Friday, December 11, 2015
Update Motorola Moto E 2015(otus) to android marshmallow via Cyanogenmod 13 rom
Motorola Just announced that it will be updating its latest low end offering Moto E second gen aka otus to android marshmallow.But this might take some time for sure as they have to optimise the software to its hardware so that it runs effectively without any performance related issues.
If you don't want to wait for the official update to arrive then there are already alternatives available in form of custom roms.But most of them are in early stages of development and it might take some more time for the roms to get stabilised.
But there is one custom rom,cyanogenmod aka cm 13 which everyone is eagerly waiting for the official release and time has come for you to party hard as the one which we have been awaiting for is already available to download from the team.
If you want to try the latest version of android which is 6.0 aka marshmallow by updating your Motorola moto e otus then flash cyanogenmod 13 custom rom on it.If you don't know how to update it manually then you can follow this guide.In this post we will help to flash cm 13 and update your moto e 2015 to android marshmallow.
But as you already know that flashing is a risky process and we take no responsibility at all if your device fails to boot after flashing this custom rom.So flash at your own risk.Since there are lot of variants of moto e 2015 you have to keep in mind that this post if specifically to 3g variant of the device with device specific code name as "Otus".Flashing this on other variants of moto e 2015 might hard brick it for sure.
Features of cyanogenmod 13:
Before going further:
If you don't want to wait for the official update to arrive then there are already alternatives available in form of custom roms.But most of them are in early stages of development and it might take some more time for the roms to get stabilised.
But there is one custom rom,cyanogenmod aka cm 13 which everyone is eagerly waiting for the official release and time has come for you to party hard as the one which we have been awaiting for is already available to download from the team.
If you want to try the latest version of android which is 6.0 aka marshmallow by updating your Motorola moto e otus then flash cyanogenmod 13 custom rom on it.If you don't know how to update it manually then you can follow this guide.In this post we will help to flash cm 13 and update your moto e 2015 to android marshmallow.
But as you already know that flashing is a risky process and we take no responsibility at all if your device fails to boot after flashing this custom rom.So flash at your own risk.Since there are lot of variants of moto e 2015 you have to keep in mind that this post if specifically to 3g variant of the device with device specific code name as "Otus".Flashing this on other variants of moto e 2015 might hard brick it for sure.
Update Moto E 2015(otus) to marshmallow via CM13 rom:
If you are staring from scratch that is you don't have an unlocked bootloader then you have to follow the entire guide without missing any steps.But if you have recovery installed on your device then just go to last step for flashing cm 13 rom on moto e 2015.But before going to flashing stuff let me give you some info on cyanogenmod 13. |
| Update Motorola Moto E 2015(otus) to android marshmallow via Cyanogenmod 13 rom |
About cyanogenmod 13:
Cm 13 is the latest version of cyanogenmod's major release which uses android marshmallow as a base with all the custom features of cyanognemod.Though some of the features are missing, ultimately they will make a way to cm 13 but it might take some time. All features of open source android are inherited in this rom and i have listed all the possible features of the same below which you can look into if you like.Features of cyanogenmod 13:
- Theme engine: Theme engine is from the cyanogenmod custom rom which basically changes the look user interface from lock screen to ring tones all the way up to boot animations.The speciality of the theme engine is the ability to choose individual elements of every theme you have installed.So you like the ring tons and wallpapers of one theme and icons of other theme then you can have them at a time.Just open the theme chooser and you will understand how to do it.
- Software Updates: Cyanogenmod rom is usually available in three types one is nightlies which gets updated with new features every night and are quite stable for daily usage.second one is the snapchat which is monthly build version which will be stable version and other one is the release candidate.Some times nightlies are considered must stable than the snapshots.
- Status bar Tweaks:Status bar has lot of tweaks which include a brightness slider.Slide in status bar to adjust brightness of the screen.Double tap on status bar to sleep device and also network speed indicator for on going traffic info.
- If you root apps don't work then that is no response form super user it means it has been disabled and you can enable it in developer options easily.
- System ui tuner: This is new feature that let you tweak ui a bit but has been hidden just like developer option.If you want to add it to setting app,swipe down the notification panel and on top you will notice a gear icon.Press and hold it and you will notice that it starts spinning.Just leave it once you notice the vigorous spin and you will see a toast message "system ui tuner" added to settings.
- There are ton of brand new wallpapers.
- Google launcher now has vertical scrolling instead of horizontal.
- Multi window: Google finally introduced multi window concept in tablet version of os.You can run two apps in a single window.Activating multi window is also too easy.When you open recents you will notice there is another option beside the closing button on cards.Press on it and activate multi window.But this multi window is not configurable which means adjust width of apps that are running.
- Auto rotation on home screen is also added which you can find in launcher settings.
