First Ever Android 9.0 for Nexus 5

by | Aug 29, 2018 | Technology | 349 comments

First Ever Android 9.0 for Nexus 5

Please donate to keep this project alive!

 

If you find this project useful, please consider donating a small amount to help me cover the costs.

Your donations are appreciated!


List of Donors
  • Jacques Coetzee $50.00
  • Florian Çadri $30.00
  • Eduardo Alarcón $11.00
  • Yannick Langer $10.00
  • David Cigan $10.00
  • Yannick Langer $10.00
  • Arlis Nutter $10.00
  • Nicole Schimandl $5.00
  • Armand Gueit $5.00
  • Paul Carter $5.00
  • Sherif Shalaby $5.00
  • Bruno A. Brunori $5.00
  • Chenchu Murugulla $5.00
  • Christopher Lu $5.00
  • Laurent Bonfils $2.22

About Project:


This is my new project dedicated to all Nexus 5 users!

It is based on unofficial Unlegacy Android Project 9.0 Beta. I’m not a great programmer, but I know how to achieve my goals.

The goal is to reproduce the Google Pixel 3 system. This ROM also contains some useful tools.

Features:

Latest Version:

First Ever Android 9.0 14-12-2018
for Google Nexus 5 Hammerhead

What works
  • Almost everything
What doesn't work
  • Gestures: Double-tap to check phone
Things to improve
  • None

Change Log:

Changes to the previous version

Critical
  • Android security patch level 5 december 2018
Updates
  • Updating Magisk to version 18.0
  • Updating Google GApps 9.0 to version 20181214
Other
  • None
FE_Android_8.1

Disclaimer

This Guide is only for Google Nexus 5 (Hammerhead) D820/D821 16/32GB devices!

I am not responsible for any damage caused to your phone.

You are installing a custom ROM at your own risk.

Make sure to take a complete backup of your data before starting up the processes.

Make sure you follow all the instructions carefully, without skipping any steps!

Step-by-step Installation Guide: PDF File

Step 1 - Before you start

USE WINRAR 5.61 TO UNPACK THE RAR FILE ON YOUR COMPUTER, THEN COPY FILES TO YOUR PHONE!

Step 2 - Downloads

If you do not have a TWRP Recovery v3.2.3.0 installed on your Nexus 5, please download all files. Otherwise, you can download only First Ever Android 9.0 for N5 file and go to Step 5.

 

  1. Download WinRAR v5.61 – Link (2.1MB)
  2. Download 15 seconds ADB Installer v1.4.3 – Link / Mirror (9.18MB)
  3. Download TWRP for Hammerhead v3.2.3.0 – CAF / Non-CAF (13.1MB)
  4. Download First Ever Android 9.0 for Nexus 5 – 14-12-2018 – Download (1.45GB)

 

Step 3 - Enable USB debugging

To enable USB debugging on your device, go to: ‘Settings‘ > ‘Developer Options‘ > ‘USB debugging’

If you can’t see the ‘Developer Options‘ in the ‘Settings‘ menu, please follow this steps:

  1. Launch the ‘Settings‘ app from the app drawer or the notifications shade.
  2. Swipe all the way down and tap on ‘About phone.’
  3. Scroll down in this menu as well and you should see an option called ‘Build number.’
  4. Constantly tap on this option till you see a message: ‘You are now a developer.’
  5. Go back to ‘Settings‘ and try to enable ‘USB debugging‘ again.

Step 4 - Install TWRP Recovery via ADB
  1. Install 15 seconds ADB Installer v1.4.3 on your PC – Instructions
  2. Copy your TWRP Recovery twrp-3.2.3.0-hammerheadcaf.img file to C:\TWRP folder.
  3. Open a CMD window and type: cd c:\TWRP\
  4. Connect your Nexus 5 device to the PC.
  5. Type the following into CMD window: adb reboot bootloader
  6. If your asks for permission to “Allow USB debugging”, tap OK.
  7. Your device will boot into bootloader mode.
  8. Type this into the CMD: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.2.3.0-hammerheadcaf.img
  9. Now the TWRP Recovery will be installing on your Nexus 5 device.
  10. Type this final command into the CMD to reboot your device: fastboot reboot

Step 5 - Current ROM Backup

I will prepare a guide in English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Step 6 - Installation

I will prepare a guide in English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Download First Ever Android 9.0 dla Nexus 5 (Hammerhead) – Version: 14-12-2018 – Size: 1.45 GB

Using the Direct link may cause website down due to overload, try not to use it. Please report all broken links here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is UBR and why did you use a RAR archive, not ZIP?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Where can I copy the unpacked UBR folder?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Why does the TWRP Recovery not see UBR?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Why do I get an error when installing UBR in TWRP Recovery?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Will I lose all my files after upgrading to Android 9.0?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Can I restore my previous system?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Instead of Stereo sound I prefer Mono, how can I change it?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

It seems that the phone is too quiet, how can I increase the volume?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

The battery discharges very quickly, is it normal?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Why does my phone display an incorrect time?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Why does my phone not pass the SafetyNet check?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Can I change the Bootloader Logo?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Is it possible to update UBR and keep apps and settings?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Can I upgrade the official Android 6.0.1 OTA?

