The easiest way to do a back-up is to install ClockworkMod ROM Manager on your phone.
You really want to do this if you need to re-install your phone's original firmware and data later (e.g., something goes wrong when you install the unofficial Android firmware you decide you don't like CyanogenMod or MIUI or, you need to reactivate your phone with its carrier, something which you cannot do when running either of these unofficial OSs on it).
BACK UP YOUR CURRENT FIRMWARE AND PHONE DATA This guide provides a list of instructions for rooting several specific phone models.Ĥ. Unfortunately, this app tool might not work on more recent Android phones. Check out GingerBreak to help you conveniently root your phone. (An excellent source to check is Android Forums.) But know that some or several features of your phone may not work if you install such an experimental, work-in-progress build of CyanogenMod or MIUI that is not officially sanctioned by that OS's community.īefore you can start to do anything to your phone, you'll need to root it, which means basically to unlock the security settings put in place in the OS to prevent it from being altered. If not, there is still a chance that somebody may be working on a port for your specific phone search its model name in the official community forums for CyanogenMod or MIUI to see if there is such an on-going effort. If your Android phone is (or was) a popular model, it is probably supported by either the CyanogenMod or MIUI community. MIUI completely overhauls the stock Android UI with one that resembles that of Apple's iOS.
What's the difference between the two? CyanogenMod sticks with the basic, default components of Android that come with its source code release its UI is "clean," devoid of unnecessary extras. As of this writing, the volunteer development teams of both projects are working to get new versions built on Android 4.0 ("Ice Cream Sandwich"). Both are built on the Android source code officially released by Google, and their latest versions are based on Android 2.3 (codenamed Gingerbread). In the unofficial Android firmware development community, there are two major choices: CyanogenMod and MIUI. Other features could be buggy or have quirks. Though the odds of bricking your phone - rendering it inoperable because of something going wrong during the install process - is fairly low, it can happen and especially so if you rush through things.īe aware that some features on your phone running its current version of Android may no longer be available after you successfully install a custom Android firmware. Thoroughly read the installation instructions for your specific phone model and then follow them carefully, taking time and patience. Installing unofficial OS firmware on your phone will likely render whatever warranty from its maker you have on it null and void. Each phone can have its own unique steps for doing this, so you should follow instructions for your specific model. The following is a primer on what you should know about the process of installing unauthorized Android firmware.