Last Updated on April 9, 2017 by Mathew Diekhake

Few people enter any type of Android recovery mode more than on the Google Nexus 5. The Nexus smart phone range are some of the most popular devices to tinker with the operating system. Whether it be updating and flashing a new OTA that Google is bringing to the nexus before the other handsets, or whether you have root access and wish to enter a custom recovery such as TWRP or ClockworkMod. Today we are showing you how to enter both. Let’s explain more about the differences between the two recovery options before we do.

Stock recovery is a feature that every Android smart phone has. It allows manual and automatic flashing of software updates and doubles as a handy place to enter for a factory reset if you want to wipe your phone and start all over again. Beware of factory resetting without backing up first as rests wipe the data, leaving you with an empty ROM as if it’s brand new and off the shelf.

Nexus 5

Custom recovery is more complex and requires more understanding. Inside a custom recovery system we can back up and restore. That means before installing a custom ROM you can take a backup of the ROM and data. It can store just about anything. A Nandroid stores pictures, videos, games, applications, music and everything else you can think of that usually requires many application to help you if you were running stock Android. That brings me to the next point: you must have root access to run the custom recovery system. If you are not interested in rooting your device and tinkering with the system internals away from the default factory restrictions, you only want to enter the stock recovery that comes naturally with every phone.

You always want to limit the amount of bloatware on your phone, bloatware is traditionally the stock applications that you manufacturers installs along with the phone carrier. If you are with Verizon, you may find some default Verizon applications along any other apps from the manufacturers such as Motorola, Samsung, Sony and in this case Google. The more bloatware you have installed on the smart phone or tablet the less likely it is to run at the optimum levels for maximum performance and other concerns such as battery draining.

Those of running a normal phone without any tinkering done to the OS are wanting to enter the stock recovery mode. Here’s how:

  1. Turn off the smart phone.
  2. Press the Volume Down + Volume Up + Power keys at the same time and hold them.
  3. Keep your fingers firmly down until the fastboot options appear.
    – the same is known as bootloader mode.
  4. You’ll see the word “start” on the display.
  5. Change the Start option to recovery by using the Volume keys.
  6. Use the power button to confirm your choice.
  7. Look for the Android logo with red exclamation mark.
  8. Hold the Power key down and press the Volume up button.
  9. You are now entering stock recovery where the options will show on the display.

How to enter recovery mode on Nexus 5 using TWRP Manager (root only with the Team Win’s recovery)

  1. Download the app from the Google Play Store here.
  2. Install the app and open it on the phone.
  3. Tap the “install TWRP” option.
  4. Select the hammerhead device from the list of devices.
  5. Tap the name to install the recovery.
  6. The file is downloading automatically.

How to enter Nexus 5 in CWM recovery using the ROM manager (root only with ClockworkMod recovery)

  1. Download the ROM manager app here.
  2. Open the app
  3. Pick the “reboot into recovery’ option.