Smartphone manufacturers often load Android with their own shells, which do not always suit users. Realme no exception: their proprietary one ColorOS although functional, it is overloaded with unnecessary applications, aggressive battery optimization and a not always intuitive interface. Installing clean Android (or custom firmware based on it) allows you to get rid of these shortcomings, get the latest security updates and expand the capabilities of the device.

However, the process of installing stock Android on Realme is more complicated than on devices Google Pixel or Nexus. Here you need to unlock the bootloader, install a custom recovery, and sometimes bypass manufacturer restrictions. In this article, we will analyze all the stages - from preparation to final configuration - and also tell you which models Realme are best supported by the developer community.

⚠️ Important: The process of installing custom firmware will void the warranty and may lead to data loss or “bricking” the device. If you are not confident in your skills, it is better to contact a specialist or stay with the standard one. ColorOS.

1. Which Realme models support stock Android?

Not all smartphones Realme are equally well suited for installing stock Android. The main factors are the popularity of the model among developers and the availability of stable builds. Below are the devices with the best support:

Model Support for custom firmware Recommended firmware Features
Realme GT 2/2 Pro Excellent LineageOS, Pixel Experience, ArrowOS Active community, regular updates
Realme 9 Pro+ Good Pixel Experience, crDroid Requires unlocking the bootloader through an official tool
Realme 8 Pro Average LineageOS (unofficial builds) Possible problems with the camera (patches required)
Realme X50 Pro Satisfactory Pixel Experience, AOSP Stable builds only for global versions
Realme Narzo 30 Pro Weak Unofficial ports High risk of bugs, recommended only for experienced users

Before starting work, be sure to check whether there are stable builds for your model on the forums XDA Developers or Telegram channels developers. For example, for Realme GT Neo 2 official builds are available LineageOS 20, and for Realme 7 Pro only unofficial ports with limited functionality are available.

⚠️ Attention: Devices with processors Mediatek (for example, Realme 8i or Realme C35) often have problems with supporting custom firmware due to the closed source code of the drivers. For them, it is recommended to use firmware based on ColorOS with removed bloatware (for example, through ADB).

📊 Which Realme model are you using?
Realme GT series
Realme 9/8 series
Realme Narzo
Realme X series
Other model

2. Preparing for installation: backing up and unlocking the bootloader

The first and most important step is saving all data. device reset (factory reset), so without a backup you will lose:

  • 📱 Contacts, SMS and call log (if not synchronized with Google Account)
  • 📷 Photos and videos (including screenshots and downloads from instant messengers)
  • 🎮 Game saves (if not linked to the cloud)
  • 🔑 Passwords for Wi-Fi and applications (if you do not use a password manager)

For backup We recommend:

  • 🖥️ Use Google Drive or Local Backup in settings ColorOS.
  • 📱 Applications like Swift Backup (requires root) or Titanium Backup (outdated, but works).
  • 💾 Copy files to PC via MTP or ADB pull.

Next you need unlock bootloaderOn devices Realme it. done through the official tool Deep Testing App:

  1. Download official utility for your model.
  2. Install it on your smartphone and follow the instructions (you will need to link account Realme).
  3. Connect the device to the PC and run the command: 
    fastboot flashing unlock
  4. Confirm unlocking on the smartphone screen (this will erase all data!).

⚠️ Attention: On some models (for example Realme 10 Pro+), unlocking the bootloader may take up to 7 days due to verification with side Realme. Check the details for your model on the forums.

Make a backup copy of all data|

Charge the phone at least 60%|

Install drivers ADB/Fastboot on PC|

Download Deep Testing App for your model|

Prepare a USB cable (preferably original)

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3. Selecting firmware: which is better - LineageOS, Pixel Experience or AOSP?

After unlocking bootloader you need to select the firmware. Main options:

  • 📱 LineageOS —the most stable and closest to stock Android firmware. Supports most functions, but without proprietary features Google (for example, Now Playing or Call Screen).
  • 🎨 Pixel Experience — imitates the interface Google Pixel, including exclusive features like Live Caption or Adaptive Battery. Requires more resources.
  • ⚡ ArrowOS - balance between performance and customization Supports themes Substratum and has advanced privacy settings.
  • 🛠️ crDroid - firmware for enthusiasts with maximum interface settings. May be less stable on some devices.

For most users, the best choice is Pixel Experience (if you need a "pixel" experience) or LineageOS (if stability is important). For example, on Realme GT 2 Pro Pixel Experience 13 works almost without bugs, and Realme 8 Pro it is better to choose LineageOS 20 due to problems with the camera in other firmware.

