Nowadays, it seems like rooting is being outlawed with the turn out of things and the difficulty usually that follows the process of rooting (Android 7 OS and later).
The Android OS has come a long way as most of the features we clamoured for years ago are steadily being implemented (take a look at what Android Q, the next Android version has to offer).
Back then, we had to root our devices to get even the simplest features like screenshot (thank God for MTK engineering mode and mobile uncle apps) or to install certain apps. Fortunately, most features we rooted our devices for are now readily available on the stock.
Rooting is good but it sure depends on what you want to achieve. There is the good side that opens doors to all the extra features and customization, and there are reduced chances of bricking your phone if you use the right software (most popular is KingoRoot).
Why You Should Consider Rooting Your Android Phone
You may be comfortable with what your phone has to offer but if you really want to root your device, here are the reasons why you definitely should!
1. Customizations
The Gates of (Customization) Heaven is open to all those who are brave enough to root their devices as they shall have an awesome experience.
Rooting your device gives you the best customization access and experience as you can change and beautify almost everything.
With modules like Xposed and more, you can completely change your theme, fonts, boot animation, audio experience etc to whenever you need and to whatever you need.
You can also change lock screen, notification shade, navigation buttons, status bar etc. Rooting also gives you access to tweaks for power saving, display media, hardware keys.
Also, apps like GMD Gestures, Spectrum and Substratum theme engine allows you to personalize your OS like it’s no man’s business. Substratum works well on Android 8 without root but on Android 7 Nougat and Android 9 Pie, you have to root your device.
2. Install Custom ROMs
Most of these ROMs we are using have been customized by the OEMs who have added and removed lots of features they think is best for users, But they are mainly garbage. Also, most OEM’s rarely provide timely OS updates and that is why custom ROMs exist
Most people root their devices so they can easily install custom ROMs. Custom ROMs usually brings the latest Android flavour which users can easily get a taste of when OEM update for their devices has been made available.
Custom ROMs also brings a variety of features and customization. There are a plethora of Custom ROMs out there but Resurrection Remix, LineageOS, and Paranoid Android are some of the best you can find.
3. Better Kernel Management
The Kernel is the middleman between your phone’s hardware and software and is a very busy guy. Every OEM has its kernel that interface between their hardware and the Android OS for better system resource management.
With rooting, you can install a custom kernel that gives you access to adjust whatever you want (apps like ElementalX and Franco Kernel are great here).
You can overclock (overclocking means increasing your processor frequency for better performance) CPU cores to increase speed and make gaming apps lag less, underclock them to save battery.
Also, since you don’t want to be jumping into your kernel making changes when you want to perform a task, you can set CPU Governors to handle tasks based on triggers (e.g when you open chrome, CPU should be overclocked and vice versa).
4. Explore New Features
While rooting gives us access to new features, rooting with Magisk also brings in a lot of modules with features like multiple windows, youtube background playback, detailed app permissions, native clipboard (something Android lacks), better audio performance, boot manager etc.
Also, apps like Tasker requires root access, even IFTTT requires root access to give you more than you can ever imagine as they give you the ability to completely automate your phone.
5. Boost Performance
If there is one thing that Android constantly faces criticisms from, it is inconsistent performance. Once you know how to manage your kernel, you can use additional apps to boost performance.
Apps like SetCPU allows you to overclock your CPU for more efficiency. Also, using custom kernels gives you access to tweak GPU, RAM, battery, screen and sound settings to achieve more.
Apps like Kernel Auditor and Ex Kernel support different kernels and allows you to tweak advanced options from the app. Apps like GLTools also offers advanced options for GPU related tweaks while Speed Up Swap tends to RAM tweaks.
6. Improve Battery Performance
While there are some apps that claim to help manage and improve battery performance without root, the best results can only be gotten when you root your device.
Apps like Greenify auto-hibernate apps consuming your battery while Naptime adds more power to the Android’s inbuilt Doze feature.
You can also choose to underclock your CPU with Franko Kernel to improve screen-on time and get longer battery life.
7. Have Access to More Advanced Apps
The Google Playstore is home to over 2 Billion apps but some are reserved for the big people who root their devices. There is the DriveDroid (DriveDroid turns your android phone into a bootable drive so you can install or test out over 30 Linux distributions), DiskDigger, Migrate that uses root access to bring great functionality.
Also, Magisk allows the installation of VIPER4Android to upgrade audio experience. You can also swap the emoji styles using EmojiSwitch app. Magisk modules are also great as they come.
8. Remove Bloatware Apps and Ads
It is always annoying to see that you won’t be needing some system and bloat apps installed on your devices and you can’t uninstall them either.
Well, once you root your device, you can remove any system or bloat apps you won’t be needing. If you just want to remove bloatware from your Android gadget, Install NoBloat App.
For better app management, you will be needing 3C Toolbox app. The app allows you to remove system apps, remove updates to apps, move apps to SD card etc
Also, OEMs like Tecno now add intrusive full-page ads to their UI (even Xiaomi is sitting on this table). Root users can use AdAway to block both in-app ads and websites ads. You can also whitelist apps and websites.
9. Total BackUp
Forget the backup feature available on the non-rooted phones, back up options for rooted devices reign supreme. You can use the backup option on TWRP to make a complete backup or use an app like Titanium BackUp which is very popular
With these tools, you save everything (apps, data, files, settings etc) to external storage or cloud and easily restore it to your device like nothing ever changed. If you lose or brick a device, the backup can be restored without stress.
What are you still waiting for? If you really want to get access to all those features then root your device already.
