yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Samuel Holland:
The adblocking, and audio is two of the biggest reasons, besides the custom kernels, recoveries, etc,that were blessed to have access to.

Thx
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Beefheart:
Yup, I was able to get rid of the warning on my S21 Ultra with a quick Odin flash. Not sure something similar will happen with the 7 Pro.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] T1Cybernetic:
Tweaking things is in my blood!

Although sometimes I do not tweak or modify at first. I do cave in eventually because I can't help myself :D

Doesn't matter if it's a Car, Bike, Phone, PC. Anything and everything that can be tweaked and modified will eventually be tweaked and modified.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Beefheart:
I must admit, the ability to take the phone back to full stock with no indication it has ever been rooted (yeah, f**k you Samsung) is making this more tempting. I rooted the last phone I had in this position (Oneplus 6T) pretty fast.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] memocatcher:
One benefit: You can switch from the horrible android emojis to iOS 15.4, even 16, ones. I really can not stand android emojis at all
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Ghisy:
Ewww, iOS emojis. You should try JoyPixels! They're much nicer! https://joypixels.com/download

There's also a Magisk module somewhere on XDA for these.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] pappy97:
I had P6P no root. What bothered me was no ability (After Google removed the non-root backdoor for it) to remove the nav bar when using gestures and the wasted black space where the nav bar sits in many apps. When I got my P7P, I rooted that day and removed it and it just feels right. May sound like a dumb reason to root, but for me, I absolutely hate that waste of space and screen clutter, and if Google won't give me a simple switch to turn it off like Samsung and other OEMs do, then I'm going to root.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] memocatcher:
What's the name of that mod?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Psychlone:
For me, it's V4A (which is in development for 64bit right now) and the customization possible because of root, third on the list is backup (I use Swift now, but was a Ti fan since it's release)

I've been a crackflasher since the OG D1 and tweaking/customizing is something that I enjoy.

But the audiophile in me doesn't respond well to wavelet or even JamesDSP - only Viper4Android has the capabilities of making music sound the way it was indented to sound, and that's why it's top priority on my list of why I root. For the life of me I cannot figure out why Google hasn't incorporated V4A as the default DSP for Android... it is so far above and beyond anything else that it can't even be appropriately described. I suppose a nutshell analogy would be like the listening difference from AM to CD...

I've rooted every phone I've had since 2009 and until they block it off forever, I will continue to root every phone I get in the future too. Being the owner of a phone SHOULD mean that you have full control over it's functions, Bootloader-locked and unrootable phones are not that, you're limited by what the manufacturer deems appropriate for you to have.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] xgerryx:
People have touched on most of what I was going to say. But there are Magisk/LSposed modules that can do a lot of things for you, like turn the quick tiles into an actual usable 4x2 layout instead of the giant chunky 4 buttons at the top. You can change the theme of them, shape, etc. Unlock with pin without pressing enter. Give root access to apps that can alter other things like saturation for brighter colors.

Some apps I used on the Samsung are just better with root, like Gsam extended stats, file explorers. You can really go crazy with mods once you have root in many ways.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Schroeder09:
What's the best backup app either root or non-root? Is there a process outlined anywhere on how to restore a system after root, so the monthly rooting update process takes maybe 20 minutes instead of hours or rebooting, flashing this, rebooting, flashing that, etc?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] kharr32123:
Rooted...Swift backup. It does everything
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Schroeder09:
So I back my phone up. What does that mean? Is it just apps? If I make AOSP changes via root does it back those up? Does it back everything up to a . Zip file that I move to a PC and then after a monthly updated and everything is flashed and re-rooted I just flash that backup.zip file via the reinstalled swift backup and everything is as it was before?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Lughnasadh:
Check out their website...

Swift Backup

A simple, fast and smart backup solution for your Android smartphone

swiftapps.org
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
There's no need to start from scratch when you update every month. Usually takes me maybe 10 minutes to update and re-root.

