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Unfortunately, device manufacturers don't make it easy for you to change the operating system. Installing CyanogenMod requires you to overcome several technical hurdles - and there are other issues to be aware of if you plan to use it on a daily basis. On these pages we'll explain the process, and the potential risks; if you're then ready to take the plunge, we'll guide you through the process of downloading and installing CyanogenMod.
Where Does Cyanogen Come From ?
CyanogenMod is developed and maintained by a large team of volunteers, but it was originally created by Seattle-based coder Steve Kondik, better known by his online handle Cyanogen. Hence, the operating system comprises "Cyanogen's Modifications". It isn't the only customized Android installation out there, but it's one of the most stable and feature-complete, making it a good choice for everyday use.
Like all mobile operating systems, CyanogenMod is often referred to as a "ROM" - a term that harks back to the days when mobile operating systems were embedded into physical microchips. Nowadays, flash memory is used, so the operating system can be updated or replaced: it's more accurately described as "firmware".
The Benefits of CyanogenMod
CyanogenMod offers many features that aren't normally found in the branded firmware used by phone manufacturers (especially if that firmware is based on an older version of Android). In the current stable version of CyanogenMod these include VPN support; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB tethering; audio enhancements; continuous autofocus in the camera and camcorder applications; an incognito mode for the built-in browser; and the ability to over-clock and underclock your device, to balance performance against battery life. There are many interface tweaks on offer, too: for a complete list, see http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Features.
CyanogenMod is lightweight, too: although loaded with customizable options, it takes a minimal approach to preinstalled software, with almost no extraneous applications included by default.
Is it Safe to Use ?
CyanogenMod is based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) - a Google initiative that makes the basic Android source code freely available to anyone who wants to customize and redistribute it. That means you can legally download it and install it on any device you choose.
However, there are still some important issues to take into account before you dive in. For a start, installing a new operating system on any sort of device always involves a small element of risk. So long as you follow the installation instructions carefully, you shouldn't have a problem - after all, millions of people have successfully tried out CyanogenMod before you. But if you do get something wrong, it's eminently possible to leave your phone in a non-bootable state. Recovering from a botched installation such as this can be a daunting and stressful process, and you can't assume that your mobile operator will be able or willing to help you.
Even once CyanogenMod is installed and up and running, your chief source of help is likely to be web forums, not the friendly call centre you may be used to. You'll probably be outside of the terms of your warranty, too: if your phone develops a physical fault, you might want to reinstall the stock operating system, if possible, before sending it back.
Before taking the plunge you should also be aware that - as with most operating systems - it's safest to install CyanogenMod as a clean installation. There's no need to format the device completely: personal data files such as music and videos won't do any harm.
But it's a good idea to wipe all previously installed applications before upgrading, and reinstall them afterwards. If you're using Google backup, your phone numbers and various settings will be automatically restored; but you're likely to lose app-specific data such as saved game positions. If you don't like the sound of that, check online to see whether these files can be backed up and restored at a later date.
Finally, it's important to understand that the CyanogenMod installation process entails "rooting" your phone do. This has implications for security.
What Hardware can Run it ?
The first version of CyanogenMod ran on the HTC Dream, but the current stable edition - CyanogenMod version 7.1 - supports more than 60 devices, with unofficial forks and experimental releases available for many more.
Almost all of these are native Android devices, so superficially the installation is a simple case of replacing one edition of Android with another. However, while the same codebase is used for all devices, each requires its own drivers for things such as the camera and the audio hardware. This means if s necessary to download a specific build for your device. You can always find the latest stable and experimental versions of CyanogenMod for all supported devices via http://tinyurl.com/7uvpw6f.
At this point it's worth taking a moment to explain CyanogenMod version numbers. The current stable release, version 7.1, is based on Android 23, familiarly known as Gingerbread. The next version was supposed to be CyanogenMod 8, based on Android 3 (Honeycomb). But when Google decided not to release the source code for Honeycomb, CyanogenMod 8 had to be shelved. Now the team is working on CyanogenMod 9, based on Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) - but a stable release is some way off, so for now we recommend you stick with version 7.1.
The ClockworkMod Bootloader
CyanogenMod completely replaces your existing Android operating system, so you can't install it from within that system. Unfortunately, stock ROMs normally offer no way to boot into anything else. Before installing, it's therefore necessary to install a bootloader - a tiny program that kicks in as soon as your phone starts up and gives you an opportunity to update the operating system before booting.
The preferred bootloader for CyanogenMod (and for other custom ROMs) is called ClockworkMod. It presents a very simple text-based menu, called the Recovery environment. You can find a guide to using ClockworkMod at http://tinyurl.com/5tav6fs - but in practice it's very intuitive. Simply use the physical volume buttons to move the cursor up and down, and press the home or power button to select items.
Installing software in ClockworkMod is as simple as pointing it at a zip file. Since each CyanogenMod build is specific to a single device, there's no need for a complicated Windows-style installation procedure: all that's needed is to extract all the required files to the right places.
