How to Install Android Operating System on Mobile
Android is an open source operating system. What this means is that smartphone manufacturers have the freedom to tweak the operating system, before loading them onto their smartphones. Because of this, they have complete control over the look of the OS, features and the bundled apps. The bigger problem is that they also have control over the OS updates and as a result, very few phones get them. Manufacturers usually release an OS update for their flagship phones. Even then, most Android phones only get access to a single update. As a result, you don't get the latest features launched on latest Android operating systems. If you have a two year old phone, chances are that it's running an older OS. However there is way to get the latest Android OS on your old smartphone by running a custom ROM on your smartphone. It's a slightly complicated process, and we'll show you how to do it.
What is a custom ROM?
A ROM is essentially a modified version of Android. It is designed to run better than the stock Android which smartphone manufacturers carry. It has more features and is largely customizable. You can tweak the look, enhance the battery and even improve the general performance. There are plenty of ROMs available online. XDA Developers Forum is a good place to start if you would like to learn more.
What are the benefits of a custom ROM?
Get the latest OS updates
One of the primary reasons to run a custom ROM is to get your hands on the latest Android OS update. If you don't own a flagship phone, chances are that you won't have access to the latest OS updates. However, by running a custom ROM, this can be overcome, even on phones which are a couple of years old!
No more bloatware
Most Android versions on smartphones are filled with unwanted bloatware, in the form of apps and heavy interfaces. Running a custom ROM allows you to get rid of them, leaving only the useful apps. Such a light custom ROM will not only improve the performance but also enhance the whole Android experience.
Add or tweak features
Running a custom ROM also gives you access to features beyond the ones manufacturers offer. For example, you can customize your device by adding shortcut gestures which can be accessed right from the home screen. Some Custom ROMs also let you overclock your device speeds, making it much faster and more powerful.
Get a unique experience
If you're bored of your current operating system, running a custom UI is a good idea. Every custom ROM, comes with a unique look and there are plenty of options to choose from. You can opt for something that looks good, or something simple such as the stock UI. You can also simply run a beefed up version of your existing OS, but do make sure that you choose the right ROMs.
Step 1 - Unlock the Bootloader
In order to run a custom ROM, you first need to run a custom recovery which in turn can only be done once you have unlocked your device's bootloader.
The bootloader decides whether to run the Android system or the recovery whenever the device is switched on. Hence, the custom recovery can only be run once the bootloader has been unlocked. This is probably the trickier part of the process and hence must be done carefully.
Before you can start getting into the nitty-gritty of things, we recommend that you take a backup of your phone onto your PC or laptop. Also ensure that your device is charged more than 70 per cent at least. Losing power, or restarting your phone in the middle of the process can be disastrous.
Most manufacturers such as Sony, HTC, Huawei and Motorola allow unlocking of the bootloader and the process to do this is more or less the same across their devices. You would first need to get an 'unlock key' which can be found on the respective manufacturer's website. Search for your device key by typing in the device name followed by 'unlocking bootloader' on Google.
Start by downloading 'Android Debug Bridge (ADB)' and 'Fastboot' software on your PC (We recommend using a PC to unlock the bootloader). Also download the USB drivers for your specific device from the official website. This is essential in order for your PC to detect your smartphone when connected with the USB cable.
On the phone, enable both 'Developer option' and 'USB debugging mode'. This can be done by going into 'Settings' – 'About phone' and tapping seven times on the 'Build Number'. The 'USB debugging' option will show up in the 'Developer option'.
Now connect the phone to the PC and open the folder where 'ADB' and 'Fastboot' are setup. Press Shift and right-click and choose 'Open command window here'.
Type the commands as below:
1. 'adb reboot bootloader' – This will reboot the smartphone into the bootloader
2. 'fastboot devies' – This will check the fastboot connectivity. Your device should show up here. If it doesn't show any devices, it might mean the USB drivers are not installed properly.
3 . 'fastboot oem unlock' – This will unlock the bootloader. This may not be the same for all devices. For devices which need a unique key, the command needs to be followed by the unlock key given to you by the manufacturer.
4. 'fastboot reboot' – Reboot your device to check the status.
If all goes well, you would have successfully unlocked your bootloader.
