Nexus 5X: How to Install a Layers Theme

Now that you know how to install an icon pack, let me how you how to install a Layers Theme to transform how Android looks on the Nexus 5X.

Layers Themes are different from the other type of theme you might know about. CyanogenMod’s Theme Engine is very popular and because of that, we see a lot of different themes to choose from in the Google Play Store. Layers Themes are a little less popular since they only work on AOSP based ROMs. AOSP based ROMs are what we see on Stock Nexus devices and some custom ROMs as well.

You just have to look in the custom ROM thread to see if it is based on CyanogenMod or AOSP. Most custom ROMs choose CyanogenMod since a lot of the work has already been done.

Still, there are a lot of AOSP based ROMs and best of all, Nexus users don’t have to many any changes since their stock firmware is based on AOSP. This is why Layers Themes are so great for the Nexus 5X because all you need is root access and you can install a Layers Theme simply by downloading an application from the Google Play Store. Today’s tutorial will walk you through the entire process from beginning to end. This means you will be able to start from scratch and end with a unique Layers Theme installed on your Nexus 5X.

Nexus 5X Install Layers Theme

1. Install a Custom Recovery on the Nexus 5X
2. Create a Nandroid Backup of the Nexus 5X
3. Root the Nexus 5X
4. Download and Install Busybox
5. Download and Install the Layers Manager Application
6. Launch the Layers Manager Application
7. Let the Layers Manager Have Root Access When Prompted
8. Browse Google Play and Download a Layers Theme
9. Launch the Layers Manager Application
10. Tap on the Layers Theme You Want to Install
11. Tap on the Toggle Next to the Sections You Want to Install
12. Tap on the Paint Brush FAB in the Bottom Right Corner
13. Wait for the Layers Manager to Install the Layers Theme
14. Reboot the Nexus 5X

Explanation

Before you can start to install Layers Themes, you first need to have root access to the Nexus 5X. Before you can gain root access to the Nexus 5X, you will need to install a custom recovery like TWRP. So if you haven’t done either of these yet, go ahead and follow the tutorials linked above to set that stuff up first. I also recommend that you create a Nandroid backup right after you install a custom recovery too, but this step is optional and is not required for the rest of the tutorial. Once you have root access to the Nexus 5X, you’ll want to install Busybox from the Google Play Store.

After you install the Busybox application, you will need to launch it, let it have root access and tap on the Install button within the application. The Layers Manager application needs Busybox installed to actually install Layers Themes so you will need to install it like I just explained. Once that is done, you can then download and install the Layers Manager application linked in the guide above. This is like your central hub that displays all of the Layers Themes you currently have installed. There are a couple of ways that you can find Layers Themes to install.

The first way would be to simply launch the Google Play Store application and then search for the terms “layers theme”. This will return a huge collection of themes for you to browse through and pick out. Or, if you want, when you launch the Layers Manger application, there’s an option within the side navigation menu that talks about a Layers Showcase application. You can tap on this and then it will take you to an application in the Google Play Store. This app does nothing but show you various Layers Themes that are available. This is curated though and you won’t have the latest available here until they get added to the application.

Once you have chosen and downloaded the Layers Theme you like the most, go ahead and launch the Layers Manager application again and you should see it in the list. Tapping on this Layers Theme will show you a few screenshots and then tell you all of the individual layers that you get to install. From here, you’ll want to scroll down and tap on the toggle for a full section you want to install(unless you only want to install specific layers and not all of them). Once some layers have been selected, you’ll see a paint brush FAB appear in the bottom right corner. Simply tap on that button and wait for the Layers Theme to be installed.

After the installation is complete, you’ll then be asked if you want to reboot the Nexus 5X. You will need to reboot the device in order for your Layers Theme to take effect. So go ahead and reboot the Nexus 5X and you should instantly see the new changes that have been made as soon as you boot back into Android.