How to flash TWRP Recovery or CWM Recovery on Google Nexus 4

You’re probably here because you’ve updated your Nexus 4 to the latest Android 4.3 Jellybean stock over-the-air and now you wish to root it. Before rooting your Nexus device on 4.3 Jelly Bean, it is essential to have a custom recovery already installed. The best ones out there are TWRP Recovery (Team Win Recovery Project) and CWM Recovery (ClockworkMod). They are both good; however, I would recommend you to install the TWRP one since it’s more optimized for this particular device.

Fortunately, there is a very simple app that does flash a custom recovery on your device without much struggle. The app is called N-Cry Toolkit and it does pretty much everything to prepare your device for rooting: unlocking bootloader and flashing a custom recovery.

Prerequisites

1. Important! N-Cry Toolkit erases all your data form the device in case the bootloader is locked. You want to make sure whether your Nexus 4’s bootloader is unlocked or you’ve backed up all your data.
2. Bear in mind that USB debugging must be enabled. To do that, open up Settings and tap on System settings. Scroll down and tap on About phone and press on Build number seven times. You will get one of these messages if you have done it correctly: “You are now a developer!” or “Not need, you are already a developer!”. At this step the USB debugging must be enabled. You can disable it later by going to Settings -> Developer Options -> Debugging.
3. Your device should be well recognized by your computer. Make sure you have the latest versions of the drivers. You can use Android SDK to do that.
4. Download N-Cry Toolkit and extract it to a convenient folder.

 

Note! This guide works for Nexus 4 devices on Android 4.1 and later. Keep in mind that we are not responsible for what’s done to your device. Pleas follow the below steps accurately in order to not brick your phone.

 

Flashing a custom recovery

1. Launch the N-Cry Toolkit app.
2. (optional) If you didn’t use Android SDK to install the USB drivers, you can use the Driver Setup option from N-Cry Toolkit as well. Or you could do it anyway, because this it doesn’t really matter whether you already have the USB drivers installed or not.
3. Connect your Nexus 4 to the computer via USB.
4. Wait for the confirmation that your Nexus 4 has been successfully detected and then click on Recovery Menu.
5. Click on Start Fastboot mode.
6. When your phone has entered Fastboot mode, select it from the drop-down list.

7. This is the step when you choose between TWRP Recovery and CWM Recovery. From the Select Recovery drop-down list you choose your desired one; it is still recommended to install TWRP for the Nexus 4.

8. Make sure the Permanent box is checked and click on Start for the flashing process to begin.

9. When the process is done your Nexus 4 will automatically boot into Custom Recovery Mode.

 

At this point your Nexus 4 device is prepared and you can proceed rooting it. I hope you guys found this guide useful. Leave your opinion in the comment section below.