Android offers tons of ways to modify and customize your mobile device. You can add features, change the look & feel or improve the battery life. Many people are simply overwhelmed when they first look into the sheer endless possibilities.
Where do you start? What’s important to know? We’re here to help you!
In the last months, we published many Android-related guides to help you understand Android a bit better. This article will give you an overview of the topics we’ve covered so far. Please let us know if you’re interested in a certain topic and we’ll do our best to help you!
Backups & Preparation
Before you go ahead and modify your Android phone or tablet you should always perform a decent backup. Many people are scared that they, somehow, break their device if they start modifying it – that’s okay. Especially, if you’re not that tech-savvy. I fully understand your concerns. Having a proper backup is crucial and can help you to bring your (almost) broken device back to life!
There are basically two important backups: A NANDROID backup is a full backup of your device data. If your phone does not start anymore, a NANDROID backup can get it running again.
Titanium Backup, on the other hand, lets you backup all your apps which comes in quite handy when flashing a new ROM. Not only don’t you have to download all your apps again, but it will also save your settings and game progress.
Rooting Process
Rooting your Android phone or tablet is the first step required to modify Android on a deeper basis. It’s required for custom ROMs, kernels and certain apps. If you’re not sure whether to root your Android device or not, have a look at our overview of rooting reasons & benefits.
Ready to start rooting? Here are two guides for Google Nexus and other Android devices:
Custom ROM & Xposed Framework
Now that have root access to your Android tablet or smartphone, you’re ready to explore a whole new world of possibilities. If you want a heavily-modified, optimized or simply the latest Android version on your device, custom ROMs are the perfect solution for you.
If you rather want to stick to the Android version running on your device, Xposed Framework offers the possibility to install custom ROM features on your phone or tablet. Using modules, you can easily add tons of features to your Android device. You’re also able to flash a custom ROM and add certain features using Xposed.
Visual Improvements
If you don’t want (or are not allowed to) root your Android device, custom launchers and widgets are a great way to personalize your Android experience. We’ve created an overview about the best of both!
Improving Battery Life
Battery life is one of the crucial factors when buying and using a smartphone or tablet. Many devices, nowadays, have a non-removable battery, which means that you’re basically stuck with the battery you have. Luckily, you are able to change a few settings or install certain apps to get more out of your battery!
Stolen & Lost Android Devices
Losing or getting a phone or tablet stolen is a really shitty thing to happen. Be smart and prepare your phone to be able to recover it and protect your data.
If your phone got stolen or you lost it, you still have a chance to get it back. Want to learn how? Have a look at our guide!
Getting Back to Stock Android & Fixing Soft-Bricked Devices
Sometimes, flashing or modding can go wrong. Even if your Android device does not boot properly anymore, you still might be able to recover it.
If you didn’t get an OTA update or want to get back to a clean and fresh stock Android version, Google offers factory images which can be installed on every Nexus device.
Other Guides
Here are our guides and articles that don’t fit the categories above.
There’s More to Come
We are constantly creating more guides for our readers so make sure to bookmark this page and come back. Please leave a comment if you’re interested in a certain topic and we’ll make sure to cover it soon!
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