SEVEN THINGS YOU DON’T HAVE TO ROOT ANDROID TO DO ANYMORE

marvinci · 发表于 2019-02-05 15:51:11

Edited by marvinci at 2019-02-05 15:53

For years, Android enthusiasts have been rooting their devices to[br]do things that Android doesn’t allow by default. But Google has[br]added many features to Android that once required root, eliminating the need for many people.[br][br]And with every major release of Android, the list of reasons to root[br]a device is getting shorter and shorter—what used to be a requisite[br]reasons for rooting is often an included feature at this point. Here[br]are some of the top examples.[br][br]TAKE SCREENSHOTS [br][br][img src="http://admin.infinix.club/data/attachment/forum/201902/05/23719615c59406cdb96b.png?633191" aid="633191"][br][br]You could always take screenshots by connecting your Android[br]smartphone or tablet to your computer, but taking screenshots on[br]your device was once a privilege reserved only for root users. It[br]seems like this was an eternity ago, and if you’re not a lifelong[br]Android user, you may not even be aware there was a time when[br]screenshots required a rooted device. Crazy, right?[br][br]But now, it’s simple : press volume down and power at the same[br]time to take a screenshots (or the home button and power on[br]Galaxy devices with physical buttons). And poof —a screencap[br]ready to share with the world. I honestly still can’t believe this was[br]ever not a native function.[br][br]DISABLE PRE-INSTALLED APPS [br][br][img src="http://admin.infinix.club/data/attachment/forum/201902/05/23719615c59406d478a4.png?633192" aid="633192"][br][br]Look, no one likes bloatware. But once upon a time, your personal[br]feelings on the crap your manufacturer or carrier wanted you to[br]have on your phone didn’t matter. You were stuck with it, unless[br]you rooted your handset.[br][br]Now, however, you can easily disable preinstalled applications[br]right from Android’s settings . This is particularly useful for the[br]aforementioned bloatware situation, though it’s possible some[br]manufacturers may disable this feature on their devices. That’s an[br]unfortunate downside of such an open operating system. The good news is that it doesn’t seem to be common practice for most[br]major Android OEMs at this point.[br][br]To disable a preinstalled application, open Android’s Settings[br]screen, select Apps, and flick over to the All category (this is the[br]default view on Oreo handsets). Tap the app you want to disable in[br]the list.[br][br]If you can’t uninstall the app, you’ll see a Disable button where the[br]Uninstall button would be. Tap the button to disable the app. The[br]Disable button may not be available for some essential packages[br]that are part of the Android OS, but you can disable default apps[br]like the Calendar, Gallery, and Clock. You can even disable[br]Android’s built-in keyboard (though we wouldn’t).[br][br]REVOKE PERMISSIONS [br][br][img src="http://admin.infinix.club/data/attachment/forum/201902/05/23719615c59406db4976.png?633193" aid="633193"][br][br][br]This is one area where Android has made very large strides over[br]the last several versions. Once upon a time, you had no control[br]over what apps were allowed to do on your phone and with your[br]information. Since then, it’s evolved to have a bit more broad[br]control, and now incredibly granular control.[br][br]Because controlling permissions is so granular now, it’s a little[br]more in depth than just a “click here, then here, then here.”[br][br][br]RESTRICT CELLULAR DATA. [br][br][img src="http://admin.infinix.club/data/attachment/forum/201902/05/23719615c59406e26f84.png?633194" aid="633194"][br][br][br]With Android’s built-in tools, you can restrict specific apps from[br]using the cellular data connection in the background. It’s not quite[br]a firewall that blocks network access for specific apps, but it’s still[br]useful.[br][br]To take advantage of this feature, go into the Settings menu and[br]select Data usage (on Oreo, you’ll find Data Usage in the Networks[br]& Internet menu). In addition to setting data limits, viewing charts,[br]and disabling mobile data entirely, you can tap a specific app and[br]uncheck the “Background Data” option to prevent the app from[br]using mobile data in the background. The app can still use data if[br]you open it, and can still use data on Wi-Fi networks, but it won’t[br]be able to use the cellular data connection in the background.[br][br][img src="/storage/emulated/0/download/Screenshot_20171207-102319.png"][br][br]You can also tell Android to treat specific Wi-Fi networks like[br]they’re cellular networks. To do this, tap the “Network restrictions”[br]option under the Wi-Fi subsection in the Data Usage menu, then[br]set the Wi-Fi network as “Metered.” This essentially tells Android[br]to restrict data on this network in the same way it does on cellular[br]networks. Super granular control![br][br]ENCRYPT DEVICE STORAGE [br][br][img src="http://admin.infinix.club/data/attachment/forum/201902/05/23719615c59406e9551b.png?633195" aid="633195"][br][br]Android includes built-in encryption support, allowing you to[br]encrypt your smartphone or tablet’s entire storage. When you power it on, you’ll have to enter its encryption password—if you forget this[br]password, you’ll have to perform a factory reset and lose all your[br]data. If your device is stolen, the thief will need your credentials to[br]decrypt it and access your data (assuming it’s powered off).[br][br]To encrypt your Android smartphone or tablet, go into it Settings[br]screen, tap Security, and tap Encrypt tablet or Encrypt phone. It’s[br]worth noting that this process will take a while to complete and[br]once it’s done, it’s done. You won’t be able to undo the encryption[br]without a factory reset.[br][br]CONNECT TO VPNs[br][br][img src="http://admin.infinix.club/data/attachment/forum/201902/05/23719615c59406f1732e.png?633196" aid="633196"][br][br][br]If you want to connect your Android to a virtual private network—[br]say, your work VPN—you don’t need to root it and install a VPN[br]client like you once did. Hooray for innovation![br][br]Some VPNs may have their own standalone apps, but ifyours[br]doesn’t, you can go into the Settings menu, tap More under[br]Wireless & Networks, and tap VPN. You’ll be able to add and edit[br]multiple VPN profiles. On Oreo, you’ll find the VPN option in the[br][br]RESTART YOUR PHONE WITH ONE TAP [br][br][br]

[br][br][br]Once upon a time, you had to either turn your phone off and back[br]on again manually, or you had to root to restart it with one tap.[br][br]Honestly, it’s a stupid thing, but man what a difference it makes—I[br]can’t tell you how many times I turned my phone off to restart it[br]and forgot to turn it back on before this feature became[br]commonplace.[br][br]I’m sure you already know how to do this: long-press the power[br]button to bring up the menu, then tap restart. It’s easy.[br]While there are still some things you can only do by rooting your[br]Android, Google’s doing a good job of adding features to the[br]Android OS where they make sense.