How To Load a Custom ROM on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Once you’ve rooted your Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the next logical step is to try your hand at flashing some custom ROMs. Upgrade your OS, add Google Wallet, increase performance, change themes, and much more. Here’s how.

I. Before You Begin

1. You must have done our How To Root the Samsung Galaxy Nexus procedure first, then come to this one to continue.

II. Flash a Custom Recovery Image

1. Open the Android market on your device and search for ROM Manager. Install it once you find the free version.

2. Open ROM Manager and select Flash Custom Recovery, choose your device and wait for it to finish.

III. Load a Custom ROM

1. Head over to our ROMs section, choose your device.

2. Select a ROM for your device and save it to your computer (do NOT extract it, leave it as a .zip file).

3. Plug your phone in and mount the internal storage so we can transfer files to it.

4. Copy the ROM .zip file over to the root of the internal storage (NOT in any folders, just on the internal storage or sdcard itself).

5. Turn the phone off, then turn the phone back on by holding down Volume Down and Volume Up buttons and tap Power button until the device vibrates, then let go of the power button but keep holding the volume buttons until the recovery mode comes up.

6. Once in recovery mode, scroll to Backup, then select Backup and wait for the phone to backup its current ROM.

7. Once it is done, select Wipe Data

8. Then select Install zip from SD Card

9. Select Choose zip from sd card.

10. Select the ROM’s zip file you loaded onto the internal storage or sd card earlier and wait for it to flash.

11. Once done, select reboot system now.

12. (Optional) Repeat to load a different ROM.