What is Root for Android. Working with root rights: obtaining and deleting Using root rights

ROOT rights allow you to expand functionality and gain additional control over the Android operating system. They are also called superuser rights. Initially blocked by the manufacturer in order to protect the operating system and the device as a whole from making unsafe changes by inexperienced users. If desired, they can be easily activated using special programs.

What are superuser rights?

A user who watches videos, edits documents, uses the Internet and other functions of the Android OS initially works with Guest rights. In this mode, he does not have the ability to make changes to system files, delete them, modify them, etc. Only the Superuser, also known as the Chief Administrator or a user with ROOT rights, has this opportunity.

Obtaining such rights will allow the user to restore and freeze the firmware on the gadget, remove advertising from installed programs, delete files originally built by the manufacturer (especially important for Samsung, since they have the largest number of unnecessary applications that eat up RAM and thereby slow down your gadget), customize sound alerts at your discretion, change the appearance of the operating system, make changes to various files, increase performance and battery life, change the speed of the processor, create your own firmware, automate various everyday tasks, etc.

The manufacturer categorically does not recommend activating ROOT rights without a clear understanding of why this is needed. If the device fails due to changes to system files, the user may lose the right to free guaranteed service. Everything is done solely at your own responsibility.

Obtaining superuser rights using Framaroot as an example

Currently, there is a huge selection of simple applications that allow you to get ROOT rights without any problems. One of the most successful of these programs is Framaroot. The application allows you to obtain Superuser rights in a matter of seconds. Everything is done in a few clicks. There is no need to connect to a computer. Suitable for tablets and smartphones. It does not support all existing devices, but developers regularly expand their list and release updates.

Activation of ROOT rights is performed in the following order. First, you download the APK file of the application, launch it and install the program.

After the application is installed, select the appropriate mode. Superuser mode is sufficient to perform most user tasks on the system. SuperSU mode should be chosen by those who plan to make changes to system files and know how and why to do it.

Choose any of the proposed characters. The program will notify you of successful activation of rights as follows:

Restart your smartphone or tablet. After turning on the device, the selected rights will be activated. If necessary, they can be canceled just as quickly. To do this, click the corresponding button in the program interface.
Be careful with any changes. It is strictly not recommended to change any parameters and functions if you are not sure of your actions. The application is paid, but can be found for free on 4pda.

Remember, if you are not a completely advanced user and have not figured out why and how to use root rights, it is better to refrain from gaining access to the Android system, as there is a risk of permanently losing the functionality of your device and it will simply become a “brick”.

Root rights are divided into 3 types:

1. Full Root- permanent root rights without restrictions

2. Shell Root— root rights, without access to the /system folder.

3. Temporary Root— temporary root rights.

Do all smartphones have Root rights?

Some smartphones have a NAND lock function that does not allow making any changes to the /system files and, accordingly, the ability to install SuperUser. In this case, you have the opportunity to obtain temporary Shell Root or Temporary Root rights.

How to get Root rights for an Android device

In fact, there are now a huge number of ways to obtain root rights; they are different for different Android smartphones. Here are the 5 most universal methods suitable for most Android phones:

1. Framaroot is an application that has the largest list of supported smartphones;
2. Kingo Android ROOT is a universal utility;
3. z4root - application, the process of obtaining is simple and takes only two clicks, the ability to obtain both permanent and temporary rights;
4. SuperOneClick is a program for PC that allows you to install root rights via USB;
5. Universal AndRoot is a simple application that works on many devices.

And in conclusion

All of the above programs and applications necessary to obtain root rights will be detected by antivirus programs as Trojan viruses. In truth, these are virus programs that penetrate the system. Therefore, do not be alarmed, but disable your antivirus program in advance.

Of course, being an advanced user does not mean that you have to hack the system; you can use the most open OS in the world without hacking and get more features than in other mobile systems. And if you decide to use administrator rights, think three times and ask yourself whether you need superuser rights, since incorrect changes to the OS can lead to irreparable consequences, in other words, your smartphone will turn into a “brick”.

Android OS is a complex system that has a rather non-standard architecture. It is based on the Linux OS kernel, on top of which is an add-on in the form of a virtual machine that works with APK applications. Only the Java virtual machine in which programs are executed can access the Linux kernel; programs and the user do not have direct access to it. Interaction is ensured with user rights (and not administrator rights), that is, they do not have the rights to change the operation of the application core. This was done to ensure cross-platform and security of smartphones.

Not all users like this approach. After all, restrictions mean a reduction in the overall functionality of the Android OS, theoretically available in Linux. In order to change the situation, access with administrator or superuser rights, also known as root, is required. Root is the root level of access where the user (and their applications) can interfere with the operation of the kernel by directly using capabilities that are not available by default.

