How to install UN1CA

[salvogiangri]

Warning

Installing UN1CA for the first time REQUIRES a data format (this is NOT counting the data format when unlocking the bootloader or rooting your device).
Please make a backup of your data before proceeding.

Installing custom ROMs via a recovery has been the standard since Android early times, and today it's still the way to go in most devices and also the only way you can install UN1CA in your device.

To install UN1CA, a custom recovery and/or other unofficial images, your device's bootloader must be unlocked. If you are unsure please take a look at "How to unlock your bootloader" page.

This guide will not go in deep details about how to install a custom recovery, as the procedure might differ from device to device, so please refer to the XDA community page for your device if you haven't installed a custom recovery yet.

Once you have made sure your device's bootloader is unlocked and that you have a custom recovery installed, you can proceed with the following steps after downloading the latest available UN1CA zip package for your device:

• Reboot your device into recovery mode

  • Rebooting via key combo: power off your device, connect it to your PC via an USB cable and press the recovery mode key combo for your device.

  • Rebooting via Magisk/KernelSU Manager: open the Magisk/KernelSU Manager app and tap the "Reboot to recovery" option in the Toolbar menu.

  • Rebooting via ADB: connect your device to your PC via an USB cable and run the following command:

    adb reboot recovery

• Install UN1CA

  • Install via recovery UI: Open the Install menu, navigate to the folder where you stored the UN1CA zip package you previously downloaded and flash it.

  • Install via ADB: Open the Sideload menu, connect your device to your PC via an USB cable and run the following command in the directory where you've stored the UN1CA zip package you previously downloaded:

    adb sideload <file>

  Make sure to replace <file> with the name of your UN1CA zip package file (eg. adb sideload UN1CA_2.0.0-07d0046_20240616_a52sxq-sign.zip).

• This step is only required the very first time you install the ROM: once the installation has finished, open the Wipe → Format Data menu, type "yes" and confirm.

If you followed every step correctly, the ROM has been installed succesfully and you can now either exit recovery mode by tapping Reboot → System, or tap Reboot → Recovery to finalize your setup by flashing a custom kernel or the root solution you prefer.

Issues troubleshooting

If your device is refusing to boot in system properly after the install, make sure to check again the install steps in case you missed anything. If you think you did everything correctly but you're still having issues:

• Make sure your downloaded UN1CA zip package is not damaged. You can check this is the case by verifying your downloaded file checksum with the ones (MD5/SHA1) provided with your device zip package in its version release page.
• Make sure your device has a patched/disabled vbmeta image installed, this procedure should be done along when first installing a custom recovery in your device.
• When installing the ROM for the first time, make sure you're formatting your data partition via the Format Data menu in recovery, not via the Advanced Wipe/Factory reset one.
• Do not use any crypto disabler scripts such as multidisabler or similar when installing the ROM.

[3012notes94]

How to solve a problem:

I start the installation and receive the messages:

Installing zip file ' /data/rom.zip'
Error installing zip file ' /data/rom.zip'
Updating partition datails...
...done

[salvogiangri]

• Make sure your downloaded UN1CA zip package is not damaged. You can check this is the case by verifying your downloaded file checksum with the ones (MD5/SHA1) provided with your device zip package in its version release page.