How to Flash a Custom Recovery on the Samsung Galaxy Express (GT-I8730)

Every Android device has, what is called, a recovery image on it. This is basically a part of the Android operating system that you or the manufacturer can access if your device becomes unresponsive and then use it to restore your device.

A custom recovery image, however, is a recovery image that a developer has altered that can not only help the device if it becomes responsive, but also has the added benefits of allowing us to make major changes to the operating system and have even further customizations on your device.

In this procedure, we’ll show you how to flash a custom recovery on your Samsung Galaxy Express (GT-I8730).

After flashing a custom recovery on the Samsung Galaxy Express, you’ll be able to:

• Perform full backups of your device (literally save EVERYTHING from it).
• Increase your device’s performance (after flashing something called a kernel).
• Increase your device’s battery life.
• Flash custom ROMs (these make it possible to flash a newer version of Android, totally new user interfaces, add tons of new features, and much more).

Interested? Here’s how to flash a custom recovery on your Galaxy Express:

 I.  Before You Begin

1.  Charge your device to 75% or more to prevent unwanted shutdowns.

2.  Back up everything important, just in case.

3.  You need to be rooted for this procedure to work.  Use our guide if you are not already rooted.

4.  You’ll need to have unlocked bootloader for this procedure to work.

II.  Necessary Downloads

1.  recovery-clockwork-6.0.4.5-expresslte.img [Download link available in this post under the Recoveries, IMG format section]

2.  Flashify

III.  Installing ClockworkMod Recovery on the Galaxy Express

1.  Connect your device to your PC and the recovery-clockwork-6.0.4.5-expresslte.img file you downloaded above to your device’s internal SD card (do not copy into any folders, just drop it on to the SD card’s main folder).

2.  Disconnect your device and open up the Flashify app from your app drawer.

3.  Grant Superuser access when prompted.

4.  Under the Flash section, tap on Recovery image.

5.  Navigate to the location of recovery-clockwork-6.0.4.5-expresslte.img and select it to flash.

6.  Tap on Yup! on the Flash Recovery? warning popup.

7.  Once flashed, tap on Reboot now.

All set! Now, you can head to our How to Flash a Custom ROM procedure for the Galaxy Express to open up a whole new world of customizations for your Android device!

By the way, don’t be scared, you can always put your device back to stock by heading to our Rooting How To’s section, finding your device, and doing the How to Unroot listed for it there.