- Now on tap: If you use google now frequently this feature might help you a lot.Usually when you press and hold on home button it will take you to google now.If you enable this feature when you try to access google now on any app it load some related suggestions along with some google now card.
- Screen shot notification will also have delete button along with share option.
- Memory option: This is available in settings .It gives you memory usage on your device from last "3hrs or 6 hrs or 1 day".
- App permission manger is the major thing in android m.This lets you to block certain permission so that the app cannot access them.like if you don't want facebook to access your bluetooth you can now do it with out rooting your device.
- Phone short cut on lock screen is replaced with google now.
- Search bar in settings menu.
- New volume panel: You can now adjust volume of media, call and notification from single window .This feature is absent in previous versions of android though present in most of the oem provided firmwares.
These are the features of cyanogenmod 13 and you can explore them by flashing this on your moto e otus.
- Check your device model number and make sure that you are using only the otus codenamed device.Since there are lot of variants of moto e second gen device flashing on other variants might brick the device.
- Backup:Backup all your data which includes apps,contacts,photos videos etc everything to computer or any cloud storage as Updating /flashing android marshmallow on moto e 2015 aka otus will erase all the data.
- Battery: Charge your moto e 2015 aka otus to at least 90% so that you wont encounter any battery related issues while flashing this.
- You need to have an unlocked bootloader to flash this rom.if not follow the entire guide for the same.
- Backup Efs partitions: Backup all your efs partition of your Moto e second gen on current rom..If you loose signal you can just restore it back.
- Lock Gps: Lock your gps position on your current rom.If you use this a lot then you have to lock it so that it could work even after flashing other roms. It's easy to lock gps .Turn on gps in settings and find your current location in google maps and now now have locked on to gps.
- Custom recovery: You need a custom recovery like twrp installed on your moto e otus.Without it you can not flash roms at all.
- Downloads: Cm13 for moto e otus and google apps. Transfer them to internal storage of your device.
#1 Unlock bootloader of Motoro Moto E 2015:
Unlocking the bootloader of Motorola Moto e 2015 is a very simple task.For this you need to download fastboot for pc and then you can proceed further.
- Enable usb debugging on the device by going into developer options and you need to enable an options "enable oem unlock" in developer settings menu itself.
- Reboot the device into fastboot mode and connect it to pc using a usb cable.
- Now type the command "fastboot device" to check if it is detected or not.If detected type the command "fastboot get_unlock_data" and hit enter.You will get a unlock code.
- Copy and paste the unlock code in Motorola official bootloader unlock website and you will get a unlock code to your device.
- Copy the key which they have mailed you and come to fasboot again.
- Type the command "fastboot oem unlock unique_key". replace the unique with that of what you got in mail and hit enter.
- Moto E 2015 bootloader will be unlocked and you will loose all the data on the device.
#2 install Twrp ercovery on Moto e 2015:
- Make sure that you installed fast boot on our computer by following above guide.
- After enabling usb debugging on your phone connect it to computer using a usb cable.
- Now open fastboot folder and copy and paste recovery image for moto e otus which you have download in the fastboot folder.
- Type the command "adb devices" and you will notice a pop on your phone to grant access to your device.Grant permissions .
- Now type the command "adb reboot-bootloader" and press enter and device enters boot loader mode.
- Once you are in bootloader mode type the command "fastboot devices" to know if your device is detected.If your device is detected you will get a key before list of devices.If not reinstall fastboot drivers.
- Now Type the command " fastboot flash recovery recovery.img" and recovery will be flashed on your phone.
- After Installing recovery you may see a warning message Miss matched partition size.Just ignore it.
- Disconnect phone from computer and using volume down key select recovery and click volume up button to confirm to boot into recovery.
- Once your device boots into recovery you can now flash roms,kernels or any other mods.
#3 Flash Cm 13 on moto e 2015 using Twrp recovery:
- Download Cyaogennmod 13 custom rom for otus and Gapps transfer it to sdcard or internal storage of device.
- Power of the device completely and wait for few seconds to confirm that it is off completely.
- Press volume up,power button and Volume down simultaneously and once you see boot loader screen release buttons.
- Using volume down as a navigation button move to recovery and click on Volume up to confirm action.
- Moto E otus boots into Twrp recovery.
- Once you are in twrp click on backup and select all the partitions which you want to backup. . It might take about 5 minutes for backup to complete. Don't interrupt backup process.
- Once backup of your existing rom is completed click on back button.Wipe data,cache and dalvik cache and wipe system partition too.
- Now select Install and navigate to location where you have placed your cm 13 Rom and gapps zip files.
- Flashing rom might take about 5 minutes or so.Once flashing is complete do a factory reset again.
- Now reboot to system.Wait at least 15 minutes for initial boot to complete and once done you can explore rom features.