Step 2 - Run a Custom Recovery
Recovery is a part of the Android system and can act as a mini operating system by itself - running backups and updates, deleting user and cache. It also does major task – installing ROMs. However, the default recovery on most smartphones has its limitations and that's where a custom recovery is useful. For instance, it allows the system to run Custom ROMs amongst other features.
There are plenty of custom recovery tools to choose from, but the two most popular ones are TWRP and ClockworkMod (CWM). We recommend using one of the two as most devices are compatible with them. Visit the respective website and download the version that is compatible with your device.
Continuing with the process, once you have the bootloader unlocked and a custom recovery downloaded on the PC, go to the folder where the recovery file is saved. Ensure you have the right version downloaded for your phone and keep the phone connected to the PC.
Press Shift and right-click and click on 'Open the Command Window here'.
Use the following commands to load the custom recovery.
1'adb reboot bootloader' – This will reboot your device into bootloader mode
2.'fastboot flash recovery twrp (version you have saved).img' – This will flash the custom recovery on the device. Type the correct filename of the custom recovery that you have downloaded
3.'fastboot reboot' – This will reboot the system after flashing the custom recovery
You have now successfully flashed a custom recovery.
Step 3 - Backup the existing Operating system
The next thing to be done is to back up your OS. One of the features of the custom recovery besides running a custom ROM is the ability to make a 'Nandroid' backup. This is a backup of your existing OS and allows you to go back to things the way they were, in case you run into trouble. We highly recommend doing this. To do this, reboot into the custom recovery. Different devices have different ways to do this, however a combination of pressing the power button and a volume button after switching on the phone should work on most devices.
Be advised, before you get to the custom recovery menu, that the only way to navigate on some phones will be with the help of the volume keys and power button. In the custom recovery, you can use the touchscreen. Now go to 'Backup' or 'Nandroid'. If possible, name the backup for safekeeping and wait until the backup is complete. This may take a while.
You can also take a backup of your apps by downloading the 'Titanium Backup' app. In the app, go to the 'Backup all user apps' - this will backup all your downloaded apps. This is useful in case you want to recover all the apps in your new ROM without having to download them all over again.
Step 4 - Flash the Custom ROM
Before you go about flashing a ROM, it's very important to choose the right one for your device. Some of the popular ones are CynogenMod, Paranoid Android, Resurrection Remix, MIUI and Euphoria ROM. While you would find many others on websites such as XDA Developers Forum, be careful of the one you choose, as some carry bugs which could affect certain features on your phone. Look for a stable build.
ROMs are usually large ZIP files, hence we recommend downloading it on your PC first before transferring it to your smartphone. We suggest saving the file in the root folder or the SD card on the phone, which will make it easier to find.
Now reboot the device into the recovery mode using the power and volume button we mentioned earlier. Before you can flash the ROM, you might have to wipe some of your data. Go to 'Wipe' and click on 'Wipe Data/Factory Reset', 'Wipe Cache Partition'. This may differ across devices, so make sure you know which ones to click for your smartphone.
Now head over to 'Install'. Find the Zip file of the ROM, and Flash it. Post this, reboot your device using the interface, and wait for your custom ROM to come to life. You may be required to wait for a long time, since it's the first time the phone boots into the new ROM.
Step 5 - Flashing GApps (Google apps)
In all probability, your new ROM will not come with the official set of Google apps. You can flash Google apps on your device, just the way you flashed a new ROM.
A pack of Google apps is available here. You could choose one that has all the Google apps or stick to only the basic ones you need. Choose a package based on the storage limitations of your device and the Android OS you're using. If you don't have enough space you'll see an error while flashing the pack on the phone.
As in the custom ROM, download the Gapps on your PC and transfer them to your phone, preferably where you saved the ROM. Now go to recovery and then click on 'Install'. Find the file and flash it. Reboot the system and the Google apps will show up in the app drawer. If you've made the Titanium backup, get the app and simple restore all the other third-party apps and data.
There you have it, now you have a fully functional Custom ROM working on your device, complete with all your data. In the future if you need another ROM, just follow the steps of flashing a ROM.
Note: We'd like to stress again that there is a risk involved in installing and running a custom ROM, but as long as you've done enough research you shouldn't have a problem. XDA Developers Forum is a good place to start.
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How to Install Android Operating System on Mobile
Source: https://www.reliancedigital.in/solutionbox/how-to-run-a-new-android-os-on-your-dated-android-smartphone/