Install LineageOS on r5

Basic requirements

1. Make sure your computer has working adb and fastboot. Setup instructions can be found here.
2. Enable USB debugging on your device.

Unlocking the bootloader

1. Download Project Spectrum recovery.

2. Download Project Spectrum.

3. Download unlockable bootloader obtained from here.

4. Place the downloaded .zip packages on the root of /sdcard:
   • Using adb: adb push filename.zip /sdcard/
   • You can use any method you are comfortable with. adb is universal across all devices, and works both in Android and recovery mode, providing USB debugging is enabled.
5. If you aren’t already in recovery, reboot into recovery:
   • With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power.
6. Flash Project Spectrum recovery zip and reboot to recovery again:
   • With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power.

7. Flash Project Spectrum zip.

8. Flash unlockable bootloader zip.

9. Reboot to android.

10. Connect the device to your PC via USB.
11. On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:

    adb reboot bootloader
    

    You can also boot into fastboot mode via a key combination:

    • With the device powered off, hold Volume Up + Power.
12. Once the device is in fastboot mode, verify your PC finds it by typing:

    fastboot devices
    

    Tip: If you see no permissions fastboot while on Linux or macOS, try running fastboot as root.

13. Now type the following command to unlock the bootloader:

    fastboot oem unlock
    

14. If the device doesn’t automatically reboot, reboot it. It should now be unlocked.
15. Since the device resets completely, you will need to re-enable USB debugging to continue.

Installing a custom recovery using fastboot

1. Download a custom recovery - you can download TWRP.

2. Connect your device to your PC via USB.
3. On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:

   adb reboot bootloader
   

   You can also boot into fastboot mode via a key combination:

   • With the device powered off, hold Volume Up + Power.
4. Once the device is in fastboot mode, verify your PC finds it by typing:

   fastboot devices
   

   Tip: If you see no permissions fastboot while on Linux or macOS, try running fastboot as root.
5. Flash recovery onto your device:

   fastboot flash recovery twrp-x.x.x-x-r5.img
   

   Tip: The file may not be named identically to what stands in this command, so adjust accordingly.
6. Now reboot into recovery to verify the installation:
   • With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power.

Installing LineageOS from recovery

1. Download the LineageOS install package that you’d like to install or build the package yourself.

   • Optionally, download 3rd party application packages such as Google Apps (use the arm architecture)
2. If you aren’t already in recovery, reboot into recovery:
   • With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power.
3. (Optional, but recommended): Select the Backup button to create a backup. Make sure to create the backup in the external sdcard or copy it into your computer, since the internal storage will be formatted.
4. Select Wipe, then Format Data and continue with the formatting process. This will remove encryption and also delete all files stored in the internal storage.

5. Select Wipe and then Advanced Wipe.

6. Select Cache and System partitions to be wiped and then Swipe to Wipe.

7. Place the LineageOS .zip package, as well as any other .zip packages on the root of /sdcard:
   • Using adb: adb push filename.zip /sdcard/
   • You can use any method you are comfortable with. adb is universal across all devices, and works both in Android and recovery mode, providing USB debugging is enabled.
8. Go back to return to main menu, then select Install.
9. Navigate to /sdcard, and select the LineageOS .zip package.

10. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the package.

11. (Optional): Install any additional packages using the same method.

    Note: If you want any Google Apps on your device, you must follow this step before the first boot into Android!
12. (Optional): Root the device by installing the LineageOS su add-on (use the arm package) or using any other method you prefer.
13. Once installation has finished, return to the main menu, select Reboot, and then System.

Get assistance

If you have any questions or get stuck on any of the steps, feel free to ask on our subreddit or in #LineageOS on freenode.