Search
Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
17 comments

30 Apps for Rooted Android Phones

30 Apps for Rooted Android Phones
By
The Root of the Matter

In a past article, we touched on how and why you’d want to "root" your Android phone. It enables you and your apps to use the superuser (or root) permissions of the Linux-based operating system. As a result, you have more control over the device. For example, you can remove preinstalled apps (bloatware), make full device backups, better control the usage of apps, and use and customize more device components and settings. Presented here is a list of 30 apps that take advantage of superuser permissions in order to unlock extra functionality, performance, and system tweaks.

 If you see we haven't mentioned your favorite root app, leave a comment and let us know!

WARNING: don't try these apps unless you know what you're doing. Installing one of these apps could lead to your phone becoming inoperable.

See our full selection of Android Apps

See more See less

You need to be logged to post a comment

There are 17 Comments.
Other Comments
  • 0
    Fusion777 , October 20, 2011 9:36 AM
    How could you leave out http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/?
    shame!
  • 1
    torque79 , October 21, 2011 8:53 PM
    love the call blocker and the samba file sharing apps. drag and drop to network location >>>>> USB docking with Samsung Kies software (which works, but is obviously nowhere near as convenient).
  • 0
    misry , October 22, 2011 12:48 AM
    Who can live without Samba and adbWireless?
  • 1
    nurgletheunclean , October 11, 2012 1:50 AM
    Rom Toolbox replaces half of these apps, and offers even more tweaks not even listed.
  • 1
    kelemvor33 , October 11, 2012 2:40 AM
    LinkSD is a life saver for me. If you have a phone that has little internal memory (like my old Optimus V and Optimus S) LinkSD lets you use part of your SD card as internal memory. Previously I could only install a handful of app even if I used the built in Move to SD Card option. With LinkSD, it moves the entire app to the SD card bt fooling the phone. I can now install unlimited apps (or until I fill up the card).

    Oh, and Wifi Tether of course.
  • 1
    quicksand10 , October 11, 2012 3:46 AM
    Your download link to Market AutoUpdate Bulk Toggle doesn't work. Also, it's not available on the Play Market.

    Seemed like such a good idea!
  • 1
    amk-aka-Phantom , October 11, 2012 11:04 AM
    Fusion777How could you leave out http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/?shame!


    Inbuilt into Cyanogenmod... nothing to look at here.
  • 2
    amk-aka-Phantom , October 11, 2012 11:05 AM
    Actually, number one download for any rooted Android device (provided it's supported) should be CM.
  • 0
    dalmvern , October 11, 2012 8:16 PM
    Why Samba rather than Dropbox? I tried Samba a while back, but didnt really like it compared to Dropbox, and was just wondering if anyone had a compelling argument for Samba.
  • 1
    joebob2000 , October 12, 2012 12:35 AM
    dalmvernWhy Samba rather than Dropbox? I tried Samba a while back, but didnt really like it compared to Dropbox, and was just wondering if anyone had a compelling argument for Samba.

    Dropbox is cloud based storage and Samba is local peer-peer storage. They are completely different methods of transferring files.
  • 3
    yjagota , October 12, 2012 1:59 PM
    I am surprised by the non inclusion of Titanium Backup.
  • 0
    anonymous@guest , December 18, 2012 8:49 PM
    "How could you leave out http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/?
    shame!"
    "I am surprised by the non inclusion of Titanium Backup."
    Previous article nincompoops also "Inbuilt into Cyanogenmod... nothing to look at here." Always something to look at its called kernal source code dipshit!
  • 0
    pheroh , February 12, 2013 11:26 PM
    DroidWall is abandonod.. AFWall+ is the successor.
  • 0
    anonymous@guest , February 13, 2013 5:03 AM
    I use CIFSManager (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ws.plattner.cifsmanager) quite a bit as it provides a link to NAS based storage and makes it look like local storage on an Android device.
    This way your music collection appears local(and accessible)
    But true, I guess it's not a top 30.
  • 0
    Rimist , March 28, 2013 1:51 PM
    LBE Privacy Guard is not currently compatible with Jelly Bean. It crashes the system into a rebooting loop.
  • 0
    Simon958 , April 9, 2013 9:24 PM
    G Cloud Backup also must be added to list
  • 0
    Cedric Counotte , June 2, 2013 7:03 AM
    What about Android Tuner? It actually is an all-in-one app that includes every root features one can dream of, and can actually replace many apps in this list ;) 
Related Content
Tom’s guide in the world
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Ireland
  • UK
Follow Tom’s guide
Subscribe to our newsletter