In almost all cases, to launch a custom ROM you will also need a custom recovery that differs from the one your device comes with. Recovery - After the bootloader loads, the recovery software system will launch the operating system (Android).Luckily, most bootloaders can be unlocked, which allows you to then flash new software. Most Android devices come with locked bootloaders - i.e., you can’t alter what it does.

Bootloader - When you power on a device, the first thing that turns on is the bootloader, which is responsible for starting up other processes.Flashing - When you overwrite one piece of software with another piece of software, that’s called “flashing.” This guide you’re reading goes over how to “flash” Lineage OS.

Lineage OS will often be referred to as a “custom ROM,” as it is a customized version of pure Android.

ROM - Stands for “read-only memory.” This is where the core software of Android lives.

Here’s a quick glossary of terms for you to refer to later on if you’re confused:

Cyanogenmod android studio adb