The Realme 3, despite being a budget device from 2019, still has a lot of untapped potential thanks to its active developer community. If you're looking to breathe new life into your Realme 3 and experience the clean, stock Android interface of Google Pixel devices, installing the Pixel Experience Custom ROM with Android 13 is one of the best modifications you can make.
Pixel Experience brings the pure Android experience to non-Pixel devices, complete with Google's signature features, Material You design, and regular security updates. For the Realme 3 (RMX1821/RMX1825), this custom ROM offers a lightweight, smooth, and stable alternative to the stock ColorOS, which can feel bloated and sluggish on older hardware.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the entire installation process, from preparing your device to the first boot into Android 13. We'll also cover important optimizations like converting the data partition to F2FS for improved performance and installing Magisk for root access.
⚠️ Important Pre-Requisites and Warnings
Before proceeding with this installation, please review the following critical points:
Requirements:
- Unlocked Bootloader: Your Realme 3 must have an unlocked bootloader
- Custom Recovery: TWRP Recovery must be installed on your device
- Battery Level: At least 60% battery charge to prevent interruptions
- Backup: Complete backup of all important data (this process will erase everything)
- Files: Download all necessary files before starting
Warnings:
- Data Loss: This process will completely erase all data on your device
- Warranty: Installing custom ROMs may void your device warranty
- Brick Risk: Incorrect procedures can potentially brick your device. Follow every step precisely.
- IMEI Safety: According to the developer, this ROM preserves IMEI and baseband, but always exercise caution
- First Boot: The first boot after installation may take 10-15 minutes – be patient
📥 Required Downloads
Before starting the installation process, download these files to your device's internal storage or SD card:
- Pixel Experience ROM for Realme 3 – Android 13 version (ZIP file)
- TWRP F2FS Recovery Image – Special TWRP version that supports the F2FS file system (IMG file)
- Magisk ZIP | Magisk.apk– For root access (use version 24.0 as recommended by the developer; do not use other versions or update automatically)
- Optional Fixes/Patches – Any additional patches mentioned by the ROM developer
Important Note: Place all files in the root directory of your internal storage or SD card for easy access during installation.
Step 1: Boot into TWRP Recovery
If you already have TWRP installed on your Realme 3 (from a previous tutorial or installation), follow these steps:
- Power off your Realme 3 completely
- Press and hold Volume Down + Power Button simultaneously
- Release the buttons when the TWRP logo appears
- If prompted for a password, enter your device PIN or pattern
- You should now be in the TWRP main menu
Note: If you're using the standard TWRP recovery, keep it as is for now. We'll upgrade to the F2FS-compatible version later in the process.
Step 2: Perform Advanced Wipe (Clean Installation)
A clean wipe is essential for a stable ROM installation. This ensures there are no leftover files from the previous system that could cause conflicts.
- From the TWRP main menu, tap Wipe
- Select Advanced Wipe
- Carefully select the following partitions:
- ✅ Dalvik / ART Cache
- ✅ System
- ✅ Vendor
- ✅ Data
- Swipe to confirm the wipe process
- Wait for the wipe to complete (this should take less than a minute)
- Once done, tap Home to return to the main menu
Step 3: Install Pixel Experience ROM
Now we'll flash the Pixel Experience Android 13 ROM onto your device:
- From the TWRP main menu, tap Install
- Navigate to where you saved the Pixel Experience ROM ZIP file
- Select the ROM ZIP file
- Swipe to confirm flash and begin the installation
- The installation process will take approximately 5-10 minutes
- Important: Ensure your device has sufficient battery. If the battery is low, consider charging during this process
- Once the installation completes successfully, you'll see a "Successful" message
- Do NOT reboot yet!
Step 4: Wipe Cache and Dalvik After ROM Installation
After flashing the ROM, it's good practice to wipe the cache partitions:
- From the installation completion screen, tap Wipe Cache/Dalvik
- Swipe to confirm the cache wipe
- Once done, tap Home to return to the main menu
Step 5: Install Magisk for Root Access
For the Realme 3, rooting with Magisk is highly recommended. This is because the Realme 3 does not have a physical key combination to enter recovery mode. With Magisk, you can easily reboot into recovery from the system itself or use Magisk modules to access recovery.
Note: The Pixel Experience ROM may not include a built-in option to reboot to recovery, making Magisk essential for future maintenance.
- From the TWRP main menu, tap Install
- Navigate to the Magisk ZIP file (use version 24.0 as recommended)
- Select the Magisk ZIP file
- Swipe to confirm flash
- Wait for the installation to complete
- Once done, tap Home to return to the main menu
Important: Do not update Magisk to a newer version automatically. Stick with the recommended version (24.0) for stability.
Step 6: Upgrade TWRP to F2FS-Compatible Version
Now we'll upgrade TWRP to the F2FS version, which will allow us to convert the data partition to F2FS in the next step for better performance.
