Any smartphone, in fact, is the "little brother" of a full-fledged personal computer. It contains a central processor, RAM blocks, a storage device, interface device controllers, etc. To control this entire complex, a certain set of programs, called an operating system, is used. One of the most popular is Android from Google. It is installed on over 70% of mobile devices. It is easy to guess that this system is most often subjected to various modifications, and not by the developers, but by the smartphone users themselves. Oddly enough it sounds, manufacturers of mobile gadgets are in no hurry to please the owners of their devices with the release of updates and optimizations of the operating system. The reason is quite simple - the desire to sell new smartphones, and not to refine the series already sold.

What is "firmware"

Reading news from the world of smartphones, you can come across a number of specific terms. One of them is firmware. It is interpreted in two ways: as the process of updating the control software complex of the device, or as a set of system files intended to be loaded into the smartphone's memory, that is, a “distribution kit”, if we draw an analogy with computers. Most often, the second is still implied. And, as stated earlier, this software package is created by craftsmen making certain changes to the existing original firmware. Such solutions are called "custom".

"Zoo" firmware

Despite the seeming diversity of existing software systems, they are basically identical. Many of them simply copy the interfaces (appearance, way of interaction) of solutions installed on other brands of smartphones. So, lovers of Windows Phone can easily "turn" their "Android" phone into a gadget from Nokia, and connoisseurs of the creativity of Chinese developers can feel the beauty of "Miui" or Lewa. Other custom, on the contrary, optimize some functions, for example, they use a graphics accelerator in all applications, increase the volume level, etc. But you should always remember that almost all of them are based on the base official firmware.

"Cyanogen"

At the same time, there are a number of firmwares called CyanogenMod. In them, the user part, the menu and everything through which the owner interacts with the device has undergone significant revision. Also, many key spam and viruses have been changed. In short, if a person wants to see the true capabilities of his smartphone, then he simply must figure out how to install the CyanogenMod firmware.

Distribution search

One of the main conditions for the successful installation of such a custom system is the selection of the correct firmware. Although these solutions are initially built to work with Qualcomm, nVidia and Intel processors, there is still a way to make them work with MTK. Where the distribution kit is downloaded from, as a rule, it will certainly indicate how to install CyanogenMod. Therefore, in order to avoid the need to restore the functionality of the software part of the phone after an unsuccessful update, you need to carefully read the accompanying recommendations. Ideally, the firmware should be designed specifically for the same smartphone model.

How to install CyanogenMod firmware via Installer

There are several ways to download the control software to a smartphone. Their difference is that some require first obtaining root rights, while others bypass this limitation by using the capabilities of the replaced bootloader menu. Note that there is no “initially simple” way - each of them is simple and complex at the same time, so the user must choose one of them. Let's take a look at how to install CyanogenMod Installerer. This software package consists of two blocks, the first of which is intended for installation on an "Android" device, and the second on a computer, to which a smartphone will have to be connected with a cable. After installing the client part in the phone, the program must be launched. A menu will be displayed warning that all user data will be deleted, i.e. a factory reset will occur. Then it is suggested to connect the device to a computer and change the operating mode from "MTP drive" to "RTR camera". The cable can then be temporarily disconnected.

In general, there are usually no difficulties with how to install CyanogenMod. After installing the corresponding computer application, you need to launch it. This will search the Web for the latest firmware. This takes 5 to 15 minutes. If a suitable option is found, the program will display a message that it is necessary to connect the smartphone to the USB port, not forgetting to turn off the anti-virus protection (some exploits are detected as malicious). Next, the download of the "Recovery" file and gapps, which provide integration with Google services, will start to the phone. When everything is done, it remains to click on the Install button and wait for a window with a message about successful installation to appear.

Those who are not for the first time interested in how to install CyanogenMod should be well aware that recently this method has lost its relevance. Moreover, it doesn't always work. The reason is the end of support for the search and download engine due to complaints from Google. In addition, the computer part of the application does not work correctly on the latest versions of Windows.

Roll up your sleeves ...