Critical! Before installation, check whether the selected firmware supports:

  • 📸 All camera modules (wide-angle, macro, telephoto).
  • 🔋 Fast charging (on some firmware limited to 18W).
  • 🎧 Sound in headphones and speakers.
  • 📶 Modules 5G/Wi-Fi 6 (if your model has them).

Download firmware only from official sources:

💡

If you are not sure about the choice of firmware, look video reviews on YouTube with the tags "[your model] + [firmware name]". This will help evaluate performance and possible bugs.

4. Installing custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox)

To install the firmware you will need custom recovery on devices Realme usually. use:

  • 🔧 TWRP —the most popular solution, but not all models have current versions.
  • 🦊 OrangeFox —a TWRP fork with additional features (for example, a built-in file manager).

Installation instructions TWRP:

  1. Download the recovery image for your model (for example, twrp-3.7.0_rmx3363.img for Realme 9 Pro+).
  2. Connect the phone to the PC in fastboot (hold Volume down + Power when turned on).
  3. Run the command: 
    fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_rmx3363.img
  4. Immediately after installation, go to recovery, otherwise ColorOS will overwrite it with the standard one.

⚠️ Attention: On some models (for example, Realme GT Neo 3), to work with partitions you will need to disable dm-verity i forceencrypt. This is done through the command: 

fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img

(file vbmeta.img usually included with the firmware).

If TWRP does not recognize internal memory, try:

  • 🔄 Reflash recovery with another version.
  • 🔧 Use ADB sideload to install the firmware.
  • 📁 Format the partition data manually (will lead to loss data!).
What to do if TWRP asks for a password?

If after installation TWRP asks for a password, this means that the data partition is encrypted. Solutions:

1. Enter your screen lock password (sometimes it works).

2. Format data via TWRP (Settings → Format data → enter “yes”).

3. Use ADB sideload to install the firmware without mounting the internal memory.

5. Step-by-step installation of pure Android

When recovery is installed, you can begin installing the firmware. General algorithm:

  1. Cleaning partitions:
    • In TWRP select Wipe → Advanced Wipe.
    • Mark partitions: Dalvik / ART Cache, System, Data, Cache.
    • Confirm the action by swiping.
  2. Firmware installation:
    • Transfer the firmware ZIP file to your phone or use ADB sideload.
    • B TWRP select Install → specify the firmware file.
    • Add ZIP from GApps (if the firmware is without Google services).
  3. Installing Magisk (optional):
    • Download the latest Magisk from GitHub.
    • Install it TWRP after the firmware.
  • First launch:
    • After installation, select Reboot System.
    • First startup may take 10-15 minutes - do not interrupt the process!

    Example commands for ADB sideload (if internal memory is not mounted):

    adb sideload lineage-20.0-20231210-nightly-rmx3363-signed.zip

    adb sideload MindTheGapps-13.0.0-arm64-20230625_112439.zip

    ⚠️ Attention: On some models (for example, Realme X7 Pro) the sensor or camera may not work after installing the firmware. In this case:

    • Check if there are patches for your model on the forum XDA.
    • Try to flash the kernel from another assembly (for example, from crDroid).
    • Return to ColorOS via the official tool Realme Flash Tool.

    1. Repeat the installation with a complete wipe of the partitions.

    2. Flash another firmware version (for example, try LineageOS instead of Pixel Experience).

    3. Return standard recovery and restore ColorOS via Fastboot.-->

    6. Setting up pure Android after installation

    After the first launch, you will need basic system setup:

    • 🔄 Firmware update: check for OTA updates in the settings. On custom firmware they come less often than on ColorOS.
    • 🔒 Security: Enable device encryption (if not done automatically) and set up a screen lock.
    • 📱 Data recovery: Use backups from Google Drive or Swift Backup.
    • 🎯 Optimization: disable animations in the developer settings to speed up the interface.

    Setting features for firmware based on Android 13/14:

    • 📶 Mobile network: you may need to manually select the operator in Settings → Network and Internet.
    • 🔋 Battery: enable Adaptive battery and limit background activity for unnecessary applications.
    • 📷 Camera: install Google Camera (GCam) with the configured config for your model.

    To improve autonomy for Realme s For pure Android we recommend:

    • 🔌 Disable Always-On Display (if it exists).
    • 📡 Use Adaptive brightness instead of manual settings.
    • ⚡ Install the application AccuBattery to monitor battery health.

    ⚠️ Attention: On firmware without certification Google (for example, some builds ArrowOS) may not work:

    • 💳 Google Pay and banking applications (due to the lack of SafetyNet).
    • 🎮 Some games (for example, Pokémon GO or Genshin Impact).
    • 📺 HD streaming services (for example, Netflix or Disney+).

