What can you do with root rights on Android? (best options). Why do you need Root in Android? Pros and cons

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 this that is distributed according to the most attractive scheme, so it can be installed by any manufacturing company.

To access hidden settings you will need to have Superuser rights

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

Why do you need root rights?

First, let's talk about the principle of operation of the system. When the user starts working, the system activates his account, which stores basic settings and preferences, as well as installed programs. Thanks to this, there is no need to reconfigure the device every time it is turned on. If you synchronize your tablet or smartphone with a Google account, the settings and list of applications will be saved on a remote company server.

For most users, the device configuration options provided by the developer are sufficient. For complete control over the file system and settings, as well as the ability to fully configure the device, an account with root rights is required. In Linux, of which Android is a branch, this is called “superuser mode”; in 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 for system settings (Linux), then in mobile operating systems you need to carry out certain procedural steps to obtain root rights.

What exactly does their presence provide?

• Absolute control over the device system.
• Ability to change system applications, remove or replace them.
• Turning the necessary applications into system ones.
• Advanced options for creating a full backup.
• Changing the boot menu to install new firmware or modify an existing one.
• Ability to fine-tune the appearance of Android.
• Transferring system applications to a memory card if its capacity in the device is small.
• Complete removal of unnecessary applications.
• Removing advertising not only in the browser, but also in all applications.
• Improved processor and hardware performance.

The list is far from complete; you can list many more advantages that having superuser rights provides. But is it so easy to get them?

Options for obtaining root rights

The fact is that Google, together with top manufacturers, is doing its best to prevent the process of obtaining root rights. Firstly, the user has the opportunity to disable advertising, and Google makes very good money from this. Secondly, the company believes that most users have crooked hands, and if they have a root, they will definitely ruin something.

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

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 on, 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 turning it on again, root crashes, 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 corresponding item in the Settings - Security menu), download the application installation file, install it and run it. After this, you should perform all the actions that the program requires. Usually the whole process takes only a few minutes.

The most famous:

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

Computer program

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

There are several programs, the most popular of them are Kingo Root, OneClickRoot, VRoot. If you can't handle your device using one program, you can try another.

Using Recovery Mode

The method is simple, but requires certain skills and care, because if one of the conditions is not met or one of the steps is accidentally skipped, 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 is most often launched by simultaneously pressing the power and volume buttons when turning on the device. The combination may vary. To get root 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 process is completed, click reboot system now to reboot the device.

No matter how confident you are in your abilities, we recommend that you clarify information specifically about your model on specialized forums. This way you will protect yourself from possible unpleasant consequences.

Possible risks

Despite the many advantages, there are several significant disadvantages:

• Your warranty is automatically void. In the event of a breakdown, you will have to carry out repairs entirely at your own expense.
• It becomes impossible to automatically update the firmware through 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 unhackable.

Conclusion

As you can see, obtaining root rights for Android is a simple procedure, but in some cases insurmountable difficulties may arise. We strongly advise you to study the pages of your device on specialized forums, for example, 4pda.ru or xda-developers.com. There you will find comprehensive information about all possible difficulties, comments from specialists or experienced users, and more accurately decide 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 necessary? We are interested to know your opinion on this matter.

Today we will tell you about a topic that attracts the attention of many, but at the same time causes inner fear among the majority - Root rights on Android. In this material, we will not talk about how to obtain these rights, how to flash firmware for certain smartphones, but 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 taking on or not.

Today, Android from Google is one of the most popular mobile systems in the world. It provides a very wide range of possibilities for setting up and managing the gadget, but the system can’t do everything. Expand functionality Android You can by obtaining so-called administrator rights - root rights.

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

1. Appearance. Root rights make it possible to completely customize the appearance of your smartphone's desktop - from the notification shade to the appearance of third-party applications. Custom themes can be used either completely or in layers. For example, you like the appearance 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 to your smartphone. The main condition for this is that the smartphone has a processor from . Additionally, you can write a line of code into the system file of the smartphone, getting the HDR+ mode in the camera, the quality of pictures in this mode will significantly improve.

Here are just a few features 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, perhaps, by considering the arguments against obtaining root rights. There are several such arguments:

Now let's look at the most interesting part - the arguments for the user obtaining root rights. Administrator rights allow you to:

1. After obtaining such rights, the user gains full control over his device. If you don't like the selection of standard applications installed on your device, you can easily remove them. You can force traffic restrictions on the device. The list of possibilities can be continued endlessly.
2. Optimizing device power consumption. Initially, Google's system provides a fairly wide range of options for managing the device's energy consumption, but with root rights these options will expand significantly. For example, some applications will allow you to control the performance of processor cores, slowing them down at certain moments 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 you to install less power-intensive firmware on devices.

