How to Install a Custom ROM using TWRP Recovery

TWRP recovery let’s you do a number of cool stuff but the whole point of having a custom recovery is to be able to flash unsigned .zip files. These .zip files could be anything from a custom kernel, boot, recovery, MODs or full custom ROMs.

Let’s see how to flash a custom ROM on any Android device using TWRP recovery.

  1. Download and transfer the custom ROM you wish to flash to your device’s storage.
  2. Boot your device into TWRP recovery.
  3. Select “Wipe” from TWRP main menu and do a “Swipe to Factory Reset” on the bottom of screen.
    Note: This will factory reset your device. If your custom ROM doesn’t require a factory reset, then simply skip this step.
  4. Go back to TWRP main menu, tap on “Install” and select the custom ROMs .zip file that you transferred to your device in Step 1.
  5. After selecting the .zip file, do “Swipe to Confirm Flash” on the bottom of screen to begin the custom ROM installation process. This may take some time.
  6. Once your ROM is successfully flashed, you’ll see “Wipe cache/dalvik” option, select it and then do “Swipe to wipe” on bottom of screen.
  7. Once cache & dalvik wipe completes, hit the “Back” button on-screen and then select “Reboot System” button.

That’s all. Your device will now reboot with the custom ROM you just flashed. Since this will be the first reboot after flashing a new ROM, it might take some time to rebuild cache and finish boot, have patience.

Posted by
Shivam Malani

Shivam is our resident designer and web developer who also enjoys writing. He loves to meditate, drive on the freeways and hunt for snipers during his Call Of Duty playtime. Email: [email protected]

53 Comments

  1. […] For help on installing a custom ROM, check out our guide on How to Install a Custom ROM using TWRP Recovery . […]

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  3. […] How to Flash a Custom ROM using TWRP recovery […]

  4. […] How to Install a Custom ROM via TWRP recovery […]

  5. […] How to Flash a Custom ROM using TWRP recovery […]

  6. How we go to twrp ?!??

  7. How we go to twrp ?!??

  8. […] via Androiding.how […]

  9. can i dual boot any android phone using twrp multi rom.

  10. can i dual boot any android phone using twrp multi rom.

  11. […] How to Install a Custom ROM using TWRP Recovery […]

  12. Re: How to Install a Custom ROM using TWRP Recovery

    The above piece was excellently written and therefore easy to follow. However, my problem is a slight departure and I hope you’ll help me find a solution.

    I have a rooted Samsung Galaxy 16gb Note 2, the AT&T variant with the following details:

    Model # SGH-I317
    Android version 4.1.2
    Baseband version I317UCAMH3
    Kernel version 3.0.31-578342
    Build # JZ054K.I317UCAMH3

    The phone has not given me problems since I bought and rooted it some three years ago until some few days ago when I started having the notorious “CANT INSTALL APP. INSUFFICIENT STORAGE” problem. I followed every instructions under the sun including what you’ve written but haven’t resolved the issue. I have even deleted many applications and replaced my partitioned 32gb micro SD card with a partitioned 64gb micro SD card thinking that space was the issue. The problem has remained unresolved. This time it is, “ERROR. INSUFFICIENT STORAGE AVAILABLE.” whenever I try to install any application.

    However I made some crucial observations. I am able to boot into TWRP RECOVERY mode. Thereafter, I can get “Factory Reset” to start but the process will stop in the middle and the word FAILED will appear in red below FACTORY RESET COMPLETE. The same thing happens to all the other processes in sequence to confirm my suspicion that once the first process has failed, the subsequent ones will also fail.

    Luckily my phone is still working with the applications I still have except that I can’t install any more application and it tries to update the applications I still have whenever I boot or reboot it.

    Please help by email.

    Thanks
    Alfred Tee
    smiley [email protected]

    1. Your issue can simply be solved by clearing some space on the internal storage of the device. However, if that isn’t helping. Factory resetting the device should definitely work. I would suggest you to flash the stock recovery back to your device and then either try to factory reset from device’ settings menu OR boot into stock recovery and perform a factory reset from there. Also, try clearing the cache partition from recovery, that could also help resolve the issue.

      1. I’ve deleted enough applications from the internal storage such that slightly more than 50% of the total internal storage is free but still no luck. I can’t even flash anything because after booting my device into TWRP Recovery, and I’m able to Swipe to Factory Reset and start the process, the process stops. “Failed” in red letters appears. I’m therefore unable to execute fully any of the subsequent processes through their respective procedures.And the problem remains unsolved but thanks for your suggestions.

