Here’s an answer to a question I get asked often. For the super geeks in the crowd, try to remember that this is a high-level description. There’s lots of niggling details. For the geeks-in-training in the crowd, have fun with those niggling details.
Hey Keith, what is root? What does that mean to root my phone?
Android is based on Linux.
In Linux, like newer versions of Windows, accounts have different levels of access to the computer. The idea is that since most users don’t need to install software and change the hardware settings, they shouldn’t have access to do so accidentally.
In Windows, the account with the most access is called Administrator. In Linux, that account is called root. The root account can make vast and profound changes to the computer, to the point of crippling it. That’s why on Android you don’t get access to the root account.
By the way, your phone is just a tiny computer.
So, if you want to make big changes to your phone you need to get root access. The process of doing this is called rooting your phone. Generally this is done by exploiting a bug or problem in the Android operating system. This ranges from ridiculously easy to currently impossible depending on the phone you have. Newer phones and versions of Android fix these problems making it harder and harder to get root access to most phones.
Neat! But why would I want root? What can I do with it?
Most people who root their phones do so in order to install 3rd-party ROMs. A ROM, also called firmware, is essentially an operating system install file for your phone. Since Android is open-source software that means anyone can go get the original software, change it a bit, and then release it on their own. Lots of volunteers make improved versions of Android. Finding the right one for your phone is going to take some searching. But at least one popular bet is Cyanogenmod. Chances are there’s a Cyanogenmod ROM for your phone.
Some apps require root. Titanium Backup allows you to backup and restore your apps and data. This is very handy in case your phone dies or you install a new ROM (which will erase your phone). You can sometimes tweak the performance of your phone by increasing the CPU speed or changing memory settings. There are apps which allow free tethering, remote access to your phone, and more.
How do I get started?
Google it! But really, here’s a few links:
There, that oughta shut the lit—err, hi. You’re still here? Why? Go play!