Access Root files without having to root? - Samsung Galaxy S8 Questions and Answers

So I want to access the root files under /data/data/~ and modify the files to my liking (delete/rename/etc), is that possible? I've tried a number of file explorers and they don't even let me view the files that are in it, let alone modify them.

SnipeySnake said:
So I want to access the root files under /data/data/~ and modify the files to my liking (delete/rename/etc), is that possible? I've tried a number of file explorers and they don't even let me view the files that are in it, let alone modify them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know you cannot access root files and/or modify them without rooting your device.

DiMilo said:
As far as I know you cannot access root files and/or modify them without rooting your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even having a KNOX license won't work?

SnipeySnake said:
Even having a KNOX license won't work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really know about Knox licence but my guess is that since file management and access isn't just Knox's matter in the first place but rather the whole android's system matter you won't be able to access sensitive files even if you have that license.
But anyway that is just my guess.

Related

[Q] How to access Phone Memmory!!

Can anyone please let me know, how to access the phone memory in Galaxy 3. There is My files folder in Applications which constitutes Memory Card. Do I need to root the phone to access phone memory?
vijay.gupta said:
Can anyone please let me know, how to access the phone memory in Galaxy 3. There is My files folder in Applications which constitutes Memory Card. Do I need to root the phone to access phone memory?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeps...!! basically that's d definition of rooting..!! ha ha...
Thanks Fido for the reply. Why is the phone memory inaccessible in android phones for normal users? Is there any specific reason for this?
It doesn't happens in other platforms such as Symbian, Blackberry etc.
they do d ryt thing.. Coz, if u r a newbie.. U may mess wid ur system... So it s a way to protect system files frm newbies..
Sent from my GT-I5800 using Tapatalk
Just curious that if you have access to phone memory, what mess you can create?
You have access to phone memory freely in all the other platforms without rooting. Do you mean to say that the creators of those platforms are not doing right thing?
Android doesn't use the phone memory to save things, only for system stuff and installed apps. You cannot put music on your phone memory for example.
How to access your phone memory? You don't have to be rooted to view, only to change... You can just use bluetooth file manager or astro file manager to view (and copy). But you have to use another program to change things...
vijay.gupta said:
Just curious that if you have access to phone memory, what mess you can create?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can access it, any application you install and run can access it without any limitation. This is good, if you know what you are doing, but it can be very harmful if you are not careful.
Humpie said:
You can just use bluetooth file manager or astro file manager to view (and copy). But you have to use another program to change things...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no way you can access the phone memory without rooting. Rooting is "the program" that changes things.
Thanks all,
I have mtorrent insalled on my phone. when i go to the option to add torrent, it shows me the directories that are not visible when I go to My Files folder. I have not rooted my phone. Are these directories the phone memory directories?
How can I determine if they are directories for accessing phone memory?
Shall I give out the name for the few?
One thing more: I am not getting e-mail notifications only for this thread even though I am subscribed to this thread whereas I am getting for all others. What may be the problem for this?
vijay.gupta said:
I have mtorrent insalled on my phone. when i go to the option to add torrent, it shows me the directories that are not visible when I go to My Files folder. I have not rooted my phone. Are these directories the phone memory directories?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which directories are those? On the memory card there are hidden files and folders whose name starts with a dot (.). The My Files app won't list these by default, but in the Settings menu you can enable it, and it is possible that in mtorrent this is the default setting.
The name of the directories are:
.info
cache
config
data
dev
efs
etc
lib
proc
res
sbin
sdcard - This is my SD Card folder that shows the contents of my memory card
sqlite_stmt_journals
sys
system
tmp
d
default.prop
fota.rc
init
init.apollo.rc
init.apollo.sh
init.rc
recovery.rc
system.prop
This is the root directory. Can you copy or create files here?
what do you mean by root directory? are you referring to this phone memory by this term...no, i can only access them...dont create or copy any file here..
vijay.gupta said:
what do you mean by root directory?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the root of the entire file system, without rooting you can't modify its contents (except the /mnt/sdcard folder and subfolders ofcourse).
So just confirming that without rooting the phone, one can access the phone memory but cannot modify its contents. Am i correct?
yes, that's correct
so, why i am able to access this directory (phone memory) only from some apps and not from all the apps?
Also, is there any other way that I can access (not modify anything) phone memory if my phone is not rooted?
Also, if anyone has rooted his phone, what may be the purpose that is solved? As far as I know, such users can install some apps that need root access for the phone?
I mean to say, what may be the reason for which the user may want modify permission to phone memory apart from installing apps that require root access?
Use astro , u can access ur phone memory even if unrooted (atleast see those foldres )
Thanks only4omkar. I am able to do that already using ttorrent app. But my query is different...can anyone please respond to that?
vijay.gupta said:
Can anyone please let me know, how to access the phone memory in Galaxy 3. There is My files folder in Applications which constitutes Memory Card. Do I need to root the phone to access phone memory?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wen u install applicATIONS, it gets installed in teh internal memory by default

