The word "ROOT" sends shivers down the spine of the average newbie.

"Oh! I don't want to damage my phone"

may be the first thing you'll hear. Even my own very cousin dreads rooting more than the Grimm Reaper. Haha!

Well, their fears are quite understandable since I also passed through this phase. The Android Operating system-The most popular of all- sure owes something to its success, the widerange of customization it provides in contrast to the overly restricted system of its closest rival, the iOS. In my last post about Android (The Evolution of Android Operating System Over the Years), I mentioned that it was created by Andy Rubin and it was not easy, getting to where they are today.

IMAGE SOURCE

When I joined the Android bandwagon four years ago- 2013- with a tab bearing a ridiculous name (Android F817s), I had little or no knowledge about this wonderful OS and I've been quick to gather enough knowledge and experience over time and I can state categorically, that I am in the position to tell you about the "Rights" and "Wrongs" on the Android Operating system. Lol! Just kidding. In this post, I will be talking about how to root you android phone and its pros and cons, stay glued.

The main reason I took the bold step to root my phone then was because I wanted to change my android font. But through various explorations, trials and errors, I realised that there's more to rooting that just 'merely' changing a default Android font.

WHAT IS ROOT?

Without mincing words and without the use of strong language, rooting is basically the process of obtaining additional or extra access to bypass some restrictions on an android

HOW IT WORKS
When ever a root access is needed, a request is sent to the root application which then pops up a message whether to accept or decline the request.

HOW TO ROOT AN ANDROID PHONE

In those days, it was quite harder to root the android phone and I will also add that it was actually riskier. The app I used then was Framaroot version what is I can't remember. I downloaded the application from their official website after which I went through some series of 'clicks' and my phone rebooted, installing the "SUPER USER" application in the process. Super User is a special application used for system administration. Now rooting has been made more easy and more secure with the Kingroot application.

The kingroot application can be downloaded from their official website

After downloading, you'll have to allow installation from unknown sources on your phone if it hasn't been set. It can be done under settings/security

Install and launch. You will be shown a padlock, your phone model and your android's version. Below it, you'll find something like "One click root." Make sure internet connection is on, then tap it and wait for few seconds.

It is either it succeed or fails. If it succeeds, congrats. If it fails, you'll need to try with kingroot pc version

THE PROS

I mentioned that I rooted my phone purposely to change the font of my android. Even though changing a font is the simplest thing to do with root, I was really nervous when I attempted it after "horror" stories of how phones refused to come on after change of font. The most trustworthy application to do this is the Ifont application which can be found on Google Playstore. As you can see, it has well over 10 million downloads, all thanks to its reliability.

The size is just 6 mb, 6.6 precisely and I'll say it is affordable.

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR ANDROID FONT

After installation and launching of the iFont application, you will be shown something like this.

The first tab being the recommended fonts by the app itself, the second is the "Find" tab where you can search your preferred fonts. I will be clicking on "Font all"

Another page is shown where we have the "ENGLISH", "FRENCH", "SPANISH", AND "ARABIC" tabs. Which are shown below

These fonts can be downloaded and set.

Going back to the starting page, we have the "MY" tab of which comprises
-MY FONT
-MY DOWNLOAD
-MY INSTALL

-COLOR FONT
-SETTING
-FONT SIZE
-FACTORY FONT

While "My font" is for the custom fonts, "My Download" are downloaded fonts, "My Install" are installed fonts, "Color Font" is for advanced customization of fonts, like colourizing and the ability to set custom fonts on Per app basis

I will be selecting the "Olivier" font (One of my best) which I downloaded sometime ago.

I then click on 'set'

If you are using it for the first time, you will be told to undergo tutorial but I will be skipping that.

As you can see, it is applying then... Root access is requested.

I accept the root access then I'm told after setting font, phone will auto reboot, I click Ok.

My phone immediately goes off. Rebooting. After few minutes, the font is applied!

See? Change of font is that easy.

