Any smartphone, in fact, is the “little brother” of a full-fledged personal computer. It contains a central processor, RAM blocks, a storage device, controllers for interface devices, etc. A certain set of programs, called the operating system, serves to control this entire complex. One of the most popular is Android from Google. It is installed on more than 70% of mobile devices.
It is not difficult to guess that this system is most often subjected to various modifications, and not by developers, but by smartphone users themselves. Strange as it may sound, manufacturers of mobile gadgets are in no hurry to please the owners of their devices with the release of updates and optimizations for the operating system. The reason is quite simple – the desire to sell new smartphones, and not to finalize a series of already implemented ones.
What is “firmware”
Reading news from the world of smartphones, you can come across a number of specific terms. One of them is “firmware”. It is interpreted in two ways: as a process of updating the control software complex of the device, or as a set of system files intended for loading into the memory of a smartphone, that is, a “distribution kit” if we draw an analogy with computers. Most often, however, the second is implied. And, as stated earlier, this software package is created by craftsmen who make certain changes to the existing original firmware. Such solutions are called “custom”.
“Zoo” firmware
Despite the apparent diversity of existing software systems, they are all basically identical. Many of them simply copy the interfaces ( appearance, way of interaction) of solutions installed on other brands of smartphones. Thus, lovers of Windows Phone can easily “turn” their Android phone into a gadget from Nokia, and connoisseurs of the creativity of Chinese developers can feel the beauty of Miui or Lewa.
Other customizations, on the contrary, optimize some functions, for example, they use a graphics accelerator in all applications, increase the volume level, etc. But you should always remember that almost all of them are based on the basic official firmware.
“Cyanogen”
At the same time, there are a number of firmware called CyanogenMod. In them, the user part, the menu and everything through which the owner interacts with the device has undergone a significant improvement. Also changed many keys from spam and viruses. In a word, if a person wants to see the true capabilities of his smartphone, then he simply must figure out how to install the CyanogenMod firmware.
Distribution Search
One of the main conditions for the successful installation of such a custom system is the selection of the correct firmware. Although initially these solutions are assembled to work with Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Intel processors, it is still possible to “make” them work with MTK. Where the distribution is downloaded from, as a rule, will certainly indicate how to install CyanogenMod.
Therefore, in order to avoid the need to restore the functionality of the software part of the phone after an unsuccessful update, you need to carefully read the accompanying recommendations. Ideally, the firmware should be designed specifically for the same smartphone model.
How to install CyanogenMod firmware via Installer
There are several ways to download the control software into a smartphone. Their difference is that some require rooting first, while others bypass this restriction using the capabilities of the spoofed bootloader menu. Note that there is no “initially simple” way – each of them is simple and complex at the same time, so the user must choose one. Let’s see how to install CyanogenMod Installer.
This software package consists of two blocks, the first of which is intended for installation on an “Android” device, and the second – on a computer, to which a smartphone will have to be connected by cable. After installing the client part in the phone, the program must be launched. A menu will be displayed warning that all user data will be deleted, i.e., a factory reset will occur. Next, it is proposed to connect the device to a computer and change the operating mode from “MTR storage” to “RTR camera”. After that, the cable can be temporarily disconnected.
In general, there are usually no difficulties with how to install CyanogenMod. After installing the appropriate computer application, it must be launched. It will search the web for the latest firmware. This takes 5 to 15 minutes. If a suitable variant is found, the program will display a message that you need to connect your smartphone to the USB port, remembering to turn off anti-virus protection (some exploits are detected as malicious).
Next, the download to the phone of the “Recovery” file and apps, which provide integration with Google services, will begin. When everything is done, it remains to click on the Install button and wait for a window with a message about successful installation to appear.
Those who are not the first time interested in how to install CyanogenMod should be well aware that recently this method has lost its relevance. Moreover, it doesn’t always work. The reason is the end of support for the search and download mechanism due to complaints from Google. In addition, the computer part of the application does not work correctly on the latest versions of the Windows system.
