How to install a custom ROM for my Samsung Galaxy S7 (Android v8.0)?

[JEDI]

Having problems with my main phone (Android 10).
My backup phone is the S7 (Android v8.0).

the last official upgrade for this phone was to Android v8.0 even though Android released v8.1. (What the hell Samsung?)
Anyway, one of my apps requires Android v8.1 to work.

I found this Android 8.1 rom for the S7 but have no idea how to install it:

LineageOS 15.1 (Android 8.1.0) for S7 Edge build 53 18.20.2020.

LineageOS 15.1 for hero2lte /* * Your warranty is now void. * * I am not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards, * thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please * do some research if you have...

forum.xda-developers.com

Any help?
Thx

 

[manly]

You can't with U.S. models because the bootloader is locked.

 

[pete6032]

You need to unlock the bootloader, which wipes all the data off your phone, then install a custom recovery, then download the ROM onto the device, boot into recovery, and flash the ROM. There should be instructions on XDA forum. Some Samsung devices the bootloader can be unlocked, others are more difficult or impossible to unlock. I've unlocked a Samsung before.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Guides, News, & Discussion

Galaxy S7 tips, tricks, guides, info, and news.

forum.xda-developers.com

 

[JEDI]

You can't with U.S. models because the bootloader is locked.

You need to unlock the bootloader, which wipes all the data off your phone, then install a custom recovery, then download the ROM onto the device, boot into recovery, and flash the ROM.
Some Samsung devices the bootloader can be unlocked, others are more difficult or impossible to unlock. I've unlocked a Samsung before.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Guides, News, & Discussion

Galaxy S7 tips, tricks, guides, info, and news.

forum.xda-developers.com

ugg.. thx.
seems like alot of work to upgrade from 8.0 to 8.1 just for 1 app.

 

[JEDI]

and the battery on my S7 drains FAST!

i can't seem to open the back cover.
can it be replaced?

 

[pete6032]

It can be replaced by a local device repair shop but pretty difficult for users to replace. There are usually YouTube videos showing how to replace. Usually have to use heat gun and special tools to get phone apart, making it not worthwhile for a user to do.

 

[Captante]

Or buy a used phone that's still getting security updates?

The battery was what finally drove me to replace my old s7 with an s20.