Owners of Nexus 4 (aka mako) can now enjoy the latest Android 7.1 Nougat features on their phone, thanks to the release of Nitrogen OS from the industrious XDA Developers. The Nitrogen OS (N2 OS) custom ROM is based on Android Open Source Project (AOSP), whose development started in September 2016.
The N2 OS ROM comes with SuperUser app included and hence there is no need to flash the SuperSu root app separately. However, those who want to unroot the phone for some reason can do so, using the unroot app for the Nitrogen OS ROM.
Key points to remember
- Once you unroot the phone, SuperSu can be found in the app drawer and it should work without any hassles.
- After you reboot the phone, the app icon will disappear from app drawer but SuperSu will still work on your phone.
Interested users can go ahead and install the latest Android 7.1 based Nitrogen OS ROM on their Nexus 4, using the step-by-step guide provided below.
IBTimes UK reminds readers it will not be held liable for any damage to device during or after the Nougat firmware installation. Users are advised to proceed at their own risk.
Pre-requisites
- The instructions given in this guide are meant for the international variant of Nexus 4 aka mako only. Verify device model number by navigating to Settings > About Phone
- Ensure the phone has at least 80% battery charge to prevent unexpected device shutdown (due to battery drain) while installing the ROM
- Back up data and settings using a recommended custom recovery tool, like ClockworkMod (CWM) or TWRP, as it creates a complete image of the existing phone setup. In Recovery, choose Backup and Restore and tap Backup
- Verify correct USB drivers for the phone are installed on the computer
- Enable USB Debugging mode via Settings > Developer Options (if running Android 4.0 or above) or Settings > Applications > Development (if running Android 2.3 or earlier)
- Ensure that the device is rooted with CWM recovery installed and its bootloader is unlocked
Downloads Required
AOSP based Android 7.1 Nitrogen OS ROM for Nexus 4 (mako)
Steps to Install AOSP based Android 7.1 Nitrogen OS ROM on Nexus 4
Step 1 - Download Android 7.1 Nitrogen OS custom ROM for Nexus 4 on the computer
Step 2 - Connect and mount the phone's USB mass storage on computer with USB cable
Step 3 - Now, copy the downloaded N2 OS ROM zip file to the root folder on the phone's SD card
Step 4 - Power off the phone and disconnect its USB cable from computer
Step 5 - Boot the device into Bootloader Mode by pressing and holding Volume Up, Volume Down and Power buttons together
Step 6 - Once the phone enters into Bootloader mode, select CWM Recovery and perform a full data wipe task by clicking Wipe Data/Factory Reset. Use the Volume keys to navigate between options and Power button to select an option in the Recovery Mode
Step 7 - Perform Wipe Cache Partition and wait until the process completes
Step 8 - Perform Wipe Dalvik Cache as well. To do this, go to 'advanced' option and then click Wipe Dalvik Cache. This will help in preventing boot loop issues or any boot ROM related errors during firmware installation
Step 9 - Then return to the main recovery menu and choose Install Zip from SD card
Step 10 - Click Choose Zip from SD card. Use volume keys to navigate to the AOSP ROM zip file that you copied earlier to your phone's SD card and choose it by tapping the Power button. Confirm the ROM installation on next screen and the installation process will begin
Note: Repeat Step 9 and Step 10 to install Google Apps (Gapps) as well
Step 11 - Once the ROM and Gapps installation completes, go to "+++++Go Back+++++" and select Reboot System Now in the Recovery menu
The phone will now reboot and the first boot may take about five minutes to complete. So, please be patient.
Your Nexus 4 is now running the latest Android 7.1 Nougat update via Nitrogen OS custom ROM. Go to Settings > About phone to verify the firmware version installed.
[Source: XDA]
