How to root your Android OS?

What is Android?

Android is an operating system for mobile phones and tablets, much like Microsoft Windows for PCs, MacOS for Mac Books, and Linux for servers. Android was first developed in 2003 by Android Inc. and later acquired by Google. The goal of Android was to create "smarter mobile devices that are more aware of its owner's location and preferences". What makes Android stand apart from other mobile operating systems is that it's open source, and based on field proven Linux operating system. Linux, a child of Unix which has been around since 1969 far before Windows OS, is a de facto operating system run by millions of servers providing web, mail, and database services to the Internet. It's an open source, meaning that anyone can modify and contribute to the project, which makes it use of open standard, open architecture and best of all makes it available for free for everyone.

What is rooting?

Rooting your phone is getting an administrative right to your Android OS. Android is based on Linux, and the “root” is the administrative user of the Linux OS. Having root access to your device grants you complete control over your phone. Rooting does NOT mean installing a custom ROM, as you can gain root access to a Stock OS. By rooting your OS, you install the Superuser Android app, which approves or denies administrative access to your device instead of conventional password-protected approval. One word of warning about rooting your phone is that it could potentially brick your phone and void the manufacturer’s warranty.

Why would you root your Android smartphone?

By rooting your smartphone, you have complete control over your phone and may choose to delete bloatware, install applications that are not available on a Stock ROM, install a custom ROM, or even build a new feature on your smartphone. One of the most popular reasons for rooting an Android phone is to install a Free Wi-Fi hotspot on your phone. Cell phone carriers generally charge a hefty $20-$30 per month for the Wi-Fi hotspot feature on your phone. By rooting your phone, you can have a free Wi-Fi hotspot, and it's completely legal.

** One word of a caveat: Some of the carriers such as AT&T crackdown on the use of unofficial wifi hotspot on your iPhone or Android smartphones.

How do you root your Android OS?

Rooting procedure for a phone or tablet is different for every brand, model, and version of Stock ROM it currently has. Archive Tips maintains a running list of "rooting" procedures for major brands and models of Android devices. There are also applications that will make it easier to root your phone, and such applications include Z4Root and others. When using such an application, make sure the app supports your phone model and version of Stock OS before proceeding with a rooting procedure as improper rooting procedure could potentially brick your phone.

Warning

1. Rooting your Android phone generally voids your manufacturer's warranty.

2. Improper rooting process potentially "brick" your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. (Q) Is "rooting" required to install Custom ROM?     (A) Although "rooting" helps install an Android app such as ROM Manager which makes it easier to install Custom ROM, rooting is NOT a prerequisite for installing Custom ROM on an Android device.

Editor's Note

1. To verify the usability of Z4Root, I have personally downloaded a 1.3.0 version of the Z4Root from xda-developers.com and attempted to root LG Optimus S running Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread). However, the Z4Root failed to root the LG Optimus S running Android 2.3.3. I was able to install the Z4Root app on the device and clicked on the "Permanently Root" button, but the application terminated without completing the task. I've tried this multiple times, but the result was the same. Although Z4Root failed to root my phone, there was no visible harm on the device.

2. I was able to successfully "root" Samsung Epic 4G running Android 2.2 (Froyo) and 2.3.6 (Gingerbread). Here are the instructions on how to do this:

   Root Samsung Epic 4G running Android 2.3.6 (Gingerbread) by installing pre-rooted ROM.

   Root Samsung Epic 4G running Android 2.2 (Froyo) by using One Click Root Exploit 2.5.5.