Currently, it is possible to find CM12 releases for multiple devices running Android and more tablets and smartphones are set to be supported as time goes by. If you are looking for a solution to update your Android device with CM12, you are in the right place. We’ll present a helpful guide that will take you through every step of the process of updating your Android device with CM12 Android 5.0 Lollipop custom ROM. CM12 supports HTC One Max, Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note N7000, Motorola Moto G and more. Keep in mind that here you will find a general update guide that should work on any Android device, but you need to have the compatible CM12 Android 5.0 Lollipop package.
Make sure that you use a custom ROM designed for your exact device because if you use one that is intended for a different one, you may end up damaging your phone or tablet for good. You can find the CM12 update that is compatible with your Android device, on the xda-developers official website. Once you have the appropriate update, you can use the guide we offer here and follow the steps. As previously mentioned, the guide is suitable for any Android tablet or smartphone. As long as you have the custom ROM that is compatible with your device, you will be able to complete the update process.
It is important to keep in mind that at the moment, CM12 is in developing stage meaning that there are only alpha builds of the firmware available. Before you download and install Android 5.0 Lollipop custom Rom on your device, you need to check that the system is stable for use on a daily basis. Small bugs that don’t affect the overall performance of your device shouldn’t be a problem, but you need to ensure that you can run CM12 on your handset without hassle. It is advisable that before you apply the update, you save the current ROM that is running on your device. With an Android backup (which you can make with the help of a custom recovery image like CWM or TWRP recovery), you will be able to save and restore the ROM that is currently in use on your device and it should only take a few seconds or a minute maximum. This process will ensure that if you run into any problems with CM12, you can easily go back to stock Android OS.
It is important to bear in mind that CM12 is not an official Android 5.0 Lollipop OS, which is why you will need to complete an unofficial update. This means that there are some custom processes needed in order to be able to complete he update described in the guide. First of all, you need to root the Android device and while this process is not to difficult, it is important that you do it carefully to avoid permanent damage. You also need to install a custom recovery image on your phone because CM12 ROM will be installed through it as well. Once you have completed the preliminary steps, you also have to take some measures to prevent losing important data.
Make sure that you backup the data stored on the internal storage memory of the device. This is crucial because when you use a custom recovery image for flashing Android 5.0 Lollipop firmware, data may be erased because a wipe will be performed. As such, it is important that you save all the data that you will need at a later stage. In addition, keep in mind that you need a computer since you will be carrying out a manual update operation. Of course, your Android device is also needed, as well as the USB cable. In addition, before completing the update process, you also have to enable USB debugging on your device. To do this, you can go to menu, then settings, press about home several times (about 7) to access developer options and then check the USB debugging option. On the computer, you will need to disable the antivirus and similar tools since security protection may stop you from installing CM12 Android 5.0 Lollipop on the device.
If the status of the battery shows that there is less than 50% charge, you need to charge the device before completing the process. If the battery is low, the device may shut down during the update process, which could result in permanent damage. Again, make sure that you download the correct CM12 package for your specific Android device. Remember that this can be found on the xda-developers official website.
How to install CM12 Android 5.0 Lollipop on any Android device
- Download the Android 5.0 Lollipop update. You can download Google Apps if you want to as this package may not come with the CM12 firmware, meaning that you need to flash it manually.
- Save the zip files on the computer, but don’t extract them yet
- Plug your Android device to your computer and copy-paste the downloaded files on your device’s SD card. If your device doesn’t support SD card, just make sure that you transfer the files on internal storage memory.
- Plug out the device and enter recovery mode on your Android tablet or smartphone. From recovery, make a hard reset and clear cache. This can be done by selecting “wipe data factory reset”, “wipe cache partition” and “wipe dalvick cache”.
- Once the above is done, select “install zip from SD card” and then “choose zip from SD card”. Select the appropriate CM12 Android Lollipop custom ROM and install the update on your Android tablet/smartphone. If you need Google Apps package, remember that you need to flash it manually.
- Finally, select “reboot system now” to enjoy the updated Android OS on your device.
