What is root for android for? Best Root Apps and Pros and Cons of Rooting

Today we will tell you about a topic that attracts the attention of many, but at the same time causes inner fear for the majority - Root rights on Android. In this article, we will not talk about how to get these rights, how to make the firmware of certain smartphones, but we will consider the possibilities of such access, its main pros and cons. The purpose of the material is to help the user decide whether it is worth undertaking it or not.

Today, Google's Android is one of the most popular mobile systems in the world. It provides a very wide range of possibilities for configuring and managing the gadget, but the system can not do everything. Expand functionality Android you can get the so-called administrator rights - root-rights.

We will consider only 6 main, from our point of view, advanced system capabilities after obtaining such access:

1. Appearance. Root rights make it possible to completely customize the appearance of the smartphone's desktop - from the notification curtain to the appearance of third-party applications. Custom themes can be used in full or in layers. For example, you like the look of a theme, but don't like the status bar, then you can only apply a separate theme block and that's it. Everything here will be limited only by the user's imagination.
2. Google camera... If you are not satisfied with your camera, then it is possible to port the reference camera from Google pixel into your smartphone. The main condition for this is the presence of a processor in the smartphone from ... Additionally, you can write a line of code into the system file of the smartphone, having received the HDR + mode in the camera, the quality of pictures in this mode will significantly improve.

Here are just a few tricks of having root access that allow the user to become, to some extent, the creator of their gadget.

But every decision has two sides - positive and negative. Let's start by looking at the arguments against getting root rights. There are several such arguments:

Now let's take a look at the most interesting part - the arguments for getting root privileges by the user. Administrator rights allow:

1. After obtaining such rights, the user gets full control over his device. If you do not like the selection of standard applications installed on your device, you can easily uninstall them. You can enforce traffic restrictions on your device. The list of possibilities is endless.
2. Optimization of device power consumption. Initially, the system from Google provides a fairly wide range of options for managing the device's power consumption, but with root rights, these capabilities will expand significantly. For example, some applications will allow you to control the performance of processor cores, slowing them down at certain points in the operation so that the user does not feel it.
3. Possibility of forced overclocking of the device. Using various special utilities, you can increase the frequency of the device's processor. Root rights also allow installing less power-hungry firmware on devices.

General conclusion on Root rights- they open up new possibilities of the device for the user without additional investment. But before starting work, it is worth assessing all the risks, the consequences of obtaining such rights. Here the choice and responsibility rests solely on the shoulders of the user.

Root rights or superuser rights allow you to get unlimited access to the file system of the gadget on the Android platform, including access to system files and folders. And without that, such an open and customizable system, if these rights are obtained, becomes even more changeable.

What are the types of root rights

1. Full Root means full root, this is a permanent root of rights that open up absolutely all the possibilities of the operating system and the device to the owner of the device.
2. Shell Root - these are the same rights as Full Root, only with them access is closed to the System partition, that is, there is no way to write and overwrite this partition.
3. Temporary Root - means a temporary root, that is, the rights disappear after the device is rebooted.

Getting root rights

The rooting process may differ slightly depending on the device used, but in essence it is the same and comes down to adding several files and Superuser or SuperSU applications to the system folders.

To become a superuser, you usually need to go through the following steps:

1. Preparing your device. For example, it is necessary, on some smartphones and tablets, to unlock the bootloader, transfer files to a memory card, etc.
2. Run special software directly on the device itself or on a computer to which the device is connected.
3. Copy the su executable, which is installed in / system / xbin / su. It is he who is responsible for root.
4. Setting permissions to files and directories using the chmod command.

The most essential programs for root users

• The list of must-have programs is opened by the file manager Root Explorer. It will allow you to seamlessly operate system files, making your smartphone or tablet even more personal. For example, it will be possible to transfer programs, cache and other data to a memory card, even if this option is not provided.
• If you want to remove unused system applications, you will need Root Uninstaller. When uninstalling, be careful - some supposedly unused applications may actually turn out to be vital elements of the system.
• Frequently performed tasks can be automated with the most powerful application in the category, Tasker. The slightly confusing interface is more than compensated for by the richest functionality and practicality of the program.
• Greenify is another landmark solution for a rooted phone. Allows you to "freeze" the work of programs in the background and thereby saves precious percentages of battery power.
• Busybox - allows you to use familiar linux commands to control your smartphone.
• Titanium Backup - Allows you to back up your system, including contacts, SMS messages, and app data.

With superuser rights at your disposal, you can change the system bootloader, install an alternative recovery menu and custom firmware.

