Rooting is the process of gaining control over various Android subsystems (also known as root access) allowing users to operate their mobile devices more efficiently.
Since Android contains a modified version of the Linux kernel, rooting an Android device gives users administrative (superuser) permissions similar to those of Linux and Unix-like operating systems, such as FreeBSD and macOS.
Rooting allows you to modify the device’s software code or install other software that the manufacturer normally wouldn’t allow.
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They keep this policy for good reasons of mobile security: they don’t want users to mess with the phones in a way that could result in serious accidents.
It is easier for them to provide support if users only use the unmodified version of the software.
There are already a number of rooting methods developed by tech savvy users, depending on the device. There are a multitude of Android apps that you can download using the web, and many of them serve powerful purposes, including:
- Almost any theme/graphic can be customized
- Apps can be downloaded from any app store, regardless of where they’re posted
- Enhanced battery life and performance
- Installs the latest version of Android on an aging device that hasn’t been frequently updated by its manufacturer
The problem with this, however, is that it causes havoc if you do it incorrectly.
Even if you root your device properly, if your Android device does not have good antivirus protection, your device can be prone to malware.
Thus, you should also consider the disadvantages of rooting your Android phone before you actually start rooting your device.
Following are some of the disadvantages:
- Rooting can brick your device:
Rooted Android devices are frequently subject to misoperations, which could cause your device to become an expensive, unusable brick.
For this reason, you need to always purchase apps from reliable sources, such as Google Play, and you should not delete files that rooting apps recommend you not delete.
If you are new to rooting, the chances of bricking your phone are even higher.
There are plenty of tutorials available on the internet on how to root your device, but it can still seem overwhelming at first.
Flashing a corrupted zip file or skipping a step can result in a bricked device. When this occurs, you either have to get your device fixed at the manufacturer’s service center or, you can fix it on your own if you are a power user.
In the world of rooting, bricking is a dreaded term. Although it is possible to fix it, bricking a device is surprisingly easy.
- Rooting voids your warranty
One more important disadvantage of rooting Android is that it voids your device’s warranty.
If you bricked the phone while rooting it, the device manufacturers will not cover your damages.
Some devices allow you to unroot the device after rooting, which makes device makers unaware of the rooting process.
Device makers, on the other hand, can take great lengths to discover what is really going on with your device. In most cases, rooting your phone will void the warranty.
- Root and super user access
It seems amazing to have root access, and it is, right up until it doesn’t work.
Setting the wrong item in the wrong place at the wrong time or moving the wrong item into the wrong place can cause a lot of trouble.
The clocking of the CPU can also be detrimental. In addition to maximizing performance, overclocking or increasing the speed of your processor can also overheat the processor, which is the heart of your system.
In other words, your device may have a heart attack from your actions.
- Tweaking risks
Tweaking your device also comes with risks. Adjusting certain settings will result in certain outcomes.
A bricked device is the worst case scenario, but it is also possible for nothing to happen, which is frustrating! In addition, a wrong kernel or ROM could cause problems of its own.
It is possible for your device to be bricked or worse. Fixing these disasters can also be time-consuming, expensive, and exhausting.
- Update problems
It is good to know that Android devices that are unrooted will always work well, regardless of the timeliness of system updates.
A rooted device may not be able to perform this action. It may not be possible to update your firmware automatically.
The rooting process can cause software to be modified in some cases, preventing updates from working.
Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of rooting Android, you can decide whether it is worth the hassle and risk.
This all depends on the level of risk you are willing to accept, the way you use your phone, and what your expectations are.
Root carefully if you decide to do so. But before you root your device You should have answers to these questions:
- How willing are you to face and try to fix the disadvantages of rooting your device?
- Have you backed up your device before attempting to root it?
- Are you familiar with how to root your device? Have you done enough research online?
If you answered ‘yes’ to these three points, then you have a good chance of rooting your Android phone and facing the consequences and benefits that come with it.
In case all or two of your answers to these three questions are negative, then you might want to rethink the idea a bit. Or leave out rooting your device altogether.
