How to Flash a Custom Recovery on the T-Mobile Sidekick 4G

Installing a custom recovery on your Sidekick 4G is the last step you’ll have to do before you are ready to flash custom ROMs.  A custom recovery brings a lot more functionality than the stock recovery and can be used to make backups, delete/wipe cache/data, and of course flash custom ROMs.  The guide below will show you how to install ClockworkMod Recovery (a very popular custom recovery) on the T-Mobile Sidekick 4G and get you started in the custom ROM department.

I.  Before You Begin

1.  Back up all the data you feel is important before you begin.

2.  Make sure that you have at least 75% of your device charged before you start with the procedure.

3.  You need to be rooted before you can install ClockworkMod Recovery.  Use our guide on the same to help you with this.

II.  Necessary Downloads

1.  recovery.zip

2.  update.zip

III.  Installing ClockworkMod Recovery on the Sidekick 4G

1.  Extract recovery.zip to a folder on your desktop.  You should end up with a file called just recovery with no extension in this folder.

2.  Connect your device and copy both recovery and the update.zip file you downloaded above to the root of your SD card (not to any subfolders).

3.  Go to the Play Store on your device and install Root Browser Lite.  You can also install this via the web version of Google Play.

4.  Disconnect your device and open up the Root Browser Lite app.

5.  Copy the recovery file and navigate to \system\bin on your device.

6.  Replace the recovery file in this location with the one you copied.

And you’re done!

IV.  Accessing ClockworkMod Recovery

1.  Install Quick Boot from the Play Store.

2.  Select the Recovery option.

 V.  Flashing Custom ROMs (Optional)

If you are ready to flash custom ROMs on your device, head to the next procedure to learn how to do that.

If this procedure helped you please thank/donate to the original developers here.

If you need help with this procedure, please ask in the comments below or in the forum.

This is part of our Android How To’s. We have how to’s on rooting, loading ROMs, and tons of other tips and tricks for your specific device or for Android devices in general! For all of our Android How To’s, head here.