How to Install GAPPS with CyanogenMod 13

So you’ve decided to install CyanogenMod 13 on your Android device (From here on out, I’ll refer to CyanogenMod 13 as CM13) . . . CM13 is a base of Android’s Marshmallow build, which just now seems to be getting pushed to devices promised to bear its presence.

If you’re into rooting, jailbreaking, and hacking your Android device(s), then you’ve probably heard that you can get modified builds of all the Android releases. These mods are made by awesome developers before official releases become provided by mobile carriers and the device manufacturers.

CyanogenMod Website

CM13 is a feature-rich and beautiful mod; I have it installed on my Samsung Galaxy SIII. Oh, and the battery life is absolutely amazing. You should definitely check it out. Go to the CyanogenMod website and click “Downloads” in the top middle of the page.

• On the left-hand side is a list of the type of downloads: all, release, nightly, and experimental.
• Under that, you’ll see the list of manufacturers and devices. Scroll down until you find your device.
• Then, from the list of builds, download the proper zip file for your Android device of the CM13 build. Don’t unzip it. Instead, save it to your device’s SD card.

• There are different device numbers for each carrier’s device, so make sure you’re reading and following the right instructions for your device. If you download and install the incorrect CM13 and Gapps, it’s not going to work.

I prefer and recommend XDA developer’s website and YouTube for help, or as a resource if you need it.

Let’s move on to installing.

Rooting

Your Android device needs to be rooted before you proceed to install CM13 and GAPPS. I used Kingo ROOT on my Windows 10 PC; it worked like a charm, no issues.

TWRP & ES File Explorer

You should use TWRP Manager from the Google Play store to flash your device; it’s the safest and easiest way to install CM13 and GAPPS. Get it from the Google Play store and install it on your device before you flash CM13.  I would also install ES File Explorer File Manager to locate your files.

 

Open GAPPS Website

Head on over to the Open GAPPS website to find the correct ARM 6.0 GAPPS file and save it to your SD card with the CM13 zip file you’ve already downloaded. The versions of GAPPS 6.0 are pico, nano, micro, mini, or full. Now download the Gapps.zip once you’ve decided which version you want. Don’t unzip either the CM13 or GAPPS files.

Once you have all the files needed to flash your Android device to CM13, you’ll reboot into recovery mode. You should be in the TWRP recovery program.

Watch this Video before you Install Anything

To get to the point of using TWRP to flash CM13 and GAPPS, I highly suggest following the instructions fully in this YouTube video. It was insanely helpful for me. Watch it all the way through before you do anything—especially if you are inexperienced with flashing custom ROMs.

Hopefully, you’ve been able to follow me up to this point. After you flash CM13, do not reboot your device yet. You’ll now flash the GAPPS zip file, then reboot into CM13.

Enjoy!