Rolling up your sleeves…
An equally interesting way to install CyanogenMod is to prepare the necessary files yourself. First of all, you need to pick up a custom “Recovery”. This file can be found on network resources where this smartphone model is discussed. In the case of a MediaTek processor, it can be assembled using MTK Droid using your Boot.img and Recovery from a compatible device. After that, using you need to flash this file into your smartphone. Then go to “Recovery” by holding the power button and “Volume down”. After that, it remains to specify the previously downloaded CyanogenMod firmware file and install it. It is recommended to reset with the WIPE command.
Different versions
Sometimes smartphone owners ask the question: “How to install CyanogenMod 11?” This version is based on “Android 4.4 Kit-Kat”. But the latter is 12.1 (system 5.1.1) and 13 (6.0, respectively). There is also CyanogenMod 10.1. How to install this software package? It is based on “Android 4.3”. Owners of mobile devices need to remember that the installation process for all versions of Cyan is the same.
The main thing is to choose the right files for the device. Recall how to install CyanogenMod 11. The order is as follows: a custom “Recovery” is selected and flashed into the phone; the found distribution kit intended for this model is written to the memory card; the system file is flashed from the recovery menu.
Peculiarities
Slower discharge, louder sound, stable network reception, interface acceleration, changed menu – all this is CyanogenMod. How to install applications on this system? It is this question that worries many who have not yet had time to work with this solution. In fact, there is nothing complicated about this. Since Cyan is based on the Android OS, the principles of operation remain the same: installing the APK file – launching through a shortcut. Unless the latter can be located both on the main screen and in the application submenu, depending on the launcher.
Old means checked version
Let’s take a quick look at CyanogenMod 7. How to install the firmware? It is based on the Android 2.3 OS, so the procedure is identical to the new Cyans. It is necessary to select Wipe in the custom “Recovery”, then “Select from SD card”, specify the downloaded file, and click Install. After the end of the “fill,” it remains to press Reboot. Depending on the Recovery used, the names of these items may differ.
As new versions of mobile operating systems are released, developers are often of the opinion that new systems simply will not take root on an outdated smartphone, and are limited to releasing only one (maximum 2) update for a phone two or three years ago. This has to do with official operating system updates, but what about unofficial updates? Luckily, there are plenty to choose from. There is a wide variety of unofficial Android OS firmware available on the market today, which, it is worth saying, are faster, more reliable, and more efficient than the official update (Paranoid Android, MIUI).
In addition, there are usually many more functions and features available in custom firmware that are not disclosed in the official version. One of the most stable unofficial ROMs is the CyanogenMod version, maintained by an international team of enthusiasts who are constantly releasing new versions with support for the latest smartphones. Today we will talk about how to install custom firmware on a smartphone.
Preparing for a Firmware Update
Before proceeding with the update, make a backup of all important data stored on the smartphone’s flash memory. You can compress all existing information into an archive, or you can simply transfer it to a third-party drive ( an external USB drive or a computer). You don’t have to worry about saving data on the SD card – the installation will only affect the internal memory of the phone.
The next important point is recharging. Before you install custom firmware on your smartphone, make sure that your device is charged at least 50% or even more. If the battery runs out during the installation of CyanogenMod, this may be fraught with a critical error that can turn your smartphone into a “brick”.
Another condition is that you should definitely take into account which version of the firmware you have on your phone at the moment. Almost any build of CyanogenMod is installed exclusively on the official firmware of the phone, or on an earlier CyanogenMod, be it a Samsung, HTC, LG smartphone, or any other model. To find out which version of CyanogenMod is available for your smartphone, and what basic firmware is needed to update it, refer to the 4pda.ru portal forum.
On this site, each phone model and available unofficial firmware for it is dedicated to a whole separate branch, which describes detailed instructions on the update and the opinions of users about the operation of the system who have already installed the update on their device. In addition, after registration, you can ask questions that interest you if, after reading the header, you still have unexplained points.
In our material, we will talk about installing CyanogenMod 13 (Android 6.0) on a Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 (GT-I8160) device. This phone is far from the newest, and the update will literally give it a new life, which will allow you to postpone the purchase of a new device, provided that the performance of this particular device suits you.
