All Android devices are using the Android Operating System, which is a Linux based open source operating system.
When manufacturers use the Android OS, they have to decide whether to allow the user root access to the OS or not.
For those who already own an Android device, you know what that decision is. Manufacturers have opted to disallow root access to prevent users from meddling with the OS which can potentially damage the phone.
But rooting an Android phone does has practical benefits.
Rooting an Android phone gives the user full control over the phone. The user will be operating the phone as the superuser. He or she will have the permissions to do anything on the phone that requires root permission. For example, disabling apps to save battery power is one function that requires root access.
Of course, before you root a phone, be sure to understand the risks. If done incorrectly, the warranty could be voided and all data could be lost. The OS can become corrupted and fail to function – to the point that it can’t be saved unless you take the phone to a qualified service technician. Therefore, always make sure you back up your data before rooting a phone.
While the rooting process appears to be for the brave and tech savvy, there are apps out there that will simplify the rooting process, making it less painless and daunting.
Download an app called SUPERONECLICK. This app can root almost any Android device. However, check that the app has been proven to work on your Android model. Only a few models have been reported to fail, and this is because they have a NAND lock, which doesn’t allow writing to the mount system.
Using this app, you can easily root your Android device with a single click – assuming that you’ve prepared your Android.
The entire process is a little technical and perhaps a step by step guide will be more appropriate.
We’ll post a guide on how to root an android device later on.
Once your phone has been rooted, you can immediately take advantage of apps such as Root Explorer, ROM Manager, Titanium Backup.