Do you need root for firmware? What to do before receiving

Facebook

Recovery guides always state that a particular application requires root access to function properly. What is it, why is it dangerous and why do you need root access? Read about it here.

What are root rights (superuser rights)

Ruth- This is an analogue of jailbreak in iOS. It allows Android users dive deeper into the phone subsystem, work with it the same way as with an SD card or internal memory mobile device.

Android uses permissions similar to Linux. Everything you do is performed on behalf of your user with a limited list of rights. Any running application may also use these rights with the user's consent.

Root-user = superuser. His rights are not limited, he can access any file or folder, perform any file operation in Android OS.

Speaking in simple words, root access is the ability to work with the root file system in the Android OS without restrictions.

What happens when rooting?

Rooting– modification of the file system in order to provide superuser rights to the root directory of the smartphone/tablet.

The root program receives full access to Android. As a result, a root user has an unlimited list of rights on an Android device. If the program is granted superuser rights, it can also do whatever it wants on the phone.

How to find out if your phone is rooted

In fact, it is very easy to find out if your phone is rooted. If you recently bought a phone and are using the standard Android firmware, it is logical that you do not have root access.

If the phone is used or you don’t remember whether you installed root, you can check the status using the program Root Checker. The app will detect if there is superuser/su access on the Android device.

Why root: main reasons

By acquiring root rights, you can easily bypass any default restrictions set by the smartphone manufacturer. In particular, you can

Launch more apps with a wide list of privileges, manually accept or reject permissions of a specific application installed on Android;
Install Android OS without obstacles unofficial firmware;
Provide data recovery programs with access to phone memory;
One of the most obvious incentives to root your Android is to rid yourself of viruses that cannot be removed from your smartphone without root access. Of course, there are antiviruses in nature with pre-installed root access, but they are a minority;
Install special applications and custom flash roms;
Overall improve tablet performance, more flexible customization appearance phone, overclock or slow down the processor of the mobile device using root access.

Some applications, using superuser rights, will allow you to:

Run all your apps and data in Android memory,
Create a secure tunnel on the Internet,
Make a device wireless point access (hotspot) - in other words, install wireless network via wifi (see "tethering" on Wikipedia), even if it was disabled by default by the firmware developer.

Why is rooting a phone dangerous?

Manufacturers mobile devices on android are interested in preventing rooting. Inept handling of superuser rights leads to failure of smartphones and tablets. However, for an experienced user, the risk of screwing up the phone is minimal, and the potential benefits of rooting - judging by the above list - are impressive.

There are three potential dangers when activating root access:

1. Cancellation of warranty. Some suppliers, upon discovering activated root access on a phone, refuse to provide warranty coverage.

It is worth keeping in mind, however, that you can always revoke root access to file system mobile device. If you need to send your device in for repair, simply roll back to the original (backup) firmware and no one will ever know you were rooted.

2. Turning the phone into a “brick”: If rooting is unsuccessful, there is a risk of turning the device into a so-called “brick”.

The surest way to avoid breaking your phone is to carefully follow the instructions when obtaining root rights on trusted web resources and mobile portals. Make sure the manual applies to your device and that the custom ROMs are compatible with it.

Pay attention to reviews from users with a similar device: perhaps they have already installed root or, on the contrary, turned it into a “brick” and are in shock.

3. Increased vulnerability. Providing root rights on Android reduces security. Services and applications with unrestricted rights can create vulnerabilities. It’s not for nothing that Google refuses to support its services (for example, Google Wallet) in rooted devices.

Android has taken over the world. This operating system from the American Internet giant Google is installed on most mobile devices of various price categories. It is this that is distributed according to the most attractive scheme, so it can be installed by any manufacturing company.

To access hidden settings you will need to have Superuser rights

Android is a full-fledged operating system, so with its help you can perform the most different tasks. We will not consider the capabilities of the system in detail now. If you have questions, we recommend reading. In order to take full advantage of all opportunities and hidden settings, you need to root your Android. In this article we will look at what root rights are, as well as all available options receiving them.

Why do you need root rights?

First, let's talk about the principle of operation of the system. When the user starts working, the system activates his account, which stores basic settings and preferences, as well as installed programs. Thanks to this, there is no need to reconfigure the device every time it is turned on. If you synchronize your tablet or smartphone with your account Google entry, settings and application list will be saved on remote server companies.

