ROOTing A LG Optimus One Android Phone
ROOTing a LG Optimus One Android Phone is easier now, thanks to z4root by Ryan ZA. All you have to do is download/install the z4root application from the Android Market.
The z4root is a one-click-root type of app for dummies that seems to have been made specially for non-developers and/or those who dread the alien-like instructions of how to root an Android manually. I would sure like to try it manually but don’t want to mess up my “kinda new” LG Optimus One. I remember those days when I tried to re-compile a kernel for Red Hat 9 just to get the pretty bootsplash screen working on my machine. It was a success after only how many hours of getting it wrong.
One important thing to mention is that after the app was installed, I tried to do a Temporary Root (which is included in the latest version of the z4root app) but it didn’t work. It kept on asking me to enable the Debugging Mode when it was already on. So skip this part and proceed right away to Permanent Root.
Before you do a Permanent Root (it seems there are two important things worth mentioning here not one!), just to be on the safe side, reboot your Android phone first. My first try at this app was a failure. The rooting process got stuck, a.ka. it did not finish. I read some comments that rebooting the phone fixed it.
Ok here’s a quick rundown on what to do:
1) After the restart, enable Debugging Mode if you haven’t.
2) Connect your phone via USB and you’re ready. Don’t turn on USB Mass Storage since some of the apps won’t work if this is enabled. Which apps I do not know, but let’s just keep the SD card “un-busy.” (Actually, I think I remember not connecting the cable anymore and it still worked. Just enable debugging mode.)
3) Load z4root. Hit Permanent Root and wait for it to finish, which should be fairly quick. It will then restart your phone (yet again!).
4) Once it has rebooted yell “HURRAY! My phone is still working!” Seriously now, some apps will ask permission to allow Super User access. Choose “YES”, of course!
(Read before you proceed!)
Oh in case you were wondering if ROOTing is an irreversible process, the answer is NO. It can be reversed. In fact, the z4root app will have Re-Root and Un-Root options available once you’ve successfully rooted your phone. Ain’t that wonderful?! Re-Root is something like redoing the whole process because something went wrong. Un-Root is removing the exploit entirely.
Why I ROOTed my LG Optimus One? I simply wanted the AutoKiller Memory Optimizer app’s advanced features to work. It needed root privileges. Perhaps I will try to overclock but I’ll leave that for another day. Gonna find some useful apps that needs root too.
What I really want to do next is to have JIT and Hardware Acceleration. This was mentioned in the XDA Developers forums under LG Optimus One sub-category. I’ll have to do a lot of heavy reading on how to do it safely. (edit: After reading some more, I think JIT is already enabled by default in Android 2.2 Froyo.)
*z4root screenshot from XDA Developers Forum.
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59 Responses to “ROOTing A LG Optimus One Android Phone”
December 2, 2010 at 10:17 am »
Thanks for this information
I wonder if you already tried out the UNROOT functionality and if it is really working (I’m new to this all and therefore very interested in if it can be revoced that easy.
If tried the temporary root on an LG Optimus One and tested it with Titanium Backup – worked well, it seems.
BTW: Did anyone get “vpn connections” working on the optimus one? Tried it using temporary root but after I hit “connect” it informs me that it’s closed unexpectedly
December 2, 2010 at 2:26 pm »
Hi Manuela,
No, I haven’t tried both Re-Root and Un-Root Options and good for you the Temporary Root option worked. It didn’t for me, although I wonder why if we are using the same unit. The Un-Root should work fine. I don’t see why it would be a problem but we can’t be too sure so you actually have a point in asking if it can easily be reversed. I’ll do that one of these days.
I haven’t tried the VPN connection too. I don’t have a VPN network to test. LOL! SSH is fine though. I’m using ConnectBot to login to my server accounts.
*edit:
Un-Rooting is very quick. It doesn’t even need a reboot to finish. I’m gonna assume the Re-Rooting process would be more or less the same as Permanent Root.
December 2, 2010 at 10:23 pm »
Yet again a very good written post coming from you. Keep writing!