Requirements for Root Explorer?

I want to use Root Explorer (or something similar) to modify my phone software - specifically I'm looking at replacing the boot animation. Am I correct that this requires rooting my phone? Or can I do so without rooting it?
Thanks folks. I guess everyone has to learn this for the first time sometime, huh?
Root Explorer is a file manager that gives you access to system directories.
Although using it will allow you access to files you normally wouldn't have access to, it won't actually help you to modify "your phone's software".
To change your boot animation, yes, you will need to be rooted...
JdeFalconr said:
I want to use Root Explorer (or something similar) to modify my phone software - specifically I'm looking at replacing the boot animation. Am I correct that this requires rooting my phone? Or can I do so without rooting it?
Thanks folks. I guess everyone has to learn this for the first time sometime, huh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Cant get root access :/

so i dont seem to have root access on my phone. whenever i try to delete files using a file explorer, it fails. ive tried 5 different file explorers(the most popular ones) and none of them work. superuser says i have root access but they're lies!!!!! someone please help
JoshuaFCB said:
so i dont seem to have root access on my phone. whenever i try to delete files using a file explorer, it fails. ive tried 5 different file explorers(the most popular ones) and none of them work. superuser says i have root access but they're lies!!!!! someone please help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- Which method you've used to root your device?
- Did you use the app to Check root?
JoshuaFCB said:
so i dont seem to have root access on my phone. whenever i try to delete files using a file explorer, it fails. ive tried 5 different file explorers(the most popular ones) and none of them work. superuser says i have root access but they're lies!!!!! someone please help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually, there are advanced options in the file explorers to gain root in them.
Anyway, you shouldn't have any issues deleting your own files. Maybe you are trying to delete files which are on a read only mount (you need to switch to R/W).

