Rooted phone?
T3chN0g3n Posted messages 69 Registration date Status Member Last intervention -
Hello, I bought a "new" Samsung S10 Plus on the Pixmania site, but I can't install certain applications because the phone tells me that this device is "rooted."
Can someone tell me what that means? And how can I remove this root?
Thank you.
Sarah
2 answers
Hello,
If it is rooted, it means it is not brand new and that someone has tampered with the original firmware to interfere with the system applications, but which should instead allow the installation of everything else except Samsung updates.
Very technical and difficult to return to the original state without risking permanently bricking the device.
Non-compliance, cancellation of the sale, and return to sender.
Hello,
I agree with brucine, it’s not normal. If it wasn’t clearly stated, I would quickly turn to the website for a replacement or refund.
As mentioned, it’s not easy to remove, especially since it can disable certain software components ("DRM") that may be impossible to recover if you weren’t the one who initiated the operation. You could end up with lower quality photos, for example.
“Rooting” a phone is basically unlocking "super administrator" rights. It exposes the phone to security risks, and that’s why I think some apps refuse to install on recent versions of Android.
To elaborate, there are various reasons that can block a phone:
- stolen phone (as soon as one becomes aware of it, one is guilty of receiving if one keeps it)
- The person who sold it reset it without deleting their Google account, resulting in FRP lock: a lesser evil if they agree to share their credentials to get it done
- Rooting a "new" phone itself is absurd; it voids the warranty; it is also by definition "unofficial", no one knows what has been tampered with and what could affect certain functionalities.
There is no reason to keep such a phone unless it was acquired at a ridiculously low price and one is willing to play Russian roulette.