Upgrade Your Galaxy S7 Edge to Android 9.0 Pie with AOSP Custom ROM

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (codename: hero2lte) made its debut in February 2016, initially running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The device received an upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo but unfortunately, it will not be receiving an official update to Android 9.0 Pie.

However, for those eager to experience the features of Android Pie, there is a custom ROM based on Android 9.0 Pie AOSP (Android Open Source Project) that you can install on your Galaxy S7 Edge.

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Android 9.0 Pie – 9th version of Google’s Android Operating System

Android 9.0 Pie, the 9th version of Google’s Android operating system, comes with a host of new features and improvements.

Among them, the most notable is the gesture-based navigation system. Other enhancements include a revamped Quick Settings UI, a redesigned volume slider, AI-supported advanced battery optimization, notch support, better adaptive brightness, manual theme selection, and Google’s Digital Wellbeing dashboard.

Before diving into the installation process, be aware that your Galaxy S7 Edge’s bootloader must be unlocked and TWRP Recovery should be installed.

Additionally, ensure that your device is charged to at least 50% and that you’ve backed up your data.

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Prerequisites – Installing AOSP Android 9.0 Pie Update on Galaxy S7 Edge

Before you begin, make sure you have met the following prerequisites:

1. TWRP installation: Ensure that TWRP is installed on your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge.
2. Unlock the bootloader: Your device’s bootloader must be unlocked.
3. Backup your data: Safeguard your important data, such as emails, messages, photos, and videos, by creating a backup.
4. Install USB drivers: Download and install the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge USB drivers on your Windows PC or Mac.
5. Enable USB Debugging mode: To enable USB Debugging mode on your Android device, go to Settings > Developer Options.
6. Charge your device: Make sure your device has at least 70% battery charge to prevent any unexpected shutdowns during the process. This is crucial, as any shutdown can potentially cause permanent damage to your device.

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Install AOSP Android 9.0 Pie Update on Galaxy S7 Edge

Here’s a step-by-step guide to install AOSP Android 9.0 Pie Update on your Galaxy S7 Edge:

1) Download the Android 9.0 Pie custom ROM and Android 9.0 Pie Gapps Package.

2) Move the downloaded files to your phone's internal storage (root folder).

3) Boot your device into TWRP Recovery mode.

4) In TWRP Recovery, wipe system data (do not wipe internal storage).

5) Follow the guide on flashing a custom ROM using TWRP Recovery.

After flashing the ROM, reboot your device to the system and then back to recovery mode.

Now, follow the same guide to flash the Gapps file on your phone.

Finally, reboot your device to enjoy the AOSP Android 9.0 Pie update on your Galaxy S7 Edge.

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How to ensure that TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is installed on your Galaxy S7

To ensure that TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is installed on your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, follow these steps:

To ensure that TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is installed on your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, follow these steps:

1. Power off your device: Press and hold the power button until the power menu appears on your screen. Tap the “Power off” option, and your device will shut down.
2. Boot into Recovery mode: Press and hold the “Volume Up” + “Home” + “Power” buttons simultaneously for your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge. Release the buttons when you see the Samsung logo or feel the device vibrate.
3. Check for TWRP: If TWRP is installed, you will see the TWRP logo and the TWRP main menu on your screen. This means that TWRP is successfully installed on your device.

If you don’t see the TWRP main menu and instead see the stock recovery menu, it means TWRP is not installed on your device. In that case, follow the instructions below to install TWRP on your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge:

1. Download the appropriate TWRP image file for your device (Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge) from the official TWRP website (https://twrp.me/Devices/).
2. Install ADB and Fastboot tools on your computer. You can download the latest platform tools from Google (https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools).
3. Connect your device to the computer using a USB cable.
4. Open a command prompt or terminal window on your computer and navigate to the folder where you downloaded the TWRP image file.
5. Boot your device into Download mode by powering it off and then pressing and holding the “Volume Down” + “Home” + “Power” buttons simultaneously. Release the buttons when you see a warning screen. Press the “Volume Up” button to continue.
6. In the command prompt or terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:

adb devices

This command checks if your device is connected and recognized by the computer. If your device is listed, you can proceed to the next step.

7. To flash the TWRP image file, type the following command and press Enter:

adb sideload <TWRP_image_file_name>.img

Replace “<TWRP_image_file_name>.img” with the actual TWRP image file name that you downloaded.

