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?
I haven’t rooted in a long time. But if you tell me there is an app out there that can restrict or deny apps background usage (to increase deep sleep state %) and that you can only do it with root.
Then I’d say root might be necessary in those situations.
For example WhatsApp is the number one standby battery drainer in my phone. If I check partial wakelocks like 70% of them have the WhatsApp logo. (In BBS app). If I had a way to reduce them by 90% just keeping new messages and call working and root is needed for that then I’d want to root my phone.
I tried “Apps Ops” and it let me deny some of the permission. But maybe there is something more restrictive out there that needs root.
But isn’t Greenify outdated or they still update it?
Another thing I’m thinking: I’m interested in running some adb shell command every few minutes or hours to change the WhatsApp standby bucket from active to working_set that seems to reduce a lot of wakelocks.
Currently my standby (after tweaking for days) is not that bad. Like 0.4% per hour at night using wifi when I go to sleep.
WhatsApp despite of the restrictions I added is still the app with most partial wakelocks.
But generally apps that do something more advanced get outdated every year with new android versions with different permissions and API. This is why I was asking.
But I guess this app has nothing that got impacted.
I still root my phone for Freezing System Apps, reVanced, AdAway(system-wide adblock), Shell automation, circumventing Hotspot restrictions from my Carrier.
I’ve also been a customization junkie before (mainly with audio mods and UI plugins for Exposed). Not anymore.
But since then rooting to me become not only a means to the end, but an essential part of my phone, as in I get to control and choose what and why is installed/active, not the Vendor/Google. I would root my phone even if I didn’t had the need, just cause I like owning things, opposed to modern standard of “everything is a service”.
They require an extra fee to share connection via Wi-Fi.
Essentially, they can detect that your phone sends two types of ttl packets (your own and recipient device’s).
When they detect it, they cut 99% of your connection speed and redirect you to page with “Enable wifi sharing for 1$/day or continue at 60 kb/s”. (airplane mode toggle removes the speed cut-off).
This line is executed at boot by djs magisk plugin. When the default ttl is 63, it’ll match the ttl value of all Linux and Android recipient devices.
But I still haven’t defeated the Windows detection: for a start, Windows ttl is 127, but even if I change it on the recipient PC, my carrier could see windows-related packets and still blocks me out. I even tried the vpn, but that’s still not enough.
Huh, this sounds nice, although I don’t quite understand how to implement it to my scenario, my carrier does not allow hotspot either, that’s why your comment intrigued me, but I am not sure how to achieve this, even when I get the big picture 😅
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))
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.
Necessary is a matter of perspective, and what it is you need your device to do. Mine is that if you don’t have root (or equivalent) on a computer, you don’t really own it. That’s a philosophical point more than a practical one - I’d want root even if I didn’t currently have a use for it.
Practically, here are some things I use root for in 2023:
Advanced charge controller - limit battery charge to extend service life. Some devices have a built-in option now, but it’s usually only a single switch for 85%. I usually set it to 60%.
Backup of apps with their data (Neo Backup), to install onto another device or after a factory reset - I don’t think there’s a way to do anything like this without root.
Mounting remote devices for access by arbitrary apps using EasySSHFS - I don’t think there’s a good equivalent.
Accessing exfat format external drives, like the SD cards in my camera using MiXPlorer’s built-in filesystem drivers. Android is an asshole for not supporting more filesystems. It’s Linux; the support already exists.
Hosts file ad blocking - DNS ad blocking is a viable alternative now.
If something blocks me from using it with root, I’ll give it a 1-star review on Google Play and probably not use it even if I can get around the blocking. If my bank starts using more effective blocking, I will probably change banks.
I buy my phones outright, so that’s MY equipment. I root it because I own it, full stop.
If a ROM or App tells me I can’t be rooted then, like you, I won’t use it. I have options.
Also, I’m the one paying for my data plan and I refuse to have ads leech on my rates. I will go WAY out of my way to suppress advertisers intruding on my browsing. That’s pretty much the extent of my cyber-activism, but it’s a hard line.
Don’t use root but I do use custom rom safety net and play API work no banking app problems no Google play problems and advanced charge controller is built into my rom it even has that Google photo spoof built in it’s not feature rich but it’s clean, fast and I have removed most of the Google bullshit I am satisfied
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.
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
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.
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.
I keep my Android phone rooted because there’s specific functionality that I use daily that’s a pain to do without root.
It’s not my primary phone so the fact that it’s 3 years out of date in order to preserve my root doesn’t bother me. But if it was my primary phone I’d probably look into workarounds to avoid needing root.
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
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’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’ve been a flashaholic since the CWM days, but I haven’t rooted since probably 2017 or so. Back in the day, rooting was practically necessary for a good UX, but Android’s matured enough now that I haven’t had the need for a few years.
Same. I still try to buy phones with ROM support in case something goes sideways, but I haven’t used a custom ROM on my daily phone since 2016 or 2017 — and if I were to flash a custom ROM today, I still likely wouldn’t root it. Things typically work well enough that jumping through hoops to un-break SafetyNet for banking and mobile payments and even some games is too much trouble.
Ah, good old clockwork mod. Back when installing a custom rom was simple. Unlock boot loader, flash custom recovery, use recovery to install rom and wipe, done! None of this a/b partition and “you have to be on this specific version of stock rom to Flash this” crap. Those were the days.
Add comment