📱 Custom ROM Notes

Quick-reference guides and notes for Android custom ROM flashing. Companion to ROM Haven wiki.

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Quick start

1. Unlock bootloader → see Bootloader Unlock Guide
2. Flash custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox)
3. Flash ROM → wipe data → install
4. Flash GApps (if needed)
5. Root with Magisk (optional)

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ROM choice guide

Goal	ROM
Maximum privacy	GrapheneOS (Pixel only)
Privacy + app compat	CalyxOS (Pixel / some Fairphone)
Privacy on many devices	DivestOS (200+ devices)
Fully de-Googled	/e/OS (250+ devices)
Widest device support	LineageOS
Pixel UI feel	Pixel Experience / PixelOS
Heavy customization	crDroid / Evolution X
Android 15/16 features	RisingOS
Clean + stable	Paranoid Android

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Flashing basics

# Unlock bootloader (after enabling OEM unlocking in dev options)
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flashing unlock   # Pixel / most devices
fastboot oem unlock        # older devices

# Flash custom recovery
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img

# Boot into recovery
fastboot boot twrp.img     # temp boot (safer first time)

# Sideload ROM via ADB
adb sideload rom.zip

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Root with Magisk

1. Extract boot.img from the ROM zip
2. Patch it in the Magisk app → produces magisk_patched.img
3. fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img
4. Reboot

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Must-have post-flash apps

App	Why
F-Droid	Open-source app store
Aurora Store	Play Store anonymously
Magisk	Root management
LSPosed	Xposed framework
Shizuku	ADB-level access without root
NetGuard	No-root firewall

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Device-specific guides → ROM Haven wiki

See also: android-rom-guide
Maintained by OutrageousStorm