How to Download and Install CWM Recovery? Step-by-Step Guide

The other days we have discussed about how to flash a custom ROM on an Android based tablet or smartphone and as you already know, there are some pre requisites to complete before being able to update with an unofficial release of the Android system. That’s why today I will teach you how to install a custom recovery imageCWM recovery – on your Android powered handsets (the step by step guide will work for both tablets and smartphones). So, if you are looking forward in tweaking your phone, do read and apply the following lines.

First of all, you should begin this guide by asking yourselves: do I really need to install a custom recovery image on my Android device? In order to answer to that question, first read the things mentioned during the following list:

  • A custom recovery image can be installed only on a rooted handset. Therefore, before applying this tutorial, you need to learn how to root your smartphone / tablet.
  • The warranty of your handset will be voided – because you need to unchain the OS of your phone (as you know the root operation isn’t official and that’s happening when you are applying unofficial procedures).
  • Your device is already featuring a recovery image; the stock recovery that comes pre installed on all the Android devices isn’t useful though especially if you are looking into tweaking your handset.
  • The custom recovery image can be used when trying to flash .zip files from the SD card (such as custom ROMs), when trying to perform maintenance, optimization, customization, backup, restoration, hard reset and a lot more operations that usually aren’t available.

So, you should learn how to install a custom recovery only if you agree with the up mentioned aspects. Furthermore, now you should be asking yourselves, why CWM recovery? Well, here the answer is simple: CWM recovery, or ClockworkMod Recovery, is one of the most popular custom recovery available for the Android system. The tool is being available on Google Play (the official variant of the app only) and the same is suitable with almost all the Android powered devices available on the market. Furthermore, CWM recovery comes with great features and capabilities and will smoothly run on your handset.

Therefore, if you had decided to install CWM recovery on your smartphone / tablet, then begin the flashing operation with the preparation tasks. In this way you will be able to avoid the unpleasant situations and also your phone will be prepared for the installation procedure.

  • First, you need to know that not all the devices are being supported by the official CWM recovery tool. So, before installing the same, make sure to check if your device is included on the official CWM recovery support list.
  • Then, also before starting the flashing operation, backup the data, personal info, saves and accounts from your handset – the data might get corrupted and you are risking in losing all of your personal info.
  • Remember to root your phone first.
  • If you are applying the unnoficial CWM recovery, then you will have to use a computer, your device and its USB cable – you will have to download a suitable version of CWM recovery that can be applied on your phone / tablet.
  • Don’t complete things by yourselves without consulting my directions as you can end up in bricking your device.

How to Install CWM Recovery on any Android device

  1. The first thing to do is to download the CWM recovery tool.
  2. So, take your device and go here.
  3. Get the app and install the same.
  4. Open CWM recovery.
  5. From the pop-up menu select “flash CWM recovery”.
  6. Use the recovery menu for performing the operation you need.
  7. You can access CWM recovery in a different way too; all you have to do is to turn off your phone. Then, you need to reboot by pressing (usually, but on some devices the buttons that need to be pressed are different) Power, Volume Up and Home buttons at the same time.
  8. That’s it; you can reboot into Android by selecting “reboot system now”.

Update:

If you have installed CWM recovery on your Android device, but you don’t know how to enter the same, then here is a detailed list that can be used in that matter:

Good job; you have easily installed the official CWM recovery tool on your Android based device. If you had encountered problems while trying to flash the custom recovery image, contact us and we will try to assist you as soon as possible. Also, stay close for further tutorials as we are updating you with fresh and useful step by step guides daily.

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56 Responses

  1. Rahi says:

    Sir,

    I have a 7 inch tablet from Ambrane called AC-770 calling king tablet running ice cream sandwich on it. it has got ARMv7 processor and kernel is Linux 3.0.8+.

