Back in the day - rooting Android phones and installing custom ROMs were such a big part of Android. I remember so well using titanium backup and Greenify and Cyanogenmod and the list goes on.
Is it still necessary to root in 2023 though?
I have been on vanilla Android without root access for the past couple of years and at this point most root features have made it into the vanilla Android OS. What are your thoughts?
For me yes, I can tweak my system at my liking, root breaking things is not something that has ever happened to me, all my bank app works without issues and I can’t remember the last time they didn’t.
I run Paranoid Android rooted along with tons of apps that require root acces such as Swift Backup, Adaway, App Manager, BBS, FKM, KonaBess, Pixelifly for Google Photos, Saver Tuner, Revanced, SD Maid, Termux, X-Plore etc.
And some modules like Zygisk, Detach, Pixel Launcher Extended
I know some of those apps doesn’t require root specifically (can work with adb) but for me is just easier to just put Magisk and call it a day.
I been on custom ROMs for years without root. But recently, root has moved from magisk to kernelsu, which is a kernel based root solution. Much better than magisk in terms of avoiding detection and required no extra install if your kernel already supports kernelsu. I’ve started using root features again thanks to kernelsu
What kind of benefits are we talking here… System wide adblock? What kind of security would I be losing, last time I used a custom rom (don’t remember if it was rooted) i lost access to a few payment platforms
Many of them detect unlocked bootloaders. Even when your phone isn’t rooted, you need an unlocked bootloader in order to use a custom rom. The fact that they refuse to work on unlocked bootloaders is insane.
kernelSu doesn’t require you to install or flash anything to get root access if your kernel supports it just install KernelSU app and done you’ll just have to give permission within Kernelsu app apps won’t be able to request or detect root (like we used to get a popup to grant or refuse root access)it also supports magisk modules
If you want to use your phone for a few years it’s very nececary in my experience, they tend to get slow quick and with LineageOS (previously Cyanogenmod) I can still use a Galaxy s5, well I could if half of the hardware wasn’t broken but that’s beside the point. I think ROMs are definitely neccecary but mine isn’t rooted rn and it’s probably debatable if you realky need that, I miss a proper adblocker so I should have rooted mine and probably will sooner or later considering I got Lineage on it already.
blocking ads is as close to “necessary” as it gets for me.
rooting gets harder and harder with new android versions and devices - but it’s been worth it for me every time.
lastly FUCK the app developers trying to block rooted devices, it’s for their (sense of) security, not ours, and it’s sad to see so many people in this thread bullied out of rooting by them
Pixel 6a. That’s why I exclusively use Pixels, they are the only device that offer this. Well, there are a few others but it’s very rare outside of pixels and theirs tends to be very insecure and or outright broken/buggy. Pixels are supported by basically every rom out there.
A lot of the reasons why I used to root simply don’t exist anymore. Personally, I haven’t unlocked the bootloader or installed a custom ROM since maybe Nexus 4. Plus now, as others have said rooting your device makes most financial related apps stop working.
That’s what did it for me. I need to be able to use bank apps, and appreciate the convenience of Google Pay on my Pixel 7 Pro. Can’t do that with a custom rom or root. I loved rom hopping on my older droids, but I guess stock android has all the functionality I need.
Even when I’ve done custom roms like lineqgeOS I haven’t rooted. However when it comes to backing up apps root still does feel like the best way to back up specific app data with apps like swift backup.
I purchased my first Android phone at 13, the Motorola Droid. In less than a month, it was rooted running a custom rom. I rom hopped weekly, tried all sorts of hacks and modifications, and eventually started releasing my own (very crappy) custom roms. I did this all the way through until I had the G6.
I eventually started getting phones where I can unlock the bootloader, and for a bit I would root such as my Essential phone or my Pixel 3a or 4a 5G but since the Pixel 6 I haven’t had any reason for perpetual root. I unlock my bootloader, and I root when needed and remove magisk when no longer needed. The cat and mouse game of trying to bypass detection alone makes it a pain when I have banking, work apps, etc that all validate hardware attestation.
Nice to have control of your own device? absolutely.
I have two devices, primary with root (through Magisk as KernelSU still has some issues for me) and secondary without root. Anytime I have to do something more demanding on the unrooted device I really wish I had root. Local terminal access, ability to disable some annoying “features” (verified app links) and multiple other things I use daily make it worth it for me.
EDIT: I saw mentions of custom roms in other comments. I have a custom rom installed (AOSP based). If I was on a stock rom (or god forbid something like MIUI) root would be a must for me.
Since the proliferation of mobile banking that doesn’t even work if you have your phone rooted and the manufactures getting more hostile towards custom ROM developer I practically have stopped modding my phone altogether. I used to be a guy who flashes ROM couple times a day. However now, especially I’m working remotely, I find myself on my phone even less. My phone has become basically only used for texting, banking, and Uber Eats.
There’s something interesting about mobile banking. I constantly see stories of issues with it on non-stock / unmodified software. The funny thing is that I have never had any issues personally. Until recently my banking app worked even without Magisk’s Denylist (and the most picky app was McDonald’s). Now (since few months) I have to add it to Denylist, but that’s the only requirement, no SafetyNet, no Play Integrity, nothing.
Necessary for me to fix the “bugs” present in Android (Safetynet fix, F-droid & Aurora auto updates etc.) and some from the OEM (flawed camera libs from Xiaomi that unintentionally hamper the use of Gcam).
I’ve never had a phone that hasn’t been rooted and also have always been able to use every app. Google pay might get pissy occasionally, but every banking app has always worked.
I like vanilla Android, but many phone companies has their own version of it with meaningless pre-installed apps. I typically root and install vanilla OS and thats it.
A custom rom isn’t the same as rooting though. I’ve used custom roms without rooting them quite a bit, so my answer to op’s question is that no it really isn’t that essential, unless you need some very specific magisk module or something.
Ah apologies, I have equate rooting same as flashing custom roms, custom roms only requires unlocking the bootloader.
Yes, I also noticed that recently I have little need to root to tweak around the system. But I do use some apps that requires root, and that is the only reason of my continuing doing so.
You're basically playing cat and mouse with these fixes; I don't want to be stuck without access to apps for a day or two, and what I gain isn't that great anyway.
If that is your mindset, you’re definitely better without root. My phone is rooted for three years now and never had any issue. I never had an app fail with my methods to hide Magisk. I even got GPay and contactless payment working when I still had Google services installed. Without them, it is impossible unfortunately.
I ran a Lineage OS on a Mi 5 for 2.5 years, there were definitely some days when my banking app would fail and then Magisk would come up with a fix a few days later. Given the prevalance of digital systems I'm not wanting to go without.
Feel like I'm being attacked for not wanting to root, in a thread asking people whether they root or not. This feels like people being asked if they believe in Jesus and those who say no are swamped by believers who then chastisise them.
Have you tried KernelSU? Also if you’re careful with magisk you can get SafetyNet to work, even Play Integrity API (but only Basic and Device integrity as Strong requires locked bootloader (or a really bad implementation of security mechanisms as seen here))
I don’t root anymore, not since I switched to GrapheneOS. It breaks the Android security model. On GrapheneOS it’s like fortifying a castle and then blowing a wide open hole in the wall. Just didn’t make any sense.
Add comment