December 8, 2010 at 6:37 am »
Hello,
What z4root version did you use? I tried installing version 1.3.0 on my Optimus One, but there was a problem parsing the package.
December 8, 2010 at 9:08 am »
The same version, 1.3.0. Try to reinstall the app, see if that works.
December 9, 2010 at 9:49 am »
I just successfully rooted my phone. Thank you.
December 9, 2010 at 1:16 pm »
Jolly Good Sir!
Titanium Backup is great to backup everything.
SetCPU is good to underclock the phone since most of the time it may be idle and will not be needing that much power. Have it set “On Demand” for when you need that extra kick playing Angry Birds and the likes.
ShootMe is an app to get a screenshot of your Android phone and show it off to your friends. LOL!
Have fun with your rooted LG Optimus One.
(And thank the Z4root developer for a great app!)
December 15, 2010 at 8:01 am »
Have your tried the CyanogenMod already?
December 23, 2010 at 8:52 am »
What happens if the rooting process gets stuck/fails?
December 23, 2010 at 4:09 pm »
That happens at times. Just exit from the app and try to kill it. If you read the post, I did mention to reboot your Android phone before attempting the root. And from what I’ve read, a few people have already mentioned that it got stuck on a few occasions when they didn’t reboot the phone first.
December 26, 2010 at 5:01 am »
Hi,
I’m kinda new with android phone so forgive me for the newbieness, but is overclocking worth it in LG Optimus One considering that is only has 600MHz?
December 27, 2010 at 4:40 am »
Don’t apologize, nothing wrong with being a “newbie”. LOL!
For now, I don’t really see the point in trying to overclock the phone’s (LG Optimus One) CPU, but only because I don’t play that much games on my Android just yet. I do have Angry Birds which lags a bit especially at the start of different levels (and I can really notice the difference on my sister’s HTC Desire *grumble, grumble* in terms of responsiveness). Besides games, I find this cheap(er) Android device worth every penny for my needs such as checking mails, chat, listen to music, waste time on Facebook and/or browsing the web.
Underclocking, however, now that’s something. It can save battery and extend the time between recharging. Imagine the phone using less power when it is on standby or just idling there in your pocket for hours. Nice idea, eh?
January 3, 2011 at 9:37 am »
tnx man..i root my optimus one successfully..i tried to method and both options are working fine(temporary root and permanent root)anyway tnx..keep up the good work..angelo valero..philippines
January 3, 2011 at 12:12 pm »
I rooted my LG Optimus One P500 using your instructions and like 2 days ago I couldn’t feel my phone vibrating when I receive new messages, so I thought of resetting the default settings. I’ve read in the other forums that it’s ok to reset the phone to its default settings even if it’s rooted. I reset my phone and now it’s not working anymore. All I see is the LG welcome screen and then the Android welcome screen and nothing happens afterwards. I would have to removed the battery to turn my phone off.
Please help me.
I also read that LG will void my warranty because I rooted my phone. I have nowhere else to go. Please help.
January 3, 2011 at 1:09 pm »
Yup, your warranty can be voided if it has been tampered with or in this case “rooted.” You did know about that before you rooted your phone, right?
What happened after you removed the battery. Is it ok now? Since you already did the soft reset and if nothing worked, have you tried the hard reset already?
I should ask you, why on earth did you immediately reset to default settings? It could have been something you touched in the Settings causing the phone not to vibrate anymore. Again you can easily un-root the phone without having to reset.
January 9, 2011 at 9:07 am »
Hey can someone help me? I did all the instructions and after the reboot of phone…..nothing. Its like nothing happened. What should have happened? Im new to the android platform thingy. Thanks
January 9, 2011 at 9:48 am »
For the z4root app, not all phones are supported. What is your Android smartphone? I have tried it on my sister’s HTC Desire, for instance, and while the whole process (up to reboot) completed, nothing happened afterwards. I found out that z4root doesn’t work on the HTC Desire (after I re-visited the app web page) .
If the root was a success, apps like Titanium Backup or CacheMate will run properly without all those warning messages that there is no super user rights.
Or you could run z4root again and instead of Temporary Root or Root options, a new menu is presented instead to either Un-Root or Re-Root.
