yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Mrowkarz123:
My only reason for root was and is Viper4Android. I've rooted my current Redmi note 10 Pro and with magisk hide it worked well, until recently apps started detecting the root again (like McDonald's, Banking apps etc. I can't get coupons for cheaper McDonalds, can't pay with my phone anymore), So I would rather not root my P8P, but I fear I won't be able to live without V4A.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] HipKat:
I root mine for 3 reasons; The app/data backup/restore capabilities, theming and flashing custom Kernels
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] goattee:
I haven't rooted for years. I did it starting with Nexus One and 4 and some of the earlier Galaxy phones. I also loved Titanium Backup. And then briefly Carbon when I no longer rooted.

Backup is more work without TiBu but not impossible. I had to grapple with this over this past weekend. I recently did a factory reset on my Galaxy Fold 3 to freshen it up and to hopefully eliminate flakey behavior after Samsung installed One UI 5.1.1. I also am a longtime Nova Launcher person on all my phones and tablets. The Z Fold 3 would not respond to Recent Apps as a navigation button or gesture. And the Taskbar stack only worked if I used Samsung's launcher. After factory reset, those annoyances were gone.

So what did I do for backing up? To preserve any apps I suspected or knew were no longer in the Play Store or never were: I used APK Export. There's also APK Extractor. I uploaded the APK files to the cloud. And to a flash drive as a secondary measure. Key apps have their own backup features-- Nova Launcher is an example. So I send those to the cloud and flash drive too. I use Solid Explorer to copy metadata from /Android/data for select apps. These also go to the cloud and flash drive. Because I was working with a Samsung phone, I could do a parallel process by using Smart Switch to backup to another flash drive.

Obviously it's not as comprehensive as batch modes in Titanium Backup. But I can't say I lost anything once I did the reset and restored. I used Smart Switch and Play Services did it's thing. Then I addressed a few things that required manual attention. I have multiple Nova desktop pages with just about every app icon installed on the device. I learned from experience that I can use the Nova desktops to show me whatever is un-installed (missing apps appear as ghost icons) after Play Services is done with the 80-90% of the restoration. And then I can reinstall my previously extracted APK files. And backup files. The Fold 3 is now smooth and cooperative. So it was worth the effort and patience.

I hardly miss the control I once had with rooting because today's Android is so much more feature rich. I am awaiting delivery of the Pixel 8 Pro. Everything I just backed up will be a resource in customizing that new phone. I remember helping a friend with his new Pixel 4a when he migrated from Samsung. Google provided it's own equivalent of Smart Switch and it was pretty agnostic in restoring from an alien Android device. My manual precautions then fill in the few unaddressed things. So I expect that I'll successfully use those layered backup and restore tactics with the P8P too.

With seven years of promised upgrade support on the Pixel-- and with the occasional need to refresh Android myself with factory resets-- I expect I will be using the same backup and restore approach for years to come.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] chill145:
I root for ASOP Mods and theming. The fact that you can't hide the nav bar when Samsung has had that functionality for years is beyond frustrating.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Utini:
I root mainly for adblocking (AdAway or Adguard with root) and kirisakura kernel.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] foobar66:
I used to do that as well using a hosts file (mounted by Magisk). For some reason, this does not work any longer (I have not had the time to figure it out). So now I am using dns0.eu as private DNS and that works just fine.

Custom kernels I don't do any more ... seriously I have a lot of respect for the kernel developers but honestly speaking the so called optimizations they do are often barely noticeable. If they offer added features beyond the standard kernel and you want/need those, fine, I understand that and I would use a custom kernel for that as well. But I simply don't need those features so for me little point in using these custom kernels.

