Source: Android Central
If you’ve researched anything about Android on the web, you’ve probably seen and read about «rooting» it. There was a time when many of the phones available Android fell short of their potential and root was the answer. Terrible software was the norm, apps you would never use ran hopelessly, wasting data and battery life, and the experience was poor.
Since every Android phone runs a Linux kernel and middleware very similar to the distribution linuxwhich you install on a computer under the hood, rooting was a way for us to try and fix them in our own way. root is how you get full access to everything in the operating system, and these permissions allow you to change it all. Modern Android is much better than before. Even the cheapest phone or tablet you can buy in 2019 will perform better and perform better than the best Android phone available just a few years ago. But many of us still want access to our phones and are looking for more information.
Content
- What is root?
- Should I root?
- get ready
- How to get root
- Samsung
- LG
- Huawei
- One Plus
- Motorola
- pixel
- Other phones
What exactly is root?
Source: Android Central
When you root your Android, you simply add a standard Linux feature that has been removed.
Root, at least as we say here, is the superuser. Your Android phone uses Linux permissions and file system ownership. When you sign in, you are a user and you are allowed to perform certain actions according to your permissions. The apps you install are also given a user ID type, and they all have permissions to do certain things — you see them when you install them on older versions of Android, or you’re prompted to allow them on Marshmallow or higher — in certain folders. with certain files. Root is also a user. The difference is that the root user (superuser) has the right to do anything with any file anywhere on the system. This includes things we want to do, such as force deleting an app, or things we don’t want to do that might render your Android inoperable. When you do something as root, you can do anything.
When you root your Android, you simply add a standard Linux feature that has been removed. Small file named su is placed on the system and given permissions so that another user can run it. It stands for «Switch User» and if you run the file without any other options, it switches your credentials and permissions from a normal user to a superuser user. After that, you have full control and can add anything, remove anything and access features on your phone or tablet that were not available before. This is very important and you should think before you start.
System Root vs. System Root
Source: Android Central
Everything above is how Linux based systems usually work and how Android works before version 4.3.
Starting with the release of Android 4.3, the process that handles requests for root access should run as soon as you turn on your phone. This daemon (that’s what these types of processes are called) also needs special permissions so that it can work as intended. For both of these things to happen, it was necessary to change the files in the system folder of the phone.
When Android 5.0 came out, everything changed, and the boot image — the software that does exactly what you think: to boot Android on your phone — needs to be changed so that the daemon is running. su . Because it does not change the system partition, it has been called a systemless root.
Systemless root is what you’ll have if you can’t build Android for your phone and install it.
Work on systemless root was quickly halted when a way was found to root Android 5 phones by editing system files, but Google fixed the method with Android 6 and systemless root was required again.
It’s good that Google is fixing some things to make our phones more secure because most people don’t care about rooting phones and need these protective equipment. In this case, it was also beneficial to the root community as a whole, because a systemless root is better in many ways.
Easier when you want to update to a new version of Android, easier to uninstall if you change your mind, and what most users like is that systemless root can be «hidden» so certain apps and behaviors won’t know what your phone is rooted and working fine. Yes, that means things like Google’s Safety Net, your bank’s app, or even a game that doesn’t allow rooted devices can work just fine in many cases.
If you don’t have a very old phone, or just want to practice building Android yourself on a Pixel or other Google-supported open hardware platform, you’ll probably use the systemless root method.
Should I root my Android?
Source: Android Central
Yes. May be All three answers are absolutely correct. People have different reasons for wanting to root their devices. Some do it just because they can — they paid for the equipment and think they can do whatever they like. Others want to be able to add things that aren’t there, like internet servers, or be able to «fix» services that are there but don’t work the way they would like them to. People may buy a phone because they love the hardware, but they hate the software and want to change it. Basically, people root their phones because they just want to get rid of stuff they don’t want on it. Each of these reasons — like any other reason you may not mention — is correct the reasons.
Most people want root to get rid of bloat.
Before embarking on any preparation to root your phone, you must remember that it changes everything with the security inherent in Google and the company that built it. Many of us don’t like it, but the ability to access an account with administrator rights was not specifically included in the release versions of Android. Once you add this capability, you are responsible for the security and integrity of the operating system and every application on it. For some, this is more of a responsibility than they want or need.