Superuser for rooted device management

To ensure that the full power of the new rights is not used for other purposes, but for selfish purposes, control measures are needed to restrict the use of these rights. The main control of a rooted phone falls on the shoulders of special programs, most often Superuser. It allows you to grant and restrict access to super-rights of various applications. For example, during the first launch of the same Root Explorer, a window will appear where you will be asked to grant the file manager root rights, and if you refuse, the application will not get access to hidden elements of the built-in memory.

The Superuser interface is intuitive: the main screen is a list of installed applications that, in principle, may require root-rights, and displays what powers this or that program is endowed with. When you select a program from the list, a permissions menu will open, where you can grant extended rights for a time, permanently, or completely prohibit their use.

What are the disadvantages of rooting

1. Loss of warranty for device functionality, if it is still valid.
2. Loss of the ability to update the operating system "over the air" (OTA update), but not on all firmware versions.
3. Disable branded chips of some manufacturers.

conclusions

If you are still wondering whether to get root-rights or not, then our answer is unequivocal - do it now. Superuser rights come in handy for any Android smartphone owner, because they turn your customizable device into a truly limitless field for creativity and practical solutions. The risk of getting an inoperative device, if all instructions are followed, is almost as minimal as the likelihood of spontaneous "oskirpichivaniya" device. In addition, at any time, if you wish, you can make anrut, that is, remove the root-rights.

Go for it and use your device 100%.

Android has taken over the world. This operating system from the American Internet giant Google is installed on most mobile devices of various price categories. It is it that is distributed according to the most attractive scheme, so any manufacturing company can install it.

To access hidden settings, you need to obtain Superuser rights

Android is a full-fledged operating system, so you can use it to perform a variety of tasks. We will not now consider in detail the capabilities of the system. If you have any questions, we advise you to read. In order to take full advantage of all the features and hidden settings, you need to root Android. In this article, we will look at what root-rights are, as well as all the available options for obtaining them.

What are root rights for?

First, let's talk about how the system works. When the user starts working, the system activates his account, which stores the basic settings and preferences, as well as the installed programs. This eliminates the need to reconfigure the device every time it is turned on. If you sync your tablet or smartphone with a Google account, the settings and the list of applications will be saved on the remote server of the company.

The majority of users are quite satisfied with the options for customizing the device, which are provided by the developer. For full control over the file system and settings, as well as to be able to fully customize the device, an account with root rights is required. On Linux, of which Android is a fork, this is called "superuser mode", on Windows it is called Administrator mode. If in computer operating systems it is enough to log in with the account password (Windows) or enter it if necessary system settings (Linux), then in the mobile one you need to carry out certain procedural actions to obtain root rights.

What exactly does their presence give?

• Absolute control over the device system.
• Ability to modify system applications, remove or replace them.
• Turning the necessary applications into system ones.
• Advanced full backup capabilities.
• Changing the boot menu for installing new firmware or modifying an existing one.
• The ability to fine-tune the appearance of Android.
• Transferring system applications to a memory card in case of a small amount of it in the device.
• Complete removal of unnecessary applications.
• Removing ads not only in the browser, but in all applications.
• Improved processor and hardware performance.

The list is far from complete, you can list many more advantages that the presence of superuser rights gives. But is it that easy to get them?

Root options

The fact is that Google, together with top manufacturers, in every possible way prevents the process of obtaining root-rights. Firstly, the user has the opportunity to disable ads, and Google makes very good money on this. Secondly, the company believes that most users have crooked hands, and if they have root, they will surely ruin something.

There are several ways to get root rights. In some cases, you can get by with just one mobile application, in others you will need a computer and a special rooting program. You can also get superuser rights by entering recovery mode. There is no universal method that is effective for each apparatus.

Types of root rights

Depending on the type of device, you can get one of the types of root:

• full, or full root - working constantly and without any restrictions, providing full access to the system partition; you can change everything at your discretion;
• partial, or shell root - also works for, but has a number of limitations, the most significant of which is the lack of access to the system file partition; many opportunities become unavailable;
• temporary, or temporary root - gives full or partial access to the entire file system, but only until the first reboot of the device; after re-enabling, root flies, and you have to repeat the whole procedure again.

Android app

The easiest way to get root rights. You just need to allow the installation of programs from unknown sources (to do this, activate the appropriate item in the Settings - Security menu), download the application installation file, install it and run it. After that, you should perform all the actions that the program requests. Usually the whole process takes only a few minutes.

The most famous:

There is also other software. If you are unable to achieve results with the above programs, try to find others.

Computer program

It also allows you to quickly get root rights in a few clicks on your computer. Algorithm for obtaining rights through a computer:

There are several programs, the most popular of them are Kingo Root, OneClickRoot, VRoot. If you are unable to cope with your device using one program, you can try another.