So I will start using the phone unrooted ... let's see how long I can withstand the need to roo ;-)

For me, today, the most important item for rooting is getting rid of the ugly Pixel launcher pill when using Nova Launcher (via an overlay). For heaven's sake, Google when will you do an option to turn this OFF? And I also use root to 'hide' certain baked in APKs.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] yyz71:
I root for adblock and viper 4 android 👍👌
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] AmyClaraRose:
going to root for aospmods
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Mrowkarz123:
If we could ever get V4A without root...
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] dmarden:
I would love to stop rooting... but I don't want to give up the root capability of AdGuard and Swift Backup. Other little things here and there are nice, but those two are the real reason I have to root.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] stu5797:
I would like to root but then everything becomes more time consuming like updates, spending hours getting my work email to not detect root and getting google pay to actually work.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Sunsparc:
Magisk Delta with Universal Safety Net and Shamiko, takes just a few minutes to install then configure the unmount.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] gorman42:
OnePlus owner here, deciding on my next smartphone. You refer to the thin gray line on the bottom of the screen? The one that should "remind" you that you can activate gestures from there? You can't remove it on Pixels? What an annoyance if true...
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] stu5797:
As much as I would love to believe you, I bet there is a lot more trial and error that goes into that...
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] HipKat:
You don't use the Auto DNS in Network Settings?
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] HipKat:
So, you never heard of Pixel Flasher?? 3 minutes to install full OTA Updates. MUCH faster than downloading and installing it with the package installer built in to the device
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] chill145:
That's the one I'm talking about and yes, very annoying. It's crazy that Samsung has more customization options built into their UI than Google considering Pixels for the most part are for a niche audience that like to tinker with their phones.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] jhjhjhjhjhjh:
If it wasn't for bloatware/carrier spyware/disabling zram, ability to change governors and clock speeds/and remove the nav pill plus many others i wouldn't root either, unfortunately these options require administrative privileges.. VIVA la Root!!
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] A.Priori:
Completely disagree OP, no reason to get pixel or oneplus phones if you're not rooting. I couldnt live without adblocking, backing up, modifying, etc so rooting is a big draw for me.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] gettinwicked:
If Google would give us the ability to remove the navbar, change fonts and icons, and a few more theming options, I wouldn't root. But I have to be able to change those things. And it's so frustrating when Google calls their OS the fully customizable one, but they don't let you do much theming, which is a huge thing for folks these days. My S22 ultra could be themed like crazy without root. Anyway, I'm not holding my breath for any of those things, so, root I will.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] chill145:
This is what I don't get either. Samsung with their main competition being the iPhone from a sales perspective allows so much more customization. It'd be one thing if you thought those options might be too confusing and turn people off but if Samsung can pull it off, Google easily can.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] gettinwicked:
And Samsung pulls it off in a somewhat complicated way. Most of the theming isn't native, you have to get the apps and such to do it. If Google could do it, and keep it simple, like a part of the material you settings, it would be amazing. And I bet it would create more customers for pixels.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Utini:
I prefer to block stuff on the device before it even leaves the device.

I imagine that this safes traffic/data and battery. And the amount of requests that get blocked is huge.

Also at some point all ads will be in a https stream so they can't be filtered out by DNS anymore.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] snovvman:
I just looked at the Google app backup. It backs up 165 out of 300+ apps. Now I am clear that updates might be more time consuming, but upgrading phones is definitely easier with root. Data, apps, including those not in the Play Store will move easily.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Ultimoose:
Just for consideration since unlocking the bootloader to get to root wipes the device it adds a pain point if you choose to root down the road. I do agree with everyone's reasons for and not. Other than using swift (RIP TiBu) to restore apps so I don't have to set them up manually and to keep a couple of apps no longer available through the PS, I don't believe I've 'really' used root on my P7P. I like viper, the uplift in sound quality is enough I really want to ask Google why they can't replicate it given that most people consume most media on phones these days. But for whatever reason I couldn't get it to work on my 7P, just made no difference in output and while I miss it, it's not game breaking.