By obtaining root rights, you can significantly expand the functionality of Android. But when opening root access, you should be aware of the responsibility. Virus programs, of which there are very few for Android (and which are practically harmless when used skillfully), can cause more damage to a smartphone with root rights (up to and including completely disabling its operating system). Therefore, superuser rights can only be given to trusted applications. What you can use root rights on Android for will be discussed below.

Having root allows you to access the system partitions of your smartphone. With them you can modify the OS without resorting to flashing the device. For example, editing the build.prop file and similar ones becomes available. By changing these files, you can customize the interface, the scale of elements on the screen, apply tweaks to save energy, change system information, etc. This can be done either manually (in a text editor) or using special utilities.

Root rights also make it possible to change the boot screen and modify the Android system bootloader. With their help, even flashing a smartphone without the participation of a computer becomes possible.

Removing "Chinese"

If a smartphone was purchased on Aliexpress or another similar platform and intended for China, it often does not have Google services. But a bunch of not very clear applications with hieroglyphs in the interface are preinstalled. These are usually analogues of the official Google Play repository, cloud services, instant messengers and similar software. Often all these programs are unnecessary and only get in the way. Having root rights allows you to delete them from memory without a trace to save space and reduce the load on the hardware.

Installing applications into system memory

Memory in Android smartphones is divided into system and user. The first stores the OS and firmware, the second is available for data storage (hence the free 10-12 GB of the 16 GB of total space). Often there is still space left in system memory that can be taken up by applications. By installing the most necessary programs there, you can clear the user space (especially important on smartphones without a memory card), and after resetting the settings to factory settings, this software will not have to be reinstalled again. On Chinese Android smartphones, you can replace “native characters” with Google services without resorting to flashing the firmware.

Taking screenshots

The Android system has a built-in screen capture mechanism, which is called by pressing the volume and power buttons simultaneously. But in some cases it may be absent. Since the capture is done at the kernel level, third-party screenshots cannot access it. Root rights allow you to take screenshots not only with the built-in mechanism, but also with any utility adapted for this, by pressing a given key or using a shortcut on the display.

Overclocking and reducing processor frequencies

In modern Android smartphone processors, the frequency is adjusted dynamically, depending on the load. But this mechanism does not always work as it should, especially in third-party software. If the frequency used is excessive for the assigned tasks, the battery will discharge faster. If the application is not optimized for multi-cores, the activity of an excessive number of cores does not lead to an increase in speed. With root rights, you can either lower it to save battery power or increase it to increase productivity.

Removing advertisements

Advertising is a means of earning money for software developers. But when there is too much of it, and annoying windows pop up “out of the blue” - this is already too much. Root rights allow you to block software access to the Internet, remove advertising windows and banners, thus increasing performance and autonomy.

Game modification

The trick in the form of cheat codes in games allows you to quickly “pump up” and gain hidden capabilities. But on Android this practice is not very common. To make a hero immortal, to “conjure” millions of coins or endless ammo, you need root. Administrator rights make it possible to install programs designed to change the content of games, their saves and data in the smartphone’s RAM.

Launching software for Linux

Root rights provide direct access to the Linux kernel, thereby allowing you to use it (bypassing a virtual machine) to work with the terminal and run executable files of the Linux OS. Thus, the user receives a mini-version of a full-fledged PC in his pocket. Most ordinary users do not need this, but in some cases (for example, for software developers, programmers) the function is very relevant.

Conclusion

These are not all features that grant root privileges. Full access to the system opens up wide opportunities for customizing and modifying the OS. But before you set up root permissions, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, this operation may void the manufacturer's warranty. Secondly, inexperienced tampering with Android system files can “brick” the smartphone. Also, changing and hacking software is usually a violation of the license agreement. Therefore, all actions with root are carried out by the user at his own peril and risk.

Video about the pros and cons of root rights

You will also like:

Everything you need to know about the big.LITTLE architecture and how it works in smartphones
How to take a screenshot in Xiaomi
Possibility of setting up a smartphone through the engineering menu

Everyone has heard of such a concept as root rights, why it is needed and how to get it. We will try to answer these questions. Let's start with whether the average person needs root rights. Perhaps not, for the most part, the functionality of the smartphone out of the box meets the requirements of ordinary users. Root rights are used in service centers to flash firmware and restore smartphones; they are also used by advanced users who want to get the most out of their phone. How dangerous is this? The first warranty expires, the second auto-update stops coming, and then various errors arise in the system and what we get in return is the possibility of a software update, design change, overclocking hardware, installing a pure android, etc. This article explains everything in more detail.

So, what is Root?