An equally interesting way to install CyanogenMod is to prepare the necessary files yourself. First of all, you need to pick up a custom "Recovery". This file can be found on the network resources where this smartphone model is discussed. In the case of a MediaTek processor, it can be assembled with MTK Droid using your Boot.img and Recovery from a compatible device. After that, using you need to flash this file into your smartphone. Then go to "Recovery" by holding down the power button and "volume down". After that, it remains to specify the previously downloaded CyanogenMod firmware file and install it. It is recommended to do a reset with the WIPE command.

Different versions

Sometimes smartphone owners ask the question: "How to install CyanogenMod 11?" This version is based on "Android 4.4 Kit-Kat". But the latter are 12.1 (system 5.1.1) and 13 (6.0, respectively). There is also CyanogenMod 10.1. How to install this software package? It is based on "Android 4.3". Owners of mobile devices need to remember that the installation process is the same for all versions of Cyan. The main thing is to find the right files for the device. Let us remind you how to install CyanogenMod 11. The process is as follows: a custom "Recovery" is selected and stitched into the phone; the found distribution kit intended for this model is written to the memory card; the system file is flashed from the recovery menu.

Peculiarities

Slower discharge, louder sound, stable network reception, interface acceleration, a modified menu - all this is CyanogenMod. How do I install applications on this system? It is this question that worries many who have not yet had time to work with this solution. In fact, there is nothing complicated about it. Since Cyan is based on the Android OS, the principles of operation remain the same: the installation of the APK file is launched via a shortcut. Unless the latter can be found both on the home screen and in the applications submenu, depending on the launcher.

Old means tested version

Let's take a quick look at CyanogenMod 7. How do I install the firmware? It is based on the OS "Android 2.3", so the procedure is identical to the new "Cyan". You need to select Wipe in the custom "Recovery", then "Select from SD-card", specify the downloaded file and click Install. After the end of the "filling", it remains to click Reboot. Depending on the "Recovery" used, the names of the indicated items may differ.

It is common in the world to compare Android and iOS. The main difference is the attitude towards the openness of the system for the user. If iOS does not even allow viewing individual folders on the device, then in Android the file system is available to the user. However, only at first glance it seems that Android developers are allowed to do whatever they want with their OS: many important and necessary functions remain unavailable. Therefore, CyanogenMod firmware has become popular among advanced users. Read about how to install, update and, if necessary, remove the firmware in our article.

What is CyanogenMod?

CyanogenMod is an alternative Android firmware that expands the functionality of the operating system. The firmware has gained popularity: as of 2016, CyanogenMod is installed on 14 million devices.

It all started with the fact that a simple programmer Stephen Kondik posted on xda-developers.com, the largest site with custom firmware for Android, his development for the HTC Dream smartphone. He did not think about the name for a long time and took his nickname - Cyanogen, adding Mod to it. Stephen Kondik did not expect that someone would be interested in his development, but already in the early days, users responded positively about the firmware. Then the programmer, in a creative impulse, worked hard to finalize CyanogenMod, posting several updates per day on xda-developers.com.

Then Stephen Kondik posted CyanogenMod on Github, a collaborative development service. Then other programmers joined in the improvement of the project, who brought their ideas and best practices. Over time, it became clear that CyanogenMod had evolved from a hobbyist firmware to an exceptional project. The capabilities of CyanogenMod made the mobile device more functional than any other firmware.

Advantages

Why did users love CyanogenMod so much?

