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Custom ROM and root: The most important terms explained

androidpit nexus 5 bootloader 1
© nextpit

Custom ROMs are no longer a niche only for those with the expertise to install them. Rooting your phone and equipping it with a custom ROM is getting easier and less risky. However, many newcomers still baulk at the jargon that developers use when explaining various processes. So we’ve put together a glossary of terms to help make those first tentative steps a little easier.

What is a custom ROM?

A custom ROM is basically a different operating system for your smartphone or tablet. It's like switching out the engine in a car; the outside stays the same, but the insides are different.

Unlike the pre-installed firmware that is provided by the manufacturer, such as Samsung's Touchwiz or HTC's Sense, custom ROMs generally provide an almost pure Android experience much like you’d find on Google’s Nexus devices.

paranoid android
Custom ROMs go from the straightforward to the super cool. / © ANDROIDPIT

Custom ROMS are also enriched with many useful extra features and customization options that affect the behavior of the system. Thus, the user gets more control over their device than would ever be possible with the standard software from the manufacturer.

In addition, custom ROMs are also a good way to install a more recent version of Android on your device, especially if it is an older model.

What is a nightly build?

Nightly builds are automatically created versions of a custom ROM, which add the most recent changes to the code base each and every day. These fixes, updates and new features can be accessed and flashed nightly by those who want to test them out.

However, since they are created automatically they are not checked for errors or bugs. As such, they are not recommended for daily use but more for error checking and debugging.

They are typically referred to as the "bleeding edge" because they are unstable and unreliable, but have the very latest features in them. For this reason, they are not recommended for beginners. 

AndroidPIT Galaxy S6 install custom ROM
A custom ROM simply replaces the Android firmware that your phone came with. / © ANDROIDPIT

What is root?

The term “root” comes from the Linux world and describes the lowest level of the file system, or root access. When we talk about the root process, we mean that superuser privileges have been accessed, meaning you have access to the entire file system rather than just the surface layer.

Superuser permissions, or root access, allow you to change absolutely everything on the system. Having this type of access can be dangerous for a novice user because important system files that are required by the OS can be deleted just as easily as useless ones. This is one of the reasons that most smartphones are not rooted by default.

AndroidPIT Galaxy S6 Ping Pong Root
These days it is super easy to root Android. / © ANDROIDPIT

What are Gapps?

Gapps are basically all the Google Apps, including the Play Store and Gmail. For legal reasons, these apps are not a standard part of custom ROMS, but must be installed separately at the same time as flashing a ROM. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple Gapps installers that streamline the process.

What is recovery?

The recovery process can be started before the actual boot process of the Android operating system by pressing a certain key combination.

Recovery contains factory reset options for the smartphone and also the option to clear the cache, make or restore a backup, install zip files and a bunch of other useful features. With a custom recovery, as opposed to stock recovery, you can also create or install custom ROMs.

AndroidPIT Nexus 6 TWRP Recovery menu wipe
A custom recovery gives you tons more control over the Android system. / © ANDROIDPIT

What is a bootloader?

A bootloader is a separate partition on the internal memory of the smartphone or tablet. The boot loader loads the actual Android operating system. You need to unlock the bootloader in order to flash a custom ROM. Some newer devices have a simple settings menu option for all OEM unlocking, which needs to be enabled before attempting to unlock the bootloader.

What is a cache/Dalvik cache?

The cache is a buffer memory where frequently used files are stored for faster retrieval. The Dalvik cache is a directory tree for all programs.

What is fastboot?

Fastboot is a special tool that is used for diagnostic and development purposes. An Android device in fastboot mode (that is connected to a computer) allows you to boot images and other files to your smartphone.

Other commands can also be sent to the device in fastboot mode, such as telling it to delete certain partitions or to reboot the bootloader.

AndroidPIT Moto X 2014 Fastboot recovery mode
This is one of the many faces of fastboot mode. Your fastboot may differ. / © ANDROIDPIT

What is a Nandroid backup?

