But what if you want to install custom ROMs or use apps that require a rooted phone? The Droid 3 is one of those phones that has a wide range of capabilities after you root the phone. Let’s take a look at a step-by-step process and how to root Droid 3 to receive more than just the Motorola presets.
Tips
There are a few things to think about before you root your Droid 3. For starters, when you root your phone you void your manufacturer’s warranty. This means that you can’t send in your phone in the future if something goes wrong. You also run the risk of bricking your phone, rendering it useless. Make sure you follow all the instructions below in order to avoid any of these problems. One last tip is to back up all of your data before following the below steps, and charge your phone to at least 70% before starting the process.
Method 1: Pete’s Motorola Root Tools
This method is the easiest way to root your Droid 3 phone. It’s also probably the easiest way to root any Android smartphone. All you have to do is simply download a file, extract it onto your desktop and then hit a single button and your phone will be rooted. Keep in mind that you must have your Motorola drivers installed on your computer prior to this method, and all the following methods. Let’s take a look.
Step 1
Download the Pete’s Motorola Root Tools file to your computer. You can place this file wherever you want on your computer, but for simplicity let’s move it to your desktop so you can access it quickly.
Step 2
Find the Root Tools archive, and extract these files onto your desktop. We only need the Root Tools archive for this to work.
Step 3
Open up your Droid 3 phone, and click on the menu button. The purpose of this step is to turn on USB debugging in order to allow a connection between your phone and computer. After you click on Menu, go to Settings, Applications, Development and then USB debugging.
Step 4
Find the USB cable that came with your Droid 3. Connect the cable to your phone and plug-in the other end of the USB cable to your computer. Your computer should recognize that the device has been connected.
Step 5
Navigate back to your desktop, and locate the file that you extracted from Pete’s Motorola Root Tools. You’ll want to find the executable file, and double-click on it to activate the program.
Step 6
A new window will come up with various buttons to click on. The only option you want to focus on is the Root My Phone button. Click on this button to start the rooting process. Several commands will come up, and all you have to do is follow the on-screen steps to root your phone. It usually just takes a handful of steps.
Once this process is complete you’ve successfully rooted your Droid 3. You can now navigate to the Google Play Store and download root-only apps that turn your phone into a highly functional device.
Method 2: Flashing Your Own Recovery Images
With the previous rooting method, you can only use your rooted phone to download root-only apps. You might be interested in taking further advantage of your rooted phone. This will allow you to create custom ROMs or other random functionalities on your phone.
Step 1
Download SafeStrap, and place the APK file on the desktop of your computer.
Step 2
Using your USB cable, connect your Droid 3 to the computer.
Step 3
Locate the root folder on your SD card, and transfer the APK file to this particular folder.
Step 4
Once you copy over the file you can remove your device from the USB cable. Locate your file manager on the Droid 3, and click on the new APK file. This installs the file on your phone.
Step 5
Walk through the onscreen steps to complete the installation process. Navigate to your menu and click on the app to get it started.
Step 6
Click on the Install Recovery button that appears in the app to complete this process. Your phone will start flashing, and then once the process is over you can reboot your phone. That’s it!
Method 3: One Click Root
This method seems to only work sometimes, depending on your Android version. When it does work, the process is super fast.
Step 1
Download the One Click Root program.
Step 2
Enable USB debugging on your phone by going to Applications, Development and the USB Debugging in your Settings.
Step 3
Make sure your device is connected to your computer and start up the One Click Root program. Click on the Root Now button and you should be good to go!
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve cracked into the magical world of rooting your Android phone. The Droid 3 is a powerful little device, even without a root, but you now have the chance to brag to your friends and family that you know a little bit more than them when it comes to technology. Keep in mind that rooting a phone is not particularly condoned by the manufacturers, but if you follow the right steps and take a little bit of caution you shouldn’t have any problems. The Pete’s Motorola Root Tools method is a great way for beginners to get started with rooting. You don’t have to fumble around with bulky files or push your phone through a series of complicated steps. Simply complete the one-click process and you are well on your way to jumping past those initial Android manufacturer restrictions. Now it’s your turn to contribute. Let us know in the comments section if you have any questions about these steps. Use this article to learn how to root Droid 3 in your free time. If something doesn’t work for you, please let us know and we’ll help you the best we can.
