Now that CyanogenMod 12.1 builds are going out we are going to see a spike in custom ROMs built on the Android 5.1 Lollipop based and here are the 5.1 Gapps packages that you can use.
Cyanogen has said that we can simply dirty flash the custom ROM builds based on Android 5.1 right on top of our 5.0.x ROMs. A dirty flash consists of installing a new update right on top of the older one. In comparison, a clean flash is when you wipe the partitions beforehand and then install the new update.
A clean flash means that you will have to set up Android all over again and install all of your applications again. A dirty flash will be as if you simply installed an OTA update since you keep all of your user data after the install.
The general rule is that you should always create a Nandroid backup of your phone or tablet before you apply an update. Then, you are more than welcome to try a dirty flash and see if that works without any issues. However, if there is a bug after a dirty flash you should not go and report it to the developers. Instead, you should then wipe the partitions and do a clean install of the new update. If you are seeing the same bugs happening after a clean install, this is the only time you should be reporting said bugs to the developers. It is always nice when we can dirty flash a new update on top of an old version but this is never guaranteed and should not be expected.
Gapps 5.1 Download
– I was getting some reports from users saying they were getting an error on the previously linked Gapps packages. Those were PA Gapps and those are still available in the XDA link below. I’m going to leave the explanation as it was in case those who are interested would rather opt for specialized packages of Gapps. As usual, let me know if there are any issues with this new Gapps package.
Explanation
Now, what we have there are four different packages for you to choose from. I would venture to say that the majority of the people will want the Stock Gapps 5.1 Package as it will contain all of the Google applications that you would see installed on a Nexus device. For each of the Modular packages, you’ll be getting less and less applications. For example, Modular Full has less applications than Stock, Modular Mini has less applications than Modular Full. Modular Micro has less applications than Modular Mini and Modular Nano has less applications than Modular Micro.
If you want to, or need to(due to limited storage space on the system partition), then you are more than welcome to download the Modular Nano package and then go into the Google Play Store to download any of the other useful Google applications that you may want(like Google Maps, Hangouts, etc). However, if you want all of the Google applications that would be installed on a Nexus device then you’ll probably want to opt for the Stock Gapps 5.1 package. As with most things Android, the more choices we have the better and this is why there are so many to choose from.
These Google application packages were originally put together by the community developer TKruzze, but the project has since been picked up by hellowasif. All credit goes to these hard-working and dedicated people of the community. If you feel inclined, maybe you want to stop by their XDA thread and hit that ‘Thanks’ button to show your appreciation. This would usually be where I suggest to donate to the person for the work they put into it but at this time they don’t have a ‘donate to me’ button attached to their account. Maybe this will change in the future.
If these 5.1 Gapps packages don’t work for you, or maybe the download link is broken, please let me know in the comments section below. I will do my best to get those updated and fixed as soon as possible.
That’s all well and good that you can dirty flash over CM 12 with CM 12.1, but unless you were using PG gapps before you will have to do a clean install – since PG gapps is not compatible with other gapps and can’t be installed over older, different versions.
PG Gapps?
That’s what these download links are – PG Gapps. Tried installing 12.1 over 12 with a fresh Gapps full (this one) and got a not compatible with the previous version of Gapps error.
What does PG stand for here?
Thank you for the feedback about getting that error. I will look into this later today
Whoops, I mistyped. These links are PA Gapps not PG Gapps, although the error is the same – error stating incompatible version of prior gapps, using TWRP 2.8.6.1, states clean install needed (which works).
I’d assume that if you had a previous version of PA Gapps installed for CM12 that it would work fine for a CM12.1 dirty flash. Alas I did not previoualy use PA Gapps.
Ah, yes these are Paranoid Android’s Gapps. TKruzze has been doing the PA Gapps for a while so when the new guy took over, I assume it will continue to be PA Gapps.
Thanks again for letting me know about this incompatibility issue. I will either look for alternatives to replace these with or just list two different sets.
I downloaded the Stock GAPPS , was in recovery ( cwm ), and appeared the message “instalation installation .” What do I do ?
I’ve read that CWM won’t install these. Try using TWRP or you could see if there is a newer CWM that will work.
Hi
I tried to install gapps in my MI3 with CWM recovery. But the below error is getting displayed.
“Insufficient storage space available in system partition.You may want to use a smaller PA GApps package or consider removing some apps using gapps-config.”
Even though there is enough space i am getting this error. pls hepl to resolve this issue
Hi Suresh, that is strange. It might possibly be from the system partition needing additional space to copy and then install to the partition.
You might want to try one of these
http://downloadandroidfiles.org/file-php/?File=/Gapps/Lollipop/Android%205.1.X/pa_gapps-modular-micro-5.1-20150315-signed.zip
or
http://downloadandroidfiles.org/file-php/?File=/Gapps/Lollipop/Android%205.1.X/pa_gapps-modular-nano-5.1-20150315-signed.zip