Download and Install Lineage OS 19 for Samsung Galaxy J7 (Android 12)

The Samsung Galaxy J7 2015 (j7elte) launched in June 2015 on Android 5.1 Lollipop. This tutorial covers installing LineageOS 19 (based on Android 12) on it, with the downloads and steps you need. Since Samsung ended updates at Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, this is the way to run Android 12 on the phone.

LineageOS 19 is based on Android 12, whose headline change is the Material You design language: a custom color palette pulled from your wallpaper, new widgets, and a more personal interface.

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.

How to install LineageOS 19 on the Samsung Galaxy J7

This is an unofficial alpha build, so expect some bugs. Check the ROM’s XDA thread for the current status before you flash. 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 LineageOS 19.

Is LineageOS 19 stable on the J7?

This is an alpha build, so expect some 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 LineageOS 19 on the Samsung Galaxy J7. If you run into any trouble, leave a comment below.