Database Develop

need some help with root and questions

so i never wanted to root until i tasted what the stock froyo can do.
and it's been over a month or so and i am wondering if i should root or not.
mainly came to xda-developers for firmware updates and just some general information about phones never really read into about rooting and whatnots.
i really want a smooth experience with android and while 2.2 is indeed faster than 2.1, i'm still not quite satisfied.
so i'm wondering if rooting will boost speed performances. like smoother scroll, opening apps faster and hopefully a better music player. the custom themes are nice but performance and functionality is my thing and priority.
or should i be waiting for 3.0?

In all honesty root your nexus. I had mine since February and only rooted my nexus two weeks ago.
I had the same doubts of what would rooting give me over eclair and then froyo but after rooting and putting on a custom rom i am kicking myself for not doing it sooner.
My phone is rooted with a locked bootloader so i don't have to worry about that unlock padlock when powering up my phone. I get too use rooted apps and best of all the different roms. I was going to wait for google with each update new features being added, but it takes too long. With the custom roms they have features that should have been in the stock release like waking up the phone with the trackball and other trackball colors beside white, different customizations to your liking and speed increases.
Today it is even easier to root your nexus one then when it first came out. Since putting a new rom on my phone it feels like i have a new phone all over again without the cost and contract obligations.
Give it a try and see if you like it if not you can always unroot and go back to the stock rom. But keep in mind before you root and start tinkering with your phone read up as much as you can beforehand so you are sure you know what you are doing.
Best of luck.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

Rooting NIGHTMARES!

Hi all,
So my Nexus 4 arrived today and I'm umming and ahhing as to root or not.
I've heard all the good things about doing it but I'm interested in peoples rooting nightmares. What's gone wrong? When have you wanted to throw your phone out the window?
Look forward to reading!

noahdev said:
Hi all,
So my Nexus 4 arrived today and I'm umming and ahhing as to root or not.
I've heard all the good things about doing it but I'm interested in peoples rooting nightmares. What's gone wrong? When have you wanted to throw your phone out the window?
Look forward to reading!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It really takes a tremendous effort to screw it up, it really does.
Cliff's Notes/summary, not an actual guide:
1. Learn to do it the old fashioned (and easiest way) by installing the drivers and using fastboot.
2. fastboot oem unlock
3. fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
4. flash your SU binaries zip
5. b00m!

CMNein said:
It really takes a tremendous effort to screw it up, it really does.
Cliff's Notes/summary, not an actual guide:
1. Learn to do it the old fashioned (and easiest way) by installing the drivers and using fastboot.
2. fastboot oem unlock
3. fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
4. flash your SU binaries zip
5. b00m!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In that case I'll lower my requirements. Anyone done it and thought 'You know what, I prefer the stock experience.'?

noahdev said:
In that case I'll lower my requirements. Anyone done it and thought 'You know what, I prefer the stock experience.'?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes actually. I thought rooting it was great and all, even went for custom kernels. The thing is, when you get all the updates that Google provides on a near instant basis, there is no need to root and rom your phone. Also, I feel like it doesn't provide too much extra for the experience. On a side note, when I had an HTC Sensation, I would root and rom just to get the newest and greatest from Google.
Your choice, but I like getting OTA's and don't run any SU apps.

Drebin 894 said:
Yes actually. I thought rooting it was great and all, even went for custom kernels. The thing is, when you get all the updates that Google provides on a near instant basis, there is no need to root and rom your phone. Also, I feel like it doesn't provide too much extra for the experience. On a side note, when I had an HTC Sensation, I would root and rom just to get the newest and greatest from Google.
Your choice, but I like getting OTA's and don't run any SU apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting means you are:
- able to make nandroid and Titanium Backups
- run a good custom kernel for color and sound control, better batterylife and performance and lower cpu temperatures
- install adblockers and other usefull apps.
If these aren`t improvements i don`t know what is and you might as well buy an iPhone for stock xperience, just my 2 cents.
BTW: @OP: rooting nightmares only occur with mis and badly informed users.

gee2012 said:
Rooting means you are:
- able to make nandroid and Titanium Backups
- run a good custom kernel for color and sound control, better batterylife and performance and lower cpu temperatures
- install adblockers and other usefull apps.
If these aren`t improvements i don`t know what is and you might as well buy an iPhone for stock xperience, just my 2 cents.
BTW: @OP: rooting nightmares only occur with mis and badly informed users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but I feel like I don't need them on my phone. I don't need to back up apps as I am not switching roms, I like getting the OTA updates, and I don't care about ads on mobile because I never see them anyway, either through paid apps or little browsing.