I do have Swift Backup automatically backup all my app and their data every night in the middle of the night, though, just in case I do something I shouldn't have.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Tracker31:
if you don't want root, just go apple thats best choice. unlock is the answer
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] n0gg:
Besides the rest I am using shizuku and appops to handle restrictions of each app.

So I have

Swift backup

Tasker

Shizuku

Appops

Adaway

Microtoggles

Vanced

FolderSync to sync my photos with my NAS
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Ky0sHiR0:
I'm brand new to Pixels but probably didn't get it. So if You want to update monthly You need to reset your phone completely (factory reset)? I bet when I was following instructions for unlocking bootlaoder + root there was a note that we can do it without the factory reset. Maybe I read it wrong then :D but would You confirm?

Btw. Are You do your backups to the cloud or device?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] awdrifter:
AdAway, freeze or uninstall bloatware (my not apply to Pixel, but applies to a lot of other phones), blocking updates (freeze updaters with Titanium Backup), backing up apps.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
Absolutely not. I never wipe my phone when I update each month. The update instructions in my thread (in my signature below) specifically include the common update instruction to remove the "-w" from the factory image flash-all.bat, so that the phone isn't wiped.

It sounded like the other user wipes their phone when they update, and I was telling them they don't need to do that.

Unlocking the bootloader requires a factory reset. There's no way around that.

I use Swift Backup only to the cloud. I don't need the backups very often, and I have the 512 GB P7P, but prefer to reserve my storage for music. What few apps I do end up restoring data from download from the cloud through Swift fast enough, no pun intended.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Ky0sHiR0:
Perfect. Thank You for confirmation. To be honest with You first time for over like 5-7 years I feel that phone I own has a good community. I missed times when market doesn't offer xx brands with xxx models.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Schroeder09:
Are those backups uploading to a cloud and overwriting previous apps? When the backups are stored on the phone their usefulness is diminished. Also, from my research last night swfitbackup doesn't backup files (downloaded PDFs, word docs, zip files, etc.). Is this correct or incorrect?

How do you restore so quickly? Do you have any aosp mods? For example, I previously mentioned a file change I do in Google photos through solid explorer to enable an option in Google photos that syncs the photos to the cloud ONLY when the phone is only on wifi. This option was removed from the settings years ago. Every time I rooted with a fresh install by NOT removing the "-w" from the new image batch file I'd have to manually redo all these aosp and file mods. It's take weeks to get things back in place because you forget some of them until you stumble over them and realize they're no longer there. These are the biggest pains of rooting for me. Settings in the actual launcher settings also always had to be manually reset after a factory image monthly update IF the "-w" wasn't removed from batch file ("dirty flash").
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Curiousn00b:
For the longest time, I was hooked on JoyPixels, but been hooked on these Microsoft 3D emojis lately.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] HipKat:
Yeah, for me, it will mean a long-awaited return to Titanium Back up so I can once again back up data on apps like games that keep a running score, which I have to start over with each new device.

EDIT: I stand corrected. Apparently Swift is the way to go now?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] HipKat:
I've used Personal DNSFilter but Google is removing it from the Play Store. It's very good, has the least effect on D/L speeds and just runs smoothly.

Mostly, I want to root to use ROMS that are known to protect personal privacy, with better Kernels, better CPU Governors and of course learning all the Majisk Modules that I've missed, theming, etc.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] HipKat:
I'm the same way. I've been Tweaking/Modding since my first P1 computer in the mid 90's
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] :
Swift Backup and Pixelify to get Unlimited Google Photos storage.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Schroeder09:
Are you just referring to the android native backup that can be turned on through the settings menu?

Is this "AOSP mods 3-dor menu" a thing in swift backup with the "import settings from file" being another option in swift backup?

Is a lot of this stuff nova launcher specific? It sounds like you are doing a lot manually. You're manually backing up aosp settings, swiftbackup, nova launcher backups, and then restoring all of them. Do I have this correct?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
Yes.

No. When you said the below, I thought you were referring to @siavash79's thread [MOD][Xposed+Magisk][Pre-Release] AOSP Mods - System modifications for AOSP-based Android 12+:

I have no idea what capabilities other launchers than Nova have. I've been using Nova Launcher Prime since ~2011-2012-ish. I used to occasionally try stock and other third-party launchers, but they never beat how I like to use Nova.

