Today’s smartphones have a great deal of functionality and flexibility right out of the box. But some people like to take it a step further and root their devices to give them the ability to get even more out of them. Rooting gives users root level access, allowing them to modify any part of the system, even those that were previously restricted. And now, both the AT&T and T-Mobile variants of the Galaxy S7, as well as the S7 Edge, can reportedly be rooted successfully.
Rooting can be a double-edged sword, it will allow you to make heavy system modifications while at the same time increasing the chance of user error for the inexperienced. Over the years, it has become increasingly difficult, particularly for certain brands of devices such as Samsung, to achieve root access. Manufacturers have taken many measures to protect devices from being rooted, but members of the development community continue to work hard to overcome these barriers. There are some aspects of this process to be aware of before taking the plunge. First off, this is built from an engineer boot, which means there may be some problems with it, but the developer intends to work on them as they arise. And for security reasons, Samsung Pay will not work on a rooted device, so if this is something you have grown attached to this may not be for you. It is also safe to assume that other apps requiring a high level of security may not function properly (or at all) on a rooted device. This method will not unlock the bootloader, so it won’t give you the ability to flash a custom ROM. It will reportedly leave the KNOX counter unaffected. Modifying your device in a way that would trip the KNOX counter may void the warranty, however rooting in itself will not, as long as you are able to return it to its factory state prior to making any warranty claims.
This process is not for the weak of heart. As you may expect, there is some risk involved, some errors may arise during the process, leaving you with a non-functional device that may or may not be recoverable, so if you don’t feel completely comfortable with complex modifications, you should probably hold off. If you are interested in rooting your device, however, head on over to XDA via the ‘Source’ link below and follow the instructions provided.