What to do if your android is rooted

How to Check if Your Android Phone is Rooted

A lot of people want to root Android smartphones so that they can install various third-party apps or overcome certain system limitations, usually put in place by hardware manufacturers and carriers.

While some phones may come rooted, the majority of them do not. There are a few simple and free ways to check if you have a rooted phone. In this article you’ll find three methods, two of them foolproof, and one that may be situational, depending on the model of your phone.

What is Rooting?

Not to be confused with jailbreaking (on iOS devices), is a method of unlocking an Android device in order to grant the user privileged control, or root access. It’s a lot like having administrator privileges on a Windows or Linux-based OS.

Check through Settings

Note that this method may not work on all Android phones.

1. Go to ‘Settings.’
   
2. Locate and tap ‘About Phone.’
   
3. Go to ‘Status.’
   
4. Check the ‘Device Status.’
   

Most new smartphones should have an Official device status. Official means that the software has not been tampered with and the device is not rooted.

Seeing a Custom tag under device status usually means that your phone is rooted.

The device status tab may be different from one model to another. Therefore, if you do see an Official tag it’s usually best to check the manufacturer’s website and see if the phone comes rooted or not.

Use the Root Checker App

The Root Checker app is a third-party app that you can download for free off Google Play, or pay for a fancier Pro version. Whichever version you choose, you should be able to determine the root access status on your phone.

1. Go to Play Store.
2. Tap on the search bar.
3. Type “root checker.”
   
4. Tap on the simple result (free) or the root checker pro if you want to pay for the app.
5. Tap install and then accept to download and install the app.
6. Go to Settings.
7. Select Apps.
8. Locate and open Root Checker.
9. Tap on the “Get Started” button.
10. Tap on “Verify Root” once the app has determined the model of your phone.

It should only take a few moments for the app to determine the root access status of your phone. Once it knows, a message will be displayed, clearly stating if you have or don’t have root access.

Use the Terminal Emulator

The Terminal Emulator app has been designed to give users a complete Linux terminal emulator on Android devices.

It’s a good way to practice using commands, or to make full use of various commands enabled on rooted phones.

1. Go to Play Store.
2. Tap the search bar and type “Terminal Emulator”
3. Tap Install and Agree.
4. Go to Settings and find the Terminal Emulator app.
5. Tap the icon to open the app.
6. In the terminal window type “su” and then tap either Search or Enter.

The “su” is the super-user command line. If your phone is rooted, you should be able to see the $ turn into an # in the command line. If not, or if you receive an error with “command not found”, it means that your phone is not rooted.

Note that neither the Terminal Emulator nor the Root Checker apps can root an Android device. There are other third-party apps that let you do that.

Advantages of a Rooted Android Phone

There are some dangers involved with rooting an Android phone. Mostly because when users start to poke and prod through various functions of the phone, it’s possible to cause a complete system malfunction or in other words, you could brick your phone if you don’t know what you’re doing.

This usually happens when users try to squeeze too much performance out of their phones, pushing the components past their limitations, or when installing new firmware that may not be fully supported.

That said, there are some considerable benefits too when it comes to having a rooted phone. If you don’t mess with the essential system processes, there’s a lot you can do to customize and improve the performance of the phone from other areas.

More Control

Imagine a rooted Android phone as a desktop PC. You can pretty much configure a desktop however you want, as long as all the components are compatible. Rooting can even give you access to overclocking or underclocking the phone’s CPU and GPU components. You can beef up the performance or tone it down so that your phone will age slower.

More advantages include full application control. This means being able to backup, restore, remove, and add everything you want, including editing applications in batches.

You can also remove certain unwanted and unnecessary system processes that come pre-installed. These are commonly referred to as bloatware. These types of processes are similar to Windows system processes and pre-installed apps that eat up a large chunk of resources without offering anything of value to the user.

More Customization Options

One of the coolest things about having a rooted phone is the level of customization you can get regarding everything from themes to animations and everything else in between, including icons.

Most smartphones come with limited personalization options. For example, you can’t change your loading screen animations on unrooted phones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I unroot an Android device?

Absolutely! If you need to perform a system update you’ll need to unroot your device first. Fortunately, it isn’t too difficult. If you want to unroot your device, check out this article.

Can I see if my phone is rooted without an app?

