Last Updated on December 11, 2022 by Mathew Diekhake

There is no larger craze in the world of customizing mobile devices than custom ROMs. A custom ROM is going to replace the software that you see on the screen now (the Android software provided by Android developers themselves mixed with carriers and manufacturers) and replace it with a new version of software made by third-party developers. Even though a custom ROM is not technically a new operating system, it looks like it is. The amount of differences that you get depends on the custom ROM that you choose to install, but the differences can be anything from gigantic to custom ROMs that intentionally stick close to what Android created. It all depends on your reasons for wanting to install a custom ROM.

A custom ROM installed on the LG G2 smartphone is useful for people who want to see new designs, use new user interfaces that come with new layouts, use new features instead of the limited features Android offers to millions around the world, having a ROM with the system apps removed (often referred to as debloated), and other reasons like using truly open source software.

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So now that you know what a custom ROM is and why people want to install them, it’s time to look into what is required for installing a new ROM on a device. Most people think that installing a custom ROM is somehow relevant to rooting Android operating systems when in fact about the only thing it has in common is the fact that they both customize the device in some way. Rooting Android is not usually connected with or required before installing a custom ROM. A custom ROM is replacing the Android software whereas rooting is giving the existing Android more permissions for you to use. What really matters before installing a custom ROM is unlocking the bootloader and then installing the custom recovery. Make sure you always unlock the bootloader and not just if you need it unlocked to install a custom recovery. Most custom ROMs requires the bootloader be unlocked before you install them or else they cannot load. A custom recovery offers you the chance to get the new custom ROMs installed. The recovery environment that already comes on your device is now known as the stock recovery does not have the feature to install files.

Note: Make sure you check what model number the custom ROM is made for from the download links. Whenever we create a post such as this one, it means the model numbers are all thrown into the same article. Don’t assume that all custom ROMs will work for all model numbers. Each download link will mention what model number the ROM is for somewhere on the page, either in the custom ROM thread title or the original post closer to the download link. If you still don’t see it there then have a read of some comments or leave a comment yourself if you aren’t sure, and the custom ROM poster or other people subscribed to the thread will help you out.

Details We Should Know

You need to unlock the bootloader before installing a custom ROM on the LG G2 smartphone before the custom ROM can be installed.

You need to install a custom recovery image on the LG G2 smartphone before a custom ROM file can be installed. It doesn’t usually matter what custom recovery you choose to install because all of them tend to come with the necessary features that are required for installing the ROMs; however, if you want a recommendation we always suggest installing the TWRP Recovery. It is the most popular custom recovery today and will likely be for some time to come. That said, there is nothing wrong with installing something like ClockworkMod Recovery and using it—we sometimes do too! There may be times, however, when a certain ROM has a requirement of a particular custom recovery such as TWRP or CyanogenMod. Check the details from the downloads links.

The custom ROMs featured in this guide are done so to represent custom ROMs across potentially many phone carrier networks and is to be considered a ‘best of’ list for the LG G2 smartphone. Those of you who are looking for custom ROMs for a particular phone carrier network more precisely can read the following articles instead and find out what is available for your carrier:

Android Ice Cold Project Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

If you are looking for great value for money, then most people end up shopping for something like the Motorola Moto G smartphone because they read the reviews about how it’s such a great phone of the price. What they often forget about is that there is good value all over the place in the smartphone market, you just need to know where to look. It also comes down to what type of investment you are looking to make. The LG G2 smartphone is now going on five years old and through custom ROMs, you can update it to versions of the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update. To put just how up to date that is into perspective, there are plenty of phones out just last year that are still not updated to Android 6.0.1 updates. Android Ice Cold Project make some great ROMs for many devices, and the one here for the G2 smartphone is no different. It is one of the very best custom ROMs for this device.

Features: all the typical Ice Cold Project features, based on the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow software updates, based on CyanogenMod, nightlies release.

Download: AICP Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

LP 5.0.2 Kernel 3.4.112 Dorimanx 11.3

While technically not a custom ROM, this Dorimanx kernel is incredibly popular and being installed on over a million devices which make it nearly ten-fold more attractive than some of the ROMs that will appear in this list. A new kernel can do all sorts of great stuff like change the way the CPU is clocked for better performance. The features below explain everything.