    I strongly want to root it and install cwm recovery or twrp on it so that i can flash custom rom on it

    while trying to do this i have attempted many methods and honestly i dont know exactly with which method i rooted my phone (i tried so many methods by connecting it to pc, however due to unavailability of correct drivers it failed, so attempted with poot and z4 root) but now when i check it with root checker app then it says “Congrats you have root access” so i am glad i have reached till here now.

    now when i installed mobile uncle tools and also downloaded cwm recovery and renamed it to recovery.img and completed steps using mobile uncle tools then i tried to boot in recovery but instead of booting in recover it directly reboots in normal mode.

    so i followed your step and downloaded rom manager from play store and tried to follow your steps but now it says that “unrecognised Device” and it is not on listed devices.

    I know that you are a man with strong determination and personally interested in Android subject so for me “YOU” are my only hope, PLS HELP ME AND SAVE ME…..

    I will be eagerly waiting for your reply.

  2. Hosanna Sookra says:

    Hi, I loved the details in your tutorial. Makes me feel not so much of a novice. I have an Ainol Novo AX1 Poseidon and in the rom manager, it says my device isn’t supported by CWM Recovery. I want to know if there is another way to back up my phone’s image in case I need to restore it back to this exact state. My phone comes pre-rooted. it’s android 4.2.1. it’s got super user already installed.

    The reason I want to flash a new rom is because the stock rom that came with my phablet doesn’t detect my sim cards…I’ve found some others who had the same problem and they said they got the sims to work by flashing their AX1 tablets with a specifc custom rom…I’ve never done this before so I just wanna make sure I do everything the proper way before I brick my phone and have more worries.

    Please, I found a software called SP Flash tools, can I back up my phone with that software and get a rom image file?

    thank you very much,

    Hozi

  3. albanianboyy says:

    I installed the ROM Manager app on my ZTE Blade III Pro but when I try to reboot into clockwork recovery mode it stuck on the green android logo.. ?? Help please

  4. Shimmy says:

    What if my device isn’t supported?

  5. Fadil Shamir Khan says:

    How do you do that when your device is not supported?

  6. Rdz says:

    Entry recovery mode tutorials are now available for each Android smartphone, so make sure you follow the right steps when you proceed. Good luck!

  7. Jan Johansson says:

    Nice article, but you might want to re-write it with some points for the people with allwinner tablets and the ones with soft volume buttons. If any of these people follow your guide, then they can end up with a bricked device!

    Also please add information on bootloaders.

    JBJ

  8. ch kranthi says:

    cwm recovery doesnt support my device (Celkon A95). so what are my options

  9. Antonytevs says:

    after i try to boot into recovery it just shows the motorola simble then after a while it turns back off

  10. Chrono Lucca says:

    You mention several times “ANY ANDROID DEVICE”, which I assume to be just that. However, you also mention that CWM is NOT supported on all devices. So which is it? I do realize that CWM can run on unofficial devices, but your instructions are contradictory, or at least confusing… especially to those who have less experience and put faith in your advice without realizing the possible pitfalls.. So,considering your tutorial here, does it apply to ALL Android devices, or just the ones CWM officially supports? That’s the point of confusion, you say ALL, but them mention the disclaimer that not all are supported by CWM [yes, officially] Is it ALL Android devices or only the ones that are officially supported by CWM? Because most devices are NOT supported [officially] by CWM. The title of this post only has one obvious meaning…ALL Android devices. The title sounds convincing, confident…all Android devices. People will pick up on the confidence you are sending… it’s easy, it’s possible, all Androids apply. They will believe you.

    I have personally put CWM on several devices that were ‘unofficial’ with no problems [so far], but I’m by no means an expert, I’m an enthusiast but nothing more. However. I still like to take my time and read up on these topics before I jump in, but many tutorials I’ve read often have these sort of incongruities. And I can just imagine how it could mislead, or confuse users. The whole idea of a tutorial is to teach those who don’t know, so it’s reasonable to assume all people who end up here are looking for your advice. Those who already know, aren’t looking. Should we ignore the fact that our device is not officially supported? Should we ignore this post if our devices are not supported by CWM?

    Any clarity will be appreciated by me, and very useful to everyone who visits this thread. Furthermore, thanks for the post, beyond that one confusion, I very much appreciated this tutorial, especially your format/presentation.

