Once z4root has been launched, you are half-way finished. After it is installed, launch z4root from your app tray open it up from your launcher:
Once it has been downloaded, use a file manager to navigate to the APK installer (it will probably be in the download folder) and install z4root. Now that your phone allows sideloading, download z4root onto your phone. To remove this restriction, try rooting with SuperOneClick, Framaroot, or device-specific rooting below.) (If it’s greyed out, that means that your carrier has decided to be mean and block sideloading. To do this, go to Menu > Settings > Applications (or Security) and check “Unknown Sources”.
( If you have above Android 2.2, skip down below to SuperOneClick, Framaroot, or device-specific rooting.)įirst, you’ll need to make sure that non-Market app installs are allowed this is called sideloading apps. Have Android 2.2 Froyo or below? That means you can root your phone, from the convenient location of your phone! All you’ll need is a small bit of time. However some programs, like SuperOneClick, have managed to get fairly close to the end goal of a universal rooting program, and some others, like z4root, even allow rooting from the comfort of your hand (no computer required). As such, it is extremely difficult to make one rooting program work on all devices.
Unlike iOS or WebOS, which are made exclusively by one company and only have a few software releases, Android has thousands dozens (maybe hundreds) of devices and many different software versions. Table of Contentsĭo you like HTC’s Sense skin? What about Motoblur? More like Motoblah! By rooting your Android device, you can get more customizability along with more apps.Īndroid is a unique beast among mobile OSes. If you brick your device and come whine here, Ashraf will probably laugh at you. Locutus, Ashraf, dotTech and anyone else except yourself are not responsible for any gain, loss, or harm done to you, your device, or your data. By proceeding below and rooting/jailbreaking/homebrewing your device, you recognize and accept the risks of these processes. Although the art of rooting, jailbreaking, and homebrewing has been been turned into a science, all after-market software modifications have the risk of bricking your device. Take note although rooting is 100% legal, it may void your warranty.ĭisclaimer: Please proceed with caution. Due to the thousands dozens of devices available, there are dozens and dozens of rooting methods however, there are also some rooters that are fairly universal. This lets you do things like block ads, remove/freeze bloatware, use a firewall, and much more.
Rooting, which is for Android devices, allows you to modify crucial system files that would otherwise be locked away. (Jailbreaking is 100% legal, although pirating apps is not!)
Although Apple tries hard to not let people jailbreak, the worst they can do is void your warranty and rest assured, Apple will void your warranty if you jailbreak. You can add a fifth (or sixth, or seventh) icon to your dock you can make the entire system bright red. Jailbreaking, on iOS devices, allows you to install apps, tweaks, and themes that Apple hasn’t approved. Free it with one of several free tools for iOS, Android, Windows RT, and webOS! Other times, it can be bogged down by needless bloatware and other cruft. Is your phone feeling a bit boring? Does your tablet need more customization? Sometimes, your devices don’t feel personal enough.