Install Custom Themes on Android Oreo Without Root Access

6 Parts:

Install Substratum

Install Andromeda Add-on (Rootless backend)

Download the Andromeda Desktop Client (Windows)

Enable USB Debugging

Setup the Andromeda Desktop Client

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Android has always offered more in the area of customization when compared to iOS. Rooted devices have the potential for a massive variety of tweaks and hacks, everything from overclocking, right through to theme and layout appearance. Not having root access, however, has its limitations, when it comes to personalization, especially in the theme department. That is of course, until recently. With the anticipated release of the Andromeda add-on for Substratum, rootless devices can have fully customized theme support.

Substratum, which is a theme engine that uses the Overlay Management Service or OMS, was only useful to rooted devices. Since the Andromeda add-on, however, not having access to root is no longer an issue for most devices running Android 8. The great thing about using Substratum along with the Andromeda add-on is that you don't have to worry about running command line prompts or any code.

The focus of this tutorial is getting both Substratum and the Andromeda add-on up and running on a device (Google Pixel) running Android Oreo. Although the Andromeda desktop client is available on Mac and Linux, we'll be using a Windows machine for this tutorial. We'll provide links to the Mac and Linux desktop clients, so if you're not a Windows user, don't fret.

**Please Note**

Substratum is a free application, but the Andromeda add-on cost $1.99 (USD). We'd also like to mention that Andromeda is an unreleased app and it may be unstable, but it has been reported to work with; Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Google Pixel and Pixel XL. If you're running Android Oreo, your device should work fine.'

1. 1
   On the home screen, tap the triangle or swipe up to get into your app drawer.

   

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2. 2
   From the app drawer, tap the "Play Store" icon.

   

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3. 3
   Once inside the Play Store, search for; "substratum theme engine".

   

   When the results populate, tap the first link [projekt.].

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4. 4
   When you get to Substratum's app page, tap the green "INSTALL" button.

   

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1. 1
   Go back to your app drawer and tap the "Play Store" shortcut once again.

   

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2. 2
   From inside the Play Store, type; "andromeda substratum" into the search box

   .

   When the search results populate, tap the "andromeda ★ substratum stock rootless backend" link.

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3. 3
   On the Andromeda app info page, tap the green button with the price ($2.39 for us as we purchased from Canada).

   

   If you have an active payment method in place, tap the green "BUY" button to continue.

   

   If you haven't purchased from the Play Store before, check out our article on adding and editing payments methods for Google Play.

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4. 4
   Depending on your purchase history and Play Store settings; you may have to enter the password for your main Android account

   .

   if prompted, enter your password and tap "CONFIRM".

   

   You can choose never to be prompted for your password again for future purchases via the Play Store.

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5. 5
   Once the payment goes through, tap "CONTINUE" proceed with the installation.

   

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1. 1
   Visit the following link and click on green download button.

   

   If you're not running a Windows machine, download one of the other available clients, from the links below.
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