[Realme 5 Pro Questions & Answers] melqar:
Hi,

Phone : Realme 5 Pro EU version 4GB/128GB.

As the title says, I am trying to install LineageOS then MicroG on my Realme 5 Pro. So far... I've been at this for a couple of days and I've learned a lot, but that was worth it. Still have to see after a couple of days if this install is stable enough.

Usual disclaimer that this is not because it worked for me that it'd work for you etc...

What files are necessary to follow this post?

-> vbmeta.img & twrp.img here : https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MUEJkl25gL7zUPXNKFx_I5HLHyfCAzz7 as posted in this guide : https://xdaforums.com/t/...install-twrp-and-install-custom-roms.4177511/

-> C12 Stock ROM from realme : https://download.c.realme.com/osupdate/RMX1971EX_11_OTA_1120_all_s0mRvUGlCJAI.ozip

-> the Lineage 17.1 ROM provided by @kemo12533 here : https://sourceforge.net/projects/myholly****/files/ROMs/RMX1971/LineageOS/

-> the NikGApps Core for Android 10 ARM64 : https://sourceforge.net/projects/ni...ps-core-arm64-10-20210130-signed.zip/download

-> Magisk : https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/releases/download/v22.1/Magisk-v22.1.apk

-> NanoDroid-patcher : https://downloads.nanolx.org/NanoDroid/Stable/NanoDroid-patcher-23.1.2.20210117.zip

-> NanoDroid-MicroG : https://downloads.nanolx.org/NanoDroid/Stable/NanoDroid-microG-23.1.2.20210117.zip

What I have done so far that works (after tons of FAIL)?

-> Unlocked the device

I managed to unlock the device without too much issue following the guide (link to the guide on this forum is provided above).

-> Installed TWRP

rebooted into bootloader.

"fastboot flash recovery twrp.img"

then proceeded in recovery to TWRP.

Lesson Learned: when "fastboot flash ..." behaves funky (as in not the expected result which is OK), change cable/usb port/computer and don't bother trying to troubleshoot it (I spend a day on this for no result). I have to go on my parents windows computer to fastboot flash but hey it works.

-> Installed latest version of RealmeUI OS (C12 from late march 2021)

TWRP wiped (Dalvik, Cache, System, Vendor, Data)

TWRP format data.

TWRP installed RealmeUI OS C12 without issue

(I did boot it without problem and enabled debugging but I don't think it is required)

-> reinstalled TWRP that had just been overwritten by C12 install.

rebooted in bootloader

"fastboot flash recovery twrp.img"

"fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img"

then booted in recovery to TWRP.

-> Installed LineageOS 17.1 with NikGApps.

TWRP wiped (Dalvik, Cache, System, Vendor, Data) and then formatted data.

TWRP installed LineageOS 17.1

TWRP Install NikGApps.

TWRP installed magisk (which roots the OS).

Rebooted and LineageOS booted without issue.

Note 1 : I tried to install this LineageOS on its own to do a clean MicroG install but on its own it wouldn't boot (same with OpenGApps pico). BitGApps and NikGapps Core both make Lineage Boot, but I settled on NikGApps because it seems automatically 'removed' afterwards when installing MicroG, see later.

Note 2 : The magisk app says that the realme5pro does not have ramdisk. It seems that this is wrong: Magisk does say that phones from 2019 & 2020 are a mess to detect and that the RAMDISK test (Yes or No) is unreliable for those. I followed the manual for No Ramdisk and it corrupted my recovery partition. I followed the manual for yes and it works without issue since.

-> Installing MicroG.

I am now in LineageOS

Magisk Installed Magisk from the same apk and follow instructions to install Magisk properly.

Magisk Installed NanoDroid-patcher & rebooted

Magisk Installed NanoDroid-MicroG & rebooted

at this point the play store icon and app have disappeared (most probably removed by the NanoDroid-MicroG install) and the MicroG Settings app is installed. You still have some permissions to give MicroG and configure it properly, but the following video does a good job of that so I'll leave is at that.

Learned along the way :

It seems to be really hard to brick that phone (good stuff). As long as you can still boot in fastboot you can recover, even if system and recovery don't work.

when "fastboot flash ..." commands don't work when "fastboot devices" lists your device, find another computer, don't waste your time trying to fix this with no result.

write down what works for future reference. I am now documenting every step that works.

Edit 1 : Added Magisk bit. Reorganised post and added details.

Edit 2 : Added MicroG bit. Reorganised post and added details. I guess it's a sort of a guide now...