Yes. You can go through the settings as shown above, or you can search the app drawer for a rooting app. These apps are necessary to root the phone in the first place.

Open the app drawer on the Android device and use the search bar to look for ‘SuperSu’ ‘Dr. Fone’ or another rooting app.

Don’t Go too Crazy over Root Access

While it is cool to have a rooted smartphone on which you can theoretically do whatever you want, compared to regular users, it’s best to exercise caution or at least inform yourself of what you should and shouldn’t change.

If you have some tips on how to improve performance by taking advantage of root access, please leave a comment in the comments section below, and don’t forget to specify which model Android smartphone those tips are for.

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The First 10 Things to Do with Rooted Android

• Filed to: Android Root • Proven solutions

When you root android, there are many benefits to enjoy and reasons informing that are limitless. The needs to improve the life of your android battery, enhance speeds and performance, automate vital tasks and block advertisements are some of the reasons to root android. In addition, you will have the chance to enjoy any hidden features and have backup for your data to cushion against losses in future. The following are some of the things to do after rooting your android Smartphone, tablet or any other device:

Part 1: The Top 10 Thing You Need to Do with Rooted Android

1. Increase RAM

You will have very many ways to increase RAM for your rooted android which you should give priority. You can partition the SD card or use apps to help add RAM to your rooted android all of which are sure to work wonders. With increased RAM, your android device will start working at very high speeds.

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2. Overlocking

This will be an equally wonderful thing to do immediately after rooting your android device. With this, it will help to improve on the clocking speed for the processor especially in a Smartphone. This also helps to improve the speeds of the device but you should not try it as a beginner. Overlocking demands specialized skills so don’t attempt that on your own if you lack such knowledge.

3. Add internal memory

Most of the android devices like Smartphone have very limited internal memory and it will be good to increase that after rooting. With limited internal memory, you will not have it easy installing apps to your android device. This will be a very important step to take especially if you intend to install more and more apps to your rooted android device.

4. Install themes

Whether it’s a Smartphone or tablet, it will be good to add themes for making them more attractive as well as spur productivity. Go for personalized themes to create a special attachment with your android device. Very minimal steps will be involved so you don’t have to get worried about spending all your time on that. You will get free themes as well as those that you will pay for so no limitations on choices to make.

5. Remove bloatware

For beginners, bloatware is anything including apps in your android device that you don’t need to use anymore. They are only there to eat up space for no good reason and should be deleted immediately you have rooted your android device. You will have more storage space for your device which will in turn increase its operating speed. Some of these apps are pre-installed and will require rooting to get rid of.

6. Unroot

It is not always that rooting android comes with advantages. In rare cases, you will experience drawbacks like depleted warranty and the best choice will be to unroot. The same way it was easy rooting, it will be much easier unrooting so don’t hesitate from taking such a bold step once you feel that rooting is not helpful. You should only unroot your android devices after rooting when there is a genuine reason to do that. It should not be for fun. It might appear and sound to be very unpopular but unrooting is one of the first things to do after rooting android.

7. Install vital apps

After you have rooted your android device, there will be some apps that you will need to try out and installing them must be the first thing to do. This will be the time to install all apps that you were unable to install prior to rooting your android device but you must be choosy on what you settle for. Understand every app that you want to install after the root to be sure you are not making a mistake.

8. Enjoy HD games

If you are a lover of games that will be one of the important things to accomplish first after rooting your android device. It does not matter the type of device you have since android supports an array of HD games to play. When you root, it will allow you to play even heavy games on your android device even if they were never supported before you rooted. Any game will run smoothly on a rooted android device.

9. Check the root

How sure is you that the rooting process has been successful or not? You will have to check over what you have done to get that answer right. Actually, this has to be the very first thing to do because your root must be flawless from the onset. You must be sure that the rooting is done in the best way since that will be the assurance that it’s ready to give the best performance. You can decide to use a root checker app to make the process faster and effective.

10. Flash custom ROMs

The ability to flash custom ROMs is one of the reasons why most of the android users are opting to root their devices. This will allow you to get rid of the outdated interfaces for newer ones that are sure to perform in the best way. It will give you more reasons to enjoy android rooting.

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Root Android: Everything you need to know!

One of the best things about Android is how customizable and flexible it is. Android lets you use it the way you want to, whether that means changing the launcher, or setting up a host of unique automatic functions with Tasker. But for some, that isn’t enough. You can gain near full control of the OS if you root Android.

