Why rooted phone

Well, not all, but they all needed that extra push. A very popular thing to do among root users was overclocking the processor to make things more snappy. Even if overclocking is no longer as popular, you will find that altering processor speeds is definitely convenient. Got a super powerful phone and want to save battery? Under-clocking is also an option.

That makes this one of the most unsung benefits of rooting. No one likes it when their smartphone is running out of its battery charge.

While we have seen advancements in terms of battery charging speeds, the truth is that lots of installed apps drain a battery down, even when the app is not being used. Having a rooted phone allows users to download apps that can actually save battery life. One of our favorites is Greenify , which can discover which apps on your phone are draining your battery charge while not in use. The app puts them info full hibernation mode, so your phone battery can last much longer than normal.

File browser apps can take full advantage of this, allowing you to move stuff around on your internal memory if so required. Fans of custom ROMs can even use a ROM manager to install and update their operating system without the need to flash zip files from Recovery.

Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Thomas Phelps. Former Lifewire writer Thomas Phelps is an IT sales and technical writing professional with more than two decades of experience. With some configuration, you can eliminate accidental long presses or make it easier to pull up menus.

While a gyroscope is a pretty common sensor in flagship phones, there are several mid-range devices which don't include one. Apps that use Google Cardboard refuse to run on phones without one, and the same goes for many AR apps and games. With the Xposed module VirtualSensor and a rooted device, you can trick apps into believing they are receiving gyroscope data by using the data from other sensors such as the compass and accelerometer.

This way, you can run the apps normally without any issues. Without root, your phone's brightness level is set to whatever the OEM provides. While brightness levels are primarily limited by the screen's hardware, frequently, the OEM will not push the display to its limits. But by rooting your phone, you can.

With the app Brightness Tweak , you can lower your phone's minimum brightness level. Typically, you can reduce the display's level by a few nits the measurement used to measure brightness , but even a few nits will make a noticeable difference. With the custom kernel ElementalX, you can install a widget from the same developer. However, unlike the LG option, this app also has an "Automatic Mode" which will automatically turn on High Brightness Mode once outside.

The data on your phone is valuable — several entities, from the hardware manufacturer to the software developer Google and the cellular carrier want to analyze it for profit.

But it's yours , after all, and thankfully, you can use root to help keep it that way. With a non-rooted device, backups are limited. Google lets you back up most of your important data such as SMS, call history, and even Wi-Fi passwords, but this happens automatically without any ability to manually conduct a backup.

This means if you ever need to reset your phone, you have to hope Google Drive made a backup recently, or by using various other apps, you can have a somewhat complete backup. Rooting eliminates this dependency on Google and gives you the ability to make a complete backup of your entire phone. And while TWRP isn't necessary for rooting, it is typically associated with rooting, as it provides the easiest way to root your device. NANDroid backups are complete copies of all your data.

With NANDroid, you make an exact copy of the current state of your phone, including the operating system, all apps, pictures, system settings, etc.

The only thing you can't back up is personal files on your internal storage or microSD card. You can control when you want to make this backup. Another option is Titanium Backup. This app which needs root lets you backup apps, system settings, and other files just like NANDdroid.

But unlike NANDroid, you can schedule weekly or monthly backups within the app to ensure you are up to date. You can even control which apps get backed up, such as limiting backups only to apps with new data or those which received an update.

As Android users, we have to accept that in return for us accessing the free services provided by Google including Android itself , Google can and will access our data for personalized results and marketing. All Google-developed apps including the Play Store are subjected to Google's data collecting.

However, for those wishing to free themselves of Google's watchful eye, there is a way around them. With root, you can install a custom ROM which doesn't include Google services. Many of these ROMs more on that later don't come with Google apps, requiring you to install them yourselves. And without these apps, you use the open-source app store F-Droid for alternatives to your favorite Google apps without the data collection.

Let's say after months of owning your phone, you've connected to several Wi-Fi networks. Your friend asks you for the password to a network which you don't remember. With WiFi Key Recovery and root , you can find this password. The app lets you view the password of every Wi-Fi network you previously accessed and saved on your phone. You can even share individual passwords using QR codes or store the entire list on a document.

It is often used to track your phone if it is ever stolen or lost. It is similar to a car's VIN. While you should never need to change it, you may be in a situation where someone you don't wish is tracking you. Using root and Xposed, you can spoof this number, so whatever app used to track you is fed false data.

There are a few modules that will allow you to accomplish this, all of which require you to be rooted first. One of the better ones is Device ID Masker. While the module previously mentioned can accomplish this, there is another module which will do it for free. Using the module Serial Number Changer, you can hide your actual ID by feeding apps a different number when requested. With Oreo and newer Android phones, you can use the same module to feed apps random serial numbers, protecting your privacy.