Drebin 894 said:
Yes, but I feel like I don't need them on my phone. I don't need to back up apps as I am not switching roms, I like getting the OTA updates, and I don't care about ads on mobile because I never see them anyway, either through paid apps or little browsing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too each his own bro

I fully agree to each his own but if you do not see the advantages and personalization rooti g gives you then most likelyyou are the type tthat is satisfied with what you get. For me T9 calling alone is worth it, adjusting scree colors, raising the sound level,showing actual dBm signal strength, removal of all apps I don't want that were preloaded, darker ui experience. Now if you never try this then you wont miss it but its not lime you can't root it then unroot if you are not happy.
Bottom line updates will come the same day here whether rooted or not and these updates can also come with goodies...
Edit: Also lets be honest in a forum of 100.000's of members and rooter you will find maybe a few hundred or so that may have an issue and most of them I guarantee you was because of them not following directions properly. Thats what makes for rooting nightmares. Remember even non rooters from time to time have to restore their phones for one crazy reason or another. Now you have to restore back to 1 year ago when you first got the phone...SMH

I am having some trouble rooting and puting a custom recovery on my new Nexus 4, I unlocked the bootloader, and flashed the custom recovery through fastboot, but its not sticking, I don't know whats wrong.

UNless youir getting deadlocks letting your phone charge overnight, I would stay on stock.
CM is great, but there are just always broken things and bugs that will eventaully piss you off when you want to do something.

noahdev said:
Hi all,
What's gone wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Absolutely nothing, except for the very slight inconvenience of having to re-root or re-install TWRP after doing an Android operating system OTA update. Not only that, but I now have several "root only" apps that I needed, I have full access to the Linux command line programs which I use, and I am learning a lot about the Android OS lower level stuff. For me anyway, I really have no desire to install custom ROMS, as stock rooted Android does everything I want it to do.

There are stock based custom roms with CM type customization's... Again unless you have tried a stock customized rom with advancements you should not be judging. Also you don't have to use each cutsomization you can actually leave it stock and only use 1 or 2 custom items. Check out PSX 4.1 bone stock with a handful of customizations

There is really only one thing that annoys me about stock and that is the oversized Nav bottons. I just wished they made them smaller or gave us the otion to change the size. This is available on custom Roms and gives you more screen real-estate which definitley makes a difference.
That is one thing that keeps pulling me to custom Roms. I was running AOKP which seemed to run pretty good. I restored my phone back to stock because I thought I was having an issue with the notification light but then saw it just needed an app to make it work the way I was expecting it to.
So I have my phone rooted on stock 4.3 right now and I just wish I can make those Nav bars smaller! There are definitley cool features on some of the custom Roms though and it most certaintly can enhance your experience.

If ur not using the toolkit, then you should be.. If ur using and still manage to screw things, you should leave ur phone stock... The toolkits are already noob proof..
Connect phone to PC
Unlock boot loader
Root
Install recovery
Install ROM....
Its all 1 click each or some toolkits does it all in 1 click...
Rooted and running Paranoid Android + franco.kernel

my nightmare came from me going to fast... i missed a step and screwed up my phone...
i was able to get a stock image and reflash it, but it was a grueling 2 hours with a soft-bricked phone.
read all the stuff you can, and don't rush it.

