How to Install TWRP Custom Recovery on Android

Get access to unofficial software, back up your device, and more

by
Fionna Agomuoh
Fionna Agomuoh
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Fionna Agomuoh is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire. Her writing has appeared in Newsweek, International Business Times, and others.
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Fionna Agomuoh
Updated on July 18, 2020

Make your Android device more customizable with the Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP) Custom Recovery tool, which provides safe access to advanced customization functions. Use TWRP to try unreleased or unofficial software such as customized versions of the Android OS, beta versions of upcoming releases, or apps that are unavailable on the Google Play Store. Use the TWRP interface to install read-only memory (ROM) files, wipe the device clean, back up the device, and restore the device to factory settings, among other actions.

Instructions in this article apply to most smartphones and tablets with Android 7.0 (Nougat) or later.

How to Install TWRP on Android

This method is universal and works for most Android devices.

Before installing TWRP Custom Recovery, make sure your device is rooted, and its bootloader is unlocked. Failing to do so causes issues with the installation and can render the device unusable. Also, back up the device data before rooting.

  1. Go to the Google Play Store, then download and install the Official TWRP app.

  2. Open the app and accept the terms and conditions.

  3. Select the Run with root permissions check box, then select OK.

    If you got this far but don't have root access, flash TWRP on a device with an unlocked bootloader using Fastboot.

  4. Select TWRP Flash, then select Allow for any access requests that appear.

  5. Select Select Device, then choose your device from the list. Either type the name of the device or scroll to search for it.

    Select Device, LG N search, final selected device on TWRP Flash app

    If you don't see the exact model of the device, you cannot go any further or use most of the app's features.

  6. Download the latest TWRP image file for the device and save the file in the internal storage.

  7. Return to the app and select Select a file to flash.

  8. Find and select the image file.

  9. Select Flash to Recovery, then confirm the action. The operation completes in seconds.

    Download checkbox, Flash to Recovery button, Okay button to confirm in TWRP Flash app

Confirm That TWRP Installed Correctly

To see if the setup process worked, when the option to restart your device appears, select Recovery mode. The device restarts and goes to the TWRP interface instead of the Android home screen.