Read Zone - The Android OS is the most popular
mobile operating system used on most of the smartphones and tablets out there.
Of course the battle between Android and iOS, or should we say Google and
Apple, if far from over, though both platforms are coming with great features
and advantages for us, the gadgets addicted.
The best about Android is the
possibility of customizing and optimizing the firmware and through this, the
possibility of powering up the performances of our devices. Today, I will teach
you how to tweak your Android handset by updating with a custom ROM software.
This is a general tutorial that can be applied on any Android based smartphone
/ tablet, so read the following lines if you are new to Android or if you want
to learn everything about custom ROMs and how to install the custom updates.
When talking
about custom ROMs, in your mind there should be only one thing: you are dealing
with an unofficial port of the Android system, so the same is not an OTA (Over
the Air) or official update released by Google for your Android device. That’s
why the custom ROMs can be applied only manually and only by following
dedicated step by step guides.
Regarding
the up mentioned aspects, root access will be required if you want to update
your smartphone / tablet with a custom firmware. Root means that you will gain
access to the internal system of your handset by removing the factory and
default restrictions. By rooting you will unchain the OS thus you will be able
to remove in build apps and programs, add new features, install complex tools
that requires root access in order to run properly, upgrade the battery life,
improve the speeds and so on. Most important, a custom ROM can be flashed only
on rooted Android devices.
The root
operation is also unofficial so the warranty of your smartphone / tablet will
get void. You can’t avoid this aspect (because of the up-mentioned details) so
you will have to get through this without messing things up – you can end up in
bricking your handsets. So, do follow dedicated step by step guides when trying
to gain root access. Afterwards, if you don’t like the Custom ROM firmware that
is running on your phone, if you want to apply an OTA on your device (on rooted
handsets the official Android updates can’t be received or installed – you can
apply the OTA only manually), or if you want to restore the lost warranty, you
can do the same by downgrading your handset to stock Android OS, or by revoking
the root access (again use suitable tutorials).
Now, leaving
these aspects aside (I will detail the pre requisites a little bit later) let’s
see what a custom ROM really is. Well, an unofficial version of the Android
software is a free aftermarket distribution of the Android platform that comes
with stock and extra features, apps, tools and capabilities. Usually a custom
ROM is coming with its own looks and features so that’s why you can improve the
performances of your device – do note with custom firmwares you will not
receive the default Android looks and capabilities. The custom ROMs are being
developed by third party devs and the platforms are based on the official /
stock Android systems.
If you want
to update your device with such firmware you should know that the most popular
ROMs that are used by the Android users are: ParanoidAndroid, SlimBean, AOKP,
CyanogenMod, MIUI and Omega. Don’t worry you can choose any other update as
long as you are ensuring that the system is stable and without bugs or things
that aren’t working properly.
The custom
updates might come with custom kernels which means that you can afterwards
learn how to overclock your Android devicefor improving
the speeds, or underclock for upgrading the battery life (we have suitable
guides here on Android.gs). Besides, on custom ROMs you can make easier
backups, you can change the looks, add apps from outside the Google Play
coverage and lot more.
But if you
want to successfully update your Android device with an unofficial firmware,
you will first have to prepare your gadget, or else you will probably end up in
bricking your handset. Below I have listed the most common preparation tasks
that are required when dealing with custom ROMs like ParanoidAndroid, SlimBean,
AOKP, CyanogenMod, MIUI and Omega.
·
Install a
custom recovery image on your device – you can use any recovery tool you want
though it is recommended to flash CWM or TWRP recovery. The custom recovery
will be used on the flashing operation as the stock recovery that comes
pre-installed on Android can’t be used on unofficial procedures.
·
Backup the
data which is saved on the internal storage memory of your handset; save
everything you might need including text messages, call logs, internet
settings, market apps, EFS folder and so on. Also, consider in making
a Nandroid backup for saving the current software.
·
For these
operations (update with custom ROMs) a computer is being required along with
your smartphone / tablet and with the USB cable.
·
On both
devices and computer you should first deactivate the security protection; the
antivirus programs are usually interfering with the update operation.
·
Your device
must be charged especially if the battery status indicates less than 60% power
left; the handset might get bricked if it gets turned off while you are trying
to install the custom firmware.
·
On your
phone the USB debugging option must be enabled: “Settings -> More ->
Development Options -> USB debugging”.
Now, be
careful as each custom ROM comes with a version that is suitable only with one
device; you can’t install the same variant of firmware on all the Android devices
as the same is not compatible. So, download only compatible ROMs; don’t risk in
bricking your handsets. Good, next we will be checking on how to apply the
updates on your devices; do note though that this is an general tutorial.
How
to Install Custom ROMs on Android devices (universal guide)
1.
First of
all, on your computer you need to download the proper update file.
2.
Optional:
download the Google apps package if it is not included on the firmware file.
3.
Save the
files on desktop; don’t unzip them.
4.
Then,
connect your handset with the computer.
5.
Establish
the connecting by using the USB cord.
6.
Copy-paste
or drag and drop the downloaded files from desktop to your phone’s (tablet’s)
SD card.
7.
Disconnect
the devices by unplugging the USB cable.
8.
Turn off your
smartphone / tablet and wait a few seconds.
9.
Then reboot
your gadget into recovery mode.
10.
Next,
navigate through the recovery mode menu and select “wipe data factory reset”,
“wipe cache partition” and “wipe dalvick cache”.
11.
The system
will now be wiped out, so that’s why the backup has been recommended before.
12.
Up next,
return to recovery main menu: select “+++go back+++”.
13.
And choose
“install zip from SD card” and “choose zip from SD card”.
14.
Pick the
update file and flash the same.
15.
Optional:
repeat this operation for applying the Google Apps package.
16.
When the
installation process ends, from recovery select “+++go back+++” and “reboot
system now”.
17.
You are
done.
Troubleshooting:
In some
cases after flashing the custom ROM, when rebooting the first time, your handset
might get stuck in a boot loop (if the first boot takes longer than usual,
don’t panic, there is nothing wrong with your device); if that happens, follow:
·
Reboot in
recovery once more.
·
From there
select “wipe data factory reset” and “wipe cache partition”.
·
Return and
reboot.
·
Optional: if
needed now you can restore the previous software (only if you had made a
Nandroid backup as indicated). So, use the recovery menu and select “backup and
restore”.
So, that was
it, now you know almost everything about custom ROMs for Android and how to
install such a firmware on your smartphone or tablet. Remember to choose only
the stable platforms that come with important features and capabilities. In
this way you can speed up your handsets and improve the performances for
receiving better results and an upgraded web browsing experience. If you want
to talk with us or if you have something to share with our team, don’t hesitate
and use the comments area from below. We will assist you as soon as possible;
also don’t forget to check our latest new and Android related tips, tricks and
step by step guides.
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