Update Moto G to Android 5.1 using AOSP ROM

Do you want to experience a pure yet freely customizable Android 5.1 Lollipop experience on your own Motorola Moto G? Well, the owners of the first gen. of Moto G can now enjoy a new Lollipop release in form of a new custom ROM firmware. The AOSP Android 5.1 ROM is ready to embrace your Moto G as the software is stable and smooth enough for a daily use – there are no bugs or software related issues reported by the users who have already tested the ROM.

So, what do you say, are you considering in flashing Android 5.1 OS on your Moto G. If you are, then read all the guidelines from below before heading towards the proper update operations. Since you are about to install a custom ROM, you first need to ensure that completing this operation is what you really need for your Android based device. As you might know, updating with custom ROMs is not official and you should be an experienced Android user or else you might have problems while trying to apply the Android platform.

Anyway, even if you are a newbie, don’t panic and read everything from this tutorial. If you stick to the guidelines from here you will be in safe hands.

First, as I have already mentioned, the AOSP custom ROM is stable enough for a daily use on your Moto G. In fact, there are no bugs or other software problems reported by the users who have already completed the update procedure. The AOSP ROM is bringing the pure Android 5.1 Lollipop OS to your Moto G along with several dedicated features and apps which are being ported from CyanogenMod (CM 12 custom ROM firmware).

The warranty of your phone will get void if you choose to complete this guide. A custom ROM is only based on stock Android OS and it is in fact developed and offered by third party devs. Also, for being able to install such an update, first you will have to root your Moto G and to install a custom recovery image, like CWM or TWRP recovery, into its system – an unofficial Lollipop update can be flashed only in these conditions, so don’t skip anything if you want to safely update your Moto G to Android 5.1 Lollipop firmware.

On the other hand, you should backup your Moto G before installing Android 5.1 AOSP custom ROM. During the update operation a hard reset will be performed and when that happens, all of your personal data and info will be wiped out. Along with the classic backup operation you should also use the custom recovery image for making a Nandroid backup – save / restore the current ROM that is running on your first gen. of Motorola Moto G.

Before applying the steps from below, check this dedicated tutorial and learn how to properly prepare other things that are required during the update process. Of course, after that, return here and resume the installation process that is detailed below.

How to Update Moto G to Android 5.1 using AOSP ROM

1. Go to this page and download the firmware file; also from here download Google Apps package.
2. Save these files on your computer – on desktop if possible.
3. Don’t unzip the files, just transfer them to your phone’s SD card.
4. Then, turn off your smartphone and boot recovery mode on your Moto G.
5. Up next, complete the hard reset process and also clear cache: “wipe cache partition”, “wipe dalvik cache” and “wipe data factory reset”.
6. Return to recovery main menu and select “install zip from SD card” and “choose zip from SD card”.
7. Pick the AOSP custom ROM and install Android 5.1 Lollipop on your Motorola Moto G.
8. Do the same thing and flash Google Apps package.
9. When done, from main menu of recovery choose “reboot system now”.

That’s it; Android 5.1 AOSP Lollipop custom ROM firmware is now running on your first gen. of Motorola Moto G.