8. Wait for the flashing process to complete.

9. Once the flashing is done, reboot your device using the following command:

adb reboot

Now, TWRP should be installed on your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge. You can verify by booting your device into Recovery mode again (step 2 in the first set of instructions) and checking for the TWRP logo and main menu.

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Booting your device into TWRP Recovery mode

Booting your device into TWRP Recovery mode is a simple process. Follow these steps:

1) Turn off your device: Press and hold the power button until the power menu appears on your screen. Tap the "Power off" option, and your device will shut down.

2) Press and hold specific button combination: The button combination to access TWRP Recovery mode varies across devices. For the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, press and hold the "Volume Up" + "Home" + "Power" buttons simultaneously.

3) Release the buttons: As soon as you see the Samsung logo on the screen or feel the device vibrate, release all buttons. This will boot your device into TWRP Recovery mode.

4) Grant permissions if required: If you're prompted to "Allow modifications" or enter a password, follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.

Now your device should be in TWRP Recovery mode, and you can perform tasks such as flashing custom ROMs, creating backups, or restoring previously created backups.

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How to unlock bootloader on Galaxy S7 Edge

Unlocking the bootloader on your Galaxy S7 Edge allows you to install custom ROMs, recoveries, and root your device. Keep in mind that unlocking the bootloader may void your device’s warranty, and it could potentially cause issues if not done correctly. Here’s how to unlock the bootloader on your Galaxy S7 Edge:

1. Enable Developer Options:
   a. Go to your device’s “Settings.”
   b. Scroll down and tap on “About phone.”
   c. Locate “Software information” and tap on it. d. Tap on “Build number” seven times until you see a message saying, “You are now a developer!”
2. Enable OEM Unlock:
   a. Return to the main “Settings” menu.
   b. Scroll down and tap on the newly enabled “Developer options.”
   c. Locate “OEM Unlock” and toggle it on. If prompted, enter your device’s PIN or password and confirm the action.

Please note that the Galaxy S7 Edge has a locked bootloader on certain carrier models, such as those from AT&T and Verizon, which means you cannot unlock the bootloader on these models. The instructions provided above are for the international, Exynos-based Galaxy S7 Edge, which has an unlockable bootloader.

If you have an unlockable bootloader and have enabled OEM Unlock, you’re all set. You can now proceed with installing TWRP, custom ROMs, or rooting your Galaxy S7 Edge. Keep in mind that unlocking the bootloader will factory reset your device, so ensure you have backed up your data before proceeding.

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How to Backup your data on Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge

Backing up your data is crucial before performing any system modifications, such as unlocking the bootloader, installing custom ROMs, or rooting your device. Here’s how to backup your data on your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge:

1. Samsung Cloud Backup:
   a. Go to your device’s “Settings.”
   b. Scroll down and tap on “Accounts and backup.”
   c. Tap on “Backup and restore.”
   d. Select “Back up data” under the Samsung account section.
   e. Choose the data you want to backup, such as contacts, messages, and media files.
   f. Tap “Back up” to start the backup process.
2. Google Backup: a. Go to your device’s “Settings.” b. Scroll down and tap on “Accounts and backup.” c. Tap on “Backup and restore.” d. Enable the “Back up my data” toggle under the Google account section. e. Ensure your Google account is selected for “Backup account.” f. Your device will now automatically back up data to your Google account, such as contacts, app data, and settings.
3. Manual Backup:
   a. Connect your device to a computer using a USB cable.
   b. Unlock your device and tap on “Allow” when prompted to grant access to your data.
   c. On your computer, open a file explorer and locate your device under the connected devices section.
   d. Navigate to the internal storage or SD card (if applicable) and copy the files and folders you want to backup.
   e. Paste the copied files and folders to a safe location on your computer, such as a dedicated backup folder or an external hard drive.
4. Third-Party Apps:
   a. You can use third-party backup apps, such as “Super Backup & Restore,” “Titanium Backup” (requires root access), or “Helium” (does not require root access) from the Google Play Store.
   b. Install the app of your choice and follow the on-screen instructions to backup your data.

By using one or more of these methods, you can ensure your data is safe before making any modifications to your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge. Always remember to store your backup files in a secure location, so you can easily restore them if needed.

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To root Android 9.0 Pie on your Galaxy S7 Edge, you can either use SuperSU or Magisk. However, please note that we are not responsible if the rooting procedure fails or causes any issues with your device.

By following this guide, you can now experience the features of Android 9.0 Pie on your Galaxy S7 Edge using the AOSP custom ROM. Enjoy!

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