Are you using Google Nexus 4 device? Update it with the latest CM11 custom ROM Firmware. It is being made available by CyanogenMod team. You can download and install it by just following step-by-step manual guide.
Hope you all know that the new Android 4.4 KitKat OS had already been released for LG Nexus 4 device. But this Firmware comes with stock applications, features and capabilities. So, if you want to install the extra features and capabilities that CM 11 custom ROM comes with, you can use this guide to learn how to flash the Google Nexus 4 device with it.
This new version of CM 11 custom ROM is based on Android 4.4 KitKat OS and is customized with important new features, applications and bug fixes that are integrated by the CyanogenMod team.
Moreover, the new CM11 custom ROM comes with a new and redesigned UI that adds more customized and optimized functions. In addition, you can enjoy CM11 M1 custom ROM with an enhanced web browsing experience at higher speeds and performances that cannot be found on the official version of the Android 4.4 Operating System. In addition to that, you’ll be able to save some battery power on the Nexus 4 device with the CM11 performances and optimized design.
Pre-requisites:
- You need to root the Nexus 4 device; you can use the next tutorial for doing that.
- When the root access is gained, the warranty of the device will get void during the process. For restoring the warranty, you need to re-flash the stock Android 4.4 KitKat OS.
- For being able to flash the new CM 11 M1 Firmware on Google Nexus 4 devices, a custom Recovery Image must be flashed. Our recommendations are to use CWM or TWRP recovery applications because the CM11 firmware works better with these two custom recovery tools.
- We will use in our present guide the CWM recovery tool to flash the CM11 on a Nexus 4 device, but the TWRP recovery represents the touch alternative of the CWM.
- So, the root access and the CWM or TWRP recovery tools on the Google Nexus are necessary and without these conditions we cannot safely install the new CM11 M1 based on Android 4.4 KitKat OS on the Nexus 4 device.
- Now, from the recovery tool you should make a Nandroid backup. The Nandroid backup is necessary to make a full backup for your current ROM. Do this backup, because the CM11 M1 custom ROM isn’t an official Android 4.4 Firmware. If something bad happens, and you want to restore your previous old ROM, you can use this Nandroid backup file.
- Important: The CM11 installation process requires making a wipe operation, during which all the data stored into device’ internal memory gets erased, without a wipe, CM11 M1 custom ROM can be flashed.
- A full backup included to sync your contacts, SMS and MMS messages, call logs history, internet settings, market applications and all data that you think is important for you. For saving all these data, you can use suitable applications from Google Play Store.
- A personal computer will be used during the installation process. Then, on this PC you should temporally disable or uninstall all security protections. These kinds of applications can interfere with the flashing process.
- On the same procedure, you’ll use the USB cord to make a connection between the smartphone and the PC.
- Enable the USB debugging option from “menu-settings-developer options”.
- Ensure that the Nexus 4 device’ battery has more than 50 % power left, to prevent a power off in the middle of the flashing guide. If this thing happens, you will risk breaking the device.
- Note that this present step-by-step guide and all the files listed here work and are compatible only with LG Google Nexus 4 device. In case you try it on any other device, you can end up breaking it.
How to Install CM11 M1 custom ROM firmware on Google Nexus 4 device:
- Download the required CM11 M1 Firmware file for the LG Google Nexus 4 from here.
- Download Google Apps pack from here. Note: The Google applications pack is not included into the Firmware file.
- Save the downloaded files on the PC and do not unzip them.
- Now, connect the smartphone to the PC by using the USB cable.
- Next, transfer both the downloaded files from the PC on the Nexus 4 device.
- Disconnect the Nexus 4 device by removing the USB cable.
- Power off the Nexus 4 device.
- Boot the Nexus 4 device in recovery mode.
- Now, from the main menu of the recovery mode, wipe the data and make a clear cache operation.
- The wipe data can be done by selecting “wipe data factory reset” and the clear cache operation by selecting “wipe cache partition” and “wipe dalvick cache”.
- Now, return the LG Google Nexus 4 device to the recovery mode menu.
- From there, select “install zip from SD card” and then select “choose zip from SD card”.
- Browse and select the CM11 M1 transferred file from the Nexus 4 and confirm the installation.
- Install the Google Application pack on the device by applying the similar procedure as above.
- When the flashing process is done, return to the main menu of recovery mode and from there select “reboot system now”.
Troubleshooting: if you want to restore the Nandroid backup file that you’ve created in the first part of our tutorial, you will have to boot the device back into recovery mode. From there you need to select the “backup/restore” option and restore your previous ROM.
That’s all. You’ve done it. You’ve successfully learnt how to flash Android 4.4 KitKat OS based on CM 11 (M1) custom ROM on the LG Google Nexus 4 devices.
For any other supplementary questions please use our comment section below.