What Is the Motorola X Root?

What Rooting Does

By default, the Android operating system locks the system files in the root directory. You cannot change the files, or run third-party programs that make changes to the files. Some third-party programs require access to these files to run properly. Rooting is the process of removing these restrictions.

Reasons to Root

Some carriers have opted to remove certain functions of the Android operating system. For example, the base version of Android 2.2 allows you to use the device as a tethered modem over Wi-Fi. Many carriers opted to remove this function from their handsets. When you root your Droid X, you can install third-party software that restores this functionality. Rooting your device also allows you to get rid of pre-installed applications where the carrier has removed the uninstall feature. Since the file that instructs the phone which carrier's network to use is protected, rooting is also an essential step in flashing the phone to a different carrier. If you don't like the stock version of the Android OS, you can also flash a custom ROM after rooting.

Reasons Not to Root

The main drawback is that some carriers will void the warranty on the device if they discover the Droid X has been rooted. However, you can get around this by restoring the stock ROM. If you need to submit the Droid X for repair, loading the stock ROM will restore it to factory state. Another disadvantage is it is possible for programs to make changes that cause the phone to become unstable. You can avoid this problem by making a recovery file as soon as you root the Droid X. Install the Droid X Recovery Bootstrap program from the Android market and select 'Reboot Recovery' to launch the recovery console where you can create and restore backup images.

Rooting Process

Rooting the Motorola Droid X is a fairly simple process. To root the Droid X, install a program called z4root. Open the phone's browser and enter 'http://static.droidnetwork.net/wicked/files/z4root.1.3.0.apk' in the address bar. The Droid X may ask if you want to install the file. Click 'Allow' if prompted. The file will download and install automatically. Once the download finishes, press the 'Home' button and open the application tray. Touch 'z4root' and touch 'Root.' Select 'Permanent Root' if you want root access on a permanent basis, or 'Temporary Root' if you only need it to uninstall some programs or make temporary changes.