ClockworkMod can also erase your phone's various caches, and reformat its system partitions. If you haven't poked around "under the bonnet" of an Android device before, you may not have realized that the built-in flash storage is divided up just like a regular Linux installation. It's a good idea to completely wipe the system areas before installing CyanogenMod to ensure there's no detritus hanging about to interfere with the new OS installation. Unless you specify a complete factory reset, your personal data won't be lost: this is kept either on a physical SD card or a separate user partition. See our walkthrough opposite for a guide to this procedure.
Rooting Your Device
In order to install ClockworkMod - and to make use of some of the advanced features of CyanogenMod - many phones and tablets need to be "rooted". Put simply, this means enabling applications to take complete control of the device, rather than running with restricted privileges, as is standard. The term derives from the "root" user who has complete control of Unix and Linux systems (the equivalent of an Administrator in Windows).
Running as root allows apps to do things that would otherwise be prohibited. Screenshot tools, ad-blockers, tethering toots and over-clocking utilities all rely on root access. Indeed, even if you don't want to replace your stock firmware with CyanogenMod you might still wish to root your phone to gain access to applications such as these, which you'll find in the Android market.
Be aware, though, that a malicious app running on a rooted device can do more or less anything it likes, from running up your phone bill to stealing passwords. CyanogenMod includes an app called "Superuser" that allows you to grant or deny root privileges to individual apps: keep an eye on this, and consider installing one of the many reputable free Android security apps from the Market.
The precise method used to root a device depends on the hardware and firmware model. In many cases, you can do it with a single click, using the free SuperOneClick tool (http://shortfuse.org). If this doesn't support your device, check the relevant page in the CyanogenMod wiki (http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com) for more information. If that fails, check the forums at www.xda-developers.com and http://rootzwiki.com. These are also good resources if you hit problems or have questions about any other part of the process.
Installing CyanogenMod on the Samsung Galaxy S II
Step 1 :
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| SuperOneClick : Screenshot |
A Start by rooting your phone. Download SuperOneClick from http://shortfuse.org on your PC and extract it. Turn on USB debugging on your phone (under Settings | Applications | Development ) and connect it to your PC with the USB cable. Run superoneclick.exe and click "Root". If the phone isn't recognized, install Samsung Kies. The process takes a few minutes: a notification will pop up when it's done.
Step 2 :
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| Samsung S II: Full Update Guide |
From the Galaxy SII page on the CyanogenMod wiki, download the codeworkx kernel (containing ClockworkMod) and the Heimdall Suite (for installing it) to your PC. Then scroll down the page to find links to zip files containing the CyanogenMod 7 ROM and the latest version of the Google Apps. Download these to the phone's internal storage - not the microSD card, if you have one.
Step 3 :
Extract the Heimdall zip file into a folder on your PC. Then reboot your phone. While it's rebooting, hold down the Home and Volume-Down keys till the phone enters download mode. One your PC, launch zadig.exe (from the Drivers directory in the Heimdall folder) and enable Options | List All Devices. Pick Samsung Android as shown and click install Driver. Close the tool when this is done.
Step 4 :
Open the coderworkx ClockworkMod archive (use a tool such as the free 7-Zip archiver) and extract zimage into the Heimdall directory. Reboot the phone, holding down Home and Volume-Down for download mode. In Windows, open a command prompt, cd to Heimdall directory and enter : "heimdall flash - kernel zimage". ClockworkMod will be installed and the phone will reboot.
Step 5 :
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| ClockworkMod Recovery |
From the menu, back up your stock firmware before installing CyanogenMod (volume buttons to navigate to "backup and restore", then power button selects). Backups are written to internal storage. When done, select "mounts and storage" and format the cache, data and system partitions. Don't format the SD card !
Step 6 :
Finally, select "install zip from sdcard", then "choose zip from sdcard" for a directory listing. Select the CyanogenMod zip and confirm the installation. Once it's done, repeat the process to install the zip containing the Google Apps. Return to the main menu. Select "reboot system now" to boot your new OS for the first time.
Installing the Google Apps
The first time you boot into CyanogenMod is an exciting experience; but if you've installed only the standard zip package you'll quickly realise there's no Gmail app, no Google maps - and no Market to download them from.
This is because these applications are owned by Google, and aren't freely licensed in the same way that Android itself is. But you can easily download them separately, and install them using ClockworkMod in just the same way as the operating system itself. CyanogenMod maintains a page of links to the latest version of the Google Applications : http://tinyurl.com/3pml38l. For CyanogenMod 7, there's only one archive to download and install, regardless of your device.
When you boot into CyanogenMod after installing the Google Apps you'll be greeted by Google's welcome screen - just as if you were switching on a new device for the first time. You'll be prompted to log into your Google account, restore backed up settings associated with this account and configure Gmail. You can also now access the Market and choose which other Google apps to install.
Note : Installing this software can void your warranty and expose you to malware
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