Using Recovery Mode

The method is simple, but requires certain skills and care, because if you do not comply with one of the conditions or accidentally skip a step, you can only complicate your life. Recovery mode is a recovery mode that allows you to reset, clear the system cache or install an update in case of incorrect operation. It starts most often by simultaneously pressing the power and volume buttons when the device is turned on. The combination may differ. To get root in this way, you will need:

• download a zip archive with modified files called update.zip and copy it to the root of the memory card;
• enter recovery mode, go to the install zip from sdcard - choose zip from sdcard section and select your archive;
• after the end of the process, click reboot system now to reboot the device.

No matter how confident you are, we recommend that you clarify the information specifically for your model in specialized forums. So you protect yourself from possible unpleasant consequences.

Potential risks

Despite the many advantages, there are several fatty disadvantages:

• Your warranty will automatically void. In the event of a breakdown, you will have to carry out the repairs entirely at your own expense.
• It becomes impossible to automatically update the firmware via the device menu.
• There is a risk of rendering the device inoperative.

Recently, manufacturers have been releasing more and more advanced ones that are practically not amenable to hacking.

Conclusion

As you can see, getting root rights for Android is not difficult, but in some cases, insurmountable difficulties can arise. We strongly advise you to study the pages of your device on specialized forums, for example, w3bsit3-dns.com or xda-developers.com. There you will find comprehensive information about all possible difficulties, comments from experts or experienced users, and more precisely determine which method is best for you - through a computer or on the device itself. Are you planning to root your device? Do you think they are needed? We would like to know your opinion on this score.

If you are reading this article, then most likely you have heard this word "root-rights", and you probably want to know what it means and why at all get superuser rights on your smartphone, go through this whole incomprehensible process. We will try to explain to you in more detail what rooting is and why it is cool.

What does "root Android" mean?

In short and in a nutshell, it will receive root-rights means that you get superuser rights or, more simply, you get admin rights on your phone. In more detail, it means that you can completely edit all system files that are not available to ordinary users. That is, you or any applications that work only on rooted devices will be able to access and change such system programs and chips, such as camera flash, flashlights for notifications, etc.

You will remove all restrictions given to you by the stock firmware. Rooting an android is like jailbreaking an Apple device. On Windows computers, this is changing your permissions from a simple user to an administrator. You may find it clearer when you finish reading the full article. So stay tuned.

Will I lose my warranty after getting root?

Of course yes! It is a fact. Likewise, iPhone owners lose their warranty after jailbreak. But, fortunately, returning to the stock (standard) firmware of the manufacturer ("rolls back to stock") and removing root-rights is also easy. Therefore, after such manipulations, no one will guess that you have installed root-rights and you can continue to make claims under the guarantee.

Benefits of Rooting Android Smartphones and Tablets

Administrator rights open up new horizons for us to customize and completely customize the gadget, and moreover, it helps you become more experienced in working with your smartphone. Below we present you with a list of benefits with a detailed explanation.

1. You can make a full backup of files on your device (make a full backup of the entire device)

Let's start with the biggest benefit of rooting: better backups. With a rooted device, you will most likely want to reconfigure the entire system, install a custom ROM, or applications that require rooting. Since you will be modifying the system at the root, it is very useful to have a backup of applications, user data, or even the entire system. And what's more, it never hurts to have a full backup, as you can accidentally delete an important system file.

The most popular application for backing up the system and individual files is Titanium Backup. Although the Pro version costs about $ 7, the program deserves it. The app helps you to back up all your installed programs and system data.

Another way to make a backup of your device is called "Nandroid" backup. Restoring the system with such a backup is very similar to restoring the Windows OS to the exact state at the time of the last system backup made. So if your gadget stops working correctly, programs stop responding and loading, then "Nandroid" backup will return you exactly to the point when the backup was made. This will protect you, if, for example, you want to install a different firmware or kernel, and something goes wrong, then you just use the "Nandroid" backup to fix the situation.

2. You will be able to automate everything

When it comes to automation, Tasker is the one and only application you need. With it, you can automate well, just everything. The program also works on devices without root, but with fewer features and options.

The app has exactly the same philosophy as the If This Then That (IFTTT) online tool, but works in a more sophisticated way. For example, you can turn WiFi off / on every time you come home or go somewhere, or turn on Bluetooth and Google Maps when you connect your gadget to the car dock. And these are just flowers.

