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A few questions about root

1. I have a Samsung galaxy s7 SMG930F with the chainfire root method. When I want to update to android 7, can i then still use the same root method for the phone, but which was written for android 6?
2. When I just take the stock firmware , which was not written for any specific phone, can i then use my real home button from Samsung and so on?
3. My phone has very strong security, so that xmodgames and cydia substrate can not work on my phone. Is there anyway to make the security of the phone more weak?
4. Is there any method to hide root without cydia? (because hide my root and rootcloak both use cydia)

Pls don't say thats the basic stuff and everyone knows it. Pls just answer, because I don't know much about root!

for my galaxy s7 SM-G930FD
i followed the following trails and got root
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s7/development/recovery-official-twrp-herolte-t3333770
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlj76YvxGYo
http://www.stechguide.com/install-twrp-recovery-and-root-galaxy-s7-edge/

Pls real answers to my questions, not just how to root the phone, because i have already rooted it!

i'd think it wouldn't be easy to tell if a future update (e..g. version 7) would be able to work with the current version of root apps. / method i.e. there is not enough info (perhaps a true version 7 rom does not even exist). i'd guess what would be likely though is that when version 7 is released, different version of root apps (and even method) etc may be necessary.
i went with the TWRP approach as TWRP is based on 'recovery', i.e. install su and super su through the recovery via a zip file.
this procedure provides more 'control' over how root is obtained and i'd guess it may allow one to troubleshoot the steps say in a situation a new rom or update is provided. a side benefit is that u could update the super su via TWRP recovery with and updated zip version rather than to await a next cfautoroot package for instance

[Resolved] How to properly root with magisk

Hi. My phone is: NXT-L29 ( Huawei Mate 8, Europe, unlocked bootl., Marshmallow, EMUI 4.0 ). I installed official TWRP for this device via fastboot, tried all 8 versions available but black screen is all I achieved (probably because they are all for EMUI 4.1). Used SRKtools and TWRP asked me for password to decrypt data, which I don't know. Can I flash magisk with fastboot over encrypted data? Won't that brick the phone? Or should I update to EMUI 4.1? Or what else do you suggest? Also, should I somehow disable dm-verity and RMM or should I just format data partition? Will it get reencrypted on next boot? Any help appreciated.
EDIT: One more question: is firmware update possible with unlocked bootloader or must I relock it first?

Every time I rooted a phone you erase and format data partition first. Nothing encrypted or otherwise should be on the phone iirc... Then flash custom recovery, then rom, then modem / whatever else. Then sideload root script or whatever method to root. Nowadays since there are so many payment methods and ways to get ripped off on phones, I use LineageOS which has a radio button in settings the switches root over adb on or off. Serves my pruposes and avoids the danger of having open bootloader and root 24/7 and brainlessly easy. Don't know if LineageOS supports Mate 8 but it should, it's a popular phone here in USA. Good luck!
PS. If it's not too personal, what are you wanting to achieve once you get root access? All I use it for is to run powermanager over adb and remove bloatware and change hosts files to block malware hosts and social media (internet cancer). I only need to gain root once to do this so no need to run it all the time, too risky to me imo.

SublimeFoxTheater said:
Every time I rooted a phone you erase and format data partition first. Nothing encrypted or otherwise should be on the phone iirc... Then flash custom recovery, then rom, then modem / whatever else. Then sideload root script or whatever method to root. Nowadays since there are so many payment methods and ways to get ripped off on phones, I use LineageOS which has a radio button in settings the switches root over adb on or off. Serves my pruposes and avoids the danger of having open bootloader and root 24/7 and brainlessly easy. Don't know if LineageOS supports Mate 8 but it should, it's a popular phone here in USA. Good luck!
PS. If it's not too personal, what are you wanting to achieve once you get root access? All I use it for is to run powermanager over adb and remove bloatware and change hosts files to block malware hosts and social media (internet cancer). I only need to gain root once to do this so no need to run it all the time, too risky to me imo.
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Hello and thanks for your reply. I'll try that tomorrow if time allows me. I need root mainly to get rid of ads! There are so many brilliant apps ruined by ads and AdAway is the solution. Bloatware removal also is a good enough reason. Previously I rooted Galaxy Note 3 and it was a breeze, no problem at all, so I hadn't realised how things changed for worse. I found LineageOS but beta version so I think I'll stay with the current system which works absolutely fine for me.

