Motorola
A woman takes a picture in front of a Motorola logo before the worldwide presentation of the Moto G mobile phone in Sao Paulo November 13, 2013.REUTERS/Nacho Doce

A few weeks ago, Motorola released the official Android 5.0 Lollipop OS to its popular mid-range device Moto G (Gen 2) in select regions as part of a routine software update to their flagship devices.

Now, tech-savvy users who are interested in rooting can unlock their Moto G (2nd Gen) model using the Chain Fire's CF-Auto-Root application tool.

Rooting enables users to install custom ROMs, third party applications of their choice and also perform tweaks in the settings to enhance the device's performance and add more customisation options. For easy rooting experience, we will be using the Chain Fire's CF-Auto-Root application tool in this tutorial.

We like to remind our readers that installing custom ROM devices is like using a double-edged sword. Though firmware give users more control over the smartphone, the company warranty will stand void and will no longer be liable for future updates.

[Note: Warranty can be restored by flashing the device with stock-ROM]

So we advise users to first go through the whole tutorial thoroughly and then go ahead with rooting procedure.

Prerequisites (things to remember before installing Custom ROM)

  • Rooting of devices sometimes (if procedure is not followed properly) leads to complete data wipe out, so make sure to back all the data. [Install Clockwork Mod (CWM) Recovery/ TWRP in the smartphone to save the data].
  • Before rooting users make sure you have installed Android SDK (Software Development Kit) in the smartphone from the official Android Developers website
  • And also enable USB debugging mode in your smartphone
  • This Rooting procedure has to be carried out on select models of Moto G (Gen 2) models running official Android 5.0 Lollipop firmware only; if tried on other devices, it might get bricked [To check your device model: Go to Settings >> About phone >> model number]
  • Users make sure they have installed USB drivers on the PC, or else your phone (Moto G 2nd Generation) smartphone will not be recognised by the computer. [If you have not installed the software, download HERE]
  • Make sure your device has more than 80% battery, or else there is chance of smartphone getting temporarily bricked if the installation process is interrupted midway.

[Disclaimer:This procedure is very technical and should be performed by a person with sound knowledge of rooting (or manual software installation) Android devices. If the step-by-step installation process is not followed properly, there are chances of the smartphone getting bricked or being permanently irreparable. International Business Times, India Edition cannot be held responsible for any damage or claims from readers if the procedure does not yield the required results or if the smartphone is bricked. Hence, users are advised to proceed with caution.]

Downloadable CF-Auto-Root app links:

[Note Users are advised to be aware of their device model ids before installing the app]

Tutorial: Step-by-step installation procedure guide on Motorola Moto G (Gen 2.) via CF-Auto-Root tool -

Step 1: Turn off of the phone, then enter Bootloader mode, by press holding Volume (Up) + Volume [Down]+ Power button.

Step 1: After downloading CF-Auto-Root.zip file from the links given above in to your PC, Unzip the 'CF-Auto-Root-xxx-xxx-xxx.zip' file on your computer.

Step 3: Then connect your phone to the PC. After establishing the connection, run the 'root-windows.bat' file.

Now, your device (Moto G 2nd Generation) will take a minimum of five minutes to complete the booting process. To verify whether the device is rooted or not, install Root checker app (HERE) on your to confirm the rooting  process.

[Credits: The Android Soul]