How to Install TWRP Permanently After Installing a Custom ROM on Pixel or Pixel XL!

For those of you who have installed a new custom ROM and wanted to change to another ROM, you will probably have noticed that most custom ROMs now included CyanogenMod recovery, which overwrites your existing TWRP recovery (that you probably installed while rooting).  Well, to install TWRP permanently after installing a custom ROM, you simply need to flash TWRP recovery ZIP after installing the ROM.  That way, you can install new ROMs in the future without having to re-install TWRP recovery using your computer.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to re-install TWRP recovery and also how to keep TWRP permanently after installing a custom ROM for Pixel or Pixel XL.

Step 1. Power off your Pixel then hold down Volume Down and Power buttons together until you get into “fastboot” mode like shown below:

Step 2. Download fastboot.zip and also TWRP IMG and ZIP files for your Pixel or Pixel XL.  Unzip fastboot.zip into a directory called “fastboot” and copy the TWRP IMG file into the folder.

Download:

Download fastboot.zip

Download TWRP IMG for Pixel

Download TWRP ZIP for Pixel

Download TWRP IMG for Pixel XL

Download TWRP ZIP for Pixel XL

 

Step 3. Open a command prompt for Windows or terminal for Mac/Linux then type:

For Windows:

cd Downloads
cd fastboot

For Pixel:
fastboot boot twrp-3.0.2-0-RC1-fastboot-sailfish.img

For Pixel XL:
fastboot boot twrp-3.0.2-0-RC1-fastboot-marlin.img

For Mac:

cd Downloads
cd fastboot
chmod 755 *

For Pixel:
./fastboot-mac boot twrp-3.0.2-0-RC1-fastboot-sailfish.img

For Pixel XL:
./fastboot-mac boot twrp-3.0.2-0-RC1-fastboot-marlin.img

For Linux:

cd Downloads
cd fastboot
chmod 755 *

For Pixel:
sudo ./fastboot-linux boot twrp-3.0.2-0-RC1-fastboot-sailfish.img

For Pixel XL:
sudo ./fastboot-linux boot twrp-3.0.2-0-RC1-fastboot-marlin.img

Step 4. This will boot you into TWRP recovery.  Try tapping on “Install” and if you see a bunch of crypted files and folders like shown below, you will need to format data.  If not, skip to Step 8.

Step 5. Next choose, Wipe->Format Data and type “yes” to format your data.  THIS WILL ERASE EVERYTHING ON YOUR PHONE!!!

Step 6. Once done, go back to Home menu then select Reboot->Bootloader which will boot you back into “fastboot” mode.  Connect your phone back to your computer.

Step 7. Repeat the last command in Step 3, which will boot you back into TWRP.

Step 8. Copy over the TWRP ZIP file to your phone then install it, which will install TWRP permanently.

Step 9. Go back to home menu then choose Reboot->Recovery to reboot into TWRP.

Step 10. You just learned how to install TWRP recovery permanently.  Now you can install a new custom ROM but make sure you install the TWRP ZIP file AFTER installing ROM and Gapps.

Step 11. Do Wipe->swipe to factory reset.

Step 12. Install ROM, Gapps, then TWRP ZIP file.

Step 13. Reboot and profit!

You should be able to now boot into TWRP so you don’t need to use your computer to re-install TWRP.

 

 

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Max Lee

Max Lee is the founder of HighOnAndroid.com. Max makes Android tutorials and review videos for people who want to get high on Android over at his YouTube channel and Korean YouTube channel.