5 Best Custom Recovery for Android Phone

Android is the kind of platform that’s all about customization. Although manufacturers have always ruled the roost in dictating what users can do with their gadgets, the Android developer community works tirelessly to crack down on those barriers on smartphones and tablets. A custom recovery is one of those tools.

In this post, we’re going to consider what a custom recovery is, why you might want to use one, and the top five custom recoveries for Android in 2025.

What is Recovery Mode?

The first thing the bootloader rings up is the recovery. A custom recovery like TWRP will let you back up the entire device, flash tweaks, and install a new custom ROM.

Or simply it is low-level software that can create and restore full system backups. Accessed before the main OS is booted.

The recovery menu provides options to assist in recovering your device — for instance, you’ll reset your device to its factory default state from here. The recovery mode can also be used to flash OTA update files.

If you would like to flash a replacement ROM to your device — or re-flash the factory default ROM file—you’ll get to boot to recovery mode first.

What is Custom Recovery?

Before telling you the best custom recovery for Android, we must know what a custom recovery is. A custom recovery may be a third-party recovery environment.

Flashing this recovery environment onto your device replaces the default, stock recovery environment with a third-party, customized recovery environment.

This is often a touch like flashing a custom ROM like CyanogenMod — but rather than replacing your device’s Android OS, it replaces the recovery environment.

How to Flash Custom Recovery?

Before telling you the best custom recovery for Android, we must know how to flash the recovery.

Pre-requisites

• Rooted Android Device
• USB Cable
• USB Drivers
• Custom Recovery File
• Android SDK
• Device Drivers

Flash Custom Recovery

• First, make sure your Android smartphone’s ADB Debugging mode is ON.
• For verification, connect the device, open cmd, and go to the adb folder by using the following command (change the path to the folder accordingly):

cd F:\Utilities\Android\Beryllium\adb

• Then, use the following command to verify the device:

adb devices

• Now, use the following command to boot into fastboot mode:

adb reboot fastboot

• Finally, use the following command to flash the custom recovery file (make sure to put the correct file name):

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img

• Now you can verify the installation by booting into recovery mode by using the following command:

adb reboot recovery

Best Custom Recovery for Android

#1 Teamwin Recovery Project [TWRP]

Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP) is one of the simplest and most famous Android CRs. This recovery is an open-source recovery for Android. The simplest thing about TWRP is that this recovery is out there for nearly all Android devices.

The newest update of this traditional recovery is to support the Project Treble features. In 2019, Project Treble is an important part of any custom recovery.

We have included TWRP Recovery within the Best Custom Recovery List because, first, TWRP supports a wide selection of Android devices.

Secondly, it supports Project Treble features. (Note: if your device supports the Project Treble features, then this feature works on your device.)

• Backups of partitions in TAR or raw image format.
• Restore backups from internal storage, external SD storage, or OTG devices.
• Custom firmware installation.
• Partition wiping.
• File deletion.
• Terminal access.
• ADB Root Shell.
• Theme Support.
• Possible decryption support, depending on the device.
• It supports almost every Android device.

#2 OrangeFox Recovery Project [OFRP]

OrangeFox recovery is based on TWRP with some additional functionalities. Originally built for a Xiaomi device, this recovery has come a long way in terms of stability and style and supports over 47+ devices as of scripting this post.

• Synced with the latest Teamwin changes
• Designed with the latest Material Design 2 guidelines
• Implemented support for Flyme and MIUI OTA and incremental block-based OTA in custom ROMs
• Included customization
• Inbuilt patches, like Magisk and password, reset patch
• Password protection
• Fully open-source
• Frequently updated

#3 SkyHawk Recovery Project [SHRP]

SHRP is inspired by Material Design 2 to bring the newest design to the native TWRP. SHRP provides much more alongside its rich UI experience. The new dashboard makes it very easy to interact with TWRP.

SHRP has some cool features like a whole new theming section, Flash Magisk (root or unroot), Camera2api enabler directly from the dashboard, password protection, etc. It’s all started; a lot more to come.

• Theme support with a clean and modern design.
• Improved dashboard with more quick access options.
• Password lock protection
• Modified file manager
• Inbuilt support for flashing modules like Magisk or ViperFx
• Hal3/CameraAPI2—enable/disable from dashboard
• CPU core lock/unlock
• Navigation and Status bar customization
• Notch mode with the toggle to disable
• And many other great features.

#4 RedWolf Recovery

Red Wolf Recovery is a custom recovery based on TWRP source code; however, some things are working here slightly differently than you would possibly expect.

The main objective of this project is to supply stable recovery with features that you’ve never seen before during recovery and which haven’t been accepted for adding to the official source code of TWRP.

This recovery is additionally the primary recovery on the planet with password protection.

• Always up-to-date
• Simple material design
• MIUI OTA Support
• Password Protection
• Disable DM-Variety & Forced encryption
• Backup All Partitions
• Project Treble Support
• Built-in Magisk, Super SU
• Flashlight support

#5 Pitch Black Recovery Project [PBRP]

PitchBlack Recovery Project is an open-source organization founded on 28th March 2018 collectively by developers from different countries with the aim to provide the world’s most advanced recovery with better customizations, themes, and features.

• Based on the latest TWRP source
• Supports Treble and non-Treble ROMs
• Great troubleshooting features and tools
• Material design and full dark theme with changeable accents
• Advanced tools, including code-name changer and Pin/Pass remover
• Disable DM Verity
• Uses AromaFM as the default file manager
• Inbuilt support for enabling/disabling Super-SU and Magisk
• Universal flash-able file for all variants of a device
• Multi-lingual support (for 10+ languages)
• Automatic PBRP Injection after flashing ROM (treble only)

Key Features to Look for in a Custom Recovery

Feature	Why It Matters
Touch UI	Makes navigation easier
OTA Support	Enables updates for custom ROMs
Backup/Restore	Ensures you can recover your system
Theming	Aesthetic preferences for advanced users
Magisk/Root Flashing	Easy root access without extra tools
Encryption Support	For newer devices with enforced encryption

What If Your Device Doesn’t Have a Custom Recovery?

Some newer or niche devices may lack official support. In that case, you can:

• Search the XDA forum for unofficial TWRP builds.
• If your device is Treble-enabled, take a look at generic GSI ROMs.
• If you don’t have a recovery, you can still flash by using the below method.

Best Practices After Installing a Custom Recovery

• You can root your device by flashing Magisk.
• Install a custom ROM if you’re coming from stock firmware.
• As soon as you install your recovery, make an Android backup.
• Lock your bootloader when you’re finished modding and after you’ve flashed stock firmware back to your phone; otherwise, you could find yourself with a bricked device.

Conclusion—Best Custom Recovery for Android

So, this was the whole article, stating what recovery is, then custom recovery, and then how to flash it, and finally, before telling you the best custom recovery for Android, we must know.

If you have any doubt regarding anything, the comment section below is for you; feel free to use it.