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10 reasons to root your Android device

root freedom
© https://www.flickr.com/photos/tiagoafpereira/

There's plenty of reasons to root your phone, whether you own a Galaxy S5 or Nexus 5, an LG G3 or Note 3, but many of them may not be so obvious to you when contemplating whether or not taking the next step is for you. Sure, you can remove carrier and manufacturer bloatware and do full system backups and...well, what else exactly? Today we'll walk you through 10 good reasons to root your phone, but as always, we must remind you that rooting does come with some risks, so be sure you know all about them too before you proceed. 

root freedom
© tiagoafpereira / Flickr

1. A whole new world of apps

Android offers a wide range of apps for every situation, but when you want something that offers a somewhat ''more advanced'' function you usually require root level permissions. Having root permission simply means to be an ''administrator'' of your device, so you have control over deeper interactions with the system. This allows us to uninstall bloatware (pre-loaded apps), control firewalls, management systems and even enable gesture controls through multi-touch modifications. There are also apps that work fine without root, but whose full potential is only realized with root, such as antivirus apps, with their locking systems/remote access or CleanMaster, which lets you remove bloatware if you are rooted.
${app-com.cleanmaster.mguard}${app-com.googlecode.droidwall.free}${app-com.goodmooddroid.gesturecontroldemo}

2. Customize like never before

Android devices are famous for their ability to change live wallpapers, ringtones, keyboard sounds and much more. However, this customization is usually limited to superficial aesthetic changes. With root permissions you can modify the system files to your liking, including system sounds as well as the boot animation, which is what you see when you start your device up. The level of customization that is possible is near-limitless, but you can only start to see how deep the rabbit hole goes once you've taken the first step.

boot animation teaser
© NextPit

3. Performance beyond all limits

There are already many apps that can free up your RAM or speed up your phone, and we recently shared an article about how to fix low memory on Android. However, with ''normal'' methods it is not possible to overcome the limitations imposed by the hardware itself, but only to work within those predefined limits. Once again, root permission comes to the rescue, allowing you to modify the actual speed of the CPU via overclocking. To do this it is necessary to flash a custom kernel – the link connecting your hardware to software – that allows it, but the process is very simple, even more so using the app Kernel Manager.

low memory teaser
© NextPit

4. No more problems with the battery

Smartphones continue to evolve, but the Achilles heel of the battery has not yet been resolved. Although the best phones can guarantee 24 hours of use (and beyond, thanks to power-saving features), many of us fail to get to the end of the evening. Solution? Buy yourself the LG G3, the new king of the battery! Or, if you're not going to shell out that kind of money, or because you are simply loyal to your current smartphone, you can root and solve the problem yourself. With root you can access a number of functions that will allow you to choose how much power goes to the CPU, so setting a lower limit, called undervolting, can make significant savings in terms of power consumption. Again, you'll need a different kernel to the one your phone came with.

BatteryNexus5
© NextPit

5. Automate everything

Many of you already know the application Tasker, which allows us to automate virtually every aspect of our smartphones. For those not in the know, on the basis of an event (such as the insertion of the headphones, our specific location, a particular time of day etc) we can match an action to it (launch apps, send text messages, play a song) – all managed by this application. It also works without root permissions, but with them we will be able to access the complete list of possible interactions, such as activation of the internet, GPS, screen control, CPU speed, and much more.

${app-net.dinglisch.android.taskerm}

6. Flash custom ROMs

This is the number one reason why the majority of Android users decide to get root permissions. In addition to radically (or subtly) customizing a smartphone, the major custom ROMs we like the most tend to outdo the stock ROM in terms of functionality, performance and fluidity; an example is custom ROM and root terms explained.

 

omnirom galaxy nexus teaser
© NextPit

7. Block advertizing

While advertizing is, for many developers, their only source of income and the only thing that allows them to create otherwise free apps, it can also be a nuisance that you want to eliminate from your smartphone experience. If an app contains invasive advertising that not only consumes a large amount of data but that can also potentially trigger subscriptions without our consent, as we've seen repeatedly with WhatsApp, it's a problem that can be dealt with if you have root. Apps like AdBlock Plus give you control over the advertizing contained in apps and browsers. The use of this application and of other similar ones is possible only for those with root level permissions.

Install AdBlock Plus

8. Perform full backups

Every Android device has the ability to make a backup of applications and certain data, within the settings menu or through the use of management software like Samsung's Kies. Even if you decide to use these options together with various cloud services, nothing can ultimately compete with the features offered by root permission backups. For example, it is only with root that you can use the legendary app Titanium Backup, with which you can make copies of the entire system image of your device and move it to your SD card or computer. You also have the the ability to automate the process at regular intervals.

9. Access features from other phones

One of the best features (or worst, from the point of view of programmers) of Android devices is the incredible variety of phones and tablets that use it, not to mention the individual manufacturer changes to the Android system. This allows us to always have a different device than everyone else, but it also means not always being able to enjoy the unique features reserved for a group of top of the range smartphones. As you're probably starting to realize, root permissions also allow us to do this. In forums like XDA Developers there is a wealth of flashable zips available for all sorts of features, scripts and functions. In addition, we can enable limited functions from specific manufacturers, such as installing LG's Knock On feature on non-LG devices, or using features such as tethering to share and connect phones via USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

note2 to note3 teaser
© NextPit

10. Become the master of your universe

This is actually one of the most convincing reasons to root your phone. You bought it, so it's yours and you don't want to be told what you can or cannot do with your own property. Android, by its very nature, is a free system born from the idea of creating an ecosystem of independent software and hardware that is open to everyone (we've written briefly about the history of Android). Getting root permission, in addition to the benefits listed above and many more that I could mention, will make you the ''real'' owner of your smartphone, giving you complete control, albeit with some risks, of customizing basically anything you want to, exactly how you want it. And this is perhaps the best part of rooting your Android.

