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Tweak now available that lets you run TouchWiz and stock Android on one Galaxy S4

Updated Aug 22nd, 2013 11:14PM EDT
Galaxy S4 Stock Android

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If there’s one thing smartphone enthusiasts love, it’s stock Android. The problem for them, of course, is that almost all of the best Android phones in the world run heavily customized versions of Android modified by the vendors that made them. If you like Samsung’s Galaxy S4 and want the best of both worlds, you really only have two options: shell out some serious money to buy a standard Galaxy S4 and a $650 developer edition with stock Android, or install MoDaCo’s great new tweak and switch between both operating systems at will on the same handset.

As is the case with MoDaCo.Switch for the HTC One, the site’s new Galaxy S4 version allows users to run stock Android and the modified version — in this case, Samsung’s TouchWiz — on one handset. Beyond simply switching between Android builds at any point in time, the best part is that both versions share the same data. This means that accounts, contacts, photos and more are all accessible whether you’re in stock Android or in TouchWiz.

Installing MoDaCo.Switch requires that you root your S4 and it should go without saying that it will void your warranty. For those still interested, a link to MoDaCo’s site can be found below in the source section.

A video showing how MoDaCo.Switch works on the Galaxy S4 follows below.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.