Rooting your phone or getting access into its root directory is the process of customizing the OS loaded on your device to give you total control over it. When you are in full control of your device and its OS, you can go beyond your phone’s limitations, expand system functionality, and even upgrade it based on your preferences. You are able to do that on a rooted phone simply because rooting gives you access to system files you normally do not have access to.
Thanks to the GingerBreak app, you can now root your Motorola DROID X2 and uncover its hidden powers. GingerBreak is a user-friendly tool to root your Android devices in just a single click. It supports devices that run Android 2.2 Froyo, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and also some devices that run Android 3.0 Honeycomb.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The method described here has been reported to NOT work with Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread on the Motrola DROID X2. (Thanks, geeknik, for the tip!) You are free to try, though–and if it works for you, please let us know in the comments, as a lot of other users may want to know what you did to get this to work with Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread.
Some Risks
Before proceeding with rooting your Motorola DROID X2, you have to be aware of some of the risks. Here are the most important ones:
- Rooting your Motorola DROID X2 will VOID your warranty, though the warranty can be claimed after you restore the device to its pre-rooted status.
- As the rooting process will wipe your cache, all your APN and MMS settings will also be reset. Contact your service provider to get more information about APN and MMS settings.
- To ensure that the process completes uninterruptedly, make sure your device has at least 50% battery power. A better suggestion is to root your device on full power.
- We will not hold responsibility if your device gets bricked or damaged during the process, although the chance of bricking your phone using this method is very slim.
What You Need
- A Motorola DROID X2 handset
- The GingerBreak app (latest version is 1.20). The link points to a direct download of the Android package file (APK) from the XDA-Developers forum.
- An Android file manager app (optional), preferably Astro File Manager.
Step-by-Step Rooting of the Motorola DROID X2
- Enable USB debugging on the handset. You can do this by going to Settings > Manage Applications and enable USB debugging.
- Connect your phone to the computer. Mount the SD Card as disk drive. Copy the GingerBreak APK to the SD card’s root directory.
- Install the GingerBreak APK on your phone using any available Android file manager (e.g., Astro File Manager).
- Once GingerBreak has been installed, launch it from the Home screen.
- Press the Root button in the app to start the rooting process. Wait for the app to finish.
- If the previous steps are done correctly, your device will reboot.
- After your device reboots, go to the Home screen and check if an icon labeled SuperUser is present.
Simple Procedure for Unrooting
In case your Motorola DROID X2 experiences some problems and you want to have it serviced under manufacturer’s or carrier’s warranty, you need to restore the handset to its original state. Otherwise, the technical support personnel may consider your handset warranty void.
Unrooting your Motorola DROID X2 is as easy as uninstalling the Gingerbreak app to restore your device to its pre-rooted status.
Rooting your Motorola DROID X2 is that easy, especially with the tools provided to you by software developers. Granting that you followed instructions accurately, the process should be a breeze and should complete successfully. Now you have a phone that is completely yours to tinker with and customize to your heart’s liking.