Upgrade Firmware

Htc desire 816 is one of first device to have a snapdragon 400 processor.It is initially launched with android kitkat and is yet to receive lollipop update.Its a beautiful device from htc with 5.5 inch screen with 720p hd display.Even though lollipop is not yet out completely you can still install it on this device with the help of cyanogenmod custom rom.

Device specific code name for htc desire 816 is "a5" and you should not get confuse between model number and device code.Also this device comes in dual sims too and they have device code names as "a5dwg" and "a5dug".This rom is specific to single variant only but you can still flash this on dual sim variant of desire 816 but you will face some problems for sure.

If you have this device and don't know how to update it to latest version of android then this guide is for you.We will help you to you to unlock your bootloader, install a custom recovery and finally install cyanogenmod in three steps.You have to follow these steps carefully so that you don't encounter any problems.

Flashing a custom on your android smartphone is very risky process.If you have bricked it then there is not chance of it getting it back to normal working state.Though the chances are very low to brick it we still hold no responsibility for any sought of damage caused.

Cyanogenmod custom rom for htc desire 816 a5:

Install Cyanogenmod custom on Htc desire 816 a5

About cyanogenmod custom rom:
Before flashing this you read some information about this cm 12.0 rom for desire 816,so that you can have an idea of this one offers to you.Cyanogenmod is one of the best custom roms available in android development ecosystem.They support lot of devices.This is based on android open source project with lot of added features.IT uses android 5.1.1 lollipop as base for now and will be updated to later versions of android when available.

cyanogenmod custom rom

Though desire 816 is officially supported by cyanogenmod we still don't have cm 12.1 and you have to wait for some more time.Till then you have to completely rely on cm 12.0 only.
Features of Cm 12.0:
This is first step is to unlock bootloader which you have go through before installing any custom rom on htc desire 816 and is a simple process but it requires a computer with Internet connection.
Must read: Basic adb and fastboot commands

• Download and install htc drivers on your computer if you don't have.
• Now power off the device completely and wait for few seconds to confirm that it is completely off.
• Hold volume down and power button at same time for few seconds.When you see hboot release buttons.Using volume down for navigation select "fastboot" and click on power button to put desire 816 into fastboot.
• Once you are in fastboot mode connect it to computer through usb cable and if you notice any driver installation process let it complete first.
• Download  fastboot on our laptop or Pc and install it.You can install it any location but choose location as c: which is default location.
• open the fastboot folder which is located in "c:\programming files".Right click on empty space by holding shift and you see an option "open cmd here".
• If you don't find this option then press windows and R buttons at same time ,Run pops up and type cmd to open command prompt.
• Now go to fastboot folder and copy the location of it which you can see in address bar of folder.
• In command prompt type the command "Cd location of fastboot folder" and press enter.You will notice that fastboot appears in command line.To paste location right click on empty space in cmd and several pops up.Select paste.
• One you press enter you have to notics minimal adb and fastboot in command line instead of c or some thing.
• Once you are in fastboot window type "fastboot devices" and press enter.If your device is detected you will get a serial number in list of  devices attached.If not uninstall drivers and install them again.
• Now type the command "fastboot oem get_identifier_token" and hit enter.You will get a serial key.Copy that key to notepad or ms-word.
• Now open htcdev.com and register with a valid email id.
• One you sign up there.Log in to your account and you will find developer centre in top most part.
• Click on it and you will have three more options to choose from.select unlock bootloader.

  Unlock bootloader of htc desire 816 a5

• Proceed all other steps as mentioned and you are are asked to submit Submit your key there.
• You will receive a mail from Htc which includes a unlock_code.bin file. Download it and move it to fastboot folder which is located in programming files.
• Now type the command "fastboot flash unlocktoken unlock_code.bin" and hit enter.Check your device ,you will notice a notification on desire 816 to confirm unlocking bootloader. Click on yes.This will unlock bootloder and also erases all data of your Htc desire 816.
• You have a unlocked bootloader device which is ready to accept a recovery to be flashed.

#2: Install Twrp recovery on Htc desire 816 

• Now download twrp recovery for htc desire 816  above link and paste it in fastboot folder.Don't forget to rename it to recovery or to twrp so that you can type it easily in command.
• Put the device in fastboot mode again using button combinations.See it in step 1 if you don't know.
• Type the command "fastboot flash recovery recovery.img".This will install latest twrp recovery on your htc desire 816 .
• Once you have installed recovery reboot it and copy cyanogenmod 12.0 which you have downloaded on your computer to desire 816 internal storage and head over to next step.

• Download Cm 12.0 for  htc desire 816 for your model only and Gapps transfer it to sdcard or internal storage of your device.
• Power of  device completely and wait for few seconds to confirm that it is off completely.
• Hold volume down and power button at same time for few seconds.
• When you see hboot release buttons.Using volume keys for navigation select recovery and click on power button to reboot into twrp recovery.
• Once you are in  twrp click on  backup and select all partitions which you want to backup. It might take about 5 minutes for backup to complete. Don't interrupt backup process.This step is essential if flashing is your first time.
• 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 12.0 rom and gapps zip files.
• Flashing this might take about 5 minutes or even less.Once flashing is complete do a factory reset again.
• Now reboot to system.

If you are completely bored with your htc desire 816 you might either sell it or will try experiments on it for sure.You will first start with root and then proceed to installing custom roms if you are completely fed up with that.But for all these to be done you need a custom recovery installed on it first.

Twrp is one of the best recovery that you can have on your desire 816 a5.Good news is that twrp officially supports this device under the codename a5 which is a single sim variant.So if you  have a dual sim variant then this is not for you.We don't recommend you to flash this for now.