- From the TWRP main menu, tap Install
- Tap the Install Image button (usually located at the bottom right)
- Navigate to the TWRP F2FS Recovery IMG file
- Select the IMG file
- When prompted to select the partition, choose Recovery
- Swipe to confirm flash
- Wait for the TWRP upgrade to complete
- Once done, tap Home to return to the main menu
Step 7: Reboot into the New TWRP Recovery
Now we need to reboot into the newly installed F2FS-compatible TWRP:
- From the TWRP main menu, tap Reboot
- Select Recovery
- Your device will reboot into the upgraded TWRP F2FS recovery
- Wait for TWRP to load completely
Step 8: Convert Data Partition to F2FS (Performance Optimization)
This is a crucial optimization step for the Realme 3. Converting the data partition from EXT4 to F2FS (Flash-Friendly File System) can significantly improve read/write speeds, resulting in a smoother and more responsive user experience.
- From the new TWRP main menu, tap Wipe
- Select Advanced Wipe
- Select only the Data partition
- Tap Repair or Change File System
- Select Change File System
- Choose F2FS from the available options
- Swipe to confirm the file system conversion
- Wait for the process to complete
⚠️ CRITICAL NOTE: After converting to F2FS, DO NOT format data again! Formatting data will revert the file system back to EXT4, undoing this optimization.
Step 9: Reboot to System
Now we're ready to boot into the newly installed Pixel Experience Android 13 ROM:
- From the TWRP main menu, tap Reboot
- Select System
- Your device will begin the first boot process
What to expect during first boot:
- The first boot may take 10-15 minutes – this is normal
- You may see the boot animation for an extended period
- If the device reboots back into recovery instead of booting to the system, you may need to flash additional patches/fixes through TWRP
- Be patient and do not interrupt the boot process
Step 10: Initial Setup and Verification
Once your device successfully boots to the system:
- Complete the initial setup:
- Select your language
- Connect to Wi-Fi (optional – you can skip this step as Google apps are already included in Pixel Experience)
- Sign in with your Google account
- Set up your device preferences
- Verify the installation:
- Go to Settings > About Phone
- Confirm that the Android version shows 13
- Check that the ROM information shows Pixel Experience
- Check Magisk status:
- Open the Magisk app from the app drawer
- The app should be present, but you may need to complete the setup
- Important: Use the recommended Magisk version (24.0) and do not update automatically
- Verify IMEI and Network:
- Dial
*#06#to check your IMEI numbers - Both IMEI slots should show valid numbers
- Test mobile network connectivity to ensure the baseband is working correctly
- Dial
Performance Benefits of This Installation
By following this guide, your Realme 3 will benefit from:
- Pure Android Experience: Clean, stock Android 13 interface without bloatware
- Material You Design: Google's dynamic theming system that adapts to your wallpaper
- Improved Performance: F2FS file system optimization for faster read/write speeds
- Regular Updates: Pixel Experience typically provides monthly security patches
- Google Pixel Features: Access to Pixel-exclusive features and apps
- Lightweight System: Less RAM usage compared to stock ColorOS
- Root Access: Magisk enables advanced customization and module support
Known Issues and Troubleshooting
According to the developer, there are no major bugs in this Pixel Experience build for Realme 3. However, you may encounter minor issues that are common in custom ROMs:
Common Issues and Solutions:
- Device reboots to recovery instead of system:
- Flash any additional patches/fixes provided by the developer through TWRP
- Ensure you followed all steps correctly, especially the F2FS conversion
- Magisk not working properly:
- Re-flash the recommended Magisk version (24.0) in TWRP
- Do not update Magisk to newer versions unless explicitly recommended
- No file manager app:
- You can install a file manager via ADB, Chrome browser, or Google Play Store after setup
- Performance issues:
- Ensure you properly converted the data partition to F2FS
- Do not restore app data from backups of the old ROM
Post-Installation Recommendations
To get the most out of your newly installed Pixel Experience ROM:
- Install a File Manager: Download a reliable file manager from Google Play
- Update Apps: Update all pre-installed apps to their latest versions
- Configure Magisk: Set up Magisk Hide for banking apps if needed
- Customize: Explore the Pixel Experience settings for customization options
- Join Communities: Follow Realme 3 development forums for updates and support
Conclusion
Installing Pixel Experience Custom ROM with Android 13 on your Realme 3 is a fantastic way to revitalize an older device. By following this comprehensive guide, you've transformed your budget smartphone into a device that offers the clean, premium experience of a Google Pixel, complete with the latest Android features and performance optimizations.
The key steps that make this installation special for the Realme 3 include:
- Proper advanced wiping of system, vendor, data, and cache partitions
- Installing Magisk for essential recovery access (since Realme 3 lacks physical recovery key combinations)
- Upgrading to TWRP F2FS and converting the data partition for significant performance improvements
- Using the recommended Magisk version (24.0) for stability
The result is a lightweight, smooth, and responsive Android 13 experience that makes your Realme 3 feel like a brand-new device. With no major bugs reported and IMEI/baseband preserved, this custom ROM offers an excellent balance of features, performance, and stability.
Remember that the custom ROM development community thrives on feedback and support. If you encounter issues or want to show appreciation, consider engaging with the developer community. And always back up your system before making any modifications.
Enjoy your new Pixel Experience on Realme 3!
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Always ensure you download files from trusted sources and follow instructions carefully. The author is not responsible for any damage to your device.
