Essential tools for super-users to upgrade out-of-the-box Android
It's sometimes pretty easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of hacking, rooting, and app options that Android offers. Which hack is the best way to go? Which ROM is the best one for the way you use your phone or tablet? Which of the rooted apps is going to save you the most time? Well, that's where this massive feature comes in. We'll run down the 50 best hacks, ROMs, and apps out there, telling you the essential tools you need to make sure that your rooted device is running as smoothly and efficiently as it can be. We'll show you what to use, how and when to use it, and why it's better than the alternatives. There are tips, tricks and tutorials as well, so even if you've already got all of the apps and hacks installed, there's a good chance you're going to learn something along the way.
Boost your performance
01 Use Device Control to add some speed to your device
Device Control is a free app for rooted devices that lets you easily take control of a number of different aspects of your phone or tablet. It’s ridiculously simple to use, presented in a way that’s a lot easier to understand than a lot of the apps in this area. It’s also got a lot of other functions that let you poke and prod specific apps to tailor them to your style. Plus you can use it to overclock your CPU and GPU to make sure that you are always sucking every single drop of juice out of the hardware on your Android device.
02 BootManager can easily speed up your start up
BootManager is an Xposed Framework Module that lets you stop apps from starting up when your phone or tablet switches on. This saves you precious seconds and should turn even the most sluggish devices into something a that’s great deal slicker. It might not sound that exciting, but it’s the little things that can really make a difference. The module isn’t the best looking one out there, but it’s simple to use and once it’s up and running you only need to think about it when you install a new app or process.
03 Install CyanogenMod
CyanogenMod is one of the fastest ROMs out there. It’s super slick, and it’s also open to customisation if you know what you’re doing. And on top of that, it’s super easy to get it installed on a compatible device. All you need is a computer and your phone’s USB cable, and you can get one of the smoothest ROMs installed in no time. It’s the perfect ROM for both beginners and more advanced users, and it’s well worth a play. If you’re interested, check out the website here tinyurl.com/oyq4bwg to get started.
04 Use SD Maid to clear out memory
SD Maid is an app that you can use to clean out some of the junk that inevitably gets left behind every time you uninstall an app. It digs out the bits of information and the little processes that are left behind, and makes sure your device isn’t getting clogged up with junk from apps you don’t even have installed any more. You’ll be surprised just how much can get left behind. It’s easy to use, it’s free to install, and if you run it regularly you will probably find your Android experience running a considerable amount better.
05 Use Greenify to improve battery life
Greenify kills apps when they have been idle for a certain amount of time, inevitably saving you from having to hunt for a power source and charger to boost your battery
Time to go green
Greenify is an app that runs on nonrooted devices, but has more functionality if you’ve flashed your Android. It’s free to download from the Play store and it’s definitely worth it.
Analyse everything
Grant the app super user status and then let it analyse the apps that you’ve got running in the background. You can tap to see apps that aren’t running as well.
Choose what to kill
Greenify will kill apps after a certain amount of idle time, so they’re not running in the background sucking up battery power. It will also turn off the notifications of the app.
Be smart
Apps that you Greenify will automatically turn off after a set amount of time – and they will do it all the time, so make sure you don’t block anything you need to keep running.
Experimental features
There are more options in the experimental settings. Some of them you’ll have to pay for, others you’ll need to install different apps or Xposed Framework modules to get working.
But experiment anyway
It’s worth having a play around to see what works for you. You might want to keep notifications running in the background for example. Be smart and find what’s best.
06 How to use Xposed Framework
Xposed Framework is a clever little app which lets you install different modules on your rooted Android phone or tablet that subtly alter the way things work, from aesthetic choices to much deeper alterations made to how your device works. However, getting the Installer up and running on your rooted device can be a bit of a fiddly process, so in this quick tutorial we will show you exactly how to do it. A lot of the hacks you’ll find in these pages are Xposed Framework Modules, so if you're unsure how to get them working, take a couple of minutes to read this and you’ll be sorted. All you will need to get started is your rooted Android device and an internet connection. Once you are ready, head to Step One.