Root (from the English root - root; read "root"), or superuser - a special account in UNIX-like systems with an identifier (UID, User IDentifier) ​​0, the owner of which has the right to perform all operations without exception.

Benefits of Root

Having access to the superuser profile, you get a number of features that are not available in normal operation.

First of all, obtaining Root makes it possible to remove standard applications imposed by device manufacturers, change themes and shortcuts, as well as launch specialized applications that significantly expand the capabilities of the smartphone (usually such applications require Root rights). In addition, it becomes possible to change system files (Recovery image, Bootloader or images displayed during boot), run Linux executable files, install applications to a memory card, or transfer program caches to it. In some cases, after modifications to the OS, available only after obtaining Root rights, it is even possible to achieve a small, but still increase in battery life performance.

Disadvantages of Root

As with everything else, gaining Root access has its drawbacks. First of all, the device loses its warranty and in the event of “something like that”, provided that you cannot roll back your “device” to the official firmware, you will have to repair it solely at your own expense.

The rooting procedure is simple - by doing everything in accordance with the descriptions, you can achieve what you want, but if you do not have any experience, the potential risk remains - under unfavorable circumstances, the device may turn into an unusable “brick”.

Another important drawback is that opening Root privileges implies interference with system files and entails the loss of the ability to update over the air (install OTA updates). More precisely, the ability to update may not be lost, but the consequences of the update will be unpredictable. The most harmless of them is the loss of root privileges, but more fatal options are also possible - up to and including obtaining a brick.

Types of Root rights

There are several types of Root rights:

• Full Root - permanent rights that remove established restrictions. It is not recommended to update the operating system.
• Shell Root is similar to Full Root, but without access to the system folder.
• Temporary Root – temporary Root access. After rebooting the device it disappears.

How to get Root rights?

The 4PDA forum describes a lot of universal methods and methods for obtaining Root rights on devices running Android. Most of them involve the use of special programs and a computer. Among such programs, Universal AndRoot, Unlock Root, z4root, Revolutionary and others are well known, promising to get what you want in “two clicks”. Unfortunately, not all of them can 100% help you achieve what you want, specifically for your mobile device. Moreover, such software can be detected as a virus because it makes changes to the kernel of the Android operating system. In this case, the antivirus is partly right - all these programs are virus exploits that penetrate the system kernel and when downloading or installing them, it is recommended to disable the security software.

Another way to obtain Root rights is to install it on your smartphone modified firmware. In this case, all the work has already been done for you by specialists, and all you have to do is choose the firmware that is suitable specifically for your device. By the way, there you will also find various decorations and additions for your smartphone model.

It is worth noting that some phones have protection supplied by the manufacturer - NAND lock. Most often, HTC was guilty of this, so the owners of such devices were out of luck - NAND lock prohibits making any changes to the /system partition (it will not allow anything to be written/deleted to/from the /system partition, even if it is remounted for writing), which is why It is impossible to install the Superuser program in the /system folder.

It is still possible to Root phones with NAND lock, but it will not be fully functional (you can only get Shell root or Temporary Root). You can find out whether your device has NAND lock in the discussion thread for your model in the section Android - Devices.

How to check that root rights have been obtained?

1. It is possible (but not necessary) for an application called Superuser or SuperSU to appear in the list of programs
2. When running programs that require root privileges, a corresponding prompt will pop up
3. Programs that previously did not work, citing lack of rights, are now fully functional
4. In a terminal emulator, when you enter the su command, a hash prompt appears: #
5. This verification method depends on the method of obtaining root rights (for example, when using Universal Androot, this verification method is unacceptable). In a terminal emulator, type the command "/system/bin/id". If you get "uid=0(root) gid=0(root)" in response, then you have achieved what you wanted.

Let's sum it up

Now you know why you need to obtain Root rights in the Android operating system. Some users believe that Root is necessary, while others live quite well without it. It’s up to you to decide whether to perform this procedure or not, just don’t forget about the warranty and everything will be fine.

What is root rights on Android? How to root Android? Frequently asked questions that many beginners ask when choosing a smartphone or tablet on this OS and a lot of other useful information about Root!

How to root your Android smartphone or tablet

For those who can’t wait to get Root rights and no matter what it is, go to the website http://4pda.ru/ to a special section of the site where you can find many ways to get Root specifically for your Android from companies such as Samsung, HTC, Sony Lenovo, LG, Alcatel and other smartphones and tablets!

What is Root Android?

Root [root] or as it is also called Superuser is needed to expand the functionality of the Android operating system. This term originated from Unix-like systems and means this word:

In Unix and Android OS, in particular, users who perform actions (watching video, listening to audio, editing a document) work with Guest rights, that is, they cannot edit or change/delete/modify system files, increase the functionality of the system, only the main one has this ability Administrator or, as it should be correctly called, Superuser.