  11. cajun34 says:

    So why hasn’t Chrono Lucca’s post been addressed?

  12. Keith says:

    My device, Samsung Galaxy S3 SGH-I747 isn’t supported… How do I CWM Recovery or something similar to it?

  13. MrDreamers says:

    Will the Trio Stealth G4 7″ work?

  14. Arindom Samajdar says:

    Will this work in My Sony Xperia SP ?

  15. kyle says:

    this is bullshit LOL not every device is listed in the rom manager app, some phones need the recovery flashed.

  16. lol says:

    Is there any way to install ClockworkMod Recovery on Xperia tipo (single sim) without using computer? thanks in advance.

  17. Arun says:

    i got cwm on my htc wfs 5.0.8 version. how can i update it to version 6.? i cant update it though flash recovery tool. i mean i duno how to use sdk tool. its a lengthy process. is thr any othr way to update cwm wit d recovery image that i have..?

  18. VINAY says:

    LOL…………………………..FULL BULLSHIT

  19. NeutronBlitz says:

    Only if clockworldmodrecovery supports gionee pionner p1 android phone :-(

  20. Zack A says:

    CWM doesn’t seem to be supported any more. No love for the S5, S6, LG G3, LG G4, etc. Many other newer devices are missing as well. Shame really because CWM was so much nicer than TWRP. I don’t know why but it seems CWM is dying.

    So I wouldn’t bother with this app. It will only frustrate you.

  21. Mihai Ionescu says:

    I have Samsung Galaxy core prime

  22. noel says:

    is this suitable for cherry mobile life jellybean 4.2?

  23. son says:

    A3 a300fu lollipop

  24. osasu air says:

    how do u update htc desire 320

  25. rajdeep virdy says:

    galaxy note 8.0 konawifi shw-m500w has no avability

  26. Abuishek Akkapalli says:

    How to install CWM on hTC Desire 526g+?

  27. Gopal Choudhary says:

    how to install CWM on gionee s5.5

  28. Vitor Hugo says:

    how to install CWM on cce sk352

  29. rishav says:

    how to install cwm on samsung i8262

  30. Timothy Doswell says:

    I have The Fusion 5 model 149, What if this device is not on the list?

  31. herculano says:

    i have a huawei y360 u72 and i massed up my recovery that came with the phone while playing with flashify and i cant open it it..everytime i attempt it just reboots my phone but doesnt go to recovery mode…help… my email is [email protected]

  32. ayoub says:

    comment afficher H+ au lieu de 3G dans wiko Lenny 2

  33. priyashi4u says:

    how to install cwm on lava iris 352 flair

  34. Creater CyFire says:

    There is no such thing as “on any device”, fake/fallacious title.

  35. Sufi Buluani says:

    It use for all android

  36. swipemtvslash3g says:

