Is My Phone Rooted? 7 Methods to Check If an Android Device Is Rooted

- "Is my phone rootable?"
- "Why is my phone rooted?"
- "How do I know if my Android phone is rooted or not?"

You might want to break free from the constraints of the Android OS to gain more permissions. For example, if you install an app from Google Play and it doesn't work as expected, you might wonder if your phone is rooted. Some phones come pre-rooted, so checking your phone's root status can be important.

Most Android smartphones can be rooted, but there are risks involved. Whether you're considering rooting or just checking your phone's status, it's important to know how. Here are 7 simple ways to check if your Android phone is rooted, which may vary depending on your phone model. Additionally, we'll share more information about rooting.

Part 1: Pros and Cons of a Rooted Phone

You've probably heard of people using some Android rooting tools to root their phones. And they thus get more access and fun from the "new phone". So, what is rooting, and how to check root status? Now, let's figure them out.

Like jailbreaking on iOS devices, rooting is done on Android devices, granting the users privileged control or root access. That is, it gives you the freedom to bypass Android internal protections and obtain superlative control over the operating system. Next, before we go deeper into "Am I rooted?" let's see the good and bad of rooting a phone:

Advantages of Android rooting:

• Utilize More Powerful Applications: Enhance your productivity and unlock advanced features.
• Change Certain Settings: Gain more control over your device's functionality and personalization options.
• Level Up Your Battery Life: Optimize power usage and manage background processes more effectively.
• Play More Exciting Games: Install mods and tweaks to enhance graphics and unlock premium features.
• Uninstall Useless Apps: Free up storage and improve device performance.
• Benefit from the Added Performance: Overclock the CPU, optimize system processes, use root-only tools, and more.

Disadvantages of Android rooting:

• Increased Vulnerability: Rooting exposes your device to malware and cyberattacks.
• Bricking Risk: Improper rooting can render your device inoperable ("bricking").
• Void Warranty: Rooting voids your warranty, making you responsible for repair costs.
• No Security Updates: Rooted devices often miss important security updates and patches.
• Malfunctions: Mistakes during rooting can cause frequent malfunctions and instability.

You May Also Want to Know: Can I root my Android phone without my PC? Yes! Here's the full guide.

Part 2: Is My Phone/Tablet Rooted or Unrooted? 7 Solutions

"I mean there are many apps that can do unrooting so that root checker apps or other banking apps cannot detect rooting. Like magisk or superSU. So I wonder, can I know whether my phone was rooted and used something like hiding rooting feature or never been rooted?" -- from Reddit

So, how to check if a phone is rooted? Without further ado, let's discover the 7 most reliable methods to make it a breeze.

Way 1: Check Root Status through Settings

The easiest way is to check the root status from the Settings app. How to tell if your Android is rooted from device Settings?

• Go to your phone's Settings and locate and tap "About Phone".
• Go to "Status information" and check the "Phone status".

If it is "Official", it suggests that your software hasn't been tampered with and your phone is not rooted. Seeing a Custom tag under the phone status means your device is rooted.

Way 2: Find if There Is a Kinguser or SuperSU Icon

After checking the root status, you may not be sure whether your Android device is rooted or not. You can get into your device and find if it has installed the Kinguser or Superuser app. These two applications can be used to control your root access. In most cases, they will be installed on your device after rooting.

Way 3: Utilize a "Systemless Root" Method

You can do the "systemless root" with Magisk. One of the most significant features of this tool is that the modifications are saved safely in the boot partition other than modifying the real system files. As the original system files remain unchanged, modifications can go unnoticed by Google SafetyNet. After everything is done by this tool without an error, you have rooted for all intents and purposes.

Way 4: Use a Root Checker

Using a root checker app, you can easily verify if your Android device is rooted. A root checker for Android like Root Checker, SU Root Checker, or Am I Rooted may help. Here, let's take the Root Checker app as an example to explain "how to see if your phone is rooted":

• Open Google Play and search Root Checker.
• Download and install it on your phone.
• Open the installed Root Checker and tap "ROOT".
• Touch the screen start to check if your phone is rooted or not. It may take you tens of seconds.

Way 5: Install a Terminal Emulator

How to tell if your phone is rooted via Terminal Emulator? This app provides a complete Linux terminal emulator on Android devices. It allows users to practice commands and fully utilize commands enabled on rooted phones. Here's the direction:

• Go to Play Store.
• Tap the search bar and then "Terminal Emulator".
• Tap "Install > Agree".
• Go to "Settings" and find the Terminal Emulator app.
• Open the app.
• In the terminal window, type in "su" and tap either Search or Enter.

The "su" is the super-user command line. If your Android phone is rooted, you will see the "$" turn into "#" in the command line. Otherwise, your phone isn't rooted.

Way 6: Install ADB Tools

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a program that lets you communicate with your phone from your computer via USB. It allows you to execute various tasks and examine system information. You should have ADB tools and drivers for the Android device installed on your PC. Plus, it's also necessary to enable USB debugging on your Android device. Next, follow the instructions to check the Android root status:

• Make sure your device is powered on.
• Connect Android to your PC via a USB cable.
• Open "Command Prompt" with admin rights.
• Run the command: adb shell su
• The command will take you to the root status of the connected device.

Way 7: Check If Phone Is Rooted with Doctor for Android

This ultimate way is to use MobiKin Doctor for Android (Win and Mac). This utility can not only help you check if your Android phone has been rooted but gives you an option to securely recover any lost data before and after rooting. Before you know how to check Android root status, let's get a basic info of what it is.

What can MobiKin Doctor for Android do for you?

• Check if an Android phone is rooted easily.
• An expert tool to recover data from Android internal memory or SD card.
• Do Android data recovery without root or with root.
• Work for data types like contacts, messages, call records, media content, and more.
• Let you preview and check the items for recovery.
• Run smoothly on 8000+ Android devices, including the one with the latest Android 14.
• It won't give away your privacy.

How to see if your phone is rooted with Doctor for Android?

Step 1. Connect Android to a computer via a USB cable. Install and run the tool on the computer. Enable USB debugging on Android to have it recognized by the tool.

Step 2. Afterward, check all the data types and click Next. Follow the screen prompts to select a scanning mode and then click on "Continue".

Step 3. If the program shows you an interface as below, it means your device is not rooted. Here, you can tap the "full guide" to root your phone as required.

FAQs about Android Phone Rooting

Q1: How to recover lost Android data after rooting?

As we described in the previous section, MobiKin Doctor for Android can help you check if your device is rooted. After rooting it, you might lose your precious data on it, or you even lost some files before the root. This professional Android data recovery program is right here to let you retrieve all your lost content in simple clicks.

How to retrieve lost/deleted Android data after rooting?

• Follow the drill above to allow the program to run a scan on your device.
• After you get the screen below, preview and select the lost data you desire to restore from your device.



• Click "Recover" and save the chosen items to your computer.

Video Guide: Click the video below to learn how this program works vividly.

Q2. Is rooting Android phone a security risk?

Honestly, here are some of the risks your Android phone could face after it is rooted:

• Your phone warranty turns void.
• It may be hard to install official updates.
• You might brick your device simply trying to root it.
• ROMs like Lineage might be difficult to install.
• Malware can easily breach your mobile security.

Q3: How can I unroot my Android device?

If rooting your phone has inconvenienced you, you still have the opportunity to regret it; the following is a demonstration:

• Obtain the official firmware for your device from the manufacturer's website.
• Turn off your device and boot into recovery mode (usually by holding down the power and volume buttons).
• Select the "wipe data/factory reset" option.



• Use a tool like Odin (for Samsung devices) or another flash tool to install the stock firmware.
• Restart your device after flashing.

Q4: Is it possible for my phone to be rooted without me knowing?

Yes, your phone can be rooted without your knowledge, though it's uncommon. To reduce this risk, stick to trusted app sources, keep your device updated, and use security software.

Q5: Will rooting result in greater battery usage?

Rooting itself does not directly result in greater battery usage. However, depending on how you use your rooted device and the modifications you make, such as overclocking the CPU or running power-intensive apps, it could potentially impact battery life negatively.

Concluding Remarks

We learned how to see/know if the phone is rooted via a root checker for Android, from which we can arrive at the following review:

• Neither the Terminal Emulator nor the Root Checker apps can root any Android device, but they can check the root status.
• To gain more customization options and control over your device, you can root your Android phone after making a secure backup.
• You can use MobiKin Doctor for Android to check your Android root status and recover your lost data as well.
• Don't go crazy over root access if you are enthralled only by its merits.

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