Update LG G3 D855 with CM12 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop Custom ROM

Even if the CM team is still providing CM11 M2 custom ROMs, third party devs already started the development stage for the new Android 5.0.1 Lollipop CM12 firmware. Thus, LG G3 just received its own custom update, which can be anytime installed by those interested in testing the latest CM features and apps.

The update process is classic, which means that you will have to flash CM 12 on your LG G3 by using a custom recovery image such as CWM or TWRP recovery. Now, if you haven’t complete a similar operation until now and if you want to learn more about this new Lollipop release, don’t hesitate and check the lines from below.

During this tutorial I will detail more aspects that are related to CM12 and I will also show you how to install the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop firmware on your LG G3 model number D855.

CM12 is still in development stage and it isn’t provided by the CM team. Those of xda-developers are offering the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update so we should thank them for this tutorial. Now, CM12 for LG G3 is based on stock Lollipop OS and on previous CM releases. According to the devs, the ROM is stable and smoothly runs on G3. Of course, there might still be some minor bugs included, but you can safely complete this guide for using CM12 on a daily basis.

Like always, CM is coming with features that can’t be found on the default version of Android system. Well, these features will optimize and customize the Android experience and will power up the performances of your Android smartphone.

What is important to know however, is that CM12 represents a free aftermarket distribution of Android OS and so it has nothing to do with Google or with LG. Bottom line, you are dealing with an unofficial update operation which will imply in tweaking your Android smartphone. To conclude, if you choose to use this tutorial, you will lose your phone’s warranty as CM12 is an unofficial Android Lollipop update.

Moreover, for being able to install this custom ROM, your LG G3 must be rooted. So, the Android OS that is currently running on your device must be unlocked and gaining root access is perfect and also the only solution you can apply. Afterwards, you also have to install a custom recovery image on your phone. As already pointed out, CM12 will be added by using this custom recovery, so the operations mentioned above are really not an option for you.

Since this Android 5.0.1 Lollipop ROM is still under development, the best will be to make a Nandroid backup before heading towards the update process from below. With the Nandroid backup you will be able to save (and then restore – if that’s required) the software that is currently running on your LG G3 – for example if CM 12 will not run properly, you can go back to stock without further issues.

A general backup should also be completed as during the update operation a wipe will be performed and you will lose everything from the internal storage memory of your phone. Thus, backup your LG G3 data, before starting to install CM12 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop on your smartphone.

For this operation a computer will be used along with your phone and its USB cord. On both, smartphone and computer temporarily turn off antivirus protection because security software are usually interfering with the download process. A connection between your devices will be required and for being able to ensure the same, first you will have to enable USB debugging on your LG G3 – from “menu -> settings -> developer options”.

Don’t forget to charge your smartphone before starting to apply the steps from below – plug in the charger only if the power left is currently lower than 50%. Also, keep in mind that this tutorial is compatible only with LG G3 model number D855.

How to Update LG G3 D855 with CM12 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop Custom ROM Firmware

1. Go to this page; download Google Apps package and CM12 custom ROM file.
2. Save these files on your computer – on desktop – and don’t unzip anything.
3. Connect your LG G3 with your computer via USB cable and place the downloaded files on your phone’s SD card.
4. Then, unplug the USB cord, turn off your phone and enter recovery mode on your LG G3.
5. From recovery make a hard reset and clear cache; do all that by selecting “wipe data factory reset”, “wipe cache partition” and “wipe dalvik cache”.
6. Then, also from main menu of recovery select “install zip from SD card” and “choose zip from SD card”.
7. Pick CM12 custom ROM file and Google Apps package and complete the update process.
8. Finally, select “reboot system now” from main menu of recovery.

Good job; you have successfully installed Android 5.0.1 Lollipop CM12 Firmware on your LG G3 D855.