That all said I will be rooting mine when I get it 'just because I can'. I may or may not leave it unlocked/rooted as I'll have to be traveling abroad for work next year and am leery of confiscation and potential compromise of the phone by border patrol/customs.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Gilg@mesh:
I'm getting my 8 Pro soon, haven't rooted since 2017 and as I've only used Samsung phones it was no need to root to be able to customize and adblock (Disconnect Pro) so I'm thinking of doing it but I really need to know that Google Pay and other stuff works without headache after you hide it from root.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] diesteldorf:
I primarily root for SWIFT BACKUP and CALL RECORDER by Skvalex, but I've also considered not rooting.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Ultimoose:
FWIW I've not had any issues with my P7P with etrade, greenlight, ameritrade, my banking, playstore, netflix etc. I did have to use Magisk to obfuscate each one though. Some don't complain about root, they just CTD'd which was the case of Greenlight.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] almahix:
I would love to not have to root, but I use Swift Backup and it is very incomplete without root. So, I root. I'm trying to figure out pixel Flash that includes root capability.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
@snovvman, I also root for other reasons, but these are my favorites:

@jorrik98's thread [Themes / Apps / Mods] Better Internet Tiles - Bring back Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles! (non-root)

@VR25's thread Advanced Charging Controller (ACC)

CrazyBoyFeng's ACC Settings

@ayush.gl's thread LSPosed Xposed Framework [8.1-13.0]. Simple Magisk Module

@siavash79's thread [MOD][Xposed+Magisk][Pre-Release] AOSP Mods - System modifications for AOSP-based Android 12+. This is a big one for me, personally.

@Quinny899's thread [APP][ROOT][11+][19/07] Classic Power Menu - Power Menu Replacement w/ Wallet, Controls on Android 11, 12, 13+

Swift Backup
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] snovvman:
@roirraW "edor" ehT, thanks for the list. I haven't used Xposed for a long time, but it opens up some really neat possibilities.

I used Swift to backup all the apps and data. It was oh so satisfying. It' nice to have root!

I do wish Google comes up with a more robust and complete migration/upgrade system, if only for Pixel phones. I get the argument of Android branching and manufacture mods that complicates things, but there is no such excuse for Pixel to Pixel upgrade.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
I agree! Until I got my Pixel 1 seven years ago, it was nice on my LG G3 that they implemented their own proprietary backup, which still worked on a custom stock-based ROM, as well. Once I found it had the feature, I hardly bothered to use Titanium Backup.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] snovvman:
The subject of this thread is "Considering not rooting..." It should now read "No longer considering..." lol.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Boremc:
what are the best features for rooting in a pixel 8 pro? i consider that but im a bit afraid and thinking its a bigger difference rooting...
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Morgrain:
As long as Google doesn't allow users to make

a) proper back ups with in-app saves (no more logging in every app and setting them up (banking apps, I hate you for making me get ancient pieces of paper to re-authenticate when I try to set up a new phone))

b) proper system-wide AD-blockers (AdAway, you are as beautiful as the day I first met you)

c) proper customization options (why can't I get 6x6 or 7x7 apps? Why does Google max out at 5x5?)

d) give us proper audio controls with custom ddcs and convolvers and bass control

root is not an option, it's a necessity. Especially the latter is of paramount importance. Once a person has used a properly customized DDC and Convolver on headphones with decent drivers, going back is literally impossible.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] snovvman:
I could not agree more.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] somethingsomethingroot:
I went without it for a while due to work apps that I didn't feel like playing the cat and mouse games for. But now that that phone is the backup, I'm back to my old ways.

Speaking of which, what module are we using for hiding the nav bar and the space?
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Mrowkarz123:
Considering rooting more and more (for V4A) and coming from Redmi note 10 pro I have few questions.

1. Do you still need to root again every time after software update?

2. Heard that unlocking the bootloader require resetting the phone, so better to do it first when getting the phone?

3. How much hassle is there with hiding the root from other apps? I used magisk hide so far, but it stopped working after a restart recently and found out that option is no longer there.

If I can update software without needing to set up root every time again it would be awesome. Also with hiding the root from banking apps etc, would be good if it is "set and forget" types of thing.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Morgrain:
1. If you do it manually (get the int boot file, put it on your phone, patch, put it back on the computer, flash it after doing the update), yes. However we also have the Pixel Flasher now, it makes it easier and faster.

2. Yes, best unlock the bootloader before anything else, it wipes the device.

3. Not much hassle, there is a magisk module that you need to flash and you need to delete the cache of a couple of GApps once. However some apps like Barclay banking app are very good at detecting root, using algorithms that the community hasn't figured out yet and even with magisk zygisk hiding and the magisk module, it will detect root. There are ways around that (with Magisk delta I think) to properly hide root from every app, but those are basically experimental steps for the average root user. I'd say that ~5% of the banking apps have very strong root detection, and you either need to play cat&mouse or just use a browser/PC.

However there are also other ways to trick those banking apps, like spoofing your device to become something its not, that usually works, but can create problems since it can lead to Google not recognizing your device as a Pixel then.

Overall "getting" root after an upgrade is easy, and you don't need to set up root again. Just flash one file after the update and everything works again.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] somethingsomethingroot:
If the app is simply looking for an unlocked bootloader, is there any way to block that or is it part of the 5%?
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] foobar66:
4 days without rooting ... phew, I survived that ;-) ... first time in at least 8 years in non-rooted mode.

Frozen a couple of APKs which I never use (e.g. Wellbeing) using App Freezer (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wakasoftware.appfreezer&hl=nl&gl=US)

Couple of customizations with Shizuku and rish (adb from within a terminal app on the phone).

2 things which I miss:

- 4G/4G+ indicator instead of LTE (previously done via rooting)

- can't hide the stupid pill at the bottom of the screen (in gesture navigation mode), I really can't understand what value this stupid thing adds and why Google is not offereing an option to turn this off

Anyway, so far so good ... no root, no hassling with Magisk variants, root hiding ... when rooted I never managed to get Microsoft Teams working, neither Google wallet.

Non-rooted they work out of the box, so enjoying contactless payments with phone for the first time.

If anyone knows a non-root solution to remove the pill ... let me know please.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] stu5797:
Congratulations! I am not sure if I should have rooted or not. I am spending hours upon hours getting my rooted phone set up. In the end I have it working for now with teams, outlook and google pay! Just needed to install an older version of teams and outlook...
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] foobar66:
Actually I could get MS Teams and Google pay working as well ... but then the (Belgian) app 'Itsme' (digital ID) did not work ... it always kept detecting root (so I ended up with a solution where Itsme app worked, but no MS Teams and no Wallet).
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] ysco:
I root also for a lot off things.

AdBlock

Swift backup and restore.

Hide YouTube adds

Theming the way I want with repainted and Themer.

Hide the navbar and install Ubikitouch for many custom gesture settings.

Aospmods mod module to put the clear recent button on the right off the screen and some other cool settings.

I probably miss some other things lol.

I love Root.

Regards ysco..
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] snovvman:
I must comment on @Morgrain's post again. It hits the nail on the head. I spent two plus days logging into all my apps and restoring apps and selectively data for those apps that Google did not transfer. Even my "Download" folder was missing files that I had to put back in. WTAF.

I used to do a full app restore with data with TiBu, but it confuses some servers and services because they think I am still using my old phone. These days, I just bite the bullet and re-sign in so that servers know that I am coming from a different/new phone.

The Pixel launcher is annoying with its grid limit. Another big one is the notification dot, which I find a lot useful than a number. It does not tell you if there is something new. For example, if I had a "2" and now I see "3", I know there is something new. Even the Magisk modules do not bring the notification feature. This keeps me running Nova, but it's showing its age poorly.

Yea, it's frustrating.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] foobar66:
Nova is king. I can't understand Google selling a flagship phone with such a crappy launcher. Clearly the launcher isn't a big priority.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] snovvman:
Yea agreed, I wish it's maintained and bugs fixed. Google seems to want to go minimalistic, but lacking features makes it not useful for me.

