为旧Galaxy Note4定制儿童专属安卓设备：Custom Rom选型咨询

Hey there! As someone who’s modded older Android devices for family use before, I can walk you through this for your Galaxy Note4. Let’s split this into two key parts: finding a suitable custom ROM, and installing your desired apps without the Play Store.

There’s no pre-made ROM that checks every box out of the box, but these highly customizable options let you tweak everything to your needs:

• LineageOS 14.1 (based on Android 7.1 Nougat): This is the gold standard for older devices like the Note4—it’s stable, lightweight, and well-supported. Once rooted, you can easily strip out unwanted apps (Play Store, browsers, bloatware) and set default apps through system settings. It also has basic built-in parental controls, which is a nice bonus for kid use.
• Resurrection Remix 5.8.5: Built on top of LineageOS, it adds extra customization tools that simplify removing bloatware and configuring default apps. It’s still compatible with the Note4 and offers a smooth experience for simple daily use.

For either ROM, after flashing, you’ll need to:

1. Root the device with Magisk (the safest modern root method)
2. Use a tool like Titanium Backup or System App Remover to uninstall the Play Store, all browser apps, and any other pre-installed apps you don’t want
3. Set your desired default apps via Settings > Apps > Default apps once they’re installed

Without the Play Store, you have three reliable, secure ways to get your apps on the device:

1. Manual APK installation:

   • Download APK files for your apps from trusted sources (stick to verified platforms to avoid malware; official app websites often offer direct APK downloads too, like Spotify or Kindle).
   • Enable "Unknown sources" in the device’s security settings (this lets you install apps outside the Play Store).
   • Transfer APKs to the Note4 via USB, then tap them in the file manager to install.
   • Pro tip: Once all apps are installed, you can disable "Unknown sources" again to lock down the device.

2. ADB command installation:

   • If you’re comfortable using a computer, this is a more secure method (no need to keep unknown sources enabled).
   • Install ADB on your computer, enable USB debugging on the Note4.
   • Connect the device to your computer, open a terminal/command prompt, and run adb install /path/to/your/app.apk for each app you want to add.

3. System app installation (permanent, non-uninstallable):

   • If you want to ensure your kid can’t delete these apps, push them to the system partition.
   • Root the device, use a root-enabled file manager (like Solid Explorer) to move APKs to /system/app or /system/priv-app.
   • Set file permissions to rw-r--r--, then reboot. The apps will now act as system apps and can’t be uninstalled without root access.

• Before flashing any ROM, make sure you unlock the Note4’s bootloader and install a custom recovery like TWRP (this is mandatory for flashing custom ROMs).
• Back up all existing data first—flashing a ROM will wipe the device.
• Once everything is set up, disable USB debugging to prevent unauthorized changes via a computer.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者RyanF