How to Install a Custom Recovery on Android

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Custom RecoveryAndroidSoftwareMobileSmartphoneOperating SystemDevice ManagementRootingCustomizationDevice RepairGoogleGoogle ServicesPhone SettingsDevice ConfigurationDevice CustomizationAdvanced FeaturesUser InterfaceDevice OptimizationSecurity SettingsSmart Devices

Introduction

Android devices are popular for their flexibility and customization options. One of the most beneficial customizations you can do is to install a custom recovery. Custom recoveries offer several advantages over the stock recovery found on Android devices. This article provides a comprehensive guide to installing a custom recovery like TWRP on an Android device. We'll cover everything you need to know, from the basics to advanced tips.

What is Android recovery?

Android recovery is a bootable partition that allows you to perform a variety of maintenance tasks on your device. Stock recovery, which comes pre-installed on smartphones, has limited options, typically allowing you to perform a factory reset, wipe the cache, and apply system updates. A custom recovery significantly expands these capabilities, providing a graphical interface and more features such as installing custom ROMs, creating device backups, and rooting your device.

Understanding custom recovery

Recoveries like TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) or CWM (ClockworkMod) allow you to do things that stock recovery doesn't support. This includes creating Nandroid backups (full system backups), flashing zip files for custom ROMs, kernels and other mods, and even gaining root access. Custom recoveries are an essential tool in the Android modding community.

TWRP features

TWRP is the most common custom recovery and it offers the following features:

• Touch-based user interface for easy navigation.
• Advanced backup and restore options (Nandroid Backup).
• Built-in file manager.
• Ability to mount various file systems.
• Backup of individual partitions.
• Option to format specific partitions like /data and /cache.

Prerequisites

1. Unlock the bootloader

Before you can install a custom recovery, it's important to unlock your device's bootloader. This step varies by manufacturer. Typically, it involves enabling developer options, allowing OEM unlocks, and using specific commands to unlock the bootloader. Note that unlocking will usually erase the device's data.

2. Back up your data

The process of unlocking the bootloader will erase all the data on your device. It is important to backup all your data, including contacts, photos, apps, and messages, before proceeding. You can use Google services or third-party apps for this purpose.

3. Install ADB and Fastboot

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and Fastboot are command-line tools used to communicate with Android devices from a computer. These tools are important for unlocking the bootloader and flashing recovery images. They are part of the Android SDK, but you can also download them separately.

4. Download the custom recovery image

Download the custom recovery image compatible with your specific Android device. Websites like the official TWRP site provide recovery files for different models. Always make sure you download the correct file for your device.

Steps to install custom recovery

1. Enable developer options

To begin, enable Developer Options on your Android device. Go to Settings > About phone, then tap Build number seven times until a message appears saying you're now a developer.

2. Enable USB debugging

With Developer Options now visible, open Settings > Developer Options. Enable USB debugging. This option allows ADB to communicate with your device via a USB connection.

3. Unlock your bootloader

As mentioned earlier, it's important to unlock the bootloader. Here's a general guide on how to do this, but note that certain manufacturers may have additional steps:

1. Turn off your phone.
2. Boot into Fastboot mode. This is usually done by holding down the Power and Volume Down buttons while the phone is off.
3. Connect your phone to PC via USB.
4. Open a Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) window.
5. To check the fastboot connection, enter the following command: fastboot devices
6. Once your device is recognized, proceed with the unlocking command: fastboot oem unlock

If successful, the device will proceed to unlock the bootloader and then erase all data. Note that some devices may require a different command, such as fastboot flashing unlock.

4. Flash the custom recovery

Once the bootloader is unlocked, proceed to flash the custom recovery:

1. Boot the phone again into Fastboot Mode (Power + Volume Down).
2. Copy the downloaded TWRP or any other custom recovery image file to the same folder where your ADB and fastboot binaries are located.
3. In Command Prompt or Terminal, execute: fastboot flash recovery recoveryfilename.img
   Remember to replace recoveryfilename.img with the actual file name of the recovery image.
4. Once the recovery image is flashed, immediately reboot into the newly installed custom recovery: fastboot reboot

Booting to the custom recovery immediately ensures that the stock recovery won’t overwrite it.

5. Reboot into custom recovery

To make sure everything went as expected, boot into custom recovery manually. Turn off your device and using the button combination specific to your device, boot into recovery mode. The TWRP splash screen should appear as confirmation.

Checking after installation

After installation, verify that all of TWRP's features are working correctly. You can run basic tests like backing up your existing system image, navigating through the settings, or wiping the cache partition.

Common problems and troubleshooting

Device not detected

If your device is not recognized by the fastboot command, make sure that:

• The USB drivers for your device are properly installed on your PC.
• Use another USB cable or port if necessary.
• USB debugging is enabled on your device.

Flashing failed

The recovery image flashing process may fail if:

• The bootloader is not unlocked.
• The wrong recovery file was downloaded.
• Compatibility issues exist between your device and the recovery version.

Stocks replaced recovery

If you accidentally booted back into stock recovery, re-flash the custom recovery using fastboot and be prompt to reboot into TWRP immediately after flashing.

Precautions and safety tips

Modifying your Android device is risky. Always make sure you have backups of important data, thoroughly research your specific device, and be prepared for a scenario where you may need to restore the phone to factory settings.

Conclusion

Installing a custom recovery like TWRP increases the customization potential of your Android device to a great extent. It allows you to install custom ROMs, create extensive backups, and open your device to root user privileges. With the step-by-step guide provided, you should be well-equipped to begin this endeavor. Make sure you follow each instruction carefully and understand the implications of each step to enjoy a smoothly running custom-recovered Android device.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update