If we have a smartphone and it's not an iPhone, it's almost certainly an Android device. Whether it's a Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Huawei, etc. – we can root Android on such a smartphone. Is it easy to do? Is rooting Android definitely safe for a smartphone? Let's see what possibilities a rooted Android system offers.
What is Android Rooting?
Root, when translated into Polish, means "korzeń" or "rdzeń" (root or core). By rooting Android, you could say we're reaching the so-called root of the system. In practice, this translates to the possibility of making significant modifications. Don't like the manufacturer's overlay and interface appearance? No problem, rooting Android will take care of it. Want to increase your smartphone's performance? Root will make it easier for you. There are many benefits to this solution, including the option to install any app and game – not just from the Play Store.
These are the benefits, but there's also a flip side to a rooted Android. Here's very important info now – if we root Android, we will almost certainly lose the manufacturer's warranty on the device. Furthermore, improperly performed rooting can, for example, disable Google Pay mobile payments, and in extreme cases, there's a risk of causing software errors and data loss. The smartphone can also become more vulnerable to malware. It's worth being aware of this before we see how to root and modify the entire operating system. It's also advisable to back up all your data before the entire operation.
How to Root Android?
We already know what Android rooting is, what its pros and cons are. Now it's time for a short guide – how to root?
First, we'll need to access the Developer Options. It's hidden on every Android smartphone. To unlock it, we need to go to Settings. Then, we look for information about the software – there will be a build number (on Xiaomi smartphones, we look for the manufacturer's overlay version, MIUI). Once we manage this, we tap on that specific line of text seven times in a row. We gain access to Developer Options – in it, we enable USB debugging, which will allow us to root Android.
The first part of the journey is behind us. Now it's time for the root – it's best to use a ready-made program for this. A good example is Kingo Root (versions for Windows PC and Android). It has three major advantages. It's compatible with most smartphone models. It's intuitive to use, and we can download it for free from the manufacturer's website.
Time to act. We install Kingo Root on our computer. Then, we connect the smartphone with USB debugging enabled to this computer. We confirm the connection on the phone's screen, and the program should detect the device. Then, we confirm the rooting process and wait. If everything goes successfully, after a few minutes, we will have a rooted Android at our disposal.
Recommended Apps for Rooted Android
When we use a smartphone, we install apps from Google's Play Store and the phone manufacturer's dedicated store. Installing programs from other sources is difficult, and sometimes even impossible. This changes when we have a rooted Android. There are "must-have" applications that are worth having on a rooted smartphone.
First, we take care of security – Android Firewall+ (AFWall+) will be useful. It's a very good firewall for rooted Android. Additionally, the Cerberus program. This one protects our smartphone from viruses, hacker attack attempts, and similar activities. Second, we can get rid of what annoys many of us. We're talking, of course, about ads. Google Ads in games, apps, on the internet. We install AdAway, and every app becomes ad-free. We can definitely add to the useful programs: System App Remover and MyBackup Root or Titanium Backup. The first option allows us to remove system applications pre-installed on the phone's memory. We can't get rid of them otherwise, without root. The second app (you can choose one of the two options) is for making detailed backups.
The ES Task Manager app will also be functional, which is somewhat reminiscent of a task manager on computers. If we plan a very thorough phone memory cleanup, it's worth installing SD Maid Pro. There are situations when we need to recover deleted files. Rooting Android allows us to use the DiskDigger tool. There's a good chance we'll recover deleted photos or other files.
There are, of course, many more apps for rooted Android. Above, you have a few useful options that should be on such a smartphone. However, you install each one at your own risk. The same applies to rooting Android – even after restoring the smartphone to factory settings, traces of rooting may still be detected.