Rooting is not for everyone. If you’re not sure how it’s possible to break something by running them as root, you should learn more about it, before than to start. It’s okay not to know something and try to learn, but not knowing and doing them anyway can turn a very expensive Android into a paperweight. You should also be aware that for many Android models, rooting means your warranty is void. Services (including apps, as well as network access from your carrier) may be denied to you due to security risks while you are online. The risk is real because many users blindly inspect all of this and admit the loss of security. Not doing this is your responsibility — take it seriously!
Rooting your phone puts on you responsibility when it comes to privacy and security. This is good and bad.
Finally, there are many users who simply don’t care about it. Any Android phone, no matter how limited root access, can do just about anything we want or need from a pocket computer. You can change the look, choose from over a million apps on Google Play, and have full access to the internet and most of any services that live there. You can even make phone calls. It’s great if you’re happy with what you have and what it can do, and don’t worry about trying to fix what isn’t damaged (in your eyes).
Getting ready to root
Source: Android Central
You will need to do a few things to get your phone ready for rooting, depending on which method you are using. Many methods require installing the Android SDK or unlocking the bootloader. It sounds like a lot of scary work, but it’s not difficult, and knowing how to use these tools will help if things go wrong. The Android SDK is huge, and if you’re just rooting your phone, you don’t want to waste bandwidth or file space on it. XDA User shimp208 created Minimal ADB and Fastboot tool Windowswhich contains only the ADB and Fastboot components required for rooting.
Here is our comprehensive step by step guide to setting up and installing the Android SDK.
Depending on which phone you have, unlocking the bootloader may be slightly different. The «standard» way is to use the OEM unlock command. If you’re using a Motorola, Sony, or LG phone, you’ll be able to get an «official» cryptographic token to unlock the bootloader for some devices. You can find how to do this and where to get it from on each vendor’s developer pages in the links below. Be aware that unlocking the bootloader on Android may affect the warranty status.
- Motorola bootloader unlock
- LG Bootloader Unlock
- Sony bootloader unlock
How to root my phone?
How you get root will depend on which Android you have. There are over 12,000 different Android models (and that’s just the ones that have access to Google Play) from hundreds of different manufacturers. Almost all of them were designed to be difficult to obtain. This is because if you are easy get root your phone, when you need extra access it can be just as easy for someone else to root your phone and get the same access — meaning they will have all your important personal data.
There are models specifically protected to prevent unauthorized access (which also means rooting), such as the BlackBerry KEY2, as well as devices that were designed to be unlocked securely and easily for full developer access, such as the Google Pixel 4. Most phones are somewhere in the middle, and when the operators connect, they also control the process.
The best Android phones
With over 12,000 different models, we cannot cover every method for rooting every single device. We can point you in the right direction and help you get there.
Rooting your Samsung phone
Source: Android Central
Samsung used to offer «developer versions» of its popular models, but weak sales (they usually had to be paid for in full without any subsidies or funding) seem to have stopped production. We ourselves are to blame — it’s just not worth doing what no one buys.
Samsung also makes very lucrative deals with carriers and in most cases, these carriers want to prevent you from rooting your phone. The latest models from AT&T or Verizon are known to be difficult to use, and all US versions of the Galaxy S9 are locked and encrypted. There may never be a way to eradicate them. This does not apply to unlocked models sold outside of North America.
Knox can create particular problems when trying to root.
To root most Samsung phones, you will need a program called Odin. It is a low-level firmware flashing tool that can upload image files to storage and overwrite existing images. You will also need the correct drivers USB for Windows computers. If you are using a Mac or Linux computer, the software that flashes images is called Heimdall. They both work in essentially the same way and carry the same risks — if you try to flash the wrong image or a bad image, your phone won’t be able to start. While this can often be fixed, be aware that there is always a chance that you could mess up your phone or tablet and your warranty will be voided as soon as you start.
Also, many Samsung phones come with Knox security enabled. Knox is part of Samsung’s special «Approved for Enterprise» feature, where personal and work environments can be separated so that both devices can coexist on the same device. Knox can create particular problems when trying to root a phone that uses it, and it has a software counter that can show when a device’s firmware has been tampered with. This means it’s very easy for Samsung to void your warranty if you start fiddling with things.
For more information about rooting Samsung phones, it is best to consult the XDA forum for your specific model. * Galaxy Note 10 * Galaxy S10 * Galaxy Note 9 * Galaxy S9
The XDA forums are a group of people, including those from the mobile industry, who are involved in mobile device hacking. This is one of the best places on the internet to learn about things like rooting a phone and is the first place I check when I have questions!
Rooting your LG phone
Source: Android Central