Why you should (or shouldn't) root your Android device
What is Rooting ?
Rooting is the process of allowing users of smartphones, tablets and other devices running the Android mobile operating system to attain privileged control (known as root access) over various Android subsystems. As Android uses the Linux kernel, rooting an Android device gives similar access to administrative (superuser) permissions as on Linux or any other Unix-like operating system such as FreeBSD or OS X.
Rooting is often performed with the goal of overcoming limitations that carriers and hardware manufacturers put on some devices. Thus, rooting gives the ability (or permission) to alter or replace system applications and settings, run specialized applications ("apps") that require administrator-level permissions, or perform other operations that are otherwise inaccessible to a normal Android user. On Android, rooting can also facilitate the complete removal and replacement of the device's operating system, usually with a more recent release of its current operating system.
Root access is sometimes compared to jailbreaking devices running the Apple iOS operating system. However, these are different concepts: Jailbreaking is the bypass of several types of Apple prohibitions for the end user, including modifying the operating system (enforced by a "locked bootloader"), installing non-officially approved applications via sideloading, and granting the user elevated administration-level privileges (rooting). Only a minority of Android devices lock their bootloaders, and many vendors such as HTC, Sony, Asus and Google explicitly provide the ability to unlock devices, and even replace the operating system entirely. Similarly, the ability to sideload applications is typically permissible on Android devices without root permissions. Thus, it is primarily the third aspect of iOS jailbreaking (giving users administrative privileges) that most directly correlates to Android rooting.
Why Rooting ?
So what can you do with root specifically?
Advantages
Advantages of rooting include the possibility for complete control over the look and feel of the device. As a superuser has access to the device's system files, all aspects of the operating system can be customized with the only real limitation being the level of coding expertise. Immediately expectable advantages of rooted devices include the following:
1. Root Access / Super User access
Once your Android device is rooted, you now have access to various files/parts/sections of your device that previously should not have been available. This is a pretty good thing which allows for more customizing and other things like being able to remove system apps. System apps are normally stuck in there with no way to uninstall/remove them. It also allows for apps that require root access to be installed and run properly/better.
2 CPU Clocking
CPU clocking is normally not available with un-rooted devices. What you can do with CPU clocking is increase AND decrease the CPU (processor) speed. What this does is either increase the performance or increase the battery life respectively. One of the easier apps to deal with is No Frills CPU Control. It’s freely available from the Google Play Store and is a pretty straightforward app to use as the name implies. You don’t really have to worry much about its use and technical settings/terms. You can experiment with it safely. It doesn’t keep the changes if they are not working. It’ll even tell you in most cases which setting/setup isn’t working.
3. Tweaking
Tweaking is simply configuring and usually at the same time optimizing your device to give it a customized look/feel and better performance. Once your android device is rooted, you’d have access to settings and other things to allow this. There’re a lot of different tweaks that can be done on Android. It’s actually a very large list depending on your aim for the device. So much more shows up when it’s rooted. Some examples are customizing the keyboard layout and better multitasking.
4. Blocking
This one is very popular. Ads get in the way and get annoying pretty quick. Rooting allows a person to use specific apps that are meant to block ads among other things. Do note that it is better to use the apps rather than attempting to manually change/edit an app in hopes of blocking ads.
5. Remove Pre-Installed Apps
There are many cases where manufacturers and carriers will install apps that you wouldn’t want, like, or need. They’re just going to sit there taking up space on your planet!! The most likely case is that they’re set as system apps. You can’t normally uninstall/remove them. Rooting will definitely help to fix that.
6. Custom ROMs and Kernel
A kernel is the part of an operating system (Android of course) which helps apps and whatever else needed to control the various hardware aspects of your Android device. There are various goodies that come with a custom kernel. Adding features that were not there before and improving performance and battery life. A ROM is a modified version of Android that can be installed. Again, extra features and usually a large variety of other goodies are included with custom ROMs. Custom ROMs can be installed and used even without rooting. The thing is, you’d be much better off using a custom ROM with a rooted device. Custom ROMs really can drastically change the look/feel of your device with their heavy duty customizing. The fun part is they also come as stock Android. This means they’re the basic Android install as typically found on most devices. This is surprisingly handy because they can be used for a variety of purposes. Especially when it comes to un-rooting your device.
7 .Un-Rooting
Sure, there are plenty of ways to root your Android device. But there is some cases where un-rooting is needed. Un-rooting is simply reversing the rooting process. It does return your warranty and usually returns your device to stock. The better bet for warranty concerns is to simply not tell anyone that it was rooted, un-root it, and hope for the best.
*Apart from above listed benefits, there are many apps for rooted android which simplifies your technical life. You can download them once you root your android device. They are worth trying and helps to enhance your android experience.
Disadvantages
Rooting your phone or tablet gives you complete control over the system, and that power can be misused if you’re not careful. Android is designed in such a way that it’s hard to break things with a limited user profile. A superuser, however, can really trash things by installing the wrong app or making changes to system files. The security model of Android is also compromised to a certain degree as root apps have much more access to your system. Malware on a rooted phone can access a lot of data. Again, you need to be careful what you install.
1. Root Access / Super User access
Sure, it’s seems pretty nice to have this. Up until something goes wrong. Do note that one wrong setting or move in the wrong place/time, and “here comes the pain”.
2. CPU Clocking
Although there’s a wide variety of apps out there to help you increase and decrease CPU speed and at least some have pretty good safety features, someone is almost always bound to get it wrong and BBQ their device.
3. Bricking
This is the dreaded word of the rooting world. When you brick your device, it simply means your Android device is now a very fancy and very unusable brick. Yes, there are ways to fix it. It can be surprisingly easy to brick your device. The list of ways is mountain sized. You’d be amazed at some of them.
4. Tweaking
What did you think was going to happen when you adjust a setting wrong? If you guessed “nothing pretty”, you’re good!! Sure, anyone can tweak their device all day long. Find out how FIRST. Otherwise, get ready for that “nothing pretty” wreck!!
5. Ad Blocking
Yes, this one is also considered a downside. Keep in mind that those ads we’re all stuck with are also used to help generate income for the developers. Said income is often used to further develop the app you like using. Blocking those ads all the time might actually become a bigger problem than most would think. Attempting to edit/change an app manually for this purpose could render the app useless.
6. Custom ROMs and Kernels
Yes, they sure can be pretty nice to have and use. They can also be a total nightmare wanting to happen. Get the wrong ROM and/or kernel, your device gets bricked or just outright goes crazy on you. These disasters can cost you a lot in the way of time, money, and effort to fix.
7. Warranty
It’s well known that rooting an Android device will void its warranty. Un-rooting might not work every time. So this particular problem is definitely situation dependent. It’s a matter of if you care about it or not and if the device was under warranty to begin with?
Should you Root ?
If you’re primarily interested in Android because you want to tinker, you should figure that in when you choose a phone. Don’t get something hoping that root method will be released, because you might be waiting a long time for a messy exploit that gets patched right away. There are some devices that are relatively friendly to rooting, like Nexus and Pixel devices. They have unlockable bootloaders and can be rooted without much trouble. They also have system images that can be used to restore the device in case something goes wrong.
If you’re not familiar with Android’s tools and how to fix issues with a command line, you might want to give this some thought. Root can be a lot of fun to play around with, but it can also lead to plenty of frustration as you try to fix errors caused by overzealous modding. The added issues with security lockouts via SafetyNet should also give you pause.
Source: Internet
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