What exactly do Root rights on Android give:

• Ability to freeze and restore firmware on an Android device
• Remove ads from applications
• Remove built-in applications and ringtones
• Embed apps and ringtones
• Change the appearance of Android until it is unrecognizable (change icons, change the background), edit apk and system applications in every possible way
• Extend the battery life on a single charge (if the charge lasted you for 1 day, then by obtaining root rights you can increase the battery life by 1.5 - 2 days)
• Increase Android performance and responsiveness
• Overclock or reduce processor speed
• create your own firmware

and many other useful functions and features...

You may ask why then they don’t initially build in Root on the Android OS to immediately expand this functionality?

Root is not built in only because many people do not know that they are editing system files; due to lack of experience, you can greatly increase the processor frequency and the device will burn out and in the future will only perform the functions of a brick or a hammer, and also because free applications contain advertising with the help of which Google makes money for itself, and once you have root rights, you can remove it!

Disadvantages of obtaining Root rights

In addition to the above disadvantages, you can also include:

• Official firmware updates (you can do everything manually)
• Disabling manufacturer's proprietary features

Also, having received Root, you automatically lose warranty repairs! But don’t despair, once you get Root, you can also unnoticeably remove it, and then not a single service center will be able to refuse you repairs.

If after obtaining Root rights Android is buggy

In very rare situations, it happens that an Android smartphone or tablet is buggy (frequent errors occur, some functions do not work) after receiving root rights. To solve this problem, a data reset or, as it is commonly called in the Android environment, “wipe” can help you. You can reset your data by going to the settings menu -> recovery and reset, or from the Recovery menu by selecting wipe data/factory reset.

What needs to be done before obtaining Root rights

Certain manufacturers, such as Sony and HTC, put additional obstacles in the wheel by blocking Bootloader Android. How to unlock the bootloader can be found in these articles

• Unlock bootloader Sony
• Unlock bootloader HTC
• Unlock bootloader Huawei
• Unlock bootloader Nexus
• Unlock bootloader LG
• Unlock bootloader Xiaomi
• Unlock bootloader Motorola

In addition, in HTC smartphones, after unlocking the bootloader and obtaining root rights, you must perform the S-OFF procedure.

What happens when you get Root rights to Android?

A binary file is being installed on an Android smartphone or tablet S.U., which is precisely responsible for root rights. This file is installed along the path /system/xbin/su. Also, for Android to work correctly after rooting it, sometimes a busybox file is needed, which greatly increases the capabilities of the rooted device.

Why do you need SuperSu or SuperUser / Kinguser?

On the Internet, Android users often ask questions:

And so, if you have read the previous paragraph, then you already know that root rights appear when a file is embedded in the system /system/xbin/su, and when installing these applications, this file is not written to the system! These applications are administrators of ROOT access - SuperSu and SuperUser or KingUser are needed to control who and what to grant root or vice versa to deny.

Types of Root

Root on Android is distinguished as

• Full Root- these are permanent root rights that are not deleted after a reboot or randomly, with the ability to write and overwrite them in the system section
• Shell Root– permanent root rights as well, but unlike Full Root there is no possibility of writing and rewriting to the system partition
• Temporary Root– temporary Root rights. Unfortunately, the Root rights disappear after the first reboot of Android.

Problems obtaining Root rights on new Samsung smartphones

Problems getting Root on Android 4.3 and higher

Starting with Android 4.3, the Linux kernel has an additional security layer called SeLinux. When installing root rights and booting an Android device for the first time, SeLinux simply corrupts the su and busybox binary files, that is, accordingly, there are no root rights.

Why disable your antivirus when you get Root?

On the Internet you can often find complaints from newbies who have just purchased Android and want to get Root rights, that when rooting their antivirus program on their computer, it complains about the presence of viruses! This happens because the Android system is hacked through various vulnerabilities found in the system (for example, Framaroot exploits a vulnerability in the camera), naturally Google does not approve of such actions and does not want you to interfere with the Android system (see above).

So are there viruses or not?

No viruses! Therefore, feel free to disable your antivirus program, nothing will happen to your computer or Android smartphone or tablet!

How to check for Root rights on Android?

A fairly common question among users who have just purchased an Android tablet or smartphone, or who were not interested in how the operating system works at all.

First option to find out if you managed to get Root rights, use the file manager to go to the section /system/xbin and find the file there su, if it is there, then root has been obtained.

(rutube)d642959b83fad7f4463441129ffb7cea(/rutube)

The second option is that you need to download the Root Checker application, which will notify you about the presence or absence of root rights.

Remove Root on Android