07 Use ROM Manager to get the most out of your rooted device
What does it do?
1. ROM Manager is a pretty easy to use app that lets you take control of your installed ROMs, as well as letting you dig out more and install new ones. What else?
2. Use the market place to search different ROMs to try. Any more?
3. You can also use it to partition your SD card as well.
08 Get fast graphics performance
GL Tools is an app for rooted devices that lets you tweak the graphical performance of different apps. It’s best used if you’re trying to run something on your device and it doesn’t quite have the oomph to make it work. You can load GL Tools, poke down what the game is trying to do, and hey presto, it’ll run a lot better.
09 Use full!screen to use all of your screen
If you get annoyed by the positioning of your device’s on-screen buttons when watching films of playing games, full!screen is the app for you. It lets you make the bar disappear, reposition it as hot corners, or turn it into a pie-like floating wheel that disappears after a while. It’s free, easy to use and it’ll let you make the most of your tablet or phone’s big screen size.
10 Change the look of your device
XuiMod is an Xposed Framework Module that gives you control over the look and feel of your device. Most of the options you can tweak come from other ROMs or apps, but they’ve been collected here so you can customise further. There are also handy tools included, like a torch that you can use straight from your lock screen. It’s definitely worth trying out.
11 Use DiskDigger to try and retrieve deleted pictures and videos
We’ve all been there. Clearing out photos and videos on our phone only to delete the wrong file. Don’t worry though, by using DiskDigger you might just be able to get your media back.
Download the app
The app is free to download from the Google Play store. You can buy a pro version if you want to be able to search for different types of files.
Choose a partition
Next choose the main partition of your device’s memory, this will be where any deleted information will be found, and then set the app scanning for .jpg and .png files.
Pick the files to save
When the app finds files, you can tap the three-dotted menu button to save them locally, upload them to an FTP server, or email them to yourself. Pretty simple really.
Add new features to your Android
12 Use XBlast Tools-Xposed to tweak the look of your phone
XBlast Tools is an Xposed Framework Module that you can download for nothing from the Google Play store. You can use it to personalise pretty much every aspect of your phone’s UI. It’s slick and there are plenty of options.
13 RootCloak is a clever module that fools apps
RootCloak is a handy module to install if you find that some of your legitimately downloaded apps aren’t working after you’ve rooted your device. It essentially hides the root access from the apps so that they think you’re unrooted.
14 Use YouTube AdAway to hide pesky YouTube ads
A simple but effective one. If you’re sick of watching adverts when you’re playing YouTube videos on your phone or tablet, you can use this module to block them. It can also block overlays and suggestions if you want to get rid of everything.
15 Xstana Module lets you customise your buttons
Xstana lets you play around with the on-screen buttons on your Android device. You can change the hue of the bar, the buttons themselves and plenty of other stuff as well. It’s easy to use and it lets you put a real stamp on your device.
16 DynamicNotifications shows you notifications on your lock screen
DynamicNotifications is a useful module that lights up your phone when you receive a notification and shows you what it is. Clever settings means it won’t light up in your pocket or when it’s turned over. Handy if you need more info than a blinking LED.
17 Use Blacklist Pro to block unwanted calls and texts
Blacklist Pro is an easy to use but surprisingly effective module that lets you block unwanted calls and texts from getting through to your phone. It is simple to set up and there is plenty of things to play around with as well. Plus, it is pretty good looking.
18 XHaloFloatingWindow enable you to use certain apps in floating windows
This module is essentially a port of Paranoid Android’s floating windows feature and lets you ‘hover’ some apps in their own floating windows. Particularly useful for messenger apps if you don’t want to stop what you’re doing to read a text. It doesn’t work on all apps but it’s definitely worth a look.
19 ProtectedApps lets you put a password on just the apps that matter to you
If you’ve got sensitive information stored on your phone, but you don’t want to mess around entering a pin code every time you unlock it, ProtectedApps lets you add a password to protect the apps that store the important information. It’s by the same dev as BootManager, so it’s not a looker, but it is easy to use.
