Where can I find stock or custom ROMs for my Android device?

Question

There are several reasons to be looking for a ROM:

• Upgrading or downgrading your stock ROM
• Looking for firmware from a different region/language
• Flashing a custom ROM for different features, removing bloat, etc.

But where can one find ROMs in the first place? What sites are likely to have the ROM I need?

This question is intended to be canonical; please add to the wiki answer instead of posting separate answers.

Answer 1

Manufacturer Websites

While they don't usually host ROMs directly, you may find that they have software useful for upgrading stock ROMs, such as Samsung's tool Kies. If you want to upgrade and stay stock then you should try official methods first.

Google Flagship Updates

Google hosts update packages for the flagship Nexus devices at http://android.clients.google.com/packages/. You can't browse that link directly, but web search is your friend here. Search for that link plus the code name of the device and the version you want; for example, searching android.clients.google.com/packages crespo ics results in a lot of pages with this link -- the OTA Ice Cream Sandwich update for the T-Mobile Nexus S.

XDA Forums

Probably the first place you should look after trying the official route is the XDA Developers' forums. Stock ROMs are usually posted in the General sub-forum for your device, and custom ROMs in the Android Development sub-forum for your device. No guarantees.

They don't have dedicated subforums for all devices, so if you have a less-popular device you should use the site search instead of the subforum search.

CyanogenMod

The first and arguably best alternative ROM of them all. Extensive tutorials on rooting and flashing CyanogenMod on a large number of phones.

ROM Manager

Many developers publish their custom ROMs in ROM Manager and even provide OTA-style updates through it. Naturally, these ROMs can be easily flashed through ROM Manager / Clockworkmod Recovery as well.

Android Forums

This site often has ROMs for more obscure devices, as well as the popular ones.

Android @ MoDaCo

Similar to Android Forums.

Samfirmware

This site posts stock Samsung ROMs from all over. It does require you to sign up.

Google

When in doubt, do a web search. Make use of quotes (e.g., "vibrant" "stock 2.2.1") in order to narrow the results and find what you need.

Shipped Roms

A collection of shipped ROMs. Contains ROMs for 40-odd devices.

Samdroid.net

Samdroid is the primary hub for custom ROM development for Samsung Galaxy Spica / Portal / Galaxy Lite / GT-i5700. It hosts SamdroidMod, SpicagenMod, LeshaK's modded kernel, and a swath of modded kernels and other mods for the Spica.

MIUI

Translated from a popular Chinese ROM, MIUI is a highly customized version of Android with a large base of customization and theme options and a strong iOS aesthetic. Available for many devices and in both Froyo (2.2) and Gingerbread (2.3) options.