Explain what rooting the Nexus7 does

**SherbetDibDab** · 07-26-2012, 10:05 AM

Can someone just explain to me what rooting the nexus7 will actually do? What will I achieve from it? Will I be able to download apps and games for free? Is it hard to do

Thanks

**natehoy** · 07-26-2012, 10:34 AM

tl;dr version - if you have to ask what benefits rooting provides, chances are you don't want to do it.

"Rooting" a device gives you "root" access to it. What this means is that you have read/write access to folders (including parts of the operating system) that you would normally have no access to at all. "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility".

You can already download apps and games for free, as long as they are available for free. Rooting will not expand the availability of free applications, and any free applications that require root access will either be things you download because you know you want to alter your operating system, or malware that wants access to alter your operating system.

Things that cost money on Google Play will not suddenly become available to you for free. That is called "piracy" and can be done independently of rooting should you choose to do that. Please don't. Developers need to eat, too.

**NickNexus** · 07-26-2012, 11:06 AM

Only reason I wanna root so I can access extra storage through a flash drive, probably will once I get low on storage

**DreamSTi** · 07-26-2012, 03:38 PM

Deleting apps that come pre loaded and running ad blocking software FTW! If you decide to run ROMs you need to be rooted as well.

**rootbrain** · 07-26-2012, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by NickNexus

Only reason I wanna root so I can access extra storage through a flash drive, probably will once I get low on storage

This is probably the single best reason to root this device due to the limited storage. On other devices that have microSD slots to expand the memory it might not matter for you to have root.

**bakerbert** · 07-28-2012, 08:53 AM

Think of a PC: Right now you have just above a guest account. with root you will have full administrative access.
you will have the ability to get change things around, get rid of what you don't want and add thing that you couldn't.

With root you will have the ability to:
Install a add blocker app (no more annoying adds, awesome)

Flash custom ROMs (smother, lots of customization, ect)
Ability to change kernels (over clock/under clock your processor and other tweaks for battery life and better performance)

Give it a bit of time and the dev community will be all over this device. Then you will see how truly sweet rooting can be.

**Tsruggles** · 07-28-2012, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by SherbetDibDab

Can someone just explain to me what rooting the nexus7 will actually do? What will I achieve from it? Will I be able to download apps and games for free? Is it hard to do

Thanks

There are many benefits to rooting, which I will let others explain.

There are also many benefits to paying for apps and games.
When you get a password hijacking bug on your device from an infected "free" pirated app, the benefits will become apparent.
When you are playing your paid game for free, and it freezes up right at the good part, you will never benefit from updates and bug fixes.

Also, the app developers are not all huge corporations that don't really see much of a revenue loss from pirating. They are doing what they love, developing great products for us, and looking for a money stream to compensate them for their time, you know, so that they can eat.

I'm no angel, I rooted my phone and tether my data connection for free, because VZW robs us and screws us all day long, every day. I'm just saying that if you can afford these fancy devices, don't be a cheap *** and be happy to support the people that make these devices awesome.

Soapbox dismounted.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

**dparrothead1** · 07-28-2012, 04:49 PM

I rooted my N7 for the ability to add extra storage. I might install a custom rom after I get tired of Jelly Bean and they become much more stable.

I have rooted every Android phone I have ever owned basically to get rid of the ATT bloatware and do custom roms. I rooted my Nook Color because I didn't like B&N telling me what I could and couldn't put on MY device.

With that being said, I don't know of any roms or apps that let you download paid apps for free. Maybe torrents, but I have always been leary of them.

**Tyndall** · 07-31-2012, 09:39 AM

I think the OP is actually just a new Android user who hasn't been initiated into the ROM Hacking and Rooting community yet...I don't actually think he (or she) was sanctioning piracy. Rather I think the OP was asking what the "real world" benefit for his use case would be.

In general, folks "root" their device to be able to access things, change things and customize their device experience. In typical everyday use rooting does not give any benefit if you are satisfied and happy with the "out of the box" tablet experience.

Read over the forums here, and at XDA, and see what benefits rooting and flashing might bring to you, Then decide if you want to learn more. There are several excellent and straightforward guides to rooting in this very forum. The N7 is a great device to learn on!

**ExTheGod** · 08-01-2012, 06:06 AM

Noob question. I'm thinking of rooting my N7 later today. When I do the root I will return to JB as long as I don't install a custom ROM right? It'll be the same just rooted?