20 Install Paranoid Android for a slicker version of Android
Paranoid Android offers a pared back version of the Android OS and adds interesting additions to make it unique. There are some great customisation options, letting you really get into the bones of the OS and have a play around to make something that suits you. It looks incredible and is in a different league to its competitors. The big changes are with navigation and notifications, but the stock Android OS is still recognisable.
21 Use App Ops to alter particular app permissions
App Ops is a clever little app that lets you alter the permissions of the apps you’ve got installed on your rooted device. If you fancy trying something out, but you’re not sure why you need to let it access certain parts of your device, this is one way around it. There are other applications as well, like blocking access to the internet to certain apps. It’s easy to use, it looks good, and it’s free to download from the Play store as well.
22 Build Prop Editor will changedeeper settings
This app lets you tweak the prop files of your Android device. These control a lot of things, from pixel density to how often your phone scans for Wi-Fi
Get the app
Download the app for free from the Google Play store. Once it’s installed grant it super user access and let it scan your device to see what files are there.
Check the list
Once the list is populated you can tap the cog icon to the right of a file to get some more information about what it is and whexactly it does.
Change the scan
For example, the Wi-Fi scan timer file is somewhere down at the bottom of the list. Tap on it to edit it. A larger number means a less regular scan.
23 Use Titanium Backup to save your apps and data
Titanium Backup is widely regarded as the best backup utility on the Google Play store, and it’s with good reason. This is a brilliantly slick app that’s easy to use, and offers a level of functionality that most of its competitors just can’t. As well as letting you backup your apps and data it enable you to move apps to your SD card as well, which is a huge help. The pro version gives you even more tools to play around with, but most users will be happy with what the free version has to offer.
24 Get rid of bloatware with Root App Delete
Root App Delete enables you to get rid of system apps that you normally wouldn’t be able to. It’s particularly handy if you’re running a rooted Android device but you’re happy with the stock or third party UI that it comes with. Deleting things can be a tricky business, so it’s always a good idea to really know what you are doing before fully you take the leap. A Junior mode lets you delete things without actually deleting them to test if it will brick your phone, which is a useful feature to experiment with.
25 Copy and paste with Native Clip Board
Native Clip Board is a slightly awkwardly named Xposed Framework Module that gives you a much more useful clipboard to copy things to than the usual process you use. You can copy multiple items at once, and the things that you copy can be really, really long. It all works in a similar way to the copy and paste functionality that you are used to, but it adds an extra layer that is going to prove especially useful if you use your Android phone or tablet for work or to compile important documents, for example.
26 Use Tasker to automate your phone or tablet
Tasker is by far the best task automation app for rooted devices. It’s smart, smooth, and depending on how you want to use it gives you plenty of options to make simple or complex formulas. Used in conjunction with other apps you can create some really interesting ways to work around Android problems. Rooted devices get more functionality and if you pair it with Tasker App Factory, you can essentially create your own apps out of the different tasks you make.
27 Install SlimRom to pick the bits of Android
SlimRom is a flashable ROM that takes a surprisingly pared back version of the Android OS and turns it into something special. There’s a lot of ingenuity in the way it delivers notifications, and a favourites drawer so you can get to your apps quickly. On top of that, it looks lovely and borrows great ideas from other ROMs to create a streamlined experience that highlights the best of Android. You can further tweak things with a suite of apps designed by the developers as well.
28 Free up some space in your memory with FolderMount
Using FolderMount is a clever way to make sure that you’re not using up all the space in your internal memory. A lot of apps will store data on there and it’s pretty difficult to shift. FolderMount links that data to folders on your external memory, using that instead and freeing up space that would otherwise have been taken up. It’s really easy to use, it’s free to download, and if you’ve got limited internal storage it can be a real life-saver on your device.
29 Xprivacy lets you control the date you send to apps
If you’re worried about privacy, Xprivacy is an Xposed Framework Module that you definitely need to install. It enables you to restrict the data that apps collect about you, then either sends nothing or some faked data in instead. It’s easy to install, and all you need to do is go through a list and check some boxes to make sure that you’re not giving away more than you’d like to. You can change the settings back if they’re messing with the way an app works as well.
