Pros and Cons of Rooting Your Android Phone

So you just finished exploring your new Android phone, checking out all its features and understanding everything that the device has to offer. But suddenly you realize that there are some manufacturer-imposed limitations which impede you from having full control of your phone. You stumbled upon the term “rooting.”

You got curious and wanted to know more about it and ask yourself, “Should I root my Android phone or not?”

Just like you, a number of Android users are curious about rooting and often wonder whether or not they should root their phone. This is especially true for users who are new to the world of Android and are scared that they will damage their smartphone in some way. Keep reading to know what is rooting? What are the risks that you are taking and how rooting unlocks the full potential of your Android device?

What is rooting???

In simple terms, Rooting is a process of unlocking your Android phone which lets you conquer the limitations that the carrier or the manufacturer of your phone has imposed upon it.

These limitations are placed to prevent you from making changes to the system – which can accidentally render it unusable. Rooting allows you more control over your device and vastly extends the functionality, even giving you the option of using a custom version of Android.

A rooted Android phone is similar to a Jail broken iPhone. Rooting voids your phone’s warranty. So, don’t ever join the dark side of android rooting unless you’re worried of losing your phone’s warranty. To be succinct about it – rooting is only for Android phone user with a brave heart.

Difference between Rooting and Flashing a Custom ROM

Now, there’s a lot of confusion between rooting your Android phone and flashing a custom ROM. Rooting and installing a custom ROM are totally different from each other.

To put it simply, rooting is modifying your phone’s operating systems to gain full control over it. On other hand, flashing a custom ROMs is simply installing a modified operating system to your phone. It’s still android but a modified one courtesy of some tech geeks who managed to tweak the Android SDK.

There are several ROMs available for your Android phone, if not all of them, these are cooler and more fun to use than the stock Android OS that comes pre-loaded with your phone.

Warning: Rooting Can Be Dangerous to Your Android Phone, But It’s Fun!

The first time I tried to root an Android phone, I was really so cautious about it, fearing that it might brick my unit. I had the very first Google Phone then, the so-called Nexus One which I bought directly from the Google Store. So, you can just imagine how devastated I would have become, if I accidentally rendered my phone useless due to misunderstanding of the intricate process of rooting. Luckily, I did not brick my Nexus One and successfully rooted it.

Why Root Your Android Phone??

It’s simple, full control.

The first time you purchase a smartphone, you’ll realize that after exploring its many features that in the end, you still don’t have total control over it. Why? Well because you can’t accidentally brick it. That’s basically what rooting does – to give you access to your phone’s functions allowing you to become, what is known as a Super User.

Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons or the Other Way Around?

Prior to rooting my Android phone, I researched and read several articles on what I would gain from it as well as the dangers of doing this deed. Fortunately for me, the pros outweigh the cons – so I went ahead and rooted my phone.

Allow me then to enumerate the pros of rooting an Android phone, some of which we have mentioned already. Why would you want to root your Android phone and why would you not?

The pros of rooting your Android phone

·        Rooting frees your Android phone from the clutches of the mobile carrier where you got your phone from, unless you got it unlocked. If that’s the case, rooting frees your phone from the restrictions of the Android OS.

·        Rooting allows you to install “unofficial” and advanced versions of the Android OS. Generally, Android OS are carried over-the-air by Google and selected carriers to their Android-released devices. And this usually takes a while to happen. Luckily, there are developers who make this updates available and the only way you can install them is to root your phone.

·        Rooting allows you to uninstall stock apps which are most of the time useless and were pre-installed by the manufacturer or your carrier

·        Rooting allows you take screenshots of your phone. It is so easy to take screenshots on the iPhone, but it will take rooting for Android phone users to do this. But on the other side this feature is available now in new android devices , you can take screenshots by just pressing the volume rocker and the power button.

·        Rooting allows you to back up your phone’s system to an SD card so that you can try out custom ROMs and revert back to your old system

·        Rooting allows you to move apps to an SD card instead of cramping your phone’s internal storage.

·        Rooting allows you to use custom operating systems that will render your Android phones more useful.

·        Rooting lets you overclock your phone’s kernel, making it performs faster than it was intended to perform by the manufacturer.

·        Rooting lets you fully personalize and customize your phone’s interface with cool themes, wallpapers, widgets and more.

The cons of rooting your Android Phone

·        Rooting might void your phone’s warranty.

·        Rooting can cause your phone to act abnormally, especially if not done properly.

·        Rooting renders your phone unqualified to receive OS updates through OTA. So you will be on your own to look out for valid sources. The good news is that, your phone is probably running the latest OS after you have rooted it.

·        You’ll be spending more time with your phone since rooting entails constant updates and all.

·        Rooting may make your phone perform faster but there are downsides to it specifically running too hot to the point of overheating your device.