Rooting is the process of gaining 'root' access on your device. Before asking how to root your device, please read the full tag wiki, as it contains helpful information which might already answer your questions.
191
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1answer
134k views
How do I root my Android device?
This is a common question by those who have want to root their phones. How exactly do I root my Android device?
138
votes
2answers
133k views
I've rooted my phone. Now what? What do I gain from rooting?
This is a common question by those who have just rooted their phones. What apps, ROMs, benefits, etc. do I get from rooting? What should I be doing now?
64
votes
7answers
37k views
What does “to root a phone” mean?
I heard this phrase or the variants (rooted phone, rooting, etc.) in android forums but I don't know what it means. Can you explain it in simple terms?
62
votes
7answers
14k views
What is the difference between: Rooting, Jailbreak, ROM, Mod, etc.?
What is the difference between:
Rooting
Jailbreaking
ROM
NAND and Nandroid
Operating System
Mod (e.g. CyanogenMod)
Recovery (ClockworkMod, Amon Ra)
Custom Kernel (e.g. LeshaK's kernel)
Firmware
...
60
votes
3answers
11k views
Are there any risks to rooting a device?
I see lots of tutorials telling me how to root my phone (Motorola Droid), but none of them mention any potential "side effects."
Aside from a few relatively minor issues that seem to require rooting ...
26
votes
3answers
4k views
How do I perform a full pre-rooting backup of an Android phone?
The question arises because the best-rated backup application (Titanium Backup) requires root. So what would one use instead when getting a really complete backup is essential? Is there a file ...
20
votes
3answers
4k views
What are the security disadvantages of rooting an Android phone?
I know there was a discussion previously BUT they didn't talk about security. E.g.: if I root my phone will all my apps run with root permission?
Related: Are there any risks to rooting a device?
15
votes
3answers
646 views
Backup/Restore Android [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How do I perform a full pre-rooting backup of an Android phone?
I am considering rooting my Motorola Droid, and I am wondering if it is possible to revert back to the ...
14
votes
2answers
1k views
Security risks of rooting your android smartphone [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are there any risks to rooting a device?
What are the security risks specific to rooting your android smartphone? Are there any security exploits available because you ...
14
votes
2answers
4k views
What to do before root and flash my phone?
Right now I have in my phone the stock rom and I haven't rooted it. I want to root it and change the rom.
What should I do first, root or flash the rom?
I don't want to lose all the configuration, ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I root my Kindle Fire?
There are a half-dozen or so questions on the Kindle Fire here where the answers involve having already rooted your device (including my recently-asked How can I get the Android Market installed on my ...
12
votes
2answers
4k views
How do I root the Android emulator?
How do I root the Android emulator? I need root to install an .apk file on the emulator.
11
votes
2answers
4k views
If I root my Droid Incredible, will I lose all of my data?
As the question title implies, if I root my Droid Incredible, will I lose all of my data? I'm not interested in installing a custom ROM right now so will rooting cause me to lose my data? Also, which ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the difference between jailbreaking and unlocking an Android? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the difference between: Rooting, Jailbreak, ROM, Mod, etc
Is either possible, legal, contractually legit and does either damage the phone?
11
votes
4answers
578 views
How do I root my HTC Hero?
I'm tired of waiting for my Android 2.1 update to arrive, so I've decided to root my HTC Hero.
Any direction as to how I should do this?
Note: I actually have a T-Mobile branded version, so I do ...
10
votes
2answers
6k views
Why can't the su binary simply be copied (techical response please)
I have rooted several Samsung devices and the underlying "goal" so to speak seems to be to get the su binary in /system/xbinand install Superuser.apk.
My question is why does one have to jump through ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
How does rooting work?
Or, how do I root my device without a rooter?
Rooting instructions for Android devices that I have seen are typically of the following form:
Download Gingerbreak.apk
Run Gingerbreak, click “root ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Is it possible to completely brick your Android phone by using a Custom ROM?
I understand that you can completely "brick" (render unusuable) your iPhone by attempting to Jailbreak incorrectly.
Whether or not this is actually the case, is it possible to do the same with your ...
10
votes
1answer
384 views
Consequences of rooting HTC One X?
All I want to be able to do on my device is to be able to use Titanium Backup.
I don't want to install custom roms, I want to keep everything as-is but be able to run apps that need root like the ...
9
votes
4answers
14k views
Is it possible to determine whether the phone has been rooted or not?
Let's say I buy an "un-rooted" Samsung Galaxy S2 via eBay that's still under warranty:
Is there a way I can tell whether it has been rooted before (with or without rooting it myself)?
Is there a way ...
8
votes
1answer
719 views
Does rooting require a custom ROM?
I've noticed that some apps say they require a rooted phone. Is it necessary to install a custom ROM in order to root a phone?
Edit: I should mention that I've seen this answer, but my phone isn't ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
Open source / trusted rooting app for Android / Motorola Defy?
I found a lot of compiled rooting exploits for Android, but not a lot of source code.
So, how can I trust an exploit able to take SU rights on my mobile device? How can I be sure there is no ...
7
votes
2answers
7k views
Samsung Galaxy S in boot loop after following cyanogen mod's full update guide
I have been following this guide to root my Samsung Galaxy S smartphone. I've followed it to the letter, but after I load the new kernel to the phone, the phone gets stuck in a boot loop. The phone ...
7
votes
1answer
6k views
7
votes
2answers
939 views
Why does rooting the Android voids it's warranty? [closed]
Why does rooting the Android voids it's warranty?
Why is it so bad, I guess that rooting would be like opening my program folder and editing some files, is this wrong?
