Install costom ROMs in any android (universal guide)

Install costom ROMs In any android/tablets:

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.

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.

• Root your smartphone / tablet.
• 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 folderand 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 costom ROMs in android devices:

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.

Note:

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”.