I hear that Total Launcher is good, too, with even more customization capabilities. The downside is that it uses an open canvass approach which means a lot of time to set up the first time.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] dnsmo:
I haven't root my pixel since the pixel 5. the only thing I missed is AD blocking. really hate the youtube ads
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] whatsisnametake2:
in the same boat here trying to get away without root for the first time if I can to avoid the dance with the banking apps.

so far only things I'm stuck with:

- youtube. got revanced working alongside with micro g, but this won't cast to chromecast, so have to swap to the stock app for that which is annoying. I'm thinking that if you put together a revanced youtube apk with the same package name, same signature, and the app version is higher than the stock installed youtube, it should install as an update straight right over it? can't find confirmation for this tho, and also don't know how to change the signature!

- DarQ to force dark theme on certain apps

- NAV PILL!!!! be gone nav pill please

- force ignore camera cutout, from AOSPMODS.

- increase volume control resolution for smaller volume jumps, again via AOSPMODS.

other than that I'm mostly good. I miss swift backup but its not a dealbreaker for me.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] dinamyk:
Is viper4android working on your Pixel 8 Pro? If so, do you mind share the instructions?

I had no luck.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] yyz71:
Here you go https://github.com/AndroidAudioMods/ViPER4Android/releases
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Bxperiaz3:
I don't think I could have an android phone without root.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] rom-g:
Root for debloating and adblocking.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] dinamyk:
Thank you so much :)
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Gilg@mesh:
so what is the best settings for the Pixel 8 Pro? thanks
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] yyz71:
I can't really tell you that because everyone's ears are different👍
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] mikepopo99:
What settings do you use? I just installed both files but what's next?
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] yyz71:
You have to remember that this viper is reversed engineered to work with 64 bit.. And some options are grayed out. If you look on telegram where I found it.. you'll find some files to use and pick You're own settings 😎👍 https://t.me/ViPER4AndroidFX
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] johnsmallberries:
I root for the adblock and also being able to set a hard limit on how much the battery can charge. I leave mine at 80%.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] mikepopo99:
What app do you use for the hard limit?
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] Utini:
That can't be. You need to go to a mental hospital and then get root asap! :)
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] foobar66:
Haha ... maybe I need to go to mental hospital indeed ...

But very seriously, life is good without root so far ...17 days already (had never expected that I could survive this).

Finally have contactless payments (which I could never get to work with root - yes there was a way with Zygisk but then other apps were detecting root).

Only thing which I really truely miss: (a) possibility to have 4G/4G+ icon instead of LTE (I had fixed that by changing a file on /data/user_0/de/com.android.phone as root) and (b) possibility to remove this stupid pill at the bottom (for which I had a fabricated some overlays with root). Got used to it in the meantime.

I do use an app for custom tiles, it works with Shizuku. When you reboot the phone you have to restart Shizuku. That is a small annoyance, but I can do it on the phone, so no need for a PC. Don't reboot ;-)

Also use an app-disabler (which uses 1 time shizuku command). So I can disable some of the APKs which are bloatware for me (like AI wallpaper of Youtube Music which I do not use). Used to do that with root as well, but see, you can do without root as well.

Found even a way to run bash scripts from termux with elevated permissions (goes through Shizuku). It is not full root but the shell can run commands which termux otherwise can't.

I think I will order a T-shirt with: "Life is good without root" ... LOL
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] foobar66:
And ... Even with root you can never block all ads and some sites load their ads via their normal URL which looks legit to add blockers. Just use dns0.eu as private DNS, that will block most ads and no root needed for that 😄
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] whatsisnametake2:
I use dns66 on non root devices. can't tell the difference between that and rooted adblock to be honest. it works fine.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] johnsmallberries:
I just use an Automate flow that executes echo 81 > /sys/devices/platform/soc//soc:google,charger/charge_stop_level (the path may be different depending on the phone)
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] snovvman:
Ban!
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] GrandMstrBud:
The only reason I root is for unlimited hotspot when needed and backing up with now swift backup. Haven't really got into custom roms anymore. I do miss the days of Cyanogen Mod. I don't think I could go without the unlimited hotspot