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?

  • spacebot3000@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    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.

    • Aasikki@sopuli.xyz
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      1 year ago

      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.

    • GenderNeutralBro@lemmy.sdf.org
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      1 year ago

      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.

  • mistermonday@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    I used to root my phone, run custom ROMs and tweaks, the whole thing. Was basically forced to keep stock when I got a galaxy S8, and now I haven’t rooted even with my past few pixels, it doesn’t feel useful anymore. I might root my pixel 5 in the future as I plan to keep it for a long time, but right now I’m stock

    • The Giant Korean@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I stopped rooting when I got my first Pixel. It didn’t feel necessary any more. Most of the things I rooted my phone for were just there now.

  • Zak@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    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.

  • Engywuck@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Necessary for what? If you want to block ads system-wide, you can use the Private DNS feature. But to fiddle with system partition/install Xposed stuff you definitely need root

  • ahornsirup@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    I haven’t felt a need to root a phone in years. These days you will get a usable UI and UX with basically all major brands and adblock can be done without root, so it’s just not worth the hassle trying to hide the fact that you’re rooted from banking apps etc. At least as far as I’m concerned, I’m sure that some people still see a benefit in rooting.

    Edit: I actually just thought of a reason: updates once the phone is past its official support window but otherwise still functional (though you don’t technically need root for that, just an unlocked bootloader, the new ROM doesn’t need to be rooted either strictly speaking). I’d just buy new phone, but that really just means I’m a part of the e-waste problem.

  • j4k3@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    The big thing now is Graphene OS on the Pixels. It is a custom ROM that works exactly like an OEM. The reason this works is because the Pixels ship with the same type of cryptographic hardware security chip as modern computers with TPM/secure boot. This chip makes it possible to create a verified chain of trust in the device so that Graphene can do over the air updates to the device. The ROM is configured with root disabled and the full Android 3 party lockdown user space for regular operations. You still have root through developer mode and USB if you need it. I’ve done custom ROMs for many years in the past, but nothing compares to the Graphene experience. As far as I am concerned, Graphene’s list of supported devices is the entire list of available phones I will consider purchasing.

  • ctrl@lemmy.sdf.org
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    1 year ago

    I still root my phone for system-wide adblock, call recorder and Xposed modules I have been using since Jelly Bean.

  • ohellidk@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    I use Lineage faithfully so my phone stays rooted. Also, I live in the US where carriers aggressively lock down their phones so they can upcharge everything. the whole “your hotspot will work at 3g speeds” is one reason to root. Adaway is another reason to root as well. I’m too cheap for home internet so I tether to get online. US carriers (and cable companies) hate that and try to prevent it. root and VPN gets around that. unlimited 5g hotspot.

  • DataDreadnought@lemmy.one
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    1 year ago

    Rooting is more security compromising than it’s worth. There are a small set of use cases I could see but for the most part do either or below.

    If you have a Pixel you would want to run GrapheneOS for maximum security and privacy.

    All other phones you would ADB remove bloatware, run PrivateDNS with NextDNS or an alternative, and turn off as much analytics/permission/features as possible for a functional phone.

    • cyberpunk007@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I used to root every phone I owned cause I could do so much more with it. I haven’t rooted in so long, android does what I need now

  • vettnerk@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    First time I rooted was in 2007 for installing CyanogenMod. After Cyanogen stopped updating I haven’t bothered rooting my phones.

  • janAkali@lemmy.one
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    1 year ago

    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”.

  • fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    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.

    • Zak@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      On modern A/B devices, Magisk can preserve root through OTA updates. The procedure is:

      1. Install the OTA; do not reboot
      2. Install Magisk to the inactive slot from the Magisk app
      3. Reboot from the Magisk app
      • Tb0n3@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Not always. I tried that on my last OTA for my Pixel 7 and got locked out until it finally booted from slot_a after being off a while. Failed update.