You can also create your own serial number. But like with IMEI, you can't permanently change this number. If you uninstall the app, your serial number will revert back to the original one. Even still, this is a great app for those looking for additional privacy. Sometimes, the features that ship with a phone are mostly just annoying. Ads, bloatware, and even unwanted alerts. Again, root can help here. A common annoyance for many smartphones users is mobile ads.

The problem is they are necessary. Since most apps are free on Android, ad revenue become the only source of income a developer receives for their hard work. And while some developers will create a premium versions which are ad-free, most users don't pay for it.

Therefore, the ads remain along the page. Ads aren't inherently bad. It's the developers who implement them poorly that bother users or the abundance by even well-intended developers. As a result, users want to remove them. Without spending money on every app's premium version which many don't have , you can't use your phone ad-free non-rooted. Rooted devices are a different story.

While it is possible to block ads without rooting , the best solution requires the use of a VPN, removing the ability to use your own VPN for privacy protection.

Rooted devices can enjoy the power of AdAway. The app is available on F-Droid and is therefore open-source. Since ad requests eats up battery, most phones will see a noticeable improvement in battery life as well.

The biggest problem with AdAway is that it doesn't get rid of the space ads use to occupy, but have no fear. With the AdBlocker Reborn Xposed module , you can remove both ads and the area they used to occupy, eliminating any reminder the ads were once there. However, with the help of an app and root, you can remove this. Developer Arter97 created a way to modify the stock YouTube app to not show ads, similar to the way some Xposed modules accomplish this.

With Arter97's app, you accomplish the same thing while avoiding root detection if you used Magisk to root. YouTube Vanced is another solution which gives you YouTube Premium features such as background playback along with additional customization for free. This APK will work with for non-root users, but those rooted do get a somewhat simpler installation.

Non-rooted devices require microG to be installed after installing the APK to log into the app, but rooted devices don't need this step. Probably the biggest reason to root is uninstalling bloatware. Only with root can you permanently remove unnecessary apps installed by the OEM. Non-rooted phones can only disable apps which return after factory resets. With root, you can uninstall apps, free up space on your internal storage, and never have to think about them again.

And if you make a mistake and remove an app which breaks functionality, with root-improved backups, you can easily fix your error and proceed forward. There are several different methods for removing bloatware with root, including Magisk modules and file managers, but by far the easiest method is Titanium Backup. Using this app, you can remove any app installed on your device. If you are not sure if you can delete the app, you can also freeze it, which keeps the app but make its inaccessible to you or any other app.

Remember that Presidental Alert on October 3rd, ? Typically, these are pretty important, usually reserved for a national emergency. However, sometimes, like on the 3rd, FEMA is just testing the system, and for those, you might not want to have to receive that alert. Google Nexus is geared toward developers and provides a way to unlock the bootloader and root the device.

Apps designed to run on rooted Android devices can be found in the Google Play store. Downloading root-only apps from the Google Play store limits the possibility of installing a malicious app that could take advantage of a rooted phone. Rooting a phone voids the device warranty and the phone carrier may refuse to service the phone. Plus, rooting a phone may violate the service contract. Flashing custom ROMs involves booting the device into a custom recovery manager and installing the ROM directly on the phone hardware.

If something goes wrong, there's a risk of bricking the device. This means that the phone won't boot, make phone calls, or connect to Wi-Fi. Rooting also opens up the possibility for apps to run with admin privileges.

Running anything with admin privileges authorizes it to do anything on the device. Malicious apps with admin privileges can do serious damage. Rooted phones cannot automatically install updates released by Google.

Unlocking a phone allows it to be used on other carriers, and is different from rooting and jailbreaking. For a time, it was illegal to unlock a phone to use on another carrier—even if it was no longer under contract with a carrier. This law permits any cellphone or smartphone owner to unlock his or her phone and move to another carrier if the phone contract's requirements are satsified.

Rooting and jailbreaking are different from unlocking. The Library of Congress Copyright Office, which has regulatory jurisdiction over the area, ruled in that jailbreaking a phone is a legal action. Phone manufacturers generally don't want customers to hack devices; doing so may void the device warranty.

Use an app like KingRoot or Towelroot. The actual process of rooting your Android will vary depending on the software or custom ROM that you use. Enable the OEM unlocking developer feature, then use the Fastboot tool to unlock the bootloader on Android.

Your phone may require a code from the manufacturer to unlock it. Use apps like Magisk and SuperSU to manage root privileges.