Rooted Android Phone, What it Means

As mentioned in my previous post, a brief introduction to Android, Android is Linux-based. If you use a computer, which I assume most of you have already, sometimes you are required to login using a username and password. These are called User Account, a computer will have at least one User Account where each User Account have different preferences such as wallpaper, mouse settings, and many more.

Windows 7 Login Screen

Usually, if you are not the owner of the computer, you are unable to make changes to certain things on the computer, for example installing or uninstalling programs or accessing certain folders on the computer. Only the owner of the computer have access to these and can make changes to the computer or even to other users.

The User Account for the owner is usually called Administrator or for short Admin on most OSes (I think). They can make various changes, determine the permissions of other users, and many more. Every OS have at least one Admin.

In Linux, the Admin is called Super User or Root User and since Android is Linux-based, it also called Root User or simply root. This is not available for Android users by default since it is VERY DANGEROUS, yet many users have this access since it is VERY FUN too.

Android Super User Logo

Root access is given per app, not per user. Next is the advantages and disadvantages of having root access on an Android device.

Advantages of Root Access

The meaning of having root access on your Android is: the device is entirely in your control. This means that you have total control of your device and you can do anything you want with it. Usually, the things most people wanted to do with root access are:

• Removing Unused System Apps: Sometimes our device comes with apps that we barely use unless accidentally touched. Having root access gives you the power to remove these apps completely, saving battery and space. But careful though, not all system apps are safe to remove.
• Saving Battery Super User Style: There are many apps out there that prolongs battery life but with root access, you can take it to a whole new level. You can do many things such as completely disable apps running in background, restrict access of certain sensors in different apps, under-clocking, and under-volting.
• More Customization: Having root access can give you the privileges to change your phone's interface to your own accord. This is usually done by editing the SystemUI.apk file which controls how your phone behave and look. Editing it can be a hassle but in the old days, an Android Kitchen is used to do this. Nowadays this can be done in a more simpler way using the Xposed Framework.

Disadvantages of Root Access

There's Ying, there's Yang. Here are the main disadvantages of having root access:

• Voided Warranty: Since you're using your phone to your own accord and that is not the way manufacturers intended you to use your phone, your warranty is no longer valid. Everything you do is at your own risks and not the manufacturers fault should a defect happen after your phone is rooted.
• System Instability: This only happens if you mess around too deeply or a malicious app is given root access. Symptoms includes abnormal drain of battery, random reboots, or even the inability to turn on ever again.

In conclusion, the effect of rooting is entirely up to the user giving root access permissions to the right apps. Here a few safe apps that I recommend using when you have root access:

• Titanium BackUp: This is used to back up apps, restore apps, uninstall apps, and many more individually or even in batch. This is usually a must have for flashaholics.
• SD Maid: This app cleans up your Android device up to the core thus freeing more storage space and also provides additional features. I recommend running the cleaner at least once a week.
• Greenify: This app can disable completely, hibernate, other apps that are running in background thus saving battery. The Pro version allows hibernating of system apps and with the help of Xposed Framework, still allows notifications to come up even if the app is hibernated.
• Xposed Framework: A framework, which with the help of other Xposed Modules adds a lot more possibility to your Android device. This will be explained further later on.

So, are you rooted?