The Moto G might not be fortunate to get the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update officially, but it is still possible for owners to experience the new OS thanks to CyanogenMod CM13 custom ROM.
According to Latin Post, the CM13 for the new Moto G 2015 is still in the early stages of development. But those users who can't wait to upgrade their smartphone's OS can now test the firmware. Based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow update, the custom CM13 ROM brings in a new UI and UX, making the CyanogenMod firmware stand out from pure AOSP.
The Android 6.0 Marshmallow update via the CyanogenMod13 update also gives the Moto G a longer battery life. Aside from CyanogenMod team's own optimization, it also offers the newest Doze feature.
International Business Times cited the prerequisites and reminders before installing the Cyanogen-based Android M. First thing to keep in mind is that this new CM13 Android 6.0 Marshmallow custom ROM is for Motorola Moto G (1st Gen) aka Falcon models only. If tried on other devices, it might brick them. It voids the company warranty, meaning the company will no longer be liable to provide updates in the future. But users can restore its warranty by flashing the device with stock-ROM.
The device should be rooted before going forward with the custom ROM installation. The installation of custom ROM requires not only the clearing of phone memory but also backing up all the data by installing Clockwork Mod (CWM) Recovery/ TWRP in the smartphone. Owners of Moto G should also make sure a USB driver is installed on the PC or else the device (Moto G) will not be recognized by the computer. Lastly, an 80% battery is also advised to avoid the smartphone of getting temporarily bricked. This happens if the installation process is interrupted midway.
According to Neurogadget, to start the installation, one needs to download the CyanogenMod [official] CM13 Android 6.0 Marshmallow custom ROM altogether with Google Apps on the computer before connecting it to the desktop.
Both the CyanogenMod [official] CM13 Android 6.0 Marshmallow zip file and the Google Apps file must be copied to the phone's memory in the storage root folder. As mentioned earlier, the phone must be rooted and users will need to install the ClockworkMod Recovery/TWRP tool on the unit. Once done, turn off the phone, unplug it from the computer and enter the Recovery Mode by press holding the Volume down and Power buttons.
The next thing to do is to clear the phone memory by choosing wipe data/factory reset. After that, users need to clear the cache memory by selecting wipe cache partition and return to Recovery Mode where they'll tap on Advanced and wipe dalvik cache. They can return to the main recovery screen afterwards, select install zip from SD card, choose zip from sdcard and go to the Android ROM .zip file which is saved in the SD card. Tap on it to start the installation process and do the same with the Google Apps.
After the installation process is complete, go to "+++++Go Back+++++" and reboot the phone by selecting the 'reboot system now' option from the recovery menu. A few minutes should do until the phone will complete the booting process. The last thing that the users need to do is to confirm the installation of the CyanogenMod [official] CM13 Android 6.0 Marshmallow custom ROM by going to Settings > About phone.
Through installing the CyanogenMod 13 custom ROM, it gives the Moto G users a chance to experience the update. However, they should keep in mind that this is a risky process that requires technical knowhow and expertise.
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