GSam Battery - Root Companion
Unfortunately, Google has removed the ability (KitKat 4.4 and later) for non-system applications to access battery statistics. This companion app restores this function by running as a privileged system application. Root access to your device is required. GSam Battery Monitor works fine without the root companion, however this app adds additional statistics.
Why Install?
• If you are using GSam Battery Monitor on KitKat (4.4) or later, and the app informs you that it is unable to retrieve battery statistics, you should install this app.
What does this do?
• This runs as a system privileged app and provides the caller access to the Battery Statistics that
- prior to Android 4.4
- used to be accessible to any normal application.
• This also provides the ability to read the content of small files to which the regular battery monitor has no access
- wakelock files for example.
Is Root really required in KitKat?
• Unfortunately, root is required to copy this app into /system/priv-app, which allows this app to run as a privileged system application. There are other alternatives, but all of them require root.
Is this safe?
• Yes
- the code is open source, and very simple. GSam Labs believes that any app that you install as root must be fully open source to allow you to inspect the application and ensure it doesn't do anything malicious. With that principle in mind, you can find the source here: https://github.com/GSamLabs/GSamBatteryMonitor-RootCompanion
* NOTE: If you are unfamiliar with what 'root' means, this app is not for you.
How do I install it?
• Install this just like any other application from the store. Once installed, there will be a button that will copy the app to /system/priv-app, and prompt you to restart your device.
• Flashable Zip: You can find a flashable zip in the github repository under the RecoveryInstallImages directory (http://goo.gl/0zcqbL). Flash this in the recovery of your choice. This should work for most phones, but since the google update binary differs between devices, there is no guarantee.
• NOTE: This only works if you have root access to your device!
How do I uninstall it?
• Once a system app is installed, the normal uninstall procedures don't work. To uninstall this app once it is a system app, simply launch the app and click on the Uninstall button.
Can I remove the icon from the launcher?
• Yes
- you can! Once you have the app properly installed, open the app and select the 'Remove from launcher' checkbox. If you need to open the app in the future, simply go to GSam Battery Monitor, and select the 'Launch Root Companion' menu option, or go to the Google Play Store, look up the root companion, and hit the Open button.
Will I need to re-install after an Android update?
• Yes
- android updates will typically remove any non-stock apps from the system app-priv directory, so you will need to re-install this app after an update to Android. If you are running a CyanogenMod derivative, then starting with version 1.4, it should automatically backup and restore during a nightly update.
Will this work with other battery monitors?
• Not by default
- it is up to the author of the battery monitor whether they would like to leverage this tool or not. GSam Battery Monitor of course is fully supported.
Help! Things don't work after installing this!
• Like all root applications, some care must be taken by the device owner when installing this app. This application is free and open source. GSam Labs is not responsible for any problems, though we will try and help
- simply contact us via the Support link.
Credits
• Thanks to stericson for providing such a great RootTools library (http://code.google.com/p/roottools/)
Category : Tools
Reviews (25)
People with newer phones keep complaining about it not working or boot looping. Guys this was last updated in 2015. Quit being dumb. As for the app, it works just fine if you actually have an older Android device.
Pixel 2 on Android 9 rooted with Magisk, root companion would not install. Manual installation per the one sentence instruction within the app led to a boot loop and could only revert the changes from within TWRP.
Root companion won't install on moto power 8 with android 10. My Galaxy Tab S7 also has Android 10 and it installs just fine.
won't install automatically and when installed manually soft bricks the phone
I'm not sure if something changed recently, but unlike other reviewers, I've successfully installed this on my Nexus 6p running Nougat. I did have you use the manual install method described by the app when the automatic method fails. However, it works fine. I think I also had to change the permissions of the file once it was copied into priv-app. The permissions should be -rw-r--r--.
I rarely give out one stars but this has been the most difficult app to uninstall I have ever experienced (no success so far). I tried the built in method; didn't work. I tried Titanium backup. Didn't work. This is very persistent. Unless you want to keep this app on your phone forever, DO NOT install as a system app. Huge mistake.
App installs, but despite being rooted, s-off, & the works; when launch APO and try to install says unable to copy base.apk into priv-apps. Suggests Root Explorer for man install which I tried. Even after mounting as R/W, am unable to paste base.apk into folder. Even if I could, it would be the only file in that folder which wasn't in a sub- folder if makes a difference. Would love to use app and change score, but tried all I could so far without luck
Confirms that the phone is rooted but says "unable to obtain root". Never displays a dialog asking for root. Have verified that root is enabled for apps and adb in Developer Options. Without root the battery stats app does nothing. Uninstall both.
Installed and worked as expected - however I cannot uninstall or remove it. Phone reboots after telling it to uninstall, and it's still there after.
Working well for me on Resurrection Remix 7.1.1. on MXPE. Showing all stats including breakdown of individual app power consumption. All seems right and good. Thanks. Android stock battery stats are trash and useless and this is a great way to keep your battery under control.
Looses Root often , must restart phone to get it back. *Update: Removed it from Optimized Apps. Will wait and see. Note 5 mm Systemless root.
The app itself is good but I cannot uninstall it from my system. There is no option to uninstall. Will classify it as bloatware in that case. Happy to make this 5 stars if dev can help me.
I keep clicking on the button and it says I have root access, and I even gave it permission. I followed the manual installation instructions and nothing happened.
Unfortunately it doesn't let me install on my lg v10 with the 6.0 marshmallow update but I would really like it too lol oh well working progress.
Automatic installation didn't work (Nougat). After flashing and a second reboot it worked. Can now view wakelocks.
At last this works correctly even on Marshmallow. For a while I was worried that the development of the app had been discontinued.
Hasn't worked since at least 6.0.1 and the constant pop up to enable it which fails is getting annoying.
I'm on Developer Preview 4 for Android N and installing this breaks Gsam. I can't complain since Android N isn't officially released yet but just wanted to make sure you guys knew about it. It makes weird symbols appear.
won't be able to install root privileges on nougat 7.1.1 nexus 6p. I even format my device to instal this garbage but nothing change for me. so uninstall it!
Install as system doesnt work, had to manually install it.
After updating to Android N, OOS 4.0.1, the root companion no longer installs. I have supersu and permission is granted. App asks me to try and manually copy a file into sys priv. Even after I manually copy the file, root companion still fails.
Cannot uninstall with uninstall app button. The apk is still in priv-app folder. I had to manually delete it. Also after the deletion the app still indicates that it is properly installed. Nexus 4 with CM13/Android 6.0.1
Gsam root companion does not work with Android 6.0 (nexus 6P). Its showing weird numbers and letters. Hope you will fix this. 3 stars for now..
Used this app in Marshmallow. It worked great. Please support System less root also.
Installed fine but i immediately noticed my phone lagging after the reboot (Note 9) also no option to launch from gsam. I removed by deleting using root explorer and phone is lag free again.