1. High performance... CyanogenMod, thanks to its optimization, significantly improves the performance of the device. Both menus and heavy games run much faster and smoother on this firmware than on the standard one. As an example, consider the Nexus 4, which produces 15-16 thousand Antutu Benchmark points on standard firmware. After installation, Cyanogen makes 21 thousand points. In addition, for advanced users, Cyanogen allows you to change the scheme of the processor, control its frequency at its discretion. There are five modes: Interactive - standard frequency distribution, increases when the screen is turned on; Ondemand - less productive, more energy efficient; Userspace - allows you to configure everything yourself; Powersave - minimum processor frequency, maximum power saving; Performance - maximum processor frequency, best performance, but high power consumption.
2. The only way to install a new version of Android for older devices. Few manufacturers support their devices even for 4-5 years, releasing firmware 5 and 6 Android, so CyanogenMod is the only way to put Android Lollipop and Marshmallow on such devices. Cyanogen also allows you to get rid of the manufacturer's pre-installed firmware, for example, Samsung's TouchWiz.
3. Customizable appearance... CyanogenMod gives you the ability to customize the design of every detail of the interface. PlayMarket has thousands of custom theme options. Also, the firmware supports the original Android theme (Android Holo up to version 12 and Google Material Design in versions 12 and 13), unlike the official firmware of device manufacturers.
4. System openness... The standard Android firmware has various restrictions for users. CyanogenMod does not have these restrictions, thanks to which there is a codec for the Free Lossless Audio Codec, a compressed cache, a large list of APNs, an OpenVPN client and a reboot menu. However, this is an advantage only for knowledgeable and capable people, because the device can be accidentally broken.

Firmware versions

The latest version of CyanogenMod is the 13th, based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Each new version of CyanogenMod is developed to update Android. In addition, the developers maintain and constantly update all versions at the same time, releasing new builds of the project. There are six types of CyanogenMod assemblies:

1. Experimental - Experimental firmware versions for testing new ideas. These versions are extremely unstable, have an abundance of bugs and are only needed by developers for testing.
2. Nightly - daily updates, the result of the day's work of programmers. Like Experimental, they exist only for developers, so that enthusiasts can follow the development of the project and help it with new ideas and suggestions.
3. Millie stone is a raw version that collects all the innovations to test their interaction.
4. Snapshot is a well-developed assembly suitable for use. Usually not all bugs have been caught and not all bugs have been fixed.
5. Release Candidaty (RC) is an almost finished version of the firmware. Developers make one last check for bugs, performance and stability.
6. Stable is the final stable release of CyanogenMod.

If you are a simple user who wants to install CyanogenMod, then you should choose the stable version of the firmware. This ensures that there are no errors and that it works. But for the sake of useful features that are not yet in the stable version, you can also try the developer versions. But such firmware is almost impossible to use - there are too many errors.

How to install: step by step instructions

Please note: installing CyanogenMod will void your warranty! This applies not only to Cyanogen, but also to any other custom firmware. There are certain ways to hide the traces of third-party firmware, but the methods are unreliable and do not always work. So if you're not ready to void your warranty, don't risk it.

Installing CyanogenMod is non-standard and difficult for untrained users: it has more than 10 steps. Updating the system is also not the most intuitive. Of course, there is an easy way to install the firmware, but this is far from the best option. The latest version of CyanogenMod is automatically downloaded, not always stable, as a result of which errors are possible. But since not everyone will want to spend time on a more complex method, we will analyze this option as well.

Easy installation

1. First, check if your device is supported. To do this, follow the link: http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/CyanogenMod_Installer#Supported_Devices and view the list of supported devices.
2. In the smartphone settings, enable USB debugging (Accessibility -> For Developers -> USB Debugging).
3. Download the CyanogenModInstaller app to your smartphone from Google Play.
4. Download the dedicated Windows software (Vista / 7/8) to your computer: http://beta.download.cyanogenmod.org/install.
5. Turn on the app on your smartphone and follow the instructions in the program.
6. Connect your device to your computer via USB.
7. Turn on the program on your computer.
8. The program itself will start downloading the files required for the firmware. When everything is loaded, you will see the message “Everything is ready”.
9. Click on the "Install" button.
10. When the installation of the firmware is completed, the program will notify you about this with the message "Installation complete".
11. Ready.

The hard way

1. First you need to get Root rights (remove restrictions imposed by Android developers). We will do this using the Framaroot program. Download Framaroot 1.9.1 from the Internet, install it and run it. If the antivirus displays a warning, click "Allow".
2. Now you need to unlock the Android bootloader. The best way to do this is the BootUnlocker program. You can download the application directly from Google Play. Run the program and click the "Unlock" button. The bootloader will be unlocked.
3. You need to install Custom Recovery. Let's analyze its installation using the example of TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project).
   