So, you have transferred important information (synchronized the list of contacts with your Google account or made a backup copy, transferred photos and electronic notes) to external media and charged the device sufficiently. What to do now?
Basic firmware version
If the installation of CyanogenMod requires basic official firmware, there are two ways to install it:
1. Use the official application from the developer company (for Samsung products, this is KIES, for LG, this is LG PC Suite, etc.). Although this method is available by default, the update speed with it leaves much to be desired.
2. Using an unofficial application (for Samsung – this is the Odin program, for LG – KDZ Updater, for Lenovo – Smart Phone Flash Tool, etc.). This method is used by most technical specialists involved in the repair and restoration of mobile equipment. In our article, we will use the Odin program, since it is it that supports all Samsung devices.
How to install custom firmware via Odin – detailed instructions
For different Samsung smartphones, you will need a different version of Odin, depending on the year of manufacture of the device. For phones from 2012 and earlier, you will need version 1.83, which can be downloaded from this link. Later models correspond to version 3.10, which is current at the time of this writing.
- Download the Odin program of the required version from the links provided.
- Extract the contents of the file from the archive.
- Run the Odin program.
- Turn off the phone and connect it to the computer through the cord.
- We transfer the smartphone to Download Mode (the “home” button + the volume down key + the shutdown button).
- When the corresponding message appears on the smartphone screen, press the volume up button. Download mode is activated.
- If all the preparations for flashing went well, a yellow indicator will appear in Odin with the number of port used to connect the device to the PC.
- Now add the PIT, PDA, and CSC files corresponding to your firmware version. You can find out which file corresponds to each of the categories in the description of the official firmware of your mobile phone model in the corresponding forum thread on the 4pda.ru website (link in paragraph 2 of the instruction).
- Press the “Start” button to start flashing.
- After about 5-10 minutes, the operation will be completed. Its successful completion should be indicated by a green indicator with the inscription “PASS” in the leftmost panel at the top.
Update to new firmware version
Now let’s update to the new version of CyanogenMod. To learn in detail how to install custom firmware on a smartphone, you need to familiarize yourself with all the details of the 4pda.ru forum. As a rule, to update to a new version, 3 files are needed: this is the CyanogenMod firmware itself, the Open Gapps package, which allows you to install a minimum set of Google and Play Market services and programs, and a recovery file (cwm). All this can be found on the forum. Sometimes a kernel update is also required, it is installed from the recovery menu in exactly the same way, so we will not dwell on this.
It should be noted that each version of the Android OS has its own Open Gapps package, so before downloading the archive, make sure that it fits the version of Android you need.
1. We find these three files on the network and copy them to a single folder on the phone’s memory card.
10. Specify the path to the CyanogenMod firmware file and proceed to install it on the phone.
11. After a few minutes, when a message appears about the completion of the file download, specify the path to the GApps archive and wait another minute.
13. Everything is ready, now the new system is booting.
If something went wrong, having the basic official firmware on hand, you can return to the official firmware version at any time using the Odin program. For information on how to install the base firmware, see the “Basic Firmware Version” section of this article.
Results
We hope that the presented material will provide you with all the answers to the question: how to install custom firmware on a smartphone. Before performing any operations, read reviews on the use of a particular version of the firmware on the 4pda.ru forum (fortunately, other users leave their comments on whether they successfully managed to install this or that firmware on their device).
Due to the fact that the CyanogenMod development team has released an installer with which you can easily install custom CyanogenMod firmware, this material will explain in Russian how to do it!
First of all!
You can read the official information in English on the CyanogenMod Installer wiki page, also on this page there is a list of Android devices that are supported by the installer.
