Should You Root an Android Smartphone? Pros & Cons

Android smartphone forums on the internet are filled with rooting tutorials. While rooting can be useful in unlocking some cool features, it is not for everyone. This process is very useful for app developers. But you don’t really need a rooted device to get most out of it. So, To Root or Not to Root? Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of rooting an Android phone. Read more to find Should You Root an Android Smartphone? Pros & Cons

Should You Root an Android Smartphone Pros & Cons

An Android smartphone is designed for both commercial and private use. Usually, most devices are shipped with certain limitations. Several features are disabled for future use. This is done to prevent users from causing any unintentional damage to the operating system.

Rooting a device removes these limitations. This process offers full access to the Android operating system. You get extra control over your smartphone settings and features. Many apps also use rooting process to alter the performance of your device. While you can access the root of your operating system and make any changes you like, it doesn’t mean you should. So, should You Root an Android Smartphone? Let’s take a look at some Pros & Cons:

Rooting Your Android Smartphone: Pros

  • Rooting your smartphone allows you to run certain apps that it cannot run otherwise.
  • You can also remove all the unnecessary pre-installed apps from your device.
  • This allows you to free up storage space on your Android handset. You can easily move all the apps to your SD card to free up system memory. This helps in improving your smartphone’s performance.
  • Custom ROMs: This is the most common reason for rooting Android devices. The internet is buzzing with many custom ROMs can make your smartphone work wonders. You can use custom ROMs to completely change the look of your phone or to improve up the processing speed. Rooting allows you to flash your ROMs with custom programs.

Also read: The Best Productivity Apps For Android

Rooting Your Android Smartphone: Cons

  • Once you root an Android device, it’s warranty is immediately voided. Rooted smartphones cannot be serviced under warranty.
  • Permanent Damage: If the rooting process goes wrong at any point, you might end up bricking your phone. A bricked phone is completely unusable.
  • Adding new features might also lead to poor performance. The default operating system is tested and tuned for optimal usage. Messing with it to add new features might cause a performance drop.
  • You might also loose some good features.
  • Viruses and Malware: Rooted devices are more susceptible to malware and harmful viruses. While all smartphones can get viruses, the rooting process allows you to make unsafe changes to your operating system. Making changes to the software code makes it more open to the risk of viruses.

Also read: How To Customize Your Android Smartphone Look Safely

Summary

While the idea of complete control is very tempting, it also comes with added responsibility. You don’t to permanently freeze your device due to a small mistake. Don’t rush the decision to root your Android smartphone. Make sure you know what you are doing. Have you successfully rooted a smartphone? Let us know in the comments section below.

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