This isn’t as common as it once was, but there are still benefits to rooting Android. If you like the sounds of that, but find yourself feeling a little anxious about “hacking” your much-loved (and probably expensive) device, then read on to learn everything you need to know about rooting Android. It’s actually easier than you might think.

Rooting Android:

Editor’s note: Rooting Android devices requires a high level of tinkering and modifying your phone’s software. This can be risky, and there is a chance you’ll damage your handset. This is bad news considering rooting Android may void your warranty. Always do your research and be sure you’re confident about the steps you’re taking, as no one but you will be responsible should anything happen to your device.

What is rooting?

While it might sound scary, rooting simply refers to the act of obtaining access to commands, system files, and folder locations that are usually locked off. Rooting Android can be thought of as promoting yourself from a system user to an administrator, with the additional freedom and risks that come from more control over the deeper workings of your device. With great power comes great responsibility and all that!

More specifically, adding root to Android means becoming a superuser, which is a Linux function you may be familiar with. In many ways, then, you could view this more as restoring a function that should have been there, to begin with!

Users can install and run applications on rooted Android phones and tablets that require special privileges, bypass carrier installed software, and even remove bloatware applications (as opposed to simply disabling them). Root access is even needed if you want to install trivial things like certain custom fonts, and rooting Android can also unlock new features in certain apps and launchers.

Rooting is no longer always essential for flashing a custom ROM. However, it is advisable to root Android in some cases to make use of the most interesting features.

Handy rooting terminology:

• Bootloader: Lowest level software on your phone that starts up recoveries and then the main operating system.
• Recovery: Low-level software that can create and restore full system backups. Accessed before the main OS.
• ADB (Android Debug Bridge): A command-line tool that is part of the Android SDK, which supports communication between a computer and an Android device.

To root or not to root?

The next question is whether you should root Android or leave it as it is. That, of course, is a matter of personal preference, but there are some compelling arguments both for and against.

On the plus side, it gives you more access to several cool apps and customization options. It also lets you upgrade older phones to newer versions of Android, long after your manufacturer and carrier have stopped supporting it. As mentioned, rooting Android will let you change things that you otherwise couldn’t, and it will also let you use a host of cool apps.

Android root apps and options

Here are just a few things you can do with a rooted Android device:

• Overclock or underclock the CPU.
• Increase battery life.
• Greatly enhance the power of Tasker.
• Remove preinstalled bloatware apps.
• Make real backups.

• Install custom ROMs.
• Further customize your phone’s looks.
• Install apps that do more than basic ones.
• You can even do things like installing Ubuntu for desktop.

For some people, rooting Android is also something of a statement. You paid for this device, so why shouldn’t you use it exactly as you wish? Especially if it means removing cynical and unhelpful bloatware. There’s also a certain status that comes from it, and a great sense of accomplishment when you achieve root access for the first time.

And obviously, if you’re a developer hoping to create your own root apps, you need to start somewhere!

Will you damage your device?

That said, there are also some potential downsides to rooting.

For one, even once you know how to root Android, there are some risks involved. Get this wrong, and there is a slight chance of bricking your device (it’s happened to me). It’s definitely easier and safer on some devices than others, but if you’re not overly confident with your tech wizardry, then you may prefer to leave well enough alone.

Furthermore, rooting can cause some issues with official OTA handset updates – but it is usually fine to install new software manually once you’re rooted. Updating will often cause root permissions to be lost, in which case the procedure will need to be performed again. Occasionally, an update will block old root methods, and sometimes rooted devices will fail to install updates. If your device stops booting after an attempted root exploit, you can usually restore it to factory specifications rather easily.

Warranties and legalities – is rooting legal?

This leads us nicely onto warranties, which is another grey area in the world of rooting. While carriers don’t like you tampering with their hardware and software, some manufacturers have become kinder to rooters and even those who install third-party software. However, few have a clear stance on what software tweaks will void your warranty, and you certainly can’t count on having your rooted handset fixed if something goes wrong. Devices with locked bootloaders, the very low-level software that starts up your phone, are designed specifically to prevent rooting, so don’t expect any sympathy from these companies.