What you need to install CyanogenMod firmware using the installer
- Computer or laptop with an Internet connection
- Make a backup on your Android device of important data
- Disable Antivirus on PC and Android devices (if installed)
- Original undamaged Micro-USB cable
- Charged battery on an Android device
- Enable USB Debugging on Android
- Connect Android device directly, not via USB-HUB
- Download CyanogenMod Installer on PC
Instructions on how to install CyanogenMod firmware using the installer
On the device – part 1
1. Download and install from the official website of Сyanogemod – CyanogenMod Installer http://get.cm/app
2. Run the installed application and click the Begin button
2. Press the Continue button and switch the USB connection method to PTP mode (camera)
4. After a few seconds, a message will appear that you need to run CyanogenMod Installer on your computer, run
On the computer – part 2
5. Run the CyanogenMod installer, after which it will check for an update of the installer
6. After that, it will check if there is a connection to the Android device
7. After determining the Android device, the download of custom recovery and firmware will begin, do not disconnect the device from the PC all this time!
8. After all the necessary parts of the firmware have been downloaded, you will be prompted to install the firmware, click the Install button
CyanogenMod is an aftermarket firmware for Android OS smartphones and tablets from the Cyanogen Team, now Cyanogen Inc. When creating this firmware, a lot of work has been done on optimization and it really improves the performance of the device.
First of all, this is a must-have for owners of “outdated” devices, such as the Galaxy Nexus, for example. As you know, officially this device does not support KitKat, but with the help of CyanogenMod, the owners of this phone can appreciate all the delights of the latest version of the OS from Google.
The very interaction with the device has also been improved. For example, using shortcuts on the lock screen, you can immediately open the application you need. There is an opportunity to reduce, or even completely remove the on-screen navigation buttons.
The user can completely change the notification panel and quick settings: here you can change the battery icon, move quick settings shortcuts, and even adjust the screen brightness by swiping on the status bar.
If you like to use the on-screen buttons, then in CyanogenMod you can move them around to your heart’s content. Optionally, you can add other elements, such as a search button or menu.
For a long time, I could not find a suitable music player for myself on Google Play. I tried both the popular Poweramp and Play Music, but they all did not suit me for many reasons. CyanogenMod comes with the beautiful Apollo player. Its appearance can be changed the way you want. In addition, there are a lot of free themes for it on Google Play. Also, a convenient equalizer is built into the firmware, which will allow you to adjust the sound both in the headphones, and through the speaker, and through speakers.
CyanogenMod looks exactly like KitKat on the Nexus 5. Transparent buttons and a status bar, Google Now, called by a swipe to the right, are all in place. The appearance of the firmware itself can also be changed. Cyanogenmod has support for themes that can be found in abundance on the Internet.
The firmware even has such “wildness” as changing the processor frequency at the discretion of the user. You can set not only the frequency but also the algorithm for changing it. A few words about each:
Interactive – the frequency changes when the smartphone screen is turned on (standard Governor from version 4.1.1)
On-demand – Predecessor of Interactive, more power efficient but less productive
Userspace – allows you to fully customize the principle of operation
Powersave is the minimum frequency to save power. By the way, in this mode, everything slows down wildly, even flipping through desktops resembles Android 2.2
Performance – Sets a constant maximum frequency. Accordingly, we get the maximum performance
Personally, I use the standard settings, but in rare cases, to save battery, I lower the processor frequencies.
Device performance on the CM is noticeably improved. For example, on stock firmware 4.4.2, my Nexus 4 gives out about 16 thousand points in the Antutu test, and with CyanogenMod installed, this figure increases to 20-21 thousand.
You can talk endlessly about all the small innovations of this firmware, but it’s better to try it yourself. Next, I will try to tell you in the most accessible language how to install CyanogenMod on your device.
Installation
I will talk about flashing the device using the LG Nexus 4 as an example since I use this device. On other phone models, the installation may differ to some extent. It is not recommended to flash other devices according to this instruction. I also want to say that before starting the installation, I recommend reading the article to the end.
IMPORTANT! You alone are responsible for all your actions and no one else.
The Cyanogen team has provided an easy way to install their firmware for people who don’t want to bother. This method is self-explanatory. You just need to click on the picture below and follow the instructions.
However, this is not the best way. The first time I installed CyanogenMod on my Nexus 4, this program gave me the latest nightly build (a nightly build is a firmware version that is built almost every day (night), and it can be both stable and contain a number of bugs. In my case, the firmware was installed that contained errors and sometimes prevented the normal operation of the device. But a friend who installed Cyanogenmod on his Galaxy S2, in the same way, received the latest stable version for his device (4.3.1 JellyBean), which he has perfectly works.