[Q] What does root give me and how do I use it

This is my first time rooting a phone and I’m trying to understand what power I exactly have now. I equate having root access to having admin access to a Windows PC. Is this correct?
I successfully gained root access via towelroot and confirmed with root checker. My goal is to stop Motorola from bugging me to upgrade to 183.46.15. When I use ES File Explorer to navigate to system/priv-app and attempt to delete 3c_ota.apk I get an error that I can’t delete it. I can rename it, but that does not remove the notification that I have a system update ready to install. I believe this is because the OTA service is still running. I also renamed the .odex file and that didn’t help either.
So, I was under the assumption that with root access I could just uninstall any app I wanted, especially pre-installed crap-ware by Moto and Verizon. Or at the least navigate to these .apk filed and delete them.
Please help me understand what root access gives me and how I can use it to do what I want to this phone.
TheAscension said:
This is my first time rooting a phone and I’m trying to understand what power I exactly have now. I equate having root access to having admin access to a Windows PC. Is this correct?
I successfully gained root access via towelroot and confirmed with root checker. My goal is to stop Motorola from bugging me to upgrade to 183.46.15. When I use ES File Explorer to navigate to system/priv-app and attempt to delete 3c_ota.apk I get an error that I can’t delete it. I can rename it, but that does not remove the notification that I have a system update ready to install. I believe this is because the OTA service is still running. I also renamed the .odex file and that didn’t help either.
So, I was under the assumption that with root access I could just uninstall any app I wanted, especially pre-installed crap-ware by Moto and Verizon. Or at the least navigate to these .apk filed and delete them.
Please help me understand what root access gives me and how I can use it to do what I want to this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UNLOCK YOUR BOOTLOADER.
The OTA most likely downloaded and is being stored in your cache directory(?). You need to delete it.
ATTACK said:
UNLOCK YOUR BOOTLOADER.
The OTA most likely downloaded and is being stored in your cache directory(?). You need to delete it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm planning on unlocking the bootloader but at this point I really just want it to stop telling me that I have a system update to install. Are you saying that if I find the OTA and delete it I will be free of this notification?
Also, I want to be able to go through the list of installed apps and uninstall at will. Why can't I do that if I have root?
TheAscension said:
Yes, I'm planning on unlocking the bootloader but at this point I really just want it to stop telling me that I have a system update to install. Are you saying that if I find the OTA and delete it I will be free of this notification?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, if the OTA has downloaded on your device, you will need to either delete it or install it to stop the pop-ups.
TheAscension said:
Also, I want to be able to go through the list of installed apps and uninstall at will. Why can't I do that if I have root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using a root explorer with superuser rights?
I second ATTACK. You will need to disable the updater (blur_update or something similar but there's no mistaking when you load up Titanium Backup, they occasionally show the information - any debloaters will take care of it if you know how to use it.) and delete update.zip in /cache as recent .15 is a point of no return. Then to unlock the bootloader, grab Motopocalypse APK.
In short, about "Superuser", it means you have the complete permission to do whatever you want after rooting. Just be careful, as power comes with responsibility.
ATTACK said:
Yes, if the OTA has downloaded on your device, you will need to either delete it or install it to stop the pop-ups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked the cache directory and there's nothing in it. I'm not sure where to look for.
ATTACK said:
Are you using a root explorer with superuser rights?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By a "root explorer", you mean like ES File Manager where I can navigate through system directories? Then yes. However, I do not know how to use it with superuser rights.
Touch Tools in ES file explorer, then Root Explorer and grant the permission once Superuser toast appears. And you will want to touch "Show hidden files". Then look around in /cache, now that the Superuser permission is granted to ES file explorer. Android OS typically hide some files if you're not rooted.
Dr. Mario said:
Touch Tools in ES file explorer, then Root Explorer and grant the permission once Superuser toast appears. And you will want to touch "Show hidden files". Then look around in /cache, now that the Superuser permission is granted to ES file explorer. Android OS typically hide some files if you're not rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I got it figured out. I navigated to the cache directory and renamed the OTA with a .BAK extension. Problem solved. Here's a question now that I've gone through the process. Is a program like SuperSU required to prompt the "Superuser toast"?
Also, if I want to uninstall pre-installed apps like Audible, how would I do so? I can certainly delete the APK, but does that actually remove all other associated files? I know in Windows it's good to go through the actual uninstall process so that all associated files and registry entries are removed as well.
TheAscension said:
Is a program like SuperSU required to prompt the "Superuser toast"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
TheAscension said:
Also, if I want to uninstall pre-installed apps like Audible, how would I do so? I can certainly delete the APK, but does that actually remove all other associated files? I know in Windows it's good to go through the actual uninstall process so that all associated files and registry entries are removed as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Navigate to the /system partition > /app & /priv-app folders and either delete or rename(.bak) the app/s you would like to "uninstall" then reboot.
Fantastic! Many thanks to you both. I accomplished my goals and learned a lot in the process.
You're welcome. Also, Superuser toast is there for security reason; if the suspicious program tries to access the su binary, you would catch the suspicious app in its track and permanently deny it of the permission. That's the beauty of Superuser app - you get to choose which app to be allowed to use the superuser permission.

