If you are looking to update your old Nexus 4 device with the latest Android software, pure AOSP (Android Open Source Project) custom firmware is available.

The new firmware brings aboard pure Android 5.1.1 Lollipop experience without any tweaks and is smooth and fast, Team Android reports.

In order to install the custom ROM on your 2012 flagship, it is important you root your device and follow the steps carefully.

The Android 5.1.1 Lollipop Pure AOSP custom firmware on Nexus 4 smartphones mainly brings stability, speed without any modifications. There are several new features that will be added to the handset, largely missing from the official rollout, which began in May.

If you are familiar with the steps to install new custom ROMs on your smartphones, you will be able to install easily as the steps remain the same.

But if you are a novice user trying to customize your handset, it is important to follow the steps below to ensure a smooth installation.

Things to remember:

  • Make sure your Nexus 4 (occam only) is rooted and has a custom recovery such as ClockworkMod, pre-installed.
  • The process will wipe out the data on your device, so it is advised to take a back up before proceeding with the installation.
  • Download and install the latest Nexus 4 USB drivers on your PC for the handset to be detected when connected via USB cable.
  • Make sure the handset battery is charged more than 80% to avoid any sort of interruption while the custom ROM is being installed, which can even brick the handset permanently.
  • If your handset is new, be aware that installing a custom ROM will void the warranty of the device and future updates will be paused unless you flash the device with stock ROM.

[Disclaimer: The process of installing custom ROM on a rooted device requires technical expertise and knowledge of basic troubleshooting. This guide helps you install the custom ROM on a select model and there are chances of the handset getting bricked if not followed properly. International Business Times, India Edition cannot be held responsible for any damage or claims from readers if the procedure does not yield the required results or if the smartphone is bricked. Users are advised to proceed with caution.]

How to install:

  • Download Android 5.1.1 Pure AOSP ROM and Google Apps on your PC
  • Connect your LG Nexus 4 to PC using a USB cable
  • Transfer the downloaded files, Android 5.1.1 ROM zip and Google Apps zip files, to the handset's SD card root folder
  • Turn off the device and disconnect it from the PC
  • Turn on the device while holding down Volume Up, Volume Down and Power Buttons simultaneously.
  • Once you enter the Bootloader Mode, use Volume keys to navigate and power button to select options.
  • Clear everything on the device by going to the ClockworkMod Recovery mode and selecting "wipe data/factory reset."
  • Clear cache on the device, select "wipe cache partition."
  • Also "wipe dalvik cache." You will find the option in ClockworkMod recovery mode.
  • Go to the main screen and select "install zip from SD card."
  • Select "zip from SDcard" from the options and navigate to Android 5.1.1 ROM zip file.
  • Wait for the installation to complete and repeat the same steps to install Google Apps
  • After completion, go to "+++++Go Back+++++" and select "reboot system now."
  • The handset will take longer than usual to restart, which is normal. After about five minutes, the Nexus 4 will restart with Android 5.1.1 Pure AOSP custom ROM.

To ensure the installation was successful, go to device Settings > About Phone.

[Credit: Team Android]

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