Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

This wikiHow teaches you how to check if your Android phone has been tampered with with root intervention. With a rooted Android device, you'll be free to install tweaks and access system files. The most common way to check the root status of an Android device is to download the Root Checker app (free), you can also use the Terminal emulator to check if the Android device is running an older operating system (middle Android 1.5 and Android 4.0).

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Use Root Checker

1. 

   Play Store on Android. Tap the Play Store app icon with a multicolored triangle on a white background.

2. 

   
   
   Tap the search bar at the top of the screen. The Android keyboard will appear.

3. 

   Find the Root Checker app. Import root checker and click Root Checker appears in the drop-down menu.
   • Root Checker application has a tick icon over the pound sign (#).

4. 

   
   
   Press INSTALL (SETTING). This green button is in the top-right corner of the page. Root Checker will begin to install.
   • You may need to click ACCEPT (ACCEPTED) if asked.

5. 

   
   
   Open Root Checker. Press OPEN (OPEN) in the Google Play Store, or tap the Root Checker icon in the Android App Drawer.

6. 

   Press AGREE (agree) when asked. Option is in the "Disclaimer" pop-up in the middle of the screen. This shows that you agree to the Root Checker privacy statement that shows up in the pop-up window.

7. 

   Click GET STARTED (start) is at the bottom of the screen. The Root Checker application will be reloaded.

8. 

   Click VERIFY ROOT (ROOT TEST) at the top of the screen. Root Checker will start checking to see if the Android device has been rooted.

9. 

   See the results appear. If you see the message "Congratulations! Root access is properly installed on this device" appear at the top of the screen, the Android device is rooted.
   • If instead, the message "Sorry! Root access is not properly installed on this device" appears at the top of the screen, meaning the Android device is not properly installed. be rooted.
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Method 2 of 2: Use a Terminal emulator

1. 

   First try to look for signs that the device is rooted. In most cases, rooted Android devices — especially older models — will have an application called "SuperUser" or similar installed in the App Drawer. If you see something like that in the App Drawer then this Android device is rooted and you don't need to proceed with the method below.

2. 

   Open Play Store. Tap the Play Store icon, which is a multicolored triangle on a white background or briefcase.

3. 

   Find the Terminal Emulator app. Tap the search bar at the top of the screen (you may need to Apps or similar first), then enter terminal emulator for android Click and click "Search" or "Enter".

4. 

   Install apps. Select the Terminal Emulator for Android app with a green Android icon on a blue background, then tap INSTALL (or similar) then press ACCEPT when it appears. The app will download and install on your Android device.

5. 

   Open Terminal Emulator. Click OPEN in the Play Store (if applicable); Or click on the Terminal Emulator app icon in the Android App Drawer.

6. 

   Enter the command "super user". On the main Terminal window, type su Click on the "Search" or "Enter" button on the Android keyboard.

7. 

   See response results. If you see the command line icon switch from $ to # then the Android device is rooted; similarly, if you are asked to grant permission to execute commands as an expert user (or something like that) then the Android device is rooted.
   • If you get the command line "su: command not found" or another error message then the Android device does not have advanced access (not rooted yet).
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Advice

• The SuperUser app is one of the most popular ways to root an Android phone. If you see an application called Super User or SU on your device, the device is most likely rooted.

Warning

• Rooted Android devices will be void of warranty.