7
votes
2answers
5k views
Rooting an unbranded tablet
I bought one of these simple cheap Chinese no-name tablets: HDMI, Bluetooth, HD display, dual-core CPU. Unfortunately, it came without official Google apps such as Market and Gmail. I tried different ...
6
votes
2answers
4k views
If I root my phone, can my service providor tell if I am using my phone for USB tethering or as a WiFi hotspot?
Looking at the responses to this question, it seems that a mobile service provider can't automatically detect whether or not a phone user is tethering their phone or not. Though they can infer it by ...
6
votes
4answers
746 views
root-android.org - A scam?
I would just like to know whether the website root-android.org and its product is a big scam when it comes to rooting Android devices. If it is, then I advice other would-be rooters to stay away from ...
6
votes
2answers
614 views
What limitations does rooting and/or installing a ROM put on my phone?
I have an Evo and I'm kind of frustrated at the space limitations on the internal memory, the crapware that came pre-installed (Blockbuster and Nascar, Really?) and some performance issues. I was ...
6
votes
2answers
7k views
How can I root the Galaxy Tab 10.1?
How can I root the Samsung GT-P7510? I've tried z4root and many others, but they all seem to support Android 3.1 and not 3.2. I gather 3.2 is specifically designed to eliminate the exploit that z4root ...
6
votes
2answers
532 views
Do you have to root an Android device to install Ubuntu?
Just as the title says. In order to install another ARM based Operating System or to dual boot your phone, do you have to have root access?
I'm currently using a Motorola Atrix, not sure if that ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
How can I root my ZTE Score?
I'm new to Android, but I just heard about rooting; and I'm already interested. Anyway, I've been looking around, but I can't find a way to root my ZTE Score. :-(
So my question is simple: Does ...
6
votes
1answer
657 views
How to root my Epic 4G on mac?
Hello i am trying to root my samsung epic 4g (galaxy s) with my macbook air. I was going to use superoneclick but i cant find a version for mac, does anybody know how i can easily root my phone using ...
5
votes
2answers
7k views
Will rooting my phone improve its battery life?
I've had an HTC Desire HD with HTC Sense for about a year and I'm quite happy, except for the battery life. After upgrading to the latest version, it lasts about 24 hours with moderate/low usage.
I ...
5
votes
2answers
12k views
How do I root a Huawei X3?
I have a Huawei X3 (U8510) which I've purchased for testing Android applications I'm developing. I'd like to root this, but as I've not had any experience with rooting Android handsets, its something ...
5
votes
2answers
303 views
Preventing mobile data use for select apps on non-rooted phone?
I have a number of apps that are fairly chatty on the network, and with a limited data connection I would like these apps to not use the 3G connection (WiFi is fine).
I know that rooting the phone ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Trying to root Motorola Xoom. Stuck rebooting
I am rooting my Motorola Xoom wifi tablet following these instructions:
http://www.droid-life.com/2011/02/25/how-to-root-the-motorola-xoom/
I unlocked the bootloader fine. And I got to this point:
...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
5
votes
1answer
190 views
Should I root before or after activation?
I purchased an evo on Sprint that I'm going to root. I'm wondering, should I root the phone before or after activation on Sprint's network? Does it make any difference?
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Root and then unroot afterwards?
On my device, I have a bunch of stock applications. Some of them I don't need. Some of them are outdated. Here's what I want to do:
Root my device.
Uninstall all my unnecessary apps (no changing of ...
5
votes
1answer
268 views
Root Nexus One without wiping?
I have a Nexus One running Gingerbread (2.3.6), completely stock and unrooted. I would like to root my phone, and try installing ROMs like Cyanogen. However, as far as I know, the official way to do ...
5
votes
1answer
953 views
Does flashing a custom ROM require root access?
It was recently brought to my attention that it does not. Can someone confirm this and explain what the determining characteristics are that dictate whether or not root its required to flash a custom ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Beginner's questions on tweaking non-branded Android phone (rooting, update recovery, update rom)
I have some beginner's questions for clarifying some concepts in Android phone.
I am using a non-branded phone (ASK SP404) running Android 4.0.3. The Android OS in the phone comes from the ...
5
votes
2answers
5k views
How can I root my Android on my Mac?
I've been looking into rooting my Android phone, which is a ZTE Score. The only way I've found so far is to use the ZergRush tool (Or something like that..)
But I believe it can only be used on a ...
5
votes
2answers
473 views
Failure to boot after rooting LG Optimus V and installing CM7
I recently bought an LG Optimus V (VirginMobile) to replace my current Samsung Intercept. Upon reciept, I rooted it following the procedure at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1070018. ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Are there any known ways to root the new HTC Wildfire revisions?
After using CyanogenMod on my HTC Desire for some time, i wanted to root and convert the HTC Wildfire i bought for my wife early this year.
Turns out that unrevoked is currently unable to root this ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
How to root Teac Tc-7120
I want to root my new Teac TC-7120 device, but couldn't find any rooting guide targeting it.
What should I do?
I used the following Guide:
...
4
votes
3answers
401 views
What can I do with an Nexus One with a broken LCD?
I've managed to acquire a Google Nexus One, that had an unfortunate encounter with a car door. The screen still accepts touch input, but the LCD itself is broken - no display at all. What is ...
4
votes
2answers
776 views
Is there any benefit to rooting the new T-Mobile G2, and what are the legal issues? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
I've rooted my phone. Now what?
Are there any risks to rooting a device?
Given that the new T-Mobile G2 based on Android 2.2 (and so called 4G network) attempts to ...
4
votes
1answer
4k views
How do I root my Nexus 7?
I am wanting to gain root privileges on my Google Nexus 7 tablet, running Android 4.1-4.2.1. How can I do this?