        Any more suggestions?

  13. Re: How to Install a Custom ROM using TWRP Recovery

    The above piece was excellently written and therefore easy to follow. However, my problem is a slight departure and I hope you’ll help me find a solution.

    I have a rooted Samsung Galaxy 16gb Note 2, the AT&T variant with the following details:

    Model # SGH-I317
    Android version 4.1.2
    Baseband version I317UCAMH3
    Kernel version 3.0.31-578342
    Build # JZ054K.I317UCAMH3

    The phone has not given me problems since I bought and rooted it some three years ago until some few days ago when I started having the notorious “CANT INSTALL APP. INSUFFICIENT STORAGE” problem. I followed every instructions under the sun including what you’ve written but haven’t resolved the issue. I have even deleted many applications and replaced my partitioned 32gb micro SD card with a partitioned 64gb micro SD card thinking that space was the issue. The problem has remained unresolved. This time it is, “ERROR. INSUFFICIENT STORAGE AVAILABLE.” whenever I try to install any application.

    However I made some crucial observations. I am able to boot into TWRP RECOVERY mode. Thereafter, I can get “Factory Reset” to start but the process will stop in the middle and the word FAILED will appear in red below FACTORY RESET COMPLETE. The same thing happens to all the other processes in sequence to confirm my suspicion that once the first process has failed, the subsequent ones will also fail.

    Luckily my phone is still working with the applications I still have except that I can’t install any more application and it tries to update the applications I still have whenever I boot or reboot it.

    Please help by email.

    Thanks
    Alfred Tee
    smiley [email protected]

    1. Your issue can simply be solved by clearing some space on the internal storage of the device. However, if that isn’t helping. Factory resetting the device should definitely work. I would suggest you to flash the stock recovery back to your device and then either try to factory reset from device’ settings menu OR boot into stock recovery and perform a factory reset from there. Also, try clearing the cache partition from recovery, that could also help resolve the issue.

    2. I’ve deleted enough applications from the internal storage such that slightly more than 50% of the total internal storage is free but still no luck. I can’t even flash anything because after booting my device into TWRP Recovery, and I’m able to Swipe to Factory Reset and start the process, the process stops. “Failed” in red letters appears. I’m therefore unable to execute fully any of the subsequent processes through their respective procedures.And the problem remains unsolved but thanks for your suggestions.

      Any more suggestions?

  14. Re: How to Install a Custom ROM using TWRP Recovery

    In addition to what I’ve already written about my INSUFFICIENT STORAGE problem, I’ve also noticed that after booting into recovery, every process I start doesn’t go beyond UPDATING PARTITION DETAILS which it repeats until it stops and FAILED appears in red letters.

    I hope with this additional clue, somebody out there will be able to help.

    Thanks.

  15. Re: How to Install a Custom ROM using TWRP Recovery

    In addition to what I’ve already written about my INSUFFICIENT STORAGE problem, I’ve also noticed that after booting into recovery, every process I start doesn’t go beyond UPDATING PARTITION DETAILS which it repeats until it stops and FAILED appears in red letters.

    I hope with this additional clue, somebody out there will be able to help.

    Thanks.

  16. Thank you. helped me a lot

  17. my device is samsung galaxy tab 3,sm-t211,problem is while using twrp recovery to flash rom it displays error.I tried every step,still the same,can’t use odin coz’ pc wont detect my tab.

    1. Pc will detect your phone after installing samsung drivers on your 9c

  18. my device is samsung galaxy tab 3,sm-t211,problem is while using twrp recovery to flash rom it displays error.I tried every step,still the same,can’t use odin coz’ pc wont detect my tab.

    1. Pc will detect your phone after installing samsung drivers on your 9c

  19. Oh and just to clarify it appears that I need to put the ROM and GAPPS on the SDCard on the phone to pull this all together. Correct??

  20. To tag on to the previous comments I’ve made – I also would like to know if I do have to root my phone do I also have to use the TWRP Recovery in order to do this whole process?

    And one final thought I am interested in making a backup of my current phone prior to doing any of this should I want to recover my phone back to it’s current configuration which is:

    Model Number: SCH-I605

    Android version 4.4.2

    Baseband version I604VRUFND7

    Kernel version 3.0.31
    dpi@SWDD5710 #1
    Thu May 8 01:19:38 KST 2014

    Build number KOT49H.I605VRUFND7

    SE for Android Status
    Enforcing
    SEPF_SCH-I605_4.4.2_0016
    Thu May 08 01:34:36 2014

    Hardware version I605.06

  21. PS – The links above for TWRP take me to advertisements not the TWRP download??

  22. Oh and just to clarify it appears that I need to put the ROM and GAPPS on the SDCard on the phone to pull this all together. Correct??

