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What does rooting in android actually mean?

silvercats

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2012
129
8
1. is it exploiting the firmware(of the device) to gain root access?
2. is it exploiting the Android OS to gain root access?

also, does installing a custom ROM means re installing the device's firmware (for a instance,is it like replacing Phoenix BIOS in a PC?)
 
Flashing a ROM would be akin to reinstalling the windows operating system. Its only software.

does this mean we install a modified Android OS ? nothing happens to the firmware of the device? (mob phone in this case)


you know ,in computer terms (PC) , modifying a ROM means modifying the BIOS (phoenix BIOS for an example) not the OS
SO I guess Mobile ROM and PC ROM have different terms here ...
 
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rooting to put it simple is the Android equivilent to Jailbreaking an Apple device. allows custom ROMs, apps designed for root-access (such as different launchers, removing bloatware, cpu over/underclocking, etc) and much more.

rooting can be done with or without flashing a ROM or BIOS. you don't even have to change anything. a basic root just adds the 'super user' app that root-specific apps require for access to the system. software designed for rooted phones/tablets will ask for super user rights when launched. custom ROMs and BIOS are optional. the only thing that changes under the hood is the installation of a custom bootloader or recovery console for use later if you want to flash a ROM onto it for better features (such as installing a later copy of Android like Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean)
 
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