[LG G2 Mini] mobiusm:
DISCLAIMER:

I am not responsible to anything going wrong with your device.

You are responsible to what you are doing with your phone, not me.

If you blame me, I will laugh in your face and I'll go grab a beer.

This guide is intended to be used for people who want to upgrade their Android experience. This process could be dangerous. Please follow instructions, and if in doubt, stop, and ask here. No one wants their phone bricked*.

"For quite a while you are using your LG G2 mini. You like the simplicity of Android 4.4/5.0.2 and you think LG did a good job on the UI. You live you life happily with the phone. But after a while you feel something is missing. you want more.

You googled "How to make my device awesome again" and you saw difficult terms, such as root, flashing, recovery and bootloader. You didn't know what they meant, but you knew you have to understand these terms and apply them to make your phone awesome again."

The steps to make your phone awesome again are fairly simple:

perform these steps in order from top to bottom. Do not skip any.

--Rooting--

"Yes... I remember seeing this term.. I vaguely remember something related to permissions.. but I am not totally sure what this means."

Root - The root directory of your phone. The home directory for all your important system files.

Rooting - Normally, you don't have access to this directory, since the manufacturer doesn't want you to mess with it. Rooting means you will give yourself access to this directory. Why do you want access to this directory? Because later on we will need access to it to change some files.​

Most common question asked is: will this void my warranty? YES

How to Gain Root Access

Android 4.4

There are a few methods to try. If one fails, you will continue until you succeed.

Method 1

1. Go to this link

2. Click on the big lambda in the middle of the page ( ? )

3. Install the app on your phone

4. Run the app and tap on "make it rain"

5. Your phone will reboot

6. Download SuperSU from here. This app is a root access management tool, and it allows you to give certain apps root permissions.

7. The app might ask you to "update binaries". If so, let it update.

Optional: Install this app to make sure you have root access.

Method 2

Go to this link and follow the instructions.

Android 5.0.1

There is only one method for rooting on this version.

Method 1

1. Go to this link and follow the instructions

--Unlock Bootloader--

"Bootloader.... is that a machine that loads boots?"

Bootloader - Code that is executed before any Operating System starts to run. A bootloader is usually locked on an Android device because although it’s an open source OS, still the manufacturers want you to stick to their Android OS version specifically designed for the device. In order to apply this concept, manufacturers lock the bootloader. With a locked bootloader on Android devices, it is virtually impossible to flash a Custom ROM.​

Most common question asked is: why do I need to unlock my bootloader? Unlocking the bootloader allows you to install custom Firmware on your Android phone.

How to Unlock the Bootloader

It is advised to be on Android 5.0.2 to unlock bootloader.

Android 4.4

There Is only one specific guide for the d620 / d620r models.

Method 1

1. Go to this link and follow instructions.

Android 5.0.2

There is a guide for all varients.

Method 1

1. Go to this link and follow the instructions

--Custom recovery--

"After reading so much I think I need to be recovered myself!"

Recovery - Software that can be used to restore the device to factory default settings, update its operating system, and perform other diagnostic tasks. A custom recovery is a third-party recovery environment. Flashing this recovery environment onto your device replaces the default, stock recovery environment with a third-party, customized recovery environment. A custom recovery environment will do the same things as the stock Android recovery. However, it will also have additional features. Custom recoveries often have the ability to create and restore device backups.

TWRP - Team Work Recovery Project is the most common custom recovery out there. It is highly advised to use it, since other recoveries made for this device are old and unstable.​

Most common question asked is: why would I want to use a custom recovery? Custom recoveries allow you to install custom software such as ROMs and kernels.

How to Flash a Custom Recovery

1. If you already have a custom recovery, enter it and flash the new recovery zip.

2. If not, download and install THIS app and flash though it the recovery zip. Then you'll be able to enter the custom recovery.

All Android Versions

There are several versions of TWRP. It is recommended to use the latest version, though using an older version won't hurt.

1. Go to HERE for Twrp 3.0.2.0

2. Go to HERE for TWRP 2.8.7.0

--Custom Rom--

"That was it? It was so easy!"

Rom - stands for “read-only memory.” A custom ROM replaces your device’s Android operating system — normally stored in read-only memory — with a new version of the Android operating system. Custom roms usually have added features not available in stock Android.
​

Most common question asked is: why would I want to use a custom ROM? Read THIS article.

I'm sorry for any left out roms. A lot are old and not updated or contain bugs. An updated list of them can be found at all time in the "Android Development" section.

How to Flash a Custom Rom

1. Download a custom rom to your sd-card.

2. Enter twrp recovery.

3. Make a backup of system, data, boot and cache.

4. Flash the custom rom.

5. Optional: flash Gapps.

6. Reboot to system.

Available Custom Roms

Android Nougat

LineageOS 14.1

Cyanogenmod 14.1 (deprecated, replaced with LineageOS)

Resurrection Remix Nougat

Android Marshmallow

Cyanogenmod 13.0 for LG G2 Mini

Resurrection Remix Marshmallow

Temasek's UNOFFICIAL Cyanogenmod 13

Android Ice Cold Project

Xperia ROM based on Marshmallow

Android Lollipop

[ROM/KERNEL][5.0.2] DroidMaster Lollipop-lite

[ROM][5.1.1] Cyanogenmod 12.1 Stable

[ROM][5.1.1][D620r] Modified CM 12.1

[STOCK][5.0.2] v20c-dec-2015 [D620/D620R] FLASHABLE ZIP AND KDZ

[STOCK][D618] 5.0.2 V20D Flashable Zip

[ROM][STOCK][D620(r)] 5.0.2 v20b Flashable Zip

Android KitKat

[ROM][DEV][PORT] MIUI 7 (4.4) (D620(r))

[4.4][ROM] DroidMasterOS

[ROM][STOCK][4.4.2][D620R] V10j Flashable Zip

--Custom Kernel--

"I'm going deeper... so deep, I'm almost at the kernel!"

Kernel - The kernel is the piece of software that bridges the gap between the operating system (and installed apps) and the hardware in the device. Everything you do on your device involves the kernel. Increasing the volume while playing a video? Android doesn’t directly tell the speakers to increase output. Instead, it tells the kernel that it wants to increase the volume, and the kernel talks to the speaker to increase its output.
​

Most common question asked is: why would I want to use a custom KERNEL? Read THIS article.

How to Flash a Custom Kernel

1. Download a custom kernel to your sd-card.

2. Enter twrp recovery.

3. Make a backup of BOOT

4. Flash the custom kernel

5. Reboot to system.

Available Custom Kernels

Android Marshmallow

For LineageOS based roms:

-V- Kernel X

Android Marshmallow

For Cyanogenmod based roms:

MobiusMarshmallow Kernel

Android Lollipop

For stock based roms:

LollipopExtended Kernel for G2 Mini

-V- Kernel (w/ AnyKernel2 for ramdisk modding)

For Cyanogenmod based roms:

Cyanogen12Extended

Android KitKat

For stock based roms:

-V- Kernel (w/ AnyKernel2 for ramdisk modding)

For Cyanogenmod based roms:

Cyanogen11extended for LG G2 Mini

~notes~

​

*bricked - just as it sounds like. After performing something stupid, your phone is now useful as a brick, and is unusable.

Credits​

[MENTION=4826484]WYPIERDAALAAC[/MENTION] for his guide on rooting stock lollipop.

[MENTION=631273]Chainfire[/MENTION] for his work on SuperSU.

[MENTION=4623180]Zaaap72[/MENTION] for his work on unlocking the bootloaders.

[MENTION=6375355]Nikita Pro Android[/MENTION] for his work on Cyanogenmod 13 and msm8226 devices.

[MENTION=4849551]Vagelis1608[/MENTION] for his work on V-kernel, and many other tweaks.

Anyone whom I have forgotten.