For most users, the device configuration options provided by the developer are sufficient. For complete control over the file system and settings, as well as the ability to full customization device, an account with root rights is required. In Linux, of which Android is a branch, this is called “superuser mode”; in Windows, it is called Administrator mode. If in computer operating systems it is enough to log in with a password account(Windows) or enter it if necessary system settings(Linux), then on mobile you need to carry out certain procedural steps to getting root-right.

What exactly does their presence provide?

Absolute control over the device system.
Ability to change system applications, remove or replace them.
Turning the necessary applications into system ones.
Advanced options for creating a full backup.
Changing the boot menu to install new firmware or modify an existing one.
Opportunity fine tuning Android appearance.
Transfer system applications to a memory card if its capacity in the device is small.
Complete removal of unnecessary applications.
Removing advertising not only in the browser, but also in all applications.
Improved processor and hardware performance.

The list is far from complete; you can list many more advantages that having superuser rights provides. But is it so easy to get them?

Options for obtaining root rights

The fact is that Google company Together with top manufacturers, it in every way prevents the process of obtaining root rights. Firstly, the user has the opportunity to disable advertising, and Google makes very good money from this. Secondly, the company believes that most users have crooked hands, and if they have a root, they will definitely ruin something.

There are several ways to obtain root rights. In some cases, you can get by with just one mobile application, in others you will need a computer and special program for rooting. You can also obtain superuser rights by logging into recovery mode. Universal method, effective for every device, does not exist.

Types of root rights

Depending on the type of device, you can get one of the types of root:

full, or full root - working constantly and without any restrictions, providing full access to the system partition; you can change everything at your discretion;
partial, or shell root - also works on, but has a number of limitations, the most significant of which is the lack of access to system partition files; many opportunities become unavailable;
temporary, or temporary root - gives full or partial access to the entire file system, but only until the first reboot of the device; after restart root crashes and you have to repeat the whole procedure again.

Android app

Most easy way obtaining root rights. You just need to allow the installation of programs from unknown sources (to do this, activate the corresponding item in the Settings - Security menu), download installation file application, install it and run it. After this, you should perform all the actions that the program requires. Usually the whole process takes only a few minutes.

The most famous:

There is other software. If you are unable to achieve results with the above programs, try finding others.

Computer program

It also allows you to quickly get root rights in a few clicks on your computer. Algorithm for obtaining rights via a computer:

There are several programs, the most popular of them are Kingo Root, OneClickRoot, VRoot. If you can't handle your device using one program, you can try another.

Using Recovery Mode

The method is simple, but requires certain skills and care, because if one of the conditions is not met or one of the steps is accidentally skipped, you can only complicate your life. recovery mode is a recovery mode that allows you to incorrect operation reset, clean system cache or install the update. It is most often launched by simultaneously pressing the power and volume buttons when turning on the device. The combination may vary. To get root this way, you will need:

download a zip archive with modified files called update.zip and copy it to the root of the memory card;
enter recovery mode, go to the install zip from sdcard - choose zip from sdcard section and select your archive;
After the process is completed, click reboot system now to reboot the device.

No matter how confident you are in your abilities, we recommend that you clarify information specifically about your model on specialized forums. This way you will protect yourself from possible unpleasant consequences.

Possible risks

Despite the many advantages, there are several significant disadvantages:

Your warranty is automatically void. In the event of a breakdown, you will have to carry out repairs entirely at your own expense.
It becomes impossible automatic update firmware through the device menu.
There is a risk of rendering the device inoperative.

IN Lately Manufacturers are releasing more and more advanced ones that are practically unhackable.

Conclusion

As you can see, obtaining root rights for Android is a simple procedure, but in some cases insurmountable difficulties may arise. We strongly advise you to study the pages of your device on specialized forums, for example, 4pda.ru or xda-developers.com. There you will find comprehensive information about all possible difficulties, comments from specialists or experienced users and decide more precisely which method is best for you - through a computer or on the device itself. Are you planning to root your device? Do you think they are necessary? We are interested to know your opinion on this matter.

Today, a lot of mobile devices based on operating system Android from such well-known manufacturers as Lenovo, Asus, Acer, LG and so on. The peculiarity of this OS is that it has an open source, and therefore the user has the opportunity to edit system files, folders and install any applications downloaded from the Internet in .apk format. However, in order to unlock this feature, you need to obtain Root rights or, as they are also called, SuperUser.

What is root rights on Android

What are root rights for Android? This term found its beginning since the times of the first UNIX operating systems, and its main goal is to obtain all additional rights to ensure complete control over the device on Android based. You can draw a fairly simple analogy with the Windows OS, where to get into system directory and only the user who is logged in as an administrator can change its data. Android works the same way, that is, after purchasing a smartphone, you only have guest rights, and Root significantly expands them.

Why do you need ROOT rights for Andorid - pros and cons

Superuser rights can be extremely useful on absolutely every device, regardless of the operating version Android systems. The key advantages of Root include:

Possibility of customization outer shell OS;
Freeing up device memory by removing software from Google and the manufacturer;
Installing hacked paid applications without advertising and with advanced functionality;
Changing files in system directories;
More efficient system optimization for applications that require Superuser rights;
Using tweaks to improve smartphone performance.

Although the minor disadvantages of the root are compensated by the above advantages, they still exist, namely:

Loss of manufacturer's warranty;
Failures in the firmware due to incorrect work with system files and directories;
Inability to update your smartphone via the Internet.

How to get root rights for Android 6.0, 5.1, 4.4

Today, many people are wondering how to install root rights on Android, but you need to understand that everything depends on the OS version, because the system files are different in each of them. Now there are quite a few possibilities for obtaining a Superuser, but for example, on Android 4.4 and 6.0 they may differ. In general, it is common to use only a few methods to install root:

Using a computer or laptop;
Through special applications for smartphones.

It should be noted that previously on Android 6.0 it was necessary to install a modified Recovery, but with the release of updates for this, this is not necessary. But still the simplest and in a fast way receiving SuperUser is right on devices under Android control 5.1+ is an installation of TWRP (mod recovery), which independently roots your smartphone if necessary. For almost every device you can find Recovery on the Internet and installation instructions.

Getting root rights for Android from a computer

Get Root rights for your mobile today it is quite possible using personal computer or laptop. In addition, this method is the fastest and easiest to learn, so even a beginner can cope with the task. All you need:

USB cable;
Smartphone with Android 4.4-6.0;
Computer or laptop on Windows;
Program .

If all of the above is available, then obtaining a Superuser does not take more than a couple of minutes. First, you need to enable USB debugging mode in the “Developer Options” menu, however this section is often hidden and must be activated as follows:

Enter settings and select the “About phone” menu;
Click on the “Build number” item several times and wait for the message “You have become a developer”;
Go to this section, find “USB Debugging” and check the box.

All further actions are quite simple and you need:

Connect the turned on smartphone to the computer via a USB cable;
Launch the KingRoot program on the PC;
Find the big one in the dialog box blue button, press it and wait for the process to complete;
Reboot your device and enjoy Superuser rights.

— Programs for obtaining root from a PC.

The most promising and convenient program to get Root using PC is KingRoot. Despite the fact that it is provided exclusively for Chinese, you will still be able to root your device. Another one not a bad alternative- which is distributed free of charge and is updated very often by the developers.
is a high-quality computer application that allows you to obtain Superuser rights in a few mouse clicks and works with the latest versions of Android. If you focus not on functionality, but on quality, then you can’t help but mention the one for Windows OS. This software has been in development for a long time, so it has a slightly outdated interface, but better compatibility with a variety of smartphones. For Samsung devices with Android 5.1-6.0 there is a completely new application called, which is 100% guaranteed to install root using a computer.

How to get root rights on Android without a computer (PC)

If you do not have the opportunity to install root using a PC, then do not despair, because modern tools and software do this inside the OS Android any versions. For 4.4-6.0 the best option again it will become an application, but in this case you need to download the version for mobile devices with the .apk extension. In order for this program to be successfully installed on your device, you need to enable the ability to install software from unknown sources, this is done like this:

Go to settings;
We are looking for the “Security” menu;
Place a checkmark next to the item “ unknown sources"and reboot the smartphone.

Further steps to obtain Superuser rights are as follows:

Install on the device and launch the application;
We connect the Internet with any in an accessible way(WI-FI, mobile network);
Click the “Try” button in the KingRoot dialog box;
We wait for the procedure to complete to 100% and reboot the smartphone.

It should be noted that it is not always possible to install the root the first time, so sometimes it is worth doing the above procedure several times.

— Android applications to obtain Root rights.