"A5" is the device specific codename for htc desire 816.We are not responsible if you brick your device in this process as we all aware that flashing and rooting htc desire 816 is a risky process.This tutorial is not all meant for dual sim variants to this mobile and we take no responsibility if you brick it.


Installing twrp recovery can be done in two stages and you have to follow these steps carefully. Though you can flash this recovery on desire 816 in three ways,you have to go through first method only if you dont have root access.
This is first step is to unlock bootloader which you have go through before installing any custom rom on htc desire 816 and is a simple process but it requires a computer with Internet connection.

Must read: Basic adb and fastboot commands

• Download and install htc drivers on your computer if you don't have.
• Now power off the device completely and wait for few seconds to confirm that it is completely off.
• Hold volume down and power button at same time for few seconds.When you see hboot release buttons.Using volume down for navigation select "fastboot" and click on power button to put desire 816 into fastboot.
• Once you are in fastboot mode connect it to computer through usb cable and if you notice any driver installation process let it complete first.
• Download  fastboot on our laptop or Pc and install it.You can install it any location but choose location as c: which is default location.
• open the fastboot folder which is located in "c:\programming files".Right click on empty space by holding shift and you see an option "open cmd here".
• If you don't find this option then press windows and R buttons at same time ,Run pops up and type cmd to open command prompt.
• Now go to fastboot folder and copy the location of it which you can see in address bar of folder.
• In command prompt type the command "Cd location of fastboot folder" and press enter.You will notice that fastboot appears in command line.To paste location right click on empty space in cmd and several pops up.Select paste.
• One you press enter you have to notics minimal adb and fastboot in command line instead of c or some thing.
• Once you are in fastboot window type "fastboot devices" and press enter.If your device is detected you will get a serial number in list of  devices attached.If not uninstall drivers and install them again.
• Now type the command "fastboot oem get_identifier_token" and hit enter.You will get a serial key.Copy that key to notepad or ms-word.
• Now open htcdev.com and register with a valid email id.
• One you sign up there.Log in to your account and you will find developer centre in top most part.
• Click on it and you will have three more options to choose from.select unlock bootloader.
  
• Proceed all other steps as mentioned and you are are asked to submit Submit your key there.
• You will receive a mail from Htc which includes a unlock_code.bin file. Download it and move it to fastboot folder which is located in programming files.
• Now type the command "fastboot flash unlocktoken unlock_code.bin" and hit enter.Check your device ,you will notice a notification on desire 816 to confirm unlocking bootloader. Click on yes.This will unlock bootloder and also erases all data of your Htc desire 816.
• You have a unlocked bootloader device which is ready to accept a recovery to be flashed.

#2: Install Twrp recovery on Htc desire 816 using fastboot

• Now download twrp recovery for htc desire 816  above link and paste it in fastboot folder.Don't forget to rename it to recovery or to twrp so that you can type it easily in command.
• Put the device in fastboot mode again using button combinations.See it in step 1 if you don't know.
• Type the command "fastboot flash recovery recovery.img".This will install latest twrp recovery on your htc desire 816 .
• Once you have installed recovery reboot it and copy cyanogenmod 12.0 which you have downloaded on your computer to desire 816 internal storage and head over to next step.

Other two ways to have twrp installed on your smartphone are also mentioned here.But both these method require root access.

Method 2: Flash it using Twrp manager app:

• This method only works when you have root access and an unlocked bootloader.
• Open playstore app and search for twrp manager app.
• Download app and open it.
• If you are asked to grant super user permissions.Simply grant always.
• Once you grant the permissions do a swipe from the left and you will find several options.
• Choose the options "Install twrp" and you will be greeted with two more options.One is  device name  and other to install.
• Click device name and scroll down  and you will find Htc desire 816 a5. Click on it.
• Now choose which version to be installed and then click on install recovery.
• App downloads the recovery and flashes it.
• Once done you can reboot to recovery from the app itself.

Method 3:using dd method

• This method too requires root access and bootloader unlocked.
• Go to play store and search for a app call "terminal emulator".You will flooded with lot of apps just download any one of them.
• Download twrp recovery img file from above link and place it on your internal storage.Do not place it it any folder,just copy to roots of your internal storage.If you are confused then just copy and paster in internal storage and rename it to twrp.
• Open terminal emulator and  type the command "su".If you are requested to grant super user  permissions then  grant them.
• Type the command "dd if=/sdcard/twrp.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p41".
• Recovery will be flashed in few seconds just keep calm and wait for process to complete.

How to Root Htc desire 816 a5:

• Download latest supersu zip file and transfer it to sdcard or internal storage of your device.
• Power of  device completely and wait for few seconds to confirm that it is off completely.
• Hold volume down and power button at same time for few seconds.
• When you see hboot release buttons.Using volume keys for navigation select recovery and click on power button to reboot into twrp recovery.
• Once you are in  twrp click on  backup and select all partitions which you want to backup. It might take about 5 minutes for backup to complete. Don't interrupt backup process.This step is essential if flashing is your first time.
• 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 supersu zip file.
• Flashing this might take less than a minute.
• Once it is flashed just reboot to system.
• To know if your desire 816 is rooted or not just open playstore app and then search for an app called root checker.
• When you open the and click on "check root access", if it asks permissions then it has been rooted.Now you can either install custom roms for any root apps as you wish.But remember you have to make a backup for sure.

These are all three method with which you can flash twrp recovery and there is another method too but it requires recovery zip file and can be flashed through other recovery.Of all the method method 2 is the easiest and safe way to flash recovery but requires root access.