A Nandroid backup is a complete image of your system. Should you do something silly, like delete a necessary system file and "soft brick" your device (soft brick means a fixable broken phone), you can return it to the previous state ("unbrick" it) by restoring a backup of your system using a Nandroid.

What is ADB?

ADB stands for Android Debug Bridge and is a software interface for the Android operating system. It's similar to fastboot (and how it interacts via the computer command line terminal with your smartphone or tablet) and requires you to be connected to a computer.

With ADB, you can download files to your computer from your smartphone and vice versa.

AndroidPIT ADB screen size density
ADB commands look complicated, but they're pretty easy to get your head around. / © ANDROIDPIT

What is a kernel/custom kernel?

A kernel is the link between the hardware and software on your device. Whenever you interact with your Android smartphone, the kernel sends the requests made by the software to the hardware and makes the appropriate changes and vice versa.

For example, if your change the brightness with the slider on your device, the kernel registers the change and causes the brightness to actually change on the screen. This is a very simplistic explanation of what goes on behind the scenes, but gives a pretty clear idea of what a kernel does.

A custom kernel can expand the system to include additional functions, such as changing the CPU clock rates or adjusting the battery usage and idle times.

AndroidPIT Nexus 6 TWRP elementalx install 2
Custom kernels allow you do cool things such as set a faster CPU clock speed. / © ANDROIDPIT

Final thoughts

These were just a few of the most commonly used terms related to rooting and using a custom ROM. There is, of course, much more to discover and learn, but this article should serve as a nice introduction to what some of these terms actually mean. 

Have you ever rooted an Android phone? Flashed a custom ROM? Tell us about your experiences in the comments.

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  • 1
    Prest4Tym Jul 3, 2021 Link to comment

    I believe someone changed my last 3 phones to custom ROM, as none will factory reset. Is that a side effect? My 1 is an Avalon Alcatel says BOOTLOADER SEQUENCE & has 4 huge barcodes.
    Says Secure boot enabled & ..device state locked.
    Anyone have any idea why it won't hard reset? I'm not a technically savy person but intelligent enough to follow good directions
    HELP!


  • 1
    ikipearl@gmail.com Apr 12, 2021 Link to comment

    Yes, I have done several. I have Samsung Tab Pro 8.4"'s that come with Android 4.4 installed 7 years ago. I recently flashed Android 10 on one, I run Oreo on the other. I have soft bricked a few phones but was able to resesatate. Write everything down step by step and stay in the moment, verify the steps and proceed attentively. Do not skip prep steps like starting procedure with low battery. Do not be hasty, but deliberate. After installing whole new OS, have patience on initial reboot, sometimes the first boot up takes nervously long. Once device has custom recovery installed, flashing custom ROMS become second nature, that is when you need to exercise discipline


  • Shreeya Patel 2
    Shreeya Patel Aug 23, 2017 Link to comment

    nicely explained :)

    Brittany McGhee


  • আনমনা সীমান্ত 1
    আনমনা সীমান্ত Aug 22, 2016 Link to comment

    Hi...i am seemanto from bangladesh......i want to change my android custom rom so i need your help....model...walton primo hm2


    • 2
      Aarisha Zoya Aug 20, 2017 Link to comment

      Bro, if u got it, plz send me.
      M also lyv in Bangladesh.
      Shemanto, m totaly fadeup about Walton hm2.
      Such a stupid phone this is.
      Plz . customs ROM amakeo deo.


  • Jerry's W. 20
    Jerry's W. Aug 12, 2016 Link to comment

    I have official MM Rom wich I rooted with chain fires autoroute. Than installed Titanium Backup in wich you can freeze (no longer active or visible for the Android system) or even remove apps. So I frozen Knox all related and all bloatware. Makes my sm-g901f S5 Plus faster and I just love it as it is now. Unlike for standard S5 for this phone no good MM based Rom available. A developer started to make the CM13 working but bailed out halfway and left us with buggy unofficial cyan. Sad. Therefor i rooted and "debloated" as I wrote above.