  23. To tag on to the previous comments I’ve made – I also would like to know if I do have to root my phone do I also have to use the TWRP Recovery in order to do this whole process?

    And one final thought I am interested in making a backup of my current phone prior to doing any of this should I want to recover my phone back to it’s current configuration which is:

    Model Number: SCH-I605

    Android version 4.4.2

    Baseband version I604VRUFND7

    Kernel version 3.0.31
    dpi@SWDD5710 #1
    Thu May 8 01:19:38 KST 2014

    Build number KOT49H.I605VRUFND7

    SE for Android Status
    Enforcing
    SEPF_SCH-I605_4.4.2_0016
    Thu May 08 01:34:36 2014

    Hardware version I605.06

  24. PS – The links above for TWRP take me to advertisements not the TWRP download??

  25. And how much time it will take, approximately, last reboot? One hour, or ten hours, or minutes? For me, Redmi NoteX, Xiaomi it took 30 minutes. Also you must rooted to telephones

  26. Toleukhan Zhaidary

    And how much time it will take, approximately, last reboot? One hour, or ten hours, or minutes? For me, Redmi NoteX, Xiaomi it took 30 minutes. Also you must rooted to telephones

  27. I’ve been looking for a flaslable rom for some time, thanks !!

  28. I’ve been looking for a flaslable rom for some time, thanks !!

  29. “2. Boot your device into TWRP recovery.” this is what I’m trying to find out how to do!!!!

  30. “2. Boot your device into TWRP recovery.” this is what I’m trying to find out how to do!!!!

  31. My zenfone max is rooted and installed TWRP. So, when doing firmware update it going to TWRP after switching off. I don’t know how to update firmware in the case installed TWRP. From TWRP interface I just reboot the phone, nothing get updated…!. Friends please help me to update the firmware …

  32. I dont get it. How do i get the zip file to appear in TWRP? i’ve downloaded the zip and its twice on the phone, once in the root folder, once in the download folder. but TWRP seems to only be able to see its own file structure.

  33. my file is in md5 format, so do i have to first compress it into a zip so that i could flash it on my phone ?

  34. I am completely new to this.
    I unpacked the zip files on my laptop and then transferred it to my OP2 phone so I dont know how to proceed anymore. Now I am stuck in the TWRP mode. What to do? Can I still copy the zip files somehow? Please help!

  35. Sonal Kulshreshtha

    I have trird several times to flash custom ROM on my lenovo k3 note, and get no error at all (except in few initial attempts, where it said signature and md5 related errors, which i do not remember now, but the errors vanished, when I changed the ROM. I tried to wipe it and flash it, flash it and wipe cache and dalvik. but for no gain. I get the lenovo flash screen only after every boot for indefinite time. Please help me out, how i can make it working.

  36. Do I need to root first?

    1. No. You need to have TWRP recovery first to be able to install a custom ROM.

  37. if i move files into external storage and then wipe/factory reset will my files get deleted or not???
    i am total noob in this!!!!!

    1. File on the external storage won’t be deleted when you do a wipe data/factory reset.

  38. Just wanted to say – speaking as a digital moron – that this is the clearest set of instructions

  39. but what if the factory reset deletes the rom file i downloaded?

    1. save the rom file on external sd card

      1. Yeah I figured it out there is an option in advanced wipe. You just don’t want to opt for wiping internal storage too that’s it. Thanks!

  40. Hey dudes! What files do i need i have downloaded something that is called XXXxxxXX.Tar.md5 It is an Galaxy A3. So what do i do?

    1. Unfortunately I made the same mistake. There are two different file extensions that you can download. Using Odin, it likes to use the .md5 extension. Using this method of TWRP it likes to use the .zip extension due to it having more file options. Once I found a .zip extension version of my stock rom, I was able to flash my phone perfectly. The instructions here were extremely helpful! Thank you Shivam Malani! These instructions saved my phone!

  41. hey do you know how to bypass or decrypt phone . i have install twrp on phone and it request password on bootup. it says “your phone is encrypted for security. To start up your device, enter your password.”
    Do you know how to bypass it or any password about it???

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