4. Let's start installing CyanogenMod.
   
5. Once the installation is complete, reboot the system. If everything went well, an empty desktop will open. If not, the phone won't boot. In this case, you need to enter Recovery mode again, install the firmware on a new one, but only turn on full Wipe.
6. The last thing left is to install Google Play. To do this, download the Gapps package (http://opengapps.org), move them to the root folder and install in the same way as the firmware itself, via Recovery.
7. Ready!

Video: How to Install CyanogenMod Firmware?

Can CyanogenMod be installed on an unsupported device?

The answer is unequivocal: no. CyanogenMod Installer will simply write that your device is not supported. If installed manually, there can be a bunch of problems, up to the fact that the phone or tablet will stop working. If the device could run the firmware, the developers would add it to their list anyway.

How to update the firmware

There are also two ways to update CyaongenMod.

The easy way

This method works for Cyanogen 10.0 and higher. Everything is extremely simple: open the settings, go to the item "About phone", then "Update CyanogenMod". The device will automatically download the latest update and install it. In the process, the smartphone will reboot several times. All data will be saved.

Manual option

Please note: Do not upgrade your device to more than one version of CyanogenMod at a time (for example, from CM 10.0 to 10.2). Unpredictable errors and incorrect operation of the firmware may appear. It is also not recommended to rollback the device to earlier versions of CM (for example, from 10.2 to 10.1). Sometimes it leads to an error with an endless reboot of the smartphone. With any downgrade, you must first make Wipe Data / Factory Reset.

It is almost always best to use the easy update method, as there is less chance of doing something wrong. However, if your Cyanogen version is lower than the tenth version, as well as if you use third-party add-ons (add-ons), you will have to use a complicated method, since the standard update does not allow you to immediately install the add-ons to the firmware.

1. First, download the latest stable (or whatever version of CyanogenMod you need) and the latest version of the Gapps package.
2. Turn on Recovery mode.
3. Install the firmware first, then the zip archive with Gapps, and then third-party addons. There is no need to do Wape, so all data is retained when updated.
4. Ready.

When you update again, there is no need to reinstall Gapps, since the data is saved, but add-ons will have to be installed manually.

In addition, only with a complex version, you can choose which update to install (which cannot be done with a simple installation method).

How to remove if necessary

If you decide to return everything as it was, you need to reinstall the firmware again, but this time replace CyanogenMod with the stock firmware of your device manufacturer. You can download this firmware from the manufacturer's official website.

1. When you download the firmware, save the archive in the root directory of the device
2. Turn on the Recovery mode (hold down the power button and the volume up button while starting the device).
3. Check all Wipe checkboxes. Please note that all data will be deleted.
4. Then install the downloaded archive with the official firmware.
5. Wait for the installation to complete.
6. Reboot your device.
7. Ready.

Sometimes a return to the native firmware of the device erases all traces of the presence of CyanogenMod, in which case the warranty is not nullified. However, you should not count on this, as it depends on the luck and carelessness of the support staff. The rules for the provision of warranty service prohibit changing the manufacturer's firmware.

CyanogenMod is an interesting firmware that has grown from an amateur handicraft to a serious and ambitious project, which has no analogue in the world. CM allows you to do with the device what no official firmware allows. But it should only be installed by advanced and knowledgeable users, since open systems are unsafe. In addition, the phone may be damaged and warranty service will not be available. However, if you lack the standard functions of a smartphone or tablet on stock Android firmware, if you are ready to learn and develop, if you are ready to spend time and effort overcoming errors that arise, then you definitely need to flash your device with CyanogenMod. According to some users, CyanogenMod is the culmination of mobile development.

CyanogenMod is an aftermarket firmware for smartphones and tablets based on Android OS from the Cyanogen Team, now called Cyanogen Inc. When creating this firmware, a lot of optimization work has been done and it really increases the performance of the device.

First of all, it is a must have for owners of “outdated” devices, such as the Galaxy Nexus, for example. As you know, this device does not officially support KitKat, but with the help of Cyanogenmod, the owners of this phone can appreciate all the delights of the latest version of the OS from Google.

