Variety is the spice of life and sometimes trying the same thing over and over again can be boring. Samsung Galaxy Nexus owners who are already accustomed to the famous ClockworkMod Recovery can now try an alternative approach with TWRP Recovery.

TWRP stands for Team Win Recovery Project. Compared to ClockworkMod Recovery, TWRP Recovery separates itself by sporting a fully touch interface and a user-friendly GUI that makes flashing custom ROMs a walk in the park. Because it’s touch-based, TWRP Recovery eliminates the hassle of pressing down the special keys on your device just to boot into recovery.

In addition, TWRP also features a scripting engine that allows any application to send commands to the recovery. So, whenever the recovery starts, those commands will be used during startup.  What’s more, TWRP is equipped with options for installing multiple ZIP files, wiping cache and Dalvik cache, and running a backup.

Key features of the TWRP Recovery 2.1 include:

• Ability to save custom recovery settings
• Touchscreen driven with real buttons and drag-to-scroll
• XML-based GUI that allows full customization of the layout
• Settings are saved to the sdcard and persist through reboots
• Ability to choose which partitions to back up and which to restore
• Ability to choose to compress backups – now with pigz (multi-core processor support for faster compression times)

The only known issue found in TWRP Recovery is that ZIP files that install more data than the free space available will eventually crash or hang in recovery.

If you’re bored with the old ClockworkMod Recovery interface, then why don’t you try out the new custom recovery in town? TWRP Recovery is available for both the GSM and CDMA variants of the Galaxy Nexus.

Check out the guide below to find out more on installing TWRP Recovery 2.1 on your Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

Compatibility

• This guide is compatible only with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (I9250) GSM and CDMA versions. Check your device model number by heading to Settings > About Phone.
• Proceed at your own risk.  We shall not be held liable for whatever may happen to your phone.

Requirements

• Rooted Samsung Galaxy Nexus CDMA or GSM. Check out these guides if you haven’t rooted your Galaxy Nexus
• • How to root the Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.0.2 ICS with CF-Root
  • How to unlock and root your CDMA Galaxy Nexus using the Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit and return back to stock
  • How to root your Samsung Galaxy Nexus using SuperBoot
• ClockworkMod Recovery installed on your phone.  Check out this guide here if you haven’t have ClockworkMod Recovery installed.
• Fully charged battery or at least 70% battery left.

Instructions

1. Download the appropriate TWRP Recovery image for your phone’s version and save it to your PC.
   • TWRP for GSM Galaxy Nexus (openrecovery-twrp-2.1.0preview-maguro-signed.zip, 5.4 MB)
   • TWRP for CDMA Galaxy Nexus (openrecovery-twrp-2.1.0preview-toro-signed.zip, 5.4 MB)
2. Connect your Galaxy Nexus to your PC.
3. Copy the downloaded zip file to your phone’s SD card.
4. Boot into ClockworkMod Recovery. You can do this by simultaneously holding and pressing down the Power button, Volume Up key, and Volume Down key until you enter Fastboot Mode.
5. Select “Recovery” from the options given by using the Power button.
6. Select Install zip from sdcard.
7. Select Choose zip from sdcard and browse for the downloaded ZIP file and select it. Confirm the installation by selecting Yes on the screen that follows to begin flashing TWRP Recovery on your phone.
8. Head back to the main menu by selecting Go back.
9. Select reboot system now to reboot your phone.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed TWRP Recovery 2.1 on your Samsung Galaxy Nexus.