Anything that I talk about concerning the home screen/launcher/app drawer, I'm only referring to Nova.

I disagree. And what little I am doing is only when I get a new device, which before the P7P/P6P, wasn't very often, and even once a year isn't too often to become tiresome. I enjoy setting up my new devices, and updating every month (which doesn't require any re-setting up). I used my OG Pixel 1 until a few months after it stopped receiving Android version updates.

Swift Backup is on a schedule to automatically run every night that my battery is over 40% (I chose that configuration), and if my phone is on Wi-Fi.

If I restore anything from Swift Backup, I do so manually because there are very few apps that I use which aren't restored through Google's cloud backup/restore.

I manually back up the settings from the AOSP Mods app that I referred to above, and Nova Launcher - only when I change something, which isn't very often, or there is a new version. I also note in the backup filenames what version of the app the backup is from, and the date/time of the backup. This way, if I realize I changed something that I didn't mean to, I can judge which backup file I want to restore.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] HipKat:
Man, same here. I switch to Google/Pixel Launcher occasionally, but just the inability to set default icon packs are enough to switch right back
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Ghisy:
Does anyone know how to calibrate the screen with (or without) root?

I'd like to be able to modify RGB values as well as saturation and contrast. It used to be easy with the right kernel and KCAL but I don't really see that available anymore... :(
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] jons99:
yes use this

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.omegacentauri.red_pro
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wi1son:
Nice - How would I install those?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Ghisy:
Looks good! Does it work on the Pixel 7 Pro?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Curiousn00b:
[ROOT] RKBDI emoji 😉

t.me

Just flash in Magisk and reboot.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] jons99:
you can try the free version

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.omegacentauri.red
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] rczrider:
If you can read and follow directions, I'm curious about the realistic risks to unlocking and rooting one's phone.

Because it seems to me that the only risks are theoretical, and only then to people who can't be bothered to do it right and practice common sense.

I, for one, can't imagine using a phone without AdAway or ReVanced. Yes, there are non-root alternatives, but they come with downsides. Also, I like getting free unlimited, original quality photo backup from Google via model spoofing (which could be considered dishonest, but no more in my mind than blocking ads).

To each their own.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Lughnasadh:
If you are rooted, you can change the icon packs (or individual app icons) in Pixel Launcher with the Pixel Launcher mod. I've long used Lawnchair, Nova, Hyperion, etc., but I just love the fluidity of the Pixel Launcher so I use this mod just to change icons. You can do a few other things with it as well (e.g. replace widgets).
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
:) I love the swipe actions and default behaviors I determine for different particular folders, being able to have separate and color-coded app drawer tabs for different categories of apps, and other features too.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] HipKat:
Yessir and the Gestures are about perfect for a lot of things I do many times a day
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] old_fart:
( re - freezing all to pesky privileged system type apps )

I thought Greenify was dead and gone like Titanium Backup is gone so the only game in town is SD Maid ( guten tag meine herr d4kren . . . )
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Ky0sHiR0:
Anyone tried ACC with a success? For me it's basically working but as a result of tuning any settings via AccA app it freezes and restored to default (custom)
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Beefheart:
Just seen Swift Backup has started to allow backup to Mega.nz so I finally bought it after toying with the idea for some time following TB's functionality stopping. I still have a 50gb free Mega account which I opened in 2014 which is perfect for this.

The full features of Swift Backup alone is worth rooting for me.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] morphius88:
Pixelify works on the Pixel 7? I saw someone comment somewhere that it just restarts the phone and gets deactivated.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] :
It works perfectly. Im using the Pixelify.apk which needs LSposed
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Beefheart:
Amy theming app/module out there which works?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Lughnasadh:
Substratum Lite (Liv Dark, Flux, Iris, Iris Monet, etc. themes (as well as Mayhem, Madness & Kodansha, I believe)

Repainter

Project Themer
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] morphius88:
You have a link to the one you are using? The module I installed keeps restarting my phone after a few seconds of loading to the home screen. Now I dunno how to get rid of it. Cant remove it for some reason.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Beefheart:
Looks like it hasn't been updated for a couple of years.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] :
Boot into safemode. It will deactivate all modules automatically.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Lughnasadh:
Substratum Lite is working fine. Used it on my Pixel 6 Pro and now on my 7 Pro (and other phones before that). It's more of whether themes have updated to support Android 13. The one's I listed have Android 13 support.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
You can also follow @Jon8RFC's advice:

Worked for me yesterday when I accidentally tried some old version of a Magisk Module. You have to reinstall your Magisk Modules, but if you're using a third-party widget, it won't disable them like Safe mode does.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] morphius88:
Ya I probably should have went this route. Have to redo all my setting now but at least the phone works lol.

EDIT: Pixelify works on P7P for me, Apparently it was a different module that my phone did not like.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] TnT_:
Returning to the community :) Recently got a Pixel 7 pro

It seems the benefits are the same, theming and swift etc

Look forward to returning to this community to help people

Edit: long gone are the days of telling people to download Towel root haha
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] prana_Sky:
Let's put it this way. Easy!

We don't have root we lose the freedom to modify android. We don't have root might as well go to the iPhone bubble.

Because that is what google is doing to android. So if you don't need it up to you. But there are so many useful mods and apps that help me get the most out of my android.

Why do we make a thread about why we need root and not make a thread about all the modes and benefits of root.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] HipKat:
This is spot on! Very well written!
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] otonieru:
For me :

- Ad-Free, including YouTube & YTMusic,

- WA Tweaker (privacy and features enchancement for WA)

- Fake GPS without turning on mock location

- IMEI/ID mask for certain apps

also :

- Enabling VoLTE

- Kernel tweaking

- System theming

Shall all those ability come with a stock ROM/apps, i won't root anymore.

Banking ? for few years, i've decided to use another phone for that purpose.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] blackspp:
When the first Android phones came out custom roms where ruling. I integrated my own kernels and build a few roms but I stopped that years ago. Over time it gave me more problems than rewards with banking apps and corporate apps getting better at detecting root. And the operating systems became much better and polished over time. For me the biggest annoyance has always been bloat but that is easily removed with adb.

For me rooting gives little benefits and big risks if rooting fails so my new devices are stock as long as they receive updates.

Old kit is the exception. I ran a LineageOS on my Galaxy Tab S2 for a few years until I replaced it with an S6.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Wmateria:
Back then was alot easier to root, i remember rooting My Galaxy Nexus for the first time, and all the theming and utilizing custom kernel and Cyanogen Mod, gosh, lol. Old times, I have purchased a handful of phone overtime and rooted them without problem, but buying a Pixel 6 Pro and 7 Pro, i realized that you have to do a lot of reading.. on the 7 pro, i did not now that you had to flash both A/B slots, so i made a mistake on going to the inactive slot after an OTA. And boom! Dead phone. My 6 Pro i flashed a custom rom just fine and it was fine til the camera did not work anymore (defect). Know i just make sure to flash a/b after every update just to be safe and disable verity/ and verification using Pixel Flasher. Best program to use instead of doing it manually via fastboot commands. The rooting process was interesting and i flash a/b manually and luckily i did not brick the phone. So flashing on active slot, and the flashing the Kirisakura kernel using Kernel Flasher was the very best thing since the old days. I like it stock usually but, hopefully custom roms start moving faster soon, i'll probably test out, but rather stay safe for now. So anyone new into the rooting stuff, now you know what to avoid. Its definitely worth rooting, especially with the custom Kernel.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] awtompson:
Echoing otonieru - it's 90% about adblocking and the system teaks are a nice bonus. I really miss a modified Facebook app, though.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Schroeder09:
They're still out there I think. There are versions in telegram. Maybe it's just to be able to download and save the stuff people put on FB. Not sure exactly what you are looking for in a modded version of FB.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] awtompson:
If you know of one, let me know. The last one I've seen was Facebook LC reborn and it won't run on Pixel 7. I just want a Facebook feed that doesn't include ads and all the other crap that gets added.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] smurfmeat:
Another backup tool is Tarb, it backs up system settings, magisk modules, and runtime permissions. I run it on a schedule with MacroDroid and use FolderSync to upload it to my cloud backup. Never had a problem restoring all my system settings and magisk modules after a wipe.