Lucke said:
my nightmare came from me going to fast... i missed a step and screwed up my phone...
i was able to get a stock image and reflash it, but it was a grueling 2 hours with a soft-bricked phone.
read all the stuff you can, and don't rush it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please don't take this the wrong way... but you being the only person with a real horror story is quite comforting!

noahdev said:
Please don't take this the wrong way... but you being the only person with a real horror story is quite comforting!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no offense taken thats what i get for trying to root it while at work dealing with an Exchange upgrade

You can't really screw up a nexus device. It's not like Samsung where you hard flash the wrong version for the wrong phone and end up with a paperweight. If you mess up with nexus you can always return back
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

My last nightmare with rooting was from htc desire hd, lots of bullcrap to be done, lots of s**t pre requisite..goldcard, emmc etc., ugh gives me headaches for days :/

Just use wugfresh toolkit and its a breeze
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

Few Questions

Hey Guys,
So I'm fairly familiar with XDA as I tested out an HTC One, an S4, and a Moto X all within the past few months and came here for all things root/ROM-related. However, I'm now back with a few questions regarding my new Note 3.
1. I'm still not entirely convinced that both rooting and ROMing are the way to go with the Note 3 with all the skepticism floating around. With that being said, I'm probably not even going to root until there's an extremely safe way to do it. Does anyone have any thoughts on this that oppose mine? The main motive for rooting is to eliminate bloatware and maximize performance without ROMing.
2. As of right now, I'm running 4.3 with Apex launcher, but unless I'm missing something, there's no way to customize my lock screen with the same icons and theme as my home screen. Is this normal? If so, how can I change this?
I apologize if this is all common knowledge as I'm still new to Android (coming from the fruit company).
Thanks in advance.

funxion said:
Hey Guys,
So I'm fairly familiar with XDA as I tested out an HTC One, an S4, and a Moto X all within the past few months and came here for all things root/ROM-related. However, I'm now back with a few questions regarding my new Note 3.
1. I'm still not entirely convinced that both rooting and ROMing are the way to go with the Note 3 with all the skepticism floating around. With that being said, I'm probably not even going to root until there's an extremely safe way to do it. Does anyone have any thoughts on this that oppose mine? The main motive for rooting is to eliminate bloatware and maximize performance without ROMing.
2. As of right now, I'm running 4.3 with Apex launcher, but unless I'm missing something, there's no way to customize my lock screen with the same icons and theme as my home screen. Is this normal? If so, how can I change this?
I apologize if this is all common knowledge as I'm still new to Android (coming from the fruit company).
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey welcome to the boards. To answer your questions;
1) Root De La Vega is actually extremely safe. We have a solid unbrick method & our root doesnt trip warranty counters. We also have a method to return to 100% stock.
2) Nope cant change the lockscreen as its tied to TW framework. You can download a third party lock screen though and see if that help but Apex, Nova etc are launcher only
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Whether to root my Nexus 6? been on the fence for a while

I never rooted / jailbroke any previous devices but can't make up my mind on whether to do it with my N6.
I primarily never fiddled with rooting / jailbreaking in the past because of all the warranty issues in addition to pretty much any device-related product / app usually saying "you're on your own" to customers with rooted or jailbroken devices.
Not a huge issue for me now, as my phone's warranty was voided when I had to send it in for "repairs" after it broke (ie got a replacement phone in exchange for my broken one from motorola).
I'm incredibly intrigued by the countless perks that come with rooting such as customization, permissions, turning off encryption, and so on. However, I love my phone the way it currently is, and as a result am a bit hesitant to set it all up again / risk messing something up since I would need to learn how to do it (ie read one of the many useful guides on these forums).
Besides having better control over every part of the phone, the other main appeal of rooting for me is being able to get rid of the AT&T bloatwear on the phone. I absolutely hate AT&T and would love to rid myself of their presence in my life, even if just by a small amount.
So the issue is:
currently very content with my non-rooted N6 vs. love customizing / controlling everything on my device and hate AT&T with a burning passion, but would have to spend ample time learning how to properly root the phone / set everything up.
If anyone has any opinions I'm all ears. Do you know of a reason I should definitely not root the device that I'm unaware of? Did rooting your phone make your experience with your device so much better that you wouldn't even consider going back to a non-rooted device?
Opinions / thoughts are welcomed as I am pretty much just thinking out loud with this thread anyways :laugh:

Hard part is getting drivers installed but there is an all in one tool kit that does it all for you. Stalk lollipop is missing lots of key features like kill all apps button, and free hot spot. Roms fix this also having all volume sliders is great.

phallb said:
I never rooted / jailbroke any previous devices but can't make up my mind on whether to do it with my N6.
I primarily never fiddled with rooting / jailbreaking in the past because of all the warranty issues in addition to pretty much any device-related product / app usually saying "you're on your own" to customers with rooted or jailbroken devices.
Not a huge issue for me now, as my phone's warranty was voided when I had to send it in for "repairs" after it broke (ie got a replacement phone in exchange for my broken one from motorola).
I'm incredibly intrigued by the countless perks that come with rooting such as customization, permissions, turning off encryption, and so on. However, I love my phone the way it currently is, and as a result am a bit hesitant to set it all up again / risk messing something up since I would need to learn how to do it (ie read one of the many useful guides on these forums).
Besides having better control over every part of the phone, the other main appeal of rooting for me is being able to get rid of the AT&T bloatwear on the phone. I absolutely hate AT&T and would love to rid myself of their presence in my life, even if just by a small amount.
So the issue is:
currently very content with my non-rooted N6 vs. love customizing / controlling everything on my device and hate AT&T with a burning passion, but would have to spend ample time learning how to properly root the phone / set everything up.
If anyone has any opinions I'm all ears. Do you know of a reason I should definitely not root the device that I'm unaware of? Did rooting your phone make your experience with your device so much better that you wouldn't even consider going back to a non-rooted device?
Opinions / thoughts are welcomed as I am pretty much just thinking out loud with this thread anyways :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reasons i rooted.
1. titanium backup
2. MCR Control (Reverse order of nav buttons. my thumb is too short for back button and i use one handed)
(double tap to wake)
(battery percent in notif bar)
3. Notification light (light flow enables it)
4. Cabinet beta or root browswer
I might be missing something... but those things benefit me on the daily.

this thread should go into the help/q&a section, not into general..
edit.. it got moved to the right place

Read every post on rooting and watch every video at least two times. Download all files to a folder on your desktop ask all the questions you need to ask then jump in. A phone with an unlocked boot loader is the best place to start rooting. If your phone boot loops cause you messed something up don't worry you can come back from that.

lngwca said:
Reasons i rooted.
1. titanium backup
2. MCR Control (Reverse order of nav buttons. my thumb is too short for back button and i use one handed)
(double tap to wake)
(battery percent in notif bar)
3. Notification light (light flow enables it)
4. Cabinet beta or root browswer
I might be missing something... but those things benefit me on the daily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I think I already bought that app months ago on accident haha maybe I can finally use it if I root.
2. left handed here, didn't even realize how much of an issue it would be if the button was on the other side, that would be a must if I was right handed lol. Also double tap to wake is something I would love to have.
3. I miss that ittle light, then I saw the LED light when I dropped my first N6 and the screen shattered..not how I wanted to be reunited with it lol. Wouldn't mind seeing it without having to shatter my screen :laugh:
all very helpful, thanks!
bulvine420 said:
Hard part is getting drivers installed but there is an all in one tool kit that does it all for you. Stalk lollipop is missing lots of key features like kill all apps button, and free hot spot. Roms fix this also having all volume sliders is great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
volume sliders is pretty high up there on the list of reasons I am so tempted to undertake the project of learning how to root. From what I've read so far it seems there are two methods for rooting that most people use, one of which is the all in one tool kit you mentioned? I'll have to check it out in more detail.
bulvine420 said:
Read every post on rooting and watch every video at least two times. Download all files to a folder on your desktop ask all the questions you need to ask then jump in. A phone with an unlocked boot loader is the best place to start rooting. If your phone boot loops cause you messed something up don't worry you can come back from that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that would be the plan if I end up rooting. When it comes to tech I get fairly OCD about knowing it all before I start fiddling with something. I've irreversibly broken enough programs / gadgets in my time to know that the slow and studious approach always wins
planning on going through the guides and videos on these forums with a fine-tooth comb once I've had more coffee lol.