Let’s proceed to the second, more “geeky” method. I will try to simplify all manipulations as much as possible and write to you about the easiest installation ways. First of all, you need to get root rights, unlock the bootloader and install custom recovery.
If you do not have a file manager, then just follow the link to Google Play and install it on your device. We’ll still need it.
First, let’s get the root right. The easiest way to do this is with the Framaroot app. Download the Framaroot- 1.9.1.apk file and install it through the file manager (do not forget to allow installation of applications from unknown sources in the phone settings).
Now let’s go down the list:
- We launch Framaroot and click “Allow” if the antivirus issues a warning about a security risk. Select “Install SuperSU” to get root rights.
- We press Gimli, Sam, Frodo, Legolas, Aragorn, Gandalf, Boromir, Barahir, or Faramir, that is, any exploit available for your device. If it doesn’t work with one exploit, try another.
- If we see a window with a funny smiley, then the root rights have been successfully obtained and we reboot the device.
After that, the Framaroot installation file will no longer be needed and it can be deleted through the same file manager, and thank the developer by purchasing a special application.
Now let’s unlock the bootloader. Again, I suggest the simplest way. To do this, we need to install the BootUnlooker app directly from Google Play. Next, just go to the application and press the Unlock button, after granting administrator rights. Unfortunately, BootUnlocker only works with Nexus devices.
Next, we need to flash a custom recovery. There are two options: CWM (clockwork mod recovery ) and TWRP (team win recovery project). I use the second one and therefore I will tell you how to install it. Again, we will use the easiest possible way: first, download the GooManager application from Google Play. Let’s go in order:
- Open the application and press the “Menu” button (on the device itself), and select “Install OpenRecoveryScr…”.
- The program will ask you if you really want to install Recovery, click “Yes”.
- Another window will appear in which you will be prompted for the name of the .img file with the recovery that will be flashed to your device. Make sure that the name of this file contains the model name of your device, for example, for Nexus 4 it will most likely be called openrecovery-twrp-2.6.3.3-mako, and for Galaxy S3 the file name will be openrecovery-twrp-2.6.3.0-i9300.IMG, where i9300 is the international model code for the Galaxy S3.
- After you click “Yes”, you will be redirected to a site where the recovery file will be downloaded. The program will do everything for you and you just have to wait for a message from GooManager about the successful installation of the recovery.
- Now TWRP is installed on your device and you can boot into it directly from GooManager by pressing the “Reboot Recovery” button, or pressing the power and volume down buttons when booting the device.
Finally, we have come close to the most important thing – installing Cyanogenmod, for the sake of which we actually did everything described above. To do this, go to the Cyanogenmod website in the Download section. On the left we see the TYPE column, let’s briefly dwell on each of the firmware types:
- Stable is the most stable and fully working version free from any bugs
- Release candidate – pre-release version of the firmware. Not much different from stable
- Snapshot is a solid midrange. It is considered not fully finalized, but from my own experience, I can say that everything works fine. It is from this point that we will take our firmware
- A milestone is an empty item. Pay no attention to him. Even if some firmware versions appear there, I do not recommend installing them
- Nightly – such builds are called “nightly” as they are collected every night automatically. They may contain a huge number of bugs, but many sit on them and use them with pleasure. We will pass by and will not focus on such versions.
- Experiments – forget about it. As the title says, it’s clear
Well, click on Snapshot and look for the version for our device. The easiest way is to use the search on the page (ctrl-f) and enter the name of your device. In this case, it will be Nexus 4:
- Download the zip file cm-11-20140210-SNAPSHOT-M3-mako.zip
- Although it is an archive, you do not need to do anything with it on the computer. We just put it in the phone’s memory. For example, in the Download folder
- Next, boot into recovery mode either through GooManager or when loading the device, hold down the power and volume down buttons at the same time
- Select the Install item, go to our folder, and click on our file (the one that is cm-11-20140210-SNAPSHOT-M3-mako.zip)
- We make a swipe to the right, thereby confirming the installation, and wait
After installation, reboot the system and wait for the device to boot. If everything went well, you will see a clean desktop. If everything went badly, then your phone will not boot up and, most likely, you will have to carry it to a service center or scrap it. (In fact, if the phone really did not boot, then you should return to the recovery mode and do a full Wipe in the appropriate paragraph, if this did not help, then write in the comments)
Now notice that you are missing Google Play and other Google apps. They must be installed separately. To do this, download the Gapps package from this link, throw them on the phone, and install them in the same way as the firmware – through the recovery.