Besides mobile version KingRoot program, you can use other software that is no less effective at installing root inside the Android OS shell without using third-party gadgets. Despite the fact that the application is also available on PC, the developers still pay more attention to the .apk version of their brainchild, so you can use it on own smartphone without a computer. is an alternative to Vroot from the same developers, it helps to unlock rights on those devices where other programs cannot cope. - quite effective and modern instrument, you should resort to its help if the previous options turned out to be not relevant for your device. Software from Chinese developers Baidu Root copes well with obtaining root on smartphones with Android 4.4, so you can try using it too.

How to check if your phone has root rights

If you have completed all the necessary steps but are still not sure Root available, then this is easy to check. Download and install the application called latest version, then launch it and all information regarding the Superuser will be displayed on the screen. Thanks to the same software, you can quickly and easily give or take away administrative rights from individual applications.

So, how to make root rights for Android is already clear, but sometimes there is a need to remove them, for example, if you want to update the firmware over the air. This is where the Root administrator will come in handy for you too -

If you are reading this article, then most likely you have heard the word “root rights”, and you probably want to know what this means and why you even need to get superuser rights on your smartphone and go through this whole incomprehensible process. We will try to explain to you in more detail what rooting is and why it is cool.

What does it mean to "root Android"?

In a nutshell, getting root rights means that you get superuser rights or, more simply put, you get admin rights on your phone. In more detail, this means that you will be able to completely edit all system files that are not accessible ordinary users. That is, you or any applications that only work on rooted devices will be able to access and change such system programs and features, such as camera flash, flashlights for notifications, etc.

You will remove all restrictions given to you stock firmware. Getting root rights on Android is the same as jailbreaking on Apple devices. On Windows computers this is a change in your powers from simple user to the administrator. It may be clearer to you when you read the full article. So stay tuned.

Will I lose my warranty after rooting?

Of course yes! It is a fact. They also void the warranty. iPhone owners, after jailbreak. But, fortunately, it’s also easy to return to the manufacturer’s stock (standard) firmware (“roll back to stock”) and remove root rights. Therefore, after such manipulations, no one will guess that you had root rights installed and you will then be able to make warranty claims.

Advantages of obtaining root rights on Android smartphones and tablets

Administrator rights open up new horizons for customization and total setup of the gadget, and moreover, it helps you become more experienced in working with a smartphone. Below we present to you a list of benefits with their detailed explanation.

1. You will be able to do the full backup files on your device (make a full backup of the entire device)

Let's start with the biggest benefit of rooting: better backups. With a rooted device, you'll likely want to reconfigure your entire system, install a custom ROM, or install apps that require rooting. Since you will be changing the system to its roots, it is very useful to have backup copy applications, user data or even the whole system. And what’s more, it never hurts to have a full backup, as you may accidentally delete an important one. system file.

Most popular application for system backup and separate files is Titanium Backup. Though Pro version costs about 7 dollars, the program deserves it. The application will help you backup all your installed programs and system data.

Another way to make a backup of your device is called a “Nandroid” backup. Restoring the system with such a backup is very similar to restoring the Windows OS to the exact state at the time of the last system backup made. So if your gadget stops working correctly, programs stop responding and loading, then “Nandroid” backup will return you exactly to the point when the backup was made. This will protect you, if, for example, you want to install a different firmware or kernel, and something goes wrong, then you simply use the “Nandroid” backup to correct the situation.

2. You can automate everything

When it comes to automation, Tasker is the one and only thing. the right application. With it you can automate just everything. The program also works on devices without root, but with fewer features and options.

The app has exactly the same philosophy as the online tool "If This Then That" (IFTTT), but works more in a complicated way. For example, you can turn WiFi off/on every time you come home or go somewhere, or turn on Bluetooth and Google Maps when you connect your gadget to the car docking station. And these are just flowers.

3. You will be able to monitor the device even if someone does a "factory reset"

Losing a smartphone or tablet is always big problems. Moreover, if the device was not lost, but stolen. Of course, it is impossible to prevent theft, but you can track your phone even without installing special application against theft ("anti-theft"), especially since they are visible on the device. This means that the thief can simply delete the application or do a “factory reset”.

When you are rooted, you have the option to install a smartphone spying app such as Cerberus. In this case, the program is installed in the roots of the system. Thus, this program will survive even after full reset devices to factory settings. It is also possible to install a disguised version of the application so that it is hidden in the "apps".