January 9, 2011 at 10:08 am »
I have a LG Optimus One. I really have no idea what you said. Haha sorry im a total newbie. I just wanted to root my phone to be able to buy paid apps because its not available here in my country and Ive read an article saying that I’ll be able to somewhat “cheat” my location and be able to buy paid apps if I root my phone. Help? Hehe/
January 9, 2011 at 10:28 am »
What paid apps are we talking about here?
January 9, 2011 at 10:32 am »
Paid games and all? Only those free apps show on my android market.
January 9, 2011 at 10:50 am »
I’m not sure about that, but can you please include a link to that post you read?
January 13, 2011 at 6:25 am »
Hi I have LG optimus one. z4root is not working on my phone. I have tried different ways to use this app but still nothing happens after the process. It just go back to homescreen with nothing happens. Please help me with this app. My android version is froyo 2.2.1.
THanks in advance.!
January 13, 2011 at 7:27 am »
It appears that you have updated the software version to V10e since your Froyo is already 2.2.1. The z4root won’t work anymore on that version as experienced by some people. It has been mentioned in one of the threads at the XDA Developers forum. One of the reasons why I didn’t update my Optimus One yet.
January 24, 2011 at 7:37 pm »
Hi! I have an Optimus One with s/w version as V10c, but still z4root won’t work. I tried it by connecting the usb cable too but it just remains stuck on the processing screen. Currently I am using Launcher Pro with juice defender running in the background. What can be the problem?? Please help.
January 29, 2011 at 12:17 pm »
Ciao! I have software version V10c-OCT-12-2010 on my optimus one. Will it work if I try to root it? I read that rooting works only with software version V10b, is that true?
January 29, 2011 at 5:32 pm »
Was V10c the original version when you bought the phone or did you update? Mine is V10b-OCT-05-2010 and z4root works fine. The only other version update notification I got is for V10e last December IIRC. It seems not all versions, prior to V10e, were pushed to every unit and I have heard it depends on the country you are in.
The only way to be sure is to install z4root and try it out. I have not updated my phone yet. I don’t plan to update it anytime soon, unless it is for Gingerbread.
If you have already updated your phone to V10c or V10e prior to discovering the wonderful z4root app, then no worries if it doesn’t work anymore. What will be annoying is if z4root was already working in version V10b and you updated rendering z4root not functioning after.
From what feedbacks I’ve gathered on the Internet, it doesn’t work anymore after upgrading to V10e. But don’t take my word for it.
February 20, 2011 at 2:25 am »
Post v10c, the android version is 2.2.1 and yes, z4root doesn’t work now.
February 20, 2011 at 5:02 am »
Have their been updates to the z4root I don’t know about that works for the latest (v10e)? Or we might have to find another root app or do it the hard way.
March 29, 2011 at 5:53 pm »
i’m really new to android… and i bought my optimus one about a 2 months ago. i immediately updated to the latest v10f. is there a way to root my phone?
March 29, 2011 at 6:29 pm »
What Android version do you have now? Is it 2.2.1? If it is, the last time I checked, z4root does not work on this version of LG Optimus one with V10c and V10e. Try to find the z4root APK and install it. Don’t worry, it should be harmless even if root doesn’t work. I’ve tried using z4root on my sister’s HTC Desire (yes her phone is better than mine! :p) and the app doesn’t work on that phone. In which case just uninstall the app. Nothing should’ve changed. To be sure, back up first!
I should mention someone said over at XDA that he successfully z4root-ed his 2.2.1 Droid X. Either that is the Droid X version or the Android version he was referring to.
I’m quite curious about Unrevoked. I hear a lot of good things about it. It does not list LG Optimus One as a supported device. Most are HTC models and a few Motorola Droids.
March 31, 2011 at 1:24 pm »
TO nathan.
HOw is ur device’s performance after updating to v10f???
Has it slowed down???
April 3, 2011 at 12:25 pm »
Im having a huge problem. my phone is set for USB debug, and everything, but when i hit the Perma Root button it starts then the application closes down. and i cant open it again. please help me
April 3, 2011 at 2:24 pm »
What is your android phone?
