If you are an Android User, you might have heard about rooting your Android Device. Most users are unaware of what is this so called “Root” means and what are the benefits of doing this. In this post, we have tried to cover the benefits that you can get if you successfully root your Android phone, device. The process of Rooting your Android device is almost similar to the process of Jail-breaking an iPhone or iPad.
SUMMARY
- Full control, ability to alter System files
- Performance Boost with Hardware/ software Acceleration
- Overclocking
- Move Apps to SD card
- Better Battery Life
- Backup, Restore and Recovery
- Remove Stock ROM Bloat, Unwanted Apps
- Better upgrades, New Android Versions
- New Features and Special Apps
- Install Custom ROMs
- Disadvantage/ Precaution
Full control, ability to alter System files
You will get full control over your device and access to system files including the ability to alter them. Now you can replace or modify almost all of the “Android Core” including Themes, system apps (like maps, calendar, clock etc), Recovery & Boot image, Toolbox (linux binary that lets you execute linux commands) can be replaced with Busybox (better option), Boot images or add linux binaries .
Performance Boost with Hardware/ software Acceleration
Most Android phone/tablet manufacturers limit the device in one way or the other while also adding loads of bloatware to the stock rom which stops them the phone from performing to their full potential. After gaining root access, the system can be tweaked using different applications that come with custom ROMs or even available in Android market which can boost the performance of the Phone or device considerably.
Overclocking
You get the ability to overclock your device after gaining root access. Custom ROMs like CyanogenMod gives you inbuilt tools to try overclocking your device without damaging your phone or device. Overclocking unleashes the full potential of your device and makes it blazing fast.
Move Apps to SD card
The phone’s internal memory is limited to a few hundred Megabytes (MBs) e.g: LG P500 comes with 200 MB internal memory. If you install more apps, you will soon run out of space to install new apps. Rooting your Android Phone gives you ability to move your apps installed on Phone memory to SD card making more room on your Phone memory. You can use Apps like App2SD to transfer your apps to SD card. Custom ROMs like CyanogenMod comes with inbuilt ability to move apps to SD card without needing any App.
Most of the app2sd apps monitors installations and prompts you which apps can be moved to the SD card. You can also do this via your Phone’s Settings>Manage applications.
The real deal is Link2sd app which enables “Install apps to external memory”. This feature was available in CM7 by default, but not in CM9 (atleast I couldn’t find the setting for it) but this app enables it again :p
Better Battery Life
Battery life is often a big issue with Smartphones. Rooting your phone gives you access to custom ROMs and full control of the system apps which often results in a better battery life. Many battery saving apps available at the Android Market require root access
Backup, Restore and Recovery
After rooting your device, you can Backup your device and can restore it anytime to an old backup by booting into recovery. You can get this feature by installing recovery on your device e.g. Clockworkmod.
Remove Stock ROM Bloat, Unwanted Apps
All Android phone manufacturers install loads of bloated apps on your phone and many of these apps are not required for most users. But you cannot uninstall those unwanted apps unless you Root your device. By rooting your device, you can easily remove those unwanted apps from your phone.
Better upgrades, New Android Versions
You gain access to the latest versions of Android OS (eg:ICS) before they are officially rolled out by your phone manufacturer. Sometimes, the upgrades for phones are rolled out years after they are officially released. for e.g The Gingerbread update for LG P500 took almost a year to be officially released by LG, but the users who had rooted their device got to taste Custom ROMs based on Gingerbread on their phone barely a few weeks after Google released the sources for Gingerbread.
By rooting your phone, you also get access to the upgrades which will never be released officially by manufacturers e.g you can install Android Ice Cream Sandwich ICS on LG P500 even though it will never be released by LG.
New Features and Special Apps
You get access to New features, Special apps like Titanium Backup, Clockword Mod and many Root only apps after rooting your device.
Install Custom ROMs
As stated above, you can install custom ROMs on your phone including ROMs with new Android version. Every custom ROM comes with a different feature set, theme and much more. You can choose the custom ROM for your phone as per your requirement.
Disadvantage/ Precaution
- Your warranty becomes null and void after you root your device. Its not a deal breaker though, you can easily un-root your device using tools like KDZ updater and again your warranty gets valid.
- You can brick your phone while installing a custom ROM if you do something wrong. Hence you should be cautious while installing a Custom ROM.
We would like to hear your opinion if you have rooted your device or planning to Root it in future. Share your feedback in comments section below.