https://github.com/VR-25/tarb
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] HipKat:
Really?? Restoring System apps/Settings has always been a bad thing
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] smurfmeat:
Been rock solid on P6P and P7P. But Google backup does a decent job restoring most system settings.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] ectoplasma22:
- Magisk modules : AOSP Mods is a must for stock ROM allowing theming and customisation just like custom, Pixel Launcher Extended for themes

- Revanced YT

- Kernel Flasher (no custom kernel yet but always useful)
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] marinovedder:
Adblock, V4A as soon as its available. Custom Kernel was my main reason.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Bxperiaz3:
V4A is available fyi
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] ectoplasma22:
Which kernel are you using please ?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] marinovedder:
I'm following the thread of the new version. As soon as its a bit more matured I'll install. Thanks for the heads up.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] marinovedder:
Kirisakura, it's awesome...
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] con_oner:
Do any of the themes stick if you unroot? I really just want true black dark mode (aka amoled dark mode) instead of the grayish dark mode but don't want to deal with the workarounds to get wallet and banking apps working. Thanks.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] JW09I4:
Enable Zygisk in Magisk and configure the DenyList to prevent specific apps from detecting root:

Magisk Settings → Magisk → Enable: Zygisk and Enforce DenyList → Configure DenyList

Some banking apps may be able to still detect root upon choosing to configure biometric login - if this occurs, ensure all receivers for the app are enabled in the DenyList, by tapping on the app name in the list, else skipping the biometric enrollment for those specific apps may be the fix (delete app storage prior to re-opening app if this occurs)
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] con_oner:
I very much appreciate the consolidated steps to hide root. Unfortunately I have Citi and these are the types of things I was hoping to avoid. I feel like back in the day you could set a theme, then unroot and it would stick. Maybe with layers or something like that but I guess no more. Looks like I have a trade-off decision to make...
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] JW09I4:
The system partition used to be able to be made writable - it no longer is as of several years ago, which is why root is now systemless. Citi's app works perfectly fine with root, you simply need to ensure all four receivers are selected in the Magisk DenyList.

If the rooted error message pops up in Citi's app, force close it, delete app storage, then go into Magisk's DenyList and ensure all four receivers are turned on by tapping the name of the app (com.citi.citimobile:MiSnap isn't enabled by default). Once done, login and enable biometrics as normal. I also hide the Magisk app via it's settings and name it something else since I'm assuming apps are using several ways to determine if a device is rooted.
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] con_oner:
Ah yes, it is all coming back to me now.

I guess I need to stop being such a baby and just get back into the root game :)
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] JW09I4:
@con_oner I was wrong, biometrics will still work in the Citi app with root.

For some reason, the fourth receiver in Magisk's DenyList wasn't enabled, even though I verified it was last week (it might be that an update to the Citi app causes that specific receiver [com.citi.citimobile:MiSnap] to be disabled again and require manually re-enabling iit

Update:

it appears the receiver that gets disabled upon an update to the Citi app is random, as after it updated on 1/27, MiSnap remained enabled, while this receiver was disabled and didn't exist previosly:

(isolated) com.citi.mobile:<9hexchar>.<9hexchar>.<9hexchar>
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Bxperiaz3:
Has anyone flashed the bootloop protector zip? Is it safe to use?
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] pjaysnowden:
Systemwide adblocking is very much possible without root. nextdns works very well. Since I bought an S23Ultra...I heard rumours that UK Samsung locked the bootloader...so...while waiting...I unrooted my s22...and tried nextdns. It works... systemwide and flawlessly.

NextDNS
[Google Pixel 7 Pro] Le_Matriciel:
I use DNS66 for blocking ads and it work well without root.