Congratulations! You have installed CyanogenMod 11 on your device and you can enjoy all the delights of this firmware.
If you liked this topic and want to continue, then be sure to write about it. In future articles, I plan to talk about how to make using the device as comfortable as possible: how to replace the on-screen buttons and the status bar, thereby increasing the amount of space used on the screen, and also talk about the MIUI firmware and installing it as a second system on your device.
CyanogenMod is one of the most popular alternative firmware for Android devices. The Cyanogen Team is responsible for its creation, which created a firmware that is characterized by high performance and optimization of the processes of the device on which it is installed.
Benefits of CyanogenMod
“Cyan” is the best alternative for owners of outdated gadgets. That is those gadgets that can no longer be updated to the current version of Android. Owners of such devices, when flashing their device, will be able to experience all the delights of the latest versions of Android. And this is just one of the advantages of installing CyanogenMod on your smartphone or tablet.
“Cyan” helps not only improve the performance of the device but also brings interaction with it to a higher level. This custom firmware, using shortcuts, allows you to display on the lock screen applications that the user launches more often than others. In addition, the user can remove the on-screen buttons, thereby increasing the useful area of the display.
Another benefit of this firmware is the built-in Apollo audio player. If you are not satisfied with the standard Android player and alternative players from the Play Market, then the Apollo player may be the best alternative for such an application. And if you don’t like the look, then you can find a lot of themes for this player in the official Google application catalog.
In addition to Apollo, the CyanogenMod firmware includes a very convenient equalizer. With it, you can set up music playback through headphones, external speakers, or device speakers.
The standard shell “Cyan” is constantly being finalized and updated. It has a nice look and lots of features. But, its main task is the ability to customize the launcher for yourself. Which she is great at.
Standard CyanogenMod Applications:
- Camera. Not the most functional standard application of this firmware. But, this is not required. After all, in order to take a beautiful picture, just one button is enough.
- Contact list. A fairly convenient application, which differs little from the regular “Contact List” Android. It also works flawlessly, smoothly flipping through the notebook.
- SMS client. Incoming SMS is sorted by contacts. There is a blacklist for incoming SMS from unwanted contacts.
- Audio client. The built-in Apollo player not only has simple controls, a stylish design, and an adequate equalizer but also supports almost all possible audio files.
- File manager. It is also a fairly convenient regular application with which you can access the contents of the root folders.
- Calculator. The standard set of applications of this custom firmware includes a very modern calculator, which bypasses the standard Android solution in terms of functionality.
CyanogenMod settings options:
- Move the clock to the center status bar
- Changing how the battery charge is displayed
- Ease of editing shortcut icons
- Improved over the standard theme manager
- Saving battery power by limiting the smartphone’s access to the network
- Restricting access to personal data for some applications
- Screen lock can be done using a pattern key
- Adjust screen brightness with a swipe on the status bar
With CyanogenMod, you can even change the frequency of the device’s processor. And not only at the time of changing the settings but also by setting the scheme for such changes in the future. To do this, there are several schemes for such a change:
- interactive. The processor frequency changes when the smartphone wakes up from standby mode (screen on)
- on demand. The ability to enable a more energy-efficient, but less productive processor mode
- userspace. Allows the user to set the processor speed for any program running as root
- power save. The processor runs at the minimum frequency. At the same time, the battery power of the device is significantly saved.
- performance. The processor runs at maximum frequency. The performance of the device increases, but so does the power consumption.
INTERESTING: Try to pass the Antutu test with the standard settings for the processor frequency and with an increase in this frequency. You can increase this figure up to 25%-30% .
