10. Unlock Hidden Features and
Install "Incompatible" Apps
Sometimes, even Android isn't open enough
to give you some of the features you want.
Either an app is blocked by carriers, hacks
into Android's system files, or otherwise
isn't available. Luckily, rooting can help
with that: you can install carrier-blocked
apps , get features from the latest version of
Android , make incompatible apps
compatible , power up your hardware , get
features like Beats Audio from other
phones, or emulate exclusive features like
those on the Moto X . Whatever you want,
rooting gives you the power to do a lot
more.
9. Automate Everything
You've probably heard of Tasker, the
awesome app that automates just about
anything on your phone. You don't need to
root your phone to use it, but if you're
rooted, it can do a whole lot more. Certain
tasks, like toggling 3G, GPS, changing CPU
speed, turning the screen on, and others
require root access. So, if you want to get
the full benefit of an app like Tasker, you'll
definitely want to root your phone. For
more automation inspiration, check out
your best Tasker actions, as well as our
most recently featured Tasker tricks.
8. Boost Your Phone's Speed and
Battery Life
You can do a lot of things to speed up your
phone and boost its battery life without
rooting, but with root—as always—you
have even more power. For example, with
an app like SetCPU you can overclock your
phone for better performance, or
underclock it for better battery life. You can
also use an app like Greenify to
automatically hibernate apps you aren't
using—perfect for those apps that always
want to run in the background when you're
not looking.
7. Block Ads in Any App
Look, we of all people understand the need
for occasional ads—it's how we make
money. But ads can also get in the way and
use up data. If you want to block ads in
certain apps or on certain devices, rooting is
by far the best way to do so. AdFree,
AdBlock Plus , and Ad Away are all great
options. Of course, if you aren't rooted,
going into airplane mode works in a pinch
too.
6. Back Up Your Phone for Seamless
Transitions
When you move to a new Android device—
or restore your device to stock for any
reason—you can make your life a lot easier
by backing up your apps and settings first.
That way, you can get your entire setup
back in just a few taps. If you aren't rooted,
you can back up a few things like apps and
data, but you won't necessarily be able to
backup system apps and their data, or
automate the entire process as well as
Titanium Backup can. Check out our guide
to Titanium Backup for more tips.
5. Remove Preinstalled Crapware
Titanium Backup is good for more than just
backups, too. It can also uninstall that
annoying, battery-draining, space-wasting
crapware that comes preinstalled on so
many phones these days—and, sadly, this
feature is root-only . Freeze them first to
make sure your phone operates normally
without them, then delete them completely
to free up that space. You'll be glad you did.
Photo by Daniel Sancho.
4. Tweak the Dark Corners of Android
If you're the kind of person that likes to
fiddle with every little feature—both on the
surface and under the hood—rooting is for
you. Whether you want to customize your
keyboard layout with something like
Keyboard Manager or give yourself faster
scrolling, improved multitasking, and extra
themes with Pimp My ROM , rooting gives
you the power to tweak just about any
corner you can think of. If you want to do
it, chances are someone over on a forum
like XDA has created a mini-app or tweak
that will help.
3. Flash a Custom Kernel
Some of Android's most under-the-hood
tweaks require a custom kernel, which you
can only flash with a rooted device. The
kernel is responsible for helping your apps
communicate with the hardware of your
phone, which means a custom kernel can
give you better performance, battery life,
and even extra features like Wi-Fi tethering
(on unsupported phones), faster battery
charging, and lots more. You can flash
kernels manually or simplify the process
with something like Kernel Manager .
2. Flash a Custom ROM
Okay, so you probably already know about
this one—but it's one of the best benefits of
rooting. A custom ROM is basically a custom
version of Android, and it truly changes
how you use your phone . Some merely
bring a stock version of Android to non-
stock phones, or later versions of Android
to phones that don't have it yet. Some add a
few handy features, some add lots of really
unique features, and some change your
operating system from head to toe . No
matter what phone you have— even if it's a
Nexus —we highly recommend checking out
the custom ROMs out there. You won't be
disappointed. Note: As some of you have
noted, you don't actually need root access to
flash a custom ROM—though you will need
to unlock your bootloader (a process that
sometimes comes bundled with root access).
Still, it requires freeing your device from
manufacturer lockdowns, so we've kept it in
the list despite this technicality!
1. Truly Own Your Device
In the end, all of this boils down to one
thing: you own your device, and you should
be able to do with it as you please. Certain
manufacturers and carriers try to keep that
from happening, but with root access, you
truly own your device and open yourself up
to all the possibilities other parties try to
block
Install "Incompatible" Apps
Sometimes, even Android isn't open enough
to give you some of the features you want.