30 Use 3C Toolbox Pro to play around with settings
Alter the core
Advanced users can use the pro mode to change the core settings of your device
Change the look
There are customisation options that let you change the look and feel of your device
Tweak
The app gives you a large number of ways to tweak with your device
Profiles
You can set profiles so your device acts in different ways depending on various factors
Monitors
Many features deal with processor and battery usage. You can monitor these with widgets
31 Sync app data using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or NFC
Datasync enables you to share app data across multiple Android devices. It’s particularly useful if you’re playing a game on your phone and want to keep going on your tablet
Find the app
Find the DataSync app for free on the Play store and install it. You’ll also need to have BusyBox installed and up to date if you want everything to work.
Create a list
Once everything is installed, you’ll need to create a list of the apps you want to sync. Tap on the + button and select them from the list that appears.
Share
If you’ve got DataSync installed on another rooted device on the same Wi-Fi network it should connect automatically when you tap on the share button in the top-right corner.
32 Use StickMount to use a USB stick as external storage
StickMount is a simple app that lets you connect USB drives to your rooted device. It’s designed for Nexus devices, but it also works on other rooted phones and tablets. Download the free version to check it works with your device before paying out for the full version. You’ll need a USB2Go cable to make it work, but if everything goes to plan, you’ll be able to connect any USB flash drive to your Android device in a few taps.
33 Samba Filesharing lets you turn your Android device into a folder on a network
Samba File Sharing lets you connect your Android device to a Windows network to use it as a shared folder. All you need to do is install the app and then use your PC to search through the network. You’ll need to fill in some details, and it’s a good idea to set up a password to make sure your device is protected. There is not much to the app itself, but the freedom it opens up when you are connected to the same network as your PC is pretty impressive.
Supercharge your smartphone
34 Install AOKP
AOKP is one of the most fully featured ROMs out there. There’s a huge number of personalisation options included, and it’s fair to say that every phone running AOKP looks different. You will need more technical know-how to get the most out of it, but it’s definitely well worth the effort.
35 Download GravityBox
GravityBox is an Xposed Framework Module for devices running stock KitKat or Android. It’s a little out of date but you can basically use it to create your own personalised ROM, tweaking a lot of the style of your device along the way. You can create some impressive looking stuff on older devices as well.
36 Use SoftKeyZ Root
SoftKeyZ Root lets you change the softkey buttons at the bottom of your screen. It’s a premium app, but there are more than 150 different key options to choose from, so there’s probably going to be something that’s likely to tickle your fancy. There are more added regularly as well.
37 Get ROM Toolbox Pro
It might be a premium app, but as well as giving you lots of tools to play around with your ROM, ROM Toolbox Pro offers some great personalisation options as well. You can download and install new fonts, change your boot animation, and select from a number of different themes as well.
38 Use Xposed Additions
Xposed Additions is an Xposed Framework Module that lets you change what hardware buttons do, as well as changing the duration of long presses and the time needed between double taps on those buttons. It essentially creates a physical shortcut that’s always within reach and gives you some extra options to play with.
39 Tint your status bar with Tinted Status Bar
This module changes the hue of your status bar depending on the app you’re using. So if you’re in the Play store it might turn green, for example. It’s not the most complex of processes, but it will certainly make your phone stand out from the crowd once you have got it turned on.
40 Change the settings for individual apps with App Settings
App Settings is another Xposed Framework Module that lets you play around with the settings for different apps. This means you can lock the rotation for some and not for others, change the dpi and play around with a variety of settings that will kick in when you open the app.
41 Use GMD GestureControl
GMD GestureControl lets you add your own multitouch gesture controls to your rooted device. You can use pre-sets or make your own, swiping multiple fingers over the screen like you would on an iPad to close apps and move to different programs. It’s really easy to use and good looking as well.
42 Use Maximize Lockscreen Widgets to do just that
Maximize Lockscreen Widgets is an Xposed Framework Module that pretty much does exactly what it says on the tin. It gives you much more information about the notifications displayed on your lock screen and means you don’t have to unlock your device to find out what’s going on. It’s designed for devices running builds of Android based around 4.2 and up, so it’s a little long in the tooth but it’s still got a lot to offer all the same.