  • Parashar Panchal 1
    Parashar Panchal Jun 13, 2016 Link to comment

    hello.. the device i use is HTC desire 526Gplus and is rooted. now, my query is that no custom rom is build for this device. so can i use custom rom compatible for any other device?? please reply asap ... i want a new feel to my phone.. im bored of the stock rom..


  • Shubham Gupta 2
    Shubham Gupta Jun 9, 2016 Link to comment

    hi i am shubham, i rooted my micromax unite2 as i purchased because i cant use phone without root. after rooting lots of features add as you can use OTG , remove system bloatware, stop annoying advertisements and many more... i also installed a custom ROM of lollipop 5.0.i had a good experience with it .


  • 1
    jagadeesh ks May 3, 2016 Link to comment

    hi everyone,rooting my moto e1 mobile is something good but i cant connect my google account. it displayed that there was a problem connecting with the google servers , then i accidently wiped all the system files. now my phone has no OS ,i downloaded the original ROM file(CONDOR), but i still dont know how to install the damn thing. pls help me with download links and installation method.


  • 1
    Diego Cano Apr 5, 2016 Link to comment

    Once, I had a rooted Samsung Galaxy S3 mini, I wanted to install a custom ROM so I tried to. I don't know what did I made wrong but my phone got softbricked, I don't remember what I did to fix it, but I did. I haven't installed any custom ROM since that time, but I am trying to learn more about it for my phone to not get softbricked again.


  • 1
    Bullet Raja Dec 30, 2015 Link to comment

    I faced a big issue on my mmx q380 andrioad5.0 , every time my 3g h+ connection dropped to 3g my net speed come back to 1-10kbps, i tried other sim but problem going on..........so what i do.....


  • FlyingFiddle 4
    FlyingFiddle Dec 20, 2015 Link to comment

    Great article! I enjoyed rooting my LG G3 and G4 and tweaking the rom to better suit my need and my taste of theme. Due to superior camera function of stock or stock-based rom, I feel other rom, although cutting edge, sacrifice too much in this core functionality. So, in the end, I use CloudyG3 2.5 for G3 (it works on all G3 variants), and stock G4 ROM. I also installed xposed framework and the great G3/G4 tweakbox to allow tailoring of many many details.


  • Junaid Q. 17
    Junaid Q. Dec 20, 2015 Link to comment

    Great article
    Thanks


  • 1
    Olalekan Qayyum Dec 19, 2015 Link to comment

    Good day peeps plz i need ur help on this .have been trying to updatw my lg g3 nd have not been able to update my o.s from 4.4.2 to 5.1,this phone is not given me the option to upgrade my o.s,please help me tge model numb is lg g3 vs985


    • 2
      aleghulamrasool Dec 19, 2015 Link to comment

      By custom rom


      • 2
        aleghulamrasool Dec 19, 2015 Link to comment

        Here is a app cyanogenModrom apk which will solve all your problem


    • Carmelo Rivera 20
      Carmelo Rivera Dec 20, 2015 Link to comment

      If your G3 is a Verizon exclusive, it should have been updated to Lollipop 5.0.1 since April-May 2015. Every version of the G3 has been updated to 5.0 or higher. You have to do some searching...call your carrier. The G3s are about to get Marshmallow 6.0 very soon. Rooted phones receive a notification to update, but it doesn't install the update, you have to revert to stock ROM and then root again if you must.


  • 3
    Achdya Kusumah Dec 19, 2015 Link to comment

    I rooted all of my very first android..till now..and I like and enjoy rooted and major tweak and mod on my phone


  • Xakarier Bashyr 6
    Xakarier Bashyr Dec 19, 2015 Link to comment

    You've saved some lives like mine


  • 4
    Ankur Jain Dec 19, 2015 Link to comment

    A very useful article indeed

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