How to Install Custom ROM using TWRP Recovery! [FAILPROOF METHOD]

For those of you who want to install custom ROM using TWRP recovery, here’s a fail-proof method that will make your new custom ROM boot every time (in my experience).

The only difference between the usual method and this one is that we will also be formatting /system partition, which if not formatted sometimes causes bootloops when installing new custom ROM.

This method will work on any rooted Android smartphone or tablet with TWRP recovery installed.   And also will work on all types of custom ROMs including CyanogenMod (CM11, CM12), TouchWiz, Sense, etc…etc…

Before we begin, make sure you have TWRP recovery installed (if you don’t, see our guide on how to install TWRP recovery using Flashify)

Step 1. First download the ROM zip files you need.   Usually there’s one or two zip files.  You can download these files straight onto your phone or download them to your computer first then copy them over to your phone. (Also you can use an OTG cable and USB flash drive so it won’t take up space on your phone/tablet.)

For AOSP ROMs like CyanogenMod CM11 or CM12, you will need an additional Gapps zip file.

Once files are downloaded, make sure they are not corrupt.  You can do this by opening the ROM zip files with ES File Explorer app.  If you can see the contents of the zip file fine, you are good to go.  Otherwise, your files are bad so re-downloaded them!

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Step 2. If you have a rooted Android device, use Quick Boot app to reboot into recovery.

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If you don’t have a rooted phone or maybe you are stuck in bootloop, manually boot into your recovery.

(for Samsung Galaxy devices, power off the phone and hold down Volume Up + Center Home + Power for 5 seconds, for HTC/Nexus devices, power off the phone and hold down Volume Down + Power buttons then select recovery).  If you have another device, try googling on how to enter recovery mode.

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Step 3. Once in TWRP recovery, choose “Wipe”.

*Note – You can also “dirty flash” without wiping.  This is recommended for installing stock ROMs if you are installing stock ROM on top of another stock ROM.  If that’s the case, skip this step.

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Choose “Advanced Wipe”.

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Select Dalvik Cache, System, Data and Cache then swipe to wipe.  By wiping the system partition here, we will make sure our file structure is perfectly clean before installing a new ROM.

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Step 4. Choose “Install” from main menu.

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Choose “Storage”.

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Choose the storage you have your ROM zip files in.  Here you can choose internal storage, micro SDcard, or USB storage (if using OTG USB Flash).

 

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Browse your file system and find the ROM zip file.  In this example, I am installing CM12 ROM so I will be choosing the ROM zip file below beginning with “cm-12”.

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Swipe to install ROM.

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If you are installing an AOSP ROM like CM12 like I am doing here, repeat this step and also install the Gapps zip file.  Otherwise go to next step.

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Step 5. Reboot and you should see your new ROM boot up.

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Step 6. If you get to the Welcome screen or your phone boots, congratulations!  You have successfully installed a new custom ROM onto your Android smartphone/tablet!

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Max Lee

Max Lee is the founder of HighOnAndroid.com. Max makes Android tutorials and review videos for people who want to get high on Android over at his YouTube channel and Korean YouTube channel.