How to Install CyanogenMod on the Oppo Find 7a / Oppo Find 7 (Video)
One of the Oppo Find 7a and Find 7’s biggest downfalls has to be the software. Misspelled alerts, strange cartoony icons and animations, it just doesn’t scream premium in the way it’s hardware does. Thankfully though it’s easy to flash a much better software onto the Find 7’s; CyanogenMod to the rescue. The same operating system that is on the Oppo’s alleged sister company’s main device, the OnePlus One, can easily be downloaded from CyanogenMod’s own site and flashed in no time flat.
All you need is to root the Find 7, download the ROM, and flash it via a custom recovery. Here’s the breakdown and video of how to get CyanogenMod on your Oppo Find 7a or Find 7.
I. Root the Oppo Find 7a / Oppo Find 7
1. Head to our Oppo How To’s section and then choose which Oppo device you have and follow the how to root for that specific device.
2. Return here to continue.
II. Flash CyanogenMod on the Oppo Find 7a / Oppo Find 7
1. Head to our Oppo ROMs section, choose your specific device, click on the CyanogenMod ROM you want to flash.
2. Click on the download link there and then find the download on the developer’s page and save the .zip file to your desktop.
3. Plug the phone in via USB.
4. Copy the ROM file to the root of the device’s sdcard storage.
5. Unplug the phone.
6. Turn off the phone.
7. Hold down volume down and power until it vibrates then let go to get into recovery mode.
8. Tap Backup.
9. Tap Backup and swipe to confirm.
10. Once done backing up, tap Wipe.
11. Tap Wipe Data.
12. Once done wiping, tap Install then choose the ROM .zip file and flash it.
13. Tap Reboot.
III. Install the Google Apps (optional, but you know you want them)
1. Download the Google Apps package and save it to your computer.
2. Plug the phone in via USB.
3. Copy the Google Apps file to the root of the device’s sdcard storage.
4. Unplug the phone.
5. Turn off the phone.
6. Hold down volume down and power until it vibrates then let go to get into recovery mode.
7. Tap Install then choose the Google Apps .zip file and flash it.
8. Tap Reboot.
Feel free to head back to the Oppo ROMs section to find other ROMs for the Find 7 you might enjoy besides CyanogenMod and check out the Oppo How To’s section for other How To’s for both devices as well.
Do you have video on how to root the Find 7 on it´s way? I´m runnig the Find 7, X9076 with ColorOS 1.2.3i wich do not support SuperSU if I understand it correctly..?
Coming this week!
Awesome!
what folder do i drag the file into? im on windows
What file? The ROM?
On to the root of the devices storage (I.e on the phones storage but not inside any other folders inside the storage). Then find it in recovery to flash.
Is the root also for the Oppo Find 7 with ColorOS v1.2.4i?
No. Find 7 root coming this week.
@disqus_GjwBKx6avN:disqus Find 7 root is available – https://theunlockr.com/2014/07/24/how-to-root-the-oppo-find-7-video/
I’ve got this android.process.media has stopped error after flashing the CM. What should I do ??
Boot back into recovery, wipe data, and reflash the ROM.
Video for Oppo Find 7 root on it’s way?
Yes by Friday.
Great! 🙂
@mcnugget This was added by the way 🙂
Just wondering after succesfully rooting my Find 7 I went to the OPPO Roms section but there is nothing there…..Can I use the ROMS from the Find 7a section????
Sorry, just added it! Go look under Find 7 now.
I ended up installing the find 7a version…. Is that OK then???
If it flashed and no issues then yup, no problem. Enjoy!
After I installed CM11, my mobile network didn’t work 🙁
Any suggestion? Please advice. Thanks.
Are calls working but not internet? If so head to or internet settings section find your carrier and put the settings in. http://theunlockr.com/internet-mms-settings
after being harassed for the past month about the find 7 root video …….David Cogen ….THANK YOU!!!!. I now miss color os…(just a little). ok…..now that i have cyanogenmod installed, what do i do about 4k video recording, 50 mp pics, slow motion record
ing and (the most important to me) maxx audio ???? can i still access these features somehow???
Ha, I was harassed wasn’t I? You’re welcome! Hope it helps!