    I HAVE TO STRONG ADVICE TO THE NOVICES WHO COME HERE FOR A SOLUTION OR PLAY WITH THEIR DEVICE OR INSTALL A NEW ROM IN THEIR DEVICES. DON’T DO IT IF YOUR DEVICE IS WORKING SMOOTHLING WITH LITTLE PROBLEMS. BEAR THOSE PROBLEMS. SHOW IT TO SERVICE CENTRE. COMPLAINT IT TO THE ANDROID AUTHORITY, ANDROID POLICE AND OTHER PLACES FOR A SOLUTION. BUT DON’T FLASH ANY CUSTOM ROM. 99 PERCENT CHANCES ARE YOU WILL END UP BRICKING YOUR DEVICE. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME THEN YOU WILL CRY AND CRY AND THEN NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. BULLSHIT CRAPS ARE POSTED AND AVAILABLE ALL OVER THE INTERNET REGARDING FLASHING FRESH ANDROID IN YOUR DEVICE. ANDROID IS A LINUX BASED OPERATING SYSTEM VERY CLEVERLY DONE BY GOOGLE. IT IS NOT LIKE WINDOWS. YOU TAKE IT IN PEN DRIVE AND INSTALL IN A MILLION DEVICE. THE OPERATING SYSTEM WORKS ONLY IN YOUR DEVICE AND NO WHERE. IT IS LOCKED WITH ALL SECRET CODES, SPECIFIC KERNEL WHICH WILL WORK ONLY IN YOUR DEVICE AND MANY MANY SECURITY PATCHES THAT IF YOU TRY TO TAMPER WITH OR WRITE OVER IT THEN THE CHANCES OF BRICKING THAT IS YOUR DEVICE GETTING DEAD IS 99 PERCENT SURE. BRICKING MEANS YOUR SET IS DEAD. YOU BE VERY VERY CAREFUL BEFORE YOU FIDDLE WITH YOUR DEVICE. IT HAS BEEN DELIBERATELY BEING DONE BY GOOGLE TO KEEP TRACE OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL DEVICE WHICH IS CERTAINLY NOT GOOD. EVERY DEVICE GETS A UNIQUE ID WHICH IF TAMPERED WITH WILL CERTAINLY AMOUNT TO BRICKING THE DEVICE. THIS PRACTICE IS NOT GOOD WHICH IS BEING SPREAD BY GOOGLE ITSELF. YOU CANNOT FIDDLE, PLAY WITH YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM. IF YOU DO THEN YOUR DEVICE WILL BECOME DEAD. ALL THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL VIDEOS AND THOSE WHO HAVE POSTED THERE HAVE ALL THEIR DEVICES BRICKED AND THEY ARE LITTLE TECHNICAL AND KNEW HOW TO COME OUT OF THEIR SITUATION. SO THEY HAVE CLEVERLY FLASHED VIDEOS TO MAKE MONEY. MILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS ARE THERE AND PEOPLE TRYING THE TRICKS IN YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND LOOSING THE DEVICE. I ALSO TRIED AND MY DEVICE WENT DEAD. THIS IS A HARD TRUTH. ANDROID IS IN VERY BABY STAGE AND WILL NEED LOTS AND LOTS IMPROVEMENT. IT IS THE PUBLIC THAT RAISES SUCH NASTY THINGS IN SOCIETY AND SO THEY COME UP. HOPE YOU UNDERSTOOD WHAT IS MEAN. ANDROID IS THE WORSTEST OPERATING SYSTEM OF THE WORLD AND WITH YOUR LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IF YOU TRY ANY TRICK POSTED IN INTERNET THEN CHANCES ARE VERY HIGH YOUR DEVICE WILL BECOME DEAD.

    • Naruto Zamudek says:

      People will only brick their device if they’re idiots. Everyone knows that before doing anything you should save a recovery image in case something goes wrong. As long as you have that, you’re all good

    • rajesh says:

      you are right bother but not in all case.
      I used this trick but i make a fault i flash the boot partation so my phone not boot again and finally i give it to service center they flash my phone with lilipop official rom and my phone is now in good condition.
      But if you follow all the steps clearly then you can do it without any injury with you phone.

    • Terry D Houghteling says:

      You are one of those people who obviously don’t read things before you act and probably bricked your own phone and want to blame it on someone else. So sad! Please do not spread lies. Android is as good as it gets when it comes to operating systems. And another thing, only idiots type everything in capital letters on the internet. So go back to your bed, pull the sheets over your head and hide.

  37. Astron King says:

    How can I upgrade xperia c2305 to lollipop?

  38. Majed Ali Dewan says:

    How to install CWM recovery on viaan v501 …?????

  39. Russell Clark says:

    I need a recovery for Android 6.0.1 marshmallow Samsung galaxy amp2 sm j120az . Please help me out I have rooted this phone already but without luck no one has ported a recovery for it. If all possible reply to [email protected]

  40. niezam says:

    I need a recovery for android 5.1.1 on Vivo 1613 with Funtouch OS

  41. Puneet says:

    I need the cwm recovery of xolo prime .
    Please help me

  42. omkar palkhe says:

    i need recovery for 10.OR g

  43. Sibil Rehman says:

    I need a recovery for GFive Gpad 706

  44. Sheena Dresner says:

    Greetings,

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