If you read Android news or discussion forums online, you are probably familiar with the term “rooting.” If not, keep reading.
On any Linux-based operating system, including Android, the root user is the most privileged user account on the machine and can run code that requires special administrator authorization. The root account is not normally accessible to the user. “Rooting” your Android is a procedure that allows your device to override this limitation and run code as the root user. Once rooted, you can install and use some apps that are not normally possible to use. There are thousands of root apps available, but here is a quick bonus list of my top 8:
Greenify: One flaw of Android compared to iOS is that background apps can seriously drain your battery even when you’re not using them. (iOS deals with background apps in a different way that prevents this issue.) Greenify allows you to freeze these apps and reclaim battery life. If you have a lot of apps installed, you’ll be amazed how much your battery life improves with Greenify.
Titanium Backup: Titanium Backup allows you to back up your apps and data to your SD card. This is useful because you can restore apps much faster from an SD card than from the Google Play Store, something that you need to do each time you install a new custom ROM while rooted. Titanium Backup has been around forever, has good developer support, and has my recommendation.
AdAway: Available from the F-Droid app repository, AdAway blocks all ads on your device. This includes ads on web pages and inside apps. It is an absolute must-have.
ROM Toolbox Pro: This app gives you several important root utilities, such as reboot to recovery and a build.prop editor. You’ll eventually want or need to do these things if you root, and ROM Toolbox Pro is a great way to do them.
BetterBatteryStats: This app has unparalleled power to help you figure out the source of unknown battery drain by reporting kernel wake locks and partial wake locks. It has a steep learning curve, but once you figure out how to use it (start by Googling), you will be glad you did. Of course, if you’re using Greenify, you should rarely need BetterBatteryStats.
WiFi Tether Router: In the past, many custom ROMs came with the TrevE WiFi package installed, but that app has not been updated in some time and does not work on many newer KitKat devices. WiFi Tether Router, available on the Google Play Store, allows you to tether your device’s cellular connection without counting against your hotspot plan. In fact, you can even tether without paying for a hotspot plan at all. Of course, you should be aware that this might violate the terms of your contract.
Tasker: Tasker is a unique and super-powerful app. It lets you program your Android to do complex tasks in the background without your intervention. For example, you can have your Android start playing music any time it connects to your car’s Bluetooth stereo, or disable the lock screen anytime you’re on your home Wi-Fi network. The learning curve is even steeper than that of BetterBatteryStats, but the time investment is well worth it. To speed up the process, use Google to find Tasker tutorials.
Xposed Framework: Many root apps come in the form of Xposed plugins rather than standalone apps. You will need the Xposed Framework installed to take advantage of these plugins. I suggest installing it immediately after rooting if your custom ROM does not already include it.
