How to install a custom ROM on your Android phone

To install a custom ROM on your phone (for example, to upgrade your behind-the-times Android OS to a more recent version), you'll first need to gain root access. If you haven't rooted your phone yet, see my previous Answers posts for pointers on how to do this on the G1 or a number of other phones, and then come back here.

Now that you've rooted your phone, the easiest way to install a custom ROM (as opposed to searching online for the one you want, downloading it, connecting your phone to your computer, adding the ROM to your phone's SD card, flashing the ROM, etc., etc.) is to use the handy ROM Manager application, which is available in the Android Market. Here's the QR code, to save you some time:



You'll need to select the first option on the screen and follow a couple easy prompts to flash the ClockworkMod Recovery before installing a custom ROM:



Then, if you have actually gone through the process of downloading a particular ROM and transferring it to your phone's SD card, just select Install ROM from SD Card and follow the prompts. If you haven't, no worries, because this app truly brings custom ROM installation to the non-geek Android-using masses. Just choose Download ROM for a few options to get you started (the free version gives you just a few options, but paying five bucks for the full version will get you many more to choose from):



Follow the prompts for the ROM you choose, and you'll be running Froyo (or whatever ROM you've chosen) in no time!