There are many reasons to root your Android phone. When you root the mobile, then you can have access to the hidden features of the OS and can install incompatible apps on the device. You can automatically toggle your tasks like GPS, 3G/4G, the screen on/off, changing the processor speed, etc. It will help to boost the battery’s life and your phone’s speed. You will be able to flash the custom kernel and ROM as well as can block ads on any application. And the list can go on. But, that is not the topic today. Here, we will see how you can make it happen, i.e., rooting your Android device.
I will provide you with a step-by-step process of rooting your Android device. Stay on with this guide and complete all the steps in order.
Table of Contents
Method-1: Using the One-click root application
Step-1: Back up your device
This is the basic and necessary step before making any significant changes to your mobile phone. If something goes wrong during the process, then the data backup can help to get all your valuable stuff back in your phone. You can take the backup on your Google account or can use the third-party apps.
Step-2: Choose the application
After you take the backup of your phone, it is time to choose the APK or custom ROM. You may know that the Android platform is open-source and that’s why there are many modified versions available created by the developers. After checking the compatibility with your phone, you can select the rooting programs like Kingo Root or Towelroot to distribute and install the software.
Here, I will provide the steps using the Kingo Root app.
Step-3: Download the application
The Kingo Root app is not available in the Google PlayStore. So, you have to download the APK and install it manually.
1. You can visit the official download page from your mobile and get it from there directly.
2. If you are using your computer or if the download fails, you can download and email the APK as an attachment.
Open the receiver email ID in your phone and download the file.
3. Before downloading the file, allow applications from unknown sources in your device. (Settings > Security > Unknown Sources)
4. Install the app on your device.
Step-4: Run the application
After the successful installation of the app, run it on your device. Now, tap on the ‘One click root’ and wait for sometime. If everything is fine, your phone will be rooted within a minute.
So, above are the steps to root your Android device with the Kingo Root app. In case, if you want to reverse the Android root, open the app again and click on ‘remove root.’
If you want to use your computer for rooting your phone, then read ahead.
Using the desktop version of the app to root an Android phone
If you want to use the Windows application of Kingo Root, then follow the process below.
Step-1: Download the App
Get the software version of Kingo Root for Windows and download it on the system. Remember to keep the option of ‘Install Yahoo powered Chromium browser” unchecked. It depends on you, but I recommend not to select it and also click on ‘Decline’ option to eliminate other possible adware.
Step-2: Enable Developer options & USB debugging
Now, open your Android device and enable the USB debugging mode on it. But, before that, you will need to access the developer options. Do as mentioned below.
- Open the device settings.
- Select ‘About Phone’ menu.
- Now, open the ‘Device Information.’
- Scroll down and continuously tap (three-four times at least) on the term ‘Build Number.’
- You will see a pop-up message that ‘you are now a developer.’
- After entering in the Developer mode, open the ‘Developer Options’ in the phone’s settings.
- Scroll down and look for the ‘USB debugging’ option.
- Tap on it and enable the USB debugging mode.
Step-3: Connect the devices
Now, with the help of the USB cable, connect your mobile phone and the computer on which you have installed the desktop version of the Kingo Root app. Then, run the app in your PC. When the mobile screen asks ‘Allow USB Debugging?’, then click on the option of ‘Always allow from this computer’ and select ‘Ok.’
Step-4: Root the Android device
Now, click on the ‘Root’ option on the screen and wait for some time. After a few minutes, your phone will be rooted.
If you want to reverse the rooting process, then rerun the application and click on the option of ‘remove root.’ Remember to keep the USB connection on during the whole time.
Method-2: If one-click root app does not work/ Using Bootloader
If your Android version does not support the one-click root application, then you have to find alternative options for rooting the device. You can also visit some top tech forums to see the answer depending on your phone’s model and Android version.
Step-1: Prepare your phone
Take the backup of your relevant data. Make sure that your device is fully charged and then proceed.