android teaser
© NextPit

Bonus: reversibility

The best thing about rooting is that if at any time you decide you'd prefer to go on as before, before you got root permission, you can do this in a snap. This means you can return to the original firmware of your device and, in most cases, also restore your warranty (with a little smoke and mirrors). All of this can be achieved through the use of a special tool kit or just by reflashing the original firmware with Odin or another flash tool. So that completes the circle! If these reasons have convinced you that root is for you, first: read, read, read some more. Knowledge is power: that's the best way to avoid any hiccups!

Check out our list of the top 5 root apps for Android.

Are you considering rooting your device? What are your main reasons for rooting (or not rooting)?

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Mattia Mercato

Mattia Mercato
Freelance Editor

A big fan of computer science and videogames for as long as he remembers, Mattia now has the chance to cultivate his passion developing apps and games for Android. His deep interest for the open source operating system goes from hardware specs to software procedures like rooting and bug fixing, or simply by trying out new apps and features.

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21 comments
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  • 27
    Sorin Jan 25, 2019 Link to comment

    About the root of the phone I heard very good opinions and that made me curious.
    I have a perfectly functional phone that I do not use it anymore, and I will root it!


  • 1
    Akilan Aki Jan 1, 2017 Link to comment

    Is it good to root galaxy s5??
    Please let me know..


  • 1
    Akilan Aki Jan 1, 2017 Link to comment

    Is it good to root galaxy s5??
    Please let me know.


  • James Abraham 1
    James Abraham Oct 15, 2015 Link to comment

    I'm curious am I able to root my note 4 from Verizon


  • Teresa D. 3
    Teresa D. Sep 6, 2015 Link to comment

    Still trying to figure out how to root my moto g xt 1031 without a pc(only have a chromebook)

    Also, boost hasn't even began to start upgrading my phone to lollipop, still running on 4.4.4, but I've read, and heard, that I wouldn't be that happy with lollipop anyway :-/

    Any help, comments or commu ication is most appreciated and welcome! Thanks and take care all :-P

    Oracularoafess214@gmail.com


  • n13L5 14
    n13L5 Jul 26, 2015 Link to comment

    My Galaxy S5 runs so much crap in the background and has a lot of large footprint Samsung apps I'm not interested in, I want to root it just to clean house.

    Another reason is my current thieving Telco "Globe"... Whenever your 7 day internet subscription runs out, they will auto-subscribe you to their most expensive 15 minute plan over and over, instead of simply cutting off the connection. I set myself an alarm to turn it off manually, but that's kind of a hassle I'd like Tasker to take care of.

    Sorin


  • 1
    Bridgette Wilkus Jan 1, 2015 Link to comment

    anyone know how I can get my phone to update? I have a galaxy s4 GT-I9500 and it still has 4.3 on it. every time I try to update it says "this device has been modified. no updates available." but clearly there have been updates since then!


  • 2
    Claude Speed Dec 27, 2014 Link to comment

    How I can root eSTAR CRYSTAL tablet?


  • 1
    Ebba Asghari Dec 7, 2014 Link to comment

    does the apps that cost's becomes free?(once you've rooted)


    • My1 37
      My1 Dec 7, 2014 Link to comment

      we dont talk about piracy here. it's illegal and hurts the ved and decreases the chances of the app getting updates...

      Sorin


  • 3
    ashiik ali Nov 2, 2014 Link to comment

    Any 4.3+ rom for Xperia c. Need very badly.


  • 2
    Rita P. Jul 8, 2014 Link to comment

    can someone please help me root my galaxy note 2 tmobile version. please im techy but new to this


  • 7
    Deactivated Account Jun 24, 2014 Link to comment

    Titanium Backup doesn't make nandroid backups. That's done in recovery mode. TB does back up everything (apps, settings, messages, most but not all settings) but that's not the definition of a nandroid backup. Nandroid backups are partition-based images. More like what Norton Ghost does for a Windows system.


  • molham 3
    molham Jun 24, 2014 Link to comment

    want to root my xperia z on 4.3!!


  • 2
    M. J Jun 22, 2014 Link to comment

    I want to root my Xperia z1.. Pls help out


  • My1 37
    My1 Jun 19, 2014 Link to comment

    about reversibility, I must say:
    OBJECTION! (imagine Phoenix Wright Gesture here)
    Especially in case of newer Galaxy Devices with Knox

    Sorin


    • Kris Carlon 35
      Kris Carlon Jun 19, 2014 Link to comment

      Well you can still unroot a post-Android 4.3 Samsung, but you won't get your warranty back (until someone at XDA figures out how to get around Knox)

      Sorin


      • My1 37
        My1 Jun 19, 2014 Link to comment

        Not only that, you also cannot use knox and some other Samsung software...

        The only way yet is to use a way to root without tripping it, like staying on 4.3 and using kingo, ot towelroot, and even then you must be careful as the wrong modification (like a custom kernel or recovery) WILL trip the flag...

        Sorin


      • Kris Carlon 35
        Kris Carlon Jun 19, 2014 Link to comment

        Have you tried towelroot yet Philipp? I guess you haven't needed to, but it seems to be taking the root world by storm.

        Sorin

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