Rooted Devices

Greetings Time Nerds!

You’ve stumbled on this little wiki page of ours because you’re looking to become your very own time server. And no doubt you’ve seen the notification that says that would work better as a rooted device.

What is a rooted device?
It’s a term used to describe a phone’s state. If it’s unrooted, then users can’t freely access the phone’s operating system. If it’s rooted, then users have access to ‘the root’ of the phone’s code.

Why does it work better?
Most, if not all phones, are sold with their operating system locked to the user. You can’t just dive into the OS and start making your own changes (or accidently breaking your phone). It’s a security concern for both you and the manufacturer. This also comes with plenty of restrictions on what a program can and can’t do. So while your phone might transmit some data as a server depending on the model, it’s more than likely you can’t due to these restrictions while unrooted.

Should I root my device?
That’s up to you! There are plenty of pros and cons alike. From uninstalling bloatware to leaving your phone open to viruses, you can do a lot with a rooted device. In terms of the positives as a time server, it allows you to affect and improve time keeping infrastructure.

How do I root my device?
That is a topic we won’t be discussing here but the guys over at XDA Developers have some excellent tips and tutorials.

PLEASE NOTE: Rooting a device may void the warranty on the device. It may also make the device unstable or if not done properly, may completely brick the device. Some methods may install additional apps/software on your device. Neither PublicNTP nor the author takes any responsibility for your device. Root at your own risk and only if you understand what you are doing!

Phones we’ve rooted and tested successfully.

• Nexus 4x
• Nexus 6p
• Pixel 2
• Pixel 2 XL
• Xiaomi Mi8