Another advantage of rooting is that you have the ability to completely remove system applications and of course, gain access to system files. I have this friend who has an annoying application that troubled his phone. The app made itself a system administrator. Thereby popping up annoying ads at regular intervals and slowing down the phone, he ran to me for help but his phone is not rooted and I told him he has to root. Unfortunately he couldn't and he had to completely wipe off his phone in order to rectify the issue.

Had it been he had root access, he would have been able to deal with the virus easily by simply removing the app as system administrator with root access and that would have been the end of it.

What about the ability to bypass license verification of applications through the help of "lucky patcher"?

There are some applications that won't work unless you download from the official store of the Android Operating System, the Google Playstore. Instead of just uninstalling the application in disappointment, it can be bypassed.

Ability to unlock pro version of application and bypassing purchases

Yes, you heard right and let me do a quick tutorial. See this application that needs unlocking to get extra features? We will be unlocking it right now.

The application called "Lucky Patcher" is needed which can be downloaded through google search. I have opened lucky patcher and by tapping the said app that needs unlocking, we have..

Click on "Open Menu of Patches"

Then click on "Support patch for InApp and LVL emulation"

Click on "Apply"

It should start patching.

Patch done in few seconds and yes we have 28.0% Luck. Please note that 100% is not guaranteed hence the name Lucky patcher.

We will proceed to the application now and I'll be clicking on UNLOCK APP. It pops up Lucky patcher and I will be clicking yes.
It can also work for non-root users but they will have a lesser chance

We have the full version right here.
This tutorial is just for fun and please purchase the app from the appropriate store

Root users also have advantages over non-root users as they will be able to run powerful apps that needs to do 'extra-ordinary' things effectively. Apps like Xposed Installer, Lucky patcher, Root browser, Power nap, Purify and all others.

There's this saying that says

"There's nothing with advantage that does not have a disadvantage"

Yes! That's true. Rooting your phone also has its downsides.

IT MAY VOID YOUR PHONE'S WARRANTY

Technically, rooting doesn't void warranty. But some manufacturers like Samsung, Tecno, Infinix explicitly disassociate themselves from rooted phones. Hence, the reason I used "may". So you still risk losing your phone's warranty if it is rooted.

YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO UPGRADE YOUR PHONE

You will get upgrades but if upgrade is done, the phone will inevitably brick.

What is Brick?

A bricked phone will not be able to turn on atall. No how hard you try to maneouvre it. A bricked phone is dead. Nothing can be done, nothing. A phone is not bricked if it is stuck in a boot loop or can boot into recovery mode.

I scared you right? Lol! Well, there's still a chance of upgrade if the phone is unrooted and subsequently flashed (total reload of OS) before upgrade.

THERE'S A CHANCE OF DAMAGING YOUR PHONE

John Dalber, an English Catholic historian, politician and writer once said that

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely"

Yes, he is right. If you are not careful, you will, one day, get intoxicated by that feeling, the feeling of absolute control over your phone and do something absolutely ridiculous that might damage your phone.

Let me tell you my story

There was a time that I thought of another way to change my android font. Since I had access to my android system folders, I perused it and found the default font lying calmly in a folder. Stubborn me copied my preferred font and replaced it with the default font right there! I minimized to see the changes

But then, my screen started blinking, serious blinking. Luckily for me, my instinct kicked in and I was able to squeeze myself back to where I altered the files and quickly replaced it back with the default font because I was smart enough to back it up. And that was it. I was lucky, had it been I had closed my recent tabs, that would have been the end.

The second incident? I was not so lucky. I downloaded an app in order to change my screen's resolution. (Gosh! I was so stupid). I played with the app and rebooted my phone to see the changes. Lol! My phone got stuck in its own limbo. Booting and rebooting in an endless loop. I had to part with some money in order to repair it.

So guys, rooting is good, harmless and equally harmful. Depends on the descretion of the user. Join me next time where I will be talking about how to add watermark to all your screenshots.

All screenshots are from my phone

Thanks to @camzy for this portrait

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