Update Galaxy S5 LTE to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop using CM 12 Nightlies ROM

Using Android Lollipop on your Galaxy S5 LTE is great. But, believe me that even better is to use CM 12 Nightlies on your S5. Why? Well because you aren’t stuck to stock Android and Samsung UI and because you can anytime tweak your Galaxy S5 by using in built CM features and apps. So, are you ready to update your Samsung Galaxy S5 LTE with CM 12 Nightlies Android 5.0.2 Lollipop OS? If yes, then check out the guidelines from below.

CM12 is however a custom ROM so you should understand that you aren’t going to flash an OTA Lollipop firmware on your Galaxy S5 LTE. The update is provided by third party devs and shouldn’t be related in any matter with Samsung or with Google.

The update process can be easily completed, but the installation operation should be considered risky and complex. If messing things up you can brick your Samsung Galaxy S5 before being able to test and enjoy CM 12 custom ROM. Therefore, stick to the guidelines from below, even if you are an advanced Android user.

The warranty of your smartphone will get lost once you start to perform the steps from below. It is important to know that, as if your phone will eventually get bricked, you will no longer be able to reclaim its warranty.

Android 5.0.2 Lollipop in form of CM 12 Nightlies comes as a stable firmware that will smoothly run on your Galaxy S5 LTE. There are no bugs or other software related issues reported by the users who have already flashed the software on their own Android based devices. Thus, you can safely install CM12 for a daily use of Android Lollipop OS.

Anyhow, a Nandroid backup is still recommended. In that matter if you will not appreciate the CM 12 platform, then you will be able to easily go back to stock. So, do save the current ROM from your Galaxy S5 LTE before updating to custom Android 5.0.2 Lollipop firmware.

Along with that operation consider in applying a general backup too. Why? Because during the update process you will have to hard reset your phone – else the CM12 system can’t be successfully installed. Thus, save anything you might consider important for you.

This step by step guide can be completed only in given conditions. For starter, you have to root your Samsung Galaxy S5 – skip this process if your phone is already rooted. Then, you need to install a custom recovery image on your phone as the CM 12 Lollipop ROM can be flashed only through the mentioned environment – I recommend you to use the latest version of CWM or TWRP recovery in order to ease your work.

On the other hand, as you might suppose, a computer is required (deactivate any security protection from your device). On your phone you have to enable USB debugging (from “menu -> settings -> developer options”) and you must charge your Galaxy S5 LTE before choosing to install CM12 Android 5.0.2 Lollipop custom ROM.

How to Update Galaxy S5 LTE to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop using CM 12 Nightlies ROM

1. On your computer get the CM 12 file – download the update package from here.
2. Then, also download Google Apps package from here.
3. You shouldn’t unzip these files; just transfer them to your phone’s SD card (connect your smartphone with your computer in that matter).
4. Then, put your Galaxy S5 in recovery mode.
5. Make a hard reset and clear cache (select “wipe data factory reset”, “wipe cache partition” and “wipe dalvick cache”).
6. Then select “install zip from SD card” and “choose zip from SD card”.
7. Pick the CM 12 update file and the Google Apps package.
8. Resume the flashing process and wait while your Galaxy S5 is updated to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop OS.
9. When done, from main menu of recovery select “reboot system now”.