How to Root the Lenovo Ideapad A1

Although Lenovo Ideapad A1 is quite an older device, it packs some of the great features with it. It runs the once-most-popular Android version — Gingerbread — along with a nice set of hardware. If you happen to have this device, and wish to unlock its true potential, you should consider rooting it using the procedure below.

Rooting is the process of gaining administrative rights on your Android device.  Once we root our Android device, we can then make changes to it to customize it well beyond what it normally can do.

Once you have root access on your Lenovo Ideapad A1, you’ll be able to:

• Remove apps that were preinstalled by your carrier/manufacturer from your device.
• Free up storage space (because of the above benefit).
• Increase battery life (apps that might have been running constantly can be removed).
• Increase performance (after removing apps that are always running, the device will be less bogged down and run smoother).
• Update to a new version of Android (by flashing a custom recovery/ROM, see the end of this procedure for more info on that).
• Tons of other customizations when you use your new found administrative rights to flash a custom ROM (again, see the end of this procedure for more info on that).

Interested? Here’s how to root your Lenovo Ideapad A1:

I. Before You Begin

1. This will void the warranty of your device. We won’t be held responsible if you end-up bricking or damaging your device. Do it at your own risk.

2. This should only work on Windows based PCs.

3. This should flash a custom recovery as well.

II. Downloading Required Files

1. Download SuperOneClick and save it to your desktop.

SuperOneClick (It’s attached in the first post)

2. Download CWM Recovery .zip and save it to your desktop.

CWM Recovery

III. Rooting the Lenovo Ideapad A1

1. Extract files from SuperOneClick to your desktop by right-clicking on it and selecting Extract here.

2. Enable USB debugging on your device by heading to Menu > Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging.

3. Right-click on SuperOneClick executable and select Run as administrator.

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

5. Click on Root in the SuperOneClick tool and follow the on-screen instructions.

6. You should now be rooted!

Congrats! Your Lenovo Ideapad A1 now has root access. To confirm the same, head over to the Google Play store and download and install Root Checker.

If you think root access alone won’t be able to satisfy your needs, as you maybe planning to flash a custom ROM on your device, here’s how you can flash a custom recovery so you can enjoy everything that your device has to offer.

IV. Flashing a Custom Recovery on the Lenovo Ideapad A1

1. Rename the CWM Recovery archive to update.zip.

2. Connect your device to your PC using the USB cable.

3. Copy update.zip from your desktop over to the root of your internal SD card.

4. When it’s copied, disconnect your device from your PC.

5. Turn OFF your device.

6. Turn it back on by holding down Volume DOWN and Power buttons together.

7. Keep the Volume DOWN button pressed until you see an icon on your screen.

8. It should automatically begin flashing the recovery on your device.

9. When the recovery’s flashed, your device will automatically reboot.

10. You’re all set!

Excellent! You now have root as well as a custom recovery on your Lenovo Ideapad A1. You can now install root-only apps, flash custom ROMs and mods, and do a lot of things on your device.

You can click here to find all of the Lenovo Ideapad A1 How To’s.

You can also find all of the Lenovo Ideapad A1 ROMs we have here.