phone.
• Unlock your Bootloader: to do this you just have you hold down the Power Button and the Volume Down button for 10 seconds. After-you-have-booted-into-Fastboot, go to where you have unzipped your Android-SDK- Press-Shift+Right-Click and choose the option-“Open”–a–Command-Prompt-Here.
• After you have done the previous step, unlock your device’s bootloader by connecting to your computer and placing it in fastboot mode once again. Then, tap CMD into the Start Menu and type down: UNIQUE_KEY (without the inverted commas).
• Root your Phone with Framaroot: if the previous steps simply seem a little perplexing for you, you can also try this way of rooting your mobile, which is by downloading and using a software called “Framaroot”. You just have to download it into your mobile, start it and tap on “Root”.
• Download and run SuperSu: with the help of this app you will manage the root access.