CyanogenMod 13 (CM13) is a custom ROM based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Like almost every custom ROM, it doesn’t include the Play Store or any Google apps, so you have to flash a separate Google Apps package, called GApps, from a custom recovery such as TWRP. This guide shows you which GApps to download for CM13 and other Marshmallow ROMs, and how to flash it.
It’s updated for 2026, including what Google’s recent changes mean for phones that are still on Marshmallow.
Read this first: Marshmallow has lost Google support
In July 2026, Google stopped updating Google Play services on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Play services now needs Android 7.0 or later. Your Marshmallow phone still works, and you can still flash GApps, sign in and install apps that support Android 6, but you won’t get new Play services features, Play Protect updates or security fixes. Some big apps have already moved on too. For example, the YouTube app now needs Android 10 or later, though YouTube still works in a browser.
CyanogenMod itself was shut down at the end of 2016, and its successor, LineageOS, took over. Many phones that ran CM13 can now run a much newer Android version through LineageOS or crDroid, which is a far better option if you want current apps. Check our LineageOS device list and crDroid device list before you settle on Marshmallow.
Which GApps works with CM13?
Open GApps is the package to use for CM13 and any other Android 6.0 ROM, including LineageOS 13.0. Newer GApps projects such as MindTheGapps and NikGApps only support recent Android versions. Open GApps released its last builds in 2022, but its Android 6.0 packages are still the standard choice for Marshmallow.
The same Android 6.0 package works for both 6.0 and 6.0.1 ROMs.
- ARM: 32-bit processors, used by most Marshmallow-era phones.
- ARM64: 64-bit processors, such as the Snapdragon 810 and 820 in flagships from that time.
- x86: Intel processors, found in some Asus ZenFone and Lenovo models.
If you’re not sure, install CPU-Z or a similar app and check the CPU architecture. The wrong platform will fail to install.
Choose a variant
| Variant |
What it includes |
| Pico |
The bare minimum: Play Store, Play services and account sync. Smallest and safest choice. |
| Nano |
Pico, plus the Google app with “OK Google” and a few extras that aren’t on the Play Store. |
| Micro |
Nano, plus Gmail, Google Calendar and the Google Now Launcher. |
| Mini |
Micro, plus popular apps such as YouTube, Google Maps and Google Photos. |
| Full |
The full set of Google apps that came on Nexus phones running Marshmallow. |
| Stock |
Full, and it also replaces the ROM’s basic apps (camera, keyboard, contacts and so on) with Google’s versions. |
Pico or Nano is the best choice for most phones. Older devices often have a small system partition, and the larger packages can fail with an “insufficient storage” error. You can install any other Google app from the Play Store later.
Download GApps for CM13 (Android 6.0 Marshmallow)
If a link doesn’t start the download, open the Open GApps website and choose the platform, Android 6.0 and the variant yourself. The same files are on the Open GApps SourceForge project. Don’t use GApps zips from random file-sharing sites.
How to install GApps on CyanogenMod 13
Disclaimer:
GetDroidTips won’t be held liable for any error that occurs on your handset by following this guide or flashing any file. Proceed at your own risk.
What you need
- A phone with an unlocked bootloader and a custom recovery such as TWRP
- The CM13 (or other Android 6.0) ROM zip and the matching GApps zip, copied to your phone’s storage
- A full backup of your data
- At least 50% battery
Steps
- Turn off your phone and boot into TWRP recovery. The key combination depends on your phone, but it’s usually Power with Volume Up or Volume Down.
- If you’re installing CM13 fresh, go to Wipe and do a factory reset.
- Tap Install and flash the CM13 ROM zip.
- Without rebooting, tap Install again, choose the GApps zip and swipe to flash it.
- Wipe the cache and Dalvik cache, then reboot. The first boot can take a few minutes.
- Sign in to your Google account during setup and let the Play Store update your apps.
Flash GApps straight after the ROM, before the first boot. If CM13 has already booted without GApps, flashing them afterwards often causes “Google Play services has stopped” errors, and the fix is to wipe and flash both again.
Common problems
- “Insufficient storage space available in System partition”: choose a smaller variant, like Pico or Nano.
- “Invalid platform”: you downloaded the wrong platform. Check whether your phone is ARM, ARM64 or x86.
- “Invalid Android SDK version”: the GApps package isn’t for Android 6.0. Make sure you picked 6.0.
- Setup wizard keeps crashing: wipe and flash the ROM and GApps together again, without booting in between.
- App isn’t compatible with your device: the app no longer supports Android 6. A newer ROM is the only real fix.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Play Store still work on Android 6.0 Marshmallow?
Yes. You can sign in and download apps that still support Android 6. But Google stopped updating Play services for Marshmallow in July 2026, and the list of compatible apps keeps shrinking.
Is CyanogenMod 13 still supported?
No. CyanogenMod shut down at the end of 2016, so CM13 gets no updates. LineageOS replaced it and supports far newer Android versions.
Can I use these GApps on LineageOS 13?
Yes. LineageOS 13.0 is also based on Android 6.0, so the same Android 6.0 Open GApps packages work.
Which variant should I choose?
Pico or Nano for most phones. They’re small enough to fit on older system partitions, and you can add other Google apps from the Play Store afterwards.
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