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

If you are reading this article, then most likely you have heard the word “root rights”, and you probably want to know what this means and why you even need to get superuser rights on your smartphone and 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 it mean to "root Android"?

You will remove all restrictions given to you by the stock firmware. Getting root rights on Android is the same as jailbreaking on Apple devices. On Windows computers, this is changing your permissions from a simple user to an administrator. It may be clearer to you when you read the full article. So stay tuned.

Will I lose my warranty after rooting?

Advantages of obtaining root rights on Android smartphones and tablets

1. You can make a full backup of the 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'll likely want to reconfigure your entire system, install a custom ROM, or install apps that require rooting. Since you will be changing the system from the roots, it is very useful to have a backup of applications, user data, or even the entire system. Moreover, it never hurts to have a full backup, as you may 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 application will help you backup all your installed programs and system data.

Another way to make a backup of your device is called a “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 simply use the “Nandroid” backup to correct the situation.

2. You can automate everything

When it comes to automation, Tasker is the one and only application you need. With it you can automate 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 online tool If This Then That (IFTTT), but works in a more complex 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 docking station. 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 delete the application or do a “factory reset”.

When you are rooted, you have the option to install a smartphone spying 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 is hidden in the "apps".

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, but there are many more. If you want to get a more flexible and understandable system, stable operation, greater performance and long battery life, then you just need to try all these firmwares and choose the best one for yourself that suits all your requirements and desires.

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

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

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 more performance, while underclocking the CPU will improve battery life. Test out the SetCPU app, available on Google Play for $2. This is an excellent program that has many useful functions, such as creating a couple of CPU profiles that switch automatically depending on the set conditions.

Ads are very annoying, especially on small screen smartphones. If certain applications bombard you with tons of advertisements, you can use blocking utilities and applications. But you should know that developers sometimes earn income from such advertising, and if the application does not have advertising, then most likely it is paid. Therefore, do not block all advertising entirely, support the developers, because without their work there would be no free programs.

Also see:

If you obtain root rights correctly, then it is not a risky business, and of course, obtaining administrator rights has a large number of advantages in comparison with non-rooted gadgets. Stock firmware, or standard Android, is a very good system, but having an unlimited number of customization options is much better. In this article, we only a little clarified the essence of such a concept as root rights, but we hope that you realized the full potential of your device after receiving them.

Today, a lot of mobile devices based on the Android operating system are supplied to the market from such well-known manufacturers as Lenovo, Asus, Acer, LG and so on. The peculiarity of this OS is that it is open source, and therefore the user has the ability to edit system files, folders and install any applications downloaded from the Internet in .apk format. However, in order to unlock this feature, you need to obtain Root rights or, as they are also called, SuperUser.

What is root rights on Android

What are root rights for Android? This term dates back to the days of the first UNIX operating systems, and its main purpose is to obtain all additional rights to ensure complete control over an Android-based device. You can draw a fairly simple analogy with the Windows OS, where only the user who is logged in as an administrator can get into the system directory and change its data. Android works the same way, that is, after purchasing a smartphone, you only have guest rights, and Root significantly expands them.

Why do you need ROOT rights for Andorid - pros and cons

Superuser rights can be extremely useful on absolutely every device, regardless of the version of the Android operating system. The key advantages of Root include:

1. Possibility of customizing the external shell of the OS;
2. Freeing up device memory by removing software from Google and the manufacturer;
3. Installation of hacked paid applications without advertising and with advanced functionality;
4. Changing files in system directories;
5. More efficient system optimization for applications that require Superuser rights;
6. Using tweaks to improve smartphone performance.

Although the minor disadvantages of the root are compensated by the above advantages, they still exist, namely:

1. Loss of manufacturer's warranty;
2. Failures in the firmware due to incorrect work with system files and directories;
3. Inability to update your smartphone via the Internet.

How to get root rights for Android 6.0, 5.1, 4.4

Today, many people are wondering how to install root rights on Android, but you need to understand that everything depends on the OS version, because the system files are different in each of them. Now there are quite a few possibilities for obtaining a Superuser, but for example, on Android 4.4 and 6.0 they may differ. In general, it is common to use only a few methods to install root:

• Using a computer or laptop;
• Through special applications for smartphones.

