Tutorial
Updated
The CyanogenMod Beginners Guide
Now, you see this because you might want to try CyanogenMod.
CyanogenMod is an AOSP (Android Open Source Project), and i prefer it over anything.
I'm going to call CyanogenMod for CM from now on.
BEFORE DOING ANYTHING! THIS WILL MOST LIKELY VOID YOUR WARRANTY, AND YOU MIGHT BRICK IF YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG!
A lot of devices requires an unlocked bootloader if you want to flash anything. google is your friend there. (on newer nexus devices use ADB and type "fastboot flashing unlock" or "fastboot oem unlock" on older ones. to do this you need to enable oem unlocking in the developer settings. Tap build numbers untill you get a notification about getting access to developer settings)
First of all, you will need a custom recovery. I reccomend Team Win Recovery Project. (TWRP from now on). I would reccomend either googling your device name and TWRP, or looking at the official TWRP site at http://twrp.me
This is regularly flashed via ODIN on Samsung devices, or ADB on other devices. Find a good guide on custom recoveries for your device to learn how the process is for your device.
Now, you've got a custom recovery (TWRP, CWM, Philz Touch etc.)
You want to make a full backup via the custom recovery in case anything goes wrong before proceeding.
After doing that, i suggest heading to http://get.cm and try to find a build for your device. if there is nothing there, search for your device on www.forums.XDA-Developers.com and see if you can find anything.
Move the CM.zip you downloaded to your internal storage/SD
SUGGESTED STEP: i reccomend downloading the google apps package from www.opengapps.org go there and select the appropriate version for your phone. i reccomend using the nano version, as it has everything you need, and doesnt interfere with /system too much. this could be a problem while "dirty flashing" installing a ROM (firmware) without factory resetting.
Move the Gapps package to your internal storage/SD
Now, If you want try to keep your data, settings etc, go to the flash Zip from SDcard section in the recovery. Select CM.zip, and install it. then, select Gapps.zip, and install them as well. try to reboot. if it takes more than 10 minutes, then something must have went wrong. either restore your backup, or follow this
(This is also for those who want to factory reset their device)
Got to wipe in the recovery, then advanced wipe. select everything except internal storage and SD.
after this is done, go to the step above, and install CM + GApps
Reboot your phone.
You will be prompted with a CM Welcome screen, and language selection.
Congratulations! You have now installed CyanogenMod! Now you may use many features you didn't have before!
CyanogenMod is an AOSP (Android Open Source Project), and i prefer it over anything.
I'm going to call CyanogenMod for CM from now on.
BEFORE DOING ANYTHING! THIS WILL MOST LIKELY VOID YOUR WARRANTY, AND YOU MIGHT BRICK IF YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG!
A lot of devices requires an unlocked bootloader if you want to flash anything. google is your friend there. (on newer nexus devices use ADB and type "fastboot flashing unlock" or "fastboot oem unlock" on older ones. to do this you need to enable oem unlocking in the developer settings. Tap build numbers untill you get a notification about getting access to developer settings)
First of all, you will need a custom recovery. I reccomend Team Win Recovery Project. (TWRP from now on). I would reccomend either googling your device name and TWRP, or looking at the official TWRP site at http://twrp.me
This is regularly flashed via ODIN on Samsung devices, or ADB on other devices. Find a good guide on custom recoveries for your device to learn how the process is for your device.
Now, you've got a custom recovery (TWRP, CWM, Philz Touch etc.)
You want to make a full backup via the custom recovery in case anything goes wrong before proceeding.
After doing that, i suggest heading to http://get.cm and try to find a build for your device. if there is nothing there, search for your device on www.forums.XDA-Developers.com and see if you can find anything.
Move the CM.zip you downloaded to your internal storage/SD
SUGGESTED STEP: i reccomend downloading the google apps package from www.opengapps.org go there and select the appropriate version for your phone. i reccomend using the nano version, as it has everything you need, and doesnt interfere with /system too much. this could be a problem while "dirty flashing" installing a ROM (firmware) without factory resetting.
Move the Gapps package to your internal storage/SD
Now, If you want try to keep your data, settings etc, go to the flash Zip from SDcard section in the recovery. Select CM.zip, and install it. then, select Gapps.zip, and install them as well. try to reboot. if it takes more than 10 minutes, then something must have went wrong. either restore your backup, or follow this
(This is also for those who want to factory reset their device)
Got to wipe in the recovery, then advanced wipe. select everything except internal storage and SD.
after this is done, go to the step above, and install CM + GApps
Reboot your phone.
You will be prompted with a CM Welcome screen, and language selection.
Congratulations! You have now installed CyanogenMod! Now you may use many features you didn't have before!
Last edited by mgrev,
