Boot Animations on Android: Managing Them From a PC Tool
Archive note. This story reflects what was known when it was first covered. Prices, availability and carrier offers are historical. For the current picture, start with the topic guides.
What a boot animation is
A boot animation is the short graphic that plays while a phone starts up. Because most people boot rarely, it is seen only now and then. The author mostly rebooted when a new nightly arrived, and had once preferred a Doctor Who time vortex animation before the CM9 one.
The old method
Before the March 23rd nightly, changing it meant locating a bootanimation.zip, if you could find a suitable one, and copying it to the phone. Searching for animations did turn up some impressive ones.
The new PC program
A community developer made a program for the computer, not an Android app, that handles boot animations and sends the chosen one to the phone. It was meant to make the process easy for people who reboot often and like the look.
Risks to keep in mind
- Replacing system files generally needs a rooted phone or custom firmware.
- A bad file can cause boot problems, so back up first.
- This page does not link to the tool or any animation files.
Status today
CyanogenMod 9 and its nightlies are long discontinued, and this approach applies only to old custom firmware.
Frequently asked questions
What changed in CM9 nightlies?
From the March 23rd nightly, the new boot animation came built in.
Was the tool a phone app?
No. It ran on a PC and sent the animation to the phone.
Is it safe to try today?
It is outdated and modifies system files, so it is not recommended on current phones.