One click root for most of the Android phones/devices using Z4root

by Keshav Gupta · 20 comments

in Android, Hacks, Tutorials and Solutions

At the end of this post you will be able to root your android device using z4root and know the use of rooting.

android-root

You need to understand the meaning of root first. Root is to android what jailbreak is to iPhone/iPod/iPad. It will grant you root privileges and you will be able to access all the files on your operating system with unrestricted access.

Advantages of rooting:

  1. Access to a new plethora  of application – bluetooth file transfer , titanium backup etc
  2. Change whatever you want on your device – themes , system apps , even enhance capabilities of your phone.
  3. Put custom roms on your phone – more suited to your taste ( CyanogenMod FTW).

Disadvantages:

  1. You messing up too much with your phone and having to restore.
  2. Warranty void ??? not really, as no one would know you have rooted unless you do something with your phone theme :p
  3. Can’t think of more as there aren’t really any.

After me clearly outweighing the disadvantages, here you go about how to root your phone (works on all versions 1.5-cupcake, 1.6-donut, 2.1-eclair and 2.2-froyo too).

Steps

  1. Go to android market on your phone and search for “ z4root ” or download the z4root .apk from here.
  2. Download and install z4root.
  3. Now go to Settings->Applications->Development and check USB debugging, if unchecked.
  4. Open z4root and select permanent and then Click root, some magic happens and you are done.
  5. z4rootscreenshot

  6. Hurrah you are rooted now, enjoy!

After you have rooted your phone checkout the Top 7 Must Have Applications after you Root your Android phone

[Update] Some people are reporting that they are not able to install z4root on Motorola Backflip 1.5, you can root with this method

List of phones known to support permanent root:

Samsung Galaxy S (All variants)
Motorola Backflip
Sony X10
Sony Xperia Mini
Motorola Droid 2
Samsung Galaxy Tab
Samsung Galaxy I5700
Samsung Galaxy 3 I5800
Motorola Droid X
Samsung Acclaim
Cricket Huawei Ascend
Motorola Cliq
Huawei 8120
HTC Hero
HTC G1
LG Optimus T
Droid 1
Garmin Asus A50
Motorola Defy
LG Ally
Motorola Flipside
Motorola Milestone 2
Dell streak
X10 Mini Pro
Smartq v7 android 2.1

{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

1 arnab December 7, 2010 at 7:33 pm

hi,

cant find z4root in android market…can you help

cheers

arnab

Reply

2 Keshav Gupta December 7, 2010 at 11:45 pm

Hi Arnab,
you can install “mymarket” from Market and then in MyMarket search for “Z4root”
else I’ll upload the apk here

Reply

3 vijay December 9, 2010 at 1:38 am

Hi Keshav,
Thanks for putting up such an awesome tutorial. I’ve been desperately trying to root my Motorola Backflip for the last couple of weeks but haven’t been successful. I’ve downloaded Z4root from the link you’ve provided but every time I try to install it, it says “This ap cannot be installed”. I’ve got the Indian version of the Backflip that has Android 1.5 without Motoblur. Do you have any suggestions on how I can root and hopefully upgrade it to Android 2.1.

Reply

4 Keshav Gupta December 9, 2010 at 9:05 pm

vijay..i have a backflip too, i did it myself also
i’ll give you heads up on another way too, wait a little

Reply

5 vijay December 10, 2010 at 12:11 am

HI,
That is positively the best news I’ve heard in a long time. in addition to the z4root method method I’ve also triwed the Superoneclickroot method and the one given at Modmymoto to no avail. I’m looking forward to the alternative method that you’ve mentioned. BTW, is it possible for you to send me the files for Motonav. I formatted my sd card after I bought my phone and lost the Motonav maps and license. I’ve been after Motorola customer care for ages but they just can’t seem to get their act together.
Thanks a lot for everything. I look forward to your reply.
Regards,
Vijay

Reply

6 Keshav Gupta December 10, 2010 at 12:30 am

for the maps you will have to go to customer service center as the license file is attached to the IMEI.. so even if I upload the maps it won’t be of any use. Moreover there has been an update from Motorola for Indian Maps to Q3-2010 which you can only get from customer service center.
btw Tutorial coming up in 15 minutes.

Reply

7 Krishan Bothra December 9, 2010 at 9:51 pm

Dear Keshav,
I have downloaded from your link and not able to install, say this application is not for my phone.
I have purchased this from Singapore.

Krishan Bothra

Reply

8 Keshav Gupta December 9, 2010 at 10:10 pm
9 nasir December 26, 2010 at 11:06 pm

hey there, i would like to know, does rooting enable me to instal apps to sd card?
if not, how could i do it?
im on xperia x10 minipro

Reply

10 ashok December 27, 2010 at 10:52 pm

Hi Keshav,

i tried the z4root from your link. I got the same error as vijay has mentioned.

Did you get an alternative way to fix it.

regads
ashok

Reply

11 Keshav Gupta December 27, 2010 at 11:32 pm
12 michael January 16, 2011 at 7:36 am

when I try to install it, it says “z4root could not be installed on this phone”

Reply

13 SudhanshuJain March 6, 2011 at 6:03 pm

I tried installing the z4root and it gives an error “There is a problem parsing the package”

Reply

14 Keshav Gupta March 6, 2011 at 10:50 pm

this works for 2.1 and above. you should try the other method – rageagainstthecage

Reply

15 donnie March 23, 2011 at 12:41 am

Seems like a lot of people don’t have permissions to install non market apps. They need to use adb to install z4root. Going to try to root when I get home.

Reply

16 mavjdm May 9, 2011 at 12:17 pm

Use Android Injector!!! i had a hard time trying to install but after downloading this program for windows and using the .apk file for z4root it worked like a charm

An easy way is to use freeware Android Injector from http://www.harmonyhollow.net/android_injector.shtml

Reply

17 txgold4x May 13, 2011 at 7:36 am

@mavjdm – thanks for this tip. the injector program worked great! I did, however, have to go thru several iterations of installing Z4root before Permanent Root loaded on Cliq with 2.1.

Reply

18 clay g August 7, 2011 at 6:53 am

I was having trouble loading z4root. Solution I found on the market was “sideload enabler for backflip” loaded it and it worked great…got z4 on and rooted my phone…hope this easy fix helps! 🙂

Reply

19 Cairn September 22, 2013 at 5:02 am

My MB300 does not have a Settings … Security -> Unknown Sources option. AT&T removed it? Is there some way of rooting Android 2.1 without the option?

Reply

20 Ashish Mishra January 30, 2014 at 9:31 pm

Sir I have Motorola Backflip MB300 I want to Update them But this cell are not Update then Help me Plzz Keshav I want update my phone

Reply

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