The interaction with the device itself has also been improved. For example, using shortcuts on the lock screen, you can immediately open the application you want. There is an opportunity to reduce or even completely remove the on-screen navigation buttons.

The user can completely change the notification and quick settings panel: here you can change the battery icon, and move the quick settings shortcuts, and even adjust the screen brightness by swiping along the status bar.

If you like using the onscreen buttons, then in CyanogenMod you can move them as you like. You can add other elements if you like, such as a search button or a menu.

For a long time, I could not find a suitable music player for myself on Google Play. I tried both the popular Poweramp and Play Music, but they all did not suit me for many reasons. CyanogenMod has an excellent Apollo player built in. Its appearance can be changed the way you want. Plus, Google Play has tons of free themes for it. Also, a convenient equalizer is built into the firmware, which will allow you to adjust the sound both in the headphones, and through the speaker, and through the speakers.

CyanogenMod looks exactly like KitKat on Nexus 5. Transparent buttons and a status bar, Google Now, invoked by swiping to the right - it's all in place. The very appearance of the firmware can also be changed. Cyanogenmod has support for themes that can be found in abundance on the Internet.

The firmware even has such "wildness" as changing the processor frequency at the user's discretion. You can set not only the frequency, but also the algorithm for changing it. A few words about each:

Interactive - the frequency changes when the smartphone screen is turned on (standard Governor from version 4.1.1)

Ondemand - the predecessor of Interactive, more energy efficient, but less efficient

Userspace - allows you to completely customize the principle of work

Powersave is the minimum frequency to save energy. By the way, in this mode, everything is wildly slow, even flipping through desktops is reminiscent of android 2.2

Perfomance - sets a constant maximum frequency. Accordingly, we get maximum performance

Personally, I use the standard settings, but on rare occasions I lower the processor frequencies to save battery life.

The performance of the device on CM is noticeably increased. For example, on stock firmware 4.4.2, my Nexus 4 gives about 16 thousand points in the Antutu test, and with Cyanogenmod installed, this figure rises to 20-21 thousand.

You can endlessly talk about all the small innovations of this firmware, but it's better to try it yourself. Next, I will try to tell you in the most accessible language how to install Cyanogenmod on your device.

Installation

I will talk about flashing the device using the example of LG Nexus 4, since I use this device. On other phone models, the installation may be slightly different. It is not recommended to flash other devices according to these instructions. I also want to say that before starting the installation, I recommend reading the article to the end.

IMPORTANT! For all your actions, only you and no one else are responsible.

The Cyanogen team has provided an easy way to install their firmware for people who don't want to bother themselves. This method is self-explanatory. You just need to click on the picture below and follow the instructions.

However, this is not the best way. The first time I installed CyanogenMod on my Nexus 4, this program delivered the latest nightly build to me (nightly build is a version of the firmware that is built almost every day (night), and it can be both stable working and contain some bugs. In my case, the firmware was installed, which contained errors and sometimes prevented the normal operation of the device. works.

Let's start with the second, more "geeky" way. I will try to simplify all the manipulations as much as possible and write to you about the easiest ways to install. First of all, you need to get root rights, unlock the bootloader and install custom recovery.

If you don't have a file manager, then just follow the link in Google Play and install it on your device. It will still be useful to us.

First, let's get the root right. The easiest way to do this is with the Framaroot app. Download the Framaroot- 1.9.1.apk file and install it through the file manager (do not forget to allow the installation of applications from unknown sources in the phone settings).

Now we go through the list:

1. Launch Framaroot and click "Allow" if the antivirus displays a security risk warning. We select "Install SuperSU" to get root-rights.
2. Push Gimli, Sam, Frodo, Legolas, Aragorn, Gandalf, Boromir, Barahir or Faramir, that is, any exploit available for your device. If it doesn't work with one exploit, try another.
3. If we see a window with a funny emoticon, it means that the root rights have been successfully obtained and we reboot the device.

After that, the Framaroot installation file will no longer be needed and you can delete it through the same file manager, and thank the developer by purchasing a special application.

Now let's unlock the bootloader. Again, I suggest the simplest way. To do this, we need to install the BootUnlooker app directly from Google Play. Then just go to the application and press the Unlock button, having previously provided administrator rights. Unfortunately, BootUnlocker only works with Nexus devices.

Next, we need to flash custom recovery. There are two options: CWM (clockworkmod recovery) and TWRP (team win recovery project). I use the second one and therefore will tell you how to install it. Again, we will use the simplest possible method: first, download the GooManager application from Google Play. Next, we go in order:

1. Open the application and press the “Menu” button (on the device itself), select “Install OpenRecoveryScr…”.
2. The program will ask you if you really want to install Recovery, click “Yes”.
3. Another window will appear in which you will be prompted for the name of the .img file from the recovery, which will be flashed to your device. Make sure that the name of this file contains the model name of your device, for example, for Nexus 4 it will most likely be called openrecovery-twrp-2.6.3.3-mako, and for Galaxy S3 the file name will be openrecovery-twrp-2.6.3.0-i9300.img where i9300 is the international model code of the Galaxy S3.
4. After you click “Yes”, you will be redirected to the site where the file from the recovery will be downloaded. The program will do everything for you and you just have to wait for a message from GooManager about the successful installation of the recovery.
5. Now TWRP is installed on your device and you can boot into it directly from GooManager by pressing the “Reboot Recovery” button, or hold down the power and volume buttons while booting the device.

Finally, we got close to the most important thing - the Cyanogenmod installation, for which we actually did all of the above. To do this, go to the Cyanogenmod website in the Download section. On the left we see the TYPE column, let's briefly dwell on each of the types of firmware:

• Stable is the most stable and fully working version, free from any bugs
• Release candidate - pre-release version of the firmware. Not much different from stable
• Snapshot is a solid middling game. It is considered not completely finalized, but from my own experience I will say that everything works fine. It is from this point that we will take our firmware
• Miliestone is an empty item. Pay no attention to him. Even if some firmware versions appear there, I do not recommend installing them
• Nightly - These builds are called "nightly" because they are built automatically every night. They can contain a huge number of bugs, but many people sit on them and use them with pleasure. We will pass by and will not focus on such versions.
• Expiriments - forget it. By the name, everything is clear anyway

Well, click on Snapshot and look for the version for our device. The easiest way is to use the page search (ctrl-f) and enter the name of your device. In this case, it will be Nexus 4:

1. Download the zip file cm-11-20140210-SNAPSHOT-M3-mako.zip
2. Even though it's an archive, you don't need to do anything with it on your computer. We just drop it into the phone's memory. For example, to the Download folder
3. Next, we boot into recovery mode either through GooManager, or when the device boots up, we simultaneously hold down the power and volume down buttons
4. We select the Install item, go to our folder and click on our file (the one that cm-11-20140210-SNAPSHOT-M3-mako.zip)
5. We make a swipe to the right, thereby confirming the installation, and we wait

After installation, we reboot the system and wait for the device to boot. If everything went well, you should see a clean desktop. If everything went badly, then your phone will not boot and, most likely, you will have to carry it to a service center or rent it for scrap. (In fact, if the phone really did not boot, then you should return to the recovery mode and make a full Wipe in the appropriate paragraph, if this did not help, then write in the comments)

Now, notice that you are missing Google Play and other Google apps. They need to be installed separately. To do this, download the Gapps package from this link, throw them on the phone and install in the same way as the firmware - through the recovery.

Congratulations! You have installed CyanogenMod 11 on your device and you can enjoy all the delights of this firmware.

If you liked this topic and want to continue, then be sure to write about it. In subsequent articles, I plan to talk about how to make using the device as comfortable as possible: how to replace the on-screen buttons and the status bar, thereby increasing the amount of used screen space, and also talk about the MIUI firmware and installing it as a second system on your device. ...

At the end of November, the developers CyanogenMod launched the release of the first batch of "night" firmware CM13. Let me remind you that they are already based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, although in their current state they do not offer any new features compared to CM12 or CM12.1. The functionality should be updated in the next few months.