It should be noted that previously on Android 6.0 it was necessary to install a modified Recovery, but with the release of updates for this, this is not necessary. But still, the easiest and fastest way to obtain SuperUser rights on devices running Android 5.1+ is to install TWRP (mod recovery), which independently roots your smartphone if necessary. For almost every device you can find Recovery on the Internet and installation instructions.

Getting root rights for Android from a computer

It is quite possible to obtain Root rights for your mobile phone today using a personal computer or laptop. In addition, this method is the fastest and easiest to learn, so even a beginner can cope with the task. All you need:

1. USB cable;
2. Smartphone with Android 4.4-6.0;
3. Computer or laptop on Windows;
4. Program .

If all of the above is available, then obtaining a Superuser does not take more than a couple of minutes. First, you need to enable USB debugging mode in the “Developer Options” menu, however this section is often hidden and must be activated as follows:

1. Enter settings and select the “About phone” menu;
2. Click on the “Build number” item several times and wait for the message “You have become a developer”;
3. Go to this section, find “USB Debugging” and check the box.

All further steps are quite simple and you need:

1. Connect the turned on smartphone to the computer via a USB cable;
2. Launch the KingRoot program on the PC;
3. Find the big blue button in the dialog box, press it and wait for the process to complete;
4. Reboot your device and enjoy Superuser rights.

— Programs for obtaining root from a PC.

The most promising and convenient program for obtaining Root using a PC is KingRoot. Despite the fact that it is provided exclusively in Chinese, you will still be able to root your device. Another good alternative is, which is distributed free of charge and is updated very often by developers.
is a high-quality computer application that allows you to obtain Superuser rights in a few mouse clicks and works with the latest versions of Android. If you focus not on functionality, but on quality, then you can’t help but mention the one for Windows OS. This software has been in development for a long time, so it has a slightly outdated interface, but better compatibility with a variety of smartphones. For Samsung devices with Android 5.1-6.0 there is a completely new application called, which is 100% guaranteed to install root using a computer.

How to get root rights on Android without a computer (PC)

If you do not have the opportunity to install root using a PC, then do not despair, because modern tools and software do this inside the Android OS of any version. For 4.4-6.0, the best option is again the application, but in this case you need to download the version for mobile devices with the .apk extension. In order for this program to be successfully installed on your device, you need to enable the ability to install software from unknown sources, this is done like this:

1. Go to settings;
2. We are looking for the “Security” menu;
3. Check the box next to “Unknown sources” and reboot your smartphone.

Further steps to obtain Superuser rights are as follows:

1. Install on the device and launch the application;
2. We connect the Internet in any available way (WI-FI, mobile network);
3. Click the “Try” button in the KingRoot dialog box;
4. We wait for the procedure to complete to 100% and reboot the smartphone.

It should be noted that it is not always possible to install the root the first time, so sometimes it is worth doing the above procedure several times.

- Android applications for obtaining Root rights.

In addition to the mobile version of the KingRoot program, you can use other software that is no less effective at installing root inside the Android OS shell without using third-party gadgets. Despite the fact that the application is also available on PC, the developers still pay more attention to the .apk version of their brainchild, so you can use it on your own smartphone without a computer. is an alternative to Vroot from the same developers, it helps to unlock rights on those devices where other programs cannot cope. is a fairly effective and modern tool, you should resort to its help if the previous options turned out to be not relevant for your device. Software from Chinese developers Baidu Root does a good job of getting root on smartphones running Android 4.4, so you can try using it too.

How to check if your phone has root rights

If you have completed all the necessary steps, but are still not sure about the presence of Root, then this is easy to check. Download and install the application called the latest version, then launch it and all the information regarding the Superuser will be displayed on the screen. Thanks to the same software, you can easily and quickly give or take away administrative rights from individual applications.

So, how to make root rights for Android is already clear, but sometimes there is a need to remove them, for example, if you want to update the firmware over the air. This is where the Root administrator will come in handy for you too -

Android was originally built as an open operating system with extensive capabilities. At the same time, the developers also took care of security by introducing restrictions on the functionality of the programs. However, the opportunity to completely feel like the owner of the gadget remains: to do this, it is enough to obtain superuser rights. Not everyone decides to do this: there is always a risk of “bricking” the device, and even after receiving root access the question arises: is it safe to use such a smartphone? There are different points of view on this matter, and in this article we will try to answer this question.

