While ‘rooting’ is a popular term, not everybody understands what the process involves. Rooting Android device is like getting administrator access in Windows. As Android is built over the Linux kernel, every Linux OS has root access called SU (Super User). What SU does is let you access all the system files stored in an Android Device. For example : in Windows C:/Windows has all the required files to run Windows OS, and getting admin access means you can manipulate those files to a certain extent. Similarly, SU gives you access to view and edits those files in Android OS. Without rooting it’s only possible to view the system folder but not to view or edit the system files.
Advantages of Rooting an Android Smartphone
Getting Access to the system core
You’ll feel great when you root your phone because you will get complete access to the system core files and you can even edit them. This means you can edit the default settings like bluetooth visibility time, unlock a carrier locked phone, and many other things.
Uninstalling the default apps
Some phones came with built-in apps which cannot be uninstalled so when you root the phone you can delete unwanted apps with ease. For example: a Samsung phone has a group of apps you don’t want that comes pre-installed and can’t be uninstalled by default. With rooting, you can uninstall the apps and same space.
Install apps to increase customization levels
Some customization apps on Play Store needs special root access to increase the level of customization. Apps like Seeder (Used to increase the smoothness of the ROM). Pimp MY ROM (Used to edit ROM styles), SetDNS (Used to set DNS) are some good examples of the type.
Installing Custom recovery menu
The normal stock recovery menu has no access to install custom zip packages of sustom ROMs so there are custom recovery menus like ClockWorkMod, TWRP. These should be the first things you install.
Installing custom scripts and ROMs
When the phone is rooted you can install custom scripts like Beats audio driver, Sony Bravia engine and even script to overclock the processor or extend the battery life. Custom ROMs like CyanogenMod, MIUI, AOSP etc has huge no. of built-in features so rooting can provide the best of all these things.
Disadvantages of Rooting an Android Device
Voiding the warranty of your smartphone
A big thing you have to keep in mind while rooting is you actually void the warranty of your smartphone at the time you root it but you can deal with it if you have backed up the stock ROM of the phone. Just flash the phone with the stock ROM and it will unroot th phone and install the stock recovery too.
Chances of Bricking the Phone
A soft brick can be restored by flashing the phone with the stock ROM. If it’s hard brick then the entire motherboard of the phone will have to be changed.
Chances of entering a Virus in the System
When you flash custom zips or packages, there is a chance that you may introduce a virus into your phone that may steal your personal data, cause system errors, cut performance etc. To reduce the risk, make sure you read the complete details about the developers who have made the custom ROM before flashing it to your phone.
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