Any way to get file from non-rooted G5 Plus using PC?

There's a file I need from my phone, but I cannot access it as it requires root and my device is not rooted and never has been. When I read rooting guides they all state to do a wipe. Is there any way to get the file from my phone using my PC even if my phone isn't rooted?
Not sure by your vague description, but do a search of QPST and its sub program QFIL as it is Qualcomm's set of tools for development and working with their chipsets.
[email protected] said:
Not sure by your vague description, but do a search of QPST and its sub program QFIL as it is Qualcomm's set of tools for development and working with their chipsets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Vague description?
- There is a file on my phone that I want to copy to my computer
- I am unable to access the file on my phone because it is in a location that requires root
- My phone is not rooted
My question is, is there a method using my pc to access the file even if my phone is not rooted? And if so, what is that method? I'm asking if my PC can get root access to files on my phone even if my phone is not rooted.
devvshukla said:
Is the "file" in [root]/data/ or [root]/system/ or it's in your internal storage and your device is locked down?
If internal then there is no way as it is encrypted.
You can copy some of them from system storage, try some file managers eg FX. I could copy the system apps with their lib from /System/apps to my SD Card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure where it's located. I was given this info from Roboform support. It's a password manager.
"By default it would be RoboForm/_user-data.rfo on your device if you have root access, the folder location itself varies from device to device."
With FX File Manager I can find two Roboform related folders, but access to both is denied without having root. Their locations are:
System/data/app
System/data/data
If you're looking for wifi passwords, and it sounds like that's what you're after, you're not going to be able to get them without root access.
Sent from my Acer Chromebook R11 (CB5-132T / C738T) using Tapatalk
riggerman0421 said:
If you're looking for wifi passwords, and it sounds like that's what you're after, you're not going to be able to get them without root access.
Sent from my Acer Chromebook R11 (CB5-132T / C738T) using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already stated what the file is. It's my own user data from the password manager app Roboform. I need the file to import the data into the PC version, as my user data was lost. As long as I don't sync the phone app, I still have all of my 211 site logins/passwords saved... but there is no way to recover the data to the PC app without getting that file.
Isn't there a PC app that can create a 1:1 image of everything on my phone, and then another that can open the image to view the files? Or a way to root without having to lose the data in the process?
I'm just trying to avoid having to manually input every single one of my logins & passwords manually, but will if there's no other way. I've gotten about 40 done so far but quit until I got an answer here.
maybe you can use adb to pull the files
plastic_green_head said:
Vague description?
- There is a file on my phone that I want to copy to my computer
- I am unable to access the file on my phone because it is in a location that requires root
- My phone is not rooted
My question is, is there a method using my pc to access the file even if my phone is not rooted? And if so, what is that method? I'm asking if my PC can get root access to files on my phone even if my phone is not rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Vague in that you did not say it was in
Code:
System/data/app
System/data/data
in your first post. As I posted, QFIL can dump the whole chipset, but getting it to work, and then extracting right file with a hex editor, is pretty involved.
Another option is to try using ADB backup. If the app allows itself to be backed up, then you may be able to extract the relevant files from the backup.
plastic_green_head said:
There's a file I need from my phone, but I cannot access it as it requires root and my device is not rooted and never has been. When I read rooting guides they all state to do a wipe. Is there any way to get the file from my phone using my PC even if my phone isn't rooted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, just use Moto lenovo software assistant and back up the file into pc and then access with your computer.
riyan65 said:
Hey, just use Moto lenovo software assistant and back up the file into pc and then access with your computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That won't work as it doesn't provide root access.
42o247 said:
maybe you can use adb to pull the files
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[email protected] said:
Vague in that you did not say it was in
Code:
System/data/app
System/data/data
in your first post. As I posted, QFIL can dump the whole chipset, but getting it to work, and then extracting right file with a hex editor, is pretty involved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NZedPred said:
