Android Rooting: tips and tricks

Android Rooting: tips and tricks

One of the benefits of Android is that you can root your phone to get system access to "be the boss" more about your Android smartphone or tablet. But what exactly does rooting entail? And what's the use of it?

What is root?

Android is based on the kernel of the open-source Linux operating system. The term root also occurs in Linux, where the "root user" has all rights to perform actions. This also applies to Android: with root, you have all the power over your Android device. Normally an Android user does not get all rights. This offers more security within the mobile operating system because the user can cause less "damage".

superuser root is usually activated on Android via two apps: Superuser or SuperSU. These apps use the obtained root rights to provide other apps with root. 
Imagine: you install an app that asks for root rights. Then SuperUser and SuperSU can assign this. SuperUser is the general root app that comes with the alternative Android version CyanogenMod, SuperSu was developed by a Dutch person and has been using the undersigned for several years.

Please note: installing these apps is of no use, you must first root the device, after which the root apps can use all these rights and allow other apps to get more rights.

What can you do with root?

Because root gives more rights to the user, it is possible to do "more" with Android. We intentionally keep that term so broad, because root rights can be used enormously for apps and services.


An important option for root rights is the ability to install alternative kernels. You can, for example, improve the speed and battery life of your smartphone via a kernel. For example, via an alternative kernel, it is possible to adjust the clock speed of the processor, the colours of your screen or the power of the GPU. These are fairly technical parts, so it is advisable to only flash another kernel if you really understand this. There are several developers who release their kernels for multiple devices and flash the kernel via a root app. Then it's a matter of rebooting, after which the kernel is installed.

The difference between root and a custom recovery

The root is different from a custom recovery. A custom recovery is an alternative version of the recovery section within Android, also known as the "recovery". You can use the recovery if your device crashes and you want to reset your device in the "bios" of Android. You usually activate the recovery by pressing a combination of buttons when the device starts up. You do not boot in the system, but in the recovery. 

Custom recovery

 A custom recovery uses root rights. The difference is, therefore, that root is a general word for the administrator rights, and that app but also a custom recovery can make use of these root rights. In addition, rooting Android usually means root rights within the operating system, while custom recovery is not part of the operating system.

Is rooting legal?

Rooting is completely legal, but with many manufacturers, you lose the warranty if you send a rotated smartphone for repair. For example, the undersigned sent his Galaxy Nexus to Micromax because of a broken SD card slot, and the repair was not reimbursed because the android phone was rooted. Micromax sent me a pic of the Superuser app as proof. It is, of course, possible to install the stock firmware without root before you send the phone in for repair.


In addition, most Android updates no longer work. The update system recognizes that the device has root rights, so the update process is not always executed. Some root apps have the option to temporarily unroot the device, making the update process a success. However, many complain afterwards that they have to reinstall root.

How do I root my Android device?

7 steps to root your Android phone 

Do you want full access to the Android system in your smartphone? That is possible if you are going to root your phone. But watch out: there are risks involved.

Before you root
These are the risks:

• Your smartphone becomes unusable.
• Your warranty expires.
• You lose your data.

So first make sure that you have made a backup.

Rooting

Programs for rooting only work with Android versions 5.0 or lower. In this article, you will read the general instructions with the Kingo Root program

• Download the program via www.kingoapp.com, install the program on your PC and connect your smartphone via USB cable.
• In your phone, go to Settings and go to About the phone / Device info.
• Tap Build number 7 times and the Developer options turned on.
• Go back to Settings and tap Developer Options. Tap USB debugging here.
• Kingo Root connects to the telephone.
• If Kingo Root is connected, click on Root on your PC.
• Wait until rooting is complete. During rooting, Kingo Root lets your phone reboot a number of times.