Changelog:
- Updated to latest Omni.
- Expanding your phone using a memory card.
- The camera works.
- Google Apps fixed.
- Fixed a bug with the lack of memory.
- GPS bugs fixed.
- Radio works.
- Bluetooth works.
- Some applications changed.
The process mentioned below is considered to be of much risk and a slight change can completely damage your smartphone. So I recommend to follow each and every step at your own risk. If by mistake any damage occurs to your Galaxy Gio then neither I nor the developers of this ROM will be held responsible for that. Although there are least chances that your phone will get damaged. This guide is only for Samsung Galaxy Gio having model number GT-S5660. Installing this on any other device or variant will result into unwanted outcomes or bricked device. So verify your device model number from Homescreen–> Menu–>Settings –> About Phone before moving further.
Pre-Requisites:
- Make sure your phone has sufficient battery backup as lack of battery power may increase the risk of interruption during the flashing process.
- This process will wipe out every data from your phone including your contacts, messages, apps, memos, call logs etc. So it is recommended to take a complete backup of everything before proceeding ahead.
- You might be knowing that a folder called EFS present in your phones system directory contains all your phones specific information such as the IMEI, wireless devices MAC addresses, product code, and much more. If by mistake this folder gets wiped out then your device will be completely useless & will no longer be recognized by your carrier. Refer our article to backup and restore EFS/IMEI data:
- Make sure you have installed mobile specific drivers on your PC. This is important so to recognize your phone when connected via USB cable. You can install them by installing Samsung Kies or manually install them from the link given below:
- Make sure that your Galaxy Gio is rooted. Also a custom recovery like CWM or TWRP must be installed. If you haven’t done it yet, then follow our guide to do so:
- Your Galaxy Gio must have latest CWM recovery to flash this Android L themed ROM. Detailed steps to install latest CWM recovery 6.0.5.3 are mentioned below:
Step 2: Now power off your Galaxy Gio.
Step 3: Boot your device into recovery mode now. For doing so, press and hold home button + volume up + power button simultaneously until the recovery mode appears.
Step 4: In recovery mode, using Volume keys navigate to the Install from SD card and select it using Home (middle) button to install this latest CWM 6.0.5.3 recovery.
After successful flashing of the latest CWM 6.0.5.3 recovery, let’s proceed to Android L themed ROM installation process.
Procedure to install Android Lollipop themed ROM on Galaxy Gio:
Procedure:
Step 1: Download the ROM and Google Apps zip package files on your Computer. Do not extract them.
Step 2: Now connect your Galaxy Gio to Computer, enable Mass storage mode and copy both the zip files on your phones SD card. Do not place them in deep directories.
Step 3: Safely disconnect your Galaxy Gio from computer and switch it off completely.
Step 4: Boot your phone into CWM recovery mode now. For doing so, press and hold ‘Home Button (middle button) + Volume up + Power Button’ simultaneously until you land into CWM recovery mode.
Note: Touch will not work in recovery, so you’ll have to use Volume Up and Down keys for navigation and Home button for selection.
As soon as you enter the CWM recovery, take a complete backup of your current ROM. Such backup is called as nandroid backup which basically is the backup of your entire operating system & is much helpful in times of failed installation.
Refer our detailed article for taking Nandroid backup:
Step 5: For taking a complete nandroid backup, navigate to the ‘backup & restore’ option on the recovery mode itself and on the next screen select ‘backup’ option. This will make a complete nandroid backup of your current ROM and it will be saved in your phones SD card under the name ‘clockworkmod’.
Step 6: Then you need to wipe the data and cache partitions from your phones memory. For doing so, navigate to the ‘wipe data/factory reset’ option using volume keys. Then select it using Home button. On the next screen select Yes option to start the wiping process. Similarly navigate to the ‘wipe cache partition’ option and select it to wipe the caches.
Note: This step will clear entire data from your phones memory including contacts, messages, apps, memos, call logs etc. So take a complete backup of every data before attempting this step.
Step 7: Return back to the main menu and select the Advanced option. On the next screen select Reboot Recovery option.
Wait until you boot again into recovery.
Let’s flash the Android L themed ROM now.
Step 8: Return back and select the ‘install zip from SD card ‘ option. Then on the next screen select ‘choose zip from SD card’ option. This will display all the files & folders present on your external SD card. Just select the Android Lollipop themed ROM zip package file which you’ve copied earlier. Press ‘Yes’ option on the next screen to initiate the actual flashing process. Just wait few minutes to complete the Omni ROM flashing process.
Step 9: After successfully completing the flashing process, select ‘wipe data/factory reset’ option followed by ‘wipe cache partition’ option on the recovery mode to clear all your data & caches from the phones memory respectively.
Note: This step is essential to overcome the boot loop issue.
Step 10: Similarly flash the Google Apps (containing Google Play Store, Maps, Gmail, GTalk etc.) as you’ve flashed the Android Lollipop themed ROM. Just remember not to wipe data/cache after flashing it.
Step 11: That’s all! After implementing everything mentioned above just reboot your Galaxy Gio by selecting ‘reboot system now’ option from the recovery mode. You’ll notice that the first boot takes more time to start than usual.
Note: If you want to restore back your previous saved Rom, then boot your Galaxy Gio into recovery mode and select ‘Backup and Restore’ option and then on next page select ‘Restore’ option. Then select the saved ROM you want to restore.
Good job! Your Samsung Galaxy Gio GT-S5660 smartphone has been successfully updated to the latest Android Lollipop themed Omni custom ROM. Enjoy and experience the latest Android Lollipop like feel on your phone. Also don’t forget to share your views after using it. Finally, if you come across any difficulty while flashing this ROM or have any issue regarding this guide then do inform me through the comments. Till then Enjoy!