Ok let us know what you did and if it works. I have never heard of AdAway I just add offending urls to hosts file. To do this you need to have root and mount system and edit the hosts file, then reboot even back to rootless and it still works. If you need to block and unblock fast then I could see an app being needed but if you know what you want to get rid of you only need root and to edit human readable hosts once and you're done.

SublimeFoxTheater said:
Ok let us know what you did and if it works. I have never heard of AdAway I just add offending urls to hosts file. To do this you need to have root and mount system and edit the hosts file, then reboot even back to rootless and it still works. If you need to block and unblock fast then I could see an app being needed but if you know what you want to get rid of you only need root and to edit human readable hosts once and you're done.
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On reflection, I think I won't rush into things. I must read more on dm-verity and other protection mechanisms so at least I have a foggy idea what I'm doing and what can go wrong. AdAway is a great ad blocker working with websites and apps and the idea of doing all this manually seems rather tedious. As for safety, I only ever use one pre-paid card without overdraft and loaded with tiny amounts at a time that's connected to my google account, so if it gets compromised that won't be the end of the world - not that it ever happened.

most fraud comes from social engineering, catfish, etc.
I used supersu back in the day even worked stock rom, as long as bootloader and flashing are unlocked.
The Dev zipped the binary and a script to copy it wherever it goes and make it only accessible to you (after lock screen)
Then install supersu apk and you'll be asked to give root when an app wants it
I used this to use a game editor to give myself more in game currency haha.
I beat people in the game and they did in app purchase to devs in China, received nothing, so I had no problem exploring this flaw and handing out Justice to those in deep nerd rage haha.
In app items, come on bro that ain't what money's for.

I'm immune to social engineering, mate I still have supersu on my Galaxy Note 3 with SlimRom, but I notice it's no longer maintained, so that's how I found out about Magisk which is opensource into the bargain and attemps to hide root so maybe my banking app will work for a change.
I used this to use a game editor to give myself more in game currency haha.
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Did you use custom editor to hack into the game? Cause I assume the devs weren't so accommodating to provide one for your convenience.

Ok, it works. Got tired of inaction and just did it and no catastrophic scenario materialized. Job done!

samsung galaxy s9 root android 10 exynos

Hello, is there a way to root the phone where everything works now (Bluetooth, Face ID, etc.)?

I would very much like to see this answered. I've seen some application-specific instructions such as this reddit thread for enabling Samsung Health, and I've read about hiding the fact that the phone is rooted from apps by using MagiskHide, but it's not clear whether this works for all apps and features or just some. There's also this recently updated guide to rooting that claims:
Magisk is a highly advanced way of rooting android systemless-ly. This means that Magisk root android without changing or modifying the system partition. Hence you can receive OTA updates, run apps that require to pass Google’s SafetyNet tests.
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However, many hacks that sound good when you read about them in advance run into snags and gotchas once you actually get into implementing them, and I'm hesitant to just give it a try and see how it works out when tripping Knox is irreversible and if things stop working you can't get them back by flashing the stock ROM.
I'd be grateful if anyone who has actual experience on this subject could vouch for being able to re-enable all lost functionality after rooting or to not lose it in the first place, or whether even some lost functionality can be enabled (and if so, what have you been able to get working and what haven't you? I don't know about OP, but to me the most important ones are Secure Folder and Samsung Health).
Also, does anyone have experience with retaining Knox-sensitive functionality on rooted S9 Exynos with Android 11 (either rooting after upgrading to 11, or rooting first and retaining root when upgrading)?

