How to Root the Acer Iconia Tab A101

Whenever a new Android device comes out in the market, what do we do about it? Exactly, we root it. An Android device without root is like an iPhone without jailbreak, you can’t load root-only apps, no custom ROMs, etc. Fortunate are those users who purchased the Acer Iconia Tab A101, they now have a root method for their device. Rooting your Tab A101 will enable you to do all the aforementioned tasks and if you’re wondering how, here’s your answer:

I. Before You Begin:

1. This will void the warranty of your device. However, you can reinstate the warranty by unrooting your device if there’s any unrooting procedure available.

2. Make sure your device has at least 70% of battery life left.

3. You need to have unlocked bootloader of your device. Follow this guide to unlock your bootloader.

II. Downloading Required Files:

1. Root Package (It’s attached in the first post)

2. A100 ROM (Download the latest version available)

3. A101 ROM (Download the latest version available)

III. Rooting the Acer Iconia Tab A101:

1. Put all the three files you’ve downloaded to your Desktop.

2. Extract files from the Root Package archive over to your Desktop.

3. Turn ON the USB debugging option on your device by heading to Menu>>Settings>>Applications>>Development>>USB debugging.

4. Plug in your device to your PC via USB cable.

5. Copy the A100 Stock ROM file over to the root of your SD card.

6. Once the file’s been copied, turn OFF your device.

7. Reboot your device into Recovery mode. To do so, simply hold down the Volume UP+Power buttons together for a couple of seconds.

8. Once inside Recovery, flash the A100 ROM file you copied earlier to your device.

9. Reboot your device.

10. Now launch a Command Prompt Window on your Desktop. To do that, hold down the Shift button and right-click anywhere on your Desktop and select Open command window here.

11. Type in following commands into the Command Prompt Window:

adb shell
/system/bin/cmdclient ec_micswitch '`echo 'ro.kernel.qemu=1' > /data/local.prop`'

12. Now issue the following command:

exit

13. Reboot your device.

14. Once it boots up, copy the A101 ROM file over to the root of your SD card.

15. Once it’s been copied, turn OFF your device.

16. Reboot your device into Recovery mode by pressing and holding down the Volume UP+Power buttons together.

17. Flash the A101 ROM file using the options available in the recovery mode.

18. Reboot your device.

19. Now type in following commands into the Command Prompt Window you’ve kept open on your PC:

adb remount
adb push su /system/xbin/
adb shell "chmod 06755 /system/xbin/su"

20. Once it’s done, head over to Google Play and download and install the Superuser as well as BusyBox apps.

21. Once both the apps have been installed, reboot your device.

22. Launch the Superuser app and update its binary files (it’ll ask you to do so!).

23. Run the BusyBox app and it’ll ask you to provide root-permission.

24. You’re rooted now!

Excellent! After quite a lengthy process of rooting, we now have access to root on our Iconia Tab 101 device. Meaning, you can now load root-only apps on the device as well as remove system apps!

IV. Flash a Custom Recovery Image (Optional):

1. If you would like to flash a custom recovery image in order to flash custom ROMs, head to the How To Flash a Custom Recovery Image on the Acer Iconia Tab A101 to learn how to do that.

If this procedure helped you please thank/donate to the original developers here.

If you need help with this procedure, please ask in the comments below or in the forum.

This is part of our Android How To’s. We have how to’s on rooting, loading ROMs, and tons of other tips and tricks for your specific device or for Android devices in general! For all of our Android How To’s, head here.

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