**2defmouze** · 08-01-2012, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by ExTheGod

Noob question. I'm thinking of rooting my N7 later today. When I do the root I will return to JB as long as I don't install a custom ROM right? It'll be the same just rooted?

The unlock and root process will wipe your device.. you'll lose apps and data and anything on the sd card as well.. but yes when it reboots it will be whatever system you have on their now.

**ExTheGod** · 08-01-2012, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by 2defmouze

The unlock and root process will wipe your device.. you'll lose apps and data and anything on the sd card as well.. but yes when it reboots it will be whatever system you have on their now.

Nice. I only have a few apps installed and it'll be easy to just reinstall them. I'll have to probably log back into all my sites and stuff but that's no biggie. I just want to be able to use a 32GB card for USB OtG

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

**njkiller420** · 08-02-2012, 01:11 PM

Is it possible to go back to unrooted version after rooting? and will Google find out that it was once rooted? Also what are the extreme implications if the device fails to root? Does it get locked? Or does something happen to the device?

**2defmouze** · 08-02-2012, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by njkiller420

Is it possible to go back to unrooted version after rooting? and will Google find out that it was once rooted? Also what are the extreme implications if the device fails to root? Does it get locked? Or does something happen to the device?

It can be unrooted and relocked without issue. For the most part it would not be possible to even tell you had unlocked it, especially if you do a full factory image restore following my guide stickied up top.

Really no implications to worry about in the process if you follow the guides. Obviously you can cause problems with root access if you install something untrustworthy or do something foolish, but as a Nexus device it is basically impossible to "break" it. You can always fastboot the factory images. Browse the thread for my guide and you'll see some people already screwed their's up and we're able to easily restore it to factory condition and get right back to hacking away

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

**ExTheGod** · 08-02-2012, 07:13 PM

What guide would you guys suggest I use for rooting my N7. Im not a complete noone to rooting/hacking devices but haven't done many roots on androids (only rooted my HTC evo). I just wanna unlock it. Not install any custom Roms

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

**lincmii** · 08-03-2012, 03:33 AM

What I'd like to know is, what do we lose from rooting? I've heard a lot of things break after root for the n7.

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**zedorda** · 08-04-2012, 11:49 AM

There is nothing lost from rooting but you can mess things up enough yourself with root. So those having issues after root is not because of root it is because of what they/apps did with root access after the fact.

I am rooted, I fixed my home-screen rotation, running 160dpi in tablet mode, and nothing is broken. I just paid for my last gas fill up with Google Wallet and I play alot of games without any issues.

**ExTheGod** · 08-05-2012, 07:22 AM

Is there a certain kind of USB flash drive I should get for OTG? Didn't know if certain ones work and others dont

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**dmonzel** · 08-05-2012, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by ExTheGod

Is there a certain kind of USB flash drive I should get for OTG? Didn't know if certain ones work and others dont

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

As long as you have an OTG adapter, any flash drive can be used. At least that's what I've found wit my 6 different thumb drives I have floating around.

**zedorda** · 08-06-2012, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by dmonzel

As long as you have an OTG adapter, any flash drive can be used. At least that's what I've found wit my 6 different thumb drives I have floating around.

You missed the fact that the app Stickmount and root are required.

**Hondo_Lane** · 08-06-2012, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by SherbetDibDab

Can someone just explain to me what rooting the nexus7 will actually do? What will I achieve from it? Will I be able to download apps and games for free? Is it hard to do

Thanks

It's like taking the red pill... it frees the mind...

**dmmarck** · 08-06-2012, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by Hondo_Lane

It's like taking the red pill... it frees the mind...

Love this lol

**Ty Buchanan** · 01-18-2013, 08:57 AM

If you had paid the little bit extra you could have got 32GB of memory that is more than you will ever need. Do you leave videos on a Nexus 7 after viewing them - obviously not! Do you?

**Ty Buchanan** · 01-18-2013, 08:59 AM

You won't lose apps or data.

**Ty Buchanan** · 01-18-2013, 09:02 AM

Yes, I have checked it and it is rooted. The apps are still there.
Just click the little circle with the six dots at the botom of the screen. You will see them all.
Drag the icon of an app you installed before rooting onto a window. When It asks
if you are a returning users click "Yes". You will have your old app with the old data.