Check Out The Video Below!
What Is A Custom ROM?
A custom ROM is a modified version of Android with enhancements the developer of the ROM has made to improve the device. You may have heard of CyanogenMod or Paranoid Android ROMS that pack a TON of extra features. These features can consists of many things including removed bloatware, added extra features, themes, better battery life, improved device performance, anything!
Custom ROMS also let you upgrade to the latest version of Android even if it hasn't officially been released by the OEM. If you want to always want to be on the bleeding edge of Android software then installing customs ROMS in a must!
Things To Remember:
- You need to have a rooted Nexus 6 with TWRP/CWM Recovery installed, if you don't follow this guide: how to root Nexus 6.
- This will remove all data from your phone since we will need to do a factory reset before installing a new custom ROM! Backup any important information!
- You can only install custom ROMS that are specifically for the Nexus 6!!
Let's Get Started With Installing Custom ROMS On The Nexus 6
Don't forget, you need to have a rooted Nexus 6 with TWRP or CWM Recovery installed.
In this guide we're going to be using TWRP custom Recovery, but CWM is very similar in steps.
1. Download and transfer the custom ROM to your Nexus 6.
2. If the source from where the ROM was downloaded tells you to download Gapps (Google apps like Play Store, Gmail, etc) download and transfer the Gapps to your phone too.
Both the custom ROM and Gapps will end in a .zip file format, don't unzip it!
3. Now let's enter into Recovery Mode! Power off the Nexus 6 then press and hold the power button and volume down button until you see a green "Start" screen.
4. Keep pressing the volume down until you see "Recovery mode". Now press the power button. You will now enter into TWRP or CWM Recovery.
Step 5 is optional, but highly recommended!!
5. Select "Backup", make sure that "System", "Data", and "Boot" are selected then swipe at the bottom of the screen to start the backup. This is called a "Nandroid Backup", it will backup just about everything on your Nexus 6. This backup file will be located in "/TWRP/BACKUPS" folder.
You can reboot your phone and transfer that backup file to your computer so if something goes wrong during the custom ROM flash you can select "Restore" in TWRP and all your information will be restored.
6. On the TWRP homescreen select "Wipe" and swipe at the bottom of the screen.
7. Now select "Install" and locate the custom ROM you downloaded earlier. Swipe to confirm install.
8. Repeat step 7 except do it with Gapps if your ROM required you to flash Gapps too.
9. Now select "Reboot System" and the Nexus 6 will fully boot up to the new custom ROM. This boot up can take up to 5 minutes since we wiped the Nexus 6 and installed a brand new OS on our phone!
Congrats, you now know how to install custom ROMS on the Nexus 6!
FAQ:
Q: My phone is stuck in a bootloop.
A: Enter into Recovery Mode, select "Wipe", and reboot your phone.
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Nexus 6 FAQ
How to Root Nexus 6!
How to Unroot Nexus 6!
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