Notices

Project status

IVY is in development and has no releases yet. Everything on this site describes the plan and may change. Features marked "Planned" do not exist yet, and the install guide is a draft.

Nothing on this site is a promise of a release date, a device list or a feature. When the first build is out, this page and the install guide will be updated.

Before you flash

Your first install means unlocking your bootloader, and unlocking the bootloader wipes your device. After that, updates do not. Back up photos, messages, app data and anything else you care about before you start. A backup stored only on the phone is not a backup.

Flashing a custom ROM can go wrong. A wrong file, an unsupported device or an interrupted flash can leave a phone that will not boot. Most of the time this is fixable by flashing again, but you take that risk yourself. Charge the battery above half before you begin.

Unlocking the bootloader may void your warranty, depending on the manufacturer and your country. Check your manufacturer's policy first.

Android versions

The target is Android 10 through Android 15. Not every device will get every version. A build is only published for a device once it boots and its main features work.

Android 16 is not supported for now. It will wait until it is stable and the tree behaves properly. A generic system image (GSI) for Android 16 may come earlier than device builds, since it does not depend on device-specific work.

Every file name tells you what it is. In IVY-V278A11_sm-a520f, V278 is the IVY build number, A11 is Android 11 and sm-a520f is the device.

GSI files add the CPU and partition type, for example IVY-V241A10_ARM64_GSI_AB-T. AB-T means A/B + Treble, A-T means A-only + Treble. Phones without Treble cannot run a GSI, so they only get device builds.

Security and apps

A phone with an unlocked bootloader is less protected than a locked one. Anyone with physical access can do more to it. Use a strong screen lock and turn on device encryption.

Some apps check the state of your device and may refuse to run on a custom ROM. This can include banking, payment and some streaming apps. IVY does not promise that every app will work, and does not include tools to hide the unlocked state.

IVY does not include Google apps. If you add them yourself, you are responsible for the package you choose and where it comes from.

Updates

IVY is being designed to update like a normal Android phone. The goal is that going from IVY-V271A11_sm-a520f to IVY-V278A11_sm-a520f is an over-the-air update, and your apps, settings and data stay where they are. This has not been tested yet.

Moving to a newer Android version is designed to keep your data too. Going from IVY-V278A11_sm-a520f to IVY-V001A12_sm-a520f does not need a wipe. The build number starts again at V001 on each Android version.

Going back to an older Android version is different. Android cannot use data written by a newer version, so that always means wiping the phone.

Back up anyway. A major update changes a lot, and no update system is perfect. If a particular release cannot keep your data safely, its release notes will say so before you install it.

Security patches are merged as they become available upstream. How quickly a patch reaches your device depends on how many devices and versions are being maintained at the time.

End of life (EOL)

End of life means a device will not get new IVY builds any more. The usual reasons are that the manufacturer stopped supporting it, that the hardware cannot run newer Android versions, or that nobody is able to maintain it.

Nothing is taken away. The last builds stay available to download and keep working. They just stop receiving new security patches and features.

On the Explore page, a device that reached end of life falls from its branch and lies on the ground as a fallen leaf. A device can also have a planned end date: until that date it stays on its branch and is marked "Support ends on ...".

Support

IVY is a small independent project. To report a bug, include your device, the exact file name you flashed and a log if you can get one. Reports with that information are much easier to fix.

Builds can only be supported if they are the unmodified release files. If you changed a file, flashed extra packages or used a different recovery, mention it in your report.

Legal

IVY is provided as is, without warranty of any kind. You use it at your own risk, and the author is not responsible for damage to your device or loss of data.

IVY is built on the Android Open Source Project. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. IVY is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Google or any device manufacturer.