3. You will be able to monitor the device even if someone does a "factory reset"

Losing a smartphone or tablet is always a big problem. Moreover, if the device was not lost, but stolen. Of course, it is impossible to prevent theft, but you can track your phone even without installing a special anti-theft application ("anti-theft"), especially since they are visible on the device. This means that the thief can simply uninstall the application or do a "factory reset".

Once you are rooted, you have the option to install a smartphone spy app such as Cerberus. In this case, the program is installed in the roots of the system. Thus, this program will survive even after a complete reset of the device to factory settings. It is also possible to install a disguised version of the application so that it will be hidden in "applications".

4. You have the opportunity to install custom (modified) versions of Android on your smartphone, which are called custom firmware

As the name implies, custom firmware is an adapted and customized version of Android. It often has unique features and improvements that you will never get on the standard version of this OS. The most popular custom firmwares are CyanogenMod, Paranoid Android and AOKP. These are just a couple of examples, and there are many more. If you want a more flexible and understandable system, a stable robot, greater performance and a long battery life, then you just need to try all these firmware and choose the best one for yourself, suitable for all your requirements and desires.

5. You can use "Xposed Framework" to customize your device

Xposed- this is the basis for all available graphics modules, which allows you to customize the appearance of the system. That is, you can get all those settings and features of work that are on custom firmware, but for this you do not need to install such firmware. It is enough to set up the stock one with the "Xposed Framework". Also, this framework is suitable if you do not want to install the whole firmware, because you only need to configure a few individual functions. You just need to install a specific module. Moreover, the framework is easy to install on your phone or tablet. In addition, it works on custom firmwares as well.

6. You can improve system performance and battery life

With superuser rights, you have the ability to change the processor frequency on your device. Overclocking the CPU will give you better performance, while the reverse operation (underclocking the CPU) will increase the battery life. Test the SetCPU app, which is available on Google Play for $ 2. This is an excellent program that has many useful functions, for example, create a couple of CPU profiles that switch automatically depending on the set conditions.

Advertising is very annoying, especially on smartphones with small screens. If certain apps bombard you with tons of ads, you can use blocking utilities and apps,. But you should be aware that developers sometimes earn income from such advertising, and if there is no advertising in the application, then most likely it is paid. Therefore, do not block all ads entirely, support the developers, because without their work there would be no free software.

Also see:

If you get root rights correctly, then this is not a risky business, and of course, getting root rights has a large number of advantages compared to non-rooted gadgets. Stock firmware, or standard android, is a very good system, but having unlimited customization options is much better. In this article, we have just a little clarified for you the essence of such a concept as root-rights, but we hope that you realized the full potential of your device after obtaining them.

Where did the concept of root come from? The idea of ​​a "superuser" goes back to a time when computers were large and expensive, and there were many users working on them at once. Among all these users, the most important was usually, and in operating systems of the Unix family (and not only) this user is named root. Root has full access to all system resources. It is with the help of root that you can do whatever your heart desires. Do you want to delete files that instantly disrupt the system? No problem. True, in the future, reinstallation is indispensable.

And this fully applies to Android, since the core of the system is exactly Linux. So what are the advantages of root rights?

As mentioned above, root gives you a lot of power. You will be able to install unwanted applications, manually increase the processor frequencies, which will lead to better performance. Root will allow you to kill unnecessary processes that prevent your gadget from sleeping peacefully. This is a wide range of options for configuring memory partitions. Root will allow you to install custom firmware, and this is perhaps one of the most important nuances.

The disadvantage, first of all, is that too broad opportunities can lead to disastrous results. If your smartphone is rooted, you shouldn't give it to children. And when we talk about a disastrous result, we are even talking about a complete loss of a gadget, where the only possible solution would be to contact a service center. Rooted owners should always use their smartphone with caution, this is somewhat of a big responsibility.

The most popular root-based applications are:

Titanium Backup

Many have heard of such an application, but not everyone understands? what is its functionality. Is Titanium Backup's primary concern? or, as they say in society, a backup of all your data. When we talk about all data, we mean the firmware itself, all settings, applications - absolutely everything.

The application is required for advanced work with access rights and superuser.

Able to disable processes that affect the performance of the gadget. For example, background processes of WhatsApp, Odnoklassniki applications.

Disconnects processes. For example, at night, the smartphone goes into sleep mode. Some applications have processes that start at a certain interval, perform actions and go back to sleep. These processes lead to frequent awakenings of the gadget. Thus, if the charge was at 100% at night? in the morning only 80% may remain. The application has been removed from Play, but it is not so difficult to find it on the Internet.

ROM Manager

It will help in installing firmware, with the help of Rom Manager, you can also install custom recovery, for example Clockword Recovery.

These are the 5 main and most popular applications that every root user should have.