@bis225
IMO noone needs Magisk to root a device's Android. Rooting Android means having the SU-binary present on Android - a ~100KB file - nothing else. Copying SU-binary onto Android allows you to temporariy give you root access when needed.

jwoegerbauer said:
@bis225
IMO noone needs Magisk to root a device's Android. Rooting Android means having the SU-binary present on Android - a ~100KB file - nothing else. Copying SU-binary onto Android allows you to temporariy give you root access when needed.
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I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. Are you telling me that you can simply copy the file onto an unrooted phone, and voila, you can gain root access?? Can you point to information about what to do and how this works? It runs contrary to everything I've ever read on the subject.
To the best of my understanding, in order to install su binary unto an unrooted phone you need to install a custom recovery, and use that to flash the su binary onto the phone. I thought the idea of Magisk was to provide root access without modifying system files so that SafetyNet can't detect that the system has been modified. Unless I'm missing something there's no disadvantage to rooting with Magisk, only advantages, but regardless, I don't see how it makes a difference with respect to this topic. Installing a custom recovery is what trips Knox and prevents some features and apps from working, so it doesn't really matter what root method you use if you have to use a custom recovery to install it.
If you know of a way to root a Galaxy S9 without using a custom recovery or tripping Knox and that can't be detected by SafetyNet, please elaborate.

Rooting Android simply means to add a ( hidden ) user called root ( AKA super-user ) who has ALL rights to Android's file system.
For example from within ADB you activate this user and let run him any command what requires to have ALL rights - assumed the SU-binary is located in /sdcard
Code:
adb shell "/sdcard/su -c '<command-here>'"
AFAIK Magisk installs the SU-binary in /data/adb/magisk/busybox, but I may err.

@jwoegerbauer
But I didn't ask what rooting means. Unfortunately, this doesn't answer any of my questions.

I think I clearly expressed that neither a Custom Revovery nor Magisk itself is needed to have root, that simply copying SU-binary to Android's user-space is enough.
If you want to root via Magisk then do it.
Personally never would do it this way.

jwoegerbauer said:
I think I clearly expressed that neither a Custom Revovery nor Magisk itself is needed to have root, that simply copying SU-binary to Android's user-space is enough.
If you want to root via Magisk then do it.
Personally never would do it this way.
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This really seems contrary to everything I've read, and this Stack Exchange thread specifically explains why that wouldn't work, but if you say you have experience with this and it works for you, I'm certainly willing to give it a try and see how far it gets me. Do you know where a copy of the su binary can be obtained? All my searches for su binary lead to the supersu APK and instructions for installing it by flashing, or something along those lines. I can't find an su executable that can just be copied to internal storage as-is anywhere.

Options other than Titanium Backup for backing up/restoring all Android apps?

Currently running a OnePlus 8T + 5G with unlocked/TWRP bootloader which is not rooted, since neither of the two methods want to work on my specific version (KB2007; unlocked former T-Mobile).
Anyway, I'm trying to switch to another ROM but I'm wondering how best to backup/restore all of my apps. Loved using Titanium Backup way back in the day, but am I still correct in assuming that it doesn't work correctly without root access? If so, are there any non-root methods of backing up all or most of my apps along with their current configurations/etc to restore into the new ROM once it's installed? Obviously, most ROMs will support doing it through Google Play, but then it takes forever to log back in to each app, set it all back up, etc. If I've been missing some basic way of restoring all the apps with their configurations intact, please feel free to smack me upside the head with the answer =)
And my apologies in advance if I'm misusing any of the terminology. Before this phone, it has been at least five years since I even tried rooting/unlocking/etc, so I'm a bit rusty.

In the world of computers an app belongs to person who installed it, app's data are owned by the app itself.
Hence it should be obvious that only an user with elevated rights ( AKA Superuser or Root ) can perform a backup and/or restore.
Take note that a temporary root is enough to do the jobs.

Got it. So, in other words, figure out how to root the phone despite the troubles I've been having trying to do so. Unless there's some sort of temporary root privs available that I've never heard of?

