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Unleash your superpowers with the best root apps for Android

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© nextpit

If you've taken the plunge and decided to root your phone you're in for a treat: a whole new world of tweaks, modifications and custom ROMs awaits you. Once you're rooted, you can install any of the wide range of root apps for Android. These apps make use of root privileges to do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Here are our picks for the best root apps for Android.

Best for easy flashing: Flashify

Flashing manually can be a lot of work. What if there was an app that did all the heavy lifting? With Flashify, you can sit back and let the app automatically flash for you. This is an app for those who like to have a lot of customization and don't want to spend endless hours getting get. 

With Flashify, you can flash your boot.img, recovery.img and zip files with ease. If you want to backup these to your local or cloud storage, the app automatically syncs them. You get automatic cloud synchronization between backups of devices and your desktop. The app allows you to restore kernel and recovery using an SDcard as well. 

The app is free to use but you should be aware that you can only perform three free flashes per day. If you have a lot of flashes to do, you might want to consider purchasing a few more. If you want to spread them out so you don't have to pay, you can add them to your queue and they can be flashed the next day. 

AndroidPIT best root app
Flashify flashes your files in a flash. / © NextPit
${app-com.cgollner.flashify}

Best superuser app: SuperSU

If you're rooted you need SuperSU. The two go hand in hand and while you can avoid SuperSU, there's no reason that you would want to. It's by far the best root assistant around, to the extent that many rootable kernels have you install SuperSU by default.

Essentially Super SU manages the apps you give superuser permissions to, but there's a bunch of other cool stuff to discover as well.

AndroidPIT root apps SuperSU
Step one for any rooted Android user: SuperSU. / © NextPit
${app-eu.chainfire.supersu}

Best app for removing bloatware: System App Remover

The second thing any rooted Android user should do is remove those pre-installed system apps – also known a bloatware – that come with most new phones and waste precious internal storage and system resources.

Unfortunately, there's no easy way to recover the memory they're occupying but you can remove them to stop the drain on your battery and CPU. System App Remover is a great tool for this.

AndroidPIT root apps System App Remover
Root allows you to remove pre-installed system apps. / © NextPit
${app-com.jumobile.manager.systemapp}

Best backup app: Titanium Backup

Backups are an essential part of any rooted phone owners repertoire. And backup solutions don't get much better than Titanium Backup, especially once you're rooted. Before you start delving into system mods, ROMs and other tweaks, it's always a good idea to do a full backup before you proceed, just in case things go haywire. Titanium takes the pain out of making and managing backups.

AndroidPIT root apps Titanium Backup
A comprehensive backup solution is an essential once you're rooted. / © NextPit
${app-com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup}

Best app for battery optimization: Greenify

Greenify is pretty fantastic even without root, but with root privileges it really comes into its own. Greenify is an app-hibernation tool. It essentially lets you take control over when apps are awake (and consuming system resources) and when to put them to bed. The latest update even includes a 'Shallow Hibernation' engine for Android Marshmallow.

AndroidPIT root apps Greenify
Greenify is one of the best apps on Android and it's even better with root. / © NextPit
${app-com.oasisfeng.greenify}

Best app for system automation: Tasker

Tasker is the Lord of the Rings of root apps. It's big, it's complex and a little daunting, but if you can commit yourself to it fully, you'll be repaid in full. Tasker is a full system automation app that can automate anything you do regularly with your Android phone, from setting up scheduled activities to automating tasks in apps. 

AndroidPIT root apps tasker
Tasker automates actions based on specific triggers. / © NextPit
${app-net.dinglisch.android.taskerm}

Best app for recovering lost files: DiskDigger

We're huge fans of recovering lost SMS, photos, files and data, and once you're rooted there are even more solutions to the problem. If you've accidentally deleted photos, files or something else off your phone, DiskDigger can instantly recover it without losing a second (which is important in these situations).

AndroidPIT root apps diskdigger
With root, you can recover lost files with just your phone and an app. / © NextPit
${app-com.defianttech.diskdigger}

Best app for screen recording: Rec

Screen recording may not be useful for the vast majority of Android owners, but for some, it's critical. If you're a gamer, bug-catcher or general go-to-guy for all your friends with Android problems, then being able to screen record is a real bonus. And Rec is the best root app for that.