Features: Default I/O Scheduling: ZEN, More I/O Scheduling present in kernel, Default CPU frequency: 300Mhz-2.26GHz, option to set MIN/MAX CPU Freq in Dorimanx App, set MAX freq for screen OFF state, Default CPU Governor: Ondemand, More CPU Govs present, Support for Kernel HOTPLUG, Support Inteli CPU Temp control, Support limit OC to 2.5Ghz / 2.7Ghz / 2.8Ghz, Support 4 GPU Govs! + Tuning in Dorimanx App, Set internal kernel clock to 300HZ, Built from official LG 30B kernel source, Support F2FS filesystem, File systems support: Ext2/3/4, FAT32, CIFS, USB OTG, High performance, low latency kernel, loads more.

Download: Dorimanx 11.3 kernel

Lambda Kernel

Since we’ve already decided to allow kernels on the list why not show one more? The Lambda kernel is another favorite kernel that can change the performance of your ROM. It isn’t as popular as the one above, but it has still collected many downloads and more than most custom ROMs. Some of you might already know what a lambda is because you’ve been rooting Android devices and remember it from the TowelRoot homepage where you need to click on the red lambda to download the rooting exploit. Ah, those were the days. The Lambda kernel aims to unleash the real power of what the LG G2 smartphone could have given customers if it wasn’t held back from doing so—or so the mission statement on the official page says. They seem to know what they are talking about, and it’s no surprise that this is installed on many devices. It looks great.

Features: Anykernel2 installer fully up-to-date, Latest Linux Kernel 3.4.112, Built with Dorimanx’s 5.3 PWR GCC, version of the bricked hotplug from neobuddy, Overclocked CPU by default to 2.8GHz, CPU voltages up to 1200mV, GPU overclocking up to 650MHz, Per core controlling of frequencies and governors, Newest GPU drivers (kgsl/devfreq) from Linux 3.18, Adreno Idler for msm-adreno-tz GPU governor, Voltage control compatible with 3.18 GPU drivers, optimization set called Fast Lane, Latest fast charger driver inlined with dorimanx, plus loads more.

Download: Lambda Kernel

Paranoid Android Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Okay, let’s get back to the ROMs. The Paranoid Android custom ROM is one that deserves to be on the list because whenever it is available for a device is practically is always deserving to be on the list. The Paranoid Android ROMs sometimes get mixed up with the PAC-Man ROMs, but make sure you know the difference because they are two entirely different things. The Paranoid Android ROMs are based on AOSP which is the pure Android before the phone carrier networks and manufacturers got stuck into it. The only difference is that it also then comes with some paranoid Android features which are what makes the custom ROM unique from AOSP. Subsequently, they also change the name around to AOSPA which is a play on the original AOSP (Android Open Source Project) name to include the Paranoid Android at the end.

Features: based on the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow software update, all the usual features that come with AOSPA, it’s been developed well to become stable.

Download: Paranoid Android ROM 

CrDroid Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

The CrDroid custom ROMs are always reliable because they are based on CyanogenMod for the most part and the CyanogenMod custom ROMs are as stable as any ROM in the world. Many smaller groups of developers who make up their unique teams based their work on the CyanogenMod custom ROMs and then create some features that separate it from CyanogenMod and the success of those features are what brings up the success of the ROM. CrDroid ROMs are also aimed to bring better performance and reliability on top of that, and make a good choice if you want to get more out of the LG G2 smartphone and its hardware.

Features: based on CyanogenMod, based on the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow software updates, Clear recents location, Navbar dimensions, Superuser indicator, Power menu and notifications tiles, Vibrate on tiles touch, Disable quick settings on secure lock screen, Ambient display with a bunch of options, SELinux switch, RAM bar in recents panel, Battery saver enhancements, Non-intrusive incoming call, Toast animations, crDroid logo in status bar, loads more.

Download: CrDroid ROM

Dirty Unicorns Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

The Dirty Unicorns custom ROM is another that has managed to make the jump up to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and give LG G2 smartphone owners the chance to run one of the latest versions of Android. The Dirty Unicorns custom ROMs are another common name in the third-party developer world of modifications, and they have software available for many devices and not just in the LG range. These Dirty Unicorn custom ROMs are reliable, and many people swear by them.

Features: based on the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow updates, based on AOSP, still in its testing stages.

Download: Dirty Unicorns ROM

Bliss Rom 6.4 by Team Bliss

If you love a good custom ROM that comes with a cracking logo to boot then, you will enjoy the Bliss ROM. The Bliss ROMs are based on CyanogenMod custom ROMs and as such are really reliable. As usually they also have features that separate it not only from CyanogenMod but also all of the other custom ROMs that use CyanogenMod as a source too.

Features: based on CyanoegMod, based on Android Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow software updates, data usage available from the Settings, Cellular networks available from the Settings, unique Bliss Settings menu with the status bar, lock screen, Recents and button options available.

Download: Bliss ROM