Installing CyanogenMod
Installing CyanogenMod d custom firmware for different devices is somewhat different. Since it is physically impossible to talk about each device in the format of this article, we will focus on the simplest way to install this software. It is suitable for devices of the Nexus line.
IMPORTANT: You can not reflash other gadgets according to this instruction. After all, the algorithm for such an action for your device may be slightly different. In general, only its user is responsible for all actions with his gadget.
Although the Cyanogen team has made it easy to install their firmware on Android devices, this process must be carried out with the utmost care. One wrong action can lead to a serious error in your device, which can turn it into a “brick”.
There are two ways to install CyanogenMod on your smartphone. The first is using the Installer program provided by the developer of this ROM. But, this method has one, but quite a significant disadvantage. With this installation, the Cyana installer can “pick up” the latest, but not the most stable firmware build for you. Therefore, it is better to install this software manually.
In order to install this firmware, you need to perform three steps:
- Get root rights
- Unlock bootloader
- Install custom recovery
We told you about how to get root rights. From this step, we will begin the installation of “cyan”:
- Download Framaroot 1.9.1, load it into the device’s memory and install it through the file manager
- Now you need to run this application and select “Install SuperSU”
- The next step is to select any exploit available for your gadget
- After a window with a smiley appears on the screen, you need to reboot the device
Setting Superuser rights
Everything, root-rights received. The Framaroot app can be uninstalled.
The second step in installing CyanogenMod is to unlock the bootloader. The easiest way to do this is with BootUnlooker. The application can be installed on your smartphone or tablet from the official Play Market application catalog.
Important note : BootUnlooker only works with Nexus series devices . If you have a smartphone or tablet of a different line, find and download an application on the Internet to unlock the bootloader for your device.
Now you need to flash the device with custom recovery. The easiest option is achieved as follows:
- Download and install the GooManager application from the Play Market.
- In the application menu, activate “Install OpenRecoveryScr …”
- The program will ask for permission to do this. We answer with consent
- When a window appears on the screen with the name of the file from the recovery, you need to make sure that the name of the model of your device is in the proposed program. This may be his international code. For example, i9300 for Galaxy S3.
- We agree with the name and automatically get to the site where the desired file is located. After downloading and installing it, the program will report that everything was done successfully.
Now we find the firmware for your device on the Download page. The firmware can have several versions:
- Stable – latest stable working version
- Release candidate – pre-release version
- Snapshot – not completely run-in version. There are minor bugs, but in general, the firmware is stable and has several improvements compared to the Stable version.
- Milestone, Nightly, and Experiments are various experimental versions that can have many bugs. You can install them only out of curiosity. For your working device, their installation is not advisable
When you find the firmware for your smartphone or tablet model and decide on its version, then download the archive with it.
- Upload the file (no need to unzip) into the memory of the device that needs to be flashed
- Boot into recovery mode (press the power button and volume down when loading)
- We activate the “Install” menu and find the place where you uploaded the file with the firmware. Click on it and confirm the installation
It remains to wait a bit until the firmware is installed on your device and enjoy the new interface and functions. If the firmware has not passed, then most likely the smartphone will not boot. Do not rush to carry it to the service or throw it away. Boot into recovery mode (power and volume down buttons) and activate Wipe mode.
IMPORTANT: After installing the Cyanogenmod firmware, you need to install the Play Market and other Google services separately. Download the Gapps package from this link, upload it to the device and install it through the recovery.
As you can see from this guide, installing custom firmware such as CyanogenMod is not a very difficult task. The main thing is to find the right version and recovery for your device.
“Cyan” is one of the most popular alternative firmware today. With it, you can completely change the idea of the convenience of using a smartphone or tablet. Thanks to it, you can change the default settings of the on-screen buttons, status bar, quick access toolbars, sound and LED notifications, and other interface elements.
Unfortunately, since December 31, 2016, the developer has stopped supporting the firmware. But, the LineageOS firmware became the assignee of this product. At the moment, the latest version of the product is Lineage OS 14.1 based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat.