Users who are unhappy with the operating system on their mobile device are often interested in how you can flash Android through Recovery. The installation procedure for most of the known firmware (ROM) looks identical. The guide below will help you download any ROM or ZIP archive application to your Android device using the restore function.

Preparing for firmware

The flashing procedure consists of several steps, which include preliminary steps such as rooting the smartphone and creating backups. It should be borne in mind that the terms "installation", "installation" and "firmware" are interchangeable (can mean the same thing). Some of the steps listed below may not be necessary for advanced users who are quite familiar with the software device of smartphones.

Official ROM updates from device manufacturers are released in the form of convenient installation files that you can run on your computer after connecting your Android device. But third-party firmware usually looks like compressed ZIP archives, not EXE installers or APK files.

Before proceeding with the firmware, you need to make sure that the device's battery is fully charged. Under no circumstances should you start the operation if the charge level is less than 50%. Irreversible consequences can occur if this warning is not taken seriously.

There are cases when the battery of a smartphone depleted its charge during the firmware process, as a result of which the device turned out to be blocked and unusable.

The next step is only applicable to devices equipped with stock Android operating system. We are talking about devices such as the Nexus One and Nexus S. If you are using other smartphone models, then this step can be skipped. The owner of the stock system must unlock their bootloader before starting the firmware process. This process will be the same for all Nexus models. After activating the bootloader, you can proceed to the next step.

Now you need to access the Root of your mobile device. If the smartphone has already been rooted, you can skip this step. Before flashing, you must make sure that you have access rights to Root. Rooting is a mode of access to the system settings of a gadget, necessary for performing complex tasks like installing a ROM. The process for gaining Root access usually does not differ much on different device models. After successful rooting, you can proceed to the next stage.

Installing the recovery function

To perform the flashing, the recovery function must be installed on the phone (for example, Android System Recovery 3e). Rooting provides the user with the necessary level of access to perform administrative tasks on their device. Recovery offers the tools you need to actually accomplish these tasks. Every Android smartphone comes with a built-in recovery function, but its functionality is usually very limited, so you will need Independent Recovery for additional operations.

The installation process for this feature is usually not very different on different device models. After installing the recovery, you can proceed to the next step.

Now that the restore function is installed, you can perform additional operations, including flashing or installing an application from a ZIP file. The procedure is not much different for most ROMs, although some firmwares require a special approach. As the process may vary for some Roma, it is recommended to search through a search engine detailed instructions specifically for your firmware.

Installing new firmware

There are 2 ways to install a ROM. You can use ROM Manager to determine the actions to be taken through Recovery, or manually restart your phone in recovery mode to complete these steps yourself. The first way looks preferable. If you previously used the ROM manager to restore ClockworkMod synchronization, then it is already installed. If this app is not available on your device, you can download it for free from the Android Market.

You need to follow these steps:

  • Find and download the ROM you want to install from the Internet. It must be a ZIP archive.
  • Connect the gadget to a computer via USB and install a memory card on it
  • Copy the downloaded ROM to the memory card. It is recommended to place the firmware in the root directory of the removable storage device.
  • Launch ROM Manager on your phone.
  • Click "Install ROM from memory card".
  • Scroll down the screen and click on the ZIP archive containing the ROM. The Install Queue dialog box appears.
  • If you want to install another ZIP file right after the ROM, you need to click "Add ZIP". Then select the next archive you want to flash. You can skip this step if you plan to install only ROM.
  • Click "OK". The Pre-Install ROM dialog box appears with options to back up existing firmware, clear data, and cache.
  • Be sure to select the option "Backup installed ROM" if you do not want to lose all the files that are stored in the smartphone.
  • It is necessary to use the "Delete data and cache" option if the ROM that is being flashed is an updated version of the software environment currently in use. Typically, the program prompts you if you can install a new version over the previous one without deleting the data.
  • Answer “OK” several times to different questions. The device will now reboot and the selected ROM will be installed automatically. will load after the process completes. You may be prompted to confirm the restart.

If everything was done correctly, then the device should work normally, but with the new firmware.

What to do if a smartphone based on the Android operating system suddenly starts to freeze and behave as if it were living its own life? How do I flash my Android device?


Many users of modern gadgets of well-known brands are tormented over this issue: from top-end devices Samsung or Sony to the popular Xiaomi and Meizu.

Possible solutions to problems

"Recovery": what is it and what it is eaten with

Many users give up immediately and rush to contact service centers. However, any experienced user knows that this is not necessary. After all, you can save a decent amount of money and nerves by following just a few simple steps given in this manual. "Recovery" is a special software that is available in smartphones based on the Android operating system. It is like a BIOS on a regular personal computer. That is, with the help of "Recovery" you can completely reset your smartphone to factory settings. Also here you can carry out device firmware or install operating system updates. When buying, the user most often receives a device with a factory menu "Recovery". It is a little limited in functionality and does not provide an opportunity to successfully flash the operating system. If we talk about the "custom" "Recovery", then it allows you to more fully interact with the phone system. Thus, you can make backup copies of firmware and restore them, as well as carry out a deeper and more complete reset of the device.

"Recovery": how to enter

To flash the device through the "Recovery" menu, you need to get into this very menu. This can be done quite simply, especially considering that many devices use the same input combination. So, in the event that the smartphone has a Home button or a physical center button, then on the switched on gadget, simultaneously press the Volume + and Home buttons. After that, without releasing these buttons, you need to press the power button. The device should turn on in the correct mode. If the user has more than modern apparatus without a physical Home button, you will need to repeat the process described above, but only when using the Volume + and Power buttons. If the desired result is not achieved, it is recommended to refer to the extended list of ways to enter the "Recovery" menu for devices from different manufacturers.

What else is needed?

To understand how you can reflash an Android device, you must first download the firmware for your device. Firmware files are often hidden from the general view in order to preserve the manufacturer's data and security. It is for this reason that ordinary users create backups of their operating systems and form from them databases of stock firmware, links to which can be found on special sites. It is the firmware file itself, which is in the archive with the * .zip extension, and will be needed in order to learn about restoring "Android" through "Recovery". Sometimes there are times when the old firmware bothers users and they want something new. It is for this reason that there are always craftsmen who develop custom firmware, adding something new from them or, on the contrary, "cutting out" unnecessary ones. In this case, you will not be able to use the standard "Recovery". This is where custom or TWRPs come to the rescue.

How to install CWM Recovery or TWRP

It is not necessary to install "Recovery" on Android using a personal computer. Most often, it is easier to use stock. All you need to do for this is to download the required file, which is in the archive with the * zip extension and move it to the external flash card of the smartphone. After that, you need to go to the stock "Recovery" and select the item " Apply update external storage ". In the list that opens, select the same file with the custom "Recovery". When the selection is confirmed, the installation process begins. After it, the device will offer to reboot. The process will be completed.

How to flash Android through "Recovery"

Let's go directly to the process of installing the firmware. I would like to note that all unofficial files of the Android OS, created directly by users, are installed only at your own risk. If the decision to install non-native software is nevertheless made, you need to make sure that the firmware was written specifically for the smartphone model that you plan to reflash. If we are talking about stock firmware, then it is better not to bother with Recovery or TWRP. All the manipulations that should be done are limited only to downloading the factory file and moving it to an external memory card. The process after that will be similar to installing a custom "Recovery". You need to go to the "Recovery" stock menu and select "Apply update from external storage" in it. Then you need to specify the firmware file and confirm the action. When the process is complete, you will need to perform one more step, which will avoid "glitches" and freezes when turning on and working the smartphone. Immediately after the firmware is installed, you must select the "Wipe data / factory reset" item in the menu and confirm the operation. Thus, you can clear information about the previous software, as well as those files that were on the device before the firmware process. When all these actions are completed, you will need to select the "Reboot system now" menu item. The device will reboot and the smartphone setup process will start from scratch. In the event that the start-up process is delayed and the device logo "freezes", it will be necessary to remember whether the reset item was performed after the flashing.

Custom Android versions

How to flash Android through Recovery? It remains only to figure out what to do with the versions of operating systems that were written directly by device users. The answer to this question is quite simple: you need to repeat the whole process, performing the same manipulations in the custom Recovery. The only difference is that the firmware file itself can now be placed not only on an external memory card, but also in the internal memory of the gadget. This will add convenience to the user if the flash card is missing. Then you will have to select the "Apply update internal storage" item. It is also worth noting that in TWRP and CWM Recovery, the "Wipe data / factory reset" item has been replaced with two separate items "Wipe cache" and "Wipe data". After you manage to install Android through "Recovery", you will need to select "Wipe Dalvik cache" in the modified TeamWin or ClockWorkMod menu. This will significantly increase the chances of successfully shutting down the device with the new OS.

How do I restore the stock firmware?

If the user does not like the new custom firmware, there is always the opportunity to return everything to its place. Many people today are interested in the question: how to restore Android through "Recovery", namely through the stock version? The answer is hidden in the paragraph discussed above. Putting everything back in its place happens in the same way as performing the initial changes. All that needs to be done is to download the firmware from the manufacturer to the internal memory or flash card, and then select the appropriate item in the "Recovery" menu and execute full reset settings. In principle, this is not difficult.

In fact, there is nothing complicated about the firmware of a smartphone based on the Android operating system. But in the event that you are not confident in your own abilities, then it is better not to mess with these processes. If, nevertheless, something does not work out, then you can always restore the device firmware using the corresponding menu item. The main thing is to make a backup before flashing Android through Recovery. To do this, you need a custom Recovery and a little patience. The firmware recovery process takes a long time. If something does not work out, you can always turn to specialists for help.

The Android operating system is very stable, but in some cases, problems may arise with it. They are usually associated with the operation of the current firmware. There are many ways to reflash; in the presented article, we will look at how to flash Android via Recovery.

There are several main ways to enter this mode:

How to get ROOT rights: Video

Firmware with ROOT access

Let's take a look at how to install the firmware through it. First of all, you need to find and download the new firmware version as an archive.

The gadget will reboot and 8 items will appear in front of the user. Each of them is responsible for a specific operation. For example, if you go to "Wipe / Factory reset"- the system will be reset to factory settings (in some cases, simply by activating this item, you can avoid the need to change the firmware when the device does not work correctly). "Install" allows you to install files when it is impossible to do it from the shell itself.

For the firmware, go to the "Install" section (it is located in the left extreme corner), select the location where the firmware was downloaded, and start the process.

After a while, the system will inform about successful completion, then you need to exit the "Install" mode and select the "Reboot" mode. There, click on the item "System": if the entire operation was carried out correctly, the device will boot successfully.

Re-flashing Recovery Mode

Now let's consider the question of how to flash Recovery on Android. To do this, you need to install the so-called CWM Recovery. The easiest way to do this is using a special utility that can be found in the same Google Play store at this link. In this case, you will also need superuser rights. After launching the program, you just need to follow its instructions by clicking "Next". If CWM Recovery is already installed in the system, then the utility will simply ask you to select the appropriate item, which performs an action related to the firmware or reset to factory settings.

Any device with Android OS starts up in Recovery mode. This is a standard feature. However, with the factory version, you can accomplish too narrow a range of tasks. So, this is resetting the phone to its initial settings, clearing the cache, and also updating the system from the update.zip file. Obviously, users who are expanding their IT knowledge are quite unhappy with such a meager list. This is where specially designed Recovery Modes come to the rescue. CWM Recovery is a popular tool among Android users and a worthy replacement for the factory ones.

Why do I need CWM Recovery mode

Clockworkmod Recovery (CWM) is a well-known alternative to factory recovery mode developed by Koushik Dutta. It can be installed on most Android devices. CWM Recovery helps even in situations that sometimes seem hopeless to an ordinary owner. That is why it is necessary to know about its existence, as well as be able to use it.

CWM mode has many options

What exactly does the utility do:

  1. Installs unofficial custom firmwares and kernels.
  2. Installs factory system updates, add-ons and OS patches.
  3. Connects to a computer via USB in removable storage mode and to work with the ADB program.
  4. Creates a full backup of the current firmware and its individual parts (system, settings, applications).
  5. Recovers a device from a previously created one backup.
  6. Resets the settings to factory settings (Wipe - data / factory reset), clears the cache (wipe cache), clears the dalvik cache (wipe Dalvik-cache), clears the battery statistics (wipe battery stats).
  7. Creates partitions on the memory card and formats them.

CWM: installation instructions

ClockworkMod is sewn into the internal memory of the device in place of the factory mode. In some cases, the work is carried out on the gadget itself with access to Root-right, and in others - on the PC.

The article covers basic methods like Rom Manager, FastBoot, Rashr and Odin. For many devices, the companies themselves release separate utilities, for example, Acer Recovery Installer for Acer devices. CWM is embedded in the device memory on these devices also through the ADB software, which is suitable for devices with the manufacturer HTC.

Rom Manager: Root-rights and stitching

Rom Manager is a utility created by the CWM developers. It is available for download on the Google Play Market. Allows you to install CWM Recovery on the device itself without using a computer and USB cable. Before using it, you must root the device, that is, obtain administrator rights.

Getting Root rights

The procedure is simple and easy to carry out using special software. Take the Framaroot program as an example. Everyone can cope with its simple and intuitive interface even without instructions.

Launching Rom Manager

Now is the time to use the program:

Video: how to flash Recovery with Rom Manager

Although the method is easy, there is a drawback in it: it is not suitable for all devices, as mentioned earlier. Before you start using this method, it will be logical to first determine that this program is compatible with the gadget. The list is available on the official Rom Manager website.

FastBoot Mode: The Complex Method

The method of installing CWM using FastBoot will require some skill from the user, since it is much more complicated than the previous one. It runs not on a device, but on a computer. It is recommended to use it only if you already have the skills to work in such operations. Before the installation itself, you need to download certain files to your computer or laptop. This list also includes the Android SDK platform available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Preparatory stage

What you need to have before installing CWM using FastBoot mode:

  1. Windows PC and USB cable to connect the device to the PC.
  2. USB drivers to correctly identify the device. They can be downloaded from the official website of the manufacturer.
  3. Android SDK platform.
  4. Recovery.

The Android SDK utility will help you install the required Android SDK Tools and Android SDK Platform tools:

What else needs to be done before starting the firmware itself? Based on the list above, you need a recovery-clockwork.img file. This is one of the key tools for further work. It won't be difficult to download it, but it doesn't end there. It is important to place this file in the platform-tools folder. For further convenience in the firmware, you must rename it to recovery.img.


Place the file in the platform-tools folder

Get down to business!

Now everything is ready for the CWM firmware itself, so you can safely get down to work. Below is the action in which it is quite difficult to get lost.

The level of difficulty, as you can see, is high, therefore, before the procedure, it is strongly recommended to check that this method is suitable for the device, since it may not work in all gadgets. In practice, this method is good if the manufacturer of the device is HTC.

Rashr app

The installation method using Rashr is convenient and easy to implement, it is recommended for beginners. However, ironically, it also requires administrator rights. You can get them in a few steps. was given earlier in the section on Rom Manager.

How to work with Rashr

First, you need to download the application itself. It is available free of charge at Play Market(Rashr - Flash Tool). You can also view the program on a third-party website, but you need to beware of suspicious web pages in order not to catch a virus.

When the program is already in the phone, you need to open it and grant it, upon request, the previously obtained Root rights. Then everything is simple:

Video: CWM and Rashr

Odin: the solution for Samsung

The previous three methods are suitable for different device models. The same method is effective for Samsung devices. This is a proprietary utility, so it cannot be used for devices of other manufacturers. There are many versions of this application. The last one is Odin 3.09.

Here, the standard factory version of Recovery is changed to a modified one using a PC, as with FastBoot:

How to enable CWM Recovery after flashing

After CWM has been set using one of the above methods, you need to check if it works. You can launch ClockworkMod Recovery:

  • using the ROM Manager program, by selecting the section "Download Recovery Mode" on its home page;
  • by simultaneously pressing the keys after turning off the device. The combinations may differ depending on the model and company of the device manufacturer. In most cases, these are the volume down and power on buttons;
  • using the ADB program via the adb reboot recovery button.

Possible difficulties

During the installation of an alternative Recovery Mode, in particular, CWM, various difficulties and errors may arise. Which ones are the most common and how to solve them?

CWM Recovery does not recognize the memory card

CWM makes it possible to update the phone using the archive. When opening Recovery, the user sees a message that the flash card cannot be mounted. After installing another card, even with less memory, the problem disappears. The reason lies in the Windows system itself. The point is that it is at odds with the card formatting standards. For formatting to be performed in accordance with the specification of SD / SDHC / SDXC flash cards, and not only in the standard form, it is recommended to use specialized software, for example, SD Formatter.

SD Formatter allows you to properly format your SD card

CWM does not see the internal memory of the device: solution to the problem

When the files to be restored are located on the internal memory, and therefore can only be restored from there, a problem can arise. When you connect the USB cable to your PC and enable USB Debugging, the program reports that the Android device is not detected and you need to enable USB Debugging.

To solve this problem:

  1. Connect the device as a camera, not a drive. If there are more options available, select them.
  2. Install generic drivers.
  3. Find a more suitable Recovery program for your device.

Recovery menu not working

If, when starting the alternative recovery mode (volume button + Home or power), a picture appears with a lying robot, then the recovery was stitched, but when the device was restarted, it was overwritten by the stock Recovery.

The problem is solved as follows.

  1. Before flashing the Odin3 program, you need to remove the Auto restart checkbox and disconnect the cable after flashing. From the Download mode on the device, go to the recovery mode by holding down the volume up + home screen + power keys in sequence, and hold them until the recovery menu appears. So you should get into the custom recovery menu anyway.
  2. In it, select Reboot system now and then mark Yes. This action will overwrite the stock recovery with the custom one and the "No Command" error will be fixed.
Many users of modern gadgets of well-known brands are tormented over this issue: starting from the top Samsung devices or Sony, ending with the popular Xiaomi and Meizu.

Possible solutions to problems

"Recovery": what is it and what it is eaten with

Many users give up immediately and rush to contact. However, any experienced user knows that this is not necessary. After all, you can save a decent amount of money and nerves by following just a few simple steps given in this manual. "Recovery" is a special software, which is available in smartphones based on the Android operating system. It is like a BIOS on a regular personal computer. That is, with the help of "Recovery" you can completely reset your smartphone to factory settings. Also here you can carry out device firmware or install operating system updates. When buying, the user most often receives a device with a factory menu "Recovery". It is a little limited in functionality and does not provide an opportunity to successfully flash the operating system. If we talk about the "custom" "Recovery", then it allows you to more fully interact with the phone system. Thus, you can make backup copies of firmware and restore them, as well as carry out a deeper and more complete reset of the device.

"Recovery": how to enter

To flash the device through the "Recovery" menu, you need to get into this very menu. This can be done quite simply, especially considering that many devices use the same input combination. So, in the event that the smartphone has a Home button or a physical center button, then on the switched on gadget, simultaneously press the Volume + and Home buttons. After that, without releasing these buttons, you need to press the power button. The device should turn on in the correct mode. In the event that the user has a more modern device without a physical "Home" button, it will be necessary to repeat the process described above, but only when using the "Volume +" buttons and the power button. If the desired result is not achieved, it is recommended to refer to the extended list of ways to enter the "Recovery" menu for devices from different manufacturers.

What else is needed?

To understand how you can reflash an Android device, you must first download the firmware for your device. Firmware files are often hidden from the general view in order to preserve the manufacturer's data and security. It is for this reason that ordinary users create backups of their operating systems and form from them databases of stock firmware, links to which can be found on special sites. It is the firmware file itself, which is in the archive with the * .zip extension, and will be needed in order to learn about restoring "Android" through "Recovery". Sometimes there are times when the old firmware bothers users and they want something new. It is for this reason that there are always craftsmen who develop custom firmware, adding something new from them or, on the contrary, "cutting out" unnecessary ones. In this case, you will not be able to use the standard "Recovery". This is where custom CWM Recovery or TWRP comes to the rescue.

How to install CWM Recovery or TWRP

It is not necessary to install "Recovery" on Android using a personal computer. Most often, it is easier to use stock. All you need to do for this is to download the required file, which is in the archive with the * zip extension and move it to the external flash card of the smartphone. After that, you need to go to the stock "Recovery" and select the item "Apply update external storage" there. In the list that opens, select the same file with the custom "Recovery". When the selection is confirmed, the installation process begins. After it, the device will offer to reboot. The process will be completed.

How to flash Android through "Recovery"

Let's go directly to the process of installing the firmware. I would like to note that all unofficial files of the Android OS, created directly by users, are installed only at your own risk. If the decision to install non-native software is nevertheless made, you need to make sure that the firmware was written specifically for the smartphone model that you plan to reflash. If we are talking about stock firmware, then it is better not to bother installing CWM Recovery or TWRP. All the manipulations that should be done are limited only to downloading the factory file and moving it to an external memory card. The process after that will be similar to installing a custom "Recovery". You need to go to the "Recovery" stock menu and select "Apply update from external storage" in it. Then you need to specify the firmware file and confirm the action. When the process is complete, you will need to perform one more step, which will avoid "glitches" and freezes when turning on and working the smartphone. Immediately after the firmware is installed, you must select the "Wipe data / factory reset" item in the menu and confirm the operation. Thus, you can clear information about the previous software, as well as about those files that were on the device before the firmware process. When all these actions are completed, you will need to select the "Reboot system now" menu item. The device will reboot and the smartphone setup process will start from scratch. In the event that the start-up process is delayed and the device logo "freezes", it will be necessary to remember whether the reset item was performed after the flashing.

Custom Android versions

How to flash Android through Recovery? It remains only to figure out what to do with the versions of operating systems that were written directly by device users. The answer to this question is quite simple: you need to repeat the whole process, performing the same manipulations in the custom Recovery. The only difference is that the firmware file itself can now be placed not only on an external memory card, but also in the internal memory of the gadget. This will add convenience to the user if the flash card is missing. Then you will have to select the "Apply update internal storage" item. It is also worth noting that in TWRP and CWM Recovery, the "Wipe data / factory reset" item has been replaced with two separate items "Wipe cache" and "Wipe data". After you manage to install Android through "Recovery", you will need to select "Wipe Dalvik cache" in the modified TeamWin or ClockWorkMod menu. This will significantly increase the chances of successfully shutting down the device with the new OS.

How do I restore the stock firmware?

If the user does not like the new custom firmware, there is always the opportunity to return everything to its place. Many people today are interested in the question: how to restore Android through "Recovery", namely through the stock version? The answer is hidden in the paragraph discussed above. Putting everything back in its place happens in the same way as performing the initial changes. All that needs to be done is to download the firmware from the manufacturer to the internal memory or flash card, and then select the appropriate item in the "Recovery" menu and perform a full reset. In principle, this is not difficult.

In fact, there is nothing complicated about the firmware of a smartphone based on the Android operating system. But in the event that you are not confident in your own abilities, then it is better not to mess with these processes. If, nevertheless, something does not work out, then you can always restore the device firmware using the corresponding menu item. The main thing is to make a backup before flashing Android through Recovery. To do this, you need a custom Recovery and a little patience. The firmware recovery process takes a long time. If something does not work out, you can always turn to specialists for help.

If, after flashing the Android operating system, there are problems in the operation of the device, you need to understand the situation and find the reasons. Very often users, due to their inexperience, use pirated firmware, which does not allow for high-quality firmware. In this case, you are left for a long time without a reliable assistant - your smartphone or tablet.

Many users who have already encountered the problem of low-quality Android firmware have tried the method of flashing the Android OS via recovery. This method of flashing assumes that you first install a special program on your mobile device, which acts as a bootloader. Recovery is activated by clicking until a certain key combination is loaded (power button + volume button).

If the user has chosen this method, he must find out. Regardless of the device, it comes with its own factory recovery. It can be started after turning on the device. Also, the factory program is able to install and configure the system update from update. zip, and clean up the entire system.

To flash the phone through recovery, you need to find and download the ClockworkMod Recovery program (installed in the internal memory of the device, in place of the factory version). It is intended: for flashing Android and the kernel, creating backups for system recovery, for other system updates. This utility is significantly different from the factory counterpart.

If the user is interested in how to flash an android through the recovery menu, this issue needs to be considered. Custom Recovery Menu is a special application that has a package of popular utilities. After installing the application on the device, it will be overwritten instead of the old version of such an application.

The Custom Recovery Menu is necessary for the user who is planning a very frequent flashing of the device.

Android firmware via Custom Recovery Menu is very simple. It can be done using a PC or laptop. To do this, you need to go to the activation of the program and select the appropriate firmware items.

Entering the recovery mode.

Turn on the phone (Power button);

After 2 sec. press the volume button in both directions at the same time;

After another 2 s. release the power button;

We carry out the Wipe process (Wipe data / factory reset);

After the process, Data wipe complete appears;

We reboot the device and go back to the recovery;

Select One Of The Items (install zip from sdcard, choose zip from internal sdcard). It depends on where the firmware is located;

If everything is entered correctly, the firmware starts.

At the end of the phone flashing process, you need to reboot the device and start using it.

By default, all Android devices have a recovery mode called Recovery. It can be used to roll back the operating system to standard settings, install official add-ons and fixes. If this is not enough for you and you want to install third-party firmware, kernels and utilities on your device, then the factory recovery needs to be replaced with a custom one.

Custom recovery: what to choose

The most popular custom recoveries for Android are Clockworkmod Recovery (CMD) and TeamWin Recovery (TWRP). The main difference between one program and another is the presence of touch control in the latter. As for the functionality, the software offers approximately the same list of options:

  1. Installation of unofficial patches, firmware;
  2. Connecting the device to a PC in ADB mode and instead of a removable drive;
  3. Formatting, creating, merging partitions in the internal memory of the device;
  4. Clearing the software cache and battery summary;
  5. Making backup copies of the system.

Having studied the methods below, you can easily install custom recovery on Android. You need to get Root rights before carrying out work.

TWRP installation methods

You can install TWRP recovery using a special software developer utility (TWRP Manager), third-party software designed for flashing recovery, and Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

Installing TWRP using TWRP Manager

Your first step is to download TWRP Manager from the Play Store and install the application on your device. The utility must be opened to give rights to Root access. Then:

  1. in the menu that appears on the left, select "install twrp";
  2. a window will appear in front of you where you need to select the device and the version of the recovery that you want to install;
  3. after selecting all settings, click “install recovery”;
  4. program in automatic mode downloads the recovery and install it;
  5. if you want to install a specific version of recovery that you downloaded in advance, then you need to save recovery.img and select it through the "select img file" item.

ADB as a way to flash recovery

This solution with reinstalling the recovery is suitable for advanced PC users. To carry out the manipulations, you will need an Android device, a computer and a USB adapter. First you will need to install the Android SDK with all packages along with the Google USB Driver. Thereafter:

  1. save the TWRP version supported by your smartphone to your computer Recovery.img;
  2. rename the recovery file to twrp.img, save it to the root memory of your device.

Connect your device to your computer using USB. Start the command prompt of the PC operating system (cmd in Windows). Write the following lines in it:

  1. cd C: \ android-sdk-windows \ platform-tools \ adb;
  2. su
    dd if = / sdcard / twrp.img of = / dev / block / mmcblk0p34.

Then restart your device.

CMD installation methods

You can install CMD using Rom Manager, FastBoot mode or third-party utilities for firmware recovery.

Installing CMD using Rom Manager

  1. Download Rom Manager from the Play Store and install it on your device. Do not forget to give her Root access rights.
  2. After starting the program, a window will appear, including several sub-items. You will need to go to the "Recovery Setup" tab.
  3. A new window will appear. There select CMD. After that, you will need to select the device model on which the recovery will be installed.
  4. After that, another window will appear where you must confirm your actions.

Rom Manager will download the files for installing the recovery, ask for Root-rights, if you did not provide them by default. After that, she will start installing the software. Once everything is finished, you can check the CMD installation by going from the main menu to the "Reboot into Recovery" tab.

CMD installations in FastBoot mode

To reflash a device with Android in this way, you will again need to download the Android SDK, USB drivers for your smartphone / tablet. Save the recovery file from the CMD website, rename it to update.img, save it to the platform-tools folder located in the installed Android SDK directory. Then activate USB debugging mode on your Android device.

Run Command Prompt and enter the following commands:

If everything goes well, a corresponding notification will appear on the command line.

Installing CMD and TWRP via Flashify

As we mentioned earlier, they install custom recovery for Android. third party utilities... One of them is Flashify. A distinctive feature of the program is compatibility with many models of smartphones and tablets. You need to install software on the device and allow it to use Root rights.

  1. From the main screen of the running application, select "Recovery Image".
  2. A window will appear in front of you with the choice of the version of the recovery and the choice of the device model (if you have not downloaded the program in advance).
  3. After the desired version of the recovery is saved in the device's memory, click on "YUP!".
  4. Flashify will install the program, automatically reboot the device.

Any Android phone has a built-in Recovery menu. You can enter it by pressing the power and volume up buttons on the switched off phone at the same time (on some device models, other combinations are used). However, the standard menu usually has not very rich functionality, allowing you to only backup and restore the system, reset to factory settings and a couple of other operations. In view of such limitations, many users, especially advanced ones, look towards the so-called custom Recovery, which have an expanded set of functions and a much more pleasant interface. One of the most popular modified recovery menus is TWRP Recovery (Team Win Recovery Project). We will talk about how to install it in this article.

Installing TWRP via ADB and Fastboot

To begin with, here's the most common installation method - using a computer and the Fastboot console application. This method is not required, but the Bootloader must be unlocked on the phone. You can read about what it is and how to unlock on Huawei devices in.

So, we will assume that the bootloader is unlocked, and you can proceed to the procedure itself. First you need to. After this is done, via the USB cable and enable USB debugging on the mobile device ( Settings - For Developers - USB Debugging).

Next, launch Command Prompt and navigate to the location of the ADB and Fastboot files by entering the command cd Path_to_folder_c_ADB(in our case cd C: \ sdk-tools-windows-3859397 \ platform-tools). Check with the command adb devices visibility of the mobile device. If your phone is displayed in the console, then everything is in order and you can proceed to the next step.

Now you need to download the TWRP Recovery image file specifically for your device. Go to the page https://twrp.me/Devices/ and select your phone model from the list.

On the next page we find the item "Download Links" and click on the Primary link.

We save the file in the same folder where adb and fastboot are located (we have this C: \ sdk-tools-windows-3859397 \ platform-tools).

After downloading, for convenience, rename the file to "twrp.img".

If your gadget model is not on the twrp.me website, then the required TWRP Recovery image should be searched on the XDA Developers forum ( https://forum.xda-developers.com/). Here you can also find out about all the nuances related to a particular brand of a mobile device.

Now everything is ready to directly install the custom TWRP Recovery. It is produced by the team fastboot flash recovery twrp.img where twrp.img new Recovery file. If everything went well, a message will appear as in the screenshot below.

You can reboot the phone in normal mode with the command fastboot reboot.

Entering the TWRP Recovery environment is the same as entering the factory menu. Turn off the device, and then use a combination of buttons to turn on + increase the volume (or another combination, depending on the model and manufacturer). TWRP Recovery for Android looks like the picture below.

Using the Official TWRP App

If you failed to install TWRP Recovery through a computer, or if this method seemed too complicated for you, nothing prevents you from using the official program from the TWRP developers. True, in this case, you will definitely need Superuser rights. Download the application from, and then launch it, granting root rights at the first start.

We confirm the transition to the official TWRP website, from which we download the Recovery file.

After the download is complete, click on "Select a file to flash .." and select the saved image img.

Click on the "Flash to recovery" button to start the installation.

Upon successful completion, the message “Flash Completed Successfully!” Appears.

Third-party programs for installing TWRP Recovery

You can replace the standard Android recovery environment with a modified TWRP Recovery using a number of other applications. Each of them only works with root rights. Let's list the most popular programs.

TWRP Manager

The sequence of actions in all applications is almost the same. First, the phone / tablet model is selected, and then the TWRP Recovery version. After downloading the file, the custom menu is installed. To check the functionality, the gadget is rebooted in recovery mode.

In conclusion, I would like to say that installing TWRP instead of the regular Recovery is fraught with certain risks. To minimize them, the installation file must be selected strictly according to the device model. If your gadget is not in the list, or you are not sure of the correct selection of the img image, then it is better to completely abandon the procedure for replacing the recovery menu. Otherwise, you risk getting an inoperative device.

Good day everyone, today we will talk about an alternative recovery for your android device. Everyone knows that every smartphone has its own recovery, but it is very limited in functionality (installing updates and resetting settings). And then we will analyze ClockworkMod Recovery (alternative recovery), we will start strict why this is necessary and finish with instructions for flashing the smartphone.

Alternative recovery ClockworkMod

ClockworkMod Recovery- this is a much more powerful, compared to the factory, system recovery utility (menu), which allows you to make full backups of the entire device system, install software, firmware, kernels and much more on it, which usually does not allow factory recovery. ClockworkMod, is installed in a special system partition of the internal memory of a tablet or phone, in place of the factory recovery menu. Closest competitor ClockworkMod Recoveryis an TWRP Recovery.

ClockworkMod Recovery can help you out in some seemingly hopeless situations. Even if your tablet or phone cannot boot, in many cases, using CWM, you can restore the system with all its settings and applications. Download ClockworkMod Recovery can be found on the w3bsit3-dns.com website for your specific phone model.

Here is a rough list of what you can do with ClockworkMod Recovery:

  • Install custom firmware and unofficial kernels
  • Install factory system updates, add-ons and fixes
  • Connect to a computer via USB in removable storage mode
  • Connect to a computer via USB to work with the ADB program
  • Create a full backup of the current firmware and its individual parts (system, settings, applications)
  • Recover a device from a previously created backup
  • Reset to factory settings (Wipe - data / factory reset), clear cache (wipe cache), clear dalvik-cache (wipe Dalvik-cache), clear battery statistics (wipe battery stats)
  • Create partitions on the memory card and format themClockworkMod Recovery was created by the developer Koushik Dutta (also known as Koush) and there are CWM versions for most Android phones and tablets.

Installing ClockworkMod Recovery

For many smartphones and some tablets, installing ClockworkMod Recovery is a very simple procedure, you just need to install the ROM Manager program from the Market and the first item in its menu will be the ClockworkMod installation item. For other devices, there may be separate utilities similar to the application Acer RecoveryInstaller for the Acer Iconia Tab tablet, or ClockworkMod Recovery is installed on them using the adb program.

Launching ClockworkMod Recovery

There are several ways to load your tablet or phone into ClockworkMod Recovery.

1. With the help of the ROM Manager program, selecting the item "Load Recovery Mode" in its menu.

2. By pressing a certain key combination when turning on the device. This combination depends on the device model. On many devices, you can get into recovery by pressing the volume down and power on buttons at the same time when they are turned on.

3. Via ADB programs... If you configured a connection to a computer using the ADB program, you can load your tablet into recovery using the command: adb reboot recovery

Purpose of ClockworkMod Recovery menu items

After loading your tablet into ClockworkMod Recovery, you will first of all see its main menu:On most devices, you can usually navigate through the menu items using the volume buttons. The power button selects the desired menu item. Some devices may use other buttons, for example, to return to the previous menu.In all submenus, you can return to the previous menu by selecting +++++ Go Back +++++

The purpose of the main menu items:

2 .apply update.zip from sdcard - this is one of the most frequently used items of ClockworkMod Recovery.

With its help, you can install both official and unofficial (custom) firmware, install kernels, themes and other software, which should be in the update.zip file, which you must place in the root of the memory card (in file manager Android device is / sdcard folder).
After selecting this item, you will be taken to the next menu, where you must confirm your choice by going to Yes - Install /sdcard/update.zip

3. wipe data / factory reset - full reset of settings, data and cache. After that, your phone or tablet will return to the state in which it was sold in the store. ClockworkMod will clear the / data and / cache partitions in the device's internal memory. It will also delete everything from the system folder ".android_secure" on the memory card and the sd-ext partition.

4. wipe cache partition - clearing the / cache partition in internal memory. All temporary data accumulated by the system and programs will be cleared. This item is usually used before installing a new firmware or kernel.

5. install zip from sdcard - installation of a zip file from a memory card. After selecting this item, you will be taken to the following submenu:

  • apply /sdcard/update.zip - this item is completely similar to item 2 of the main menu "apply update.zip from sdcard"
  • chooze zip from sdcard - select the .zip file on the memory card for installation.

This item is also similar to item 2 and is also used to install firmware, kernels and other mods. Its only difference is that the installation can be done from any zip file with any name, located anywhere on the memory card. After you select this item, a list of files and folders on your memory card will open, from which you need to select a .zip file to install.

  • toggle signature veritification - on / off file signature verification.

If you enable Signature check: Enabled, you will not be able to install alternative firmware that has not been signed by the developer. Most of the custom firmwares are not signed by the developers.

  • toggle script assert - on / off script approval.

This item is intended for internal use in CWM, and you will never need it, so it's best not to touch it.

  • +++++ Go Back +++++ - this item, as already mentioned, is used to return to the previous ClockworkMod menu

6.backup and restore - creation and restoration of backups. Another of the most important points of ClockworkMod. With it, you can make a complete copy of the entire tablet system, along with the data and applications available in its internal memory - the so-called Nandroid backup, or a snapshot of the system, and then, if necessary, return the tablet to this state. This menu looks like this:

Its points mean the following:

  • Backup - creating a backup copy of all partitions in the internal memory of the device.

The backup will be saved on the memory card. By default, the name of the backup contains the time and date of its creation. You can rename the backup. The name must consist of Latin letters and numbers and not contain spaces

  • Restore - restoring all partitions from the selected backup.

By selecting this item, you will see a list of backups available on the memory card and you can select the copy you need to restore from it.

  • Advanced restore - restoring a specific partition from a selected backup.

You can select the individual partition that you want to restore from the backup - boot, system, data, cache or sd-ext partition as shown in the screenshot:

7. mounts and storage - mounting individual partitions, formatting them and mounting the device as a USB drive when connected to a computer (mounting makes partitions or folders available for use).

Items in this menu mean the following:

  • mount / system- mounting the system partition
  • unmount / data - unmounting the data partition
  • unmount / cache - unmounting the cache partition
  • mount / sdcard - mounting a memory card
  • mount / sd-ext - mounting a Linux ext partition on a memory card (if any)
  • format boot, format system, format data, format cache - formatting the relevant sections.

Attention! Be careful with these menu items. For example, formatting the system partition will destroy your operating system (current firmware). After formatting the boot partition, you will not be able to boot your device and it will turn into a brick.

  • format sdcard- formatting the memory card
  • format sd-ext - formatting a Linux partition on a memory card
  • mount USB storage - connecting a tablet or phone to a computer in removable storage mode

8.advanced - additional functions of ClockworkMod.

This menu consists of the following items:

  • Wipe Dalvik Cache - clearing the cache of the Dalvik virtual Java machine, which is used to run applications. This menu item is usually used before installing a new firmware, especially an unofficial one.
  • Wipe Battery Stat - reset battery statistics. It is considered that this item should be used in the event that the system battery level indicator shows incorrect values. However, Google, the developer of the Android system, claims that this should not affect the correctness of the indicator readings.
  • Report Error- report a bug. You can report a ClockworkMod recovery bug to its developer. The error log will be written to the memory card, and you can send it to the developer using the ROM Manager program.
  • Key Test - checking the functionality of the device buttons, when you press the button, it issues its code
  • Restart adb - reboot ADB server. This item helps when the device stops responding to commands from the ADB program when it is connected via a USB cable
  • Partition SD Card - creating partitions on the memory card. This item is used to create / sd-ext and / swap partitions on the memory card. The / sd-ext partition can be used by some firmware when there is not enough internal memory of the device, for example, to expand the / data partition. The / swap partition is usually used to speed up Android work devices.
  • Fix Permissions - Fix file and section permissions. This item is used to restore the access rights to the system files and folders that can be changed by the incorrect operation of some root applications, which can lead to freezes and malfunctions of the tablet or phone.

Backing up and restoring your device with ClockworkMod

As you already know, with ClockworkMod you can create a complete backup of the firmware of your tablet or phone (Nandroid). CWM takes snapshots of all partitions in the internal memory of the device and the ".androidsecure" folder located on the device's memory card. A snapshot is taken not only of the operating system, with all its settings, but also of the installed applications.

Making a backup (Nandroid Backup):

  • Open the item "backup & restore"
  • Choose "backup"
  • We confirm the choice by going to the item "Yes"

A file with a full backup will appear on your memory card, located in the clockworkmod / backup folder. The file name consists of the date and time the copy was made, but you can rename it. Do not use Russian characters and spaces in the file name.

Restoring a device from a backup using ClockworkMod:

  • Reboot the device to CWM recovery
  • Open the item "Backup & restore"
  • Choose "restore"
  • Select the required backup from the list.

Note: Individual applications from the ClockworkMod Recovery backup, SMS and WiFi settings, without touching the current firmware, can be restored using the application AppExtractor. The program can also extract applications from a backup copy Titanium Backup.

Installing firmware, updates, kernels and more on an Android device using ClockworkMod

  • All alternative firmware, custom kernels, crackers, add-ons, decorations, application packages that can be installed on a tablet or phone using ClockWorkMod recovery are packed as a zip file.
  • Before installing anything on your device, do not forget to make a full backup of the current firmware, so that later you can painlessly return your tablet or phone to its original state.
  • Make sure your device's battery is fully charged and disconnect it from your computer and charger.
  • Copy the file you want to flash to the memory card, best of all to its root, WITHOUT UNPACKING IT. Make sure that the file name consists only of Latin letters and numbers and does not contain spaces or special characters.
  • If you install new firmware, be sure to do complete cleaning using the item "wipe data / factory reset"

Getting started with the firmware:

  • Insert the memory card into the device
  • Reboot the device to ClockWorkMod recovery
  • We select the item "install zip from sdcard".
  • Open the "choose zip from sdcard" item.
  • In the window that opens, we find our file, it will be at the bottom, after the list of folders (if they are on the memory card)
  • We confirm the choice by going to the "Yes" item.
  • After the end of the firmware, we return to the previous menu using the item "+++++ Go Back +++++"
  • After flashing any zip files it is highly recommended to do cache and dalvik cache cleanup.

20.04.2016

Now almost everyone has a smartphone, and when it comes to mobile devices on operating system Android, many of their owners express a desire to become more advanced users. In this case, the owner of the smartphone, sooner or later, but will certainly face the need to install a third-party recovery), after which he will be able to perform many operations with his device that were previously inaccessible.

By installing third-party (custom) recovery on the mobile device, you can create backup copies of data, install updates and all kinds of add-ons, install third-party firmware ( ROM). Below we will talk about that, and directly from your smartphone. As an example, we use the most popular recovery - this is (CWM) .

Note: every mobile device running an operating systemAndroid, has its own recovery mode, which is called "". The problem is that recovery in its standard interpretation has rather narrow possibilities. All that can be done with a smartphone using the standard recovery mode is its factory reset and installing system updates.

Standard recovery, available in the Android smartphone by default, does not suit advanced users with its capabilities. It is for this reason that most of them resort to installing alternative from third party developers. This is not surprising, because the advanced recovery mode has many more functions and capabilities in its arsenal.

As mentioned above, among all existing third-party recovery the most popular is Clockwordmod... However, before proceeding with its installation on an android smartphone, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the possibilities that it recovery provides:

  • Installation of unofficial firmware (ROM) on a mobile device;
  • Installing official and unofficial system updates;
  • Installing all kinds of add-ons and fixes (fixes);
  • Connecting a smartphone to a computer via USB as a removable media;
  • Creation of a backup copy of the entire firmware in whole or of its individual parts;
  • Data recovery from previously created backups;
  • Connecting a smartphone to a computer via USB in ADB mode;
  • Clearing data, cache of a mobile device, deleting applications (including system ones);
  • Resetting a mobile device to its original state (out of the box);
  • Clearing battery statistics;
  • Formatting a memory card, creating partitions on it;
  • Memory substitution.

Agree, these features are amazing, and for the sake of this it is clearly worth installing a third-party (alternative) recovery to your android smartphone, especially since the list above contains only the most demanded features, but not all.

There are several installation methods, and the choice of the appropriate one is determined by the model (manufacturer) of the mobile device. In this article, we will consider two of them.

Method one- more simple, so to cope with the task installation of alternative recovery this way even inexperienced users of android smartphones will be able to. In addition, this particular method installations suitable for the most popular mobile devices.

Method two- more sophisticated, suitable for advanced users, and more importantly, covers a much wider range of mobile devices.

Installationvia appRom Manager

This method recovery installations is to use a special application that simplifies the firmware procedure. It is noteworthy that the authors of this utility are themselves developersCWM.

You can download and install this application in Play Market by going to this link... to use Rom Manager on your smartphone, you should have superuser rights... You can read how to get them in .

By installing and running Rom Manager, you will see a window on the screen of your mobile device, which is divided into several sections. At this stage, we are interested in the section “ Mode».

Select " Setup", And then go to the" "section.

Next, you must confirm the model of your smartphone by tapping on its name in the list. Now you need to confirm your intentions, after which the download of the files necessary for recovery installations... The corresponding line with the loading scale will appear on the screen of your smartphone.

When the download is over, the application will ask you to provide it superuser rights, then CWM will be installed on your mobile device.

Checking if everything worked out for you is quite simple: go to the home screen Rom Manager, whence it is possible reboot into recovery by selecting the appropriate section “ Load mode».

We are done with the first method, you installed recovery on an android smartphone viaRom Manager, and now we will tell you about how to install recovery on android via computer.

Installation using the modeFastBoot

The method that will be described below is more complex and in order to use it, you must have a good level of computer knowledge.

Important: installation via computer thus it is recommended for advanced users who do not need to describe in detail each action and explain it in detail.

You will need: computer running Windows, originalUSB-cable to connect a smartphone, and official drivers, which are necessary for the correct identification and operation of your mobile device from a PC. You can download drivers for your smartphone using one of these links:

Now you need to install the platform on your PC Android SDK which can be downloaded by this link.

After installing the utility, you can use it to install additional packages required for the correct operation of this tool.

The final stage of preparation for installation is directly downloading the file itself recovery, Which you can "take" from the official site of this project.

After downloading the file, rename it to “ update. img"And move it to a folder named" platformtool"Located in the directory with your installed Android SDK.

Having installed and configured all the necessary software, having downloaded all the necessary files, you can go directly to installing recovery on android via computer.

  1. In the settings of your smartphone, enable the “ Debugging byUSB", For which you need to open the" Developer Mode».

Once done, connect your mobile device to your PC.

  1. Press the key combination on your computer keyboard Win+ R and enter the command cmd and press " OK».

The command line will appear in front of you:

In the line with the directory address, you must specify the path to the folder " platformtool". To do this, enter the appropriate command, for example:

C: \ Users \ name user \ AppData \ Local \ Android \ android-sdk \ platform-tools

  1. Enter in command line adb devices after making sure that the computer saw your android smartphone and correctly identified it.
  1. Now enter adb reboot devices, wait for the phone to reboot and enter bootloader mode ().

  1. Next, you need to check if there is a connection between your PC and your mobile device, for which you need to enter the command fastboot devices.

The next step is to enter the most important command: fastboot flash update. img.

If you did everything right and the process recovery installations successful on your smartphone, you will see a corresponding notification.

To enter the recovery, you must simultaneously hold down the device while the device is turned off. power button and volume up key... By holding them down and waiting for them to turn on, you will enter the mode.

Actually, that's all, now you know how to install recovery on android via computer... However, it should be understood that this method, although it supports a large number of mobile device models, is by no means all.

Warning from CompDude : it is important to understand that installing third-party recovery, like the firmware of the phone, like any other complex manipulations with the smartphone, can lead to unpleasant consequences. In the worst case, your mobile device can turn into a "brick", which may even be service center will not be restored. Remember that everything you do, you do solely at your own peril and risk, the administration of our site, as well as the developers of third-party software, are not responsible for this.