Watch your descriptive language skills disappear as you say everything with recorded actions rather than words.

AndroidPIT root apps Rec
Stil the simplest, best and most functional screen recording app we've found. / © NextPit
${app-com.spectrl.rec}

Best app for managing internal storage: SD Maid

Internal storage is always going to present problems, especially for those of us with a rather obsessive relationship to new apps and modifications. With root access, SD Maid takes control of any ghost files or folders left remaining after you've deleted data.

It also comes with a file browser, search tool and app management options to help you free up every inch of internal storage without wasting a KB.

AndroidPIT root apps SD Maid
Never lose a MB to leftover files or folders again with SD Maid. / © NextPit

What is your favorite root app? What's the best thing about having root? Let us know in the comments.

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Go to comment (41)
Kris Carlon

Kris Carlon
Senior Editor

Kris is a former AndroidPIT Editor who came to the team via a lengthy period spent traveling and relying on technology to keep him in touch with the outside world. He can usually be found juggling three phones at once and poring over G+ posts, Reddit and RSS feeds.

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41 comments
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  • Nadeepriya Amarasekara 3
    Nadeepriya Amarasekara Nov 10, 2018 Link to comment

    This post is really valuable if it includes deep explanation than you have brought.


  • 1
    Wawan S Oct 18, 2018 Link to comment

    SuperSU is not free any longer, what is the best alternative?


    • ARAVIND RAJ 1
      ARAVIND RAJ Nov 15, 2018 Link to comment

      Magisk is the best alternative for SuperSU


  • 20
    Reg Joo Jul 25, 2018 Link to comment

    Why isn’t magisk on this list? Where’s kernel aditor(yes, that’s how you spell it)? Tasker, Greenify are good. There’s been reported issues with titanium backup on some roms, and it can screw up(used it til 9 months ago, was a favorite). System app safe remover is fine, but heed the warnings it gives for certain system apps. SDmaid can help, but know what you’re doing. If you don’t go heavily into rooting, this post it alright.

    Brittany McGhee


    • Jerry's W. 20
      Jerry's W. Jul 26, 2018 Link to comment

      magisk is not there because this is an updated very old article from like 4years ago and some nitwit noob from androidpit gets bitcoins for advertising in the article by spamming the Apps mentioned
      lol


  • Daniel Swan 2
    Daniel Swan Jul 23, 2018 Link to comment

    Dude, you've got to take ROM Manager off that list. It was abandoned by the developer YEARS ago.

    Nicholas Montegriffo


    • Nicholas Montegriffo 11
      Nicholas Montegriffo Jul 24, 2018 Link to comment

      you're absolutely right, thanks for pointing out that one. It's been taken off the list and we'll be looking to test a good replacement.


  • 49
    storm Jul 23, 2018 Link to comment

    If you've already got Titanium Backup, you don't need System App Remover.

    ROM Manager, last time I used it, didn't support a lot of desirable ROMs if they didn't download from the supported repository. You're better served doing the research and finding the ROM yourself imho. You'll get a better match to your preferences that way.

    Sorin


  • Stein Otto 3
    Stein Otto May 4, 2018 Link to comment

    OTA update will not be installed automatically on devices with root access, you have to install it manualy on most devices. Thats the only negative beside safety as you have to take care of (be shure what app you install cause system will not prevent access).


  • Stein Otto 3
    Stein Otto May 4, 2018 Link to comment

    As best file manager I would prefer Total commander before ES File Explorer


  • 3
    Drifter O'Sullivan Oct 13, 2017 Link to comment

    I'd probably go completely insane if I couldn't root my phone

    Carmelo Rivera


  • 1
    Gayan singhabahu May 17, 2017 Link to comment

    How can i root my huawei honor 4c marshmallow updated phone without pc


    • Euronyoumous 94 1
      Euronyoumous 94 May 18, 2017 Link to comment

      you need to unlock your bootloader first, that requires a pc


  • Hard Victoria 1
    Hard Victoria Mar 19, 2017 Link to comment

    If you haven't root your Android device yet you can use the oneclickroot tool you can download it from their website www(dot)oneclickroot(dot)com


  • 2
    giis Jul 28, 2016 Link to comment

    Hi Root users, I thought you may be interested in this new app: It allows you to carry the SDCard with apps and insert into similar Rooted mobile and start using your apps, contacts, photos, mails just like the original.