I actually haven’t gotten a chance to mess with it in that much detail, so you’ll have to check Cyanogen’s site or flash it yourself and check (easy to flash back by flashing a different ROM and I’ll do an unroot video ASAP). I doubt he’ll have Maxx Audio per se but he’ll definitely have his own audio enhancements I’d imagine (and they could be better even).
also, if it appeases the mass. would you mind making a video about your favorite mods (aside from cyanogen), favorite extra features downloaded, tips and tricks to take advantage of the oppo find 7. once again thanks
Yeah, I actually have been wanting to do more videos/articles like that. Can you give me an example of a tip or trick you’d want to see? Thanks, @freddy !
Well, I’m a novice to flash mod game. On other phones (all htc evo,note 2,3) i relied on go launcher,next launcher etc…so now just curious what other awesome stuff you can show me on rooted find 7 (best audio app, best mods, best features etc…
I have installed CM11 on my Oppo Find 7. It looks great! No problems at this time.
Thanks for the instruction video.
Welcome! Enjoy!
does it still has the tap to wake function???
Yes it does.
cool, thanks
Can Cyanogenmod run the find 7’s QHD display? Or is it limited to 1080p?
ok david cogen……here is the mission…..if u choose to accept……..PLEASE ACCEPT!!!!! color os camera app for cyanogenmod find 7s or alternative camera that can compare to color os camera app. I did my research to no avail. you are humanity last hope (mainly find 7s cyanogenmod user) of survival. any info would be great. {FYI} also -maxx audio- has nothing on -viper4android- i know I’m late to the game but I just installed viper4android and its MIND BLOWING!!! the sound that my phone can now produce through headphones, speakers and bluetooth. thanks again for all the work
Ha, I’ll see what I can find, but not sure a developer has attempted to port the app yet. Let me see…
As for Viper4Android, tell me more… Can you link to it? Maybe I’ll do a quick tutorial on how to install that for anyone else using the Find 7 if you don’t mind!
well, viper4android can be installed on rooted phones (2) different ways. one by flashing it through http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2191223 and the other in google play store. but the one in google play store is NOT from the official developer. viper4android has got TONS! of settings that might overwhelm some user but if you like tweaking and tuning your audio, then this app is it. its got settings for you to tweak when your on headphones, speakerphone and bluetooth and within each category you can save and load these settings separately with different profile names to best suit your needs. hope this helps a little David
btw, how is the search for the find 7s cyanogenmod camera alternative going? I’m suffering with stock cyanogenmod camera app. compared to color os camera app it takes HORRIBLE!!! pics. If you couldn’t find anything then I’m forced to re-install color os until this is resolved. I LOVE everything i have done so far with cyanogen on my find 7 and HATE to lose it all, but it’s worth to lose it all just to get my camera working the way it was meant to work and how do I revert back to color os safely?
Try the apk in the thread (third post down or so). Let me know if it works.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=52460000
hey david, so apk for the camera app that you recommended on xda didnt work. i downloaded and installed the oppo camera apk through file manager and once done, i try to open the app but tells me “unfortunately app has stopped” any reason u can think of that this is happening? also any new updates as far as how to better improve the overall experience of the oppo find 7 running cyanogenmod (especially the camera)
Aw, sorry it was worth a shot. Check with the people who posted it on that thread to see if they can explain how they got it to work.
Can someone advise as to whether this process also removes the 3GB apps partition limit and convert to unified storage on the FInd 7 post install of CM11.
Just flashing this doesn’t fix that, but you can do this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2796232
Maybe I should do a video on that…
Many thanks for the confirmation David. Much appreciated and apologies for the delayed reply!
And the idea for a video of the conversion to unified storage for Oppo FInd 7 would definitely be fantastic!!!
Thanks, good job, but the way to uninstall ??? to stock ColorOS 1.2.4i. ? a link ?
If you followed the instructions just restore the backup you made before flashing cyanogen. In also going to be doing a how to unroot entirely this week.
installation I performed explicitly by your procedure. Does this mean that I can click on the cell phone factory reset ?
No. Factory Reset will end up still having CyanogenMod. You need to boot into recovery mode, and select Restore and choose the Backup you should have made in step 8 of Section II. Good luck.
step 1 is factory reset or recovery ?
Do this:
1. Turn off the phone.
2. Hold down volume down and power until it vibrates then let go to get into recovery mode.
3. Tap Restore.
4. Choose the Backup file you made when doing the tutorial originally and swipe to confirm.
Good luck!
thank you very much. I hope that the phone will not die.
managed to cool, thanks again.
Hi, what about Paranoid Android for F7 ? will it be ?
Please contact the developer of that ROM for updates on that.
you know – Paranoid android is installed in the same way as CM in your video ?
failed to install custom ROM..any help?
What exactly is the error? And at what step?
Hi ! I would like to ask, if someone ported a ROM which is meant for other device onto my device, and the updater of the ROM prompts an update, should I update it through the phone? cuz I thought the update might not be supported on my device.
If you are already running the ROM updates from that specific ROM developer for that specific ROM will be fine.
Porting a ROM means taking it and making it work for another device. If they’ve done that and you’re running it fine, the updates from that same developer also will work on that same device.
Thank you! I’ve just found out that this update thing is called OTA, haha, Thanks again !
hi i just wanna know if i install this thing do i can still get back to color os ? thanks in advance and godbless
Search the site for the unrooting procedure. Here it is for the find 7
theunlockr.com/2014/08/22/how-to-unroot-the-oppo-find-7-video/
hi.. i am at the last step to instal cynogenmod.. however, its always failed. help pls
Hi, i am at the last part of the CM installation, but it always failed, I have tried other file, still the same result. on the screen is says, no MD5 file found. HELP PLS!!
Redownload it, that means it wasn’t totally downloaded properly.
I have tried all the files from the website.. Still doesn’t work ..
Did you try this one? http://download.cyanogenmod.org/get/jenkins/83170/cm-11-20140911-NIGHTLY-find7.zip
Still doesn’t work.. T.T
Thank u so much though
I am getting the message that I cannot copy the item and that the device has either stopped responding or has been disconnected. please help!
Means that means the drivers are not installed correctly. Try reinstalling them or using a different USB port on the computer.
Thank you. I got it to work but now I am getting the error when flashing saying ‘can’t install this package on top of incompatible data. Please try another package or run a factory reset
E:Error executing update binary in zip ‘/internal_sd/cm-11-20 140911-NIGHTLY-find7.zip’
Do steps 10 – 13 in Section II to wipe the data and then flash the ROM.
Oh yea. Woops. missed that part. Thanks.
I’m loving Cyanogenmod on my Find 7! It literally feels like a different phone! One thing though, I liked the stock camera app better. Anyway to get it back?
Try this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=52460000
dear david, i had already istalled the cm11s on my oppe find 7a, but then it failed to mount my sd card. it cant even access to my files in my internal storage and my sd card. how do i solve this problem? thank you
If I installed CM11S . can it automatically update the latest firmware or I will have to download it from the website ?
CM11S should have OTA updates but you’ll have to check with the developer of the ROM for more info on updating it.
Hi, i am at the step 12 of the CM installation, but it always fails, I have tried other files, it keeps saying installation failed… Thanks
Hey, when I have it installed and working, I won’t recieve mobile data anymore..any help?
You need to setup the APN.
Can’t root my phone, It’s always show “installation fail” I use find 7 with color 2.0 Kitkat 4.4.2 can you tell me how to fix this ???
At what step did you get that error exactly?
III. Root the find 7
At step 8, It say “installation fail please reboot and try again.”
Where is there III. Root the Find 7 in this tutorial? Are you referring to another one? If so, please comment on that tutorial instead. Or are you referring to the flashing of the Google Apps in this tutorial or flashing CyanogenMod?
how to install CM12 ? the same as for cm11 ?
Same. Just download CM12 instead of 11
Hi David!
I cant install CM11.. the menu after restarting oppo isnt the same as it appears on the demo video..
Is it needed to enable USB debugging mode in the developer options? for both rooting and flashing?
Yes it is required.
Hi David, first of all thank you! I followed all the steps for rooting and then flashing cm on my oppo find 7. However, at the end after I reboot the device, I keep getting “Unfortunately, Setup Wizard has stopped.” and “System UI has stopped.” I would appreciate any help. Thanks!
No problem! Happy to help!
I’d boot into recovery, wipe data, then flash the ROM again. Good luck!
Hey, I tried that a few times. Should I try cm11k
Yeah I’d try that or any other ROM. Just make sure to wipe data in recovery before flashing it.
Thanks brother, cm11 seems to work fine for now. I guess I will wait for an update for cm12.
Hello, just two concerns, how’s the battery life on CM11S? (I am not going for CM 11 nightly because it’s not stable) I am on ColorOS v2.0.0i Kitkat now and the battery life sucks (2-3 hours SOT).
Which ROM would you recommend me to use? CM11S or ColorOS? In terms of battery life, and other features, like gestures and motions.
I’d go with CM11S over ColorOS, Cyanogen and his team are just better at developing software, period. They’re going to do a better job of optimizing the system overall and that’ll mean more battery life. Good luck and let me know if that proves true!
Hello; I finished the installation but i dont have mobile data!!! :S is there any special configuration?
Do this – https://theunlockr.com/2014/08/26/how-to-setup-your-internet-mms-settings-on-an-android-phone/
Thank you very much! problem solved… i read the other questions and I have configured the APN 😀
Happy to help!
Hi. I’m Shah from Malaysia.. a newbie here. 1stly.. thank
you so much to admin, all moderator & theunlockr team member.. you all are awesome. I’ve
successfully change my Oppo Find 7 ColorOS v1.2.8i to CyanogenMod 12 Nightly [v20150326].
I’m so thankful & greatly appreciated. Dear mr David Cogen…
I wanna request for da Oppo Privacy Apps like Guest Mode aka Visitor Mode. Is
there anyone who can help me ? Thanks in advance. Pls excuse my bad English..
=)
Hello Shah!
Unfortunately, those apps most likely won’t work since you aren’t using ColorOS anymore. I’d recommend either googling for their APK files and trying to install them and see if that works otherwise, just check the Play Store for third-party apps that do the same thing.
Good luck!
Hi David i try to install google aps for CM, but i got i message error : can please help me. thank you
Try again and redownload the Google Apps package first to make sure it wasn’t corrupted.
David, the recovery installer file is no longer shared by XDA Dev. Can you share us the file? Many thanks
Unfortunately if it’s not there I don’t have access to the file. You’ll have to reach out to them and see if they can post it elsewhere.
Hi David,
I been trying to in install the cyanagen Mod on my OPPO Find 7a. After i rooted my phone, i put in the Zip Cyanogen mode file to install and i have wipe all my data. But i failed to install the cyanogen mode. Currently i have no OS to run and couldnt even restore my phone. Any Advice?
Appreciate your help
Do this to undo it – https://theunlockr.com/2014/08/22/how-to-unroot-the-oppo-find-7-video/
Hi David,
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have been trying but I think the installer recovery has been removed.
fast boot… press the power button for 6 seconds to exit and reboot..
i pressed it 6 seconds and it keep restarting and show this message..i tried for many times..how to solve this?
Hi David, after flashing the cyanogen mod, i tap reboot and im stuck on the fastboot screen! i cant go anywhere, not even to the custom recovery! please help me 🙁
After what step did that happen?
After i followed your guide on how to flash the rom. Anyways, I managed to get out from the fastboot screen by plugging my phone back to my pc, go to adb command and type fastboot oem unlock. Thanks for the prompt reply though!
Aw ok well glad you got it to work!
How did you access the adb command. Whenever i try to type it in, it says path not found.
hi david,i just waiting untill 18 hours for reboot process and it doesnt finish yet.i cant go to custom recovery..what must i do now
what step are you stuck at?
i had finished all step and wait untill my device reboot but it doesnt finsh yet untill now..
Ok, so you managed to flash CyanogenMod in section II and then when you put Google Apps on the phone and tried to install that it won’t reboot? Please be as specific as possible so we can not go back and forth over and over 🙂
im sorry..after i managed 2 flash cyanogenmod then i try to reboot my device but the process doesnt finish untill now
Ok, so sounds like it either got corrupted or you flashed the wrong version for your device. Is your phone the Find 7 or Find 7a? If so head here to unroot it and get it back to stock – https://theunlockr.com/2014/08/22/how-to-unroot-the-oppo-find-7-video/
Hello, David!
I need help. I have finished flashing the ROM and after rebooting, my phone is at “Android is starting” where it’s preparing the apps and after that the Cynogenmod logo pops out all over and over again, like there’s a bootloop there. What did I do wrong there? What should I do? :/
If you didn’t wipe data first that can happen or if the ROM file is corrupted. Just boot into recovery and flash your backup or a different ROM (or even try to flash the same ROM again after redownloading it). Just make sure to wipe data before you flash it.
Hi, my find 7 stuck on the fastboot too “it says press the power button for 6 seconds to exit and reboot”.
i back up my data and i did wipe data before i flash it. help me. i can’t go to anywhere as in now. cannot attemp to go in recovery or anything. just oppo logo, then comes out fastboot again and again and again david. please help me.
Can you not get the phone to turn off? Then hold volume down and power and keep holding it until recovery comes up?
hii. i got this problem also how can i solve this problem. please
For @faiqmahmudin:disqus & @disqus_d4dgTIpyf6:disqus It sounds like you all might have the wrong Google Apps for the version of CyanogenMod. The one I link to here is for 11, if you have CyanogenMod 12 or a different version you need the Google Apps for that version. Post links of the ROM you downloaded please.
it’s not working pleas help me
hello david.
i did al the steps. after the reboot step theres coming ” Fastboot.. Press the power button for 6 seconds to exit and reboot.”
i did that and it starts for like 2 seconds andd than it’s the same again with fastboot.
What shall i do pleas help me
What step exactly did you reboot at that it got stuck?
after the last point where i tap Reboot
OK, so sounds like you might have flashed the wrong Google Apps. What version of CyanogenMod did you flash 11 or 12? Just paste a link to the ROM you downloaded and I can check from there.
Hi David, Thanks for the tutorial, it has been really helpful. Unfortunately I have an issue installing the new rom nightly cm13. I have followed all of your steps, and I am stuck pretty much at the end.
I do wipe, then install, select my rom (cm-13.0-20160714-NIGHTLY-find7s.zip), then swipe to confirm flash
It then fails saying: E:Error executing updater binary in zip ‘/sdcard/cm13.0-20160714-NIGHTLY-find7s.zip’
Do you have any idea of how to fix this problem ?
Many thanks in advance !!
Remi
Hi David, Thanks for the tutorial, it has been really helpful. Unfortunately I have an issue installing the new rom nightly cm13. I have followed all of your steps, and I am stuck pretty much at the end.
I do wipe, then install, select my rom (cm-13.0-20160714-NIGHTLY-find7s.zip), then swipe to confirm flash
It then fails saying: E:Error executing updater binary in zip ‘/sdcard/cm13.0-20160714-NIGHTLY-find7s.zip’
Do you have any idea of how to fix this problem ?
Many thanks in advance !!
Remi
I also got stuck on the “Fastboot.. Press the power button for 6 seconds to exit and reboot.”
Whatever I hold volume down, volume up, or just the power button, it goes into that message for a few seconds and then it just turns off.
I installed version 13.0, since it was the latest stable version in the cyanogenmod website.
OK, so you already rooted, confirmed that you have a custom recovery, then you already Flashed Cyanogen 13 through recovery? Then you should flash Gapps in recovery as well and reboot into normal from recovery. I’m confused as to why you guys are in fastboot and not recovery. What numbered step in this tutorial are you doing when this happens? Thanks!
this is the solution, i hope it work for you
fastboot devices
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot flash recovery “yourrecovery”.img
goodluck
worked thx
Hi David! My phone have some problems which is cant turn on wifi, bluetooth and hotspot… How to solve this issue? Btw, im currently running coloros 2.0.0i
If you are on the normal colorOS and stock, you need to contact the manufacturer for technical support like normal.
Hello David! Im currently running spectrum v1.3i beta for my find 7a, i wanted to change this spectrum with nameless rom and i already did (flash firmware for find7-flash lvmsetup-factory reset-wipe dalvik cache-wipe cache-wipe data-wipe system-flash nameless rom-flash gapps-reboot) then i waiting for reboot to complete but then it stuck on bootanimation. I waited about 1 hour and nothing ever happened. What’s the issue actually?
Re download the ROM zip file put it back on the phone replacing the one you have there now, boot into recovery, wipe data, and flash it. Sometimes they get corrupted during download. If that doesn’t work you’ll need to try another ROM for now and contact the ROM developer for help with his ROM. Good luck!
I have downloaded fully completed zip file btw. It also happened on omni ROM stuck at bootanimation…
Are you wiping data before flashing the ROM?
Yeah i did (factory reset-wipe dalvik/cache-wipe system-wipe data)
Then it might not be compatible with your particular model. You need to flash a different ROM that you know works and then you can get your phone to work at least. After that reach out to the developer of the ROM and let him know and see if he has more info on his ROM.
Alright buddy thank you for the info! I would like to ask more, how about cm13 on find 7a? Does it support lvm partition?
Hi,
I following the all the step in Section II and reboot. The phone became completely dead. Black screen, no power!!! I have Find 7a, X9007, I installed cm-13.0-20161220-SNAPSHOT-ZNH5YAO3XL-find7.zip
Please help!
Thanks!