April 5, 2011 at 1:10 pm »
Hi
I am really new to the android platform. I was trying to root my optimus one using z4root version 1.3 and when i click permanent root, it just seems to keep going on forever. It doesn’t stop or do anything else. Please help me. I would really like to root my phone.
Thank You in advance
Sachit
April 6, 2011 at 1:20 am »
I got that same thing too. Just restart the phone then run z4 again. It should be fine after.
April 11, 2011 at 1:29 am »
This sounds so simple, however, with my LG Optimus 2.2 I have not been able to root the phone. I downloaded the z4root app from Market Place, and then it froze. when I try to remove it, it says it is not there. When i try to root, it says the same things that happened to you in the beginning when you were trying to root your phone. I am frustrated. I want to get this working, or get it off my phone, but neither seem to be working. Any advice? Thanks in advance.
April 12, 2011 at 6:19 pm »
What version is the phone now? Have you upgraded the firmware after you bought it? Chances are, it is the upgraded firmware you have on your Optimus.
April 15, 2011 at 12:39 pm »
Hi,
I recently bought my Optimus One, and having looked at z4root, decided to give it a go. However, for some reason it consistently fails to root the phone, exiting out of the application just after attempting to “acquiring root shell…”. Upon trying to enter the application again, it then gives the error message: “The application z4root (process com.z4mod.z4root) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again.” with only the option to force close. Nothing I can do seems to change this, and any attempts to open the app fail until I reboot the phone.
My android version is Froyo 2.1.1 and software version V10b-DEC-13-2010. I have read on several sites that V10b should still be rootable, yet this does not appear to be the case for my phone.
And before you ask, yes, I’ve tried restarting the phone (numerous times), and all the settings are as required for this to work. Just that it doesn’t. So if anyone could help me out, that would be great.
Thanks.
April 15, 2011 at 1:08 pm »
I think you meant 2.2.1, because Froyo is version 2.2.x, right? The 2.1.x series was the predecessor codenamed Eclair.
Anyway, LG seems to have different naming conventions for their software versions from country to country. Yours is V10b-DEC-13-2010 already at 2.2.1, while there are V10b-OCT-05-2010 versions still at 2.2. In other cases the update to 2.2.1 were on versions V10e and V10f. Bottomline, this further supports the claims of various LG Optimus One owners who upgraded to Android version 2.2.1 and found out that their z4root don’t work anymore.
April 16, 2011 at 5:00 am »
Oh yes, I meant to say 2.2.1. There’s always at least one typo that gets through..
Thanks for clearing that up by the way – I didn’t know LG used different naming conventions in each country, and that fact I’m sure has led to a lot of confusion for many people (me included).
So basically I’ll have to downgrade to 2.2 to be able to root the device then? Will that mean that I’ll lose all the data and applications on my phone, or will those be retained (or if not, then is there any way of backing them up such that they will still work on the previous version, that does not require rooting beforehand)?
Cheers, and thanks for the quick reply
April 20, 2011 at 3:53 am »
Sorry, got busy playing Dragon Age 2. I know it’s an old game, came out last year, but I finally had the time to play it. LOL!
Anyway, I’m afraid you can’t downgrade easily. And if you do, you’re going to have to do it the hard way Nathan.
April 23, 2011 at 4:28 pm »
Hey.! I tried The above Mentioned Process bt da thing is Wenever i tried To Give a Permanent Or Temporary Root..After Acquiring Root Shell…It Comes Back to The Home Screen…nd wen I try to re-rum da app..It says..To force Stop da app since It has hanged….:(…!.Plz Help.!
May 6, 2011 at 6:41 pm »
Hey now there is a new way to root android 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 using gingerbreak… check it in xda deveopers forums
May 6, 2011 at 6:46 pm »
Sweet! I will check that out. Been so busy lately, I haven’t had time to blog or play with my Android. LOL!
Thanks for the heads up.. .
June 20, 2011 at 5:53 am »
i tried temporary root on my o1… bt it failed… z4root get closed after doing some task…(froyo 2.2.1 with software version v10c)
is permanant root safe for me?