    YouTube Demo available on Plat Store: play DOT google DOT com/store/apps/details?id=in.co.giis.SpaceMachine

    Disclaimer : I'm the dev & Check G+ group for more details.


  • Ricky 1
    Ricky Jun 30, 2016 Link to comment

    Try Cf autoroot if you not use to rooting and all ther is to it. Realy easy and better than all this one click root.


    • Papa Rob 1
      Papa Rob Mar 4, 2017 Link to comment

      Too painful not to comment: Ricky, don't you see the red lines under every other word you wrote? You can't possibly be more than 9 yrs old. Check with your parents before you install anything like a root app on your Dad's phone!!


  • little lee 5
    little lee Jun 16, 2016 Link to comment

    Kingroot is the best root android app I've used. It root my samsung easily and safely,


    • Kate Collins 2
      Kate Collins Jul 21, 2016 Link to comment

      Yep, Kingroot is easy to use, But it not works with all devices.

      Веселина Стоянова


    • 2
      Fernando Lipschitz Oct 27, 2016 Link to comment

      Kingroot (san an "o") might be fine..but...beware Kingoroot.....notice the "o" after king.

      Kingo's default PC software is set to change one's browser home page.

      Plus, post root, it installed adware on my lock screen, and an unknown, and unrequested, "battery saver" app. They're slimy, dishonest, and morally bankrupt.

      May they get a nasty paper cut, and have their eyes pried open like in "A Clockwork Orange", and then be subjected to nude photos of Hillary Clinton and Rosie O'Donnell for 2.345 minutes. Any longer would just be inhumane.


  • KrakyLand 1
    KrakyLand Mar 31, 2016 Link to comment

    I cant agree ...
    but you can find a huge amount of games and apps for rooted devices on www.krakyland.net under the android section


  • 6
    Mohamed Mujees Mar 30, 2016 Link to comment

    I DIDNT ROOT YET SO SAD


    • brian kolas 3
      brian kolas Apr 11, 2016 Link to comment

      You can use iRoot and then use this knid of app. Follow this guide:
      First and foremost, make sure you have backed up your data and have enough charge to make the rooting process goes smoothly. After this, you can follow these notifications as below:

      Step 1: Enable USB Debugging Mode for Android and install related USB Drivers on your PC.



      Step 2. Download iRoot PC version on your computer.





      Step 3. Agree the user agreement, and click "Connect".



      Step 4. After iRoot detects your device, click "Root"


  • surya kumar 16
    surya kumar Mar 29, 2016 Link to comment

    Using 6/10 apps above

    Mohamed Mujees


  • Diptangshu M. 15
    Diptangshu M. Mar 28, 2016 Link to comment

    If only those bloatware-occupied spaces were usable!

    surya kumarMohamed Mujees


  • Dean L. 34
    Dean L. Mar 28, 2016 Link to comment

    Thanks for the article. I have added a couple more apps for when I root that I didn't know about as I'm preparing to root.

    SorinMohamed Mujees


  • DuFFi 2
    DuFFi Mar 28, 2016 Link to comment

    what was not mentioned and what i have:

    - LMT (customized pie with applications of your choice) its on xda
    - KernelAuditor
    - Recently
    - GMD Gesture Control (paid version)

    Mohamed Mujees


  • 2
    fralitrutu Mar 28, 2016 Link to comment

    I cant believe that people able to make $1592 in 3 weeks on the internet. have you read this web link...>>.

    ()()*)???>>>> Home-jobs90.TK

    Mohamed Mujees


  • 2
    www.howtodoanything.org Feb 21, 2016 Link to comment

    Very informative. Thanks.

    Mohamed Mujees


  • Kushal Chachan 2
    Kushal Chachan Feb 11, 2016 Link to comment

    SCR free is a better screen recording app and one of my favorite app after rooting my device was aio downloader in which you can download paid apps for free!

    Mohamed Mujees


  • John B. 9
    John B. Dec 31, 2015 Link to comment

    I think that he did wonderful on the article, he probably helped out a lot of people who were on the fence with certain apps. Also I think that SuperSU is the best.

    Mohamed MujeesDean L.


  • Josh Webb 2
    Josh Webb Dec 30, 2015 Link to comment

    Thank you really helpful tips

    Mohamed Mujees


  • Deezul Yusof 9
    Deezul Yusof Dec 16, 2015 Link to comment

    Why is it that this writer is too biased towards certain apps? Like "Screen Recorder"?"SDMaid"?"ESFileExplorer"? whereas there are other apps with higher user ratings in Playstore and other alternative markets.I am sticking to "RootExplorerPro" for my file manager, with EsfileExplorer as backup only. Like "Screen Recorder it is hardly rated anything higher than 3.3. With loads of complains from users but this writer recommends it. (He usually does this as I follow AndroidPits updates nearly daily postings) I would NOT take this writers recommendation with a pinch of salt(rather a spoonful), except for those new to Android. .
    I have all of my Android "rooted" nearly 11 active devices, I played around daily. It is good to "root" for those sceptical of rootings, but please standby with backup firmware in case somethings go wrong before rooting. Sometimes I had to "reflash" or "reinstall" the firmware upto 8 times to get the right modifications working on my devices. Only foolish people would "root" without learning up how to recover , reflash, reinstall the firmware as with Murphy's Law...What could.........! So stop whining

    Al JRMohamed Mujees


    • 2
      Oliwer Owczarek Jan 13, 2016 Link to comment

      Thanks for the tips!
      How can I backup my firmware? I have the Galaxy Note 4

      Mohamed Mujees


      • xsquid 3
        xsquid Feb 1, 2016 Link to comment

        You can do a nand backup but it's easier and more convienent to use titanium pro to backup eveything, including apps and data. I keep a backup on my sdcard along and if something happens do a data reset and then re install from Titanium backup. Restoring only takes a few minutes and with a couple of widgets on your home screen you hit them regularly to update the backup and you really are up to date, Far better than backing up the firmware.

        Mohamed Mujees


    • xsquid 3
      xsquid Feb 1, 2016 Link to comment

      It sounds to me like you are the one whining. I have owned root explorer pro for years, have been rooting since the beginning, and it takes a back seat to solid explorer. I have both installed but root installer pro is backup. SD maid is an excellent app and has been for years, I would recommend it over any other "cleaner" app that can use root. Wipe the drool off your face and accept that your opinion means no more than his and stop whining.

      Mohamed Mujees


  • Al JR 2
    Al JR Dec 8, 2015 Link to comment

    No, rooting is not safe. Alot of bricked devices, scripts appearing after root, or unroot, disabled functionality etc.
    If you have 'app permissions' in Security and can disable stuff (a different Launcher will hide the Google search), then that's nearly as good.
    Your browsing speed is governed by Mbs of signal, not liteness of system.
    I do have 3 rooted kit-kats put away for when Trebor update has thought-control and obligatory Google tattoo on ass..


    • xsquid 3
      xsquid Feb 1, 2016 Link to comment

      I have been rooting since the beginning hand have never bricked or had disabled functionality on any device. It does help to know what you are doing though.

      Mohamed Mujees


  • 18
    Deactivated Account Dec 8, 2015 Link to comment

    Is rooting the device safe? What is the exact & safe procedure to do it?

    Mohamed Mujees


    • 49
      storm Dec 8, 2015 Link to comment

      Each phone is different. It can also vary with the carrier having made changes to the phone as well. Look up you phone on xda for more details

      Mohamed Mujees


  • 49
    storm Dec 8, 2015 Link to comment

    I like Ad Away better than Adblock Plus. Plus is a bit more cluttery in the notifications and not as effective outside of the browser. Ad Away also doesn't trigger sites that detect ad blockers.

    Titanium Backup with the paid for root features gives you the app freeze and delete features of System App remover. No need to duplicate features imho though it does cost a bit to get the extra features of Titanium.

    Tasker is a great app, but before that I have to list Droid Wall and Xposed or some other App Opps permissions editor. Droid Wall increases my security and control of apps and is easy to use. And permissions control is a primary reason for Root.

    I've used ROM Manager and a few of the others, but they don't really simplify things that much. And their limitations in finding ROMs is a bigger burden than what they solve. If you have the ability to unlock your phone and root it, TWRP and a web browser is more powerful and versatile.

    Dwarfer66

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