Although the Android operating system offers us enough freedom to do everything, we can always find some restrictions. These limits can be removed if we get super-user access or, as it is better known in Android, Root. But, How to root Android?
Many of the tools that offer us the possibility of Rooting our Android device are for PC, but there are also applications that will allow us to get access Root from our smartphone or tablet.
In this article we will try to explain part of what is related to being Root and Root Android. We will explain a little above what being Root is for and we will talk about some applications to Root our devices, both about tools that force us to use the PC, such as Root Master, and others that will allow us to perform the task without it.
What is the use of being a root user on Android?
As I mentioned before, although in Android we have the freedom to do practically anything, we always have limits. As a Linux-based operating system, to perform some actions we will need to have a special permission. For example, application Cerberus which is used to control our device remotely in case of theft, they can only work if the device is Rooted.
As in the case of Cerberus, if we want to be able to use all the possible functions, no matter how dangerous, of an Android device, we will need to Root it.
Being Root we can also:
- Remove the personalization layer from a brand.
- Remove pre-installed applications (bloatware).
- Improve system speed.
- Improve autonomy.
- Further personalize the device.
- Perform Wi-Fi operations that are not available without Root (such as recovering passwords).
- Perform more comprehensive backups (using tools such as Titanium Backup).
Best apps to root on Android
There are dozens of applications that will allow us to root our Android device, but I would highlight the following.
- vRoot. One of the most famous and most used is VRoot. Like other of the best applications to Root our Android devices, it is very simple to use, but it is only available for PC. In addition, it also serves to make the way back and works for almost any version of Android (from 2.2 to the most current versions).
- Kingo ROOT. This is as effective an app as the previous one, but VRoot is said to have a higher success rate. It is also used to make the way back (known as unroot) and works with most Android phones and tablets.
- FbranchRoot. As an application that does not require a computer, it does not work on as many devices or brands as the previous tools, but it is also an option to consider. You have a post that explains how to Root an Android device with Framaroot.
- Magisk. It is a quite popular and updated tool that allows you to root Android devices without modifying the original firmware. It uses a "virtual layer" that runs on top of the operating system to hide root access from apps that shouldn't have it. This reduces the risk of security problems.
Surely with one of these apps, you will learn how to root your Android mobile or tablet. If you want root SamsungThese apps are also compatible with the Korean company's mobiles and tablets.
How to Root Android with Root Master
Before going on to explain How to Root Android with Root Master, I recommend that you read the post Android existential doubts; To root or not to root? That is the question that my colleague Francisco published at the time. I think it is important to warn you that by Rooting an Android device, a brand may refuse to repair it if we want to use its warranty, although it is not the most common.
On the other hand, in the same way that we gain access to all the hiding places of our device, we also open a door for the malicious software do your thing, as long as we run it and give you permission to do so (something we would do without knowing it).
If you have already read the aforementioned post and you are clear about it, the first thing you have to know is that to use Root Master you need to have a device that is among the Android versions 1.5 and 5.x. It should also be noted that this method is only recommended for those terminals that do not have a specific tool to be Rooted, such as Framaroot u Odin, the second for Samsung.
Root Android with Root Master, step by step
If you meet the requirements, these are the steps to follow:
- Download and install the Root Master .apk.
- We run the application. We will see a screen like the first of the screenshots. Here we don't have to do anything, just wait for it to check compatibility with our device.
- If our device is compatible with Root Master, we will see another screen like the one in the screenshot in which we will see three buttons. We have to touch the button that says "Root".
- We wait for the application to analyze the device and another screen appears in which we will also see the word "Root." Tap where it says “Root”
- When the process is finished, all you have to do is touch the purple button and we will have our rooted device.
- But one more thing is missing: when we finish Rooting our device with Root Master, we will see a new application with the name of SuperSu. The bad thing is It is possible that this application is in Chinese. If this is the case, it is worth going to Google Play and downloading SuperSu or Superusuario in Spanish.
Another similar option that allows us Rooting Android without depending on a PC is iRoot. It is a more modern application than Root Master and you have a tutorial that explains how to use it in our post iRoot, Root a lot of Android terminals without the need for a PC.
Furthermore, as explained in that post, performing a search in Androidsis of the type "how to root the [device]", without the quotes and replacing "[device]" with the device we want to Root, you will find information to Root practically any Android device. We recommend you do a little search on how to root on android.
You know how to root android with this or other methods? Feel free to leave your experience in the comments.
How to know if I am root or not
You may be wondering whether you have rooted your Android phone or not. Something that is possible if you have bought the phone from someone else. Therefore, if you want to know, there are very simple ways to find out. The best way to check it is using an application. This application is called Root Checker.
