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Android 7.0 Nougat has already been ported to a phone that doesn’t support it

Published Aug 25th, 2016 12:20PM EDT
How to Install Nougat on Nexus 5

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A few days ago I told you that the Nexus 5 had just died. It became obsolete, officially, since Google isn’t supporting the handset anymore. Owners of one of the best and most popular Nexus devices ever made, the Nexus 5, will never get the Android 7.0 Nougat release, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck with Marshmallow forever. Hardcore users not afraid to tinker with their devices will get Nougat running on the Nexus 5 in the near future thanks to a custom ROM from Android hackers. In fact, the first Nougat-based build has already been released.

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Unofficial ports are best avoided, at least early ones, but if you know how to flash unofficial ROMs on a Nexus device and how to get back to a stable Android release – in this case, the latest Marshmallow build that Google made available for the handset – then you should feel free to give it a go. BGR never recommends installing unofficial software on any device, so proceed at your own risk.

The first Nougat port for the Nexus 5 comes from xda Recognized Developer Santhosh M. His Nexus 5 is indeed running Android 7.0, but there are some caveats. For starters, Bluetooth and the camera do not work at this time, which is probably a deal-breaker for most people.

Updating the Nexus 5 to Nougat should be pretty simple for most savvy Android users. All you have to do is install the ROM by flashing the appropriate zip file using a custom recovery of your choosing. Remember to back up your data before doing anything else, and you should wipe your device. Read more details about this first unofficial Nougat port for the Nexus 5 at this link.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.