A beginners guide to rooting Android phones
In this article, I will explain what is Android rooting and what are its pros and cons. I will also detail how rooting voids warranty but still its legal. Basic rooting procedure of Android devices is also explained.
What is Android rooting
As everybody knows that Android is based on Linux. Google developers have modified the kernel and other resources to run Android on low hardware resources as well. Android can run on processors ranging from 600Mhz single core to any Quad core powerful 2 GHz processor. In Linux root users means the Administrator account. The rooting or root means gaining the administrator account access to Android that is locked by default. Most of the time in rooting procedure we install app like SuperSU that controls and supervises the access of applications to an Administrator or root rights.
SuperUser or the root users gives you access to system settings, locked system files. You will be able to modify the firmware, install unsigned apps, delete the pre-installed default apps. Basically, you can change the whole environment and control every software aspect of your device. Most of the people root their Android device to install apps like Titanium Backup that can help them with backing up apps, app data and restoring them. There are different custom made firmware available for Android devices that can be installed only if you are rooted. Custom Recoveries like Clockworkmod and TWRP helps you with backing up your firmware and installing custom firmware. Advantages and Disadvantage:
You can find long lists of advantages of rooting your Android phone all over the internet. You can install unwanted apps, upgrade to unofficial leaked updates before they arrive over OTA, Customize ROM with optimized performance - user interface and battery tweaks. Install custom kernels that boost device performance and processor overclocks. There are much more you can get, but with every boon there is some hidden curse. The biggest fear is bricking your device while rooting. There are easy tutorials over the internet to root your device, but do not rely on them. First explore resources like XDA forum and rootzwiki to make sure the process is working. If the device is new and there is a chain of operations you need to execute, to root the device. I would suggest you to wait for a one click rooting tool release for your device.
Root also increases the chances of malware infiltration on your device. As your device is open, and you have full access, if somehow the malware gains the access can extract your critical data and thus rooted devices are unsafe. Thus rooting brings power to you, but there is a bit risk always. Does Rooting Voids warranty?
Yes, rooting voids warranty. Manufacturers have warned it many time rooting is a not an authorized procedure that is officially allowed. But Android is open source and there is no law to stop you from rooting your device. Some companies like Motorola and HTC have launched their developer portal to provide resource and app to break bootloader. Once you break into bootloader its much easier to get the root. I have a Samsung Galaxy Note and I have rooted it. I faced a small issue and took it to the service center and they repaired it without checking whether it's rooted. I asked People there about the policy and they stated that the company has not directed them to check if the phone firmware has been modified. This does not happen just with me, I have asked multiple users who were using HTC, LG and Sony devices. They confirmed that companies repair devices even if it's rooted.
If you want to be on the safe side then you can install the stock firmware to unroot your device before going to the service center. How to root your Android Phone or Tablet?
There are different ways to root every device. Every manufacturer has different bootloader and kernel on their device this makes it hard for developers to design a tool that can root all other devices. There are different projects that are claiming to root most of Android devices. The First one I will recommend is Binary4root developed by XDA recognized developer Bin4ry. It can root new Sony Xperia Phones and Sony Xperia Tablet beside that it successfully roots Nexus 7 and other new Android Tablet.
The next tool users talk about is unlock root. This tool is widely available over the internet and works on any device that has an unlocked bootloader. Users have tried it on LG, Micromax, Spice and other devices. I have also come across a new project Ready2root which has a database of rooting all Android Phones. There are total 298 devices in their database.
I really like the idea of rooting an android device. Upon rooting your android device is under your command, on the palm of your hands!