This application, which you can download below, It is the best option to check if you are root or not. All you have to do is install the app on your Android phone. Inside it you will find a button that allows you to analyze your device. Then, it will tell you if you are root or not. It is that simple to know, and it takes little time.
What if I am not root
If we are not a root user, it assumes that we do not have access to superuser permissions. Users who are root on Android have access to the root directory on which the operating system is installed. This therefore allows us to manipulate said files at will. So many changes can be made in this regard.
Therefore, if you are not root, you will not have these possibilities. You will simply be able to make normal use of your Android phone, without having access to these files that allow you to modify some aspects of your Android phone.
Is it dangerous to root the mobile?
Rooting your mobile is something that can give you many advantages and additional functions. Although there are also a series of dangers that cannot be ignored. First of all, if you install an application on your phone, some permissions are requested, in order to install it on the device.
If you are a root user, you give an application access to all system files. This assumes that the application does not have an action limit and they have access to everything. Something that can be very dangerous, especially if you have a malicious application installed. Since you will be able to do everything you want on our device.
On the other hand, the process of rooting Android is complicated. This is why inexperienced users are not recommended to do so. Since it is easy to make a mistake, which can have fatal consequences for our device. Also once you are root, you have to be very careful with what you install, the permissions or the files you handle.
Therefore, root your Android phone it is something that has to be thought through before doing. Since if at any time you regret it, although it is possible to reverse the process, it is not easy to achieve it.
Is the warranty voided by root?
Probably on some occasion you have heard about this topic. This is one of the most complex issues when it comes to root. As you may lose the warranty of your Android phone, but it is not 100% certain. Therefore, it generates many doubts among consumers.
It is true in part, but if you know the directives of the European Union, it is possible that this will stop being a hindrance. If you are a resident of a European Union country and you have bought the phone in one of the countries, the situation is somewhat complex. What's more, it usually depends on each manufacturer.
Although the trend in recent years has been that manufacturers have become less permissive in this regard. For example, in case you have a problem with a Samsung phone, the first thing they look at is whether you are rooted or not. If so, the repair would not be under warranty. Something that can be a huge cost for the user. But, any manufacturer will be able to easily detect if you are root.
But, as we have said, it depends on the manufacturer. Although it is a real risk, that when you root you will lose the guarantee. At the moment there is no clear policy in this sense. In case of doubts, you can always consult the manufacturer's website, where there is usually some information about it.
Also you can hide the root In the event that any application gives you problems for being a super user.
What do I do if after root android I can't update?
Another of the main problems that we can face when doing root. When you do this on your phone, the update notices usually go away. Although it depends a lot on each manufacturer. Therefore, OTA updates, which are what we normally receive on the phone, we stop receiving.
Esto forces us to have to search for updates on our own. We have pages where you can download this update manually, in the form of an APK, for example. But, this can pose several dangers. In the first place, we do not know if it is a safe update like Android. Also, by installing it, it will most likely remove the root from the phone.
Therefore, once you have installed an update, you may have to root again. So you have to go through the process again. So in this sense there are quite a few drawbacks that make it difficult to get updates or install them.
Tips to keep in mind before rooting
If you have made the decision to root your Android phone, there are a number of aspects that you have to take into account before starting the process. In this way, in the event that you are going to start the process, you will not have problems during it.
Before starting, you have to make sure that you have at least 60% battery in the phone. It is a process that can be lengthy and time consuming. Therefore, you should never do it with a low battery. As this can cause problems or you may not be able to complete it.
If you are going to root with the computer, it is better to use a laptop. Since in this way you do not depend on the current. In the event that the computer shuts down, because the power goes out, you can cause irreparable damage to the phone. Therefore, a laptop is more secure in this case.
When you root, the data that is saved in the phone is not deleted. Neither the ones you have in the internal memory nor the ones in the SD. If you want to make a copy it is fine, for security, but they will not be deleted in any way.
How do I remove the root
If you have been a root user on your Android phone, but you do not see advantages and you want to reverse it, we have the possibility to do so. In this sense, there are several possibilities, which depend in part on the ROM you have used to root your phone.
There are some ROMs that allow you to unroot directly. They have a feature that helps you reverse the change and return the phone to its original state. It is a function called Unroot. But it is not something that we have available in all the custom ROMs out there.
In addition to this, we can use other applications that help us delete the root folders, so that once done, when we restart the phone, we have the phone back in its original state. There is also another app in the Play Store, which allows you to revert the root of all phones.
If the one you have installed does not give you this possibility, you can remove it manually. What you would have to do is reinstall the original firmware. Some manufacturers give users tools to reinstall the firmware they had, so that the root is completely removed.
