Go Back to Stock Android From a Custom ROM: 03 Ways to do it
Custom ROM
Want to restore the factory settings on your Android phone after installing a custom ROM? The simplest approach to restore stock on your phone is to do this.
You might want to return your rooted phone to stock Android for a variety of reasons. The two main options are selling it or filing a warranty claim. But if you want to install a system update, you also have to do that. Or maybe you’ve installed so many mods and customizations that all you want is to return to normalcy.
We’ll examine the three primary methods for returning to stock Android in this post. You’ll find a solution that works for you, whether that is being entirely unrooted with a locked bootloader or simply returning to the vanilla ROM while maintaining root access.
1. Restore a Nandroid Backup
Restoring your Nandroid backup is the easiest way to return your phone to its stock ROM. This shouldn’t cause much—or any—data loss, provided you have a current backup on hand.
A full system backup made in the recovery is referred to as a Nandroid backup. Every time you install a mod or flash a fresh ROM, you should make one. If you ever need to unbrick your phone, this is the first tool you should use.
The whole contents of your phone, including the operating system, apps, data, and everything else, are captured in a Nandroid backup. The ROM you were using at the time is therefore restored if you restore it. You’re good to go if you have a backup that you made when using the stock ROM.
However, restoring to stock using a Nandroid backup is only a temporary solution. In other words, apps you’ve uninstalled will resurface, and text messages you’ve received afterwards will no longer be visible, because the backup will restore your previous apps and data. You may only want to use your Nandroid backup in an emergency if it has been around for longer than a day or two.
How to Restore a Nandroid Backup
Fortunately, restoring a Nandroid backup only requires a few simple steps:
- Start your own recovery on your phone. We advise TWRP.
- Choose Restore. You’ll get a list of all the backups that are accessible.
- Select a backup that was created with the stock ROM.
- The partitions you want to restore should be chosen. This typically signifies that you need to complete every task.
- Swipe the Swipe to Restore bar to finish. After a little waiting period, you can reboot.
You return to your vanilla ROM after doing that. You must also unroot your phone if you want to complete the process.
The method you employ will depend on the software you used to root your device. For instance, if you used SuperSU, choose Full Unroot from the Settings tab, then restart your phone. Now, it will be unrooted.
Perhaps you should also relock your bootloader. The method will differ depending on the device. Using Fastboot and the commands fastboot oem lock or fastboot flashing lock is the most popular approach.
Relocking the bootloader completely erases your device. Only do so if it is really necessary, such as when you are selling or sending your phone in for a warranty repair.
2. Flash a Stock ROM
Flashing a stock ROM is your next best choice if restoring a Nandroid backup is not an option. Along with this annoyance, you will likely need to conduct a factory reset at some point, which means you will need to backup and restore your Android data.
Going from a custom ROM to a stock ROM has advantages as well. You might be able to locate a ROM that has already been root access. Additionally, flashing ROMs is really simple to perform.
The fact that you must rely on someone else to make the ROM is the largest barrier to utilizing a ROM to return to stock. This won’t be an issue if your phone is well-known and has a thriving community on the XDA Developers forums. A stock ROM could be more difficult to locate if you have a lesser-known gadget.
The OnePlus smartphone is the only exception. You can accomplish this by directly downloading a flashable stock ROM from the OnePlus website.
How to Flash a Stock ROM
You’ll find all the information you need in our guide on installing a custom ROM. Here are the procedures once more:
- For your phone, locate a stock ROM. Find the forum for your device on the XDA Developers website. Stickied postings at the top of development boards are frequently where you can find stock ROMs.
- Your phone should download the ROM.
- Do a complete data backup.
- Start your rehabilitation.
- For a factory reset of your phone, select Wipe. This is optional (if you don’t want to bother backing up and restoring), but if you don’t do it, you might run into problems or even get stuck in a bootloop. Start wiping by swiping the bar.
- Choose Install from the recovery home screen and then find the stock ROM you downloaded.
- Start the installation by swiping the bar. When it’s finished, you can reboot your phone.
You can now proceed if you downloaded a stock ROM that is already rooted and wish to keep it that way. The only thing left to do is re-lock the bootloader if you used a non-rooted ROM and want to return completely to stock. Keeping that in mind, your phone will be erased.
3. Flash a Factory Image
Flashing a factory image is the only way to restore your phone to stock. Your phone will return to almost its original state after doing this. After that, all you have to do to restore factory settings is lock the bootloader.
Factory photos are obtained straight from the companies that make the gadgets; many of them withhold them. Among the well-known businesses that accomplish this are Google and Motorola. Factory pictures are typically available from Samsung and LG, but you might need to acquire them from unofficial websites.
Additionally, they are more challenging to install than either of the other strategies we’ve described, even in cases when they are available. For some, utilizing the command line and the ADB and Fastboot utilities is the only option. Some utilize their own software, including Samsung and HTC.
Flashing a factory image is your best bet if you ever need to totally reset your device, despite the challenges. If you’ve bricked your device and all other fixes have failed, it can also be used as a last resort.
How to Flash a Factory Image
From one device to another, the process for flashing a factory image can be different. For a Pixel, the procedures are straightforward:
- Get the ADB and Fastboot utilities, then install them.
- From the Android website, get the factory image. On your desktop, unzip the downloaded file.
- Boot your phone into Fastboot mode after connecting it through USB.
- Open the Terminal software or Command Prompt.
- Run flash-all.bat or flash-all.sh at the command prompt if you’re using Windows, macOS, or Linux.
- Wait till it’s finished, then restart.
You will then be taken to a stock, unrooted ROM and stock recovery. You can restore your system to regular operation by locking the bootloader.
Different instructions may be available for other phones. The same website where you downloaded the photographs is generally where you can find them outlined. Just keep in mind that flashing a factory image will typically wipe your phone completely.
Reinstall the Stock Firmware
The methods used to first install ROMs and mods are also utilized to return to stock. There shouldn’t be anything strange or concerning in this guide if you’re used to using a rooted phone.
The process should just take a few minutes once you’ve downloaded the original software or discovered an appropriate backup of your own.
Keep in mind that using the stock firmware on your phone does not equate to using stock Android because the skin, apps, and other customizations made by the manufacturer of your phone are still present. However, there are a few advantages to using stock Android that are well worth investigating.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reset my Android phone to stock?
The System option can be found at the bottom of the Settings screen by scrolling down. Tap the Reset button. Select “Erase all data (factory reset)” from the menu. On the Erase all data page, scroll to the bottom and select Reset phone.
Does installing custom ROM delete everything?
No, you don’t have to erase anything before flashing a custom ROM, though it is a good idea to do so before doing so.
How do you get into stock recovery?
You need to press and hold the Power button while also pressing and releasing the Volume Up button once you see the Android mascot with the words No command on its back. Now that you should be able to see the recovery menu, you can highlight choices with the Volume buttons and activate them with the Power button.
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