4. You have the opportunity to install custom (modified) ones on your smartphone Android versions which are called custom firmware

As the name implies, custom firmware is an adapted and customized version of Android. She often has unique features and improvements that you will never get on standard version this OS. The most popular custom firmwares are CyanogenMod, Paranoid Android and AOKP. These are just a couple of examples, but there are many more. If you want to get a more flexible and understandable system, stable operation, greater performance and long battery life, then you just need to try all these firmwares and choose the best one for yourself that suits all your requirements and desires.

5. You can use "Xposed Framework" to customize your device

Xposed is the basis for all available graphics modules and allows you to customize the appearance of the system. That is, you can get all the settings and operating features that are available on custom firmware, but for this you do not need to install such firmware. It is enough to configure the stock one with the "Xposed Framework". This framework is also suitable if you do not want to install a whole firmware because you only need to configure a few individual functions. All you need to do is install a specific module. Moreover, the framework is easy to install on your phone or tablet. In addition, it also works on custom firmware.

6. You can increase system performance and improve battery life

With superuser rights, you have the ability to change the processor frequency on your device. Overclocking the CPU will give you more performance, while underclocking the CPU will improve battery life. Test the SetCPU application, which is available on Google Play for 2 dollars. This great program which has a lot useful functions, for example, create a pair of CPU profiles that switch to automatic mode depending on the established conditions.

Ads are very annoying, especially on small screen smartphones. If certain applications bombard you with tons of advertising, you can use blocking utilities and applications. But you should know that developers sometimes earn income from such advertising, and if the application does not have advertising, then most likely it is paid. Therefore, do not block all advertising entirely, support the developers, because without their work there would not be free programs.

Also see:

If you obtain root rights correctly, then this is not a risky business, and of course, obtaining administrator rights has a large number of advantages over non-rooted gadgets. Stock firmware, or standard android- this is very good system, but having unlimited customization options is much better. In this article, we only a little clarified the essence of such a concept as root rights, but we hope that you realized the full potential of your device after receiving them.

Today we will tell you about a topic that attracts the attention of many, but at the same time causes inner fear among the majority - Root rights on Android. In this material we will not talk about how to obtain these rights, how to flash firmware for certain smartphones, but we will consider the possibilities of such access, its main pros and cons. The purpose of the material is to help the user decide whether it is worth taking on or not.

Today Android from Google is one of the most popular mobile systems in the world. It provides a very wide range of possibilities for setting up and managing the gadget, but the system can’t do everything. Expand functionality Android You can by obtaining so-called administrator rights - root rights.

We will consider only 6 main, from our point of view, advanced capabilities of the system after gaining such access:

Appearance. Root rights make it possible to completely customize the appearance of the smartphone desktop - from the notification shade to the appearance third party applications. Custom themes can be used either completely or in layers. For example, you like the appearance of a theme, but don’t like the status bar, then you can only apply a separate theme block and that’s it. Everything here will be limited only by the user’s imagination.
Google camera. If you are not satisfied with your camera, then it is possible to port the reference camera from Google Pixel to your smartphone. The main condition for this is that the smartphone has a processor from . Additionally, you can write a line of code into the system file of the smartphone, getting the HDR+ mode in the camera, the quality of pictures in this mode will significantly improve.

Here are just a few features of having root access that allow the user to become, to some extent, the creator of their gadget.

But every decision has two sides - positive and negative. Let's start, perhaps, by considering the arguments against obtaining root rights. There are several such arguments:

Now let's look at the most interesting part - the arguments for the user obtaining root rights. Administrator rights allow you to:

After receiving such rights, the user receives full control over your device. If you don't like the selection standard applications installed on your device, you can easily remove them. You can force traffic restrictions on the device. The list of possibilities can be continued endlessly.
Optimizing device power consumption. Initially, Google's system provides a fairly wide range of options for managing the device's energy consumption, but with root rights these options will expand significantly. For example, some applications will allow you to control the performance of processor cores, slowing them down at certain moments so that the user does not feel it.
Possibility of forced overclocking of the device. Using various special utilities You can increase the processor frequency of the device. Root rights also allow you to install less power-intensive firmware on devices.

General conclusion regarding Root rights- they open up new device capabilities for the user without additional investment. But before starting work, it is worth assessing all the risks and consequences of obtaining such rights. Here the choice and responsibility falls solely on the shoulders of the user.