If you have already installed CyanogenMod 12 / 12.1 firmware on your Android device, then you have no good reason to install the CM13 update. As I noted above, you will not get any new features, however, the new firmware has many fixes and performance improvements compared to Lollipop builds.

Traditionally, the CM development team offers two different build options: "nighttime" and stable. As the name suggests, the former are released every night by the CyanogenMod team. In other words, they have experimental features with no promise that they'll all run stably and won't have performance issues.

After several weeks or even months of testing, the CM team releases a stable build for a range of supported devices. The release of the final version of the firmware takes several months, so if you do not want to wait that long, then if you really want to, you can use the "night" build a few weeks after its appearance, as this option will most likely work quite stably. If you are interested in this, you can download the "night" and stable versions of CyanogenMod 13 firmware from here.

By default, CyanogenMod developers do not include any stock apps from Google due to licensing issues. Therefore, after installing the firmware, in any case, you will have to use the additional Gapps package so that your smartphone or tablet has Google Play applications, Maps and other services from Google. Installing the Gapps package is exactly like installing any zip file using custom recovery. A compatible Gapps package for CyanogenMod 13 (Android 6.0) can be downloaded from here.

Preparing to install CyanogenMod:

Necessarily requires you to have rooted rights on your Android device, as well as installed custom recovery (TWRP, for example). There is no other option for installing CM firmware anymore. It is better to make sure that you have the latest version of TWRP on your smartphone, since older versions of recovery are not compatible with Marshmallow firmware and you will not be able to install the CM13 zip file.

Additionally, you can recommend reading in a special forum thread with reviews of other users with exactly the same Android device who have already installed and tested the CM13 firmware. This will give you a good idea of ​​the capabilities of the build itself and the problems that may suddenly appear.

Be sure to back up all data before installing the firmware. This includes contacts, messages, photos, music, and other important documents and files. This can be done easily with Titanium Backup, although you may run into a compatibility issue when trying to install it on CyanogenMod 13.

On some devices, it may be necessary to update the bootloader and flashing the radio module to the latest available versions, but always before installing the CM firmware. Failure to do so can lead to problems with the camera, sensors. In general, your Android device is unlikely to function as expected.

Step 1: Copy the CyanogenMod 13 and Gapps firmware zip files to your smartphone or tablet. I always recommend that you double-check if you have downloaded the correct version of the CM firmware and the Gapps package.

Step 2: After copying the files, you need to reboot the device into recovery mode. Usually, to do this, you need to turn off your Android smartphone (tablet), then hold down the volume up and power buttons at the same time. However, this method is not always suitable, and therefore, as a tip, install the Quick Reboot application from Google Play and in the program menu from the proposed options, click Recovery. There is another option using your computer and the Android SDK, but it is more time consuming.

Step 3: After the device boots into recovery mode, you will need to select the wipe the / data and / system partitions commands (pictured). After that, we do a factory reset. Do not use the option to clear data or clear the internal storage of the device. To format the system partition, select "Advanced Wipe" then "System" in the list of partitions. Confirm your selection by moving the slider to the right.

Step 4: Now let's go directly to installing the CyanogenMod firmware. Click on the "Install" button in TWRP, then specify the zip file with the CM firmware that you copied in step 1. If you cannot find this file, then be sure to double-check if you are in the / sdcard subdirectory.

Step 5: Reboot the device by clicking on the "Reboot system" option. The first reboot may take longer than usual, so be patient. If the system does not boot within 10-15 minutes, then you will have to repeat the previous steps of installing the firmware.

Step 6: After you see the desktop, give your Android a few more minutes to fully load all the necessary processes. And after that, you will again have to reboot into recovery mode to install the Gapps package. The installation is identical, but you need to select a different zip file, which you also copied into memory in step 1.

Step 7: After installing the zip file, you can reboot the system again. You will need to sign in to your Google account and download your favorite apps and games.

If you suddenly installed a "night" build of CM13, then updating the firmware to a newer version will require you to complete an incomplete installation process - you need to complete steps 4-7. This will save you the hassle of formatting the system partition and wiping data, as well as you will not lose already installed applications.