Another option is to try using ADB backup. If the app allows itself to be backed up, then you may be able to extract the relevant files from the backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I don't think I'll mess with QFIL but will give ADB backup a go.
plastic_green_head said:
That won't work as it doesn't provide root access.
Vague in that you did not say it was in
Thanks. I don't think I'll mess with QFIL but will give ADB backup a go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are not vague... simply wrong!
You need the data belonging to an app so if the phone is not rooted and the app isn't a system app their data is under /data/data/APPNAME/
The Lenovo Assistant does an adb backup,nothing more and nothing less.
nicolap8 said:
You are not vague... simply wrong!
You need the data belonging to an app so if the phone is not rooted and the app isn't a system app their data is under /data/data/APPNAME/
The Lenovo Assistant does an adb backup,nothing more and nothing less.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Zero idea what you're trying to say there. You also quoted me as saying something that another poster said. What exactly am I "simply wrong!" about? I stated that I can see the location of the folders on my phone, but that I cannot enter into the folders because I do not have root access. "Access Denied". Someone told me to use Lenovo MOTO Smart Assistant, so I figured they were telling me to simply use it to browse my phones directory and copy the file to my computer. Naturally, if I browse my phone with the app it does not give me root access, thus I am unable to even see data/app/APPNAME or data/data/APPNAME. The person who suggested it did not mention anything about using it to create a backup. You stated that it "does an adb backup,nothing more and nothing less." which is completely incorrect. You're the one that's wrong here. The assistant does NOT do a complete adb backup. In fact the only things you can backup using it are contacts, sms, pics, music, video, and apps. Plus it does much more. Not "nothing more and nothing less" as you stated.
Roboform creates folders in the system partition. Are you telling me I'm wrong about where the folders are located? Wrong that the assistant app doesn't even let me see system folders? Wrong that it can't be used to create a full backup? Wrong that it does more than let you back up non-system files? Because I'm not wrong about a single one of those things.
Soooooooo. That brings me to having a full backup using adb command line, but no way to extract it's contents. I tried this but the unpack feature does absolutely nothing & the main interface doesn't even see my phone. Not to mention the install is bug ridden. It creates folders in the wrong locations & with the wrong names, so I needed to manually rename & move files because the app would crash trying to find files needed to run. https://github.com/camalot/droidexplorer
Is there any way to easily unpack the backup? If not I'll just give up on this and manually input the remaining 100+ passwords one by one from my phones screen to my PC. LoL.
plastic_green_head said:
Roboform creates folders in the system partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so! No app modifies /system, it requires root access to do.
Your data is in /data/data/roboform folder.
Do the backup:
https://9to5google.com/2017/11/04/how-to-backup-restore-android-device-data-android-basics/
Unpack the data:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2011811
nicolap8 said:
I don't think so! No app modifies /system, it requires root access to do.
Your data is in /data/data/roboform folder.
Do the backup:
https://9to5google.com/2017/11/04/how-to-backup-restore-android-device-data-android-basics/
Unpack the data:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2011811
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't need the first link. I said I already have an adb backup. You still didn't tell me what I was previously wrong about. The file locations? I'm going by where FX File Manager tells me it's located, which says System/data/app. Does it really matter anyway? I see them, I just can't open them without rooting & once I get the extracting stuff set up I will know where to look for them. A 100% technically (in)accurate location name was irrelevant to even point out as being "not vague, just wrong".
plastic_green_head said:
Didn't need the first link. I said I already have an adb backup. You still didn't tell me what I was previously wrong about. The file locations? I'm going by where FX File Manager tells me it's located, which says System/data/app. Does it really matter anyway? I see them, I just can't open them without rooting & once I get the extracting stuff set up I will know where to look for them. A 100% technically (in)accurate location name was irrelevant to even point out as being "not vague, just wrong".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is relevant, the Roboform app
a) was installed by you
b) it's an app that already was on phone
???

Categories

Resources