Install crDroid GSI Android 14 on your Device [Video]

In this guide, we will show you the steps to install the latest crDroid ROM based on Android 14 onto your device. The support for custom development depends on the device that you are using. While the likes of OnePlus and Xiaomi are quite active players in this domain, the same cannot be said for the likes of other OEMs like Sony, and Asus, among others. This is where the role of the Generic System Image comes into the picture.

As is evident from its name, these Images are generic in nature and are hence supported across numerous Android devices, or to be more specific across all the Project Treble compatible devices [devices launched with Android 8+ out of the box]. In this regard, you could get hold of the likes of LineageOS, Pixel Experience, Derpfest, EvolutionX, PixelOS, crDroid, and a plethora of others.

Moreover, no corners are being cut in these GSI builds, you would get near about all the same set of features that are present in their standable ROMs. So with that said, in this guide, we will show you the steps to install the latest crDroid ROM based on Android 14 onto your device. This GSI ROM beholds a fast and snappy OS with tons of customizations, and at the same time, manages to provide a stable and non-bloated usage experience. So on that note, let’s get started.

How to Install crDroid GSI Android 14 on Your Device

Before starting, please take a backup of all the data on your device. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.

STEP 1: Install Android SDK

First and foremost, you will have to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform-tools folder, which will be used throughout this guide to install the crDroid Android 14 GSI ROM.

STEP 2: Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking

Next up, you will also have to enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking on your device. The former will make your device recognizable by the PC in ADB mode. This will then allow you to boot your device to Fastboot Mode. On the other hand, OEM Unlocking is required to carry out the bootloader unlocking.

So head over to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number 7 times > Go back to Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking.

STEP 3: Unlock Bootloader

Next up, you will also have to unlock the device’s bootloader. Do keep in mind that doing so will wipe off all the data from your device and could nullify its warranty as well. So if that’s all well and good, then please refer to our detailed guide on How to Unlock Bootloader of Any Android Device.

STEP 4: Download crDroid Android 14 GSI ROM

1. You can now grab hold of the GSI ROM for your device from the below link

   CRDROID [By Nazim]: DOWNLOAD LINK
   CRDROID [By Braia]: DOWNLOAD LINK
   
   Which GSI to Download: arm64/a64/bgn/bvn/bgs/vndklite? 
   

2. Now extract it via 7-ZIP to the platform-tools folder on your PC.
3. This will give you the system.img file, which will act as our GSI ROM.

STEP 5: Download vbmeta

1. First off, download the stock firmware for your device
2. Then extract it and get hold of the vbmeta.img file.
3. Now transfer the vbmeta.img to the platform-tools folder on your PC.

STEP 6: Boot Device to Fastboot Mode

1. First off, connect your device to the PC via a USB cable. Make sure USB Debugging is enabled.
2. Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
   
3. Type in the following command in the CMD window to boot your device to Fastboot Mode

   adb reboot bootloader

   

4. To verify the Fastboot connection, type in the below command and you should get back the device ID.

   fastboot devices

   

5. If you are not getting any serial ID, then please install the Fastboot Drivers on your PC.

STEP 7: Disable Verity Check

Type in the below command to flash the vbmeta and hence disable the verification check of the vbmeta partition on your device

fastboot --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img