June 20, 2011 at 9:13 am »
Hi Manoj,
Permanent root is safe. z4root may not work on Android version 2.2.1.
June 26, 2011 at 7:58 pm »
[...] That piece of software is terribly slow! Good thing Titanium Backup is available. What is rooting an Android for after all, [...]
July 1, 2011 at 10:37 am »
Hello dear Admin,
I’m using an LG Optimus One and I’m from India. My phone is not even a month old. It’s Android version is 2.2.2 and Software version is V10e (MARCH 28, 2011).
Will Z4Root successfully root my device? I have this app and I also installed it but due to fear I neither did temporary root nor permanent root, though it showed me both the options. And then I removed it. Sir, should I try rooting my device with it? Will it work for my phone for the above mentioned software version and Android version? And which is the developer’s page of this app? Thank you for helping so many newbies like us and now please help me too.
July 1, 2011 at 1:00 pm »
Hey Vishal,
No it won’t work for that version of Android. Sorry. z4root – both permanent and temporary root – are safe. If it won’t work on a particular Android phone it won’t ‘damage’ anything. You can just unroot and uninstall afterwards.
Can’t remember exactly if I pulled z4root from Android Market. I think I did but a few months later it was gone from the Market.
July 1, 2011 at 3:03 pm »
Thank you. Can you suggest any other method to do it? Without the use of a Computer? What about GingerBreak?
July 1, 2011 at 4:33 pm »
Yes Gingerbreak works for Android 2.2.1 and 2.2.2. Make a backup of your micro SD card. If you have an extra one, use that.
Rumor has it – and these are supposedly “strong rumors” – that Gingerbread updates are rolling out for the LG Optimus One this month or the next. I’d suggest you hold on for a month or two if you can. Rooting has its failures too so if you don’t want to break your Android phone before a huge update, you’ll just have to find something to amuse yourself while waiting such as playing Pocket Legends.
July 6, 2011 at 1:05 pm »
Hey Admin,
I’m using an LG Optimus One. It’s Android version is 2.2.2 and Software version is V10e (MARCH 28, 2011). You mentioned in reply to Vishal’s query that z4root cant be used for this version of android. If I root my phone with gingerbreak, then is there any way to unroot it? Thanks in advance!!
July 6, 2011 at 8:13 pm »
Hi,
The unroot option was added to GingerBreak just a few days after its initial release. It was not available in the earlier version of the app.
Hope that helps.
August 29, 2011 at 4:44 pm »
Hey there, im also a newbie to this android thing, i just rooted my LG O1 with gingerbreak, how then cn I adjust those CPU usage and the phones internal settings?? Plz plz help me,..thnx a lot…….
August 30, 2011 at 1:44 am »
SetCPU can under/overclock your phone’s CPU. It is not free though. Last time I checked it was $1.99 on Android Market. It is however free for XDA members.
I’m not sure what internal settings you are talking about?
August 30, 2011 at 3:37 am »
Thnx bro…i have now setcpu on my O1 but 600mhz is the only maximum i cud get..what shud I do? How do i change a custom rom? thnx again..
September 3, 2011 at 1:03 pm »
Sorry for the late reply. Got busy with a few things.
Yes, SetCPU can’t OC a LG O1 for now until kernel sources are released. You can still underclock which is useful in situations where your phone is just on idle. I find this the more useful part as it helps extend battery life / standby time. OC can make your phone unstable and crash.
If you really want to OC, you have to flash it a new rom, such as the Cyanogen Mod. This is different from rooting and can be a little more complicated. Do so at your own risk. When you’ve done this you can set CPU over 700+ MHz and some are reporting 800+ MHz and still stable.
November 2, 2011 at 4:13 am »
Please help me
You gave me
Method of rooting in LG GX500
How to root for LG GX500
Please answer me.
Please reply
November 15, 2011 at 3:48 am »
Hello Maung Naing,
I am sorry I do not own a LG GX500. Besides, it looks like the OS for this unit is not an Android. My suggestion is that you go the XDA Developers Forum and search your phone model there. They might have something for you.