Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP)

Main screen of TWRP 3.7.0_12-0
Original author(s)	OmniROM
Developer(s)	Team Win
Initial release	30 July 2011; 12 years ago (2011-07-30)[1]
Stable release	3.7.0 / 10 October 2022; 16 months ago (2022-10-10)[2]
Repository	github.com/Teamwin/android_bootable_recovery
Written in	C++ , C , shell , make
Operating system	Android
Platform	Android
Available in	English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and others
License	GNU General Public License v3[3]
Website	twrp.me

Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP), pronounced "twerp",^[4] is an open-source software custom recovery image for Android-based devices.^[5][6] It provides a touchscreen-enabled interface that allows users to install third-party firmware and back up the current system, functions usually not supported by stock recovery images.^[6][7][8][9] It is, therefore, often installed when flashing, installing, or rooting Android devices,^[10] although it does not require a device to be rooted before installation.

Functions

Since February 2016 the first three digits of the version number specify the version, and the fourth digit, separated from the others by a dash, specifies an update for a specific device. This could be a performance improvement, hotfix, bugfix, or just simply an update for a device.

The main method of installing ("flashing") this custom recovery on an Android device requires downloading a version made specifically for the device, and then using a tool such as Fastboot or Odin. Some custom ROMs come with TWRP as the default recovery image.

TWRP gives users the option to fully back up their device (including bootloader, system data, private applications, etc.) to revert to at any time, and a built-in file manager to delete files that may be causing problems on the device or add some to fix issues.

As of 2019^[update], TWRP supported the installation of custom ROMs (i.e. custom operating systems such as LineageOS, or the latest Android release), kernels, add-ons (Google Apps, Magisk, themes, etc.), and other various mods.

Wiping, backing up, restoring, and mounting various device partitions, such as the system, boot, userdata, cache, and internal storage partitions are also supported. TWRP also supports file transfer via MTP, and has a basic file manager and a terminal emulator. It is fully themeable.

In January 2017, the TWRP team released an Android application^[11] that allows flashing the recovery using root access. However, unlike the recovery, the app is not open source, although free of charge. This app is also shipped via the official TWRP images to rooted and non-rooted devices. It is installed in the system partition, making it a system-level app by default, so that it cannot be uninstalled from within Android without root access.^[12] However, TWRP now provides the user the freedom of choice for having the app.