Manufacturers and sellers can often identify root, even after you unroot, thanks to clues like Knox on Samsung. Note that there are ways to hide evidence of having rooted your device, but these won’t always work. There’s a kind of arms race going on between hackers and manufacturers, and your chances of unrooting and covering your tracks will often come down to who is winning at the time! This is why a lot of people only root older phones that are already out of warranty.

This might also lead you to wonder whether rooting your device is even legal? This is tough to answer as it depends on your own country’s laws. Many countries allow for the bypassing of digital rights management and locks, providing that this is not used for other illegal purposes, such as circumventing copyrights. Rooting has been legal in the USA since 2013.

Security

It’s also worth noting that some apps and features will stop working once you root. For example, banking apps will often stop working due to the perceived security risk. Even Snapchat and Pokemon Go take issue with root! That said, there are also often countermeasures to these limitations – though your mileage may vary. As you can probably tell by now, rooting typically means creating more work for yourself, but it’s really fun work!

The final major point to be aware of is security. With a greater level of control comes a greater level of risk, and rooting your phone can open up your device to more dangerous pieces of malware. This is where governor applications come in, which monitor and control which processes are given root permissions. You may be familiar with SuperSU or other similar apps. These are very straightforward to use and simply display a pop-up whenever an app or process wants root access, which you can either deny or allow and save your preference if you trust the app.

Of course, if you aren’t automatically receiving the usual updates, it also falls on you to ensure you are getting all the latest security patches. In theory, with the right root apps, you could actually improve your privacy. But it’s on you. It should also be noted that SuperSU developer Chainfire hung up his root apps, so most rooters have now switched over to Magisk.

So, should you root Android?

With all that in mind then, should you root your Android device?

Ultimately, that comes down to what you intend to use your device for. Do you even need to root Android? If you have a specific use-case scenario in mind, and you understand the risks and limitations, then there’s nothing to stop you from learning how to root Android and giving yourself that extra freedom.

On the other hand, the argument for rooting isn’t quite as compelling as it once was. These days, one can do many things that were once limited to root users (adding a custom ROM, recording your screen, and so on). Not to mention that even budget phones are fast these days, so overclocking is no longer an important reason to root Android.

Seeing as root might also mean you lose functionality, it’s no longer a straight win across the board. It’s fun, powerful, and useful, but it’s not quite as useful as it once was.

For me, the obvious answer is to only root on older devices. Keep your daily driver clean while it’s still getting new updates and patches, but root secondary gadgets that you want to tinker with. That way, you get to have your cake and eat it too.

How to root Android devices

Should you decide to go ahead, then you’ll probably be wondering how to root Android. Let’s lead you in the right direction!

The bad news is there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution when you root Android phones and tablets. Different brands and even software versions can make the rooting process vary. Even within handset variants, you may find that some techniques work and others don’t.

The good news is that in many cases, rooting is much easier than it once was. In fact, the easiest method is usually to use a simple root app. These apps let you root Android with a single tap, with some popular examples being KingRoot, KingoRoot, and OneClickRoot. Simply download your app of choice. The application will first check compatibility, then go ahead and root your device for you.

This is a minimum-fuss method that will work in a large number of cases. However, it’s worth noting that some come with annoying push notifications and ads. I’d advise checking reviews before settling on which one to use. Some would even say that if you can’t figure out how to root your device without one of these apps that perhaps you shouldn’t be doing it at all (because if you encounter problems during the process, you won’t know what to do).

If a one-click solution doesn’t appeal to you, though, things get a little more complex, and you’ll need to look for specific instructions for your device. This might mean using PC software and connecting your phone via USB. It might also mean using a custom recovery, or downloading additional software like Odin for Samsung devices. The best part about these options is that you learn a lot along the way.

I recommend either Googling “root [YOUR DEVICE NAME HERE]” or heading over to XDA Developers, which is a great place to start. Many of the best root apps available today were developed by members of this community. Just be sure to use the search function first before asking noob questions! And don’t forget to thank and support the devs that make rooting possible.

Before rooting your device, it’s always a good idea to backup first. Then settle in, read a lot, triple-check the instructions, and dive in. Crossing your fingers and holding your breath would be a good idea, too, because you just took the red pill! The world of Android rooting is exciting, empowering, frustrating, and engaging – you’ll learn tons about how Android works, what your phone can do, and how awesome Android can be when you get in the driver’s seat.

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