I will soon translate this page into English, but now you can use Google Translate: https://goo.gl/F3EJgM

Summary

The project was created to prolong the life of the Nexus 5 smartphone. Over 4-year-old flagship from Google is still a very efficient device and allows you to launch the latest games from 2018 years. After upgrading to Android 8.1, Nexus 5 is one of the more interesting phone on the aftermarket, and in the price range from £90 for a 16GB model is unmatched among other devices.

Completing this project and building a site absorbed a lot of my time. I plan to share updates on a regular basis until August 2019, then Google will end support for ARM apps and force the transition to ARM64, which Nexus 5 doesn’t support. In this way, after almost 6 years on the market, the Nexus 5 will go into well-deserved retirement.

Support

Support this project by sending a donation to the PayPal account below – thank you!

“The First Ever Android ROM gets the crown for the best custom ROM for the Nexus 5 so far in 2018.” – KDCloudy

Please read the FAQ section before you ask a question in the comments below.

Repeated questions will be deleted!

349 Comments

← Older Comments
  2. colin
    colin on January 21, 2019 at 1:50 pm

    This ROM helped me very much because lineageOS 16 has no disk space to install gapps pico.
    But as one mentioned above, notification won’t show up.
    I tried restoring the ROM except data partition, it made notification work.
    However many other things such as wifi seem to be corrupt without data restoring.
    I hope anyone find a way to revive notification.

    Reply
  3. Hadi Nahavandi
    Hadi Nahavandi on January 25, 2019 at 2:41 pm

    thanks for making android 9 available for nexus5.

    android backup is not working in 14-12-2018 version.
    hotspot is not working.
    unexcepted restarts happening.

    Reply
  4. Luis
    Luis on January 28, 2019 at 5:32 am

    Since 2 days ago, my phone has started to close apps without a reason… any tentative date for an update? just to know if im going to wait or change the Rom for a new one… I like this one a lot, however, we need an update.. please… Thank you, waiting for a tentative date… thanks for ur work…

    Reply
  5. George Immanual
    George Immanual on January 31, 2019 at 8:14 am

    Hi Marcin n Hi friends. My Nexus 5 is running flawless with this new update. The only major problem is that, there’s a huge network drop. If anyone has any solution plz post. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Balaji
      Balaji on February 2, 2019 at 6:54 am

      I am also facing the same issue. Earlier I thought the issue is with my service provider. I tried changing the provider but the issue is still the same. Network drop is due to some issue in the current update.
      Hi Marcin, My Nexus 5 Savior, Please fix this issue.

      Reply
  6. Muhafskidv
    Muhafskidv on January 31, 2019 at 8:35 pm

    I’m very Disappointed , I waist my time two hours of installing this Rom and my app , but no NOTIFICATION push at all !!! For all app .
    Please First ever reply
    Just go back to old Rom.
    This is MAJOR PROBLEM IN THIS ROM ! please First Ever reply

    Reply
  7. Mshulat ajahak
    Mshulat ajahak on January 31, 2019 at 8:38 pm

    I got Notification push problem in all app. Please fix this issue, i can’t get notification from any app !

    Reply
    • Daniel
      Daniel on February 4, 2019 at 4:02 pm

      Restore only boot and system partitions, this fix notifications issues.

      Reply
  8. FirstEver
    FirstEver on February 11, 2019 at 8:54 am

    A new ROM (February 2019) is coming this week!

    Reply
    • Tel
      Tel on February 11, 2019 at 6:09 pm

      thanks captain, much appreciated 🙂

      Reply
    • Balaji Pulluru
      Balaji Pulluru on February 13, 2019 at 3:52 pm

      Thanks for your hardwork Marcin.
      Request you to please fix the Network drop issue in this release.

      Reply
    • Luis
      Luis on February 17, 2019 at 7:46 pm

      Thanks a lot… waiting for this new ROM..!

      Reply
  9. George Immanual
    George Immanual on February 13, 2019 at 6:57 pm

    Thanks for the new ROM. Please fix the network issue. Thanks

    Reply
  10. gamagy
    gamagy on February 14, 2019 at 3:23 am

    thank you for your rom.^^

    how can i us phone landscape mode??

    Reply
  11. G
    G on February 14, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    When I click on “restore” and select the backup named “FirstEver-Android-9.0-hammerhead-20181214” te partitions to restore are only “Boot” and “Cache”.
    Swiping to restore, the my Nexus 5 doesn’t turn on exept in recovery mode. Any suggestions?
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Ashutosh Gupta
      Ashutosh Gupta on February 15, 2019 at 6:02 am

      You have to recover all the item’s

      Reply
  12. Tel
    Tel on February 14, 2019 at 9:45 pm

    Thanks again, and +1 for the BT hands free call distortion fix

    Reply
  13. Muhamet khandr
    Muhamet khandr on February 15, 2019 at 12:49 am

    First ever we are waiting new ROM , when you release it ??

    Reply
  14. Tel
    Tel on February 16, 2019 at 2:25 pm

    Thanks again, and +1 for the WiFi Hotspot fix

    Reply
    • Andreas
      Andreas on February 20, 2019 at 5:50 pm

      Where did you download new version of ROM?

      Reply
      • Tel
        Tel on February 20, 2019 at 8:32 pm

        I didn’t – no update from the dev since 11/02/19 post so hoping that he’s working on the fixes requested – thanks again for all your hard work and hope for an update v soon 🙂

        Reply
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