Rooting is the process through which the regular user gets access to the superuser on the phone. A superuser is a particular user who has access to special permissions. In simple words, rooting gives you the privilege to attain additional or root access to your Android and give you the ultimate pleasure of using your Android.
Rooting your smartphones or tablets or any other device running on Android means giving your additional access to the internal of the system which otherwise you are not entitled to.
There are millions of apps in the Google Play Store, but not all apps can run on your phone.
Some apps require your phone to be rooted. E.g.: In Double Twist Music Player for Android, the Airplay feature is supported only when your device is rooted.
Most of the Android users are a layman regarding knowing their Android. So the mobile carrier and phone manufacturers limit some private access to you. Some apps require the permission of the administrator.
Once you root your phone, and you have access to the ‘roots’ of your Android OS, and you can run these apps according to your own free will.
In other words, you can say that your phone OS will get replaced to a lot extent or completely (for the better) after rooting. Mobile manufacturers like HTC, Sony, Asus, Samsung, and Google, let you root your Android while others don’t.
Let me tell you that once you have rooted your Android, then you gain access to some delicate information whose altering will alter the phone’s working or performance altogether.
Even you can remove or edit the information that is provided by your mobile carrier or manufacturer.
A rooting will automatically install the Superuser application which will keep a record of all the apps that are rooted but with due permission from the user of course.
If you want to remove the OS completely, then you have to verify the device’s bootloader.
The boot loader is basically pieces of code that you need to have if you want to change the OS of your phone i.e. for rooting.
Android surely is for this rooting because of primarily two reasons – it will send a message to the user before installing any app from Unknown Source(this happens in every un-rooted devices as well) and the Android Debug Bridge.
Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a client-server program that allows you to interact with the device is a more efficient way.
Advantages of Rooting Android Phone
There are loads of benefits when you root your Android. Do go through the dangers of rooting also in the section below.
- Now it’s YOUR Android (in the real sense). There has always been apps that you wanted to get rid of but couldn’t. Now that you have access to the ‘roots’ of your Android, just erase them from your Android.
- The latest Android version such as 4.1 does let you get rid of the apps, but there are some residual files left behind which might take up your precious internal memory.
- The backup and restore options are way better and easy. The Titanium Backup app lets’ recover some essential apps that might have been lost by chance.
- There is an option of improving your details via the ClockwordMod Recovery option which will let you access all your backed up data in case the process is a boomerang, or some other problem arises. No wonder it’s a MUST HAVE to option in your handset.
- When your OS gets replaced, then it gets replaced with the latest Android version. Android is updating itself regularly. The Lollipop has already created enough havoc. So it your manufacturer hasn’t yet provided you the Lollipop update then worry not, rooting will!
- You will get an array of ROMs to select from if you don’t like the one in your Android. To name a few are Cyanogen Mod, Paranoid Android, MIUI, etc. These ROMs will even let you use some high-end features which are not available to you. To unveil these, root your device.
- It lets you increase the overall speed of your phone and also alter the battery life for the better.
- There is a broad range of apps that require root permission. Now that you have it, you have access to a wider range of apps.
- There may be doubts regarding the device safety once the rooting is over. There are apps like Cerebus which makes it difficult for others to access the root kinds of stuff if stolen.
Disadvantages of Rooting Android Phone
There are two sides of a coin. Now that you have read the benefits of rooting, you MUST see the dangers too.
- You mobile warranty is LOST. Yeah, you read it right. You just can run to the mobile ‘health’ center for a free check-up of your Android whether it be for your hardware or its software.
- Your device safety is also at stake once it’s rooted because all the delicate information is at stake now. Install an excellent antivirus before rooting it.
- There are chances that this reason might occur i.e. in case your phone does not get updated to the latest Android then you might face some serious issues related to the upgrade.
- Make sure you read and reread the rooting procedures when you are doing so. Else get some experienced hand to do so for you. After all, you would never want your lovely smartphone to become useless. Right?
Over to You-
That would be all from us on ‘Rooting Android Phone: Advantages and Disadvantages.’ If you know something more, feel free to share in the comments below 🙂