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Is it possible to root an unrooted phone?

Depends on manufacturer, model number and Android version.

Exactly. Period. These are locked down like crazy as per Carrier and/or Mfgr via bootloader. Locked bootloader = no Root, TWRP, or Custom ROMS.. Short list tho:

- Any ZTE
- Any KYOCERA

- VERIZON DEVICES. Anything, including Pixel/Nexus devices originally meant for development, you can't do crap with them. Enjoy VZW's hatred of Development.. Lol

- Boost Mobile/SPRINT: Any LG devices, period. I've successfully Rooted other Mfgrs devices easily with proper methods
 
As previously mentioned, it is very dependent on just what model phone you have, but an important question is just why do you want to root it?
If it's a matter of you just want to get a better understanding of how the Android OS works on your phone that's one thing, but if you have specific things you want to do, it's important to note that while rooting gives you the ability to do a lot more things to your phone, it does not give you the knowledge. Once you get root access to the operating system, you do need to be careful you don't do something to brick your phone, something that's easier when you're rooted, not so much when not.
 
You also have to consider the things you can't do if you decide to root your phone. As I understand it no financial apps will work on a rooted phone. That includes banking apps as well as Samsung pay and android pay (I think!). That is a deal breaker for a lot of folks myself included. I have gotten very spoiled to paying with my phone apps rather than carrying cards with me and when I do use a credit/debit card I have the added security of being able to lock those cards out on the fly with my banking app if I misplace them while I am out and about.
 
You also have to consider the things you can't do if you decide to root your phone. As I understand it no financial apps will work on a rooted phone. That includes banking apps as well as Samsung pay and android pay (I think!). That is a deal breaker for a lot of folks myself included. I have gotten very spoiled to paying with my phone apps rather than carrying cards with me and when I do use a credit/debit card I have the added security of being able to lock those cards out on the fly with my banking app if I misplace them while I am out and about.

Magisk & Magisk Hide mode works rather well these days.. ;)
 
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