As shown in method-1, enable the USB debugging mode through the ‘developer options’ in your phone. Also, enable the ‘OEM Unlocking’ option.
Step-2: Install Android SDK Platform Tools
From the Google developer site, download and install the Android SDK platform-tools depending on the system you are using. For your easiness, I am showing the method for the Windows version of the tools. Also, download the SuperSU zip file and store it on the SD card on your device. We will use it in the later step.
- Read the terms carefully and download the SDK platform tools for Windows on your machine.
- Extract the zip files.
- Choose the location of the directory where you want to install the software. Make sure to remember the path.
Step-3: Install the drivers
To enable the proper communication between the computer and your Android phone, you need to install the appropriate version of the drivers on your system.
Connect your phone to the computer using the USB cable. It may install the drivers automatically, or you can visit the website of the manufacturer for the same.
Step-4: Unlock the bootloader
Now, before going ahead, unlock your phone’s bootloader. You may know that the bootloader ensures which apps will run when you start your Android device. In some cases, the manufacturer company wants a registered developer account for doing this. If your phone does not support the bootloader unlocking (like in Huawei phones), then you can take the help of third-party software applications for that.
After you unlock the bootloader, put your phone in the ‘fastboot’ mode. Though this process is different for the phone models, the most common way is to restart the device and press & hold down the Volume Down button and Power button for about 10 seconds.
1. After this step is done, open the location of the directory where you downloaded and stored the unzipped files on your PC.
2. Open the command prompt.
3. If you get a long string of characters, that means your device needs a code. Paste that in the manufacturer’s website. Click on ‘Submit’ button and wait for the key in your inbox. You will also get instructions through email for applying that key.
4. Connect your phone to the computer and run the ‘fastboot’ mode.
5. Open the command prompt again.
6. Depending on your phone’s model and manufacturer, type the proper command (you can check it on Google or manufacturer’s website) in the command prompt. The most common command is as below
7. fastboot OEM unlock
8. Click and confirm the unlocking.
Step-5: Install a custom recovery
To install the recovery on your Android, you will need to use a custom recovery image software on the device. I have used TERP for rooting my phone which is the most common open-source software for Android custom recovery.
- Download TWRP.
- Copy the data to your PC.
- Open the command prompt.
- Enter the command below
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Reboot your phone by entering the command below
fastboot reboot
This step will provide access to TWRP on your phone.
After successful completion of the process till now, move on the next and final step.
Step-6: Rooting your Android
This step is final for rooting your Android phone that comes with a bootloader.
- Boot to recovery mode.
- Select the option of ‘Install Zip.’
- Now, choose the location of the SD card where you stored the downloaded ‘SuperSU’ zip file.
- Flash it.
Now, you will see that your Android device is rooted and you can see the SuperUser once you reboot your phone.
Why should you not root your phone?
If you have made your mind to root your phone, then keep the below things in mind.
1. Rooting your Android device will void the warranty from the manufacturer.
2. If you do not follow the steps correctly or make any mistake during the process, then you may end up by corrupting your phone.
3. Sometimes, malicious third-party apps can create vulnerability to your device’s data. So, keep that thing in mind.
4. Some security applications like Google Pay, Sky Go, etc. will not work on rooted devices. So, if you often use them, it is better to unroot the phone.
Conclusion
Though rooting helps to unlock many custom features on an Android phone or tablet, it is not recommended to do if you are not very well known to the functioning of it and how to use the rooted phone. You can always unroot your phone if anything wrong happens or if you want to get your original phone condition back. There are a few disadvantages when you root your phone which I mentioned earlier. So, keep all such things in mind when you are going to do this process. If you want more information about how to unroot your device, then click here.
Tinkering is always good to improve the knowledge and wisdom!
Good luck.
Note: All the steps and processes mentioned in the guide here have experimented on the author’s device. But, as the working of the method depends on the phone’s manufacturer and the user who is doing it, if anything does not work or if you lose any data on your device, neither the author nor the website is responsible for it.
