Download and Install Lineage OS 18.1 on Samsung Galaxy J7 (Android 11)

The Samsung Galaxy J7 2015 (codename j7elte) launched in June 2015 on Android 5.1 Lollipop. This tutorial covers installing LineageOS 18.1, based on Android 11, on it. LineageOS is a free, community-maintained Android distribution, so it is a good way to run a much newer version of Android on this phone, with customisation options the stock software never had.

To install any custom ROM on the J7, you need an unlocked bootloader and TWRP recovery. From there you can flash a ROM and, if you want, root with Magisk. This guide walks through flashing LineageOS 18.1.

LineageOS 18.1 and Android 11 features

LineageOS is one of the longest-running custom ROMs. It began as CyanogenMod and continues as a community project after CyanogenMod was discontinued in 2016. It is based on the Android Open Source Project and keeps close to stock Android while adding a handful of customisation options, with stability as its focus.

LineageOS 18.1 is based on Android 11, which adds a separate Conversations section in notifications, one-time permissions, Notification History, chat bubbles, a built-in screen recorder, and media controls in the Quick Settings panel.

How to install LineageOS 18.1 on the Samsung Galaxy J7

This is an unofficial build, so you may run into some bugs. Check the ROM’s XDA thread for the current list of working and non-working features before you flash. When you are ready, go through the requirements below.

Prerequisites

• Create a full device backup. The data partition will be formatted.
• Unlock the bootloader on your device.
• Install TWRP recovery on the Galaxy J7. On Samsung phones, TWRP is flashed with Odin, not fastboot.
• Enable USB Debugging: Settings > About Phone > tap Build Number 7 times > back to Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options > enable USB Debugging.
• Install the Android SDK Platform Tools and the Samsung USB drivers on your PC.
• Download LineageOS 18.1 for the Galaxy J7: Download Link.
• If you want Google apps, download the Android 11 GApps package.

Instructions to install

1. Transfer the ROM and the GApps file 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:

   adb reboot recovery

   

5. In TWRP, go to Wipe and tap Advanced Wipe.
6. Select System, Vendor, Data, and Cache, then swipe right to format them.
7. Go to Install, select the LineageOS 18.1 ZIP, and swipe right to install it.
8. When it finishes, go back to Install and flash the GApps package the same way.
9. Wipe the cache partition, either with the Wipe Cache button after flashing GApps or through Wipe > Cache.
10. Go to Reboot and select System.

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

FAQ

Is LineageOS owned by Google?

No. LineageOS is a free, community-maintained project built on the open-source Android code. It is not a Google product.

Did the Galaxy J7 get Android 11 officially?

No. Samsung ended updates at Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, so Android 11 is only available through community ROMs like this one.

Can I root after installing?

Yes. Flash Magisk in TWRP after the ROM to gain root access.

That completes the guide to installing LineageOS 18.1 on the Samsung Galaxy J7. If you have any questions, leave a comment below.

Source: XDA