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Leaving rooted Android

Štěpán's website [Unofficial] June 2, 2026
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I've got a new phone - a Pixel 7 Pro that someone broke, my grandpa bought cheaply and repaired. First thing I did was to install GrapheneOS. The biggest change about that switch is that GrapheneOS doesn't provide root access, and apparently for a good reason. In this blog post, I'll list every single tool I use that uses root privileges, to see what am I going to lose by switching to a non-rooted system.

KernelSU modules

There are two main ways of utilizing root access: Modules and Superuser apps.

Superuser apps are regular android apps that you grant root access. Some of them require root access for a few features but work without it. Like a file manager that can browse restricted parts of the filesystem if granted root access.

Root modules, on the other hand, are scripts specific to the root method you use - KernelSU Next in my case (but most people know Magisk). They usually do some deeper system changes, and aren't expected to have an UI (but some of them do). Here are the modules I have installed at the time of preparing to switch to the new phone:

  • JamesDSP Manager
    • https://github.com/james34602/JamesDSPManager
    • Advanced audio processing engine
    • I used it as an equalizer.
    • Overkill running in background.
    • I don't have great headphones and lossless music streaming, didn't notice a difference really.
    • It broke and I didn't bother fixing it.
    • there's a rootless version with some limitations that are not dealbreakers for me
  • ReZygisk
  • RVX YT Music, Youtube RVX LITE
    • RVX stands for ReVanced Extended, which is a modified version of the ReVanced patches.
    • These allow you to patch various applications (YouTube and YouTube Music for me) to remove ads, unlock premium features and add various enhancements.
    • I use root modules distributed through Telegram channel not affiliated with ReVanced or Revanced Extended 💀
    • I use these just for the convenience, I can just compile ReVanced (Extended) APKs.
  • WiFi Password Viewer for MMRL
  • Zygisk - LSPosed
    • See LSPosed modules
  • Tricky Store OSS, PlayIntegrityFix-NEXT
  • AshLooper - Boot Loop protection
  • Lightweight Exynos Undervolter (LEU)
    • It's supposed to improve battery life by undervolting the CPU.
    • Only works on Samsung (Exynos chip).
    • Didn't notice any difference using it.
  • Zygisk - Sui
    • https://github.com/RikkaApps/Sui
    • Like Shizuku but for giving root access
    • Unmaintained, stopped displaying the list of apps 💀 (so I can't check or revoke their privileges)

Wow! It looks like I could do just fine without those modules. The only issue could be LSPosed, so let's see what do I use that for.

LSPosed modules

LSPosed (JingMatrix's fork) is a modern reimplementation of the Xposed framework. Xposed is a framework for modules that can change the behavior of the system and apps without touching any APKs.

For example: the ReVanced apps are traditionally modified by applying patches and compiling new patched APKs. LSPosed module could apply those same patches to regular apps installed from the Play Store, while not modyfiing them permanently. It can also hook multiple apps, for general patches like blocking screenshot detection.

Apps with Superuser rights

  • Shizuku
    • https://github.com/RikkaApps/Shizuku
    • Allows you to share ADB access with apps.
    • ADB allows you to do some restricted stuff on Android, not as much as root though.
    • Can be used without root, setting it up is annoying every time you need to use it.
    • OK for something like SD Maid SE , not for long running apps in the background, or things you need to do fast at the moment.
  • Android USB Script, USB HID Client
  • App Manager
    • https://github.com/MuntashirAkon/AppManager
    • So many features
      • displays running apps
      • app backup (with data)
      • app usage
      • also has a debloater
    • Very impressive app!
    • 10x better than the app manager in system settings.
    • I will miss this app :(
    • Some features will work without root, but probably not the most useful ones.
  • FindMyDevice
  • Material Files
  • SD Maid SE
  • Tasker
    • https://tasker.joaoapps.com/
    • Some features won't work (quite a lot)
    • It's a paid app. I bought it two years ago, and created like 2 tasks.
    • One of those apps that feel extremely useful, but you don't really use them that much.
    • One less app to run in the background.
  • Termux
    • https://github.com/termux/termux-app
    • Theoretically can do full linux distro chroot with root.
      • Full linux distro doesn't really bring much advantage over normal termux - In which I have tmux, neovim, python, node, even Zola SSG so I can live preview my website changes.
      • Running full linux distro is harsh on system resources, eats up disk space, and drains battery. Total overkill.
  • Lucky Patcher
    • https://luckypatchers.com/
    • Russian closed source app to patch apps and games, mainly to unlock paid content and get free coins/gems/whatever.
    • Security concerns
    • Unstable
    • I'm richer, so I don't need to crack apps that often.
      • I mean I'm not rich, but I can pay $4 for a good app.
      • Many apps can't be cracked anymore, LuckyPatcher's best years are over anyway.
  • Classic Power Menu
  • MMRL, WebUI X

Shizuku (Sui) enabled apps

Shizuku grants ADB, whether Sui grants root acces. In reality, most apps that use Sui can also use Shizuku, usually for the exact same features.

Will work with Shizuku

(They need it for one-time setup, or something I do once in a while)

Used Shizuku for installing apps without user confirmation

On newer android versions, you only have to confirm once for each app (store), and that gives the store permanent permission to update that app. Thus there's no need for root for installing.

Didn't actually use them

These are interesting, because when I first rooted my phone, I was really excited about them. Before that, I've always stumbled upon them in some F-Droid repo, and thought how great it would be if I had root and could use them. Well, turns out they aren't so useful as they seem, and I stopped using most of these apps shortly after I installed them.

Will miss

  • Hail
    • https://github.com/aistra0528/Hail
    • Freezes apps.
    • I use it to freeze proprietary apps that I unfortunately need every so often. I don't want them to have any chance to run unless I specifically start them - that's why I freeze them with Hail.
      • Google Maps
      • Google Home (for Chromecast)
      • Google (for Lens)
      • Spotify (for Jam)
    • Before you lecture me on how I shouldn't use these apps at all : Especially in the case of Maps and Lens, there are emergency situations where getting somewhere quickly (a hospital, a pharmacy), or identifying some object quickly (unknown pills that your child swallowed) is infinitely more important than privacy. With Hail, it's like if the apps were uninstalled when they are frozen, but I can still launch them immediately.
    • I freeze and unfreeze often, so starting Shizuku every time is not an option.
    • alternatives:
      • Hail could be used with Device Admin / Dhizuku, but with some annoying side effects.
      • Force Stop Helper is an app list that allows pinning apps to the top, indicates if an app is disabled, and when you click on the app, it takes you to it's system settings. You can open Force Stop Helper, and disable/enable any app with two clicks.
      • Based on GrapheneOS's response in this thread, I understand that freezing apps might be completely unnecessary, and I can just forbid them running in the background.

Conclusion

As I'm finishing this blog post, I've been using the new Pixel 7 Pro with GrapheneOS for more than two months. I don't really miss the features I lost with giving up root access, which was very counterintuitive for me, given the amount of them that I used. What's maybe more surprising is that I miss some non-root features much more - features that I didn't even know were Samsung-specific. Given enough caffeine, I'll try to write a blog post about that. Some day...

Thank you for reading! I don't have a comment system on my website yet, but here's a link to a Mastodon post where you can comment. Feel free to comment any corrections, recommendations, or just thoughts that crossed your mind while reading this.

I also posted a link on Lemmy, and there are some very interesting comments and discussion.

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