Either an app is blocked by carriers, hacks
into Android's system files, or otherwise
isn't available. Luckily, rooting can help
with that: you can install carrier-blocked
apps , get features from the latest version of
Android , make incompatible apps
compatible , power up your hardware , get
features like Beats Audio from other
phones, or emulate exclusive features like
those on the Moto X . Whatever you want,
rooting gives you the power to do a lot
more.
9. Automate Everything
You've probably heard of Tasker, the
awesome app that automates just about
anything on your phone. You don't need to
root your phone to use it, but if you're
rooted, it can do a whole lot more. Certain
tasks, like toggling 3G, GPS, changing CPU
speed, turning the screen on, and others
require root access. So, if you want to get
the full benefit of an app like Tasker, you'll
definitely want to root your phone. For
more automation inspiration, check out
your best Tasker actions, as well as our
most recently featured Tasker tricks.
8. Boost Your Phone's Speed and
Battery Life
You can do a lot of things to speed up your
phone and boost its battery life without
rooting, but with root—as always—you
have even more power. For example, with
an app like SetCPU you can overclock your
phone for better performance, or
underclock it for better battery life. You can
also use an app like Greenify to
automatically hibernate apps you aren't
using—perfect for those apps that always
want to run in the background when you're
not looking.
7. Block Ads in Any App
Look, we of all people understand the need
for occasional ads—it's how we make
money. But ads can also get in the way and
use up data. If you want to block ads in
certain apps or on certain devices, rooting is
by far the best way to do so. AdFree,
AdBlock Plus , and Ad Away are all great
options. Of course, if you aren't rooted,
going into airplane mode works in a pinch
too.
6. Back Up Your Phone for Seamless
Transitions
When you move to a new Android device—
or restore your device to stock for any
reason—you can make your life a lot easier
by backing up your apps and settings first.
That way, you can get your entire setup
back in just a few taps. If you aren't rooted,
you can back up a few things like apps and
data, but you won't necessarily be able to
backup system apps and their data, or
automate the entire process as well as
Titanium Backup can. Check out our guide
to Titanium Backup for more tips.
5. Remove Preinstalled Crapware
Titanium Backup is good for more than just
backups, too. It can also uninstall that
annoying, battery-draining, space-wasting
crapware that comes preinstalled on so
many phones these days—and, sadly, this
feature is root-only . Freeze them first to
make sure your phone operates normally
without them, then delete them completely
to free up that space. You'll be glad you did.
Photo by Daniel Sancho.
4. Tweak the Dark Corners of Android
If you're the kind of person that likes to
fiddle with every little feature—both on the
surface and under the hood—rooting is for
you. Whether you want to customize your
keyboard layout with something like
Keyboard Manager or give yourself faster
scrolling, improved multitasking, and extra
themes with Pimp My ROM , rooting gives
you the power to tweak just about any
corner you can think of. If you want to do
it, chances are someone over on a forum
like XDA has created a mini-app or tweak
that will help.
3. Flash a Custom Kernel
Some of Android's most under-the-hood
tweaks require a custom kernel, which you
can only flash with a rooted device. The
kernel is responsible for helping your apps
communicate with the hardware of your
phone, which means a custom kernel can
give you better performance, battery life,
and even extra features like Wi-Fi tethering
(on unsupported phones), faster battery
charging, and lots more. You can flash
kernels manually or simplify the process
with something like Kernel Manager .
2. Flash a Custom ROM
Okay, so you probably already know about
this one—but it's one of the best benefits of
rooting. A custom ROM is basically a custom
version of Android, and it truly changes
how you use your phone . Some merely
bring a stock version of Android to non-
stock phones, or later versions of Android
to phones that don't have it yet. Some add a
few handy features, some add lots of really
unique features, and some change your
operating system from head to toe . No
matter what phone you have— even if it's a
Nexus —we highly recommend checking out
the custom ROMs out there. You won't be
disappointed. Note: As some of you have
noted, you don't actually need root access to
flash a custom ROM—though you will need
to unlock your bootloader (a process that
sometimes comes bundled with root access).
Still, it requires freeing your device from
manufacturer lockdowns, so we've kept it in
the list despite this technicality!
1. Truly Own Your Device
In the end, all of this boils down to one
thing: you own your device, and you should
be able to do with it as you please. Certain
manufacturers and carriers try to keep that
from happening, but with root access, you
truly own your device and open yourself up
to all the possibilities other parties try to
block