To get a temporary root all you have to do is to add to Android OS the binary called SU
Example
Code:
adb push <LOCATION-OF-SU-BINARY-ON-COMPUTER> /data/local/tmp/
adb shell "chmod +x /data/local/tmp/su"
what then allows you to run Android shell commands when elevated rights are needed
Example
Code:
adb devices
adb shell "/data/local/tmp/su -c '<SHELL-COMMAND-HERE>'"

Am I correct in assuming that SU is the same as "switch/substitute user" in *nix? Does that mean I can run TB from the ADB shell, assuming I include the correct command line arguments? Something along the lines of doing a SUDO in *nix before running something that requires admin access or whatever.

I know this might be quite different from what you're looking for maybe?
In the future if you get a rooted rom, I use something called Migrate from the play store, it requires root and just copies all your data into a bunch of twrp flashable zip files.
Play Store

silentrawr said:
Am I correct in assuming that SU is the same as "switch/substitute user" in *nix? Does that mean I can run TB from the ADB shell, assuming I include the correct command line arguments? Something along the lines of doing a SUDO in *nix before running something that requires admin access or whatever.
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SU in root context usually means super user, as a user with all privileges, but it's the same thing as super user, so yes.

Hello Everyone,
I too am interested in a backup solution for my Android smartphone.
I would happily root or temporarily root, but despite having a computer background that dates back to Unix, I am an Android novice and do not know how to perform these operations which to most people here seem elementary.
Could someone please point me to an easy to understand primer on either temporary root or permanent root.
I would be very appreciative and I am sure that there are other readers of this post who would benefit as well.
Thank you.

AndroidNewbie9000 said:
Could someone please point me to an easy to understand primer on either temporary root or permanent root.
I would be very appreciative and I am sure that there are other readers of this post who would benefit as well.
Thank you.
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The thing is, that the "official" way to root a device nowadays usually includes a wipe of all user data. You basically have to decide that you want to do full backups before you use an app. This is a security measure so that an attacker cannot use the official way to e.g. access app-internal data on a stolen phone, like secret tokens of 2FA-apps. In order to backup existing app-internal data you either need to use the per-app-backup that the creators of that app did hopefully include or hope that the allowed to do adb backup. That can be used without root, but depending on your Android, apps either need to allow this explicitly or at least not explicitly disallow that in their manifest file.
In principle you can use exploits for non-official rooting to backup existing data that is blocked from adb backup - but this is only an option if you do not have the latest security updates in place and an exploit is publicly available.

When should i root my phone? (Samsung M11)

i have samsung M11 i am interested in rooting, the warranty is over ( 1 year). Samsung updates will be given for the next 3 years or so.
i would like to root it but then i wouldnt receive updates from samsung. but i could switch to something else like lineage or something but i heard a lot of apps cant be used.
TLDR: should i root my phone and how to get apps such as netflix on lineage os

Rooting a device's Android IMHO is playing with fire, opening the door for malware of any kind which can cause lasting damage to Android OS.

so i should just immediately switch to something like lineage?

Neerbon said:
so i should just immediately switch to something like lineage?
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after rooting*

To clarify things: Rooting a device's Android OS - it doesn't matter which one - means to add to it an user with elevated rights ( comparable to Administrator in Windows OS) who is named Superuser ( aka ROOT).

jwoegerbauer said:
To clarify things: Rooting a device's Android OS - it doesn't matter which one - means to add to it an user with elevated rights ( comparable to Administrator in Windows OS) who is named Superuser ( aka ROOT).
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so if you root your device its like opening every app with admin privileges in windows?

Again:
You can't root a device which is merely an accumulation of metal, glass, plastic, etc., you only can root device's OS what is Android.
Rooting is the process of allowing users of the Android OS to attain privileged control ( known as root access ) over various Android subsystems.
Android uses permissions in the file structure, every file, folder and partition, which has a set of permissions. These permissions decide who can view, write and execute a file - certain users have access, while users who don't have the right permissions are blocked from having access. Rooting Android lets you get the permission as Super Administrator User in Android system. Once you get it done, you can do anything in Android system.
BTW: There may be apps that require root rights to successfully run. IMO those must be classified as highly dangerous.
My recommendation: Become familiar with Android OS.