How to Disable SELinux on Any Rooted Android Device


SELinux is a Linux module that Google has integrated into Android. It is meant to increase the security of your device. SELinux comes bundled with Android 4.3 and later. The problem with this approach is that the security SELinux aims to provide, stock Android already has it built-in. Not only this, but SELinux interferes with the working of a lot of root apps and mods. Therefore, some mods and root apps for Android require that SELinux should be disabled on your phone. You can find out how to root Android 4.3 and root Android 4.4.2. Other than being able to disable SELinux, here are some of the benefits of rooting an Android device.

In this tutorial, we will show you all the steps necessary to disable SELinux on your rooted Android device. Disabling SELinux on your device is an extremely easy process. This will help many root apps work as intended, without problems.

Disclaimer: All the custom ROMs, firmwares, official software updates, tools, mods or any other software mentioned in the tutorial belong to their respective owners/developers. TeamAndroid.com and its associates are not responsible if you brick or otherwise damage your device or lose your data. This guide does not disable SELinux, but it sets it to Permissive mode. This means it won’t interfere with any apps, but it may record actions performed.

Backup and Other Important Tips

The tutorial on how to disable SELinux is on the next page. Let’s a look at the following tips and important points you need to take care of. These are important, as we don’t want anyone losing their personal data or apps:

Always backup your important data that you might need after you install a new custom ROM, an official software update or anything else. Make a backup for just in case, you never know when anything might go wrong. See below for some tips on how to backup data:

Samsung users can also back up data using Samsung KIES. If you backup data manually, you get more options what to choose from and it is very easy to move data across Android devices from different manufacturers, i.e moving Samsung Galaxy Note backup data to HTC One X.

If you already have a custom recovery (ClockworkMod, TWRP etc.) installed on your phone, we strongly recommend a backup using that as it creates a complete image of your existing phone set up.

A few more optional tips that you should remember:

1. Having problems connecting your Android phone to the computer? You need to enable USB debugging mode. See here: How to Enable USB Debugging — for Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean.

2. Make sure your Android device is charged up to 80-85% battery level. This might help you: How to Check Battery Percentage. Why? Because, if your phone goes off suddenly while installing a custom ROM, flashing an official firmware update or installing mods etc. — your phone might get bricked or go dead permanently. No one wants that, right?

If you find the above tips useful and they were helpful to you, please consider giving us a +1 or LIKE to let us know!

All set and ready? Good. You can now proceed below and find out how to disable SELinux.

How to Disable SELinux on a Rooted Android Device

Here are the actual steps necessary to disable SELinux on your phone. Please read all the steps carefulyl once before actually performing them on your device.

Step 1: Open the Google Play app.

Google Play App

Step 2: Search for “SELinux Mode Changer“.

Searching SELinux Mode Changer on Google Play

Step 3: Select the SELinux Mode Changer app by Pavel Sikun.

Step 4: Tap Install, then Accept.

Permissions Prompt for SELinux Mode Changer

Step 5: Wait for the app to download.

Downloading SELinux Mode Changer

Step 6: Tap Open.

Note: If the app tells you that you don’t have SELinux or it’s disabled, you’re done. You don’t have to go any further.

Step 7: Tap Permissive.

Disable SELinux

Step 8: If it asks you about applying settings at boot, say yes.

Congratulations! You have successfully disabled SELinux on your device. Now many root apps and mods will work as expected.

Hameer Abbasi
Hameer Abbasi

Android enthusiast, flash-a-holic, mod-a-holic, and geek extraordinaire. Gets high on recovering bricked phones.

Articles: 3

5 Comments

  1. dont work on my sprint galaxy s4 SPH-L720 on jelly bean 4.3 and its rooted and i have tried everything i also tried to instal twrp and now my phone dont have a working recovery

  2. I even prop edited the file to say 0 instead of 1 and saved it also i used a root terminal emulator and changed the value to 0 and its defult value to 0 and saved rebooted and still the SELinux sets itself back to enforcing any help would be great thanks sincerely REAL

  3. Totally useless article. At the outset, the described method, even if works, does NOT disable Selinux, but rather changes the mode from enforcing to permissive, which means that the module still loads and activates. The only way to disable Selinux is to compile kernel from scratch and disable Selinux in configuration.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *