• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Any drawbacks to rooting?

M

mwemaxxowner

Member
I am looking to root my new G4 plus. I have never rooted anything before. I just wondered, are there any drawbacks to rooting? I imagine things like automatic updates could be a problem.
 
No drawbacks to rooting. It makes everything accessible for change. So beware, and read, read, and read rooting for beginners. You can google it.
 
Yes there are MAJOR drawbacks to rooting... while it does let you do some things accessible for change... it does mean that you can break some stuff... to the point where you have a shiny paperweight in your hand instead of a phone.....

Make sure you read, read, read... and know how to recover your device back (if you need to re-install the software again a simple factory reset will NOT do it for you)... with a well supported device like a G4 plus you should be able to do this.. with a generic cheap device you stand no chance...

Also, some Apps, won't work on a rooted device, these include Banking, TV, and some games like Pokemon Go. Whilst there are ways of cloaking your device from these, they won't always work.. As you mentioned.. OTA updates can cause major problems for rooted devices... and of course some manufactures may consider rooting to void your warranty.

Am I saying don't root your device? NO, I'm not saying that. A couple of years ago, you needed to do that do a lot of things... these days, the need to root (for most people) isn't quite as compelling. If there isn't a reason why you need to do it, you might want put it off for a while , and just enjoy your device.
 
Since getting the device, I have no need. I'm able to tether and do what i want.

However, I've recently found that my mic is no good during a phone call, but picks up fine while video recording.

I wonder if a root would allow me to make the mic work as if video recording while on a call somehow.

It occurred after I spilled some oil on the phone, which I do know got in the speaker. Seems strange to me that the mic works on video. I assumed if it was due to the oil, it would either work, or it wouldn't. It is all clean and free of oil now.
 
I don't know. There are obviously two mics, and i have spoken into each of them while recording video.

And, it *seems* that I can hear from both of them.

But, you're touching on my point.

I'm curious if there is an app that can force either or both mics into operation during a particular function, or if rooting would allow it. None of my water sensors are tripped, and it doesn't seem to me oil should short anything out, so I've contemplated sending it in. I'd be happy paying for a repair if it was cheaper than another 250 for a phone.

I believe the mic would be a simple part to replace if I could order it. If I could narrow it down to surely being that.


Another thing worth noting. Motorola tech support also thought it odd that the mic works via video recording. And told me to check for third party app interference.

I have a thread specifically about the mic issue in here on the g4+ subforum.
 
Last edited:
The microphone audio comes from a true Microphone.

The audio that is from a Phone Call comes from the demodulator in the receiver of the phone.

The two are not even close in relationships to each other.
The phone call apps being able to record the phone's audio depends on the device, and also on the version of Android.
If the API is not provided in the Android O.S. to allow an app to hear the incoming audio from a phone call, the app is not going to be able to record that audio.

The same is true for recording a Bluetooth headset on a phone call. It depends on how the programmer set it all up.

I use a BT headset all the time, can't live without it.
a previous phone and OS would NOT record my voice when on a call.

Then a new OS update came along, wow!!! the ACR recording app started recording my voice on phone calls while using the BT headset....
 
On some devices you won't receive updates if your device is rooted. And apps like Android Pay won't work because your device is insecure.
 
AZgl1500 said:
The microphone audio comes from a true Microphone.

The audio that is from a Phone Call comes from the demodulator in the receiver of the phone.

The two are not even close in relationships to each other.
The phone call apps being able to record the phone's audio depends on the device, and also on the version of Android.
If the API is not provided in the Android O.S. to allow an app to hear the incoming audio from a phone call, the app is not going to be able to record that audio.

The same is true for recording a Bluetooth headset on a phone call. It depends on how the programmer set it all up.

I use a BT headset all the time, can't live without it.
a previous phone and OS would NOT record my voice when on a call.

Then a new OS update came along, wow!!! the ACR recording app started recording my voice on phone calls while using the BT headset....
Click to expand...
I can even hear myself in the speaker as I talk, yet the person on the other side cannot.

I'm beginning to wonder if it has something to do with the aux/headphone jack.

Solving that issue for me is much more pressing than rooting. I have removed the screws and the black cover, which I'm assuming voids any warranty I may have been entitled to. I just want it working. I'm fine with paying for it, or replacing the parts myself.
 
Last edited:
mwemaxxowner said:
I can even hear myself in the speaker as I talk, yet the person on the other side cannot.

I'm beginning to wonder if it has something to do with the aux/headphone jack.

Solving that issue for me is much more pressing than rooting. I have removed the screws and the black cover, which I'm assuming voids any warranty I may have been entitled to. I just want it working. I'm fine with paying for it, or replacing the parts myself.
Click to expand...
Oh, you did not make that clear.

There is no way to copy audio from the headphone jack, i read an explanation that explains that somewhere.

Stick with using a BT headset, or just using the phone's internal microphone.
 
AZgl1500 said:
Oh, you did not make that clear.

There is no way to copy audio from the headphone jack, i read an explanation that explains that somewhere.

Stick with using a BT headset, or just using the phone's internal microphone.
Click to expand...
BT headsets are quite nice.. My fave so far has been the Motorola S-11HD. They fit in my helmet quite nicely also.. But it's been 2yrs since I've rode a bike and it seems the BT headphones are making good progress.
 
AZgl1500 said:
Oh, you did not make that clear.

There is no way to copy audio from the headphone jack, i read an explanation that explains that somewhere.

Stick with using a BT headset, or just using the phone's internal microphone.
Click to expand...
I can't. When I make a call, the person on the other end doesn't hear anything. Lol.

Not, it's faint, or muffled, they don't hear me at all. On speakerphone either. Yet i can hear my own echo in my ear. Bluetooth headsets are not an option. I must wear earplugs at work.

But, what I'm saying is, I wonder if my headphone jack has malfunctioned in some way and, due to that, my phone is muting the mic during a call. Voice searches and talk to text also do not work.

When recording video both mikes seem to function.


Please, if you don't mind, stop by my below thread for a full explanation and give any insight if you think you can.

http://androidforums.com/index.php?threads/1094724/
 
If I have headphones plugged in, the person I'm calling can hear me fine. Does the phone switch to the mic on the back with headphones in the jack?

Just an average pair of earbuds. Nothing with a mic.

I could get by with this as a very poor workaround, but it would be far from ideal. I would have to carry them around, and plug them in to make a call.


Edit-I'm a dummy. I was using my wife's apple headphones. They have a mic very discretely built in.

I believe the mic is simply damaged. It seems it is a delicate soldering affair to replace. I've found the part, I just have to find someone who can do the repair that I feel comfortable sending my phone to.
 
Last edited:
IIRC, the Apple phones take a different type of microphone than our Android phones.

one is an electret, and the other is a dynamic. ( works like a speaker in reverse )

using one instead of the other can cause damage to the mic element. which way, I forget, been too many years, and one big 18 wheeler wreck ago.
 
Well, if it doesn't work anyway...lol.

It appears the mic that the phone uses during calls and for talk to text is damaged. I wish I could just force it to use the mic on the back somehow.

I have found the part, but it appears to be a delicate repair. Any tips on a place that will do it reasonably would be greatly appreciated.
 
I googled and googled about damage from using mic'd headsets and couldn't find anything. Although I don't care to use that as a workaround. I want to find someone to replace my mic.

Is there, perhaps, a mic that will plug in to the phone? Just a mic, and I could hold the phone up to my ear like normal with the phone speaker?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom