How to Install Lineage OS on your smartphone

Cyanogen OS was one of the most customizable Android-based operating system available in the market during its reign. OnePlus launched the OnePlus One running Cyanogen OS back in 2014 and it changed the way the world looked at mid-segment phones and our expectations from premium smartphones. One of the things that made that smartphone so good was the Cyanogen OS and its ability to highly customize the user experience. After Cyanogen Inc. shut down its operation back in 2016, Lineage OS took over all their work.

This makes Lineage OS one of the most preferred custom ROM to be used by enthusiasts. The installation process of most of the custom ROMs is almost the same, for the sake of this article, we will be using Lineage OS 15.1 and our test device is Google Pixel 1st gen.

Disclaimer: We are not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards, thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please do some research on custom ROM flashing and side-loading ROMS. YOU are choosing to make these modifications and any result positive or negative, you will be responsible.

Installing Lineage OS 15.1 on Android Smartphone

1. The first thing you will need is to get your bootloader unlocked. For that first, enable developer options by tapping on the Build number in system settings 7 times, this is the same for all Android devices. After that, you need to turn on the OEM unlock option in the Developer Options if your device has it.
2. Now you need to reboot to fastboot. That can be done using ADB on your computer or using your phone itself. Remember, unlocking your bootloader will wipe all your data, so make sure to keep a backup before doing this. If you have ADB installed on your pc, type the command 'adb reboot bootloader' or shutdown your smartphone and press and hold the power + volume down button.
3. Once you are in bootloader, you need a to connect your smartphone to a pc and use the fastboot tools that come bundled with ADB tools to unlock the bootloader. Type the command 'fastboot devices' to check whether your device shows up or not.
4. If your device shows up correctly, then you need to type 'fastboot flashing unlock' and this will unlock your bootloader. However, please note that this command might be different for your device. If your device doesn't show up in fastboot device, try reconnecting your phone with the pc.
5. Once your smartphone is set up back to normal, you need to repeat step 1-3 to get back in fastboot menu with bootloader unlocked.
6. Now you will need a custom recovery for your smartphone. We are using a TWRP here. Download the TWRP recovery file for your smartphone and keep it in the same folder that you installed ADB tools in.
7. After that, we would advise you to keep the operating system image for your smartphone downloaded and handy in your PC.
8. Once that's done, you need to type the command 'fastboot boot TWRPxxxx.img' where TWRPxxxx is the name of the file you downloaded in step 6.
9. After you have booted into TWRP, you need to move the operating system you downloaded in step 7 to your pc using the command 'adb push filename.zip/sdcard/' for by using copy past method if your device shows up in the file manager.
10. Once that's all ready, go to wipe option, select the cache and Dalvik cache option along with the system option. And swipe right to wipe them out.
11. Then you need to go back, press the install button and then navigate to the location your file from step 7 is saved and then press install. After the installation is complete, press the wipe cache and Dalvik cache and swipe right to confirm.
12. Once that's gone go back and press reboot, and then press system.
13. Voila, you would be now booting up in your new operating system.