43 Use Rec. (screen recorder) to record your screen
Rec. lets you record the screen of your rooted KitKat or none-rooted Lollipop device. It’s simple and effective, and it’ll capture sound from your microphone too. It’s not the best quality footage and some ROMs can be a bit flustered about it, but it’s a neat idea and it works brilliantly when it gets things right. There are plenty of options to play with and the app saves the footage directly to your device. You can trim the results as well.
44 Download and install Pac-Man Rom
It might not be one of the better known Android ROMs, but Pac-Man offers a heap of features that some of the more popular builds don’t. It packages together some of the best ideas from the likes of CyanogenMod and AOKP and wraps them all up in a brilliant and stable UI. It’s good looking, it’s well supported, and it’s got Pac-Man on it. What more could you want? It might not have the pulling power of the others, but it’s definitely worth a try.
45 Use Assistive Zoom to pinch to zoom with a single finger
This app adds an icon on the side of the screen so you can zoom in without having to pinch. Great if you want to use your device with one hand
Get the app
The app is free to download. There’s a premium version but grab the free one first to make sure everything works. Make sure you grant the app super user permission as well.
Follow the tutorial
You’ll be given a brief tutorial that explains how everything works. Push on the icon until the magnifying glass image appears, then slide your finger up or down to zoom.
Make tweaks
Once you’ve done the tutorial, head to the Settings and tweak things around to suit you. You might want to move the icon or enlarge it, or change the sensitivity.
46 Unicon can change the icon sets on your phone
Unicon is an Xposed Framework Module that lets you change the stock icons on your device to something that suits your personality. It’s a premium download from the Google Play store and you’ll need to activate it in the Xposed Framework Installer once you’ve bought it, but if you’re looking to change the style of your Android device on a regular basis it’s a good bet. There are plenty of icons to choose from and others to find on the Play store as well as other services that the app connects to.
47 Use DriveDroid to turn your phone into a bootable Linux drive
DriveDroid means you don’t need to carry a USB stick with a bootable version of Linux around with you any more. Install one to your phone or tablet, or download one from the repository that the app provides, and as long as your phone can be used as a USB mass storage device, you’ll be able to boot up Linux from any PC just using your phone. It’s really simple to install, and while you’ll need a bit of know-how to get it working, if you want a working build of Linux on your phone you’ve probably already got some of that.
48 Let SD-Booster speed up your SD access speeds
SD-Booster is a simple app that should speed up the read times of any SD card you’re using. It won’t speed up the write times, but you should notice a change when you’re accessing things from your SD Card. You can speed up internal and external SD memory, and save profiles for all of the SD Cards that you use. There are a bunch of other functions that let you keep an eye on your cards as well. Well worth a download.
49 Overclock your device with Trickster MOD Kernel Settings
Trickster MOD lets you get deep into the workings of your phone or tablet, keeping a check on the processor and tweaking it to make sure that you’re getting the best performance out of it. There’s plenty to do here, but you’ll need to have a bit of an understanding of what’s going on underneath your device’s hood if you want to have a tinker. The app has plenty of other functions as well, and if you can get to grips with it then you will be able to set up your Android device in ways that other people simply won’t think possible.
50 Fool Google Play with Market Helper
Market Helper is a an app that gives your phone or tablet a different footprint, fooling the Google Play store, letting you download apps you wouldn’t otherwise be able to.
Find the app
Market Helper isn’t available on the Play Store, you’ll need to grab it from its website here tinyurl.com/a376jms and then sideload it to get it working. Give it root access.
Give it a moment
It might take a while for the app to load, but give it time. Once it’s loaded up you’ll be shown a screen that’s basically made up of drop-down boxes.
Set the trap
Here you can build your device’s new identity using the options in the drop-down boxes. To reset it, just tap the Restore button and your phone will be itself again.
Make the change
You can even change the country or origin of your device from one of the menus. This means you’ll be able to download region locked apps and games as well.