[About XDA developers] noahthedominator:
!!!!☆■PLEASE PRESS THANKS INSTEAD OF SAYING IT IM SO SICK OF PEOPLE SAYING THANKS WHEN IN THE RULES IT SAYS TO USE THE THANKS BUTTON□★!!!!!!!

This is a beginners guide to start modifying your Android device. When I joined the website I felt like I didn't know where to start. So I thought I could make this thread to get people started.

*I will not be held responsible for any damage that may be caused to your device.

First things first your going to need to root your device. What rooting does is it allows special access to things in your phone. Without root custom roms and custom recoveries will not work. Also some apps require root to work. So to root your device search for the name of your device in the search box. Once you find your device then go to the Android development section. And usually near the top there will be a guide on how to root your device.

If your can't find or your device doesn't have a forum section (for example the Us Cellular Galaxy s4) then search for a similar device. So I have the Us cellular galaxy s4 and it doesn't have a forum section. So I could look at the Verizon or At&T galaxy s4 section and see if the root method with work on my us cellular galaxy s4. Thankfully there is a method that works for the us cellular version too. If you still can't find a root method for your device then I would Google it and see what you can find.

Once you have gotten root access then the next step is to install a custom recovery.

IF U WANT TO CHECK IF YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY GOTTEN ROOT ACCESS THEN DOWNLOAD THE ROOT CHECKER APP.

Ok so what a custom recovery is basically a tool to install/ flash things to your device. For example If I want a transparent status bar then I can download an s4 transparent status bar. Then I can go into recovery mode. After that since I have a custom recovery I can install the new status bar in recovery mode. Then reboot my phone. And boom I have a transparent status bar. Be sure to check out the link. It will further Explain custom recoveries.

http://xdaforums.com/wiki/ClockworkMod_Recovery

Ok so to get a custom recovery you can follow the link above or your can do the same thing u did for root. Search your device. Then go to the Android development section and look for a thread on how to install a custom recovery. There are different types/versions of recoveries. Clock work mod recovery is one of the more popular ones and is what I personally use and I recommend. TWRP (team win recovery project is another one and is good too.)

After you get a custom recovery installed you need to make a backup. In case something goes wrong by user error or accident you can fix your device.

A back up is needed because if I would try to install a rom and for some reason it doesnt boot up then your going to need to return to what you were previously on. For example I have my galaxy s4 and If i make a backup right before I install a new rom. Then I try installing a rom and for whatever reason it doesn't work. I can go back into recovery mode and I can install my back up. And the backup will be everything that I had on my device before I tried to install a new rom. Once you have a backup then go to the next step.

Now the best part custom roms. Ok a custom rom is kinda hard to explain but im gonna try to. So a rom is basically firmware. And u can have different types of roms (firmware) for your device. **THE NUMBER ONE RULE IS TO NEVER INSTALL A ROM THAT IS NOT MEANT FOR YOUR PHONE. THIS IS 99 PERCENT OF WHY PEOPLE HARD BRICK THEIR DEVICE. **

So generally there are too different versions of roms. Stock based roms and aosp/ cyanogen based roms. Stock roms have generally the same look but may offer more options and settings for things. Some stock based roms have options to Change the look too.

Aosp(cyanogen mod,pac man, carbon) roms are going to change the look a lot. And have more options to Change Things too. Check out cyanogenmod.com to see what I mean.

Roms are a lot of fun to expirment with and see which ones you like best.

So your ready to get a custom rom.

Make sure you have a back up before you continue.

1. Dowload a rom to your device.

A good rom to try is cyanogen mod. It's an aosp based rom. Follow this link and see if your device is compatible.

get.cm/

REMEMBER U MUST DOWNLOAD A ROM THAT IS MEANT FOR YOUR DEVICE ONLY!!!!!

2. If you are going to install cyanogen mod or any aosp you are also going to need g apps. What g apps is is a package of apps. Basically of all the stock apps. Stock roms have it built in.

You can get get g apps from here

http://goo.im/gapps

If you want to check out other roms then go to your device in the forums then go to the Android development section. And look around there should be plenty to choose from.

3. So if you are installing cyanogen mod make sure you have gapps if you are installing a stock based rom you don't need it.

4.Boot into recovery mode. You can download rom manager from the play store and go into the app and press boot into recovery mode or do it manually by using the hard keys. Google it if you can't get into recovery mode.

5.Once in recovery mode if u are installing cyanogen mod do a wipe data/factory reset.

If you are installing a stock based rom skip that step unless you want to wipe data. Or if where you found the rom it says to wipe data.

6.flash the rom you installed. Remember where you put it when you downloaded it.

7. If you needed it find gapps then flash(install) that.

If you didn't need gapps then skip that step.

8. Wipe the cache partion

9. Wipe the davilk cache. *Its under advanced* This is important so you don't get a boot loop.

10. Reboot system

11. Enjoy your new rom.

Common errors:

If you get stuck at the boot logo you probably forgot to wipe the davilk cache. Its under advanced options in recovery.

If you try to install cyanogen mod and get an error saying system has stopped and that error keeps showing up then you used the wrong gapps package. Dowload the one closest to the top of the page if u are trying to download cyano

If u have any questions at all about anything feel free to ask them on this thread. Or in the q and a section. Or pm me.

☆■PLEASE PRESS THANKS INSTEAD OF SAYING IT IM SO SICK OF PEOPLE SAYING THANKS WHEN IN THE RULES IT SAYS TO USE THE THANKS BUTTON□★

Have a nice day!