Rooting can be performed on almost every Android device, but the process differs between manufacturers. The process may seem daunting at first, but it is doable, and you don’t need to be a programmer to do it. With a bit of research and effort, you can tap into the enormous potential that lies hidden within your Android device. Here are a few pointers to set you on your way:

Why root?

As I mentioned earlier, rooting unleashes your device’s full potential, but what does that exactly mean? The root leaves your device and OS completely the same, except it now has administrative access. For starters, it lets you get rid of all the bloatware and system apps that have been clogging your device, those pesky apps you just can’t seem to uninstall. Every company has their own such apps: Google has Hangouts, Google Fit, Play music; Samsung has the Galaxy Apps, Chat On, GameHub, and so on.

Rooting also allows you to customise the user interface for a custom look, overclock and underclock your processor (meaning you can reduce or optimise performance), or block ads, among others. And most importantly, rooting allows you to install custom ROMs, the customised versions of Android, made specifically for your device.

But should you?

The basic drawback of rooting is that it nullifies your device’s warranty offer. You can work around this problem by simply unrooting your device and flashing (installing) your original backup ROM before you send it for repairs.

Secondly, and this is the biggest risk, when you root, you run the risk of bricking your device. What that means is that you could inadvertently shut down your device and thus transform it into an object as useful as a brick. Bricks are also of two types: Soft bricks, where recovery is possible, and hard bricks—devices that have already reached the point of no return. But enough research—make sure the custom ROM is specifically designed for your device—and proper adherence to the instructions should lead you to the finish with your device still alive and kicking.

Rooting may also give malicious apps a more straight forward access to your system. Although the chances of this happening are minimal, make sure to download apps from trusted developers after the root.

How to go about it?

First of all, make sure you backup everything important on your phone. (Or, if you want to backup your entire ROM, use custom recovery backups such as a NANDroid Backup.) Unfortunately, there isn’t a universal method for rooting all devices—the process varies depending on your device brand and model. But what you will require is your USB cable, a PC with your device’s drivers installed, a fully charged device and the USB debugging mode enabled.

To find USB debugging, just go to settings and then select the developer option. If you don’t have a developer option, go to ‘about phone’ in the settings and repeatedly press on the build number until it is enabled.

Now comes the tricky part. Since every device has its own process of rooting, you’ll have to do some research on your own. There are abundant forums on the Internet to help with this, but your biggest ally is xda-developers.com. It is the largest Android forum in the world and provides detailed step-by-step instructions and downloads for most devices. Make sure to search for your device and adhere to the instructions.

Now that you know the basics of rooting, it’s up to you to decide if the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

And if you are ready to take the leap and explore, welcome to an improved Android experience.