Custom ROMs, or Custom ROMs, are the real added value of Android, provided you know how to use them. These are customized versions of the Android operating system which, as we know, even if owned by Google, is an open source system like Linux and can therefore be taken by any capable and diversified developer within it.
When Google releases a new version of Android, it also publishes the source codes that programmers can modify as they want in order to add absent functions or even to make compatible a version of Android that would not be available for a particular smartphone.
Custom ROMs, therefore, are not only a game for geeks who want to experiment, but are also very useful for installing (the correct term in this case is " flashing ", such as, for example, Android 6 on an old device like the Nexus 7, or to make the system of a cheap smartphone lighter (to make the battery last longer and make it faster) or even to have the original Android on smartphones such as Samsung or Asus where the system is very personalized.
In fact, Custom ROMs allow you to increase the life of an Android device from a software point of view.
This is a general guide to explain how to install an Android Custom ROM and which applies to any smartphone, although then, for each model, it will be necessary, as we will see, to check compatibility and unlock procedures.
For completeness, we see both the standard way to flash a ROM, and the automatic procedure via app, easier even if with less control.
However, installing a custom ROM on an Android smartphone requires preliminary preparation .
Although there should be no risk of breaking the phone (personally it has never happened to me), an error that could compromise its operation cannot be excluded, so it is always better to proceed with caution and attention.
First of all, you need to unlock your phone with the Root procedure.
This is simple on some models, less simple on others.
In another article on how to root Android I have indicated all the programs and references to consult.
The root procedure must be performed by connecting the phone to the computer.
On Android, you need to turn on developer options and USB Debugging and turn off protections, especially if you are using a fingerprint scanner.
For both the root procedure and the installation of a Custom ROM, it is important that the phone is fully charged.
The root also allows you to install the recovery console, which is essential to be able to flash a ROM.
The best recovery console at the moment is called TWRP, compatible with every smartphone and easy to use.
In the event that the root procedure has not automatically installed TWRP, you can download the TWRP Manager app to get it.
From the Recovery console it is then possible to make a full backup of the phone, called Nandroid, which allows you to restore everything as before in case of errors or problems.
Before root, you need to unlock your phone's bootloader, following the published guide.
Unlocking the bootloader erases the entire memory of the phone, so it's worth making the backup of Android, or at least the most important apps and data that you don't want to lose.
Backing up your data is different from backing up from Nandroid recovery which instead works like creating a full recovery image.
Once ready, it's time to download the Android Custom ROM being careful that it is compatible with the phone used.
In another article we have seen the best Android custom ROMs, but depending on the smartphone model used there may be other specifications.
To find out which ROMs can be installed on a mobile phone model, go to the XDA Developer website, select the name of the mobile phone we have and search the forum for the "Android Development" section where all the ROMs with the installation guides will be found.
LineageOS is the most popular ROM, available for almost every make and model of Android smartphone, which provides many documentation and the possibility to request full online support.
Each ROM is downloaded as a .zip file which must be saved on the internal memory of the phone or on the SD card.
For almost all ROMs it is also necessary to download Google applications (gapps) with another separate zip file.
To flash a Custom ROM you must always start the recovery console .
After the root and the installation of TWRP, you need to start the phone on the recovery console.
This special start is done differently depending on the smartphone model, but in general the common procedure is as follows: turn off the phone and then start it by holding down the Power keys, the Home key and volume up or down together.
If a screen appears with the Android robot lying on the ground, use the volume keys to scroll up the menu and select the " Recovery Mode " button with the power button
If it fails, then you can use an app like Recovery Reboot.
Once you open the TWRP console, to start the flashing process, follow these steps in order not to be mistaken:
NOTE: On some Recovery consoles we move with the volume keys and confirm with the power button, not on the TWRP where the touchscreen works.
On TWRP, to return to the main menu, just touch the top part.
1) Create a backup of Nandroid which can be used to restore the phone to its previous state.
In this way, in the case of problems or even serious errors that no longer load Android, you can always enter TWRP with the start in recovery, and do a complete recovery.
This restore is also useful if you don't like the ROM you just installed and want to go back to the original one.
2) Return to the home screen, tap Wipe and swipe the bar down.
The Wipe clears the internal memory.
Here you can also use the Advanced Wipe option to delete only the Dalvik / ART Cache.
This keeps the data and applications intact, but it can cause errors with the ROM.
3) Go back to the TWRP home screen and select Install .
Find the .zip file of the ROM, select it and install it.
4) Once done, select the Gapps zip and install this file too.
Now you can reboot from the TWRP main menu and wait for the initial loading of the new Android operating system.
If there were problems and Android did not load, there is nothing to fear because, as mentioned above, you can restore from the Nandroid backup created before.
NOTE: You can install a Custom ROM with the ADB Sideload command, very simple and explained in another guide.
If all this may seem complicated, you can always install a ROM through a simple and automatic app .
The only requirement, in this case, is that the smartphone is unlocked with Root while it is not necessary, instead, to install a Recovery such as TWRP.
The best app to use for flashing Custom ROM is FlashFire, free, which manages the whole process without requiring the user to intervene.
To configure it, first authorize the app to use root permissions, then swipe the sidebar from the left, go to Settings and select Freeload which activates the functionality of the application.
Touch the + icon at the bottom right of the screen to view the options and immediately back up everything.
then use the Wipe option to clean the memory and finally select the ZIP file of the ROM to be installed.
For some ROMs you may need to activate other options so better consult the FlashFire help.
From FlashFire, you can then install the Gapps using the zip file downloaded first.
Installing a custom ROM may seem daunting initially, but once you understand the steps and after weaning yourself on the first attempt, it becomes a procedure to do even with your eyes closed without any fear.
READ ALSO: Install Lineage OS, the best Android ROM