phallb said:
I never rooted / jailbroke any previous devices but can't make up my mind on whether to do it with my N6.
I primarily never fiddled with rooting / jailbreaking in the past because of all the warranty issues in addition to pretty much any device-related product / app usually saying "you're on your own" to customers with rooted or jailbroken devices.
Not a huge issue for me now, as my phone's warranty was voided when I had to send it in for "repairs" after it broke (ie got a replacement phone in exchange for my broken one from motorola).
I'm incredibly intrigued by the countless perks that come with rooting such as customization, permissions, turning off encryption, and so on. However, I love my phone the way it currently is, and as a result am a bit hesitant to set it all up again / risk messing something up since I would need to learn how to do it (ie read one of the many useful guides on these forums).
Besides having better control over every part of the phone, the other main appeal of rooting for me is being able to get rid of the AT&T bloatwear on the phone. I absolutely hate AT&T and would love to rid myself of their presence in my life, even if just by a small amount.
So the issue is:
currently very content with my non-rooted N6 vs. love customizing / controlling everything on my device and hate AT&T with a burning passion, but would have to spend ample time learning how to properly root the phone / set everything up.
If anyone has any opinions I'm all ears. Do you know of a reason I should definitely not root the device that I'm unaware of? Did rooting your phone make your experience with your device so much better that you wouldn't even consider going back to a non-rooted device?
Opinions / thoughts are welcomed as I am pretty much just thinking out loud with this thread anyways :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have made your mind up already, if you on the fence, your ready to root!
Read http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/how-to-nexus-6-one-beginners-guide-t2948481 and this http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/guide-flash-factory-images-nexus-6shamu-t2954008
Download one of the adb/fastboot lite zips, I will look for one for you (try this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=42407269#post42407269), it just loads whet you need. Then make sure you can connect to your phone, read the 2 links and after some minor settings to your phone, plug it into your PC, go to the dir you dl'ed adb/fastboot to and do "fastboot devices" if you see your device your ready to go. It may not be as easy as that, but its a 1x setup and sometimes it is that easy. Don't use an "all-in-one" tool, you won't learn anything and when you need to know exactly what step to do and you can't use a tool, you will be stuck, its not that complex.
Unlock; you will have to set everything up again, sorry. But if your gonna un-encrypt, do it now. Then root and flash a custom recovery, TWRP. Once you have that setup, boot into the recovery and do a backup. Boom, you can always flash that and your back to where you were. Now try some roms, I'm partial to BlissPop, so many features its insane, I'm also partial to Lean kernel, but Franco is great, but try em out. Flash the Rom/Kernel, you don't like it, restore your backup and your ready to start again.
If your on this site, your hooked, just do it and you won't be sorry, well you may get hooked and become a crack rom'er.

Ehem, crack. Flasher.

I have owned a LOT of phones. I used to root all of them. I haven't bothered with the N6. Just no need for me with 5/L.
I have also found that many times rooting has had adverse affects on the device that outweigh any benefits. Just me though.

thepolishguy said:
I have owned a LOT of phones. I used to root all of them. I haven't bothered with the N6. Just no need for me with 5/L.
I have also found that many times rooting has had adverse affects on the device that outweigh any benefits. Just me though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel the same way. I owned a galaxy nexus. I was a notorious crack flasher and ultimately in the end the device stopped turning on. Being that lollipop is incredibly buggy, I'm going to stay away from flashing.

I've never rooted before myself until now on the n6 and I really can't go back to no root. For me it was mainly for adaway, greenify, and titanium backup. But now that I've used them I don't care much for greenify and titanium, but adaway alone is worth it. I also discovered the super awesome LMT pie plus removing the soft keys, that's one mod I can't live without now.

Seiga said:
Being that lollipop is incredibly buggy, I'm going to stay away from flashing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would think this would be one of the reasons TO flash.
Sent from my SinLess Shamu

jackpollard said:
You have made your mind up already, if you on the fence, your ready to root!
If your on this site, your hooked, just do it and you won't be sorry, well you may get hooked and become a crack rom'er.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I stumbled upon this site from another.. Once I started reading and seeing what could be done and more reading, I had to try it. I love the ease at which it was rooted; thank you Chainfire... The tricks it does are amazing. :good:

thanks everyone, as some have guessed I think I'm leaning towards rooting at this point. Just need to read up so I know what I'm doing and then find the time to sit down and do it.
All of your feedback and personal experiences / suggestions is really helpful since I'm so new to this topic (rooting and all it entails). Please feel free to keep the opinions, favorite apps / features / why you root or dont root, etc coming.

I've decided not to root at this time, maybe down the road though I'm sure I will. Being on Sprint, my previous phones were the Hero, Evo 4G and then the Note 2, I found myself rooted and running roms soon after buying the phones. My only problem(if it was a problem) I was bored of Sense and Touchwiz rather quickly and loaded up aosp roms within a month or two of owning the phones. Hence why I now have the Nexus 6.
It'll be nice for awhile to not worry about small bugs with my phone, changing kernels, setups.... not that anything runs without bugs but at least I won't worry about it as much.
But if you're interested in having complete control over the phone, I would root asap!!
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Benefit of Rooting and Unlocking Questionable on Urbane?

Hi,
i am very curious. I've just ordered this watch for an alltime low price on a local store in germany and will have the unit tomorrow or friday.
I am quite experienced with custom roms, rooting and modding several smartphones but having a look in this forum especially the rom development section, there's really nothing much to see there except one or two kernels.
So what's the benefit, are there any apps which requires me to have the watch rooted or is there any thing i am missing out there?
What do you think?
Cheers.

endrancer said:
Hi,
i am very curious. I've just ordered this watch for an alltime low price on a local store in germany and will have the unit tomorrow or friday.
I am quite experienced with custom roms, rooting and modding several smartphones but having a look in this forum especially the rom development section, there's really nothing much to see there except one or two kernels.
So what's the benefit, are there any apps which requires me to have the watch rooted or is there any thing i am missing out there?
What do you think?
Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I first got mine a couple of months ago, I rooted and installed the custom kernel pretty much automatically because I always root and mod my phones and I assumed that I would want total control over the system on the watch, too. It went fine, and it was fun to learn about Wear. The kernel definitely improved battery life substantially. With respect to UX modifications, there isn't much that requires root beyond uninstalling bloatwear, which, for me, was just two or three apps.
A couple of weeks ago, I was getting freeze-ups and factory reset with the intention of re-rooting. I got interrupted and figured I would do it when I had time. Well, I have been on stock since, and am pretty happy. I just change watch faces frequently which of course doesn't require root. The crashes have ceased. The battery is not as good as it was on the custom kernel, but it's more than adequate for my use case.
I'll probably get back into hacking it when I have some free time.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Labs

PhilipTD said:
When I first got mine a couple of months ago, I rooted and installed the custom kernel pretty much automatically because I always root and mod my phones and I assumed that I would want total control over the system on the watch, too. It went fine, and it was fun to learn about Wear. The kernel definitely improved battery life substantially. With respect to UX modifications, there isn't much that requires root beyond uninstalling bloatwear, which, for me, was just two or three apps.
A couple of weeks ago, I was getting freeze-ups and factory reset with the intention of re-rooting. I got interrupted and figured I would do it when I had time. Well, I have been on stock since, and am pretty happy. I just change watch faces frequently which of course doesn't require root. The crashes have ceased. The battery is not as good as it was on the custom kernel, but it's more than adequate for my use case.
I'll probably get back into hacking it when I have some free time.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks.
i have already received the watched and did the setup procedure a few times by now. i unlocked, flashed twrp and rooted ( didn't confirm root so far ) after i upgraded to 6.0.1 ... i'll see how it runs for now before flashing any other kernel or whatever to check out the current performance.