Good news for the Nexus 7 (2012) users because now Android 7.1.1 Nougat via LineageOS custom ROM is available for this tablet. Nexus 7 was one of the first few 7-inch tablets launched and certainly was the best 7-inch tablet device among the lot. This amazing Nexus 7 device was running on the older Android firmware. But now the Nexus 7 (2012) users can test the Android Nougat experience on their tablet. This latest custom firmware comes with many features and customization features to run your Nexus 7 (2012) smooth and fast. This is not an officially announced by Asus or Google but just a custom ROM. Your device must be rooted, and a custom recovery like TWRP or ClockworkMod (CWM) should be already installed on it.
By following this step by step guide, you can quickly update your Nexus 7 (2012) to LineageOS Android 7.1.1 Nougat custom ROM. Many users have tested it and found it free of lags, bugs or any other software related problems so that you can handle all your daily activities without any issues. LineageOS custom ROM is very great ROM and packs with great features. Before proceeding keep in mind, to take a full backup of all your valuable data. If you are interested in installing LineageOS Android 7.1.1 Nougat custom ROM on your Nexus 7 (2012), then go ahead and follow the given steps.
Pre-Requirements:
- Make a proper backup of all your relevant existing data on Nexus 7 (2012).
- The stock Marshmallow OS version should be installed on Nexus 7 (2012).
- Download and install USB drivers for Asus Nexus 7 on your computer.
- The Nexus bootloader should be unlocked.
- Enable USB debugging option by pressing Menu > Settings > Applications. Navigate and tap on Developer Options to ensure that USB Debugging is enabled.
- You Nexus 7 (2012) must be rooted, and the latest build of either CWM or TWRP Recovery should be pre-installed on it to flash a brand new Android 7.1.1-based custom ROM.
- For this firmware installation, you will also need to factory reset the phone.
- Finally, ensure that your Nexus device carries more than 70% of charge.
Note:
Please note that this guide can be used only for the Google Nexus 7 (2012) devices. Don’t use the firmware file given in this guide for any other device or incorrect variant. Do note that you will experience some force close errors while running this Nougat firmware on your Nexus 7 (2012).
Required Files:
- Download LineageOS Android 7.1.1 Nougat custom ROM file from here.
- Download Gapps for Android 7.1.1 ROMs from here.
Steps to Flash LineageOS Android 7.1.1 Nougat Custom ROM on Asus Nexus7 (2012) Tablet:
Step No 1: – Download LineageOS Android 7.1.1 Nougat custom ROM (lineage-14.1-20170122-UNOFFICIAL-aaopt-grouper.zip) and Gapps for Android 7.1.1 ROMs from the above links given on the desktop of your PC. (Make sure to select the Android 7.1.1 OS version) while downloading Google Apps package.
Step No 2: – Connect the device to your PC and copy/paste both files to the phone’s internal storage. Do not unzip the files.
Step No 3: – Disconnect the phone from PC and turn it OFF to boot into Recovery Mode.
Step No 4: – Turn ON the phone while pressing and holding Volume Up + Volume Down + Power buttons at the same time.
Step No 5: – While your Nexus7 (2012) is in Bootloader / Fastboot main screen, press Volume Up to enter into Recovery mode. Then press Power to boot the Recovery Mode.
Step No 6: – Once in Recovery Mode, make an NANDROID Backup for the installed ROM by navigating to ‘backup and restore.’ Then set the file name and confirm process to begin the backup.
Step No 7: – Next, Factory Reset Nexus7 (2012) and proceed to flash the Android 7.1.1 custom ROM.
Step No 8: – In CWM Recovery, select ‘install zip from sd card’, then ‘choose zip from sd card.’ Find the Android 7.1.1 custom ROM file and confirm the installation process to begin.
9: – Once the Android 7.1.1 firmware installation is completed, repeat the above steps to flash the Gapps zip on your Nexus7 (2012).
Step No 10: – After installation is successfully finished, reboot the device in normal mode.
Step No 11: – Finally, flash the SuperSU Stable from here to get root access to the internal file system of your Nexus7 (2012) to remove the factory restrictions and permission to install tonnes of third-party apps.
Let us know in the comments area below if you have any question or trouble while installing the ROM
