Download and Install AOSP Android 12 on Samsung Galaxy J7

This guide covers installing an Android 12 custom ROM on the Samsung Galaxy J7 2015 (j7elte), which launched in June 2015 on Android 5.1 Lollipop. Since Samsung ended updates at Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, a community ROM is the way to run a near-stock build of Android 12 on the phone.

About Android 12

Android 12 focuses on personalization and a redesigned interface with the Material You design language, building on the privacy work in Android 11. It brings dynamic color theming from your wallpaper, redesigned widgets, a reworked notification shade and lock screen, the Privacy Dashboard with camera and mic indicators, scrolling screenshots, one-handed mode, and app hibernation.

What works and known bugs

Most of the phone’s features work on this build. As a community ROM it can still have minor bugs, so check the XDA thread for the current status before you flash.

How to install AOSP Android 12 on the Samsung Galaxy J7

Go through the requirements below first.

Prerequisites

• Take a full backup of your data. Flashing wipes the phone.
• Charge the phone to at least 50%.
• Install the ADB and Fastboot platform-tools and the Samsung USB drivers on your PC. You can skip the platform-tools step if TWRP is already installed.
• Unlock the bootloader on your Galaxy J7.
• Install TWRP recovery on the Galaxy J7. On Samsung phones, TWRP is flashed with Odin, not fastboot.

Download

Most AOSP ROMs ship without Google apps, so download the Android 12 GApps package if you want the Play Store.

Instructions to install

1. Copy the ROM ZIP and the GApps ZIP to the phone’s internal storage.
2. Connect the phone to the PC with a USB cable, with USB Debugging enabled.
3. Open the platform-tools folder, type CMD in the address bar, and press Enter to open a Command Prompt.
4. Boot into TWRP, or use the hardware key combination:

   adb reboot recovery

5. In TWRP, go to Wipe, then Advanced Wipe, and wipe System, Data, Vendor, and Cache.
6. Go to Install, select the ROM ZIP, and swipe right to flash it.
7. To add Google apps, go to Install again, select the GApps ZIP, and swipe right to flash it.
8. Go to Reboot and select System.

The first boot can take several minutes. Once it is up, set the phone up as new.

FAQ

Did the Galaxy J7 get Android 12 officially?

No. Samsung ended updates at Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, so Android 12 is only available through community ROMs like this one.

Is this ROM stable on the J7?

Most features work, but as a community build it can have minor bugs. Check the XDA thread for the latest status before flashing.

Do I need GApps?

Only if you want the Play Store and Google services. Flash a matching Android 12 GApps package during installation.

That completes the guide to installing AOSP Android 12 on the Samsung Galaxy J7. If you run into any trouble, leave a comment below.