    To solve these problems, install Magisk and modules Universal SafetyNet Fix + Play Integrity Fix.

    7. Possible problems and their solutions

    Even after successful installation, let's consider the most common ones:

    Problem Possible cause Solution
    Mobile network does not work Missing modem drivers or incorrect APN settings Install patch for the modem or manually add the operator's APN
    The phone is overheating The kernel or background processes are not optimized Install a custom kernel (for example, Kirisakura) or limit background activity
    Face Unlock does not work No firmware support Use a fingerprint or PIN code
    Battery drains quickly Uncalibrated battery or background processes Perform a full charge/discharge cycle or install AccuBattery
    NFC does not work No driver or conflict with Magisk Install a module Magisk for NFC or flash a patch

    If, after installing the firmware, the device does not detect the SIM card, try:

    1. Reboot the phone in airplane mode for 1 minute.
    2. Manually select the operator in Settings → Network and Internet → Mobile network.
    3. Flash a patch for the modem (search on XDA by model).
    4. Return to ColorOS and check the operation of the SIM, then repeat the firmware installation.

    To diagnose problems, use the logs:

    • 📜 adb logcat — for errors in the system.
    • 📡 adb shell dumpsys battery — to analyze battery consumption.
    • 📱 adb shell dumpsys telephony.registry —to check the mobile network.

    ⚠️ Attention: If after all the manipulations the problem remains, perhaps your model is not well supported by custom firmware. In this case, it is better to return to ColorOS or use alternative optimization methods (for example, removing bloatware via ADB).

    8. Alternatives: how to improve ColorOS without installing custom firmware

    If the process of installing pure Android seems too complicated, there are ways to do it ColorOS closer to stock experience:

    • 🧹 Removing blockware:
      • Use ADB to remove system applications without root:
        • adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.realme.securitycheck
      • Look for lists of packages safe to remove at XDA.
    • 🎨 Customizing the interface:
      • Install the launcher Nova Launcher or Lawnchair.
      • Use themes from ColorOS Theme Store (there are minimalistic options).
    • 🔒 Disable optimization:
      • In Settings → Battery → Battery optimization disable restrictions for the desired applications.
      • In the developer settings, disable Restriction background processes.

    For deep customization without firmware, you can get root access via Magisk (without unlocking the bootloader this is not possible on most models RealmeHowever, remember that root makes it impossible to use banking applications and some games.

    If security updates are critically important to you, but you don’t want to install custom firmware, follow the updates ColorOS via Settings → Software update. Realme usually releases security patches every 2-3 months for popular models.

    💡

    Removing bloatware via ADB is the safest way to optimize ColorOS without the risk of bricking the device. However, some system applications (for example, com.coloros.assistantscreen) can be critical for the operation of the phone - remove only proven packages!

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about installing pure Android on Realme

    ❓ Is it possible to return ColorOS after installing custom firmware?

    Yes, this is possible in two ways:

    1. Via Fastboot: download the official firmware from the website Realme and flash it through the command fastboot flashall.
    2. Via Recovery: if you still have standard recovery, you can install ZIP with ColorOS via it.

    ⚠️ After returning to ColorOS You may need to unlock the bootloader again.

    ❓ Why does the camera not work after installing the firmware?

    This problem is typical for devices Realme due to closed camera drivers Solutions:

    • Install Google Camera with a config for your model (look at XDA or Telegram).
    • Flash a patch for the camera (if available for your firmware).
    • Try another firmware - for example, Pixel Experience often supports cameras better, than LineageOS.
    ❓ How to update custom firmware?

    The update depends on the type of firmware:

    • Official builds (LineageOS, Pixel). Experience). unlocking the bootloader? updates come via OTA. Download the file and install it via TWRP.
    • Unofficial builds: Stay tuned for updates on the developer forum. Usually a complete flashing with cleaning is required data.

    ⚠️ Before updating, always make a backup copy to TWRP!

    ❓ Is it possible to install pure Android without unlocking the bootloader?

    No, on devices Realme this is not possible. Unlocking the bootloader is required for:

    • Installing custom recovery (TWRP).
    • Unofficial firmware images.
    • Obtaining root access.

    The only alternative is to use Magisk to modify system files without replacing the firmware, but this requires unlocking the bootloader and does not give full control over the system.

    ❓ Which Realme models are better not to flash?

    It is not recommended to install custom firmware on:

    • Devices with processors Mediatek Helio G (for example, Realme C3, Realme Narzo 10A) - poor driver support.
    • New models (released less than 6 months ago) - no stable ones yet firmware.
    • Devices with Dynamic RAM (for example, Realme GT Neo 3) - there may be problems with memory management.

    For these models, it is better to limit yourself to removing the bloatware or using launchers.