Myth: Having root rights does not affect security

Modern Android smartphones, especially gadgets from large manufacturers, are almost impossible to hack from the inside. Each user Android application runs in an isolated sandbox and does not have access to other processes, and the user must confirm any more or less important actions independently. Of course, ways to gain root access “from within” are sometimes discovered, but judging by rare media reports, they do not have a serious impact on the security of the operating system. This is why the vast majority of malware relies not on vulnerabilities, but on the user’s inattention, trying to deceive them into obtaining rights to use paid services, switching the gadget to kiosk mode (from which there is no way out and you can’t launch anything), or even device administrator status. But there are devices that are sold with an already unlocked bootloader, or offer to get root access with a couple of clicks in the gadget settings. Many Chinese manufacturers offer such generosity, and you should be especially careful with such devices.

If you decide to expand your system privileges, problems may begin already at the stage of obtaining superuser rights. The variety of methods for obtaining root access can be divided into two categories. The first is the use of Android vulnerabilities that have not yet been closed. Programs such as KingRoot or Kingo Root While working, they access servers that store huge collections of exploits and look for those that are suitable for a specific device. Needless to say, the work of such programs often leads to dire consequences? Sometimes it happens that the exploit does not work correctly and instead of superuser rights you get a “brick”, which, at best, can be revived by a complete flashing.

In addition, such applications are closed source, which means you have no way of knowing what exactly they do with your device. And they can do anything, from sending data from the device’s internal memory to Chinese servers to installing Adware on the gadget, which can only be removed with specialized tools. This is exactly how the above-mentioned KingRoot behaves, not only placing ads on the home screen against your will, but also sending information about the device to an unknown person.

The second category is “semi-official”, since it involves the use of official instructions from the manufacturer or specialized software to unlock the bootloader. Once this is done, the user has the opportunity to install it on the system root access manager, intercepting corresponding calls from other programs.

However, this method is not without drawbacks. Chainfire, the author of SuperSU, the most popular root access manager to date, sold his development to a little-known company, Coding Code Mobile Technology LLC, at the end of 2015. This company uses the American state of Delaware as an offshore, but its roots go back to China. The source code of SuperSU was closed before, but the name of the developer all this time acted as a kind of guarantee that the program would not contain unwanted code. Now no one can give such a guarantee, and many are rightfully afraid to install SuperSU 2.80+ versions released after the deal on their gadgets.

But, even if you are absolutely sure of the method for obtaining superuser rights and the root access manager, there is no guarantee that one of the seemingly harmless programs will not exploit a vulnerability that allows you to gain system privileges by bypassing the manager. There are plenty of examples of malware that work this way: Tordow secretly stole passwords from the browser, Guerrilla and Ztorg bought applications on Google Play without the user's knowledge, and Triada replaced addresses in the browser, implementing almost perfect undetectable phishing.

According to Kaspersky Lab, one of the most advanced Trojans, Triada, has gained root access on 247 devices

Another rubbish in the garden of root access is the limitation of the functionality of some applications or their complete inoperability after unlocking the bootloader or obtaining superuser rights. First of all, this applies to financial programs, for example, Android Pay, Samsung Pay And Sberbank Online.

Safe use of a rooted smartphone

Having read this far, you might think that we consider root access in smartphones to be an unambiguous evil. This, of course, is not true: superuser rights open up a huge number of opportunities for fans of third-party firmware, experiments, and simply those who want to gain full control over their gadget. And if this is your first time deciding to get root rights, we will not dissuade you from it. But you must be prepared for possible consequences, including the failure of some programs and increased system vulnerability. It sounds alarming, but if you follow a number of simple rules, you are unlikely to run into trouble.

Use proven methods for obtaining root rights. Do not fall for the admonitions of the developers of Chinese universal programs about the possibility of obtaining superuser rights in two clicks. It would be much better to find it on forum a topic dedicated to the firmware of your device and follow simple instructions.

Use reliable root access managers. When choosing, give preference to programs that do not raise any doubts about their reliability. It could be SuperSU version no older than 2.80, or the new open source Magisk project.

Install applications from reliable sources. Try to install programs only from Google Play, but remember that you can also come across malware in the official Google store. If the program you need is not on Google Play, download it from the official website of the developer or our SITE - this way the chances of encountering malware are reduced to zero.

Use an antivirus. If you use a limited set of programs and install them from the same sources, you probably don’t need an antivirus. But if you like to install dozens of different programs on your gadget or click on advertisements with offers to “update your battery,” then additional protection in the form of a proven antivirus from a major developer will not be superfluous.

Conclusion

Root access is an extremely powerful tool that requires responsible use. If you do not pay due attention to each step, from unlocking the bootloader to using superuser rights, you risk encountering various problems, be it viruses or malicious code in the root access manager itself. But by following our advice, you will minimize all risks and will be able to easily use applications with root rights for their intended purpose and make the gadget completely your property.